Hi everyone! Thank you so much for replying to my last chapter and letting me know you are still reading, that was really kind of you all and definitely gave me a whole bunch of motivation to keep going. I'm still a few chapters ahead so I wanted to post this one... and there's a juicy one coming hahhaa. I hope you enjoy this and let me know if you liked it. Thank you to all of the people I harassed about American football because I dont know shit all hahaha. Love you guys!
"Awww Kaci, you look soooooo cute!" Noah exclaimed, grinning at her as she appeared in her cheer outfit. "I can't wait to see you cheer for us tonight!"
She blushed slightly, "Thanks Noah," She glanced at Katie and smiled at her. As far as Katie was concerned, she hadn't been let in on Noah's secret and they had agreed that they wouldn't tell her. Kaci wouldn't be able to forgive herself if Katie caught another attitude and told others out of annoyance with them.
She didn't want to bother Noah with it, but she did still harbour feelings for him but she didn't mind that he didn't feel the same romantically because he was still so affectionate and kind to her and constantly paying her compliments that made her heart race.
"I'm excited too, Mom's excited as well because this is the first time that I've been allowed to participate in a night game and she's actually able to come!"
Noah took her hand and grinned at her, "I'm so excited to play. Afterwards I think we're going to dinner and Mom said she was inviting your Mom, so hopefully you'll come too." He turned to Katie, "you and your parents are welcome too, Katie?," he offered.
"Thanks Noah, but only my Dad is coming tonight and he'll wanna go straight home."
"Well, if you're allowed and want to tag along, we could get someone to drop you home — my Mom or Grandma or we could walk you…"
"Thanks I guess I'll ask." She glanced at Kaci, "I'll see you at 5, okay? We have to do your make up."
"Okay, thanks, Katie, see you then!" She waved her friend off and turned to Noah. "What about you? What are you doing now?"
"First of all, please don't let her put so much make up on your face that you look like Celeste and her friends."
Kaci frowned at him, "Noah-"
"Sorry," he held up his hands, "sorry, I hope that wasn't sexist, I didn't mean it to be and obviously do what you want to do, I'm not telling you what to do, or what not to do-" he quickly tried to pull his foot out of his mouth, "what I should have said was that you look so gorgeous, I don't think you need make up… but if you want to wear make up, I'm sure you'll look cute with it too."
A small smile spread across her mouth. "Noah benson, stop it, you can't keep paying me all these compliments because it makes me like you and I know that I can't like you like that anymore."
"Sorry," he apologised, "you know, can I be honest?," they stopped by his locker to get a few of his things, "I still get confused too, but… I have a crush on you, I like you, I am attracted to being around you— but-"
"I know, I get it, its okay," she said quietly. He took her hand. "Can we still hold hands? Is that still okay?"
"Yes…" her voice trailed off. "Yeah we can."
"Well… I can walk you home and I'm gonna go meet Dad at home and say hello to my family and then he and I will come back."
"Okay, sweet, let me just text Mom and let her know," Kaci pulled her phone out and there were texts from her Mom already.
I'm at Olivia's house, sweetheart, come straight there with Noah, let me know if you need me to pick you up. Love you.
She passed Noah her phone and smiled at him.
"Easy done," he replied, taking her hand, "Let's go…"
/
"What's up sweetie?" Tara asked her daughter who wrapped her arms around her Mom shyly, happily chatting away with Olivia and her family.
"Nothin'" she replied. Tara knew her daughter better than that. Olivia glanced at her and back at Tara and gave her a little smile. She sensed that Kaci wasn't very happy either. "Noah, can you please come with me, I just want to make sure you've got everything in your football bag…" she suggested, getting up from her seat at the kitchen counter.
Noah rolled his eyes and followed Olivia down the hall to his room. She showed him everything that was beside the bag. "Anything else?," she wondered.
"I don't think so, I'll ask Dad."
"Honey, what's going on with Kaci? Why does she look so sad?"
Noah looked confused, "What do you mean? She's fine…"
"Mmm, I don't think so."
He shrugged, "maybe she's nervous about tonight… I don't know."
"You didn't fight or anything?," she pushed.
"No, Mom, of course not. She was fine…"
"Okay, I'll get Dad to come and have a look and check your stuff out."
When Olivia got back, she saw Tara and Kaci trying to communicate very, very quietly, with tears welling in Kaci's eyes. "Hey, honey," Olivia leaned over, "do you want to go to talk to Mom somewhere private?" She whispered.
Kaci nodded, not wanting her tears to spill over.
"Okay," she smiled at Tara, "you guys can go down the end of the hall, that's my room, you can go in there…"
"Come on," Tara got up from her spot and glanced at Olivia, "thanks Liv."
/
"What's wrong honey, you look so sad?" Tara pushed.
Immediately Kaci's eyes spilled over. Tara hugged her tightly. "Oh no, I don't want you to cry, you can tell me, baby…"
Kaci composed herself and wiped her face. "I'm sorry Mom, I didn't mean to make a scene, I'm just sad."
"Why, babe? Did something happen at school?"
She shook her head. "I'm sad about Noah," she let out another quiet sob, "I really really like him still and he always says such nice things to me and he still holds my hand and I told him he needed to be careful because I can't like him like that now… and he said that sometimes he feels confused still too…"
She covered her face, "I really love Noah, Mom, I love him as my friend and I like him as more than that and it just…. Hurts."
Tara hated that she was so upset. She enveloped her daughter in a warm hug and kissed her temple. "I'm sorry honey, love hurts sometimes, sometimes its actually just not fair, is it?"
Kaci shook her head. "Honey, its okay if you set boundaries so you don't get hurt," she told her, "you can tell him to stop treating you like his girlfriend if he doesn't like you as his girlfriend."
"I know, but I like him and I like when he holds my hand and when he says nice things," she sniffled.
Tara smiled. "You just need a good cry, you haven't wanted to talk about it with me since Noah told you, have you?," she caressed her hair. "Its okay to get it all out, maybe you'll feel better. I know Dad hated to see us cry, but its okay to cry, baby, you never have to hold back your tears or sadness with me, this is new for us both, now, huh?"
Kaci nodded. "I'm glad Dad's gone…" she murmured softly, hugging her Mom tight. "Our lives are nicer without him."
"They are," Tara agreed, "but we just have to find our way together; Dad stopped us from being ourselves emotionally, so we have to learn it all over again, but honey, you can talk to me anytime about any of this stuff…"
"Thanks Mom," she murmured.
"Here…" Tara lifted her daughter's chin with a finger so that she was looking up at her. She smoothed her tear-stained cheeks. "Do you think you'll be okay?"
Kaci nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Katie wanted me to go to her place so that she could do my make up, but I don't want to, I want to go down to school with you… I don't want to wear make up but I'm scared they'll be mad."
