Chapter 10 - Adjustment

As we pulled into the driveway, it was no surprise to see Ella's expectant face peering through the curtains. She wore a huge, goofy grin like she was about to meet the teen idol of her dreams. I wondered how disappointed she'll be when she figures out that Fang isn't like most other teenage boys that you see on TV. Or read about in books for that matter. I mean, what guy in real life is like Edward Cullen? Or Mr. Darcy? – don't even ask how I know of him.

We helped Fang with his scanty amount of bags and led him inside. Ella was practically bouncing with excitement, while our dog Savannah picked up on my half-sisters mood and barked happily. She wagged her stub of a tail so hard that her hips swayed with it. As Fang set some bags down she ran up to him and jumped, resting her paws on his chest. She was sniffing him all over and trying to lick his arms. Fang didn't seem too thrilled.

"Down, Savannah," I ordered, clutching her collar to withhold her from licking Fang to death. I had to admit, it was a funny sight. After seeing this display, I wondered how much better it will be to see him dealing with pigs, sheep, and horses.

"Hi, I'm Ella," my sister announced, walking around Savannah and opening her arms wide as if to embrace him. One look from Fang made her pause in her advance. He really didn't seem like a huggable person, at look he shot her wasn't the most friendly one either. "Err, you must be Marco," she said a little less confidently. However, the way her eyes sparkled was clearly a sign that she was crushing on Fang. Weirdo.

"Call me Fang," he said, rather bored. But the way his eyes darted around our living room told me he was anything but uninterested.

"So, are you glad you have a home? How did you end up in foster care? Why do you call yourself Fang?" She stopped after Mom mouthed "cut it" and swiped her hand across her neck.

"Uh, Ella, don't you have chores to do?" she asked, saving Fang the horror of facing Ella's 20 questions. "I'll help you today since I gave Max the day off."

"Aw, Mom, that's no fair! I hardly got to meet him, and he's so cute!" she whined as Mom dragged her toward the back door. I blushed at her statement, not that I thought he was cute or anything. I just thought that Fang would think that I thought he was cute, too. Cause, you know, if Ella thought so than why wouldn't her sister?

From the smirk he was giving me now, it proved my fear correct. Why'd I have to blush? Now he thinks that I think he's cute. Which I don't. Not that he isn't.

Jeez, I'm digging myself a grave. Forget I thought any of this.

He's so goddamn annoying. I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

"Well, I can show you around now, if you want," I said awkwardly, a little pissed at Ella and Fang.

He shrugged, so I took that as a yes. "This is the living room, obviously," I gestured to the room we were in. The wall by the kitchen was covered with pictures of Ella and me since we were babies, which was quite embarrassing. I forgot to take those down. In the far corner was the staircase I had so willingly descended only a week ago to meet with Jeb. The area we were standing on was a platform a step above the "leisure area", which had two leather couches and a TV. A bookshelf was on the opposite wall, filled with everything from Dr. Seuss to Advanced Genetics Books that Mom still used at her office.

We walked toward the kitchen. "It's no surprise what this is," I told him. He studied everything with inscrutable eyes. "Feel free to eat anything in the fridge at any time. I have the late-night munchies so Mom doesn't care." I pointed to a small corridor in the hall. "Down there is the laundry room and the pantry. Everyone does their own laundry here, so I hope you know how to."

"I've been in foster care for long enough," he said. "I think I know how to take care of myself."

I nodded and led him back into the living room and through the hallway by the book shelf. Three doors, two on the right and one of the left, lined the walls. The first on the right was open. "This is the bathroom you'll be using," I told him, letting him enter the open door. "Sadly, you're sharing this with my Mom, but she doesn't take too long in there. Be glad you don't have to share one with Ella." He half-smiled at that.

The door directly across from it was shut, and I motioned for him to open the door. He did. "This is your room," I said as he stepped in. "We used it as a guest room before, so sorry if it's a little empty. You can basically do anything you want to it, just as long as you keep it semi-clean." I chuckled and he smirked. The room was as basic as could be, with bare walls and plain white bed sheets. A small dresser sat opposite the bed, and a nightstand with a desk lamp was placed on its side.

"Sorry it's what you're stuck with," I said as he threw his bags on the bed. "Mom wouldn't let you have the upstairs bedroom."

