A/N: [October 26th 2024]

October 26th 2023

Chapter 299
We Imagine Class Days

"Hey…"

"Mr. Hunter," Maya smirked as she spotted her father hanging out just outside her classroom. "You're early for your appointment."

"No, yeah, I know, I know," he promised. It gave her the biggest flashbacks to the very early days of their even knowing one another, when he would suddenly and somewhat regularly have photo assignments that took him either to or through the city of Austin, the better for him to visit her and her mother. More than that, the way he looked at her now, he knew that she was thinking it, and it amused him. Process of elimination soon gave her some idea of the real reason for his visit… She moved to look out into the hall, scanning the faces of the people waiting to come in. She'd always be there early, because she'd be seeing teachers for more than one kid.

"That's her there. Do you want me to…"

"All good, I got it. Thanks," Shawn told her, and she tapped him on the shoulder.

She watched him approach Freddie Jacek's social worker, introduce himself… She didn't know what would come of that conversation, but she did know that it had to happen, that her father had needed it to happen. Their circumstances may not have been the same, but he'd felt a connection to this boy, one not unlike the one he'd felt with her when they'd met. Back then, him and her had sort of helped one another, and today, that meant he could turn around and help Freddie. She hoped he would, that he could. It was her last year with him, with his classmates, and seeing this bond forming now, she was left to wish it could have happened three years ago.

X

It was a familiar dance for them by now, her at the high school, him making the rounds for their girls. Their nights had crossed, briefly, when they'd taken Ella in and started seeing to her needs, started being her parents, but that was far behind them now. They would meet again, in… oh, in four years' time, just about, but for now they had their own stories to exchange… eventually. For now, for him, it was about hitting all his appointments. It was easy enough with most of them at the same school. Once it started to be split over two, even three schools, as they'd get older, that'd be another matter.

This year, the only one not with the others was Aubrey, and with Miss Alma, they had no worries. She told him all he needed to know when he picked up his youngest girl earlier. Aubrey didn't like that Mackenzie wasn't with her this year, but she was finding her way, she'd be alright. She took every chance she got to dance, the way she would in her ballet classes, and it was the sweetest thing for her teacher to see, the four-year-old dancing her days along, expressing herself. She'd try and record it sometimes, and she'd send them the videos. He had a new one that day, leading him into parent teacher night.

X

"We meet again," Maya smiled. Her father was back, walking into the room in earnest, sitting across from her desk.

"You know, me being happy to see you out here might have given you a different impression, but I tell you, I'll be glad not to have to do these nights anymore after Haley graduates," Shawn informed her.

"I wouldn't know, I'm usually on this side, talking to a lot of parents about a lot of kids, all night…" Maya pointed out, and he raised his hands in surrender.

"Fine, your night wins… or loses, I guess?"

"Uh huh," she sat back before nodding to him. "What did you guys talk about?" He shrugged, looked around the room, at the art on the walls. From where he sat, he could just see the pieces she had from her daughters, from Tori, too. "Dad, come on." He looked at her.

"I thought…you know… with the girls and MJ living with you now, we've got rooms. And if we can help him land on his feet after he graduates here…"

Maya smiled, impressed but also not, more… relieved. They could do this. For Freddie, they would.

X

They called her any number of nicknames. Macaw, Mackerel, Macaroon, Mack Attack… their funny little Macaroni. It was one thing when she was with them, with those who'd known her for all five years of her life and knew her moods, her ways. And with Miss Alma, well, she was already legendary in their house. Her kindergarten teacher was not legendary, no, and this was a completely different place for Mackenzie. To hear it out of her teacher, she was growing more and more disruptive, and she didn't find it funny, or cute… She wanted Lucas and Maya to have her pull herself together. To hear her talk about her, she might have been one of Maya's students, in high school, instead of a five-year-old. He was as civil about it as anyone nicknamed Huckleberry would be, but it was layered with the fact that he was a father, and that this woman was being very ridiculous about his daughter. They were not going to do this her way, not for a second.

