Boarding school

Chapter 21

Okay the reads are climbing. And I really want to thank Pineapple for being insanely great! Love you all!
(Gage.)
I opened the door and stepped inside, Dani followed. The familiar scent of something baking filled the house. My mom was always baking.
The walls remained cream, the sofa and furniture set was a really nice brown color which was the same, there was a big window with the window seat that looked outside and nothing had significantly changed.
Only I had never felt more out of place in my own house.
I felt like I didn't belong here, but I brought a girl here who meant so much to me. I can't turn around.
I motioned for Dani to follow me through the house. My room was upstairs so we quickly jogged up there and set the few bags we had down.
"Wow, it's really cute." Dani said looking around my room. Other than a few things I left here, it looked bare.
"Thanks...we should go find my mom." I said kind of nervously. I had mentioned to them that I may come, but they didn't know I was here.
She nodded and we walked down stairs into the small kitchen. There she was, her brown hair in the usual ponytail, and she had on jeans and a tee shirt as she pulled something from the oven. She set it down and glanced once, then saw me.
Her mouth dropped open and I couldn't help but smile. My mom was always good to me, she and my dad argued a lot but she was always the more understanding one.
She ran over and hugged me "Gage!" She exclaimed and I hugged her back. "Hey mom." I said pulling away. "I can't believe you came." She said, looking like she was almost in tears.
I really did miss my mother.
"This must be, Dani." She smiled looking at Dani who was watching us in awe. "Yes ma'am, my name is Dani." She said and my mother hugged her.
"You're so pretty! I'm so glad you guys are here." My mom smiled resting her hands on her hips. "Me too, where's uh...dad?" I asked nervously .
She frowned "Um, he's outside." She said motioning to the window. I nodded but didn't want to look.
Suddenly the sound of small footsteps broke me away from my thoughts. My little brother, Tyler.
"Hey buddy!" I exclaimed, picking him up. He was 3, my sister was 12.
"Awh." Dani said looking at him. "That's Dani, my friend." I told Tyler, gesturing toward Dani. "No, that's a girl." He said, making us all laugh together.
"Yeah, her name is Dani." I said and he blushed. "Your girlfriend?" He smirked jumping down to the floor. "No, my friend." I corrected laughing but slightly embarrassed.
"Did Tyler run through he-?" I heard my sister begin running into the room. Her hair was longer, in the light brown color she always had. Her big blue eyes widened. She was always real skinny and tall.
Still shorter than me, and taller than Dani. "Hey, Ava." I smiled.
Her mouth dropped open and she hugged me. I smiled and hugged my little sister back. It was really starting to hit me that I had been gone for a year, they were growing up.
We all stood there catching up for a few minutes. I introduced Ava and Dani, they seemed to like each other so far.
Someone else walked in though. The loud footsteps indicated I knew who it was.
"Hey, dad." I said.
(Dani.)
"Hey, dad." Gage said. Everyone's eyes turned toward the two of them. I loved his family so far, and I had known this was going to be the hard part.
"Son." He said with a southern drawl deeper than most of our's. His dad turned his head to the side as if he was examining Gage. I wanted to tell him how Gage was clean, and he was a good kid.
But I was silent.
"This is Dani, my friend." He said motioning to me. The man looked at me and smiled. I wasn't wearing make up, I wore a big football tee shirt and leggings. My hair was up too.
There's no telling what first impression I had made.
"I like her better than the last." He smiled and we all let out nervous laughter relieving some of the tension.
"I didn't know you were coming." His dad said quickly. Gage swallowed hard, i had never seen him afraid of anyone before.
"You told me not to come home until I was clean..." Gage stopped and looked to all of us. I could tell from that moment, all of the pictures on the wall, and the pain in his voice that he missed his family.
He loved them all too much to be mad at them, and that was something hat crossed my mind thinking about my family. But it twisted my stomach and I tried to forget.
"I'm sorry dad. I'm sorry to all of you guys. And don't worry, Dani knows." He said looking to his father.
His dad looked like he was so happy- tears actually almost formed in his eyes. But you know....men don't cry.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Dani. I hope you guys get settled in." He said waving to us as he walked back outside.
Everyone exchanged eye contact and pressed their lips together, pulling faces.
But we all stayed silent.