The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 1: Welcome Home

Every summer, for the past three years Dr. Katherine Walter in her veterinary clinic and helped in her family's ranch in your spare time. Your father was promoted out of state two years back, taking you away from your life in Colorado. Luckily, you managed to talk into sending you back each summer to continue your work with the Walter's. You loved being there; working your way up in the hospital. Not to mention, enjoyed working for Katherine, working with the animals, and loved the Walter family as a whole.

You counted the days as school passed by until it was the final day of freshman year. So, when the morning after the last day of school comes around, you are up and out of bed, ready to go within an hour upon waking to your alarm. Your green converse taps on each step as you scurry your way down to the living room where you find your parents waiting at the door for you.

"(Y/n), we have some news before we take you to the airport." Your mother speaks first, causing you to pause in your tracks. Your eyes trail over each of them before chewing the inside of your cheek.

"That sounds... bad?"

"No, no, it's not," your mother releases a light hearted chuckle, "I will let your father tell you."

"My work called the other day," he starts off, watching her closely, "and they have decided to send me back to Colorado to maintain the office there." He says and you blink.

Your mind begins to race. Two years ago, your father was promoted to become an executive manager within his company which resulted in them having to move to Florida. You were devastated, having been born and raised in Silver Falls, Colorado. It was the only world you knew and loved with all of your heart. Now your dad is telling you that he would be going back?

"So you're coming with me this summer to work?" You question unsteadily and your parents exchange glances before laughing softly.

"No, sweetheart. We will be moving back to Silver Falls." He answers.

It took a moment to process for you to understand exactly what he had just said.

"Wait, what?! Seriously?!"

"We will be coming in with our U-Haul in a couple of weeks. Your boss has agreed to let you stay with her and her family until we are out there and get the house settled." Your father explains with simplicity, a smile growing as he watches his daughter's face light up with glee.

This meant so many things. You would be going back to school with your friends you had made since you started pre-school. That you would be able to work at the clinic more often, go to Monty's every Friday night once again. You could even pick up the writing club and try out for the school plays with one of your good friends.

Suddenly, your mind came to the realization - you would be able to see your favorite Walter's everyday once again. Your good friend, Danny Walter. One of the older boys, and frankly, the least dramatic. You and him could go back to watching old Shakespearean plays while battling back and forth with theater trivia. Danny would be so excited; you could just see the look on his face when you tell him. He would probably gush the news to the rest of the family.

Katherine would be just as excited. Your boss, at the clinic and back on the ranch. She always said that she would do anything to get you at the clinic full time. She even had a picture of you in the clinic, stating, 'best veterinary assistant'. Having worked your way up from starting as a custodian at the age of thirteen, you were very proud to earn this title, maybe slightly embarrassed, but proud nonetheless. You saw Katherine Walter as a second mother in a way.

Then of course, there was Alex. Alex Walter. Your closest friend. Best friend? Something in between? It was something that didn't really seem to have a true label to it. Sure, he was one of the only people you regularly spoke to. Texted daily, sent Instagram memes, and TikTok videos on a frequent basis. Alex shared his love of reading, gaming, and animal loving qualities with you, which made you two click well. There wasn't any occasion that you and Alex wouldn't mesh well in. Although, you weren't sure what was going on this past year. It was like he was distant, out of reach.
He told you about this girl moving in with them after a family tragedy, but then hardly mentioned anything after.

"I can't believe this! Oh my god!" You cry out of delight and hug your parents tight in an instant. Their smiles grow, pulling you close as you cry.

"We didn't want to make you wait a couple of weeks into summer for your job, so we came up with a plan." Your mom says before checking the time and looks at them again.

"We better get you to the airport so you have time to get to your terminal and settle in."

You nod as all of you walk out to the car and begin your drive to the airport. The entire forty five minute drive consists of you gushing about how excited you were and even devised a plan on how you will tell everyone the wonderful news. Your parents are thrilled to see you as happy as you are. You only seem to be this happy when you knew you were on your way to Colorado each summer.

Their goodbyes are filled with hugs, gentle forehead kisses, and the usual demanding of you texting them when you reach your terminal, board the plane, land, and are with Katherine. Upon agreeing to their terms, you set out and went through the airport like a pro. You have become accustomed to maneuvering through an airport all by yourself. You even find it enjoyable as it was one of the few times you are alone and dependent on solely yourself.
Time passes quickly, and soon enough, you are on your way to Colorado.

Home. You are going home and staying there. Your heart palpitates in place at the mere thought of seeing everyone and delivering the wonderful news. It sends you opening your photo gallery on your phone and scrolling back to last summer. You enlarge the last photo there, happily examining the photo you took with the Walter family and exhale slowly. Somehow, they made that place feel all the more like home.

Your eyes scan each and every sector of the photo. A laugh escapes your lips as you zoom in, spotting Isaac giving Lee a noogie over the head, who in return, was in mid-punch to Isaac's arm. Beside them, showed Danny and Cole with their arms over each other's shoulders with Will happily standing behind them. Danny had his big, warm smile spread across his face. Whereas Cole, he had a smirk. His 'smolder' as you call it.

Jordan and Nathan were happily laughing, presumably from some little joke one of them had cracked pre-photo. They were overlooking Parker and Benny who were happily standing in front of the pack, big goofy grins evident on their faces as they were covered in dirt and hay from their previous shenanigans they were warned off not to attempt prior to the annual going away photo.

And then your eyes trail to the center of the photo. Where Alex and you were standing. Well, Alex was; you however, were lifted off of the ground, his arms wrapped around your waist and your laughter practically harmonizing through the photographic memory. Your faces were softly pressed together, both looking so happy together, it was as if the rest of the world disappeared from existence.
Your fingers pinched together on the screen before zooming in close on them and softly chew on your bottom lip, trying to break the smile that was inevitably loosening.

Somewhere in that photo, you lost track of all sense of time; because as you studied the photo, the captain was speaking once more over the intercom.
"Well folks, that concludes our flight from sunny Florida. It is 4:01 PM. Current weather is 68 degrees and partly cloudy. We hope you enjoyed flying with us. And with that, welcome to colorful Colorado."
Home. You were home.