Chapter 22

Family

"Pictures of You"- The Last Goodnight

Kyle (POV)

I sat in class listening to Professor Linton lecture on the bones in the hand. Even though I had already learned all the bones I was still interested in the lecture. Glancing down, I found that Paul was barely able to stay awake. I chuckled slightly as his cheek slid off his hand and his eyes opened with surprise.
The last half hour of the class ticked by and soon students were gathering their books.
"Kyle, we're still going to the library, right?" Paul asked as he slung his black bag over his shoulder.
"Sure, sure you still need help with-"
"Mr. Trager!" Professor Linton cut me off.
"I'll meet up with you at the library." Paul said patting me on the shoulder. "Good luck!"
"Mr. Trager it seems that Dean Charles would like to see you."
"Okay. Did he say what it was about?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I haven't the slightest idea, Mr. Trager." Professor Linton told me.
I left his classroom and strolled across campus to the student services building.
"Hi, I was told that Dean Charles would like to see me," I told the receptionist outside the Dean's office.
"Your name?" she asked, glancing up from her computer.
"Kyle Trager."
"Just have a seat he'll be with you in a moment."
I took the time to text Paul and tell him I wouldn't be able to meet with him after all.
I peered at the clock on the wall, it was a little after two in the afternoon.
"Dean Charles will see you now," his secretary announced.
When I walked into his office I saw a great deal of books and diplomas on the walls and shelves. I was interested, but I felt the need to find out why I was wanted rather than ask about the Dean's achievements.
"Ah… Mr. Trager! Please have a seat." He motioned to the chair across from his desk that he was seated at. "I have been reviewing your grades here Mr. Trager and…" He paused. "They're perfect, they're beyond perfect they're outstanding!"
I just smiled sheepishly as he continued talking.
"So I went back and reviewed your high-school transcript and found the same thing. I've also looked over some IQ tests that were in your portfolio and found that those, too, were exceptionally high.
"So Mr. Trager I have to ask what are you doing taking such remedial courses?" he concluded.
"To be honest, sir, I didn't know I had the option of not taking those courses, they're all required," I explained.
"If you would like I can set it up so you can test out and still receive credit for the course," he offered.
"How many courses can I test out of?" I questioned.
"Well you can test out of all the courses you are currently taking, but I have a feeling that second year courses wont be challenging for you, either, so if you would like I can arrange for you to test out of the second year ones as well and you will ultimately have third year status," he explained.
I sat back in my chair. I would be a fool not to take such a great opportunity.
"When can I take the tests?" I was anxious to take them as soon as possible.
"Be in my office at eight tomorrow morning."
"I'll be here!" I told him standing up to shake his hand. "Thank you!"
I left his office and practically ran to the book store Amanda worked at. I walked through the store scanning the aisles of books, following the sound of her gentle heart beat until I found her. I let her finish putting her last book away before I snuck up on her and wrapped my arms around her from behind.
She jumped. "Hello there," I whispered in her ear.
She turned around in my arms and relaxed when her assumptions that it was me were confirmed.
"Kyle! Don't do that!" she playfully slapped my chest.
"Oww," I pretended to be hurt.
She ignored me though. "I thought you were going to the library with Paul."
"I was but I have great news!" I paused. "I went to see the Dean today and he said he has been looking at my grades and he wants me to test out my first and second year courses."
"Seriously?" She asked.
"Yes." I grinned.
"Kyle that's fantastic!" she cheered giving me a kiss which I would have been more than happy to get a little carried away with had she not been at work.
"Thank you…" I mumbled. "I should head to the library and study a
little bit."
She smiled and rolled her eyes "Have fun!" She giggled.
On my way to the library I called Nicole to share my good news. She was ecstatic saying I should spend all the time I needed at the library. I had asked about Brice and Foss but she told me not to worry everything was fine.
I spent hours reading every textbook on the courses I would be testing out of. When I finished it was nearing eight.
I left the library and it was already dark out. The crisp cold night air felt good, it helped to clear my mind. I strolled through campus and through town until I reached the apartment building. I peered through one of the lobby windows and saw that Amber was working.
"Just my luck." I mumbled as I dug through my back pack for my iPod.
When I advanced through the lobby to the elevator I could hear Amber calling my name. I could tell she was getting frustrated that I wasn't responding. I turned the volume up a little more. The elevator doors opened and I walked in, slightly singing along to the song that way playing.
I quietly opened the apartment door and shrugged out of my coat hanging it on the hook. I hoped I hadn't woken Foss as I did this. Nicole wasn't here so I assumed she had gone back to her hotel room.
I found Amanda in Brice's room. I leaned against the door frame and watched as she rocked Brice to sleep. I smiled to myself; Amanda has always amazed me. She could have chosen any other life yet she chose to be with me and to be a mother to Brice. I knew it wasn't the life she had planned but she always reminds me that she wouldn't have it any other way.
"How long have you been standing there?" her angelic voice said, pulling me from my daze.
"Not long," I whispered as I strolled across the room to her.
"Has he been okay?" I asked.
"He's been fine he was just a little fussy so I didn't want to move him," she explained as she stood up.
Before she could put Brice in his crib I pulled both of them into my embrace. I smiled down at them.

"I love you," I whispered to them both. Right then and there I knew that this is what I wanted. Our little family.

