What it Means to Have You

Sleepover

Nagol

Sitting outside on the wet swings, I carefully kicked my feet out to steadily gain some height. Since I had volunteered at the orphanage several times over the years I was used to the awkwardly small swings. Miguel swung beside me, neither of us going as high as we could but instead settling for an even, content height and speed that was easy to keep up without much effort.

"Um. Thanks for bringing Kine back today," Miguel finally said, a small smile ghosting onto his lips as he spoke.

"No problem. He's a great dog."

That changed Miguel's tiny smile into one that was full-on beaming.

"He is! I'm so glad you got him. I was worried someone might not want to deal with his specific attitude."

I smirked at that, raising a brow and getting a quiet laugh in response.

"He definitely has an attitude, but I wouldn't change it for anything."

Miguel nodded and we swung in silence for another ten minutes or so before I said something that completely shocked myself.

"Hey, Miguel? I know this place does sleepovers, to get kids out of the orphanage for a night or sometimes a weekend."

I fidgeted, really not sure what the hell I was doing.

"I-I mean, I know Kine would love to have you to hang out with, I'm sure."

The excited spark in his previously calm eyes warmed my heart, but his response was anything but what I had figured I'd hear.

"Actually. I mean uh, thank you so much for asking..."

His gaze rose to where their room was on the second floor and he blinked several times. It looked like he was trying to keep from crying. I waited patiently, not wanting to rush him when he was obviously stressed.

"Thank you for asking but—" He turned his head and our eyes met. "—can you please take Cody? If only for a night."

I was just opening my mouth to reply when he quickly cut me off and began talking way too fast. "Please. He's been here for so long. No one knows how to interact with him and finally Kine came and he's actually showing some of his true self! He's been in his own room for years, too, because the kids are afraid of him because he hardly ever talks. Please, I-I already had so much, and even though I lost it, I don't think it's fair to accept when my new friend would benefit much more from it."

Wow. I bet you don't even know how mature you sound right now.

While I wanted to respond right away before he began talking again after he caught his breath, I had to really think about it. Not that I was worried about taking Cody for the night. The kid was quiet and I honestly had a feeling that he was smart as hell but just awkward in social situations. What made me stop and think through the situation was the scary idea that I had come up with where both kids came home with us for the night. Taking in a deep, steadying breath, I leaned back, my hands grasping the cold chains on either side of me so that I didn't slip from the swing. I then blew out a sigh and straightened back to my normal stature.

"I think I've got an idea," I said, drawing his attention to me right as I turned to look at him.

After another twenty minutes of swinging, we headed inside and up to Miguel and Cody's room. As soon as we stepped inside, Cody became silent, though we had definitely heard him reading to Kine on our way up the stairs. I offered him a small smile and he returned it awkwardly. Kine got to his feet and shook out his coat, then stretched and yawned. I reached a hand down and tapped his head a few times before glancing at Miguel. He grinned and nodded, making me lick my lips nervously and look back down at Cody.