Emily stood at the gates of her son's school, the afternoon sunlight casting long shadows across the pavement. She scanned the crowd of children pouring out of the school, her eyes searching for her son's familiar face. Finally, she spotted him, his small figure making its way towards her, his usually cheerful demeanor replaced by a frown.

Concern etched her features as she crouched down to his height, her eyes scanning him for any signs of distress. "What's wrong, honey?" she asked, her voice laced with worry, her hand instinctively reaching out to check for any physical injuries.

"Nothing. Can we go?" he replied curtly, his tone unusually clipped. She furrowed her brow but nodded, deciding not to press him further. Retrieving his backpack, they made their way to the car, where she fastened his seatbelt with practiced ease.

The drive home was marked by an unusual tension, the usually lively chatter replaced by an oppressive silence. Emily stole worried glances at her son through the rearview mirror, his gaze fixed out the window with a downcast expression.

As they arrived home and unlocked the front door, her son wasted no time in darting down the hallway and slamming the door shut behind him before she could question him further. Setting down the keys and Kyle's backpack, she knocked softly, her voice gentle as she spoke.

"Honey, can you open this door for me?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.

"No," came Kyle's muffled voice from the other side.

"Did something happen at school today?" Concern gnawed at her heart as she pressed her ear against the door, the sound of her son's muffled sobs reaching her ears. "Kyle, open the door. Please." she pleaded softly, her voice laced with desperation.

"Don't wanna."

"What's it going to take for you to come out of your room and talk to me?"

The seconds stretched into eternity as Emily waited for her son's response, her heart aching with the weight of his distress. Finally, his voice broke the silence, his words timid and vulnerable. "I want Ace," he admitted.

Emily's heart sank, today was the day Isaac was graduating and he would likely be very busy. "Kyle, baby, Isaac is busy today," she began, her voice gentle but firm. "And besides, it's really late."

"I WANT HIM!"

"Honey, I already told you that-" her words were once again cut short by her son's persistent cries. "I WANT HIM! I WANT HIM! I WANT HIM!"

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she ran a hand over her face, her frustration evident. Kyle could be incredibly stubborn when he wanted to be. Running a hand through her hair, she unlocked her phone and scrolled through her contacts, her fingers hovering over Isaac's name.

"Hey, new grad, how's the party going?" she typed, her nail finding its way to her mouth as she awaited a response. Moving to the kitchen, she began to prepare tea, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her son.

The sound of her phone buzzing pulled her attention away from the tea kettle, indicating that he had replied. "We just finished the ceremony and soon we're going to the restaurant. Why?" his message read.

With hesitation, she sent a follow-up message. "Can I call you?" she asked, her heart racing as she awaited his reply. Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. She accepted it, relief flooding her as she heard his concerned voice on the other end.

"Emily, what's wrong? Are you okay? Kyle?"

"It's Kyle. He's locked himself in his room. I think something happened at school, but he won't tell me what it is."

"Have you tried talking to him? Is this the first time he's done it?"

"He won't come out. This is the first time he's done something like this," Emily explained, her voice tinged with frustration. "He said he wants to talk to you."

"Then I'll come," Isaac's resolve was unwavering.

"Isaac, you can't just—it's your graduation day. You're going to get him used to the fact that every time he needs you, you come and that's not—" she began to protest, but he interrupted her.

"Nonsense, Em. I don't mind coming over. I can always party any other day. Plus, I already have my diploma, which is what's really important. I'll be there in half an hour."

"I'm sorry tonight wasn't what you expected," Isaac repeated for what felt like the hundredth time during the short drive, his tone heavy with genuine regret as he glanced at his girlfriend sitting beside him.

Quinn reached out to gently squeeze his hand, her expression soft and understanding. "Hey, don't worry about it. No need to apologize," she reassured him with a warm smile. "Besides, I wanted to come with you."

He returned her smile gratefully, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. With a quick peck on his cheek, she joined him in stepping out of the car, their footsteps echoing softly on the pavement as they made their way to Emily's front door.

"Isaac, I'm sorry I made you come. Hi Quinn, you look beautiful," the girl greeted them warmly though there was a mixture of relief and concern in her expression. Stepping aside, she allowed them to enter.

