Finally, after ten years, I finally have a home and a family to call my own. I wore a nice black dress with converse because I wanted them to think of me as nice, but boyish; I wanted them to like me.

I cried with joy the moment I found out that someone actually wanted me. It's not everyday a big kid is chosen for a family.

"Y/n," the head mistress, Ms Stephanie, said, catching my attention, "it's not like you to wear a dress."

"First impressions matter." I commented.

"They like you and you've met them already." She laughed.

"Not the brother." I added, "Besides, there's nothing wrong with having them like you just a bit more."

She chuckled and after a small pause, she said, "We're gonna miss you, Y/N."

I turned and looked into her bright, amber eyes. He hair was up in a tight bun and she smiled, making her that much brighter. For years, I've seen her as my mother figure and know I get to go to a home of my own, hopefully with a family that'll show me just as much love a support this woman has.

"I'm gonna miss all of you guys too." I said, "I'd be dead if it weren't for you."

I put one of my bags down and hugged her. I looked up and she had tears in her eyes along with me.

After being abandoned for so long and having these people save me from dying of dehydration and starvation at the age of six months really tugs on your feelings, especially when you've got to leave them.

She pulled me away and looked at my eyes, "Ten-years-old and anyone with any common sense can see you're going to be the perfect woman."

I smiled and heard something. I turned to the driveway and a shiny, black sedan rolled to the front of the orphanage, I used to call home. They pulled up in front of us and Mr. Dad and Mrs. Mom stepped out of the car. They smiled from ear to ear when they saw me and hustled to me to give me a hug.

Mrs. Mom was gorgeous. She had a bright, turquoise sun dress on that fit her rather thin form with black sandals wrapped around her small feet. She gave the most heartwarming smile through her pink, full lips anyone would literally die for. She had her curly, short hair down and literally everywhere, but she made it work. Her coco skin glowed in the sun, but her chocolate eyes made her appearance look heaven like.

Mr. Dad was super handsome. He wasn't the skinniest man, but he wasn't fat either. He had on a white shirt and badge khakis that showed off his hairy legs that led to his sandals. His skin was a little brighter than Mrs. Mom's but they still showed the same effect when he sun gleamed down on them. He gave me and big, mood-lifting smile as he got closer, also making his dull, brown eyes sparkle.

"Y/N!" They cheered as they hugged me.

I hugged back and whispered, "I'm so happy." We soon pulled away and I looked at Stephanie, "Thank you."

She smiled and said, "Visit whenever. It was great raising you, Y/N. I can't wait to see what Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have in store for you."

I glanced at them and said, "Me neither."

"Bye Y/N!" All the kids from the window screamed. I looked at them and saw all their little broken hearts through their eyes.

Being one of the older kids means you see kids come and go; building a relationship with them only to watch them leave. Ms Stephanie says it hurts them more than you and now I see why.

I waved at them as a tear rolled down my cheek. Mrs. Mom put her hands on my shoulders and said, "Ready?"

I smiled and sniffed as I nodded, leaving the tear that was rolling down my face be because feelings are feelings and this is how I feel: gloomy.

Mr. Dad grabbing my bags and popped open the trunk setting them in there. I thanked him as he scurried to the back door of the car and opened it for me. I sat down on the hot leather and buckled up. I rolled down the window as Mr. Dad and Mrs. Mom got back in the car. I waved to everyone, having my hear break just a little more as they cried.

We pulled out of the driveway and I rolled my window up.

"Sorry you couldn't meet Marcel," Mrs. Mom said, "he hasn't done his summer reading yet so we made him stay home until he got it done."

Her voice was silvery; light and pleasant.

"Do you think he'll like me?" I asked.

"Honey, I think he'll love you." Mr. Dad added.

His voice was husky and rough.

"No, I mean..." I tried to find words, but it was hard to describe, "He won't get mad because you adopted another kid?"

"Honey, we didn't adopt Marcel." Mrs. Mom said.

"Oh."

"In fact, after we had him, I got my tubes tied so I can't have kids anymore." She continued, "When Marcel got to a certain age, he said he wanted a sibling because he gets bored around the house and we've always wanted a second child."

"How old is he?" I asked.

"Twelve." Mr. Dad answered.

"Oh, so we're around the same age." I clarified.

"Yup." They both answered.

"Can I ask another question?"

"Ask away." Mr. Dad laughed.

"What's 'summer reading'?"

"Oh, I forgot you've never been to a public school." Mrs. Mom said, "Well, summer reading is where a literature class assigns a book for the students to read over the summer."

I gasped, "Do I have to go to a public school?"

"Why do you sound so scared?" Mr. Dad asked.

"Well in books, public schools are some of the worst places on earth. I don't want to be bullied like the characters." I explained.

They glance at each other, but Mr. Dad said, "Marcel will protect you. Nothing bad can happen if he's around."

I nodded. I looked out the window and saw us drive through town. Many teens were walking to together while some adults jogged by. Kids played at the parks and playgrounds as they ran from and after each other. We turned onto an unfamiliar and empty road. Mr. Dad went down a block and turned into the driveway of a big, white house with a dark blue roof.

