Inferni

Chapter 2

I looked out the window and took in the sights of green against green. Trees, as big as skyscrapers, blocked out the setting sun, creating the leaves to look golden.

Growing up in the city, I had never been able to visit the country or something that had many trees. Concrete gardens were the norm in the city, with the occasional dead looking tree growing out of it.

A chuckle pulled my nose away from the window, and I saw Mrs. Kingston staring at me with a knowing smile on her face. She turned her attention back to the road, driving with such care as if she knew what the car was saying. "Having fun staring out the window?" she asked.

I looked down, feeling my neck start to heat up in a blush. I fiddled with the end of my old sweatshirt that I had on to hide my scars and nodded. "Yes," I said. "I like... trees better than concrete, but... there isn't a park nearby."

Mrs. Kingston nodded. "You can call me Jill. You don't have to call me Mrs. Kingston," she said. She scrunched up her nose in disgust. "That is Justin's mother's name, and we don't get along."

I didn't say a word and looked towards the window. I was a bit curious as to how her husband's mother acted to make her hate her. I wasn't going to ask because it wasn't my place to know.

"So, I do have seven boys," Jill said. She smiled when I stared at her in shock. "Yes, I am the only female." She grimaced and huffed. "I can't have any more children, and I really wanted a girl," she said honestly. "I know that you might not like most of the stuff that females do, but can I please do some stuff with you?"

I grimaced but nodded. "Just no makeup, please?" I practically begged. "And not spending hours in malls shopping for clothes."

"Can we at least do a long shopping trip for this one?" Jill asked, looking at me. She pouted, and I groaned and banged my head against the window because I was not a fan of shopping.

"I suppose so," I said, and she cheered before she grinned. I shook my head, a bit amused by her reaction. "But, I do not want something "too" girly."

"I wasn't thinking of putting you in pink, don't worry," Jill said, winking. "I was thinking more green and brown, like the forest."

I shrugged my shoulders, happy with her decision. "It's better than pink," I pointed out, and the older female laughed. I cleared my throat and licked my lips, growing nervous as the seconds ticked by. "So, what are your son's names?"

"The oldest is Patrick," Jill said. "He is your age and will be eighteen a day after you. The second oldest is Carter, and he is sixteen. The twins are Mack and Mick. Both of them are fifteen. Jace is ten. Anthony is five. And the youngest is Zander. He is almost a year."

"There is a huge gap," I said, surprised. I rubbed my hands together. I had no idea how they would act with having a girl living with them. I was sure that I could get Anthony and Zander to like me because I was really good with kids. I mean, I had to be if I was like the "mother" of all "Others."

Jill nodded. "We thought we would stick with Mick and Mack as the ending, but that didn't work out." She shook her head and chuckled. "Justin wanted a huge family and a little girl." She must have caught my grimace and took my hand in hers. "He will like you," she said, squeezing it. "I am sure that all of them will like you."

I puffed out my cheeks and nodded. I hoped that they would like me. If not, I did not want to go back to that hell hole.