A Life Less Ordinary

~ A Report ~

            The table was quiet as the nine guys watched the captivating blonde walk away. Supper had been fun. Sang's interest in each of them was a new experience. They had all had girls interested in them individually, but this was the first time a girl had shown equal interest in them all.

"Alright, let's start the last family meeting as nine members." Owen stood from his place at the back of the table. "First, Luke, North, thank you for a delightful meal. Once again you have managed to juggle multiple meal plans with aplomb. Second, the students who have successfully completed their application for the junior foreign service program have been notified. They will meet with their support teams tomorrow. All team liaisons have been notified that their core member has been selected and a summary of that applicant's skills was included in the briefing that was sent out. I received the one for our team this morning. Once we have all met with our assigned candidate tomorrow, we will once again revisit the idea of bringing Sang into our family" a small smile teased at the corner of his mouth making Sean suspect he knew more than he was telling them.

"Next, academic schedules for the upcoming academic year were sent out. Each of you has had slight adjustments made to your core courses. Luke and Gabriel, the two of you are being required to attend intensive introductory courses in August. Luke you will be attending classes on cultural cuisine ands ceremonial foods, whilst Gabriel will be attending seminars discussing culturally appropriate dress. For the rest of you, classes will commence at their usual time in the fall." Owen looked around the table, "I will now turn the meeting over to Kota."

Gently adjusting his glasses Kota rose gracefully from his spot at the table and took over, his voice filled with quiet authority, "I have added everyone's timetable and practice schedule to the master calendar and will share it with the group once we meet our selected candidate tomorrow. Please let me know as soon as you can competition and performance dates so they can also be added. Seeing as tonight is both our first family meeting of the new academic year and the last in our current configuration I think it is appropriate that we go in the reverse order for checking in, that means tonight we start with Owen and end with Gabriel."

"Thank you, Kota. Nothing really new to report on my end, beyond what has already been shared. My father and his employees are being their usual lovely selves but so far, they are only sending nasty emails that administration is keeping on file in case the aggression escalates beyond words. Sean?"

Every head at the table turned to look at Sean. With a quick swallow Sean looked up, "Dr. Roberts stopped me this afternoon and let me know that I should be finished my residency hours by the end of the summer. He has me preparing to act as the primary care physician for the team. I should have my certification to practice medicine here by Christmas. As embassies are considered US soil, I should be set but Dr. Roberts is double checking the requirements. Family wise, my mother is still not pleased by my lack of specialization and is pushing for me to continue to neurosurgery." Sean said with a full body shiver. "For now, I'm just going for general practitioner and will look to specialize later. Kota?"

"Mom is back in the country and Jess is enjoying her summer break. She is still in Korea with my father and grandparents. Otherwise, I have nothing else to add. Victor?"

Victor sighed before beginning, "My parents are pushing for another album and a Christmas tour. So far Maestro Duncan has been able to run interference, if that changes, I'll have to go to admin and have them step in. Otherwise outside of auditions tomorrow, which are going to be interesting, nothing else is going on at this time. Luke?"

"Umm, nothing much, my mum is trying to change my coach...again. A quick heads up she will be on campus the same weekend that our dad is visiting. We may need to run interference. It will depend on what her mood is like. Silas?"

The gentle giant took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking, "Theo is engaged to his therapist's sister. Dad is happy to see his troubled son settle down, but I have concerns as the relationship is really new and they are already planning marriage. That's it for me. North?"

"Not much new on my end. Mother and father are planning to visit the weekend of our first pre-season game. Sounds like we'll once again be running interference for the Taylor traveling drama." He and Luke shared a look before North continued, "I'm also looking to expand my accreditation and get my degree in food and human nutrition. My supervisor told me today that my clinic hours can count towards my internship if I choose to become a registered dietitian and not just a sports nutritionist. Still thinking about it. Nate?"

"Da is still grumbling about me not staying for the full summer. He tried to tell me that rugby was for life and I didn't need an education if I could play. Never mind getting older or injury taking me out. Mother is finally home after her last round of rehab; we'll see if it lasts this time. She's back with my grandparents and they indulge her every whim so I'm not holding my breathe that she will stay sober this time. Gabe?"

The flamboyant Frenchman façade dropped away leaving behind the sensitive young man who lived behind the mask, "Pam called, the anniversary of my dad's accident is hitting her hard this year, I know it's still a couple weeks off, but this time of year is hard for her. I may need to fly home that week to sit with her. Last time she got this depressed..." Gabe paused, closed his eyes and just breathed for a few seconds, "It was bad. She was in hospital for a week and then a mental health facility for six months. I'd like to prevent a repeat if I can." With that Gabe fell silent. The others watched as their friend rebuilt the persona that protected his bruised heart. They were the only ones who ever saw the actual Gabriel and not the carefully constructed mask he showed the rest of campus.

"Thank you all. Any further questions or private discussions? If not, I will see you all tomorrow for the meeting. I'll be here for the next hour if anyone needs to talk." With those last words Owen concluded their evening. The group broke up, most to help clean up after the meal and a couple to talk to Owen about private concerns.

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**Waves at all the new readers. So glad you found my stories. The next chapter has been started so it shouldn't be quite as long a wait this time.