Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 20

Samantha POV

Ms. Heron seemed nice. She handed me a novel that she said the class was reading leading up to the school break. It was the Diary of Anne Frank. I'd already read it, so the work that went with it would be easy.

She went over the math worksheets and tried to explain where I'd gone wrong, even though my answers were right. I shook my head.

"The calculations you used, they're not the right calculations. I mean, you're getting the right answer every time, but, you're going about it wrong."

I shook my head again and frowned.

"Samantha, these aren't the calculations you use for these problems,"

I slammed my fist down on the counter and shook my head.

"Samantha, calm down," Jenna said. "I'm sorry, Ms. Heron. Here."

Jenna handed her the report from Dr. Freud. She read through it quickly and saw the part about math.

"Oh. Ohhhh. I'm sorry," Ms. Heron said. "I'm sorry Samantha. They didn't give me this. Although your math teacher did mention unconventional solving methods, I didn't realize he meant these. Okay. Can you show me how you use the calculator to find these?"

I looked at her and raised my eyebrow.

"Here," she handed me her phone with the calculator app open. I shook my head.

"You don't use a calculator?" she asked. I shook my head.

"Wow. Well, now I see why you use these calculations. Impressive. You do this all in your head?"

I nodded.

"Okay. You're going to give me a run for my money, aren't you?"

I shrugged.

She went over the reading assignment for English, and pulled out a couple of textbooks.

"I was told you didn't have your texts right now, so I was given these for you to use until you go back to school or get your bag back, okay?"

I nodded. It was my science book, a social studies book and the math textbook.

I handed her the social studies worksheets I'd done, as well the science worksheets.

"Okay, Samantha. I think that's enough for today, hey? I'd like you to start reading Anne Frank, and we can discuss it tomorrow. Get the math work finished, because I see you're nearly done anyway and if you can, look at the chapter on Constitutional Amendments in your social studies book, okay? Just do whatever you can, and I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

I shrugged.

Jenna walked Ms. Heron out, and came back into the kitchen.

"You okay, sweetie?" she asked me.

I shrugged, cleaned up my school stuff and went upstairs. I had to double check my room was still safe.

It was, so I brought the Anne Frank book back downstairs and went into the kitchen where Jenna was. I sat at the island again and started reading the book again.

Jenna stopped cleaning the kitchen counters and came over to the island.

"Anne Frank. Good book," she said. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow. A good book? It wasn't a fantasy story.

"I mean, it's a good look into what one family, and specifically one girl went through. Not that it's a good story."

I nodded.

"Have you read it?"

I nodded again.

"How long ago?"

I shrugged.

Jenna looked at the clock and declared it was lunch time. She passed me my kit and insulin and asked what I wanted for lunch. I shrugged.

"Okay. One, a sandwich, two, soup, three, soup and a sandwich. It's cold outside."

I thought. I put up two fingers.

"Okay. Chicken or tomato?"

Two fingers.

"Tomato? Good choice. Want crackers with it?"

I shook my head.

"Okay. Test and dose and I'll get that started. I think I'm going to make myself a grilled cheese sandwich. Want one?"

I thought about it and nodded.

"Awesome. Okay. Med up."

I raised my eyebrow at her again. 'Med up'? Weird.

We ate lunch, I had no problem dosing. It was getting easier. They kept reminding me that it was safe to do that here. And it was. I remembered from before Stanley took me. They never got mad when I dosed properly. They never complained about the costs. And they always encouraged me to take the proper amount. I just wish I could thank them and tell them how much I love them and how much I missed them. And how much I want to call them Mom and Dad.

After lunch, Jenna said she wanted to do some laundry, and asked if I had any. I nodded and went upstairs to get my basket. I brought it down to the laundry room and she looked at me.

"You look tired sweet girl. Why don't you go lie down on the couch? I'll get this in the machine and come join you and we can watch a movie or something. Sound good?"

I nodded. I went into the living room and sat on the couch waiting for Jenna. I read a bit more of Anne Frank while I did so.

Jenna came in and picked up the TV remote and sat down. She put her arm out for me to come snuggle with her, so I did. I didn't care what movie she wanted to watch. I just loved feeling so safe with her.

She picked a movie called Love, Actually and told me it's her favorite Christmas movie. It was sweet, but I fell asleep partway through it.

"We're back!"

Someone was yelling and it woke me up and scared me. Was it Stanley and the other man? Were they back for me? I shot bolt upright.

"Samantha, Samantha," Jenna said soothingly. "It's okay. It's Tyler and Josh and Brendon and Sarah. They're back from whatever they went out to do today. It's okay, you're okay, you're safe."

I looked around for a means of escape. What if she was wrong?

Brendon walked into the living room with a bunch of bags. I cowered into Jenna.

"What's the matter?" Brendon asked. Sarah dropped what she was holding and came running over and sat down beside me.

"She was sleeping and you guys scared her when you came in shouting. She'll be okay. Just startled."

"Oh, darlin'," Brendon said, kneeling in front of me. "I'm sorry. That was me. I wasn't, I didn't mean to scare you."

I looked at him. Sarah was holding my hand and stroking my hair while Jenna was hugging me. I looked around and saw it was just them, Tyler and Josh were in the entry way with a bunch of bags as well.

I shrugged.

"You okay?" Brendon asked. I nodded. I pushed myself up and went up to my room. I closed the door and went and lay on my bed. I curled up, but I didn't feel safe, so I went under the bed. No one would be able to find me there. I curled up in a ball.