The eager chatter of students filled the crowded school hallway, accompanied by the faint scent of excitement and anticipation. Lockers slammed and locks clicked, as they shared plans for the much-awaited spring break. Rodney trailed along beside Derek, who animatedly described his upcoming Bahamas fishing adventure with his older brother.

"Seriously, Rodney, you should see my brother's girlfriend." Derek shook his head in disbelief, his eyes wide. "She's a total smoke show. I don't get what she sees in him."

Rodney couldn't help but smile at Derek's description, but his thoughts quickly drifted back to his own lack of plans for the break. He was distracted by the notion of no one being around over the break to hang with, when they bumped into Parker. Parker's curly hair bounced around his face like an unruly halo as he adjusted his glasses.

"Seriously we need to stop bumping into each other like this," He laughed, looking at Rodney, "What's all the excitement about?" Parker asked, curiosity shining in his eyes.

"March break plans," Derek replied, looping an arm around Parker's shoulder and pulling him into their conversation. "I'm off to the Bahamas. How about you, Parker?"

"Actually, I'll be working as a camp counselor at Long Horn Range," Parker said with a touch of pride in his voice. "Gotta make some extra cash, and it's kind of like a vacation too, we get some time every day to do what we want."

"Nice!" Derek nodded approvingly. "What about you, Rodney?"

Rodney hesitated before admitting, "I won't be doing much. Just... avoiding my mom, I guess." He swallowed hard, remembering how they hadn't really talked since their fight. He wondered how a week stuck in a house together would go. "We haven't really talked since our fight. I shouldn't have brought up Dad's death like that."

Derek's face softened with understanding, his easygoing demeanor momentarily replaced by sincerity. "She's your mom dude, she knows you didn't mean it. It is a parent thing,"

Rodney nodded, his heart heavy with remorse. "Yeah, but still don't feel good about it," he murmured, just as the bell rang, signaling the end of their conversation. The boys exchanged quick goodbyes before going their separate ways to class.

As Rodney walked away, he couldn't help but wonder if he would be able to make it right with his mom.

Rodney slid into his seat in art class, the whiff of oil paint and damp clay greeting him like an old friend. He glanced around and found Madison and Jordan already at their easels, streaks of color smeared across their aprons.

"Hey," he said as he squeezed a dollop of paint onto his palette.

"Hey, Rodney!" Madison greeted him with a warm smile, while Jordan offered a casual nod, their lavender-tinted hair catching the light filtering through the windows.

Ms. Bacon clapped her hands, drawing the class's attention. "Alright, everyone! Today, we'll be working on your self-portraits. I want you to incorporate elements from your life into your painting. It could be anything – your hobbies, loved ones, or even your dreams."

She gestured toward a canvas propped up on a nearby table. Rodney squinted, recognizing Matt's unmistakable signature – bold strokes, muted colors, and intricate detail. The portrait displayed Matt's face, but it was tinged with sadness, his eyes seeming lost. Behind him, a dense forest loomed, giving the impression that one could step right into it and become swallowed by the darkness.

"Wow, I didn't know Matt had it in him," Jordan murmured, a note of surprise in their voice.

"Me neither," Rodney agreed quietly, his thoughts drifting to Matt's home situation, he didn't know much, just that his parents were fighting. Was this painting reflecting how these fights made Matt feel, or did he feel this lost even before the fighting started?

As the trio began sketching out their portraits, Madison's voice broke the silence. "So, guess what? I got a last-minute gig as a lifeguard! With the money, I'll finally be able to afford Taylor Swift tickets."

"Damn, they must be paying you in gold for those prices," Jordan joked, eliciting a laugh from Madison.

"Which camp is it?" Rodney asked, curiosity piqued.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Long Horn Range," Madison replied, carefully dabbing paint onto her canvas.

Rodney's heart skipped a beat – the same camp where Parker would be working. He contemplated warning her that her recent ex would be there too. But he thought there was no need to stir up drama and ruin her spring break plans.

"Sounds fun," Rodney remarked instead, forcing a smile as he dipped his brush into the paint. "I'm sure you'll have a great time."

"Thanks! I'm really looking forward to it," Madison said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

-----

Lunchtime arrived with the fragrant scent of pizza wafting through the bustling cafeteria. Rodney scanned the room, his gaze drifting from table to table until it landed on Ally, who sat alone by the window, her eyes fixed on the raindrops tracing their way down the glass.

"Hey," Rodney said as he slid into the seat across from her, balancing his tray carefully. "How are things?"

