Until We Meet Again

Chapter Seven: The West Family

Chapter 7: The West Family

"Hey Dad, I'm home!" Kyle declared as he shut the two double doors.

"Welcome home, Kyle!" Mr. West replied loudly. The fit, gray-haired man stood up and smiled as his son approached. Kyle embraced him in a giant bear hug.

"I'm so happy you're finally home," Kyle whispered.

"I am too. I've missed you and your mother so much."

Kyle's father had retired a few weeks before Kyle started the new school, after receiving a Purple Heart. Mr. West had previously been a private military contractor, and before that, he had served as a Navy SEAL. During his last tour, Mr. West survived an enemy raid that claimed the lives of most of his company. He and the remaining soldiers fought until they were captured and taken prisoner.

There had been no help, no backup, and no hope.

Many of the men were brutally tortured, some killed. But when an opportunity to escape finally presented itself, Mr. West bravely led what was left of his company in a desperate fight for survival. During the chaos, he and some of his men were captured again, and the torture resumed, even more merciless than before. This time, Mr. West wasn't as lucky—he lost his left arm during one of the enemy's savage methods of torment.

It was a mission gone wrong, hushed up by the military to avoid scandal. Few people knew what had truly happened. After months in captivity, Mr. West and his remaining comrades were finally rescued. They were brought home safely, but none of them would ever be the same.

Despite losing his arm, Mr. West maintained his strong physique and unshakable spirit. He was proud to return home to his family, and they had thrown him a welcome party. Yet, even with all the support, they felt it was time for a fresh start, which is why they moved.

Kyle resembled his father in many ways—his strong jawline, his broad shoulders, and his hazel eyes that always seemed to carry a quiet intensity.

"I am so proud of you," his father said.

"Thanks, Dad." Kyle smiled, noticing the familiar twinkle in his father's eyes, the same pride that always shone through, no matter how dark life had been.

Later that evening, the door swung open, and a tired, blonde-haired woman walked into the kitchen, her arms filled with grocery bags.

"Mom!" Kyle shouted, running over to help. He sprang into his mother's arms, then took the bags from her.

"Hi, honey!" she smiled. "You seem happy. How's school going?" She paused for a moment when Kyle didn't answer right away. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Does there have to be a reason to help my mom when she walks in the door?" Kyle teased, though his nervousness was starting to show.

His mother narrowed her eyes, staring him down. "What happened?"

"What? Nothing!" Kyle's voice cracked, betraying him with a higher pitch than he intended.

At that moment, his father walked in and spoke up. "You might as well tell her, son. She'll find out sooner or later."

Kyle sighed. "Fine. I got detention."

"Kyle Spencer West, what did you do?" His mother looked at him like a deer caught in headlights.

"I stood up for one of my classmates," he explained. "And... I might have taken it a little too far." He told them the full story, and while his mother looked concerned, his father started clapping.

"Charles..." she raised an eyebrow.

"What? Our son stood up for what's right. Come on, Melanie, you've got to be proud."

She smiled softly. "I am proud of you, Kyle. But remember, you need to stand up for the truth in love. Always through Jesus." She embraced him tightly.

"I won't forget, Mom. Ever."

"On the bright side," Kyle added, "the baseball coach seems pretty impressed with my skills."

"That's great, son!" Mr. West patted him on the back. "You've always loved playing ball."

"Alright, sweetheart, well your father and I will be upstairs if you need us," his mother said as they headed upstairs. Kyle nodded, watching them go.

He purposely left out the part about sticking up for a girl and the speech Mr. Levin had given him. He didn't know why, but he hoped his situation would turn out well, just like the principal's had. He shook off the thoughts and retreated to his room, where he put on some classical music to calm his nerves.

As he sat on his bed, his thoughts drifted to Allison. Her thick, wavy dark ombre hair and her captivating smile filled his mind. He admired how excited she got about earning A's and how she could make him laugh. She was beautiful. The feelings he had for her were new and confusing, but undeniable.

Later, Kyle quietly peeked into his parents' room. They were lying in bed, hands intertwined, talking softly. He was about to sneak away when his father spoke.

"Kyle, I know you're there," Mr. West chuckled.

"Come on, join us," his mother patted the spot between them.

"Mom, I'm not six anymore," Kyle protested, giving her a look.

"You're not getting out of this," she shot back with a look of her own. Kyle sighed, knowing he couldn't win. He climbed onto the bed, grabbing his mother's outstretched hand.

"Thanks, Mom. Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," his father replied, eager to listen.

"Well, I have this friend..." Kyle began. His mother smiled knowingly—whenever Kyle started a sentence with I have this friend, she knew it was his way of asking for advice. He'd always had trouble expressing his feelings.

"This friend," Kyle continued, "met a girl on his first day. She's popular but really nice. They've shared a few laughs, but he's not sure what to do. Every time they try to talk, it's like she doesn't respond, or the conversation just fizzles out. He asked me for advice, but I have no idea what to tell him. Any thoughts?"

"Well," his father began, "I believe this friend of yours is really—" but he was cut off by Melanie playfully punching his good arm.

"Ow! I've already lost one arm, I don't need another injured!" Charles exclaimed, pretending to be hurt. His wife shot him a look that clearly conveyed what she was thinking.

"Kyle," she said gently, "if your friend wants to get to know this girl, he should start small. Maybe they could hang out outside of class. Friendship takes time."

"What if she doesn't seem open to being his friend?" Kyle asked, unsure.

"Then he needs to keep trying," his father chimed in. "Persistence is key."

Kyle smiled. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks."

As he got up to leave, he saw his parents' fingers intertwine again, and his mother laid her head on his father's shoulder. Despite everything they had been through, they still stood by each other. Kyle admired that. No matter what happened, his parents stuck together through it all.

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