"Blame your Mom," she winked at her, "tell her Mom said no to make up. I am sure I have some mascara and some lipstick in my purse that we can do something dialled back for you."
"Thanks Mom," Kaci said again as Tara wiped her daughters cheeks again. "Do I look okay?"
"You look beautiful, can't even tell you've been sad. You are such a strong-hearted young woman, Kaci and I am so proud of you for being yourself always. I love you."
"I love you more, Mom," she managed to smile, hugging her Mom again before they went back out with the others.
/
"Everything okay?" Noah asked Kaci as Tara sat down again beside Olivia and picked up her drink again.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she flashed him a smile.
"Okay, Dad and I are gonna go now, I'm getting nervous."
"You'll go great, I just know it. I'll see you there."
Noah initiated a hug and Kaci hugged him back. "Good luck!"
"Can't wait to see you cheer," he grinned at her. Kaci just smiled and had to turn away.
"Okay, come on kiddo, Grandpa, Gav are coming, we need to get our skates on and go…"
/
"Mom, are you drinking alcohol?!" Kaci asked with a laugh, getting the scent of it as her Mom took a sip.
Tara glanced at her daughter and smirked at her, "Is that allowed?"
Kaci giggled, "Yes… you're an adult, you can do whatever you like."
"Thanks," she replied as the women who were all sharing a cocktail except Olivia laughed.
"Sweetie, would you like a fake cocktail with me?" Olivia asked, "its just to make us feel like we're part of it even though we aren't," she joked.
"Oooh can I, Mom?"
Tara glanced at her daughter and smiled, "if our noble bartender Raia is happy to poor you a very very virgin cocktail, then sure. Make sure you text Katie too."
"I will," Kaci grinned. She glanced at Raia, Trevor's sister who she had just been introduced to. "May I have a drink?"
"Of course, kiddo!" Raia smiled, "gosh you and Noah are the sweetest, most polite kids…"
"Oh thank you," Tara blushed, "Kaci is a good girl, aren't you?"
Kaci's cheeks just flushed, feeling Olivia's arms around her. "I heard you guys made up with Katie?"
"Yeah… but I still am being careful about her… we just have to be careful with what we say around her because she's kind of friends with the mean girls again."
"Katie wanted Kace to go meet with her so they could apply three inches of make up to her precious face."
"No," Olivia said bluntly, "you don't need it."
"Definitely not, you're adorable as you are," Georgie pitched in.
Raia slid a drink across the counter to Kaci who murmured a thank you.
"I just said that she could text Katie and say Mom said no, that we will meet her 4 at school and I have some mascara and lipstick in my bag that we can use and we'll dial it back a little."
"Definitely. I'm sure if you want some eyeshadow or something, I have that too…"
"Could we try doing my eyeliner like yours when you go to work Liv? Maybe that would be really nice."
Tara smiled at Liv. She wasn't great at doing make up, her ex husband hated when she wore it and called her names. "If that's okay with Mom, I can do a little winged eye…"
"Of course, if you want, baby," Tara replied.
"And you look so cute in your cheer outfit," Raia told her, "do you have to have your hair done?"
"Yeah," Kaci nodded, "a high ponytail with a red ribbon. I can do that in the change rooms though, I'm so excited, this is the first cheer I've been allowed to do at a night game!"
Tara grinned, "And afterwards Olivia and Trevor have been so kind to invite us with their family to dinner with Hannah and Adam too."
"Yeah, I know, Noah said! And then Lexi's birthday tomorrow afternoon…"
Olivia laughed, "thank goodness I got today off work and that Michelle the nanny is here with the girls…"
"Oh, I did wonder where Lexi was…"
They chatted for a little while before they all decided to go to the game together. Chloe and Lexi stayed at home with Michelle and they took Chloe with them since she would probably eat just before the game began and go to sleep not long after.
/
"Who are they?" Olivia asked nodding down to a bunch of other girls standing with Kaci with the coach of the cheer squad. Two girls stood just behind Kaci, looking her up and down and laughing at her.
"Ohhh some little cheer bitches that could take me straight back to high school Raia," Raia leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at the two or three girls.
"Yeah, they're the 'popular' girls," Tara made air quotes. "I think Katie made up with them but they have always given Kaci a hard time because we didn't allow her to go to parties or Clive never allowed her to do night games…"
"They have no right to be mean to her, she's clearly the cutest girl on the team," Olivia remarked, "I am tempted to go down there right now and make police officer Benson known."
"Do it, teach those little shits a lesson…"
Tara smiled, "quite frankly, they kind of scare me too."
"Okay, give me a reason to go down there," Olivia said decidedly when the coach walked away and the three girls said something to her and laughed in her face. Kaci looked to Katie who shrugged and Olivia was angry.
"Oh here, I have her ribbons… she has to have them in her hair." Tara reached in to her bag and pulled out two red ribbons.
"Thanks," Olivia took them. She made her way down the bleachers to the track just below. "Kace!"
Kaci turned around and saw Olivia. She looked relieved, her face was bright red. "Here you go sweetheart, we forgot to give you your ribbons," she glanced at the two girls who smirked away, one leaning against the other.
"Thanks Detective Benson," Kaci replied, looking up at Olivia in a little calculated move of her own.
"Ohhh you're Coach Langan's girlfriend," the tall blond exclaimed, the one who had been laughing at Kaci, "and you're pregnant!" She laughed with her friend, "Langan knocked you up!"
"Excuse me," Olivia rose her eyebrow, "what's your name?"
"Celeste, captain of the cheer team," she smiled a sugar-y sweet smile.
"Great, I'll be sure to remember that when I speak to your coach for your rudeness."
Celeste shrugged and smiled, "I was just paying you a compliment… I wasn't being rude."
Olivia held herself back, she turned back to Kaci, "are you all good? Do you need anything?"
She shook her head, "No thanks Liv, I think I'm set." She turned to Katie, "Katie, this is Olivia, Noah's Mom."
Katie glanced at Liv and gave her a smile. "Hello Detective Benson…"
"Nice to meet you Katie. I can't wait to see what you girls do tonight, good luck okay? Wave up at me if you need anything and your Mom, Raia or I will come down and help. Anything at all."
"Okay," Kaci grinned at her, glad to have Olivia on her side.
"And Celeste," Olivia smiled, "Maybe work on the way you speak to and about other females. We'd all appreciate that, I'm sure. Have a good night, girls." She turned back to Kaci, "anything at all, sweetie, you know where we are."
"Thanks," Kaci replied, feeling better with someone else on her side. "I'll see you guys after…"
/
"OKAY!" Trevor clapped his hands together, "guys this is Gavin, he's the only guy I know who loves football as much as my own Dad and I. Gavin is my brother-in-law and he knows almost as much about me as football," Trevor told his team.
