I didn't want to do it.

I didn't want to knock on Roxanne's door and ask her to buy me a phone. But I had no choice.

In retrospect, it wasn't so bad. But at the time, it was very scary. The possibility of rejection was turning ice cold my blood.

But- if you never ask, how will you know what the answer was?

The only reason I asked in the first place was because I was desperate. Desperately desperate.

Just like last time, I put water on the tracker before leaving home. During the whole ride, my heart was beating in my ears. It seemed like I was always nervous for some reason.

Time flew there. I didn't feel it. Because I was having an amazing time.

I climbed their rocky front steps, taking as much time as I could. Stalling. I was stalling. What if they said no?

I climbed the last step before I could think too much.

Alexa, the AI stuck on the wall spoke.

"Hello, Autumn. Good to see you. Again..."

"hey. Yes I'mhere again. Did you let them know that I'm here already-"

"Don't I, always?" The electronic face smiled. I tried to hide my nervousness behind a small smile of mine.

Isic was the one who opened the door. I wished it was Roxanne. Maybe I could have asked her?

But I knew she wouldn't be able to? She was too disoriented. She was on a wheelchair now.

"Hey." He said, eyes teary. It looked he had just been laughing his nose off.

After going in after, and seeing the cheerful mood they were in, I was probably right.

"hi."

"Come on in." He said.

"I ...can't. I need to ask you for something."

"Come on in, first." He said, opening the door wider.

"I- I have something to ask before I even consider coming in." I had to get it over first. And at least, if I was rejected, quickly getting away would be as easy as cutting half-melted butter.

No issues would be faced.

"If I listen to you, will you come in though?" he laughed. "You have to come in. perfect addition to the fam." He was holding a buttered bread in his hand.

That was weird. It made me smile, though. Eased my nerves a bit. His good mood rubbed on me.

Maybe if he said no, it wouldn't be so bad, and I would just find another solution.

All his brothers' and mom's eyes were on me. What if-

He started laughing again. He had a beautiful laugh. "Just ask already. I'm not gonna be bite you. Besides, I got you. With whatever, Autumn Ace."

He looked me deep in the eyes. His eyes softened. "We're family." He breathed.

I didn't think of the word family too much at the time. But later during the dinner, I did. Maybe he meant that friends could become family?

"Ok ok. I need you to buy me a new phone."

Before I could register what was happening, he doubled over, laughing so much his hold loosened on his precious bread. "this was what was making you nervous?"

Roxanne wheeled to me, eyes filled with laughter. "Foolish girl" she said, holding my elbow and leading me inside. "was that even a question?"

I looked at both, not sure what to think.

"is that a yes?' I asked, as he told Alexa to lock the door. This time his twin older brothers, Alan and Alex laughed too.

"It's a HELL YEAH AUTUMN." He yelled while doing a Michael Jordan move, and getting his dusty bread in the trash can at the other side of the room.

I raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling very cheerful. Talented, he was.

"we're family, silly. Fam."

I reached in my pocket, to give him the money. "No. I don't want your money, Autumn. Now sit down. The turkey's getting cold."

Roxanne made me sit down. It happened to be in front of Isic. There was a spare plate. Everybody filled it with food. There was so much they wanted me to try....- If I was home, it would take me a day of eating it at all meals to finish it.

I asked what the occasion was. They said they felt happy and wanted to celebrate it... How could Isic even consider wanting to be part of MY family?"

We stayed up until two in the morning. I had work the next day. But it felt insignificant at the time. I would trade connection and human touch any time any day.

Seeing them all together made me wonder if real family looks out for you and tells you no when it needed to be said. Or they always accepted your requests as ling as it made you happy.

I lost track of time with them. We played games. We quizzed each other about compost, the earth, and math. We threw at each other dirty napkins when annoyed.

A lot of food flew on my clothes because of people bursting of laughter when eating. At the time it all seemed insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It still does.

But obviously, everything beautiful must come to an end.

They weren't my family. I eventually went back to my tomb-like home.  Family is where you belong.They made me feel like I belo-

When I was about to leave, I received a text from Tasnime. She was coming the next day to explain why she left Toroyal.

It didn't go well.