X

By the time the freshmen's turn would come, it would be a mix of introductions and reconnections. Some of them would be meeting with her for the very first time. Others had older children who'd already come through her classroom, through the school. And others were just familiar to her already, if not a bit of two things. This year, she had Julie Dixon and Willy Bennett, both with siblings who had been and were still her students, one whose parents were her neighbors, the other whose mother and grandfather were her husband's teammates. She also had Katie Willows, who'd gone and become connected to them through the exchange program and Sullivan Stables. She had Angie Anna Bowles, and she had never met the girl's family, but with how they had to work around her medical situation, the meeting felt like it should have happened already. Angie Anna spoke of her family plenty of times, and as Maya learned that night…

"Oh, she talks about you," Mr. Bowles told her, with a smile absolutely identical to his girl's right down to the thin gap between his front teeth. "The way she talks about you, I'm sure you've heard this from parents before me, but she says this is her favorite class." Maya smiled, a happy flutter rolling through her heart. "And then the quiz team… She's got so many flash cards, new boxes keep popping up, different subjects, all identified… She'll take them with her, to her appointments. They help her pass the time."

It was barely an acknowledgement of Angie Anna and her issues, but now all she could see was that young girl sitting there, too used to what was happening around her, turning her attention to that box of cards and filling her mind with its contents. If she hadn't been sure of her choice before…

X

Lucas had already been playing advocate for his girls at their schools before Mackenzie and kindergarten. With Marianne, it had been easy on the whole, but then there were the triplets, and that was a juggling act. He and Maya would know more than anyone what was best for their daughters, whatever it was at any given time. Their teachers would float the question of whether or not the three of them should be in the same class or if they should be separated. If he didn't have to hear about that, then he knew he was in good hands, and this year it felt as though he was. They were making it work together, and hopefully they would continued to do so.

There was talk of separation near the end of the meeting, indirectly so. It wasn't because of their behavior, or their need to grow as individuals, nothing like that. There was a thought that Kacey was coming up ahead of both her sisters, which they could see, but also ahead of her classmates. She was the top of her class, but her potential went beyond that, they were sure of it. There was a possibility that, down the road, they could see her being moved up a grade, maybe even two, in which case she would be parted from Remy and Lucy, all through their school years. If that was what she needed to advance, they would want that for their cub, and they could hope that the three of them would cope well, but from his side of it, Lucas couldn't help thinking of his own experience, being displaced from his graduating class. Maybe something good can come out of it for her. She's part of the good that came of it for me…

X

"I was worried at first that it would be too much for him. He's so young, they're both so young, and I am proud of him for stepping up to help her, we both are. She's part of the family, as far as Haruna and I are concerned, but it's not his responsibility, is it?" Brian Farrell breathed out, paused, smiled. "We used to think that he had to be sweet on her, even a little, but he's not, and she's not for him either. They're just best friends, they'll always be that, and then she had the twins… Where else was he going to be except right by her side?"

"Nowhere else," Maya agreed, thinking of their dear Maximilian.

"Top prize uncle, I guess," his father nodded. Maya raised her water bottle, long since empty, as a toast to her student. "Lately though… something's changed with him, I think. Haruna's seen it, too, and Kelsey… We can't even decide if it's a good or bad thing, just… something… Good would be great, but if it's bad…" She hadn't noticed anything particular, but if they'd seen something, then maybe she needed to pay closer attention.

X

"What are you doing out here?" Lucas chuckled as someone dropped into the seat next to him while he waited outside Mrs. Tyler's fifth grade class, and he looked to find that it was Zay, complete with a bag of M&M's, which he extended to his oldest friend, one handful already pulled from it for himself.

"I'm done with my meetings, that means I can do whatever I want," Zay informed him. Lucas snatched up the offered bag. "Hey, hey, leave some of the kids, alright?" Zay quietly admonished him.

"You're out here to see what Marianne's teacher has to say about her, aren't you?" Lucas guessed. The fourth grade teacher made an expression to suggest he could not believe these 'accusations' before settling down, eating his 'reward candy.'

"Oh, I know what she has to say, who wouldn't? That kid is the perfect mix of Maya and you, and we call that balance. She's a delight to have in any class, she's a great student, always helpful to her fellow students, to the faculty and the staff… Do you need me to go on?"

"Well…" Lucas smiled.

"I mean I could go into the parts where she just skates by trouble and…"

"You know I still have to go in there, right?" he pointed to the closed door.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just waiting until I get my next batch of Friars. Year after next," Zay nodded to himself.

"Yeah, we'll see," Lucas replied, almost more to himself. Off his best friend's look, he recounted the question of Kacey's advancement.

"Wow, look at you… Got some clever little turtles out there, don't we?"

"Yeah, we do," Lucas smiled.

"Well, if Kacey gets to me early, you know I'll keep an eye out for her." Lucas returned him the bag of M&M's.

"I wouldn't expect any less."

TO BE CONTINUED

See you tomorrow! - mooners