The kids sat around, listening. Gavin laughed. "Now, you've all been training so hard and listening to everything I've been saying and I can't tell you how proud I am. From the beginning of this season, you guys all had your little clusters and cliques and weren't working together and now when I look around and I see you all getting along and working together closely, I am just…" he touched his heart, "I'm very happy. I don't care if you guys win tonight— although, I'd love that, but what I do want is for you all to go out and put your heart in to what you do on that field. Look to your team mates, there is no one hero of this team."
The kids clapped.
"Okay, we know what we all need to do — I am looking at you Ryan, you are going to be our best defence to date with the new switch up— does anyone have any questions?"
No one spoke up.
"Okay, now before we get out there and start warming up, I wanted to make an announcement. We have a new team captain since Peter is gone and I think this person has a tremendous amount of team spirit, encouragement and athleticism and will be everything that we need from a leader… Give me a drum roll guys!"
All the kids excitedly began hitting their benches hard for a few seconds until Trevor was grinning from ear-to-ear. He held up his hands with a laugh, "Okay, okay, guys please welcome Adam as your new team captain, come on up here Adam!"
Adam looked shocked and glanced at Noah, his face ashen with shock.
"Come on kiddo, get up here…"
Adam jumped up, a big smile on his face. "Thanks coach! Wow! I did not expect that… thank you!"
"Well, you deserve it, you've been a stellar player all year and you're a good, reliable student, helpful and full of integrity and the things that we all look for in a leader, so congratulations…"
Trevor was so happy to see the team receive the news well, they all clapped and yelled out their congrats to him. Adam looked genuinely moved. "Thanks Coach, this means a lot to me and I won't let you or our team down."
"I know you won't kid," Trevor smiled, giving him a pat on the back. Adam gave him a hug and went to sit back down with Noah and Ryan and some other team mates.
"Okay, we have about half an hour, so I want you all to do your stretches, your pre-game routines, whatever is going to make you all relax. If you need anything, come and see me or Gav and in thirty minutes we'll head out on to the field and start warming up."
/
"Oh my gosh," Olivia murmured with a big grin, gripping Raia's hand, "this is a proud Mommy moment, look at my kid… he looks so freaking grown up."
"I'm getting some photos for you," Hannah leaned over Tara who sat between them to let them know.
"Thanks," she beamed as the team filed out on to the field. Noah looked around to see if he could find his family before finally finding Liv and his grandparents and aunt. He waved to them all with a huge grin before putting his helmet on and jogging on to the field beside Adam.
"I hope he plays well…" she murmured nervously.
"WE MADE IT!" She heard a familiar voice cry out. She glanced over to the stairs and saw Amanda and Sonny climbing to the landing. "Ohhhh hey! Thank you guys for coming, hello Billie, hey Jessie!"
Olivia got up, carefully passing the her two friends sitting side by side closest to the stairs. She hugged her two friends and gave the two young girls kisses and hugs. She introduced everyone. "Noah just came out and gave us a big wave." She glanced at Sonny who had his big, professional camera."
"Oh, bless you, Sonny… you're gonna take pics?"
"Of course! I wouldn't have missed my nephew's game for anything and it has to be documented. I was thinking I might go down to the ground and take some proper photos."
"Why don't you see if you can go sit with Trevor and Gavin on the side line? I am sure it'd be fine."
"Maybe I will," Sonny smiled.
"Trevor said he'll pop up shortly anyway before they start warming up."
"Auntie Liv, could I come and sit with you?" Billie asked her softly, tugging at her arm.
"Billie, Auntie Liv is busy watching Noah play football, you're going to sit with me and Jessie, you're not getting in the way, okay? I already told you."
Billie, embarrassed, buried her face in to Amanda's shirt. Olivia smiled at Amanda, "its okay…"
"I can move up a seat," Raia told Amanda, "I don't mind." She had already moved before Amanda could say another word.
"Come on, come and sit next to me," Olivia told her, not being able to resist Amanda's youngest daughter. "You can watch Noah play with me but if Mom says you have to go sit back with her, then you have to go sit back with her, okay?"
Billie smiled happily. Amanda half-smiled and rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she and Jessie sat behind them beside Georgie and Patrick. Billie sat down, leaning against Olivia, wrapping her arms around her. Liv put an arm around the little girl's shoulders and chatted to her a little. "Liv, I'm right behind you," Jessie informed her. Olivia leaned back and tilted her head back to see Jessie they both giggled. "I'm gonna play with your hair, it's super long now."
"I'll allow it," Olivia replied, giving her a wink.
"Are you the child whisperer, Liv?" Raia joked.
"She really is," Amanda agreed, "they like her more than me."
Raia laughed, "Stay away from my kids, they're annoying but I'm too attached now," she joked.
Liv laughed, spotting Trevor making his way up to them on the bleachers. He greeted everyone with a big grin and gave Jessie their own version of a secret handshake he had made up between her and Noah and himself at dinner. Amanda admitted that Jessie absolutely adored Trevor but as both she and Olivia knew, Jessie took a lot more time to show her affection with others and was very held back about it, unlike Billie.
"Hiiii Uncle Trevor!" Billie exclaimed, jumping up from her seat excitedly. Trevor grinned at her, "Hi baby! How are you?"
"Good! I"m sitting next to Auntie Liv!," she announced. Trevor glanced at Liv and smiled. "You are so lucky," he told her, scooping her up and giving her a hug. "I'm a little jealous. Can I sit there for one second? You can sit on my lap if you like…"
Billie nodded and giggled, loving the attention she was getting. "Thanks," he smiled, taking a seat beside Olivia. "Hello you," he greeted Liv, leaning over and kissing her cheek. "Did you see Noah?"
"I did," she exclaimed. "Hey, is it okay if Sonny comes down there with you and Gavin? He was thinking of taking some photos of the game with his fancy camera."
"Sure!" He looked up at Sonny, "you wanna come out to the sidelines?"
"Only if I'm not in the way, coach!"
"Nah, you're fine, you can come and meet my brother-in-law, Gavin… he's down there with me too. I'll tell the kids you're a cop so they won't mess around with me," Trevor joked.
They laughed. "Hey Hanna, Adam should have something to celebrate after the game too," he told her, "so I hope you're coming for dinner," he looked at Tara, "and you too, Tara."
"We'll be there. I have Kyle at home taking care of Alice, but they might come and join us."
"Awesome, okay, well I wanted to just come say hello." He twisted around to see his father. "Hey Dad, you want to come down to the sideline too?," he wondered, "Maybe a second set of eyes for me if I'm missing a play."
"I don't think you need my help, son, but I'm happy to come closer to the action," Patrick beamed at his son.
