Better Things ✓

Chapter 1.2

C H A P T E R  1.2
M E E T I N G  T H E  B O Y S

Delaney

My skin pressed against the banister, the pressure giving mild comfort to my shaking hands. The stairs creaked softly as my feet moved down them with precision. To say I was nervous was an understatement. My pulse continued to feed into my quicken breaths, an endless cycle of internal panic.

This was the cycle, a constant with every house I've been placed in. I'd tried to master the self assurance act, the cold mask covering my aching heart. Sometimes, though, all that was left to show new foster parents was the weeping heart of a small girl craving family.

I mentally prepped myself to make a good impression. This one needed to work out, I can't afford to move again. I needed to do whatever possible to make them not cringe at my presence, or maybe not notice it. I would just keep my head down and keep my chores done.

As my feet hit the bottom of the staircase, I headed towards the sound of chatter, assuming that's the direction of the kitchen. I stopped just before the doorway, hearing the conversation more clearly now.

My heart thuds rhythmically, the blood pumping through my veins rapidly.

When Maya finally noticed me standing in the doorway, she spoke.

"Delaney, sweetie, come meet everyone."

Soon, all eyes were on my uncomfortable frame standing at the entrance. Unsure of what to do, I stepped forward slowly and met them at the end of their table.

Everyone seemed to have a place, sitting closely around the table with a plate of eggs and bacon in front of them.

Scott noticed my obvious discomfort, gesturing towards the boys as he instructed the boys to introduce themselves.

First, he pointed to a guy who looked older than the rest who sat next to Scott. He had dark hair like his mother, which was neatly arranged. He had on a casual shirt and kakis. His arms were lined with a few tattoos, each looking significant yet not overdone. The friendly grin he sent my way broke some of the tension lining my shoulders.

"Hey, I'm Nathan." He started, waving his hand. "I'm twenty-three years old and I work as a firefighter paramedic at the station nearby." He seemed nice, but I wouldn't leave my trust in the hands of somebody he based off of a friendly first impression.

Nevertheless, I sent him a kind smile in return, nodding my head in silent acknowledgement of his introduction. I didn't need a rude impression left in the minds of these people within the first few minutes of meeting.

Then the boy sitting to the right of him continued the conversation after him.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Luke. I'm twenty and going to college close to here to be a lawyer." He gave me a polite smile, sitting stiffly as if he's uncomfortable. Unlike his older brother, his appearance was clean and precise.

I took notice of their similarities. The two oldest looked very similar to Scott, while the rest of them were small replicated versions of their mom. The dark hair from Scott seemed to be a consistent trait, running through each boy, though.

The boy beside Luke looked like he couldn't care less about what was happening around him. He was slouched against his chair, rolling his eyes so subtly that I was the only one to catch it as we held eye contact. "I'm Carter. I just turned eighteen years old and a senior in high school." He stated, looking at his dad with an exasperated expression painted across his toned face. He looked lean, yet not lanky. His body showed the physical effort he put in.