"They are fine," Ally replied, looking up from the window. "I just needed a little space today."

"Gotcha." Rodney nodded in understanding. "I can go if you want me to?"

"No, you can stay," She said without making eye contact.

"Ok," Rodney tried to think of something that may lighten the mood and cheer her up, "So, what are you doing for spring Break?"

"Going back to Toronto for the week," she said, picking at the crust of her pizza. "And you?"

"Staying here mostly," Rodney admitted. "Trying to avoid my mom, I guess."

"Sorry to hear that." Ally's expression softened.

"How are things with Matt?"

"Uh, not great," she confessed, her fingers twisting the corner of her napkin. "After his latest outburst, I think some time apart might be good for us."

The thought of Ally and Matt breaking up sent a thrill through Rodney, but he forced himself to wear a sympathetic frown. "I'm really sorry, Ally. That must be tough."

"Thanks," she sighed. "It is, but I'll manage."

Just then, Steven and Jordan approached, their hands clasped together, looking somewhat nervous. "Hey, guys," Jordan began. "We wanted to tell you something."

"Go for it," Rodney encouraged, curiosity piqued.

"Steven and I... we're dating now." Jordan's cheeks flushed a soft pink. "We wanted our friends to know before we make it Facebook official."

A grin spread across Ally's face as she stood up and pulled them both into a warm embrace. "Thank you for trusting us with this. I'm so happy for you!"

"Congrats," Rodney said, beaming at the new couple. As he watched their happiness, it was the first time it dawned on him that you didn't have to just date a girl if you were a guy. He thought of the way he felt around Parker, his smile, the way they always seemed to bump into each other. He knew he had been feeling romantic love for him for a while now, but now for the first time, he felt like these feelings were ok.

"Thanks, Rodney," Steven said, squeezing his hand in gratitude.

"Really, you two are great together," Ally gushed as they all sat down to eat.

As laughter and conversation filled the air around them, Rodney's mind continued to wander through the possibilities of what could be. If Jordan and Steven could be happy together could he and Parker be together too?

-----

The moment Rodney stepped through the front door, he found Marcy bouncing on her toes, a grin so wide it threatened to split her face in two. Their mother stood behind her, a secretive smile playing at the corners of her lips. A knot of anticipation twisted in Rodney's gut.

"Rodney!" Marcy squealed, unable to contain herself any longer. "Mom has the most amazing news!"

"Alright," he said, trying to keep his voice steady as he looked between the two of them.

"Okay, well," their mother chimed in, her excitement bubbling over. "I managed to save up enough money this year to take us all on a trip to Disney World for March break."

"Disney World?" Rodney's eyes widened in disbelief, his heart leaping in his chest. "That's incredible!" But then, a shadow of doubt crossed his mind, had he made her feel so guilty she decided to take them on a trip? "This is amazing, why didn't you tell us earlier?"

"Sweetheart, I wanted it to be a surprise. And I only just confirmed everything." She gave him a reassuring smile, and Rodney felt the last of his doubts dissolve.

"Wow, thanks, Mom! This is amazing!" He pulled out his phone and quickly texted Derek about the trip. Within seconds, Derek responded: 'Dude, that sounds epic! Have fun!'

Later that evening, Rodney found himself seated at the dinner table, surrounded by laughter and warm conversation – a far cry from the tense atmosphere that had hung over them for months. The delicious scent of roasted chicken filled the air, mingling with the lively chatter. It felt like a cozy blanket, wrapping itself around the family and drawing them closer together.

As Marcy stood up to clear the dishes, she gave Rodney an encouraging nod. With the kitchen occupied, he seized the opportunity to speak privately with their mom.

"Mom, can we talk?" he asked tentatively.

"Of course, Rodney." She looked at him with those deep, understanding eyes that he hadn't seen since his dad had passed.

"I just want to say... I'm really sorry for how things have been between us since Dad passed away," Rodney started, but she stopped him right there.

Her voice quivered slightly. "I am the one who is sorry. I've felt like a part of myself has been missing ever since that day. I lost my husband, my best friend, and my partner that day. I have been so mad about how it happened but I never meant to take it out on you, I am so sorry."

Rodney felt his chest tighten, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He didn't know what to say; all he could do was wrap his arms around her and hold her close. Together, they let the tears flow, finally opening up to each other after their family tragedy.

Moments later, Marcy slipped into the room, joining the embrace, tears steaming from her puffy eyes. For over a year she had felt like her family was on the verge of breaking, and for the first time in a long time, Marcy felt like she could finally breath.