"K, come on." He turned to Billie, "K, kiddo, I gotta go, but I'll come and say hello to you and your sister a little later after the game… I wanna hear you and Jessie cheering so loudly for Noah and his friends!" He turned to Jessie who was playing with Liv's hair, "you got it?"
"I'll scream so loud my throat will be sore tomorrow and I'll have to lay in bed playing my Nintendo all day," Jessie replied in a drole tone, glancing to her mother for a reaction.
"Actually, some silence would be nice," Amanda smiled back, knowing her daughter was hitting that weird tween phase where she was purposely finding the sweet spot between being funny and having an attitude. She had almost fine-tuned it.
"Well, good." Trevor replied, "enjoy that." He stood up and placed Billie back down in the the seat by Olivia. He smiled at Raia who wished him luck. He leaned over and covered Olivia's cheek with his hand and kissed her softly. "See you on the other side…"
"Gooooood luck, Coach!"
"We won't need it," he replied confidently. "I believe in my kids."
Once he was out of earshot, Hannah glanced up at Georgie and over at Raia and smirked. "I don't mean this disrespectfully, but holy crap your man is a very, very, beautiful man."
Olivia's cheeks flushed as Raia made a vomit noise. "He almost swallowed her face in front of us all," she remarked, "there's zero shame…"
"Cut it out," Georgie told her daughter, "your brother is a beautiful man, I'm very proud of him."
"Not like me," Raia winked at the other ladies, "I'm the disappointment, the first born, You know, the burned batch of cookies before they got the recipe right," she joked.
They all laughed as Georgie swatted her.
/
"Awww look, here she comes, front and centre, oh man she is so cute!" Hanna exclaimed, watching Kaci, as they all erupted in to claps and cheers for Noah and Adam's closest friend. She was wearing a long sleeved-form-fitting white cheer top with the school's name across the chest and a matching red skirt. Hanna made her way down the stairs so she could get some closer photos.
Music began to pump out over the field speakers - some kind of annoying dance music, Olivia thought, but she felt Tara grab her arm excitedly to see her daughter. "I've never seen her cheer before," she admitted.
"Awww well, this is it… it's her time, and look… she's the smallest so she gets to be in the most important spot," she told her new friend.
The girls started dancing with their pom-poms in perfect unison, nothing was even a bit out of place. They were formed in a perfect V, alternating steps between each girl before they made a circle and flipped each alternative girl over backwards.
Kaci made it look easy - as though here shoes had springs. She and another girl managed to just bounce back. They both cartwheeled a few times as the other girls got in to a new formation and Kaci rejoined them.
"Wow, she is so good!" Georgie remarked, "Oh, Tara, you must be so, so proud!"
"She is," Amanda agreed, "Wow…"
Before they knew it, Kaci was standing steady at the top of a pyramid, helped only once to her place by another two girls on either side of her, all the girls began to chant the name of their team. Kaci took a jump in to the arms of the girls waiting below, they caught her and assisted her backflip back to the ground.
They spelled out their team, "K! N! I! G! H! T! S!, goooo Knights!"
Shocking Tara was the series of hand springs that Kaci and another girl did in perfect rhythm to the front of the formation, creating the same V that they had started with. "Holy shit," Kaci muttered to Olivia, "I thought she wasn't at her tumble classes long enough to learn anything like that!"
Olivia was grinning with a similar feeling of pride as Tara must have felt.
The girls finished their routine by skipping and cartwheeling at their own leisure around the track, rousing the crowd in to an excited frenzy of cheering as the Knights all took their places on the field.
"Oh, I am so proud of my girl, she may be the smallest, but she was certainly the star of the show," Tara remarked with a laugh, wiping her moist eyes, "or am I being one of those Moms?!"
"No! She was definitely the best one there," Raia confirmed and the others agreed. "I was a cheerleader in high school and I wasn't small enough to be a flyer, I can't believe all the air she was getting with those handsprings, put her back in to tumbling or gymnastics— she could go pretty far…" Raia added.
"Oh no, all of that costs way more money than I have at the moment," Tara laughed, "she did tumble for a couple of months but … things happened." Tara felt Olivia squeezing her hand.
/
Trevor was happy that the team won the coin toss, he had advised Adam to begin with the ball, it was better to start points up than to chase behind. He shoved his clipboard beneath his arm and clapped on his team. He glanced at Noah who was a little nervous. "Go on, sunshine, you can do this," he told him, "you're going to be great, ya know why?"
"Why?" Noah asked.
"Because we…" he pointed at himself, Sonny and Gavin, "we love you and we believe in you and we've all seen how fast you are and how much you've improved that arm of yours."
Noah smiled and looked back at his newly acquired uncle and his uncle Sonny. They beamed at him. "Come on kid, you're gonna kill it!"
Noah looked ahead and jogged on to the field to be with his team, lining up for the kick off.
Trevor walked the sideline, making sure his team were in the correct formation for the play he had asked them to lead with.
It was only a matter of seconds before Ryan caught the ball and ran with it to the thirty yard line before smacked by a tackle. Impressed, Noah got in close behind him for the hike and caught the ball.
He'd never been tackled before for real and Trevor was a little worried about how it would affect him, but had faith that Noah would put off the opposition just a little with his speed and ability to duck and weave.
His teammates ran alongside him, Adam a little further ahead going long. Noah side stepped one of the bigger not-as-fast player and began to move a lot faster, seeing another teammate, Caleb further ahead of Ryan and out in the open. He threw the ball with his best arm, sending it hurtling toward him. He ran for it, catching it and continuing down the field just as Noah got tackled from the side, sending him in to the grass.
"Ughhh…" he groaned, feeling it in his shoulder. He was able to shake it off as he got back up, helped up by Ryan - they both laughed at the stupidity of it.
"You good?" Ryan asked.
"Yeah…"
"Good throw, look how close we are, two downs left…"
/
At half time the boys filed off the field looking a little beaten down. They were five points behind and a little sore from the running around the opposing team.
"Guys, you're doing good, you can still win this but you need to reach back in and find your heart. A lot of you have all but given up and what do we not do on this team?" Trevor asked them, huddling around.
"Don't give up," Adam replied, "we don't give up."
"Your team Captain's got it right, we do not give up! Do I ever give up on you guys?"
There was a series of no's.
"That's right, so you guys are not giving up on yourselves either. I have a bunch of plays we are gonna look at, but go and get some water or gatorade or whatever you got and then come back because time is of the essence and we are going to renew ourselves…"
"I sucked," Noah muttered to Ryan. Without even thinking he pulled out a bottle of gatorade and an extra one for his teammate who never had anything special, just a refilled bottle of water. "Here, this is for you."
