Unfiltered.

I want to be happy

Chapter 4

I want to be happy

Two weeks were there quicker than Adler would've imagined, Miss Juniper had came and picked him up for his birthday/Christmas.  It was nice change of pace, eating dinner at a little diner that she visited frequently when she was in college. At least that's what she told him when they pulled up to the place, boasting how they had the best burgers and milkshakes in the whole state.

Honestly he thought he wouldn't like Miss Juniper, she was all smiles and naive optimism but in the two weeks he's been at Zion she helped a lot. The more he was around her the more she felt like a older sister to him.

"So how are you liking Zion? Mrs. Ravenport is continuously complimenting how well mannered you are. Though all I get are cuss words." Adler could feel his ears burn, the feeling running down the back of his neck so he looks away but Miss Juniper just laughs and takes a sip of her milkshake. "Not that I mind, it just means your comfortable around me." Which wasn't a lie and the more he thought on that he realized he was the same way with Church, his bright blue eyes gleaming in his memory. He finds himself blushing more now.

"I think I made a friend."

When he returned to the orphanage and hour or two later he found himself walking the similar route to the library, holding the book Miss Juniper handed him as he was getting out the car. He knew he could just go back to his room to read, avoiding any of the other kids that lived here but his heart knew that a certain someone was probably already in the library.

Everyday like clockwork he would silently make his way to the library at exactly four o'clock, sit in a chair that had a clear view of the rug that sat off to the side of the large room. There would be sat about a dozen of younger children, eyes wide as they listened to Church do all different voices for the characters in the book he would be currently reading them.

Adler found himself, no matter how much he chastised himself after he returned to his room, like listening to the sound of Church's voice. Silly voice and all. Even though he didn't listen to the words Church was saying it relaxed him enough that sometimes he forgot to even open the books he brought with him.

Though he would always leave as the time hit four-thirty. Church would always end the book there, the kids protest could be heard as he rushed out the library. He never really knew why he ran away, it wasn't like Church knew he was there. Adler found himself glowering down at the book in his hands, the dull red of the hard cover digging into the palms of his hands.

"Adler!" His name being called had him a little dumbfounded, no one really talked to him here though he never gave anyone the chance. Though as he looked up, those bright eyes and gleaming smile had his heart stuttering. "Happy Birthday!" He blinked a couple time up at the older teen, the tiny box that was held in his pale hands was shove into Adler's face.

"You got me a present?" Church expression was none other than duh, like how could Adler ask such a thing. If he had it in him he wouldn't smiled. His hands finally gave up the assault on the old book in his hand to grab a hold of the small box. He was gentle, slowly bringing it down to lay on top of his book. "Thank you, you shouldn't have." He stared down at the small box, the corner of his lips tugging just slightly as he looked at the big blue bow that sat on top of the small box.

But as he looked Church was gone, the smile that tugged on his lips slowly lost its hold and his heart returned to a normal speed. He felt dejected, he found himself wanting to talk more with the older teen even if Church was the one normally carrying the conversation. He sighed, stood up and left the library not wanting to sit through the storytelling this time.