Stormy Skies (On Hold)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Friday, June 26th

Rebecca

            I can’t fall asleep.

            How can you, when just a day ago, you were thinking how you were never going to get adopted, and suddenly, you get adopted! By the most peculiar girl too. She wouldn’t stop staring at me. But I do have to admit, I couldn’t stop staring either. It was like some kind of bond drew me to her.

            Whatever. I don’t even believe in that kooky kind of superstitious stuff. Everything has a scientific explanation.

            The entire rest of that day, Mrs. Knett was surprisingly calm. But I think she was just shocked that I, the despicable, loathsome girl, had been adopted. I guess it is amazing.

            Everyone is so happy for me. I’m a bit of a hero here, since I am the one who takes everyone’s blows from Mrs. Knett. Whenever somebody is really about to get it, I do something to distract her. It doesn’t matter what: break a glass, “accidently” hurt myself, start singing annoyingly and terribly, whatever to divert her attention to me, so the other kids will be alright.

            “Becca, you awake?” Shelley, one of my best friends who had come here when she was five, whispers across the room. There are three bedrooms in the house. One for the boys, one for the girls, and a final room for Mrs. Knett.

            I roll onto my side so I’m facing her bed. “Yeah.”

            “I’m gonna miss you.”

            “I know.” I pause. “Just take care of the kids, ‘kay? They need someone to look up to.” I hear Shelley breathe in sharply. I know she’s not the type of girl to put herself out there for others. It’s not that she’s selfish, just the opposite actually. Shelley is the sweetest girl here. She’s the one the kids come to to kiss their boo-boo’s better and sing lullabies to them. What I’m asking her to do is to be the daredevil hero that saves the village from the evil queen, while she’d rather be the fairy godmother who uses gentle magic to make it all better.

            “You know I can’t do what you’ve been doing all these years,” she whispers.

            “Do it in your own way. Please? You have to be strong.” She frowns at me in the darkness of the room. She suddenly sits up and raises her right hand.

            “Okay. I swear I will do all I can to protect the innocent in hopes of defeating the evil Amanda Knett,” she vows. I giggle quietly.

            “You don’t have to make an oath, Shelley. I know you’ll do your best.”

            Shelley giggles with me. She suddenly stops. “I might never see you again.”

            “You will,” I say with conviction. “In fact, I swear it.” Then we both start giggling again, and soon after, we fall asleep.

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Adrianna

            Come outside. Now.

            I hear my mother’s voice in my mind. I start and rise out of my chair. Katie looks startled.

            “Where are you going Adrianna?” she asks me.