Ryan smiled and took the gatorade. "Thanks Noah, that's really nice of you and also, you do not suck. You had some really good throws and you had a fantastic run with the ball. Don't be hard on yourself. This is your first real game of football ever, you're doing great."
"Thanks," he murmured, taking a huge big drink of his strawberry flavoured drink before he and Ryan went to meet back with Coach Langan.
He began to advise all of the team members of their roles and how they would play the ball depending on the other team.
"Caleb, Ryan, Lincoln, you guys are going to need to come in hard for the defence especially when the guys have the ball…Adam, I am going to need you to go long and Noah and Jacob, if you guys see an open, you get that ball and you run with it, don't hold on to it if you can't, you're going to look for Adam or any one of you that happens to have an open and you're gonna muscle that ball down to them. We need one touchdown to take the lead, guys. Just one — you can all do this."
/
Kaci's cheer team took the field for their second routine that went a little longer. It was this one she was most nervous about. The back handsprings were fine she was used to doing them, but the ground wasn't the same kind of surface as when they had perfected it in the gym.
The music began and she and Katie and Celeste tumbled their way in to formation with a series of cartwheels and front handsprings until Kaci felt herself gaining confidence. She loved the feeling of flying through air. She likened it to all the childhood memories of being able to fly away when things got bad at home - this was as close as she got.
She wasn't as much in to the dancing side of cheer but she knew she wasn't terrible at it— after all it had been Coach Wilkin's idea to have her front and centre because she was the smallest and the most engaging due to her tumbling range.
She made eye contact with Noah from the sideline and saw him grinning at her and clapping for her. She grinned back as she moved to the back getting ready to get lifted up and to do her jump tuck in to the arms of her waiting teammates. She had been a little nervous but despite Celeste being a little bitchy, she was obsessed with making their team perfect so she knew that they wouldn't do anything stupid no matter how much she despised Kaci.
She was relieved when it went off without a hitch and she was left to do a series of back handsprings with her tumble partner Stephanie Ridger. Steph was just as nervous as she had been but they both managed to get through and concentrate on the rest, the less difficult parts of the routine.
She could see her Mom and Olivia and everyone else cheering for them in the bleachers as they finished up and made their way back to track so that they could run the edge of the field rousing up excitement again.
/
"You're doing great! Two minutes left, you've got this!" Trevor yelled at the team from the field. "CONCENTRATE! HUSTLE! Make! ME! PROUD!" He turned back to his brother-in-laws and grinned, "You guys are AMAZING no matter WHAT!"
Some of the team laughed at their coaches cheesiness, but they didn't want to let him down. They wanted to win, but the opposing team was just very good on the defence.
"Get ready to run the ball, Noah, Adam's going long… you need to get as far as you can and hike it out to him, okay? We can do this! Listen to coach!"
"We can do this," Noah nodded solemnly. He concentrated hard on Ryan's words and waited patiently for Hudson to receive the hike. Noah kept alongside him as as the blockers smashed the opposition out of the way.
Just as Hudson was about to get tackled, he found Noah and gave a shaky throw to him. Noah had to jump, almost in a dive to catch it, but the throw hadn't been expected so no one had been marking him. He took off, as fast as he could down the field, yard after yard, hitting the 20 yard mark, 30, and so forth, looking out for his team mates. He could see a blocker running toward him, charging at him, ready to lay him out and Noah knew it would hurt.
He looked for Adam but Adam had been knocked down by surprise. He looked for Caleb but he wasn't anywhere to be found. He paused for a second weaving past the blocker, throwing him off with a fake-side step before just sliding out of his reach. He continued to dash past him, running his fastest, his legs pumping with adrenalin, holding on to the ball tight. He could hear the crowd in the bleachers yelling and cheering and his Dad bellowing at him to run.
He could see the touch down line, he was so close, but he could also see the one defender on the other team charging at him, looking to tackle him low. Using his ducking and weaving technique, the defender ended up on the ground with a poor grasp on one of Noah's legs. He gave it his best and tried to leap out of the grasp, stumbling forward a few paces until the line was suddenly beneath his stomach and the ball was grounded by his two hands.
The wind was taken out of him for just a second, but it passed with the excitement of what he had just done for his team. He glanced back as if he could hardly believe it himself, he wanted to be sure that it wasn't a mistake; that the touch down counted.
His Dad's clipboard went flying in the air and his team mates caught up with him, lifting him off the ground screaming at him all at once. Noah was a little dazed, but a smile began to spread across his face as he saw the score tick over. They were now one point ahead with just under one minute to go.
Ryan grabbed his newfound friend and shook him. "YOU did it, Benson! You fucking did it!"
"Play the clock out, come on, let's just play this fucking clock out!," Adam told them. "We won," he laughed in disbelief. He put an arm around Noah, "you did it, you are the GOAT, Noah! Our secret weapon."
Noah was so happy, the happiest that he'd made the man that he called his father, so, so, incredibly proud of him. He jumped up and down a few times to try to get rid of the nervous energy.
Their kicker stood around a little, using as much time as possible before he kicked the most perfect goal. Two points up, with ten seconds left on the clock, the Knights claimed their win and the opposing team made their way off field, angered by the last minute touch down and miserably wishing some of the Knights a good game.
Noah was pooped he sat down on the field ripping his helmet off and tossing it. He was sore, and tired.
"Up you get, champ," Adam told him as the team were still yelling and screaming at one another, all amped up and excited over the win. Joined by the team, they hoisted a laughing and protesting Noah up on to their shoulders and taunted him good-naturedly.
Trevor was beside himself with happiness and he could see it all over Noah's face, that he was so happy too.
He met his team on the field after they'd finally put Noah down and demanded a huddle. They all stood in a circle arms around each other. "You guys, I am so, so incredibly proud of you all - you all came together and you played cohesively and intuitively, looking out for one another and supporting each other. There is no single star on this team - you are all stars, all of you and," he felt himself getting a little emotional, "I'm incredibly proud… I don't want anyone to think I'm playing favourites but I really do have to tell you, Noah, you did an excellent job and I'm saying that as your coach, not as a parent, truly. You have come so far and we all very, very proud of how you, Ryan and Caleb set up that play for the winning points…"
"Thanks…" Noah murmured, embarrassed but also scared he might cry.
His teammates backed up Trevor's words.
"We are going to come back from our break and hit this season hard," he told them. He smiled around at all the excitable faces and knew that his job was absolutely worth it. He couldn't place the joy that he was able to lead them to. He knew sport wasn't everything but it was inspiring to him and he hoped that it was his inspiration that led to their self-belief.
"Okay, come over to the sideline, I have something for you all…"
The team slowly made their way over to their Coach, a buzz of excitement still coursing through them all. The cheerleaders came over to congratulate them. Noah was so happy to see Kaci's face. He engulfed her in a hug, lifting her up and spinning her. "You were so amazing out there," he grinned at her.
