Author's Note - Hey guys! My phone has been cut off due to technical problems at the company and well, I haven't been able to update any sooner due to the lazy phone company who take about 2 weeks to fix something. Anyways, it gave me a lot of time to catch up on my writing, so expect a long chapter in the near future....read and review

-H

Chapter 7

Bedroom Sleeping

The quilt was so perfect looking. There wasn't a crease anywhere. It was like it was ironed into place. So, so, cream coloured.

"I didn't know what you would like, so I just put up all the plain, neutral furnishings. You're welcome to decorate it however you want. Just ask Sandy or I for money for the paint or whatever. You're part of the family now you know."

Kirsten started walking towards the door.

"Kirsten, I know that this feels weird. But I want you to know that I am so grateful for this opportunity. I don't know you guys yet, but you seem really nice. I mean, you picked Ryan up practically off the street, he was headed towards jail, and look what you've done to him. I just want you to know, that I won't let you guys down, and that I've always prayed for an opportunity like this. So in my mind, this is a miracle, a miracle from God, and I'm not going to stuff this up."

She walked over to me and held me in a big hug.

"Some day, hugging you won't feel so weird and you know what, I can't wait until that day comes. Because I can see, I can see that you won't let us down Chelsea. Anyways, goodnight...Goodnight sweetheart."

She closed the door and I must have stood there for a few seconds before I had realised what had just happened. I had never felt so accepted in my life. So much trust placed into my hands, so much love.

I sat down onto the perfect, queen-sized bed and pinched myself.

"Ow!" I said annoyed with my attempt to find out if I was dead or just dreaming. "If it hurts, you're still alive." I smiled to myself. My friend Anna had said that. My friend Anna in Chino.

No matter how good this is, I've still left my past, I've still left my home.

I smiled at myself in the mirror.

So many things have been given to me, placed in reach of my fingertips, but should I take it? Should I take the chance? I sighed and crawled over to the other side of the bed where my battered, old suitcases were.

I unzipped one and retrieved my pyjamas in the mess that was my life. I looked into my suitcase after I had finished changing into my tank top and shorts and found a grubby photo.

It was of mom and I.

"Wow, a time in mom's life when she wasn't drunk" I said bitterly with a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh well."

I slipped under the cold, clean white sheets and placed my head onto the soft pillow. I have a thing about pillows. Whenever I had school camp I would always take my own pillow. It had the smell of home on it.

But I had to move on, so I left my pillow in the suitcase and tried to forget about it.

I switched off the lamp and stared blankly into the darkness that surrounded me.

I couldn't do this. I started crying into my sheets. Things just felt so wrong, so bad. I needed home, I needed something familiar.

I grabbed my Discman after searching around through the clothes in another suitcase and grabbed any CD within reach.

Ahh, John Mayer. This is good, this reminds me of home, good times...

I woke up in a pile of sheets and the song 'Come Back To Bed' gently playing in my ear. It had been on repeat all night. I turned it off and removed the headphones from my ears.

The brightness of the sun was hurting my eyes so I ventured for the door and then remembered what I was wearing.

"Damn." I walked back to the blinds and shut them as tight as possible. I definitely wasn't a morning person.

I slipped on some baggy jeans and a Pucci style top as well as some thongs (AN- flip flops, not the underwear kind) and quickly brushed my black hair. I never had bad hair, it was dead straight naturally, and I quite like the way it looked when I got up, but if I didn't brush it, it would become too knotty throughout the day.

I applied some eyeliner and mascara and decided on a bright orange eye shadow to match the orange colours on my top. I put on some lip-gloss and headed straight out the door.

It didn't matter I guess about wearing pyjamas to breakfast. I just didn't want to offend them if I did so I took the safe option of getting dressed.

I slumped down into my chair and warily said good morning.

"So is it an Atwood thing, or are you two both just not morning people?" said Seth.

I laughed in agreement and Ryan grunted.

"He's worse than me though." I said pointing to Ryan.

"What would you like for breakfast Chelsea?" Sandy asked, "Anything you want, just don't let her make it"

"Hey!"

I smiled and headed for the cupboard.

"Umm, do you have any chocolate milk?"

"Oooh!" Seth screamed a muffled shriek while still eating his chocolate looking cereal."

He quickly swallowed his food.

"You drink chocolate milk too?"

"Only as much as I inhale air," I replied, amused at Seth's cute behaviour. (AN- Saying cute is not a sign that they like each other 'that' way, ok: - )

He pointedly looked at Ryan. "Why didn't you bring her here sooner?"

I started laughing. "So, do you want some, I'm going to have some?"