He shrugged off his suit jacket, hanging it neatly on a nearby chair before turning to her with a reassuring smile. "Emily, you don't need to apologize," he insisted gently, his voice filled with empathy. "Is he still in his room?"

Emily nodded silently, her worry etched on her face. His smile softened as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, okay? I'll be right back," he promised, before disappearing down the hallway.

Isaac's heart swelled with warmth as he stood before the door to Kyle's room, his gaze softening as he took in the sight of the familiar door sign adorned with his name and a hand-drawn hockey player. His fingers traced the outline of the drawing, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips.A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips as he recalled his own similar door sign, still preserved in his childhood room back in Fairbrook.

With a gentle knock, he announced his presence, his voice soft and comforting. "Buddy, it's me. Your mom said you wanted to talk to me," he called out, his tone filled with warmth and reassurance.

The door creaked open slightly, revealing Kyle's tear-stained face. Isaac's heart clenched at the sight, his protective instincts kicking in. "Can I come in?" he asked softly, his voice laced with warmth and concern. Kyle nodded hesitantly, and he stepped inside, rolling up his sleeves and slipping off his dress shoes before settling onto the bed. He patted the spot next to him, inviting the boy to join him.

"Are you going to tell me why you've locked yourself in here?"

"Do you miss your parents?"

"Some days more than others, but yes, I miss them," he admitted quietly, his gaze softening as he looked at the boy. "Why do you ask?"

The words spilled out of Kyle in a rush, his voice shaky with emotion. "Someone...someone made a comment," The realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him.

Without a second thought, he rose from the bed and knelt before him. He reached out and pulled him in a tight embrace, feeling the tremors of emotion coursing through Kyle's body. As he buried his face in his shoulder, his tears soaking the fabric of his shirt as he released all the pent-up emotions, the older boy clenched his jaw in anger and his own heart breaking at the sight of the younger boy's pain.

"Let it all out," he murmured soothingly, his hand gently stroking Kyle's hair. "You're going to be okay. I promise."

As Kyle emerged from his room, his senses were immediately greeted by the chatter of voices and the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked pizza wafted through the air, beckoning him to join the gathering. Peeking around the corner, his eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Isaac's siblings and his best friend, all gathered around the coffee table in their cozy pajamas. Four boxes of pizza sat invitingly on the table, accompanied by an array of drinks scattered about. Quinn, Isaac, and his mother were also present, having changed into more relaxed attire.

A warm smile spread across Isaac's face as he caught sight of him. "There's my boy," he exclaimed, swooping over to scoop him up into his arms and carry him over to the couch. "How about a slice of pizza? The movie's about to start."

As he munched on his pizza, Kyle couldn't help but wonder about the unexpected gathering. "What are they doing here?" he inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of confusion as he munched on his pizza.

"We heard someone needed some cheering up, and we came," Jayden replied with a bright grin, his eyes sparkling with warmth and affection. "And trust me, there's nothing that Lightning McQueen and a couple of pizzas won't solve."

"I've never seen Lightning McQueen," Quinn confessed, her admission causing a ripple of surprise to wash over the group. All eyes turned towards her in astonishment, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"What? It's true," she defended herself, her cheeks flushing slightly under their scrutiny.

Gabrielle, sitting beside her, wore an incredulous expression, her eyes wide with shock. "You've never ever seen Lightning McQueen?"

She shook her head, her blonde locks swaying gently as she did so. "I was more into Disney princesses and Barbie," she explained with a shrug, her expression unapologetic.

"Superman? Batman? Spiderman?" Jayden chimed in, his eyes widening as he fired off a series of iconic movie titles. Her negative response prompted him to let out a strangled noise.

"The Ninja Turtles?" Asher piped up, fanning his hands in an exaggerated motion of shock. "Toy Story? Ratatouille? Freaking Nemo?"

"I've seen Toy Story," she offered, attempting to salvage the situation. Asher and Jayden exchanged concerned glances, their brows furrowing in disbelief. Their attention then turned to Isaac, silently seeking his reaction.

He raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of amusement and bemusement. "What?" he queried, his tone laced with mild incredulity as he glanced around at his friends. Kyle, perched comfortably on Isaac's lap, burst into a fit of laughter, his giggles filling the room.

