Safe and Sound

Chapter 2

Mia shifted in her seat uncomfortably, watching the scenery fly by through the window of the car. Max had insisted in sitting in the middle, knowing it was the most uncomfortable seat in the car. However, Ari and Mia felt awkward sandwiching their new brother. They all rode in silence for a while as thoughts swirled in Mia's mind. When Ari and her had finally gotten to the office, the headmaster simply asked them if they were willing to be adopted by the Hearts. When they both agreed, paperwork was signed and they were on their way. It seemed as easy as 1, 2, 3. 

"So I'm not sure how to handle formalities and such..." Mrs. Heart began from the passenger seat. She turned to face the girls and gave a faint smile. "You can call me Crissy if calling me mom is too awkward to begin with." Mia nodded, biting her lip. She couldn't help but marvel at how kind the Heart family was being. And how awkward they all were. From the drivers seat, Mr. Heart gave a small cough.

"You can call me Darius." he said, glancing at Mia and Ari from the rearview mirror. Ari exchanged a glance with Mia from the backseat, not quite sure what to do. Clearing her throat, Mia finally asked the million dollar question.

"If you don't mind us asking... why us?" Mia watched as Mrs. Heart squirmed a little, wringing out her hands. The car suddenly lurched to a stop before anything was said, prompting Mia to glance out the window. She took a sharp inhale at the beautiful country styled house in front of them. It had rose bushes outside the front along with a small fountain. The house itself was white with a visible balcony on the second story. The orphanage kids were right when they assumed that the Heart family was rich.

"We're home!" Mrs. Heart said quickly, getting out of the car and scurrying to the trunk to get the two girls' bags. Mia slowly opened the car door and got out, noting the strange behavior Mrs. Heart was displaying and how she avoided the question. Even Mr. Heart awkwardly coughed and refused to look either of the girls in the eye. Something was definitely weird. Mia and Ari took their small bag of belongings from Mrs. Heart and then stood there, unsure of what to do. Max looked back and forth between his parents and the girls, noting the air growing more and more uncomfortable. He stretched out his arms and motioned the two girls to come close to him as if to tell them a secret.

"The reason why we ended up picking you two..." his voice dropped a note lower. "It's because you two were the ugliest." Max teased with a small smirk. Ari frowned and leaned back, clearly unamused but Max just threw his arms over both the girls and led them up to the house. "I'll show you to your rooms." 

It would have been an understatement to say that the house was nice. The ceilings were high and the foyer seemed to stretch out forever. Right by the entrance door was what seemed to be a living room with board games stacked high on a table and comfortable looking sofas. There were large book cases with all different kind of books shelved as well as a window seat. Mia's mind swirled, marveling at how the house could look so classy but feel so homey as well. Max continued to pull the girls up the spiral staircase and Mia looked down from the stairs to see a family room on the other side. Just how big is this house?! Mia couldn't help but wonder. Ari seemed to be perpetually amazed as her mouth was slightly open and her eyes were wide with amazement. Upon reaching the upstairs, Max let go of the girls and beckoned them to follow him.

"Mom and dad's room is all the way down the hall to the left." he began, pointing. He pointed to the first door that was right by the staircase. "This is my room."

"'No girls allowed'?" Ari read from the small sign on his door. Mia and Ari snickered as he blushed and scratched the back of his neck.

"I was like 5, okay? It won't come off." he huffed and turned around to lead them to their rooms. Just a little further from his room he stopped and beckoned to the two doors on their right. "You guys can choose which ones you guys want."

"We get our own rooms?" Ari raised her eyebrows in surprise. 

"Well...yeah." Max gave a small smile. "But there's a bathroom connected between the two of your rooms. So you'll have to share that. There's two sinks though." Mia blinked a couple times, wondering when the last time was since she and Ari had their own rooms. The answer was never. She motioned to the door nearest to her.

"I guess I'll take this room." she said. "Thanks Max." He beamed at her before walking away to his own room. He suddenly turned, as if a thought just hit him. "Get settled in and then come downstairs for dinner, okay?" Ari and Mia nodded and watched him disappear behind his door before Ari whipped around to face Mia.

"Our own rooms." she breathed, wondering how Mia felt about it. As much as Ari loved her sister, she'd always wondered what it'd be like to have her own privacy and not have to fight for the covers. It excited her. Mia, on the other hand, wasn't sure. Sensing her sister's uncertainty, Ari grabbed Mia's hand and gently said, "We're still really close to each other and Max said the bathroom connected the rooms. We'll still be basically together but we can have our own space."

"I guess we can't always be hip to hip," Mia finally sighed, cracking a small smile. Ari smiled with her and let go. With a bit of apprehension, Mia opened her room door and flicked on the light. The room was relatively large, its walls painted a faint blue. She felt herself smile a little as she took a couple steps in the carpeted bedroom. The bed was huge with white downy covers and a princess cover over the head of the bed, coming from the ceiling to the ground. The drawers and vanity were made from wood, looking vintage. Her curtains were a sheer black and she could see over the backyard through the window.

The backyard was huge, with flowers of every kind and a trail made from rocks weaving in and out of the yard. There even seemed to be a hedge maze with beautiful cherry blossom trees next to the entrance. Mia couldn't believe her eyes at all of the extravagance before her. Ari popped her head from a door that Mia assumed was the bathroom door. Ari beamed at her sister.

"Have you seen the closet yet?" she asked. Mia shook her head. Ari pulled Mia into the bathroom, where there were marble sinks and floors. Mia felt her head spinning at how large the bathroom was. It was bigger than her and Ari's rooms in all of the houses they've been in combined. The mirror stretched across one wall and on the other side was a large bathtub with a glass doored shower across from it. There were also two doors adjacent to Mia's and Ari's room doors.

"I'm going to assume this is my closet. Right?" Mia gestured towards the door nearest her door. Ari rolled her eyes.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" she retorted with a grin. Mia laughed and pushed her sisters shoulder lightly. Then, she opened the door. It was dark, so Mia fumbled for a moment looking for a light switch. Once her hand found it, she flipped it on and turned to see the walk in closet stretch out in front of her with all kinds of clothes and shoes. Dumbfounded, she flipped off the light switch. Then turned it on again. Then back off.

"Mia cut it out!" Ari turned on the light and looked at her sisters dumbstruck face.

"Is it the same way in yours too?" Mia asked, facing Ari.

"Yeah, practically." Ari replied, shuffling around. Mia's eyes darted from the nice clothes to the array of shoes and accessories.

"Th-this... This isn't right." Mia stammered out. She backed out until her back reached the wall, her mind swirling with thoughts.

"What? What's wrong?" Ari asked worriedly. 

"Ari it doesn't make sense. This isn't right." Mia snapped her head to look at Ari. "They said they weren't looking for twins but that doesn't make sense..." Mia trailed off, taking in the sight before her. It all did seem too good to be true. Finally, Mia looked Ari in the eye.

"If they weren't specifically looking for two girls, then why do they have two sets of everything?"