Befallen childhood- Adopted by Hamilton

-8-

I wipe my tears on the way to the forum, taking shaky steps down the stairs. I stop when I notice something. A little camera up in the corner. I don't think I will ever tell but if I do, I need the date and time. I check my phone looking at the date and time and then hurry down the stairs. Vanessa is talking to Mr.Nicolson.

"Liv, there you are." She says relieved. "You're ten minutes late."

"Sorry. I fell looking for Noah." I say quietly. I look at Mr.Nicolson who's head is tilted. He buys my story so much less then Vanessa who says we should get going.

"See you Monday."

"Bye, sir." It's like I can't exceed a volume. I know how it goes. I will sulk around for three days or something like that. I'll pity myself for maybe the first hour and then hate myself for it the rest of the time. Through a game of twenty questions it seems, I tell her that I fell on the stairs trying to find Noah and went to the bathroom to wash up. I text Noah that I'm fine. I take a shower, harshly scrubbing my skin and check my Instagram. I'm private but I still get bothered on it. It's really annoying. I shut it and stare at the ceiling until Sebastian starts to cry. I lift him up with all of my strength and sit down on my bed with him and very quietly sing Brahms Lullaby. I don't know all the words. After all I've only been sung it by one person a few times.

"Liv? Oh my, he's asleep." She whispers. "How did you learn to do that?"

"Just another family that happened to have a baby. He's a foster kid now."

"I'm sure he's safer." I shake my head.

"I doubt that."

"Have you been crying?" I shrug, watching Sebastian sleep. "It's okay."

"I'm fine. Hormones." I laugh. She gives me a sad smile, not believing that, and puts Sebastian back. I tell her I'm going to bed early and she gives me a kiss on the head. It's maybe a few hours later of reading by the light of Sebastian's nightlight that the door creeks open. Lin doesn't say anything. He sits down next to me on the cot. I look back at my book, reading without comprehending any of it. I don't want him to look at my face. I guess I'll have to wait because when I turn the page to a new chapter, he puts my bookmark in and closes it, putting it on the other side of him. He grabs my hand and leads me into the living room. He grabs teo mugs and hands one to me. Hot chocolate. We sit on the couch and I stare at my hands.

"Vanessa told me you fell. And that you were crying. But also that you put Sebastian back to sleep."

"He was already tired."

"Well, she said your voice is nice."

"That was nice of her." There is a moment of silence. "What is this?"

"I'm going to do everything in my power to help you, but if you don't speak to me, there's simply nothing I can really do that will actually make things better. I'm not going to rush you, but I'm going to give you opportunities like this to talk to me. Really about anything. Like maybe why you just read for five hours." I chuckle.

"It's a good book."

"What's it about?"

"A girl whose mother gets sick and the girl tries to get her to live the end of her life to the fullest. But the mother doesn't want to and it breaks her heart."

"What's your story?"

"You don't want to hear it."

"I really do. More then anything. It's tearing me apart."

"My whole family died at once and I was there. I don't think I need to go any deeper."

"Not now, at least. I'm so sorry, Olivia." I shrug and sip my hot chocolate. I can't ignore the voice in my head asking me how many calories and reminding me of the whale Instagram page.
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A/N- I'm almost done editing another story (what you don't know) so updates are gonna get faster real soon. Thanks so much for reading though!

Shameless self promotion to that story because i update daily and its failing rn😂 Plus it has some Chicago in the later part of the book.

Enjoy the chapter😬