When I woke up, I was in my new bed. Unaware of what time it was, and lacking a clock in my room, I slid out of the covers and looked out my window. The sun had set, but there was still a blue and orange tint in the horizon. If I had my things unpacked, I'd snap a shot of this moment and add it to my landscape binder.

I wondered what kind of fresh photos I'd be able to take around my new surroundings. It made me giddy to think about all the new exploring I'd be able to do. Being in a neighborhood might make it harder to find environmental settings, but I hoped that there might at least be a few interesting finds.

Bringing my mind back to reality, I closed the blinds as the rest of the sun set. I exited my room to attempt to find David. A savory smell filled my nose as soon as I came into the hallway. I followed the scent into the kitchen and found the person I was looking for. Who also happened to be in a black apron, pulling pork chops out of the oven.

"Good 'morning' sleepy." He greeted me with a dorky grin, turning to fully face me in order for me to realize that the apron he was wearing had the body of Deadpool on it. 

I couldn't help but smirk of course, I raised my brow and pointed at his choice of clothing for the evening. "Why?" was all I asked.

He laughed at my expression and out down the pan of pork chops. "Well, because we needed to eat dinner of course." He claimed, fully knowing that he completely mis-answered the question I had asked. I smiled at his jest.

More smells found their way to my nose, making my stomach rumble. "What else you making?"

"Mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, and croissants. That all okay?"

I nodded my head with a wide smile, "It sounds delicious." I paused for a moment and recalled our conversation before I had emotionally fallen asleep. David was a broken man, and I was a broken girl. I decided to make it my mission to work just as hard as he would to make us a happy family.

"Would you like some help?" I asked promisingly.

David smiled sweetly, "I've nearly finished the food," He stated as he moved onto a bowl of steaming potatoes, "But if you would like to set the table I would greatly appreciate it."

I nodded my head with a determined attitude. That should be easy enough.

The longer me and David were together, the more I began to realize how much we needed each other to fill those similar holes in our lives. I was going to enjoy living with him.

As I left the kitchen to the dining room, I had forgotten the fact that I had no idea where anything was. I turned back around and put my hands behind my back as I rocked back and forth on my heels.

"David?"

"Hm?" He asked, slightly turning away from his potatoes.

"Plates, silverware, napkins?" 

David paused and looked puzzled, as if he were just as clueless as I was, "You know what, I'm not sure I've unpacked them all yet. Since it's just been me, I've been mostly using paper plates and plastic forks from fast food places." He said as he looked at me with a guilty expression and shrugged.

I shook my head and laughed, "Wow, procrastinator much?" I joked.

He pretended to bow his head in shame.

I smiled knowing I was being a total hypocrite. Procrastination was one of my specialties. I walked towards the end of the kitchen where some boxes sat. David pointed out to me which one he thought the dishes were in. I opened it and began unloading.

Finally with everything I needed, I set our table up for dinner. Knowing David was nearly done and didn't need more help, I sat down.

One by one David presented our food to the table. The room was filled with a delicious aroma that made me realize how hungry I was. Sitting himself down, David offered me to take my servings first. My plate quickly became filled with all the savory food David had slaved over. And just as quickly as it was on my plate, it went in my belly.

Technically, this was my first dinner with a real family. A small family of two, but still real. Were we supposed to talk about stuff? Isn't the dinner table like, 'Family News Update' time? I know we spilled our hearts out earlier, but I still wasn't a fan of a quiet dinner.

The first idea I had wasn't exactly something I wanted to talk about, but it was all I could think of for the moment. "So, when school time rolls around, what's the plan?" I queried.

David paused his eating and wiped his mouth, "Well, I've already enrolled you in Duston High, you'll start on August 21st. So, we've got the rest of June, all of July, and most of August to have fun before the real chaos of your senior year starts." He explained, as he started to look a little dizzy, "Classes, fundraisers, prom, graduation-" He continued listing frantically.

"David," I stopped him with a laugh. "Hey, I'm the one that's supposed to be freaking out about senior year."

He smiled at me and nodded his head, "Yeah I know. But I'm still new to this, remember? But I'm not really worried about you when it comes to classes. Mr. Henderson told me you always had good grades at your old school."

Shrugging my shoulder, I replied cooly, "Yeah well school's not hard. I don't know how people have such a difficult time." David scoffed at my cockiness and threw a piece of corn at me. I caught it in my mouth and we both laughed.

"So, grocery shopping," David started, "Should we go tonight? or wait till morning?"

Considering I had just taken a long nap, I wasn't sleeping anytime soon.

"Now is fine. It'll be better because it's late and there won't be any crowds, or hopefully any unsightly people." I paused as I recalled a time when I was with Mrs. Henderson on a trip to Walmart when we had both noticed a man who, for some ungodly reason, decided to wear short shorts that day. And unfortunately had some stuff hanging out that a seven year old girl didn't need to see. Mr. Henderson never allowed the kids to go with them to the grocery store again.