She giggled as he put her down, "so were you…" she murmured. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, "congratulations, Noah, I knew would have an amazing game."
"Thank you," he smiled. "Can you teach me to do those hand springs? Next time I score a touch down I wanna do something fun like the guy on the other team did."
Kaci laughed and nodded. "We're just gonna go get our jackets, its getting a bit cold, but I'll come back soon, okay?"
"Okay!"
Trevor pulled a bunch of medals from his bag and smiled at the kids. "Here guys, I wanted to give this to you all - I know it was a friendly match, but this is to just start off the season with a gift to show you all that I believe in you, I think you are all so good and skilled and I don't care what the scores say, as long as you always give it your best and you always treat each other with kindness and integrity and not just each other, but your opposition too, regardless of how dirty they might play. Go and put these medals up at home and remember that me and your teammates all believe that you can be great and you are all winners."
"That's so nice, thanks coach," Ryan remarked first, "thank you, No other coach has ever been this nice…"
Trevor smiled and handed him one first. "You are welcome, Ryan, and thank you for your behavioural improvement, your gameplay has only gotten better." Ryan smiled, happy for the friend he'd made in Noah and happy by extension for the extra help Trevor had afforded him financially for new boots and game equipment quietly between them.
The team wore their medals proudly as they filed in to the change rooms rambunctious and excitable over their amazing win. Noah hung back, chatting with his Uncles.
Trevor smiled at him and made his way over after the kids disappeared in to the change room. He engulfed him in a hug and kissed his temple. "You," he murmured, "you were incredible, Sunshine, you took every single thing that I've ever taught you, that Grandpa has taught you and you put it in to that game and…" he shook his head, "look," he showed Noah his clipboard, "I broke my clipboard out of excitement… I don't even think I was aware of your talent.
"Thanks Dad…" Noah murmured, his eyes welling up. He hugged him back. Sonny smiled, happy that Trevor was everything that Olivia's son needed in a man. "Go on, go in there with your team and celebrate. I'll be in there in a minute to wind things down a bit…"
/
"Give them a moment," Trevor told Olivia quietly, kissing her temple. "I think our son is on struggle street with his feelings right now…"
"In what way?" Liv asked, looking up at her beautiful man.
"Mmm on the way back to school we had a chat in the change room while we waited for everyone else and we talked about the sexual spectrum-"
"What are you guys talking about over here?" Raia asked as they
"Its a private conversation, buzz off…" Trevor replied with a smile.
"Oh, so rude. Amanda did you hear how my brother speaks to me?" Raia chuckled.
"I didn't hear anything," Amanda joked. Raia laughed too and shook her head. Olivia seemed a little serious though and Trevor's sister took the hint that perhaps it was a little private. Trevor pulled Olivia aside, further away from everyone.
"And what was said?," she asked without skipping a beat, wondering exactly what Trevor had told him.
"Just that it's possible for you to feel more comfortable with the label of being homosexual or gay or whatever he chooses to call it, but sometimes that he might feel attracted to another person at the heterosexual end of the spectrum and in life it might change and that that's okay, he might be more inclined to fall in love with the person, not the gender and sexually that might be enough…"
Olivia smiled. "Do you think he is attracted to Kaci in that way?"
"I do… there's a lot of chemistry between them, that puppy love excitement. I saw it out there today when they won and she came to greet him. He does really love her, but I think he's caught up on needing to label it all."
She glanced over watching him quietly chat to Kaci in private as they began to walk across the field back to the rest of their waiting family and friends. They were both laughing and Kaci was showing him her shoes. Noah grinned at her and shook his head almost as if in disbelief. Before she knew it he lowered himself down and let Kaci climb on his back, piggybacking her. She reached over and pulled off her white Nike trainers on one side and held on to it.
"See?," Trevor told her quietly, "that's not the actions of a kid that isn't interested in a girl," Trevor told her.
"True…" Olivia decided to talk to Noah about it later. She and Tara had discussed Kaci's little melt down about her feelings earlier and she was sure that she would feel very protective of her daughters feelings. And if Noah had no plans of pursuing her, she needed to tell him to back off because Kaci was going to get hurt.
Noah finally made it to where his family were all waiting with a big proud grin as Kaci slid off his back and took off her other shoe. He made a beeline for Olivia who opened her arms waiting to receive him. "'My love I am so proud of you!," she exclaimed, squeezing him so tight. "You were so fast! I had no idea how fast you are!"
Noah smiled so brightly that she felt herself lighting up. The joy of her son was something that she had seen not nearly as much of in recent times and she was so incredibly fulfilled.
"Thanks, Mom," he murmured. She kissed his cheek and pulled him close again. "Love you…"
"I love you," Olivia replied, "you just really blew me away, sweetheart, Dad and I are so, so, so proud, we all are!"
Noah finally pulled away and went to greet everyone else, catching up with Adam finally since he had waited around for Kaci. He surveyed her with her Mom, she was happy too, it was a nice feeling to share with everyone and especially Kaci. He had stopped himself from kissing her earlier, but the urge hadn't gone — maybe it was the excitement of what he'd achieved, or maybe it was just that he found it very hard to resist her, but it was a feeling that confused him and the talk with Trevor in private before the game had shifted his approach a little, but he wanted to talk more with Kaci and maybe even his Mom.
"Hey Dad…" Noah got close to Trevor, noticing Ryan waiting by the road for someone to pick him up as they all made their way closer to their cars.
"Yes?" Trevor turned around.
Noah nodded over at Ryan, "Can we invite Ryan to dinner? I feel bad, I don't think he has anyone…his Mom is just— I don't know-"
"Sure, come on," he let go of Liv's hand and handed her the car keys, "we'll just go and invite him," he leaned forward and kissed Olivia's lips. "Meet you at the car in a second?"
"Okay," she smiled. "I'll check in with Michelle."
/
"Hey kiddo, we're going out to dinner to get some pizzas and celebrate with Adam and Kaci and some of our family, would you like to come?"
Ryan looked up to find Trevor and Noah standing by. "Oh, thanks but… its okay."
"Don't be crazy, its free pizza," Noah smiled, "for us anyway," he added with a little laugh.
"I gotta wait for my Mom," he tried to insist, "thanks though."
"How long do you have to wait? Can you just text her and say you're going to hang out with friends and we'll drop you home later?" Noah pressed. "Come on, it won't be the same without you!"
Ryan smiled, "I know you're just being nice, Noah, its okay, you should go hang out with your family, you deserve it."
"So do you," Trevor replied, "You set up that touch down, you are just as deserving."
Adam looked around as if he was considering it. He looked at his phone and then back over at his coach. "Okay, I guess if its okay I'll just call my Mom first and make sure its fine."