"And what are you laughing at?" he asked, turning his attention to him and gently tickling him, eliciting more laughter from the young boy

"Man, what kind of best friend were you when you were little that you didn't take your girl to see those iconic movies?" Jayden quipped, one eyebrow arched in playful accusation, earning a playful smack on the head from his girlfriend.

"We lived in Fairbrook and you lived in New York, you can't compare, you dolts."

"Tsk, tsk," Asher chimed in, crossing his arms with a mockingly disappointed expression. "Cheap excuses. Quinn, take away his 'World's Best Friend' medal. He didn't take you to see those movies, ergo he was a shitty best friend. And now, he's a shitty boyfriend because you haven't seen them yet."

A collective gasp filled the room at his proclamation, followed by a chorus of "LANGUAGE!" from the group. Isaac instinctively covered Kyle's ears protectively, while Jayden retaliated by tossing a piece of pizza crust at Asher's face, resulting in a playful scuffle between the two friends.

"They're going to be great dads someday," Emily remarked, her eyes soft with affection as she watched the boys playfully interact with her son, their laughter echoing through the room. Kyle giggled gleefully as he was hoisted onto Isaac's shoulders, his arms outstretched like wings as he pretended to soar through the air.

Gabrielle nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Kyle is going to be fine. Isaac also insults for not having parents, but look at him now. I know as a mother, you want to shield him from all the pain in the world, but just like my mother did with my brother but we reminded him that he already had a family. Family isn't always about blood, look at us."

"You're an excellent mother, and Kyle knows it," Quinn chimed in, offering her reassuring smile as she observed her boyfriend playing with Kyle. "They really do look like father and son, don't they?"

"Does it bother you?"

"Not at all. They both need each other. Every time Isaac talks about Kyle, everyone think he's his son. He's so proud of him and celebrates every little milestone he achieves."

"And my mom calls Kyle her grandson," Gabrielle added with a chuckle, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "She's always pestering Isaac, asking when he's going to bring him home." Her gaze turned back to Kyle, her tone growing solemn. "You're family, Emily. If Kyle or you ever need any of us, no matter what time or day it is, we'll be there."

Emily's eyes shimmered with tears of gratitude as she looked at her son, surrounded by love and support. With a heartfelt smile, she murmured, "Thank you."

"What's this?"

"It's for you. Well, for you and Kyle." Isaac's smile stretched from ear to ear as he pushed the envelope towards her. "Take it, please."

With a mixture of surprise and intrigue, Emily accepted the envelope, her fingers trembling slightly as she carefully opened it. Inside, she discovered two checks, one made out to her and the other to her son. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the generous amount written on each check, a multitude of zeros staring back at her.

"This is a lot of money. I can't-why?" Emily's words tumbled out in a rush as she attempted to return the checks. However, he simply shook his head, refusing to take them back.

"Take it as your graduation present. You forget, in that little head of yours, that I also know you. I remember how passionate you were about art and how you dreamed of opening a gallery. Well, consider this my contribution. I know it's not much, but-"

"It's too much."

"Look, we're friends, Em. I don't want you to feel like you're doomed to stay in Columbus and working at something you're not passionate about. The money is a full scholarship for whatever career you decide to pursue, and Kyle's... pretty much the same. You don't have and you will not give me the money back. I'm giving it to you because we're friends, and your talent for everything related to art is crazy. You deserve to go to New York, Chicago, London, or wherever you want, but don't stay in Columbus, please."

"Where are you going?" she asked, her smile growing as she tucked her envelope into the back pocket of her pants.

Isaac's expression brightened with excitement, his hazel eyes shining with anticipation. "I think you can already guess, but I'm headed to Newark with Jay. I'll probably pursue a career in law or business administration and management too, but I haven't made a final decision yet."

"When's the draft?"

"June 28 and 29," he confessed, scratching his neck nervously. "Just three days after my birthday, so I'm feeling pretty anxious."

"I'm sure you'll make it. You're an incredible person, Isaac. There aren't any people like you left. You deserve all the good things in this world"

Isaac wrapped her in a tight hug, his embrace conveying gratitude and affection. "You too, Emily. You and Kyle deserve this."