Sweet Adeline

Six - Pool

Adeline

I've been here for about three and a half weeks, and I was steadily growing more and more anxious because they were too nice. Nothing bad had happened yet, and they were always kind, but I was tired of being strung along in the game they were playing.

People are nice when you first meet them, but then, once they have your trust, that's when they get you. And I was ready for them to quit acting and go ahead and send me back.

I could feel myself growing more comfortable as the days went by, and I didn't like it. Once they got tired of me, they would send me back and I could go back to the group home with Olivia and never have to worry about going to another home again.

I just needed them to send me back.

"Adeline, the burgers are ready!" Owen called out from downstairs.

Everyone was here to hang out in the pool and grill. Apparently, this is something they did often, which would explain how Evelyn was so tan. She loved to sit in a pool float in her bikini and listen to music with a smoothie in hand.

We had gone out to the store earlier because they wanted to get me a swimsuit for the pool when they realized I didn't have one. Evelyn kept holding up bikinis that she thought were cute, but I could tell she was getting frustrated with trying to help after I turned down all of her suggestions. They were pretty, but there was no way in hell I was wearing a bikini. Eventually, Owen found a pair of swim shorts and a swim shirt. They were a hideous bright yellow that clashed against my pale skin, but it was the best covering option we could find. I hated the thought of wearing shorts in front of them, but they were adamant about at least being able to play a round of marco-polo in the pool.

I threw a pair of sweatpants on over the swim shorts and my beloved hoodie and headed downstairs. They were all standing around the island laughing as they made their burgers. James added way more mustard than necessary to his bun, and Owen started to give him shit about it.

"Do you want a burger with your mustard?"

"Fuck off." He chuckled, "I won't have muscle cramps later."

I smiled. Usually, I would be anxious when people started to fight or be rude to one another, but Owen and James always bantered with each other and rarely got angry about it unless one of them was in a bad mood.

Owen, James, and Evelyn made their plates and continued to talk as they went outside.

"Come on Ads. Come make your plate." Asher said. He had given me the nickname of Ads a few days ago, and it had caught on pretty quickly.

I walked over to him and saw that there were two burgers left on the plate. One was bigger than the other, and I waited for him to pick one. He watched me as I stood there before placing the bigger one on my plate. I smiled and nodded to him as a thank you. Asher and I made our burgers and he went outside.

Owen and James came in as Asher went out. The idea struck me as Owen and James walked in. I had used it in previous home to be sent back, and now was the perfect time to use it. Owen couldn't lash out, but I would be one step closer to being sent back. People always got angry when their stuff was broken, and it could be played off as an accident. I could see how Owen would react without the immediate consequences of it.

I looked over at them and saw that James was looking at me before turning to look back at the fridge. Carefully, I grabbed the bottom of my glass and used the back of my fingers to catch on the one next to it as I slid the glass out, causing the other one to fall to the ground, shattering around my feet.

"I'm sorry." I sputtered out quickly as my adrenaline levels started to rise.

"Adeline, are you okay? Don't move. I'll get the broom." Owen says as he rushes off.