"You have to tell me all about it." Grace squirmed through the phone. Darra put the phone on speaker so he would be able to hear her while he was doing other things. He needed to be prepared, after all, it is the first day of school, having passed the exams with flying colors, of course, being able to get into fourth grade. 

"I just hope I get to see it all."
"You will, you said you have a friend in America, so he'll be able to show you around!" Darra was hopping on one foot, trying to put on the grey trouser, while trying to fix his tie, with the button of his collar on his white shirt not tied, and the one that follows as well, while trying to talk to Grace. "I don't- Ah!" Grace had a loud thud coming from the other side of the line. "Are you okay, Darr?"

 
"...yeah" Darra tried his best not to cry as he fell flat on his back. "I will call you later," He said, crawling to where the desk was and picking the phone. "Okay but don't forget to tell me all about--"He hangs up, not in the mood for Grace's enthusiasm. He was all sore and everything hurt, but it wasn't just that. 

Something was happening to him, ever since he met Lilly, his heart would flutter around, not as much as it did for Grace, but just enough for him to notice, and his face would grow hot anytime he was next to Lilly.

"Merry Christmas!" Lilly said as she popped up from behind the oak tree in the park, her face, inches close to his. "M-m-merry Christmas." Darra almost shouted as he scooted away about five feet from her.

"Happy new year!" Lilly shouted, the fireworks too loud as he was at the oak tree in the park, her face, inches close to his. "Happy new y-y-year!" He shouted as he scooted away, only this time bumping into a few children, as he fell onto the snow.

It always played out like that, Lilly appearing from behind the oak tree, where Darra always came. It seemed to be the spot where they always met, and Darra would trip over his own feet and stammer whenever they tried to have a normal conversation, and he had no clue why. He honestly thought he did that only with Grace. 

This Lilly thing was getting out of hand and he needed to find a way to control it. The question was, what was he to do whenever he saw Lilly? He was able to get his grey trouser on, button his shirt and he still needed help with his tie. He remembered his mother, how he would show up in the kitchen with his tie all messed up, and his mom would kneel down and fix it for him. He smiled sadly and thought about how much he missed those times. 

"Darra are you ready?" He heard Laura's voice echo through the halls, soon opening the door, her questioning looks quickly disappearing with a smile on her face. "Having trouble with your tie?" She asked, it looked like a bow on his neck, only that it had more loops. 

He nodded. At that, she knelt down and started to untangle the loops, making one and passing the end of the tie through, then pulling it. "You look so grown up!" She said, thinking that's what his mother would say. She knew it was hard for him even if it had been three months ever since he lost his parents, but the trauma can be so much to handle for children.

Darra was able to see his mother in Laura, yes, she was a handful, but she still gave unconditional love to him, even when he messed up. "Okay well, you can have a quick breakfast and my driver will drop you off, is that okay?"
"Yes, but I don't want to make a big entrance at school. So I'll just walk."

He said, smiling at her, with her, giving it back. "Who's looking ready for school?" Darra turned his head to see Coal at his bedroom door, holding a backpack in his right hand, while his left, in his pockets. "Is that for me?" Darra asked, wide-eyed as the fabric looked so expensive. It was a blue backpack with animated rocket ships at its front. 

Two of his favorite things, for blue, was his favorite color, and he always loved rockets. "Who else, of course, it's yours, little man! And I packed all the things you'll be needing for school." Coal walked over to him and handed his bag, Laura helping him put it on. "Okay let's go and have breakfast now and off you go!" 

Laura said, standing up, hand in hand with Darra. Even though he is already ten, they treated him like a five-year-old. The avocado toast was presented on the table, along with pancakes, scrambled eggs, and orange juice. He decided to have the toast, and pushed it down with the juice, in a hurry to get to school. "Okay guys, I'm off now. See you all at noon." 

He said, jumping off his chair ready to press the button and get out of that mansion. "Wait!" Laura interrupted him, right when he was to push the button. "What is it? Did I forget something?"
"We love you." 

She managed to spit out, holding Coal's hand as she had tears in her eyes, looking at Darra with pure love in them. "Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart but I'm afraid I cannot return those words, as my heart still aches from my parents' decease." 

He said looking down, sad that he couldn't say he loved Laura and Coal. He felt selfish. But don't we all need to be sometimes? "It's okay. I just wanted you to know." Laura smiled at him, though her eyes spoke the opposite, the longing in her heart could be heard in her voice from far away.

 "I will be able to though, it's almost too hard not to think of you two as my parents, for you have given me just as much love as they did."
"You'll be late for school if you stay here any longer. So we'll see you at noon." Coal said, trying his best for Darra not to notice the glint of water in his eye. 

"Okay, see you then. Bye!" He said, pushing the button and waving one last time as the elevator door shut. "I'm going to miss him so much!" Coal said as he began crying into Laura's arms. Laura rolled her eyes as a wave of realization soon hit her like a brick. "Wait, does Darra know where the school is?"