Kathryn Claire O'Connor: If the story weren't in anyone's POV, Bryce would definitely have weak spots. But, since it's in Sharpay's POV, and she considers him perfect, that's how I make him seem. Does that make sense? I've actually met kids like Bryce - it's rare, but it happens. But that's why he seems to do nothing wrong. If it was in a normal story form, he'd definitely have some rough patches.

Chapter 7

"Lillian Faith, don't you dare," I said to Lily as she reached for a glass on the kitchen table.

"No," Lily said.

"That's right, no no. You don't touch breakable cups, honey," I said as I picked up my thirteen-month-old.

Thirteen months... God, time's really gone by. It's been ten months since the accident. I don't find myself thinking about it as much, and when I do, I don't get as upset. Not nearly as much as I did before.

"Mommy, look what I found!" Matt said, running into the kitchen.

"What is it, baby?"

"It's a picture. Daddy says it's Gracie, but it doesn't look like her," he said as he handed the picture to me.

I looked at it and smiled. "That's because that was when she was in my tummy. This is an ultrasound. This is the first picture that was taken of her."

"That's a weird picture. I never looked like that... did I?"

I laughed a little and kissed his head, putting the picture on the table. "You all looked like that, hon. Bryce Christopher!" I called out. "Get your backpack and take it to your room, please!"

"Mommy, can I go to Papa's?"

"Yes. Call me as soon as you get there. Stay away from cars."

"Yeah, yeah, same story every day," Matt said before leaving the room.

"Bryce! Now, please!"

"Coming, Mom," Bryce said just before entering the room. "I was doing homework. Can I stay the night at Chris' house tonight?"

"Not tonight but maybe tomorrow. Daddy said he had some news for us when he gets home and he'll be here soon."

"But Matt's not here."

"We can tell Matt when he comes back. You're older, he can tell you when he tells me. I'm getting ready to start dinner, will you keep an eye on Lily?"

"Yeah. Come here, Lily. We'll play with your blocks," he said taking Lily from me and leaving the room.

Gosh, he's such a good brother. He's almost... perfect. He does have his bad days, I'll admit to that.

By the time Troy got home, Matt was back as well, and I'd just gotten dinner ready and served. Just as Troy walked into the kitchen, I placed Lily on my lap so she would actually eat instead of throw her food everywhere. She wouldn't really eat unless she was on my lap. She's a picky one.

"How was work?" I asked as Troy kissed the boys' heads.

"It was good. I have that good news I was telling you about," Troy said, kissing Lily's head and my lips.

"What is it?"

"Well..." he said, sitting down in his chair. "I got a job promotion."

I smiled. "Really? That's great. What's the job?"

"Coach of the Redhawks."

"No way, are you serious?"

"I'm serious."

"That's great, Troy, when do you start?"

"As soon as we get out to Oklahoma City."

I stared at him for a few seconds. "...What? We have to move?"

"If I want this job, then yeah. It'll be good to get away."

"I don't want to get away though, Troy, this is our home."

"They've got a house set up already."

"What about our house, Troy? What are we supposed to do if something doesn't go right out there?"

"Why wouldn't it? What do we have to lose? We can't lose much more than we already have. What do we have here that we won't in Oklahoma City?"

"Grace."

We stared at each other for a few seconds and I could feel the boys looking back and forth between us. It was a long, painful silence and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes but I blinked them away and kept staring at Troy.

He finally looked away and sighed. "Look... I know we have close ties with her here, but we can always come back and visit every few months. We can take all of her stuff with us, it'll be fine."

"But we can't move her grave, Troy. It hasn't been that long..."

"It's been almost a year, babe... I know it's going to be hard, but this is something I've been hoping for since I was in high school."

"What about me?"

"You don't have anything that you do, you stay at home all day coloring with Lily."

"I run a day care in this house, thank you very much," I said, getting up from my chair with Lily.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I forgot. I'm never around all the other kids, I forget you work."

"Thanks, Troy," I said, walking out of the room.

Troy sighed, sitting back in his chair. Bryce and Matt looked at him for a few seconds.

"Is Mommy mad?" Matt asked.

"Yeah," Troy said.

"How come?"

"Because I don't always acknowledge that she works hard."

"But she just cooks and cleans. That's not hard."

"It's pretty hard work, Slugger. When you're older and have your own house, you'll understand."

"Will Mommy forgive you?"

"I hope so."

"Ow! Okay, Gabriella... I can't breathe," I said, patting Gabriella's back to get out of her embrace.

"Right," she said, stepping back. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I'll miss you guys so much."

"We'll miss you, too. Bryce, Matt, come say bye to Aunt Gabby."

Matt ran over to us and held his arms out to her. "I wanna hug," he said.

Gabriella picked him up, kissing his cheek as she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm gonna miss you guys more than anything," she said, hugging Bryce as he hugged her waist.

"I'll miss you, too," Matt said.

"You make sure you come visit me, okay?"

"Can't you come with us?" Bryce asked. "You like having us around don't you?"

"I love having you guys around, sweetheart."

"How come you don't come with us, then?"

"Because I have things I have to keep in check down here. I'll visit you when I can, okay? I promise."

"Okay."

Gabriella put Matt down and took Lily from me, kissing her cheek. "I'm gonna miss you too, Chubbo. You have to call me every night and give me our butterfly kisses, okay?"

"Tisses," Lily said.

Gabriella laughed and she gave Lily another kiss. "I love you. You behave for Mommy, okay? You two behave, too. If I hear you're not behaving you won't want me to come and see you."

"I'll be good," Matt said. "I'm always good."

Gabriella snorted, ruffling his hair. "Yeah right, you're the trouble maker," she said, handing Lily back to me and giving me another hug. "I'll miss you, Shar... Call me every day and let me know how my babies are doing. I'll let Gracie know you'll be back, and yes I'll tell her you guys love her."

I smiled. "Thanks..."

"Anytime."

"Everyone ready?" Troy asked. "Kids in their carseats. Now."

"You heard Daddy, get in your seats," I said.

"Do I have to sit in a booster seat?" Bryce asked getting into the van.

"Yes you do. You're still underweight."

"I don't like booster seats."

"I do," Matt said, climbing into his seat and buckling himself up.

"Get in and buckle up, Brycey," I said putting Lily into her car seat.

"Okay," Bryce said. "Can we stop for ice cream?"

"No," Troy and I said together.

"McDonald's?"

"No," we said again.

"Wait," I said. "We'll have to stop to let them eat, so yes to McDonald's. No to ice cream."

"I don't need to eat," Troy said.

"They're eight, seven, and one. They have to eat."

"Alright, alright... You win. This time."

"Mommy always wins," Matt said.

"No she doesn't."

"Yes she does," Bryce, Matt, and I said.