Adopted by the Rowlands

Eavesdrop

B R A N D O N

Hunter barged into my room, and excitement filled his eyes.

"What?" I asked,

"I have something to tell youuuu!" He said, jumping up and down.

He told me the whole thing and at first, I didn't believe him. It was just so amazing that this happened. He said that he already told mom and everything was planned out.

"That's AWESOME!!" I yelled.

A L E X

Something was going on in this family that I didn't know about. Brandon and Hunter have been strange around me. They definitely know something that I don't. When they're around me, they always smile and give each other 'the look.'

*** (1 week until Magcon) ***

We ordered pizza again and watched another movie. This time, Hunter picked out the movie. He chose, "Mean Girls." It was a good movie, but Christine made me close my eyes and ears at some points because I'm only 8. I secretly listened and opened my eyes a little because I'm curious. I didn't understand why it was so bad but I didn't repeat anything I heard.

I had been sitting next to Ashton on the big couch and we both fell asleep by the time Cady went to prom. I was laying on his side, and my head was snuggled into his chest. I felt someone put a blanket over us. I looked up and saw Brando smiling. I fell asleep again and I woke up the next morning to the sound of someone yelling. I got up quietly, trying not to wake up Ashton. I tip-toed upstairs and put my ear up to Hunter's door.

"Yeah, she has no idea." Hunter said.

"I'm so excited to meet her!" The other voice said.

Who is Hunter talking to? I wondered.

"I'm sure Alex will be excited too!" Hunter said.

Why is he talking about me? And who am I meeting?

"Okay Cameron, I have to go."

"Byeeeeee FAM BAM!" The voice said.

I ran into my room, so Hunter wouldn't know I was listening. I got my iPod and pretending I was playing on it when Hunter came in.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi,"

He gave me a look that said, 'what were you up to?'

"Soooo..." He asked.

I tried to look innocent.

"Is Ashton still asleep?" He asked.

I let out a breath of relief, knowing that he probably didn't know that I eavesdropped on him.

"I think so," I responded.

"Okay, let's go make some breakfast." He said,

We went downstairs and he got out some frozen waffles that we were going to heat up. While Hunter put the waffles in the toaster, I grabbed myself a glass of water. When we were waiting, we talked about my past parents.

"Who -of your past parents- were the worst to you?" Hunter asked.

"Oh that's hard. They all sucked."

Hunter laughed, "You've been spending too much time around Brandon,"

I shrugged and continued my story.

"Well there was a couple that lived on a farm and they told me that they wanted me to do chores. I was okay with doing some chores, but they wanted me to cook them meals   and paint their barn and feed their chickens. When I took a break, Mrs. Ferris kicked me and punched me until I apologized. Later that night, I ran away and the next day, the Ferris' came to the orphanage and told Miss Susan that they didn't want me because I didn't do what they told me to. That's why I knew how to make those pancakes from yesterday," I explained.

Hunter looked surprised and said, "Wow. That sounds harsh."

I nodded and said, "Yeah, it was."

"And there was this old man. He was probably 70 years old and he forgot about me a lot. Sometimes he forgot to feed me, and when I told him that I was hungry, he said that I complained too much. He nearly starved me to death, I swear. I never got to eat because I 'complained too much'" I said, using my fingers as quotation marks.

"The next day after, he took me back to the orphanage, and said that I just wasn't what he was looking for."

"That's awful!" Hunter exclaimed.

I nodded and looked over to the toaster.

"Hunter?" I said quietly, not wanting him to freak out.

"Yes?"

"There's smoke coming out of the toaster."

Hunter jumped up and took my water. He poured it all over the toaster and fanned his hands over it. I got another glass of water to help. I ended up just making a giant mess and not helping. Instead of getting mad, Hunter and I just laughed it off.

"Well I guess we won't be having waffles today!" Hunter chuckled.

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stay positive my little turtles <3