What is Home

Chapter Seven

As the day went on I began to feel more comfortable with myself. The situation I was in just started to feel right. It wasn't a place emotionally I had been in before, with things feeling right. I was starting to feel real happiness just as I felt with my siblings and when Pierce and I were alone.

Reece and I walked into last period together and my eyes caught the curly hair of Pierce the moment I walked into the room. He was sat in the back of the room lounging back in his chair waiting for someone to come join him. Of course, Reece darted straight in Pierce's direction. It was the only class besides lunch that they had together. I didn't expect any other reaction from the two of them. I would have done the same thing.

Reece sat in front of Pierce. I went to sit next to him but I was stopped before I could do so. "I actually, uh, have someone I sit next to in this class do you mind sitting next to Pierce, Charlee?"

"It's the girl he's had a crush on since fourth grade." I caught myself before I let out a laugh. "Don't worry I won't bite." Pierce pulled out the seat next to him patting it for me to sit next to him. He had a cocky look on his face. It was far from what I had known for him to be.

I sat down next to him as my brother turned back to join a conversation with the two of us. We had a little small talk as we waited for the bell to ring. When Reece's crush entered the room, just as the bell rang, his eyes beamed to her. It was like she was the only one in the world that existed. He turned right around as she sat down in the seat next to him. She was flirting with him the entire time and Reece was drooling over her. I was dying at the interaction between the two of them. It was hilarious.

My mind was very distracted, focused on the boy that was sat beside me. His hand moved closer to mine on the table we shared. My eyes glanced at them while our teacher spoke about something chemistry related. My eyes went to look around the room when I felt one of his fingers brush against mine.

My head looked in his direction slowly not to cause any distraction by quick movement. He was focused on the teacher ignoring my acknowledgement of his actions. He took his full hand and held mine for a second squeezing it before returning his hand back to his pen to take notes.

I took the hand that he had just held and pushed hair out of my face, directing my attention back at the teacher. I felt a tap on my shoulder after a few short minutes of note taking. The tap caused my attention to be pulled toward him again. Pierce pointed to a paper that he slid in my direction.

Charlee Baker, your eyes still light up when you see me. You are as beautiful as ever, my forever.

I looked at him as my face started to turn a bright shade of pink. I grabbed the paper responding to what he said to me.

Pierce Kingston, my eyes have never lit up when I look at you, stop lying. You aren't half bad either. ;)

He let out a chuckle to himself. It wasn't loud enough to bring attention to himself though. He shook his head at me with a smile. A smile that still made all worries go away.

I'm glad that a family as great as Reece's chose you Charlee. You are luckier than you know.

I began to think if this was all because of him, me being chosen by Reece's family that is. If he had talked to Reece about a girl who he met who he wanted around. I had no idea what had happened in the past three months he had with his new family. I didn't have a clue of what he told anyone about his past.

The note sat on the table between us. I took a deep breath leaving the note unanswered while I thought about all the possibilities. The silence caused Pierce to write again.

No one here knows about our past. To them this is the first time you and I have ever met. You know it all Baker. No one else in this world does. You are important to me. I truly never thought I'd ever see you again. But I know how your brain works. I know you think you're here because of me. You aren't. The Leighton family chose you because they wanted Reece to feel whole again after he lost his sister a few years ago. You'll learn their story Charlee. You have big shoes to fill. I know you got this all handled. You always do.

When my eyes read the note my heart dropped. From the outside, no one would never know that this family had lost a child. Pierce was right. I had massive shoes to fill. There was no way that I would ever replace the daughter they lost. With the knowledge I had now, I was going to do everything in my power to fill their void.

Thank you for everything. I was lost without you.

Pierce grabbed my hand and pulled it under the table. He rubbed my thumb with his just to give me the comfort I needed from him. This had to be a fresh start for the both of us. We couldn't act like we had in the past. I could tell that was what Pierce wanted and honestly I wanted the same. Even though I wanted him to come back to me. Us having a fresh start is what was going to be the healthiest.

My hand was held by his the rest of the class. No one could see, so we were safe. He wasn't acting this way because he wanted me either. This was just who Pierce was. At least who he was toward me. He was like this and always would be. Pierce knew that any sort of touch from him would instantly take me to a place where I felt most safe.

As the final bell rang I grabbed the note we had been talking on and placed it into the pocket of his leather jacket. He smiled at my actions and packed up his bag. I placed both my hands in the pockets of the jacket waiting for Reece to stop flirting with his crush.

"Gotta run to meet Ally, see you at practice Leighton?"

"See you there Hudson."

With that Pierce practically ran out of class leaving me in the dust. I didn't know what was next for me. I didn't really want to be alone. I didn't want to go to the giant empty house and feel small. Which was different because all I ever dreamed of was having alone time. The little time I had last night was enough. Being around people who genuinely listened and cared made me remember what I was missing for months.

Reece walked me to his locker while we decided on what I was going to do for the rest of the night. I didn't want to go straight home. I didn't want to be alone so I asked Reece if I could just watch his football practice. He agreed, thinking it was best that I come along so I wasn't alone.

Before I could follow Reece down the hallway lined with royal blue lockers I heard my name being called from down the hall. I stopped in my tracks, as did Reece. We turned in unison to see Ally running toward the both of us.

"Charlee! I was wondering if you wanted to hang out." A bright white smile appeared on her face before she let out a deep sigh from running down the hall.

"Oh, uh, I was just gonna go watch their practice." I looked back at Reece.

"Don't you have practice Ally?" My brother spoke not knowing why Ally had taken such an interest in me.

"Since the game is tomorrow and we did doubles all week coach is giving us a day off to rest. So what did you say Miss Charlee?" Her voice was bubbly. She wanted nothing more than to spend the day with me and I had no idea why.

"I guess that's fine." I gave Reece one last look before walking offwith Ally not knowing what I was getting myself into.