LIFE FINDS A WAY- ADOPTED BY SCARLETT JOHANSSON

chapter 16.

POV LANEY

I can't tell how long it's been by now. I'm sitting here in my new bed for quite a long time. My pants' fabric against the burnt wound hurts a lot, but I'm too scared to take a look at it.

Scarlett is downstairs, probably still cooking dinner. My mind is in a massive dilema of if I want her to come or not.

I don't want her to worry about it. I'm fine.

I listen to the loud thud of some pans downstairs. I notice myself grinning at the door and instantly turn my gaze back to my feet, making my face straight.

In my lap, the pictures still lie. It doesn't move, and nothing can make it do it anymore. Its ends are all messed up and folded, showing some marks all around it. I bite my lip and shove it under my pillow in a fast move. I can't think about it now. However, I'm sure I'll end up doing it.

"Laney? Dinner's ready!" Scarlett shouts, likely from the end of the stairs. Her calling makes me gulp, my stomach taking a turn. Suddenly, I'm not sure how I feel. My mind tells me to grasp into that picture again and then just eat by Scarlett's side, going back to my room as soon as I finish. The rest of my body, on the other side, seems to grow warmer, pulling me downstairs into her. Talk to her.

That's what I did last time.

The piece of paper is pushed into my pocket again. This time, it's the only thing inside it. I put the lighter under some clothes inside my packed bag, making sure it can't be seen.

I step down the stairs, watching step by step while trying my best to don't flinch because of the pain in my leg.

"Oh, hello there." Scarlett greets me, smiling widely. She takes in her hand a big bowl, taking to a room next to the kitchen, which I assume to be the dining room. I follow her quietly.

She sits on one of the chairs, staring at me. I flick my eyes uncomfortably, unsure of what to do; I usually don't have dinner in an actual table with orger people. That's when Scarlett sends me a warm smile.

"You can sit wherever you'd like, sweetie." She says, looking at me in the eyes. My lips curl onto a half smile, approaching the chair on the opposite side of hers.

Scarlett grabs her plate, placing some of the pasta she had made on it. I patiently waited for her to serve her so I could take some of it. For my suprise, Scarlett hands me the plate. She held it for a second before I could notice what she was doing.

I took the plate, embarrassed by the time it took for me to notice what she was doing. I put the plate in front of me and watched as she put some pasta on the next plate. She flashes her eyes at me, and I feel a turn in my stomach, not knowing what she means with it.

"You can start eating. No need to wait for me, ok?" She says with her soft spoken voice. I nod, grabbing a fork before I do anything else wrong. I mean, I don't know any table etiquette.

As I put the first bit of pasta in my mouth, I can't help but notice how good it feels to have some real food instead of hospital food  or the super industrialized food I had back home. Another thing I can't help but notice is the feeding chair by the end of the table. I take a moment to look at it discreetly, but, apparently, I failed with that. Scarlett noticed it and chucked slightly, putting her fork on the plate and turning her gaze to me.

"Well, I guess you noticed Cosmo's feeding chair." She says. My mind instantly jumps into early conclusions.

"You don't wanna be with him?" I blurted, not thinking before saying it and then regretting it.

I slowly turn back to Scarlett, glacing at the new expression on her face. She seems to have got caught by surprise.

"Of course I want to be with him. He's my baby boy." She smiles."I just wanted to give you some time to get used to the house and everything before bringing them up. I know that a baby and a child can be a little overwhelming sometimes, trust me." She tells me, reaching for my hand. Her expression is soft, so I can tell she's telling the truth.