"Grady, Edaline! I'm home!" I tried not to think about the last time I'd done that, even though it had been different. Back then, I had believed they could actually be my family. I called them 'Mom' and 'Dad'. I was foolish. Yesterday changed everything.
"Guys?" I heard hushed murmurs coming from her room again and decided that today I wouldn't bother with listening in. I already knew that they didn't want me, what was the point in hearing more about how they can't stand to have me around?
"Soph, that's not what it is and you know it. They do love you." I scoffed, not believing a word of what I'd said. I walked upstairs and went to my room. I lay there on the bed for a bit before turning around. Iggy was outside, doing who knows what, so I was all alone in my room.
I hated moments like these. Moments when there was enough silence to leave me alone to my own thoughts. Moments like these… scared me.
When I was all alone, I remembered. I remembered all the pain that I felt. The pain that I felt when my first family left me. I knew they had to leave to take care of Amy, but… they left me behind, and that pain was unbearable. The pain I felt when they took Ella from me, saying I didn't need that blue elephant anymore and that I should stop being selfish. They took Ella, Marty, and Amy and left me behind.
My second home, the foster care system. I was in and out of there all the time, couples came and went, claiming I would be the perfect addition to the family and then, not even a week later, they would go back and drop me off, not saying another word.
Alden and Della came in one day, claiming they knew my old parents, and took me in. I felt loved for once. In my first two homes, I'd always felt out of place, less special than the others. But in the Vacker home, I was one of them. Alden and Della treated me no differently. They favored none of their kids over the other. Fitz and Biana never shut me out of anything or kept secrets.
I smiled slightly when I remembered when they finally told me about Alvar-
My computer began playing a tune that I recognized as the one I'd set for Dex. I rolled over, burying my face in my pillow. I inhaled, breathing deeply. It smells… nice… enough.
I rolled onto my back, staring up at the crystal chandelier above my bed. I rolled over onto my side, roughly tugging the feather soft duvet along with me. I glared at the crushed and wilted rose petals on the floor that Grady and Edaline have yet to replace. Oh, so they won't replace rose petals, but they're okay with replacing me? I shook my head. "That's insane. Grady and Edaline aren't replacing me. Or anyone!" They replaced Jolie with you. But you're too much like her. So they're gonna get rid of you and find another daughter.
I shook my head, rolling over onto my stomach, burying my face into the pillow that didn't smell good enough. I wasn't good enough in any way.
The tune stopped, and I sighed in relief. And then I was left alone in the silence again.
But I'm not alone. I had Dex, the most caring best friend ever. I had Biana, who would always listen to whatever I had to say. I had Keefe, who would always be there to cheer me up. I had Fitz, who would always protect me.
I had Amy, I had Ella, and Marty, and I had a family. I had.
I had so many things, and I had so many things.
And then I heard the door open and a figure scooped me up in their arms. They seemed to struggle a bit, so I deducted the person to be Dex. I turned around and sobbed harder into his shirt. I hadn't realized I was crying.
"Shh, Sophie, everything is going to be fine. Fitz is coming over soon." Dex managed to suppress the slight bitterness that usually came with the mention of Fitz as he cradled me in his arms, still scrawny like the day I met him, but stronger and sturdier. I leaned into him, crying even harder.
I didn't deserve Dex. The doorbell rang and he moved to put me on the bed. I gripped his shirt harder and shook my head, burying myself in the comfort Dex gave me.
I heard my room door open for the second time that day and felt my heart pound. I didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve such amazing friends who would come for me at a moment's notice.
"Aw, come here, Sophie." I could hear Biana's smooth voice and was slightly shocked that she was here. Then, I realized Dex most likely only mentioned Fitz because he knew that would cheer me up the most.
Even when Dex had a crush on me, he always put me before himself. I laughed at that but it also made me sob harder. I could feel myself being passed over to someone else and I covered my face.
I hated being weak. I trusted my friends to be with me through it all, but I hated being weak. "Hey, there, Sophie." Fitz's accented voice was calming while his large, calloused hands stroked my hair. Biana was whispering to Dex and I could hear the steps being taken two at a time from outside my room.
"Is she in here?" I could hear Keefe's out of breath voice and then thumping on the landing. I could tell Marella had tired her small self out by having to climb the stairs so quickly with her short legs and I laughed again.
I had the best friends.
"How is Sophie?" I knew they were being pulled into a conversation by Dex and Biana. I hadn't heard someone else climbing up the stairs and was surprised when Tam and his twin sister, Lihn, arrived. I smiled when I realized that I hadn't heard Tam's footsteps at all.
Fitz's head was buried in my hair as he whispered calming things to me, but I felt his lips stretch into a smile as I smiled. He held me tighter and I cried harder, soaking his shirt. I didn't care that I would later be mortified, I didn't care that I didn't deserve this. I didn't care about anything anymore.
I didn't know how it was possible. I didn't know it was possible that just within the span of a few months, everything had gone from perfect to the worst it's ever been.