"Welcome home." Mr. Dad said as him and Mrs. Mom unbuckled and exited the car. I did the same, but hesitantly. My whole body was finally out of the car and I gently closed the door, I watched as Mr. Dad opened the trunk and grabbed my bags once again.

I took a deep breath as I grabbed on from him and followed Mrs. Mom to the door. She opened it and walked in.

"Marcel! Come meet your sister." She shouted. She pulled me along as Mr. Dad walked in, took the bag I was holding and headed down a hallway.

There was a loud clatter from a door to the right and within four seconds, some guy barged through the door and looked at me. Curiosity covered his face as he speed-walked to me. He circled me and I followed his face so I could get a good look at him.

He had Mr. Dads skin, but Mrs. Mom's features. His eyes widened, making his coco bean colored eyes pop out more. He pulled back his pink lips and form the most vibrant smile I have even seen and it made me feel safe.

He quickly hugged me and said, "Welcome home, Sis."

I hugged back and said, "Great to be here, Bro."

He laughed and I felt like I was protected. His laugh was so wild, but it made me feel like nothing bad would ever happen to me.

We heard a click and pulled away, looking at Mrs. Mom holding her phone. We smiled as she took another picture of us.

I looked back at him and said, "So you're the Marcel I haven't had a chance to meet yet."

He smiled when he turned to me, "The one and only! And you're my new little sister, Y/N!"

I nodded, "That's me."

"Y/N!" Mr. Dad yelled, "Come look at your new room."

I widened my eyes and looked at Mrs. Mom, "I get my own room."

She nodded but had a small bit of confusion on her face. "Did you not have you're own room back at the orphanage?" She asked.

I shook my head, "We didn't even have rooms. There were too many girls."

"Were did you sleep?" Marcel asked.

"Our beds lined the hallways." I explained.

They nodded and Mr. Dad yelled for me one more time. I smiled and followed Mrs. Mom down the hall. At the very end, Mr. Dad stood and I looked back at Marcel to see him just as happy as me.

Mrs. Mom stopped and I nearly bumped into her as she turned around. She joined her husband and glanced into the room.

"It may not be much, but we can get you more things later." She said.

I walked to the doorway and looked into the room. It had plain white walls and a window on the far side of the room. It had a little ledge where you could sit and not too far from it was a bed with a white, puffy blanket with pillows to match. I stepped in and looked over to see a cute, brown dresser with a mirror.

"I..." I was so speechless. I was in a room that I get to call mine. After sleeping in a hall, occasionally having to share beds, this is my room now. Most people wouldn't like the colors or that fact it wasn't the biggest room in the house, but this was perfect in my eyes and nothing's going to change that.

"Do you like it?" Mr. Dad asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I love it." I breathed a breath that I didn't know I was holding from excitement, "I really, really love it!"

I turned to them and they looked really happy, maybe even happier than me but that pretty much impossible.

I felt obligated to hug them, so I ran to them and grabbed them all, hugging them as tight as possible. I felt my eyes start to water and as a tear rolled down my face, I knew what happiness was. Just having my families arms around me made me so happy.

Mrs. Mom made me feel adored, Mr. Dad made me feel like I belonged, and Marcel made me feel protected; this is what home feels like.

"Marcel," Mrs. Mom said as we all pulled away and I wiped my face, "help Y/N unpack. Your father and I are going to finish up some paper work on her adoption."

He nodded and hugged me, "Will do."

They smiled and looked at me, "We'll be back as soon as we can."

I nodded, "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"You don't know how much it means to us." Mr. Dad corrected me.

I smiled as Mrs. Mom kissed Marcel and I's forehead. The adults left and I looked at Marcel.

"I thought it was illegal to leave children under the age of thirteen alone?" I said.

"It is," he said, "but who's gonna tell on them?"

"Not me!" I said as I picked up my bags.

We laughed as we walked into my room and I set them on the bed. We opened them all and started putting the clothes up. I, of course, did the underwear while Marcel did the shirts and pants.

"So what's your favorite color?" Marcel asked his millionth question.

I can understand, I was pretty much doing the same to him. I wasn't getting annoyed though, every there was a new kid, they'd always ask something like this.

"F/c. What's yours?" I asked.

"I don't really have a favorite." He said, "Do you like video games?"

"I've read about them, but I've never played one." I responded, "Do you have some?"

"I've got a whole shelf!" He exclaimed, "We should play some time."

"We should!" I said, "So you go to public school?"

"You don't?" He asked.

I shook my head and said, "I go to private. People say we're stuck up and know less, but I never met anyone like that there. Is public school really bad like in the books?"

He shook his head, "Its not that bad. I'm in 7th grade. What grade are you in?"

"5th, but I'm in all advanced classes." I added, "Do you like animals?"

He nodded, "I love animals. I'm allergic to some, but that doesn't stop me."

I giggled and said, "What's your favorite?"

He stopped folding for a second and looked away as if thinking. He soon gasped and looked back and said, "Dinosaurs!"