"Alright Mr. Trager here is your first test, good luck!" Dean Charles said when he placed the test in front of me. I opened the test booklet and began instantly. I had finished it quickly and moved on to the next one, and finished that one, too, before Dean Charles could even finish scoring the first.
That process went on for about 2 hours. Then, I sat there while he finished scoring the last exam. He looked up at me with wide eyes. "Mr. Trager…" he started when he'd finished scoring the last test. " I don't understand: Each exam should have taken at least an hour yet you've finished 24 of them in a little under two hours and on all of them you received a perfect score."
I grinned and asked. "So I have third year status right?"
Dean Charles chuckled. "Yes Mr. Trager you do indeed have third year status. Congratulations!" He shook my hand.
"Thank you, Dean Charles!"
When I arrived home the apartment smelled wonderful I could tell Nicole had started baking for Thanksgiving dinner.
"It smells wonderful!" I called from the hall as I made my way to the kitchen.

"Kyle! How did the tests go?" Nicole instantly asked.
"It went well," I shrugged, trying to be modest.
"Well did you get third year status?" Foss probed.
"Yeah," I smiled sheepishly.
"Kyle that's amazing! Congratulations!" She hugged me.
"Good job Kyle." Foss smiled.
"Thanks." To be honest, I didn't really want to make a big deal about it. "When do Lori and Declan get here?"
Nicole sighed and shook her head knowing that I wasn't going to bask in my own glory. "They're already here Amanda picked them up from the airport about an hour ago they all took Brice to the park."
"Well I guess I'll go meet them." I said leaving the kitchen and grabbing my coat heading down to park.
"DECLAN!!!!!" I shouted when I spotted them at the park.
I watched as Declan's head shot up and he looked around. I was a few yard way when he spotted me. "KYLE!!!!!!!!!!" he shouted back.
We instantly hugged and I heard Lori whisper something to Amanda that made me roll my eyes.
"I've missed you, man!" Declan said when we parted.
"I've missed you, too!"
"What Declan gets a hug but your own sister doesn't." Lori said pretending to be offended.
I chuckled and just because she said something I gave her a hug picking her up off the ground and spun her around.
"Kyle…. can't …. Breath" she gasped and I set her down.
"You said you wanted a hug," I reminded her.
She just glared at me and I smiled back.
I wrapped my arm around Amanda who was holding Brice.
"Kyle, how did your tests go?" She whispered quietly to me.
"Third year," was all I said and I knew she understood.
"What are you guys whispering about?" Lori caught on.
"Let's go grab a cup of coffee," I suggested.
"You guys aren't engaged are you?" Declan joked.
"No, we're not getting married; I'll tell you guys when we get to the café," I assured them.
We ordered our drinks and sat down at one of the tables by the windows. I adjusted Brice on my lap knowing that he was going to fall asleep soon.
I explained to them about my meeting with the Dean and about the exams and how I would have third year status.
"That's not fair!" Declan joked. "But I'm happy for you man, congrats."
"Yeah, that's awesome Kyle," Lori added.
I slid my arm around Amanda who was sitting next to me. "Thanks," was all I said.
We caught up as we drank our coffees and, just as I had guessed, Brice fell asleep on my chest. When we were finished we went back to the apartment and Stephen and Josh were already there.
"I thought we were coming to pick you guys up?" I said giving Stephen a one-armed hug since Brice was still in my other arm.
"Our flight landed early so we took a cab," he explained. "By the way good job!"
"Thank you."
I gave Josh a hug then went and put Brice down for his nap. Once he was all settled I rejoined my family who were spread out between the kitchen and living room.
I found Lori, Declan and Amanda talking in the living room. I noticed Josh was out on the balcony so I went out and joined him.
"Hey,"
"Hey," he replied over his shoulder.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" I asked.
"Thinking," he said simply.
"Andy?" I guessed.
"How did you know?"
"You have the same look I did when Amanda was in New York," I smiled.
He chuckled sadly. "I just wish she hadn't moved."
"Didn't she get into UW with you?" I asked.
"Yeah but that's not till next fall, that's almost a whole year."
"Don't think about it as a whole year you guys start in August so think of it as only eight months," I chuckled. I knew it was horrible advice.
"Not helping," he glared.
"I know… and I know it sucks but…" I trailed off not really knowing what to say.
"Guys dinner." Lori interrupted us.
Josh sighed and we went back inside. They had gotten a fold-out table so everyone would have a place to sit. We all took our seats at the table and began passing around the festive foods.
"Lori hurry up!" Josh teased.
"Now that you said some thing I'm going to take that much longer," she retorted.

"Guys knock it off," Stephen intervened.
I chuckled slightly to myself; I hadn't realized until now how much I truly missed family dinners.

We sat around the table for an almost an hour, talking and chatting, and eating. I hadn't realized how much we'd eaten until I reached for the potatoes and found that they were all gone!
"Uhhh… I'm so full," Declan complained as he lounged on the couch.

"Me too," Josh added.
About an hour after dinner was over everyone had gone back to the hotel and Foss and Brice had fallen back asleep. I found Amanda curled up in our bed reading a book.
"Hey there," I smiled
"Hey." She sat her book down.
I pulled off my sweater and t-shirt tossing them to the hamper.
"So what did your mom end up doing for Thanksgiving since she didn't fly out here?" I asked as I slipped out of my jeans and into my blue stripped pajama pants.
"She had dinner at one of her male coworker's house." I sensed slight pain in her voice.
"I'm sorry," I said crawling into bed with her wrapping my arms around her protectively.
"I get that it's been three years but, at the same time, it's only been three years. It just feels too soon." She was referring to her mom moving on from her dad.
"I know." I tightened my grip around her.
"And around the holidays I can't help think out him," she admitted.
"That's why you've been so quiet?" I guessed.
"Yeah," she whispered.
"It's okay," I assured her kissing the top of her head.
Eventually she drifted off to sleep and shortly after I followed.

AN: Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate it! Sorry I haven't posted a new chapter in almost a month I've been busy. I hope you guys like this chapter it is one of my longer ones. I also wanted to say thank you to my new beta you did a fantastic job with this chapter. Like I said hope you like it tell me what you think!