Mess Is Mine • The Pack

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

A lot happened in the weeks leading up to Preston receiving his acceptance letter from Stanford. The puzzle was a reoccurring thing for the next two weeks... or month. Every morning someone would be trying to get a few more pieces on the puzzle while they ate breakfast. Ruby tried her best, but she commonly stuck pieces together saying they fit when they didn't. Everyone let her do it then would disassemble them once she left the room.

It took them a month to complete that goddamn puzzle.

It was satisfying until Lachlan started putting the puzzle back in the box. Ruby bawled. She didn't understand that's what you're supposed to do when you finish a puzzle, so Lachlan stayed up all night to restore it to its former glory before taking a giant chunk out of the puzzle.

Alfie suggested they use glue to hold it together, but you can't use white glue. They learned that the hard way. Jess and Preston spent two days trying to scrape the dried glue off the puzzle. Eventually they gave up and decided to get the actual glue you needed to keep the puzzle together. They hung the finished product in Ruby's room. It had food stains and glue patches on it. Part of the picture was scrapped off due to Ruby trying to cram the pieces together. It was a mess, but Preston thought it showcased their family. A mess, but good mess.

Mitch and Preston spent almost a week going through everything in the house deciding what to sell, what to keep, and what to throw away. Let's just say there wasn't much they decided to keep. Mitch renovated the house the best he could before – surprisingly – selling it and most of the furniture for nearly 300k. Some stuff he kept in a storage locker just in case he decided he wanted to get his own house or apartment.

Lachlan liked his new job, he loved the paycheck. Ruby was praised at her kindergarten graduation, Lachlan had no clue why it was so early in the year, she got a certificate that said, "certification of prestigious for exhibiting an extraordinary level of creativity and intellectual social skills." Preston's pretty sure that's never getting taken down from the fridge.

Everyone was doing well, maybe except Rob who got in fights every day, but he was sure proud of himself for that.

That's when April 1st hit. Preston got his last acceptance letter on April first. The anticipation knowing it was coming killed him.

The only reason Preston knew it actually came was because Jerome told him.

"Hey, Stanford sent you something in the mail. I'm not sure what it is, didn't open it encase you know.. it's your acceptance letter."

Preston turned, and there was Jerome, standing right next to him. "Oh. I'll look at it later. It's too early to be excited."

"Too early? Didn't know you wanted to open it at a specific time."

He shrugged, "Just not right now. I want to wait until Lachlan is home."

"Makes sense. I'd be too impatient to wait that long. I've got to go to work, but let me know if you got in. We'll get wasted in celebration."

"Thanks, Jerome."

2 hours, 45 minutes, and 6 seconds.
That how long Preston could wait before he gave in.

Dear Preston,

It is with regret that I write to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission to the sophomore class at Stanford University. Please know that this decision does not reflect any deficiency or weakness in your application. To the contrary, we are humbled by your talents and achievements.