On Our Own

Chapter 31

I woke up and got out of bed in the mornings and felt. . . good for the first time in awhile. I looked into the mirror at my bright blue eyes and smiled. I was still surprisingly happy. I opened my door and immediately got pushed back in by Nina.

"What?" I asked as she shushed me.

"John is talking to Monica and Jess and he said it's private," she whispered worriedly.

Soon everyone had been crammed into my room.

"Why is everyone in here?" I asked as Nina, Molly, and Casey went and sat on the top bunk. While Jack, Matt, and Liam took the bottom.

"What's going on downstairs?" Jack asked.

"Why do you assume I know?" I asked through a yawn.

"You're the oldest," he said automatically.

My eyes lit up. "They're talking about our Christmas presents."

"How do you know?" Nina asked.

"Uh because Christmas is just around the corner?" I said pointing out the obvious.

"What if they're talking about an adoption?" Molly asked excitedly.

The seven of us snuck over to the stairs and listened by the banister. I could hear voices faintly from the dining room.

"All alone in an apartment," Monica said.

"No adult supervision?"

"What should we do?" John said.

None of that made sense.

"What are they going on about?" Liam asked.

"Shh," the rest of us whispered at him.

"Maybe we-" one of them started to say but we couldn't hear the rest because Chloe and Grayson had just walked through the front door and caught us. They quickly ushered us back upstairs and into my room.

"Okay what are they talking about?" I asked worriedly. "Because those were definitely not our Christmas presents."

"No Leah, of course not," Chloe said giving me a funny look.

"Then what are they talking about?" I asked.

"Leah, it's private," Grayson finally said.

I paused, everyone looked over at me.

"Oh," I said softly.

"Guys, could you maybe give us a moment?" Chloe asked softly.

At once everyone followed Grayson out of the room. I sat on my bottom bunk and Chloe sat down next to me.

"Leah, I know you felt for awhile that you had to help take care of the place, but that's not your job. Your job is to go to school and occasionally do a chore here and there," she explained.

"I get that," I said slowly. "I just...I don't know."

"No, what is it?" she asked kindly.

I leaned back and sighed. "Maybe I care about everyone here more than I'd like to admit. They became my family and I don't know," I whispered softly, a tear rolling down my cheek. "When I'm not involved it just reminds me that I am leaving soon, and that I won't be part of the family anymore."

Chloe put an arm around me and let me lean on her shoulder. "It'll be okay, don't cry," she said softly.

I finally wiped my eyes and Chloe smiled.

"Look even if you have to leave, family will never leave you, they'll always be there, that's what family does."

"I hope you're right," I said.