"So... Anyone up for dinner?" Keefe asks, holding up a bunch of cup noodles.

--+--

I shrug. I can ignore the fact that my bestie lied to me for cup noodles. I mean, its cup noodles! I live off of that stuff! Keefe walks to a closet near the corner of the room and opens it. Inside, were stacks of nearly twenty cups of noodles!

"Why do you have so many?!" I ask. 

"Its cup noodles. You can't have too many," Keefe replies as he tosses Dex and I a cup each. 

I catch mine, "You can't beat that argument."

We peel off the covers, pour in hot water and sit in silence for the next 4 min. 

I begin to take in the room for the second time. That's when I notice the pictures on the wall. There are a couple of pictures with Dex and his family on a ski-slope - including one where he's falling with 2 boys and a girl in the background, laughing. Grady and Edaline told me about his 3 siblings - all twins, but I didn't know they look so similar! My gaze travels to the right where there's a couple of pictures of Keefe with a horse and dog. 

"Who are they?" I ask, pointing to the picture. Keefe looks up from his book and looks at me. 

"The photo?"

"Oh," he looks to the picture and lets out a sigh. 

"The Arabian horse is Mustang and the Border Collie is Rocket. I met them in an animal rehabilitation center. The owners are really nice and let me hang out with them when I'm in the neighborhood." he replies. I recognize those names... I thought.

Dex snorts, "Yeah right... when you drop by. You go there literally every break!"

Keefe blushes and I grin, "Where is this?"

Keefe recovers quickly, "In Center Point." 

Oh. That's where I live. 

"Huh, that's where my parents live. They own a center called Havenfield," I reply.

"Wait, really! That's it! Why have I never seen you before?" Keefe says incredulously.

I gulp and look down. Dex takes my hand.

"You don't need to say," he whispers into my ear. I take a deep breath.

"I was adopted by them less than a year ago," I say with a small smile.

Keefe opens his mouth to say something and then closes it again.

"I'm sorry."

I shake my head, "Don't be."

I stand up to take a closer look at the pictures. Sure enough, Mustang and Rocket were in Havenfield. I really should go back home and explore the place thoroughly. I mean, there's Verdi the crazy ostrich and then there's Iggy, my beautiful, stinky baby bat bestie. Oh, I miss him...

The next picture is one of Dex and Keefe holding a huge snake in their hands, both of them with a goofy smile plastered on their faces.

"What's this?"

"Oh. Oh. That," Dex says with his hand on his neck, "We uh... we hacked the school snake exhibition and got the janitor to take a pic..."

"Oh yeah! Remember how scared you got of that tiny one? What's it called – oh right, the Milk Snake!" Keefe adds with a laugh.

"Shut up. I thought it was a poisonous one... It looked a lot like the ones I saw in my book," Dex murmurs.

I burst into laughter and stare at the picture. 

"Wow, you really are good friends! I can't believe you guys did that!" I exclaim.

"Oh, this isn't even the beginning..." Keefe says with a glint in his eyes.

I roll my eyes and then, despite holding it in, I grin.

By the time I finished 'examining' all the pictures on the wall, we were finished with our dinner and it was dark outside.

I look around for my phone and find it under the bed, next to a pile of hiking boots - yes, huge, dirty hiking boots. 

I grab my phone and stand up, "Let me guess, you guys went on a hiking trip together?"

"Actually, no – technically, we were climbing a volcano. Diznee here told me he was used to living in a really cold place and I decided to open his eyes to the wonder of non-snowy hikes. I mean why climb Mt. Everest when you've got *hopefully* inactive volcanoes to climb!"

I scoff, "Dex! You should have told me I've got competition! How am I going to be your BFF now?!" I demand.

Dex shrugs and raises his hands in a gesture saying What am I supposed to do???

Keefe and I share a grin and we burst into laughter. I sit down and Keefe wipes of fake 'tears of laughter'.

"You're a good catch, Foster. Dex is one lucky guy," he says with a smile. My eyes furror in confusion.

"Oh. It's not like that-" I start. 

Keefe gives me a look, "Yeah right."

"He's my brother!" I reply.

"Adoptive cousin," Dex replies.

"But really. There is nothing - nothing - going on between us," I reply firmly. How could he think that!? I mean - Dex? Really?

Keefe looks to Dex who shakes his head with a tight smile.

"Well anyway, it's getting late... I should get going..." I say, exhausted. I get up and grab my stuff.

I'm about to open the door when Dex interrupts.

"Wait. It's really late - it'll be dangerous to be out," he says. I turn.

"It's fine, really." 

"No, he's right. Why don't you stay here for the night? Class is only after lunch tomorrow anyways," Keefe adds.

I smile, "I told you. I will be fine. I'll catch you guys tomorrow."

"But-" Dex says.

"Goodbye, Dex. And goodnight to both of you."

"You too, Foster," Keefe replied with a yawn, jumping on the bed.

As I close the door, I heard, "Keefe! We had a deal - you don't get to put your food on my bed! It ruins the sheets!"

Following Dex's outburst, Keefe says, "Don't be a mom!"

I smile and walk down the hallway to the staircase. In another few minutes, I'm in the parking lot, about to get into the car when I see a shadow of a person leaning against my car. Slowly, I walk towards the figure. As I get closer, I realize it's my friend.

"Marella? What are you doing here?" I ask, surprised. She wraps her jacket around her and looks up at me.

"Oh, Sophie. Hi. I was wondering, could I come home with you tonight?"

After a second of confusion, I regain my thoughts. 

"Oh yeah, sure. Hop in," I say pointing my head to my car. She nods and slips in.

"Thanks."

"No problem," I reply as I start the engine and take the car out of the academy. 

"Since I'm taking you home, you kind of owe me an explanation..." I prompt her.

Marella snaps out of her daze and looks at me.

"I'm so sorry. It's just that my mother's in the hospital right now and I didn't want to stay at home alone. Lame, I know..." she replies.

I slow down the car at a red light and look at Marella. 

"You have nothing to be ashamed of. I can't even begin to understand how you feel," I take her hand in mine, "But just know that whatever it is, I'm here for you." I smile gently at her and she looks up at me in surprise.

"Really?" she whispers. I nod.

"You can come over and talk anytime."

"I - I don't know what to say..." she mutters.

I open a box near the dashboard and take out a packet of chocolate.

"Want some?" I ask, handing it to her. She looks at me again and takes a piece out of my hand.

"Thanks," she whispers. It must be so hard for her to have a parent in the hospital. I can't even imagine what it would be to have Grady or Edaline hurt. I've only known them for 1 year and I love them so very much.

The rest of the drive was quiet except for the rare small talk.

When we reached, I pulled up next to the apartment and took Marella inside.

"Would you like something to eat before you get settled in?" I ask. She shakes her head.

"Well, here's the extra bedroom. Feel free to use any of my clothes and just ask if you need anything."

"I - I don't know how to thank you. You're not what I expected at all," she says as she looks at me.

"Life's all about surprises, isn't it? Anyways, if you're hungry just let me know. I've got all kinds of treats in my kitchen."

"Now that I think about it..." she trails off. We grin and rush to the kitchen. I wonder, Why would it be surprising for me to be this kind? 

--+--

So... My version's different from the book, huh? What do you think?