The Pizza restaurant was loud and busy but Trevor had reserved a semi-private function area so that they could have enough space all to themselves. He went to the counter with his Dad and ordered a bunch of different things and a few jugs of soda.
"You must be proud-as-punch tonight?" Patrick remarked, looking around.
"I am," Trevor grinned, "Those boys were so amazing out there, I am blown away by their teamwork. If you had of seen them back when we put this year's team together…" he laughed, "they all hated each other and I really am just… surprised and delighted by it all."
"So you're still set on leaving for Elementary school?"
"Yeah but I'm not leaving the PE department," Trevor corrected him. "The team will be a priority. John is happy for me to stay as the head of the department as a see-how-we-go because the workload might be a bit too much, but we'll see."
Trevor's Dad put his hand on his son's wallet. "Let me pay, I've got this."
"No Dad-"
"Please," he insisted, "I don't get to enjoy this kind of thing much anymore and we only arrived last night and I'm just having the greatest time with family and … your new extended family."
Trevor smiled, "Okay, thanks Dad." He felt his Dad's hand patting his back gently as he took out his own card and smiled at girl working the counter. Trevor glanced over to a loud family just over to his left on the other side of the restaurant. Some big shot mouthing off to what he figured was his family, flanked by a blond woman fawning over every word that came out of his mouth as if it was something special.
He caught himself judging and quickly looked away, remembering to mind his own business. He really didn't appreciate alpha-male types. There were ways to be masculine without having to talk over people and perform for everyone.
He and his Dad took the jugs of soda back to the table and the waitress brought out some cups. Michelle had arrived with Chloe and Lexi since Chloe hadn't been able to settle and it was disturbing Lexi's routine.
The kids were ravenous and sat around Sonny as he showed them the photos that he took including a great one of Noah looking back at the scoreboard in absolute shock.
Trevor sat down and pulled Olivia on to his lap, wrapping his arms around her. She smiled, circling an arm around his shoulders as he rested his hand on her swollen belly. She looked around with a smile at her friends and family all getting along and chatting with each other with no awkwardness. "This is nice…" she murmured to him.
He kissed her cheek, ignoring the fact that Noah's friends were also his students and he sometimes struggled with being coach/teacher or parent Trevor.
"It is, isn't it?," Trevor asked, "do you feel like… this intense peace and happiness? Because I really do… it's not like something I have experienced before, its a little overwhelming."
Olivia looked at him, catching his beautiful gaze. She studied his face with a small, adoring smile. "Yes… this is it for me, the pinnacle of happiness, I always dreamed I'd be with someone who just loved me unconditionally and that I'd be surrounded by a version of family, unforced, just… taking stock, and this is it and we this beautiful thing together and these kids…" she nodded at Noah who was grinning and joking around with his friends sitting close to Kaci, holding her hand tightly even when they both lifted their pizza to eat. She nodded over at Lexi who was on Gavin's knee getting bounced around the same as Chloe was from Trevor's Dad, both girls were giggling loudly.
Amanda, Hannah and Tara were standing to the side, drinking beers and talking about Mom stuff while Georgie and Raia were trying to decide if they wanted something else to eat beside pizzas.
"This is just how I imagined things…" Olivia told him with a little nod. "And baby on the way…"
Trevor grinned at her and leaned forward for a soft, lingering kiss. Olivia kissed him back, allowing the tip of his tongue to graze hers.
"Gross Trevor, do you really think your students want to see you making out with Olivia?," Raia called, noticing Noah looking a little bright-faced.
Trevor pulled away and laughed, shaking his head. "I'm Dad, Trevor now, not teacher or coach Trevor. Stop causing trouble."
"Yeah… but you could stop, you too, Mom," Noah added with a little laugh. Kaci nudged him.
"Leave your parents alone, they're cute," she admonished him making Sonny smirk. "At least they love one another."
"True," Ryan added. "That's gotta be nice at least."
"Just not in public," Noah replied.
"Honey, come over here and talk to me…" Olivia told her son. He seemed slightly annoyed but he did what was asked and reluctantly let go of Kaci's hand. He made his way over and sat on the bench seat beside his Mom.
"Sorry Sunshine, I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your friends," Trevor told him quietly, feeling a little bad.
"Its okay," Noah replied.
"I'm gonna go and get a beer," he told Olivia, "do you want anything?"
"I'm really craving like… I don't know, maybe something really tasty like some tortellini…"
"I got you," Trevor replied with a smile.
/
"Noah… honey, what's going on with Kaci?" Olivia asked him very softly, speaking close in to his ear.
"What do you mean?," he wondered.
"I don't know… you told us all that big thing and please know that I don't mind either way what's going on, but… if you feel like you aren't attracted to her in that way, you need to be very gentle with her heart, because that sweet girl is very, very in to you and I think if you don't feel the same, you need to create some boundaries."
Noah thought for a moment, looking over at Kaci who had taken her hair from the high ponytail, leaving it tumbling naturally down her shoulders. They caught eyes, she smiled at him.
"What if I don't know?," he asked quietly.
"You told me when you kissed her, you didn't get those feelings…"
Noah shrugged again, "I guess I didn't at first and then… I did and the closer and closer we get, the stronger I feel and I don't know what that means."
"I think you need to be careful of getting her hopes up because despite what she might say, kiddo, she definitely likes you so much. After school she went out to my bedroom with her Mom and cried because she felt confused because she likes you so much and doesn't want anything to change, but she knows you don't feel about her the same…"
"Oh."
"Its okay if you feel like you have feelings for both girls and guys, Noah, that's okay. Its okay if its mostly guys and in this one case, a girl… these feelings happen and its okay to be in love with someone based on the person and not their gender."
"I know, Dad told me that too…"
"Do you think that's what it is? Maybe you fall in love with the person not the gender?"
"At this point, maybe. I just adore her so much and today when I saw her after her cheer at half-time I almost kissed her, I wanted to so bad but I was trying to be careful."
"You're a very good kid, Noah… we can talk about this more later, we're celebrating right now, just maybe… talk to her, tell her where she stands with you and explain what you're explaining to me, you guys talk about everything, I think its important that you share your feelings."
He nodded in agreement. Olivia leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Good boy. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Okay, go back to your friends. Find out if they want anything to eat besides pizza - if anyone wants some pasta or garlic bread or something and honey, please take care of Ryan, okay? I think he has a hard time at home…"
"K Mom," Noah replied, kissing his Mom on the cheek, heading back over to his spot beside Kaci.
Trevor arrived back at the table with his beer and let Olivia know her pasta was coming. He made the rounds, offering to grab other food from the menu. Kaci got up and made her way over to her Mom, shy in front of Amanda and Hannah still.