"It's good," he said.

"I think she was afraid of having a boy in close proximity to us." I switched my weight on my feet uncomfortably as I watched him. He didn't seem to be upset, but it was hard to tell with him. The way he unpacked with a gentle accuracy, where I noticed all his clothing was black, was a good sign. I hoped.

"Or she was afraid of what your sister would do to me," he replied with the faintest hint of humor.

I smiled and rolled my eyes. "Do you want to stay here and let it all sink in or do you want to see the rest of the home? We didn't even cover the farm yet."

"I don't really have much to unpack anyway," he said dismissively as he placed the infamous sketchpad on the nightstand. "I can do that later." He walked away and headed in my direction.

"Okay…" I went on like a tour guide as we reentered the hall. "The last door on the right is my Mom's room. I don't think she'd mind if you went in, but it's not necessary." He nodded once curtly, but didn't proceed to enter, so I walked the other way. We traveled to the living room, up the stairs into my hallway. "There are three rooms and technically 'one-point-five' bathrooms, but all that real estate crap is a stupid way to say that there are really two bathrooms. My bedroom is down this hall," I said as I pointed to a little bend in the hall that led to my room. "Down this way are Ella's room, our bathroom, and the guest room that has its own bathroom, without a shower, though. The house doesn't seem that big, but it is. At least it's huge for the three of us."

I waited for him to say anything, but he just observed everything with silent curiosity. Maybe my hope was in vain.

"We're heading toward the farm," I said as we walked down the steps into the kitchen, making our way the back door. "You'll be well acquainted with it by the end of the week. Once we figure out how you'll be helping us. It might make you want to move out once you see what we have to do."

"Please don't move out!" Ella chirped from all the way across the backyard. She was by "The Pen" with Savannah, shoveling up some lovely droppings by the animals. Sarcasm there for ya folks!

"How hard can it be?" Fang asked, causing me to grin evilly.

"You wouldn't mind getting up at five AM to feed the animals?"

He shrugged indifferently. "It's better than doing nothing."

"At five AM? What normal teenager is up at that time?" I was beginning to question his sanity. Or at least his behavior.

"Just trust me, I'll be fine."

"Okay…"

"Hey, Fang," Mom called, walking up to us while wiping her hands on a towel. "How are you finding things around here?"

"It's different, but it's good, Ms. Martinez," Fang said politely. "I don't think it will be too hard of an adjustment."

"Good." Mom smiled at us. "Has Max been helpful?"

"Yes, Ma'am." I glared at him. He acts like the perfect gentleman around my mom, but to me he's a mask of mystery. A painting with an intriguing exterior yet you can't decipher what it's supposed to be. A poem where the words make sense but its message is unknown. I was determined to figure him out.

"Okay, Max, I'm going in to make dinner. I'll let you know when Jeb comes."

"Alright," I said through clenched teeth. Fang raised an eyebrow at me and smirked.

"Don't like your dad?" he asked when Mom went inside.

"No, and you'll see why when you meet him." I walked toward the barn. "C'mon, I'll show you the rest of the property."

I introduced Fang to the pigs, sheep, and goats, to which they all scurried away from him. They were strange animals meeting a strange teen boy. Maybe they weren't used to seeing men. I'd heard that animals can gain fear of different genders, and those animals were stupid enough to be afraid insects. So it didn't surprise me. At the barn, I was grateful that Nudge wasn't there or else she'd be all over him, too. She and Ella were very similar in that sense. I even let him meet Gale, who greeted him with a friendly sneeze. The look on his face in response was hilarious. But I knew that if she liked him, than he wasn't too bad. We were winding up the tour when I saw Mom leaning outside the back door.

"Honey, Jeb's here," she called.

Oh boy, here we go.

This is another filler chapter while I'm getting my writing mojo back. Yes people, there is such thing as one. I just got this really good idea of how I'm going to make this story go, but there is one little dilemma I need worked out. I posted a poll question on my profile that I'd love for people to answer. It'll take, like, two seconds really. Just a simple "Yes or No" question. So please take the time to answer it!

Sorry for the Twilight comparison, but it had to be done. I mean really, what guy is like that in real life??? And if one exists where do I find him?!?!?!

Review please! Reviews make the updates daily again!!