Learning To Live

Chapter 12: Truth

"Okay look; my birth mom left me because she was an unfit mother. She didn't want the burden of a child, so she handed me off to her brother. My uncle abused me, nearly to the point of death sometimes. It was like that for seven years before I ran away to an orphanage. I don't know why he did what he did, but it corrupted me entirely. I got into a lot of trouble at the orphanage. I stole things, I smoked and drank; lots of nasty habits for such a young person. By the time someone was brave enough to adopt me, I was beyond help. They thought they would be able to turn me around, but I fought with everything in me to make sure they couldn't.

I was scared of Dave for the longest time; scared that he would turn out just like my uncle. I would steal Jenny's ID and buy cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. Then Jenny caught me for the last time, and that's how I ended up here. I was as rude as can be, trying to get Leilani to send me away. I was afraid to let my guard down, knowing that I'd just end up hurt again. I have a lot of issues, but you all just welcomed me with open arms despite all my problems. So thank you for that, and I apologize for all the horrible things I've said to all of you." The boys sat there nodding understandingly throughout the whole story, offering sympathetic smiles at the end.

"Do you feel better now that you have that off your chest?" Keoki asked, offering me a hug. I nodded, gratefully accepting his hug. That had been really hard, but I was hoping it was really worth it. But what if the boys treated me with more pity than I felt they already gave me? What it they didn't even talk to me anymore because of what a horrible person I'd become?

But hadn't I gotten better since I came to live with them? Maybe not as much as I'd thought...

"Lia, we're not going to stop loving you. Don't even doubt that for a second." Kai reached forward and took my hand in his, as if he read my thoughts. I smiled, and sighed a sigh of relief. Hopefully he was telling the truth.

"I promise." He pulled me into him, still sensing my doubts. I didn't resist, letting him hold onto me tight. Keoki's phone rang, and he left to take the call; which left Kai and I alone. He had his arms around me, I had my head resting on his chest. It was the most comfortable position I'd been in, and also the most comforting; I never wanted to move.

"Why are you all so nice to me?" I asked, hopefully not sounding too annoying.

"My family has been around a lot of troubled teens, believe me. You're not the first person my mom has taken in like this. But as Keoki and I have gotten to know you especially, you're more than just another troubled teen; you've allowed us to be your friends. And the fact that you opened up to us? That's really special. We've come to care for you on a more personal level, which is more than I can say for anyone else we've stayed here." He earnestly spoke from the heart.

Looking into his eyes and watching his mouth move, I started to feel really weird. Had he always been this attractive? Since when had I found a guy even slightly appealing? At the current moment, I wasn't opposed to it either. A smile tugged at the edge of my lips, but I refuse to give in. Mostly because if I actually smiled, Kai would probably ask why. And there was no way on earth I was about to tell him I found him very attractive.

Maybe this was what falling in love felt like; just maybe.

I nodded, not entirely sure how to answer all he'd just said.

After twenty minutes or so, I felt my eyes starting to droop. Before I knew it, I fell asleep and assumed Kai did too. I'd never opened up to someone like that before, and it had been more exhausting than I'd thought it would be. But if this was the result of it? I couldn't think of a better person to share it with.