"Oh, you little cutie," Amanda remarked, "you did so good today, Kaci, I think Hannah got some excellent shots and so did my husband, did he show you?"
Kaci nodded, her face turning pink. "Mom, could I get some pasta? Is that okay?"
Olivia caught the wince on her Mom's face - Olivia wasn't stupid, she knew without an income, Tara was living on the help of her parents. Every dollar was spent wisely.
"It's on us, what would you like babe?" Olivia asked her.
"No, don't be silly Olivia, you guys got all those pizzas," Tara shot back.
"No," Trevor cut in, "my Dad insisted on getting all those pizzas," he smiled, "he looked at Kaci, "what would you like, its our treat tonight, whatever you want."
Kaci still looked to her Mom and saw her hesitating. "Its okay, I'll just have the pizza, thanks Trevor."
"No, no, no, I want you to have what you want, sweetheart, we invited you guys so we pay, it's the rules."
"No-"
"Kaci," Olivia groaned, "its okay, what would you like?"
"Its okay sweetie," Tara urged her, "you get what you want, its a special occasion, I can afford it."
"Could I please have the gnocchi?"
"Of course," Trevor smiled as Tara tried to hand him some money. "Keep your money, Tara, buy yourself another drink with it if you need to, we're good, we're paying."
He took orders from the others and went and ordered a couple of different things and some garlic bread. Finally he was able to sit down back with his brother-in-law, taking Lexi from him to give him a break. Sonny joined them after showing the kids all the photos.
Eventually Tara joined Olivia who was just sitting watching everyone having a nice time. "Are you okay? You're a bit quiet…" Tara remarked.
Olivia turned to her with a smile. "Yeah… just sitting here feeling a little grateful if that doesn't sound too stupid."
"I get it…Liv, thanks for all that you do for my little girl… I know you know I'm struggling financially, so it's not lost on me when you guys treat her with things, it's very kind."
"Oh, I hope you don't feel like we're overstepping."
"No, not really but… Kaci might have to learn no sometimes," she told her gingerly, "I can't always say yes and as much as that kills me to tell her no, I just need her to understand that I'm doing my best."
"I'm sorry," Olivia apologised, "I didn't mean to overstep, I guess I just…"
"No, you and Trevor have such beautiful hearts, I know that its never your intention to make me feel bad at all, I love that so much about you, I've never had friends really since I was a teenager and it's just a new world for me that I'm still navigating and my therapist is helping me figure out what a boundary is and how to set it-"
"Ah," Liv smiled, "I understand. If I'm crossing any boundaries, I would always want you to tell me."
"I just want to provide for Kaci, we are in a really tricky spot right now because I'm working online in this stupid low paying admin thing which was fine when I had another income but it's just not enough…"
"Well… I understand that well enough, I think from my point of view is that I guess I like to be generous with the stuff that I have, Trevor too, when we decide we care about someone, those things, money, food, whatever- it's not really an issue, we just want to share it all…"
Tara smiled and chuckled, "you guys really are something special, Olivia, that's actually incredibly sweet and it is generous. I think maybe when I find a job I'll feel much more relaxed."
"Wellllll…. Maybe I can help with that?," Olivia thought suddenly, with a little smile.
"What do you mean?" Tara asked.
"Sonny…" she called out. Sonny looked up, holding Lexi on his hip, dancing around with her until she giggled happily. He made his way over. "Aww missy, you should be asleep, you are gonna be so cranky tomorrow for your special day!"
"Uncle Sonny will have her asleep in no time, promise. What's up?"
"Do you remember last week when I was at the precinct and the Chief was telling us to get a civilian in to do the admin role because we were spending too much time with the filing?"
"Oh yeah, he wasn't happy over that…"
"Do you know if anyone has actually spoken to the department about hiring anyone?"
"No, but actually Fin brought it up again the other day, you know how much he hates filing and always messes it up."
Olivia smiled at Tara, "We-llll," she gestured toward Tara, "You interested in a well-paid admin job, T?"
Sonny smiled at Olivia's new friend, the mother of Noah's girlfriend. "Oh, really? I mean, I'm not overly qualified for much."
"Don't worry about it, we'll teach you, it's not something anyone could have training for, we're really messy, you could probably organise it in your very own way," Sonny told her with a smile. "It'd probably be five days a week if we wanted to stretch it out…"
"I used to make Noah come down to the precinct and wait for me in the lunch room so if you're worried about Kaci after school you could do that, or she could come hang out with us if you don't like her to be alone."
"Are you serious, though? I mean… it sounds too perfect," she grinned.
"Well leave it with me and I'll speak to the powers that be on Monday and I'm sure the hiring will get left up to me, it always does… Maybe we can go in to the precinct and I could show you what kind of stuff you'd be doing and see if you're interested and by that time I could tell you what kind of salary and what budget we have for hours and stuff… I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner."
"That would be so good, thank you Olivia… Thank you Sonny."
"You're welcome," Liv replied. She glanced up, "Hey, where are you going?," Tara clocked Kaci and Noah walking out.
"Uh… we're just going out side to talk for a minute, is that okay?" Kaci asked.
"Yes but not too long honey, you just ordered some food," she reminded her pointedly.
"I know," she replied.
"I promise we'll be back in a few minutes, Tara," Noah replied.
Sonny passed over Lexi who was reaching for her Mommy. Olivia took her and cuddled her close, reaching in to the bag that Michelle had brought for a bottle that she was about to ask Trevor if he could get warmed up by the staff.
Once Trevor took it she rocked Lexi slowly. "I talked to Noah about being very gentle with Kaci's heart. I could tell she was upset this afternoon and I don't want Noah to lead her on or hurt her."
"Thanks Liv, Kaci told me she didn't want anything to change, she didn't want their closeness to change or anything, but it hurts that he likes her enough to treat her like his girlfriend but nothing else…"
"Actually…" Liv began quietly, knowing Noah hadn't come out to Sonny or Amanda yet nor did she imagine that Ryan knew. "I don't know about that… I think Noah is struggling with this feeling of sexual fluidity… he thinks everything has to be labeled. I think he's just in love with the person not the gender. I told him tonight to be careful and to be sure that Kaci knows where he stands but he mentioned that he does have feelings toward her, but mostly he looks at boys and thinks theyre cute but I know he looks at Kaci and thinks she's the most beautiful thing…" Olivia smiled. "I actually think they have something special between them."
"I agree," Tara replied, "and I decided that I need to stay out of it and let them both figure it out. Kaci said she didn't want to create boundaries. She likes holding his hand and hugging him and being affectionate with him… so I can't do anything but just support her and Noah too, you know, they're both in a position where things could go well or go south and really they'll know what's right for them. They're kids, but they're a lot smarter than we were at that age."
"I agree with that…" Olivia laughed as Trevor returned with the bottle.