A/N: There is big news for Katie below! Maybe some sweet mental Ked action on Katie's side but nothing too racy since the age difference makes it a bit taboo lol enjoy xx Mariah

Ages:

Jim - 46
Delia - 44
Melinda - 42 (pregnant with Lana)
Ned - 20
Katie - 17
Aaron - 13
Mackenzie - 7

Katie stared at the homework on her desk, the pen she held in her head flicked back in front in her fidgeting fingers. She spun in her chair then, holding a fat envelope from NYU. She could only hope it was stuffed with welcome pamphlets and dorm/apartment options.

Considering it wasn't a thin envelope and it likely wasn't going to be a multiple-page rejection letter, she blew out an anxious breath which sent the pen on her desk across her bedroom at the same time her mom walked in with a slight knock on the door.

"I hope you're planning on picking that up," Melinda said coming over to her desk with two steaming mugs in her hands. "Chamomile tea. To calm your mind."

"You are the best," she smiled, taking the cup as she leaned back into her chair for a moment. "Is dinner done?

"Not yet," Melinda shook her head. "I don't know what your dad has planned."

"Sounds like dad," she said and turned back toward her open notebook, setting down her cup and grabbing a pencil from her top drawer. Katie tossed it down and sat back again, sighing.

"What are you worrying about?" Melinda asked as she tucked her legs up on the bed. "Can I be of any help?"

"I have an assignment due in creative writing tomorrow, but I'm not worried about that," she sighed. "I'm too scared to open this." She held up a white envelope that said NYU in big print on it. "I got my letters from Columbia and Rockland yesterday. I got into Rockland but not Columbia."

"So that's NYU? Open it, baby girl." She squealed, smiling at her. "Columbia wasn't really what you wanted though. This is NYU we are talking about now. That's been your dream school since before you even started thinking seriously about college. I've gotta see this one."

Katie grinned, holding the letter to her chest anxiously. "What if I didn't get in?"

NYU was the school she'd been dreaming about since she saw a pamphlet when she was in middle school. Their English program was beyond phenomenal and she would kill to study under any of their faculty.

"Then those big wicks are idiots. They would be lucky to have you at their school." Melinda said and came over to her, leaning down and wrapping her arms around her. "Plus that letter doesn't look like a thin rejection letter size. Trust me I got plenty when I was applying out of state in my time. Just promise me you aren't forgetting you got into Rockland?"

"You are just like dad," she said, shaking her head. "I haven't forgotten about Rockland. It was just my backup school. I promise I'm not running away like you did."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Melinda chuckled as she moved to sit back down on the edge of her bed.

"You know exactly what I am talking about," she laughed, mostly because her mother would never agree that she was trying to say her decision. What parents wanted their firstborn to go so far away for college? Katie knew that and understood it, but she wanted her freedom. She craved it. To be close enough to come home if she needed or wanted, but to put some space between her and Grandview for a little while. Between her and Ned.

Her mother held her hand out for the envelope and she gave it to her, watching her press a kiss to it. "For good luck," Melinda smiled, handing it back. "Though this is heavy and I don't think you've ever needed it."

She kissed the envelope as well before swiftly cutting the seal on the letter. Inside was filled with different pamphlets and paperwork. She found the first piece, reading the letter. "I got it. No waitlist or anything. I got in!"

"I knew you would. Oh, baby... I'm so proud of you!" Her mom was up and hugged her tightly, all of the papers still held in her grasp.

"I also got a scholarship for having a high SAT score," she said, reading through the papers over her shoulder. "It should cover almost half of the tuition."

"That's wonderful. I'm sure your dad will be happy about that," Melinda chuckled and when they parted, she could tell her mother was torn on not wanting her to leave but knew that wasn't an option anymore.

Katie was going to New York and there wasn't anything stopping her. "Hey, don't be sad. I'll still be in the same state," she tied to reassure her.

"I know. I'm so happy for you even if it makes me sad that you're leaving," Melinda said, wiping away her tears. "It doesn't help that my emotions are all over the place because of the baby."

They had all just found out a few weeks prior about the surprise pregnancy. It was one of the few cons of moving away. She wouldn't be able to be as present for her soon-to-be youngest sibling and that broke her heart.

One of the things she loved most about being the oldest sibling was being there for every big moment for her younger siblings, and now it would all be different.

"What's on your mind, bug?" Melinda asked.

"Just that I'm gonna miss you guys and so much of this baby's life if I go to NYU and not Rockland," she muttered. "But I can't imagine turning down my dream school either."

