The Lost Child

Chapter 7

An hour and a half later, I'm sitting on the steps in front of the doors of the library with a large cloth bag from the library sitting next to my feet on the step next to my ass. The bag is filled with eight library books - two are on Celtic Mythology, two are on Cherokee Mythology, two are on Viking Mythology, and the last two are on murderers from my state. I've been waiting outside, sitting off to the side for the last thirty minutes, waiting for Vincent and William's return, and in my boredom, I've started reading one of the books on Cherokee Mythology.

There's a loud horn honking that makes me look up from the page I've been reading, and I find Vincent's driver's side window down, and his arm sticking out of the window, and he's waving me over to them. Placing the book back into the bag, grab the handles, and carry the heavy bag to the back seat of the car, and climb inside once I've opened the door, and place the bag on the seat next to me.

"How many books did you borrow?" Vincent asks me when he starts driving.

"Eight," I reply with a shy smile, fidgeting into a more comfortable position in the seat.

"I take it you really enjoy reading? What are you, some sort of nerd?" William asks with a grin as he turns his head slightly to look at me, and I silently nod in reply, now feeling self-conscious about how much I like reading.

"Yeah, I guess I am, and I like learning new things," I mumble, avoiding his gaze, not feeling as excited as I was before.

I see movement from the corner of my eye, and neither William or Vincent say anything else about my love of reading. When we arrive to the house, we climb out of his truck, and head inside once Vincent's unlocked the door. Quickly slipping my shoes off by the door, I trudge up to the bedroom without a word to either of them, shutting the door behind me, and locking the door. Placing the bag on the floor next to my right foot with a soft sigh, while leaning my body back against the door.

"Why am I such a loser?" I quietly ask myself, softly hitting the back of my head against the door as tears fill my eyes from embarrassment.

Lightly pushing off the door, grabbing the bag, and making my way over to the bed, where I sit, starting pulling the books free of the bag, and placing these on the nightstand. Staring at the books sadly, and letting out a soft sniffle.

There's a soft knock on the door, causing me to jump in fright from the sudden noise, and I softly call out; "Just a second!"

Rushing to the door, unlocking the knob, and opening the door, and find myself staring face-to-face with a concerned Ryan and Reid.

"Are you alright?" Ryan asks, concern in his tone as he searches my face.

"Why wouldn't I be alright, sir?" I ask, trying to sound confident, but I don't believe I sound as confident as I'd like.

Both frown at me as Reid answers me; "Because Vincent and Will are concerned that Will offended you with his question when they picked you up from the library."

Shrugging my shoulders as I avoid their concerned expressions by staring at the wall behind them; "I'm fine, I promise. I know not everyone enjoys reading like I do, and that this makes me strange to most people. I wasn't allowed to do many hobbies, so reading and doing homework was really all I was allowed. I'm sorry for being odd, and I'll try to do better."

"Hey, I didn't mean to imply you're odd for your enjoyment of reading," William states, coming up behind Ryan and Reid with a deep frown on his lips. "You're not strange either for this, and I apologize for making you feel this way."

Instantly dropping my gaze to the carpet in front of my socked feet, mumbling; "Don't worry about you. I accept your apology even though you didn't have to apologize. I'm starting to  realize that I'm indeed a strange and odd person. I appreciate your honesty."

I hear soft movements from in front of me before I jump slightly when a hand is gently placed onto my left shoulder. Snapping my head up to find myself looking into Ryan's light blue eyes, that seems to be concerned.

"Son, you don't have to apologize for your love of reading," he gently states with a firm voice. "If you enjoy this activity, then you enjoy this, and you don't need to change or apologize for who you are. You've had a different upbringing than these boys, and neither upbringing is wrong. So, enjoy your hobbies and interests, but also be open to trying new hobbies or interests, okay?"

Slowly nodding at him while chewing on my lower lip; "Okay, Ryan, I'll try."

He nods with a soft grin, telling me that he's proud of me for expressing myself, and for being myself. Instantly feeling strange at his praise, I don't comment, and just squash these odd feelings down for right now until I can try and figure out why I'm feeling this way.

"Dinner will be here in fifteen minutes, okay?" he states, and I nod in understanding. "Do you want to come down with me now, or come down in fifteen?"

"Um, I'll come down with you now," I murmur with a tiny smile, and we head down stairs, and find the rest of the family (along with William) in the kitchen, and they are placing away the groceries. Trying to stay out of everyone's way in the kitchen was proving to be a challenge, but I managed to place away some of the groceries, too with Reid's help.

As Reid and I were leaving the walk-in pantry in the hallway, I place my hand lightly on his arm, asking him softly; "Um, I'm gonna walk to the library and back later today, so I can return the books. I'm not in the mood to read these anymore. I'm okay with walking, I just wanted to let someone know where I'm going."