Chapter 17

After the dreadful two hours of waiting for lunch, I decided to forget about calling Aiden tonight. There were more important things I had to worry about. For instance, I'd have to talk to Gabe about helping me find a place to live during Phil's time in jail. What do they do with those kids anyway?

Today's lunch hour we could eat outside, but the food was the usual hamburgers and french fries. Gabe and I ate outside in science for a few minutes, until finally Gabe spoke up, "So you like that Aiden kid, huh?"

Feeling quite embarrassed and slightly ashamed, "Yeah, but I'm sure it's just a silly crush," I answered.

"I don't know Annabel… he just doesn't seem, well, good enough for you."

What? Good enough for me? Heck! This boy fell from the stars! Instead of saying what I was thinking, I replied, "Then who is?"

"Maybe somebody who doesn't give a girl his phone number after just meeting her," he shrugged.

"Where you listening in on us?" I respond in almost an angry tone, loud enough that a few heads pooped towards us.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it."

"Well, just to let you know, I'm not going to call this guy until I get to know him a little bit more. I just realized that I need to focus on finding a place to live," I sighed, "Sorry, Gabe, I'm just trying to feel like a normal girl for once."

He set down his lunch tray and gave me a tight hug, "I know, Annabel, I know."

I finally believed the truth in his own words. He understood the whole time, but I just never realized it.

"Remember we agreed to play soccer after school?" 

"Oh, yeah," I answered.

"After that, we can go to my house and find you a foster home or something. Maybe you can sleep over afterwards, too, even though it's a school night."

I smiled, "Sure."

The rest of the school day went by slowly because I was so eager to get outside in the sunshine and play some soccer. We played at the grassy field a few blocks away from Gabe's house. It was the place we used to go and run around when we were kids; the memories were fresh in my mind as I headed back and forth the ball to him.

With sweat dripping down my forehead and green scuffed up shins, I walked back to my house to take a shower and pick out some clothes for the next day. Mrs. Smith never really cared about having me sleep over because she always knew it was a better place to stay than my house.

The moderately cold water felt nice on my body. To be able to feel the water bolting on my skin and dripping down made me feel like I was being cleansed of all my imperfections. Even though I didn't want to leave, but Gabe called several times from outside the bathroom to hurry up. It was kind of like an "earth to Annabel" moment. I groaned and turned the rusty faucet handle to the right to turn off the water. 

We walked over to Gabe's house the normal way, without having to use the bridge between our windows. Mrs. Smith greeted me with her regular cheery face and smile, "Hello, Annabel! We haven't seen you around lately! How have you been?"

"Good," I replied, "But, I thought I would let you know that my dad went to jail for abusing me, so I thought that maybe we would have to do, ya know, some foster home-searching."

"Oh, Annabel, we don't have to do that right away! Along time ago, your father wrote on a piece of paper to whom you would live with if he died or went to jail," She paused, cleared her throat, and continued, "He told me that if that happened, he would want you to live with us. If we didn't accept you to live with us, the state would have you go into the foster care system. But you don't have to do that, Annabel, because we'd be more than happy if you lived with us."

"Wow! Thank you!" I give her a big hug and a smile that I hadn't shown in a long time. 

"Welcome to the family!" Gabe laughed and joined in.

"Supper will be ready in thirty minutes, kids. We're having homemade pizza!" Mrs. Smith, or should I say, "mom," said.

Gabe and I ran upstairs to his over-the-top contemporary room. I looked at the closet door bridge that was leaning against the wall; it reminded me of the day when I was terrified to go across to my bedroom, but I had to because Phil knew I was at Gabe's house. But, I didn't have to think about those rotten memories anymore because I know had a place called, "home." A home where I could be safe and loved by people I loved. 

I shared my thoughts and memories with Gabe as we waited for dinner to be ready. 

The smell of tomato sauce and garlic never smelt so delicious as Gabe and I raced downstairs to the dining room.

"Hey, kids, you're just in time!" Gabe's mom joyfully mentioned.

After we said grace, we dug into the scrumptious homemade pizza.

"Thanks for having me, you guys. It really means a lot. I've never had a home cooked meal that I didn't have to prepare myself!"

"I can believe that!" Gabe remarks.

The rest of the night flew by. We played some ping pong and played some old fashion Nintendo until it was time to go to bed. We had school tomorrow, so it was important to get at least a little bit of sleep. I was tired from school and soccer today, and Gabe too, so we chose to set up my sleeping area a little bit earlier than usual.

I set up my sleeping bag next to his bed on the floor, and in the darkness we chatted for a while.

"Don't forget to set the alarm," I reminded him.

"Oh yeah, just like that one time when we fell asleep in my bed and were totally late for school."

"Haha, I remember."

There was a long pause.

"Speaking of… do you mind if I lie in your bed if we continue talking? I feel lonely down here."

"Sure, no problem."

My bony knees crack as stand up and curl up in Gabe's bed.

After several minutes and thinking Gabe was asleep, "Gabe, are you still awake?" I asked.

"Yeah." 

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course you can, Annabel. Wasn't it because of a secret you are here now?"

"I guess. I know this is totally random, but for a long time, I'd watch you from my room."

"What?"

"Yeah, I'd watch through your window you while you did crunches with no shirt on. A few times you just wore boxers," I snickered.

He processed the thought for a while, and I was starting to wonder if he thought I was insane.

"Did I have a six pack?" He laughed my favorite husky laugh, and soon after, I was unaware of moving back to my sleeping bag, so I fell asleep with his arms around my waist just like when my life was torn into pieces.