"Yes, please!"

I filled up both glasses once I had found them and brought one directly over to Seth.

"Here you go."

I took a seat and started drinking my sweet milk drink.

"So, what is happening today?" I asked, curious to see how the Cohen's lived their lives.

"Well, Sandy and I both have to finish up some paperwork at our offices so, sorry that we won't be around for the grand tour of Newport."

"We're going on a grand tour?"

"Of course we're going on a grand tour, Newport's newest resident just has to have a grand tour."

"We'll take you around the town, show you school."

"Argh! School. I totally forgot. Chelsea, I have an appointment today for you and I and Sandy if he can, to go to Harbor so that you can get enrolled to your new school."

"Can we reschedule?"

"No, I guess, I'll just have to do the paperwork later."

"No, you don't have to do that. Really, I can just go by my self. Ryan and Seth can take me. You don't have to bother if you have to miss out on work-"

"Stop being silly, of course I have to go, what are parents for huh?"

I plastered a smile onto my face but sunk lower into my chair.

What are parents for huh? Yeah, all the parenting experiences I've had have turned into disasters.

Ryan looked at me. I could tell that he could tell what I was thinking. I mean, he grew up with me too, he knows what it is like.

"So, um, when does Chelsea have to be at Harbor today. So we know when to drop her off." Asked Ryan.

"Well, the principal said the meeting was booked for 2:00pm. She also said that you'd have to do an entrance exam. They just want to see what level you are up to, see what classes you'd fit into to, I'm sure that it'll be just fine. Ryan thinks that you're very intelligent."

I looked up at Ryan and started laughing at him.

"What? You are, Chelsea, and don't try to deny it. Seriously, you'll ace the exam."

"Anyways, we'd love to stay and chat, but really, we have to be off. Come Ryan, Chelsea." And Seth beckoned us towards the front door.

"Bye Sandy, bye Kirsten." I called after them and was quickly dragged into a 4WD.

Seth started up the engine and we left the gorgeous, enormous Cohen house only to find a street full of more, gorgeous enormous houses.

"So, where are we going first?" I asked.

"What would you like to see?"

"Well, apparently the seaside town of Newport does actually have a beach so..."

"To the beach it is then."

We had spent a little while at the beach, and I saw Seth's cool boat. We drove around the town for a while and Ryan and Seth pointed out various places. It was about 12:00 pm now and we decided to go for lunch at the mall.

We found and empty table near a McDonalds and sat down. Ryan reached into his pocket and handed me a 10-dollar note.

"Go buy yourself something to eat. Whatever you want."

I quickly took the money from Ryan's hand and started walking in another direction.

"Hmm, what do I feel like today?" I asked myself silently. I saw a Subway and a KFC and a Kebab place. There were too many options to choose from. I ended up with a Coke and a large fries, but when I decided to go back to our table, I got lost.

I just couldn't remember where we were. I was just stuck in a mass of shoppers holding a paper bag and sucking on a straw.

Ok think about this, we were near a McDonald's. So I walked in that direction and stood in front of a CD shop next to McDonalds's. I must have looked like and idiot just moving my head about, trying to see above the crowd.

"Argh! Where have they gone to?" I sat myself on a public bench and started eating my fries. I'd look for them later.

I'd gotten halfway through when Ryan and Seth found me.

"There you are!"

"Why are you sitting here Chelsea?" said Ryan.

"Yeah, are we not cool enough for you?" Seth said, mock hurt.

"The tables just all seemed to mesh together. I couldn't tell where you guys were so after trying very hard to find you two I decided that food was more important."

"Ok, but come back, we have been worried over you. We thought you had gotten kidnapped or something."

"Oooh, I have big brothers Ryan and Seth to take of me. Always there to take care of a damsel in distress huh?" I laughed as we headed for the table.

But as soon as we came back, another family had taken our seats.

"Ahh, big mistake to leave the table unattended guys"

"Well, if you hadn't gotten lost we wouldn't have lost the table," said Ryan.

"Doesn't matter anyways, let's go look at clothes for a bit." Both guys groaned as I walked all over the place looking at this and trying on that.

"Hey, can we go to the comic book store now?" Seth asked innocently.

"Yeah, let's go."

"Anything is better than looking at clothes," said Ryan in relief.

They rushed eagerly over to the dingy little comic book store. I watched them eagerly. I think that it was interesting to see how these two interacted. I mean, if Seth had lived in Chino about 3 years ago, he'd be the type of guy that if he had gotten in Ryan's way, would be easily bashed up. I guess Ryan had changed, but only for the better.