Naia's POV
Before I knew what was happening, I was in the car with a duffel bag containing some clothes and a toothbrush on my way to Shay and Kelly's house.
"It'll be like a night with friends." Gabby had said when I asked why. It didn't answer my question but I didn't push it. I had a feeling I knew why anyway.
Gabby pulled into the driveway and we all got out of the car. We walked up to the front door and Matt knocked.
"Welcome, welcome!" Shay said when she answered the door. She gave all three of us hugs before letting us come in.
Matt and Kelly shook hands and then Kelly hugged Gabby. When he turned to me, he picked me up and swung me around before setting me gently down back on my feet.
"The guest room's all ready for you guys. Is there anything I can get you to eat or drink?" Shay asked us. We all shook our head no.
"We owe you two big time for doing this," Matt said as everybody took their seats on the couch.
Kelly waved his hand, "Naw, we're practically family."
"I'll get the deck of cards, let's get a game going!" Shay announced and went upstairs. She came back down moments later holding a deck of cards.
Shay told me the rules of the card game Crazy 8s and dealt out the cards.
"Winner gets to decide what we have for dinner," Shay said as she finished handing out the last few cards.
I wasn't sure how many rounds we played but Kelly kept score of how many each person won. By the time dinnertime rolled around, we were all hungry so Kelly announced the winner.
"Drum roll please..." Kelly said, building up the suspense. I already knew it wasn't me because I only won two rounds out of the many we played. "Gabriela Dawson!"
We all clapped as Gabby bowed.
"Still the reigning queen!" She joked and helped gather the cards in the center.
"So what do you want for dinner?" Shay asked, standing up.
Gabby shook her head, "Whatever's easiest."
"Nope, name something. You won." Shay persisted, putting her hands on her hips.
I laughed as Gabby groaned.
"You're so stubborn, Shay." Gabby said, "Honestly, whatever's easiest. You didn't have to let us crash with you guys."
"Oh for crying out loud, just say something!" Kelly said, exasperated, "One of you needs to cave in because we're getting hungry over here."
Matt nodded his agreement.
Shay and Gabby stared at each other for at least two minutes straight, both equally as stubborn.
"Pasta sounds good," I said, breaking the silence. Who knew how long this would go on.
Everybody burst into laughter.
"Pasta it is then," Shay said and walked into the kitchen to start.
Kelly nudged my shoulder from next to me, "Good call, I was getting hungry but they would have bitten off my head for doing what you did."
"That's not good. You need kind of need a head to be a firefighter don't you?" I asked and Kelly nodded. I could tell he was biting back laughter.
"You can laugh, I'm pretty hilarious," I told him and he did.
He looked over at Gabby and Matt, "You've got quite the comedian over here."
"Oh really?" Matt asked, "I knew she was ticklish but she's funny too?"
Kelly perked up, "You said she was ticklish?"
"Don't even think about it," I warned and hopped off the couch. I went over to the kitchen where Shay was boiling water.
I took a seat on one of the stools at the island. "Can I help in any way?"
"I'll take you as a roommate over Severide any day. You're much more helpful." Shay joked, "Why don't you wash your hands and cut up that bread over there."
She gestured to the long baguette over to the side.
I went to the bathroom and washed my hands. When I came back, Shay had a cutting board and knife ready for me. I got straight to work while Shay started putting the noodles in.
"What grade are you in?" She asked, starting a conversation.
"Seventh," I answered.
"I remember being in grade seven. That was a long time ago." She said. "Do you have a favourite subject?"
I thought about it for a moment. "I don't know, I'm pretty decent math so that's easiest for me. Maybe science, though sometimes I also really hate science. I guess it depends on what we're doing."
"I was never good at math, I hated it." Shay said, smiling at me, "You know, I think you need a nickname from me."
I nodded, "Sounds like a good idea."
"Although," Shay said, "Naia's already pretty short."
I nodded again, "That's true. Though, some nicknames are longer than the actual name."
"Do you have a middle name?" Shay asked me. I stopped cutting the bread.
Ellie and I were sitting on her bed in our room. We were talking about what we thought our middle names were.
"Maybe I'll ask Mrs. Samual." Ellie fantasized, "And she'll tell me it's something pretty like Lily or Sophia."
I shook my head, "She won't tell you, neither will Mr. Samual. Best case she'll let you slip on this one without any beating."
"Don't be a party pooper!" Ellie scowled at me playfully. I laughed at her fake scowl.
"Alright, alright. She'll tell you, and when I ask her what my middle name is she'll tell me. It'll be like Katie or Meghan." I joined in on Ellie's fantasies.
Ellie grabbed my hand, "Elianna Lily, what do you think my last name is?"
"The same as mine since we're sisters," I said and Ellie smiled at me.
She nodded, "Of course, what do you think our last name is?"
"Maybe something like Conners, or Walters," I said, making stuff up. "Elianna Lily Walters. Has a nice ring to it."
Ellie laughed, "I like it. Your name would be Naia Katie Walters. That sounds nice too!"
"Well, we don't have to ask now, we know!" I joked and we both laughed although neither of us felt like it. It was forced. We both knew we wouldn't ask and we would never know.
"Earth to Naia?" Shay's voice asked, bringing me back.
I nodded, shaking my head clear. It seemed like a century ago that I was living with the Samuals though, at the same time, it felt like it wasn't.
"Yes, sorry. No, I never asked about my middle name." I answered her truthfully.
"Maybe Gabby knows, she did see your birth certificates when she took you in," Shay suggested.
"I'll ask her later." I said, "If I remember, I don't exactly have the greatest memory."
Shay laughed, "You and me both. I try to remind you, you know if I remember to do that."
We both laughed at that.