We laughed as we put our last things of clothing into the drawer and closed it. I walked over to the bed and flopped onto it. Marcel giggled and followed after my lead. We laughed as we turned onto our backs and continued to talk to each other.

We liked a lot of things, but most of them weren't the same. There was nothing wrong with it though, because we never disagreed with each other about it.

I eventually couldn't keep my eyes open and when I was about to say something to Marcel, I heard a small snore. I giggled as I let myself fall into the same breathing pattern as him, causing me to sleep.

~

I woke up with my door being slam open. I heard hurried footsteps and soon felt a heavy weight on me.

I let out a growl, "Marcel, you're sixteen-years-old and you still have to wake me up like this?"

"But Y/N!" He laughed, "Its my last day of school! I won't be a sophomore anymore!"

I laughed as I rolled to face him. I've lived with him for four years and I somehow always find a new way to love my brother. He does this every time he's up before me, even if we're mad at each other or one of us is sick.

"I stopped being an 8th grader two days ago," I whispered, "let me sleep dammit."

He laughed and said, "Not today!"

He hugged me and kissed my forehead before getting off and walking away, "Love you, I've got to go!"

I sat up before he completely left my room and said, "I love you too!"

I got up and stretched, looking around my nearly full room. I had two bookshelves full of novels from various writers next to the desk full of paper work from school. The mirror on my dresser now consisted of photos of mainly my brother and I, but some of friends from school and Mrs. Mom and Mr. Dad. I know had some pillows on the ledge of the window and a whole lot of candles and wax melts next to my fan so it constantly smells good in here.

I walked out of my room and to the kitchen to be greeted by my mom.

"Morning Mrs. Mom." I greeted.

She looked at me and smiled, "Morning Y/n."

Age has washed over her, leaving grey hairs, a thinner figure, and a few wrinkles, but she's still as beautiful as ever and she'll never be old in my eyes. She was reading the paper while drinking the coffee she recently made.

"How did you sleep?" I asked.

You may be asking why I'm so formal, but that's because that's how your were supposed to act it the orphanage and at school. Marcel's pointed it out before, but I can't change, it's just how I was raised.

"Not the best." She sighed, "My head started hurting and when I got up, I couldn't go back to sleep."

I grabbed a granola bar, walked over to her and hugged her, "I'm sorry. You should take a nap later."

She nodded, "I was thinking about it. How about you, Sweety?"

"Great till Marcel woke me up yet again." I laughed.

She chuckled, "Ever since you got here he's done that."

I nodded, "I love it though. Wouldn't feel right if he didn't."

I sat down next to her as we talked a little more. She finally decided that she should get some rest and headed off to bed. I went to my room and chose a book from one of my shelves and sat in my spot at the window and began to read.

As much as I love my family, not everything was perfect like everyone else thought. Mr. Dad was always gone due to his job and Mrs. Mom has been having these real bad headaches recently. Marcel's been hanging out with his friends a lot more, leaving me at home by myself most the time. It's normal to me now, but it's still concerning when it's midnight and your brother still hasn't showed up.

Marcel's my best friend and he says the same about me, so it hurts a bit when he's not around when I want to talk and when he is, we're always busy.

I know people have it worst, but this is how my world is played out and you can't judge me for what makes me upset just because you don't understand.

Anyways, books always take me away from my life and into this new situation with its own problems and solutions.

After getting through nearly a whole book, I heard Marcel scream, "Guess who's officially a junior!"

I laughed as I stuck the book mark in its place and walked out my room to greet the former sophomore. I walked to the door and saw he had the biggest smile on his face.

"You're actually here without your friends." I said.

He smiled and hugged me, "I know you're mad but we can hang out all summer!"

"Guess who's going to be a freshman?" Mrs. Mom said as she walked to us.

"Me!" I cheered.

"Yep, but this year's different." She said.

Marcel put me down and we exchanged a quick glance at each other before looking at her with confusion.

"How so?" I asked.

"You're going to public school." She said, "Your father and I can't keep paying that private school fee."

I got out of going to public schools the first time because I was too scared to go and we actually had the money to keep me in it, but when Mrs. Mom lost her job, that meant I lost my private school.

Marcel gasped happily, "We get to go to the same schoo- Y/n."

I couldn't feel anything but pain. Not a public school, please. I heard my heart beating and my mouth indicating I was hyperventilating. I felt like I was going to choke and I a knot in my throat.

I felt a warmth and knew who had me. I looked up at Marcel as my world came back to normal and I could actually think about the situation. I cried into his chest, "I'm sorry. I know you can't pay it, I didn't mean to overreact."

"No, Baby." Mrs. Mom said as she joined us, "You didn't overreact, you can't help it. You've never been to a public school and I know that scares you, but that's why I told you now so Marcel can explain his experience over the summer."

I looked up at him and he nodded. "Plus, when school does start back up again, nothing bad will happen to you. I swear."

I nodded and rested my head on him. I sniffles as I thought about all the books and movies that showed the worst of public schools, but thanks to my brother, I have hope that it won't be the same.

I was so lucky to be chosen by this family.