"And you don't have to. You're going to NYU. It's been your dream forever and as much as we all will miss you being at home, we all want to see you happy." Melinda explained, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Not to mention the baby won't even be here until you're likely on winter break so you'll get to be there at the beginning like you always have been. Plus the early years while extremely adorable gets a bit repetitive after three kids and your baby sibling won't remember you being gone from their life even if you don't move back to Grandview afterward. That's what Zoom and facetime are for."

She smiled. "Okay, we have to tell everyone then," she said, standing up and grabbing the acceptance letter out of the pile of paperwork, knowing her dad would likely want to pin it up on their accomplishment board for all of the big things each of them had done over the years.

"Plus we're going to celebrate for dinner. Your pick." Katie shook her head, not wanting to make a fuss, but her mom wasn't having it. "No! You got into your dream school, bug. We're celebrating. Get ready. I'm calling Delia so Ned will probably be there."

This was going to be a disaster. "Fine," she sighed and went to search through her closet. What the hell was she even going to wear?

Katie had worn a dress and even did her make-up just for Ned not to show up. Delia had mentioned something about a new girlfriend along with her congratulations, and she'd felt entirely stupid for ever thinking he'd ever want her as anything other than a close family friend now that her eighteenth birthday was fastly approaching.

She tried not to let it bug her and dinner was wonderful, conversation and all, and she even got a few cute pictures with her siblings and her parents (and a few by herself too) in front of this floral wall near the entrance of the Italian restaurant they'd gone to.

"Can we get dessert?" Mackenzie asked on their way through the parking lot.

"I don't see why not," her dad said, unlocking the truck and turning toward her. "Any preferences, bug? It is your night after all."

She was sucked into her phone and Ned's latest Instagram post. A picture of what looked like a picnic date with the caption - I only want to spend days like this with you

"Earth to Katie?" Aaron said obnoxiously and she pushed his hand away from her face.

"I don't care where we go," she muttered and furiously shoved her phone into her purse before she got into the truck.

There was about a minute of silence before Mackenzie climbed in and buckled in on her left, and when the door on her right opened she expected to see her annoying younger brother but her mother climbed up instead. Aaron sat up in the front with her dad as they drove off, which wasn't unusual given he was fourteen, but she knew there was a reason.

Melinda, however, waited until they got to Dairy Queen and everyone got out of the car to break the silence. "What's up? I know your brother can be a pain in the ass but you've been distracted since... since Delia mentioned Ned's new girlfriend. I see."

"Why does it matter? I can't change anything about it," she sighed and moved to get out of the car, but her mom grabbed her arm. "What?"

"So it is Ned?" Melinda asked to make sure but didn't look surprised.

Of course, it's him. It's always him. "You don't approve?" She asked.

Her mom shrugged. "No, it's not that. I like Ned. He's a good person and you wouldn't have to worry about the inevitable 'I see ghosts' conversation because he already knows. You've always liked him and it's not like he's your brother. But that Banks boy," Melinda said and then rubbed the bridge of her nose, "he parties a lot and that's never been your scene... plus he hops from girl to girl every few months, Katie. I just don't want you to get heartbroken."

"I already am and we haven't even dated yet mom," she groaned and showed her the post. "I nearly threw my phone into the pavement when I saw this."

"Yeah, like I said. It's always about love with him and then he finds a new girl he's in love with two months later," Melinda said, rolling her eyes and then doing a few things.

"Wait, what are you doing?" She asked. Her mom had never been a tech-wiz, but social media was her pitfall. Melinda was terrible at it and it was why she ran all of the stuff for her store. "Mom, what are you doing?"

"Stop stressing out. I may not be great at Instagram but you should post this one. Although I do not condone flirting with a man in a relationship, teasing Ned is always fun." Melinda said, kissing her cheek and handing her back the phone. "You are good with your words so I'm sure you can figure something out. What do you want for dessert?"

Katie shrugged and glanced back at one of the photos she'd taken tonight. "Surprise me with a blizzard I haven't tried," she said, typing out a cheeky caption. "I'll be right out."

It was a good photo and she'd picked this dress out specifically because it made her boobs look great in case Ned came to dinner, so it was only natural she wanted to make sure he saw the dress. Right? Or did that make her an awful person?

No, she reminded herself and pressed send. If Ned chose to find her sexy when he had a girlfriend that was on him. She could only hope that if they ever got together, his eyes would only be on her.