Kai wakes up with a smile for the first time in days. The edges of his grief have finally lifted, and he feels like he’ll be okay with time. He takes his breakfast to his bedroom and texts his friends to plan a group project that will be due in a few days for school.
I wake up to see Kai in the kitchen juggling his soccer ball again. Of course, he knows he’s not supposed to play ball in the house, but for once, my mind isn’t on that. I graduate in less than a week, and I’d really like to find a new/bigger house for myself, Kai, and daddy before it happens.
I eat my breakfast, then go outside for some fresh air. That’s when I receive a text from Waddell asking if I had plans for after my classes. Of course, I always have plans…which basically means studying, but I’d really like to see him. So I text him back with a maybe and leave it at that for now.
If I manage to complete homework for the next few days, I’m sure that a quick café date or something like that with Waddell wouldn’t interfere too much. So I settle down to finish as much I can do before class as Kai leaves for school.
Kai arrives home as I’m leaving for my final class for the day. We pass one another on the stairs outside.
Kai: I’m meeting some friends at Foxbury to work on a school project if that’s okay.
This is just the opening I need to see Waddell today.
Prosperity: Yeah, sure. I’ll be home a little later. Can you take care of yourself for dinner?
Kai: Yes, I’ll grab something from campus.
After his mother has left, Kai leaves for Larry’s Lagoon, the commons on the Foxbury campus. He meets his friends Liliana, Vern, and Lincoln there to work on their robotics project. Kai pulls out the instructions and gets started right away. However, Vern insists that it’s easier to follow video instructions that they can find on SimTube. So they decide to do a bit of both.
Kai takes the lead and breaks the project up, giving everyone a part of the bot to put together. Vern gets the head, Liliana and Lincoln work on the arms and legs, while Kai puts together the innards.
Liliana: *joking tone* Hey, if we do an outstanding job with this bot, maybe we can work on a bot for BattleBots.
Lincoln: My family and I watch that show all the time. I think you have to have a degree or something to put a bot together like those.
Vern: You don’t need a degree, but I’d need a better team than you chuckleheads.
Kai: Chuckleheads? Shouldn’t you have graduated already? I thought you said you were way ahead of us in school.
Vern: I could have, but my mom wanted me held back…for reasons.
Kai: Whatever, Vern. *gets back to work*
Before too long, Kai and his team finish their project.
Kai: But, does it work?
Kai pushes the button to turn on the bot. After a few smoke-filled moments, the bot finally comes to life.
Liliana: We did it! We should get an A for this.
Everyone stands around awkwardly afterward.
Lincoln: What should we do now?
Kai: I can hang out for a while longer. My mom said she’ll be home late. Maybe we can get something to eat.
Kai likes the idea of having a bit of freedom.
I arrive at the South Square Coffee Café in Windenburg, a few minutes ahead of Waddell. He steps up quietly behind me.
Waddell: Peek-a-boo, gorgeous…
I turn to greet him.
Prosperity: Oh, hey.
He answers back by pulling me close and kissing me softly on the lips.
Waddell: You ready to go inside?
Prosperity: Sure
I step over to the counter to order a pastry and something hot to drink. Unfortunately, the barista seems to be having issues with one of the machines, so I decide to skip the drink. Instead, I walk over to Waddell, who is waiting for me at one of the tables.
Prosperity: You didn’t want anything?
Waddell: No. I’m not hungry. Besides, there’s a bit of a wait.
Prosperity: Yeah, and homegirl doesn’t seem to know how to work the machines.
Waddell: She must be new.
Prosperity: Why’d you agree to meet here if you weren’t hungry?
Waddell: I just wanted to see you. I didn’t care where.
I smile at Waddell’s sweet words.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
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