Sometimes We Build Walls

Chapter Four

The smell of pancakes hit me as soon as I walked into the kitchen. Donovan was sitting at a bar stool, shoveling huge bites of pancakes into his throat. Adeline had a pen in hand; she was writing something on a notepad and relentlessly chatting to Donovan, who clearly wasn't listening.

As I entered the room, both of them turned their full attention onto me.

"Good morning." Adeline smiled, and then went back to her writing.

"Morning." I rasped, sitting down next to Donovan.

After a few seconds, I was served with a full plate of pancakes that I didn't want to eat, in the spot right next to Donovan. My appetite was nowhere to be found, but I sat down and cut into them anyways, out of politeness.

Adeline tore the paper from the notepad. "Here's a list of chores you and Griffin will have to do, Donovan. All of these need to be done by the time I get back, okay?"

A mischievous sparkle lit up in Donovan's blue eyes and he talked for the first time that morning. "Yes!"

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Heading out of town for the weekend; we have some people to visit." She said, checking her watch. She yelled up the stairs, "George! Are you ready?"

We didn't hear an answer.

"No big parties like last time, Donovan." Adeline scolded. "Do you hear me?"

Donovan smiled. "Loud and clear."

"No friends over." She said. "I've asked Zack, Caleb, and Henry to stay at friends' houses over the weekend. Things get out of control when you all are here alone."

Thank God, I thought.

"What're you guys going to do today?" She asked.

"I'll probably go out with the guys." Donovan said.

"Really?" The corners of Adeline's lips twitched into a small frown. "I was thinking you could take Charlotte around town, to show her everything."

I stepped in. "I've already seen the boardwalk and everything, it's okay-"

"No, you need to see the landing, the-"

"Mom!" Donovan groaned. "She said she doesn't want to go. Don't force her."

Adeline nodded her head once, closing her magazine, clearly feeling bad about being so pushy.

George came down seconds later, and after giving Donovan an unwanted kiss on the cheek, and they left.

Surprise, surprise; there was no sign of Griffin that morning and Donovan had left around noon. He'd asked me several times to come hang out with his friends, he said, "I'm sure the guys would love to meet you."

After a while, I heard a noise; it was a pack of rowdy teenage boys entering the house. My heart stopped. Donovan was home and he'd brought friends over. I was just about to run up the stairs before anyone could see me, but I was trapped. The boys were standing at the end of the stairs just as I approached the foyer. I flipped around the other way and wandered back into the kitchen.

"There she is." Donovan said. "Charlotte, come here!"

I smoothed out my shirt and turned around, facing the five boys. I tried to keep my face looking as disinterested as possible when I noticed Zack, the guy from the clearing standing to the side.

He looked different from the rest, but I couldn't figure out why. The rest were tan and beautiful, looking like cousins or maybe even brothers of Donovan. Although the time I'd seen him at the boardwalk, he looked like the school's biggest jock, the guy all the girls fell for. But compared to the others standing next to him, Zack was so generic looking.