Shaking away that scarring memory, I somehow still ate the last bit of my pork chop. "Plus, we won't be shopping on an empty stomach." I noted.

David nodded in agreement with me as he stuffed his face with a spoonful of potatoes, "We'll leaf when we're done eading."

"Eeew!" I laughed as David attempted to talk with a full mouth. He was really entertaining and he gave the impression that he already knew a decent amount of ways to make me laugh.

Another charming smile and I was starting to realize that David might actually be able to fill that empty whole I'd always had in my heart.

Wow, that sounded so gay and sweet. David's a cool and he'll be fun to live with; that's all I'm trying to say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took another bite out of my chocolate fudge poptart. We'd been home from shopping for about a half hour and I couldn't resist not taking a snack to bed.

Poptarts were my favorite midnight snack at the Foster Home. Mrs. Henderson attempted many many times to hide them from me. But no matter what nook or cranny they were in, I sniffed them out. Until finally Mrs. Henderson gave in and had decided she'd buy me my own personal box every time she went to the store from then on. Sometimes I regret giving that women such a hard time, she really rook care of me.

While I was washing down my snack with some milk, David walked in with a couple small boxes of something I couldn't see. I rose from my laying position in my bed and stood on my knees to be eye level with the taller man.

"So I know you said you didn't really need much in your room, but I wanted to get these for you anyway." He hesitated as he showed me what the boxes were.

My eyes widened and a large smile grew on my face. They were stringed LED photo clips, I quickly grabbed the boxes and hesitated in giving him a hug before deciding just to say, "Thank you."

"Of course, I also got you some more film. I wasn't sure if you needed more or not, but better safe than sorry right? I also am not sure if I got the right kind, so if I messed up then I'll go back tonight and-"

I put my finger up to his mouth, "You're rambling again, David." I teased.

He smiled at me and move my hand away. "I went ahead and got some nails so we can out them up whenever you're ready."

Smiling back, I hopped out of my bed and went to my suitcase. I pulled out my three inch binders; one for landscapes and nature, one for people and profiles, and one for artistic and abstract. I dropped them all on my bed

"Wow... That is a LOT of photos. When exactly did you start this hobby?" David asked.

I grinned at his impressed attitude of my collection. "It's not a hobby David. It's a lifestyle." I joked with him. "And I started living it when I was nine." Saying this, I also made note of how many photos there were. Even though I regularly went through these binders and clean them out with photos I didn't approve of any more. Still there were a lot.

"What can I say? The world is a cruel place, it's very rare to see lasting beauty in it anymore. But when I do, I want to make sure I capture that moment so I can look back and remember that life isn't always as ugly as you may think."

David stared at me with a gaping expression. He took a couple seconds to think of what to say, but only closed his mouth right after he opened it. Then a smile crept on his face, "Whatever you say, Shakespeare."

We spent about five minutes getting my lights strung up on the wall. and now came the fun part. putting the pictures up. I decided I'd put my proudest ones up there.

While I removed my picks from my abstract binder, I allowed David to look through my other ones. There was a constant smile on his face as he flipped through pages, which pleased me. There were moments where he'd asked about how I got certain angles or certain lighting. I told him each story behind whatever picture he was curious about. He continued to compliment my photos, saying I had a great eye, which only made me happier.

About an hour later we finished the wall. Each clip lit up the picture attached to it perfectly. Truly beautiful, and I still had plenty of spaces for future pictures.

"You know, I think I saw flyers for a photography club and class in town the other day." David nudged me.

I'd never been in a club before, and I wasn't really the kind of person who was that open about her photos. "I don't know, I'm not exactly a social butterfly."

David laughed and scratched the back of his neck, "Well I don't believe it's gonna be a big thing. You shouldn't be scared of trying something new. I'm sure you'll be more comfortable than you think with other people of your common lifestyle. Plus, maybe there will be other folk your age. Make some Summer friends.

"Folk?" I mocked jokingly, "David how old are you? 60?"

We laughed together before David announced he was going to bed. I thanked him again for everything today and wished him a good night's sleep. After he left, I gazed at my collection again and thought about what a day it had been. Everything went better than expected and I believed me and David were really becoming a family. Suddenly I had an idea.

"David!!! Come back!" I yelled hurriedly.

My uncle rushed back into my room frantically, but when he saw me calmly sitting at the edge of my bed, he relaxed and exhaled. "Yes, Robin?"

"I need help putting one more picture up."

David stood there slightly confused as I went to grab my camera. Coming back to my new photo wall, I ushered him to come next to me. When he realized what I was asking for, a warm smile spread across his face and he made his way over to me.

I held be camera steadily in front of us. Polaroids weren't the easiest thing to take selfies with, but by now I had figured it out.

"You have to crouch a little bit, tall man," I requested, making him chuckle. I pointed to the spot where David needed to focus on, "Look here, and then-"

David put his arm around me and I smiled.

"Say cheese."