Gracie

Chapter 5 - Can I Have More Please?

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Gracie's POV:

The door remained wide open for a while. Both Liam and I walked closer. Liam did not seem surprised at all. I guess he knew how the door self-opened. To me it was pure mystery. That is until, out of the blue, a young man sprang out from behind, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Boo! ..... Did I scare you ... I know I did"

Both Liam and I jumped back startled.

Hmm yes, you did scare me! I thought.

Casually dressed but unshaven, wearing would-be expensive clothes but still looking untidy, with light brown messy hair and bright aquamarine eyes he looked very proud of his joke.

Liam called out:

"Louis what are you doing here?"

He had a playful voice

"Your Mum called me .... She said she was worried. She asked for me to come by and help you... You kids coming in or what? It's nippy out here! ..... Oh yeah, Niall has cooked FOOD"

"Niall's here too?" Liam asked sounding panicked.

Louis nodded and walked back in the house.

Now that I knew there were other people in the house I was no longer eager to go in. I would have preferred to stay out in the cold. I seized up again and my body started to shake. Liam looked at me, placed his hand on my shoulder and said:

"This is just like the day we arrived at my parents' house, now you didn't trust me then did you, but I kept my promise, no one hurt you and I didn't hurt you and I didn't let anyone else hurt you, so Gracie I need you to trust me again now, I promise you no one will hurt you I won't let them, can you trust me sweetie?"

He was right.

I nodded shyly and fell in line behind him. I grabbed his jacket and buried my head in it. We entered and I received the shock of my life. There stood four very tall boys. They towered over me like sky scrapers; they were massive compared to me. All four of them screamed

"Welcome home .... We've missed you Daddy"

Surly it was a joke; he didn't adopt all those boys did he? Liam laughed:

"Daddy huh, well come here and give me a hug"

They all laughed and ran towards him literally pouncing on him like wild animals. I jumped back towards the door and hid in the darker part of the corner. Once the screaming was over they calmed down and stood back in a line; then the boy with blond hair and deep blue eyes pointing in my direction asked:

"Who's the wee little one hiding in the corner?"

Liam looked back towards me. He offered me his hand inviting me to come closer. At first I refused so Liam walked a few steps nearer me. I then very slowly edged forward a little, close enough to seize his hand while still keeping my eyes on the other boys. Once near enough but still behind him I again buried my head in his jacket.