Journey Home

Chapter Twenty

Mom and Dad - that sounds so weird! - don't really chatter, but they keep looking back as if to make sure I really am there. I stare back at them with the same awe.

We pull up to a snug little white house. I look at it, feeling a smile grow on my lips, repeating over and over in my mind: Home. Home. This is my home.

I've never had a home before. The orphanage doesn't count. I hated and still hate that place.

Suddenly excited, I unbuckle and jump out of the car. I try to open the door, but it's locked. The lady - Mom comes up behind me and unlocks it, her eyes shining.

Home.

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Mom and Dad are all shiny, especially when they look at me.I bet I'm practically glowing too.

It's awful strange, though. I feel like I'm somebody else, like I'm acting somebody's part out, or rather, somebody else's life. They've outfitted me with new clothes, this new house, new parents, a new room, a new personality, a new life.

And I'm not sure how to deal with it.

My dad's voice calls down the next day, "Zoey? Can you come here, sweetheart?"

I quickly hurry down the hall. Dad's standing at the front door, but Mom catches me first. "Hey, love," she whispers, smiling at me.

I smile back, a bit uncomfortable and unsure how to respond. Dad motions to me, and opens the door.

Austin is on the other side.

I just stand there, suddenly uncomfortable with the shirt I'm wearing that reads Books > Boys (Mom's a librarian. Don't get me wrong; I love to read, it's just a bit awkward. Y'know, in front of the boy I kissed and all.)

"Do you know him?" Dad asks me.

A laugh bubbles up in my throat. "Yeah. I do."

Suddenly I find myself springing forward and hugging Austin, practically crying. "You came," I whisper, clinging to him. His arms tighten around me and he whispers back, "Did you ever doubt?"

Then I feel another set of arms around me and Dad pulls me away, rather angrily. "What is this?!"

"Austin Noble," I answer, smiling. "He's, er...I mean...yeah. He helped me through a lot of scrapes."

Dad gives Mom a look like, Deal with her for a minute, please.

Mom starts talking to me, pulling me away. "You can't just hug strange boys, love," she says anxiously. "Your daddy won't have that, you know. And this boy...well, he's a criminal! I'm sorry, love."

I fight the urge to laugh. This is ridiculous! ...But Mom looks pleadingly for me to understand and Dad's shutting Austin out, a mulish, angry expression on his face.

The door clicks shut.