Once again I woke up to some savory smells that made my stomach growl like a wild wolf. Taking off my covers, I threw my legs around the bed and hopped off. I exited my room and found myself following another set of amazing smells to the kitchen. On the dining table was a classical plate of pancakes, bacon, and eggs, with a note next to it.

I sat down and grabbed a fork with one hand, and the note with another. As I took a bite of my eggs, I read the note.

Robin, 

I woke up late and had to hurry to work, but I will be returning home around 2pm. The house is all yours till I'm home. Or if you'd like to go out, there's a bike in the garage so you don't have to walk everywhere.

Hope you like the breakfast!! There's milk and apple juice in the fridge. Have a good morning!

~ Uncle David

I hadn't realized I was smiling until I finished reading the note. David was a really great guy, and so far a really great guardian. While holding up the note, I faintly noticed text on the back. Flipping it over I realized it was a flyer for the photography club David had mentioned to me the previous night.

"Foto Fun Club? Sounds pretty dorky." I sound aloud to no one in particular. Reading on through the flyer, I read that the club met on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5pm-7pm. David seemed really persistent on thinking I'd enjoy this. I read the address, still knowing I wouldn't have any idea where it was.

You can take a guess on what the only address I'd had burned in my brain was. Which reminded me I had no idea what my address now was. Wouldn't be hard to figure out though, I'll just check the next batch of mail that comes in.

My stomach rumbled again, begging me to continue eating the delicious food in front of me. I completely disregarded the flyer for now and stood up to make myself a glass of milk. Returning to the table, I dug into the rest of the food David left for me. A little cooled off, but delicious nonetheless. 

When my plate was nearly licked clean, I put my dishes away in the sink and checked the time on the oven. It was already 11:47am. Guess I slept in a bit too.

I walked back into my room and took a look around. Still pretty empty of decor, but I'd have to wait for David to get home in order to change that. I could just go back to sleep, but that would be boring. I decided maybe it was finally time to unpack my belongings.

Sadly that only took 15 minutes. My clothes were now organized nicely in the dresser, and then my camera and binders set up on top of the dresser for now. I had put 'bookshelf' on my mental list of furniture I wanted.

"Alright," I announced to myself, "Time to take a shower."

My showers were always lengthy, anywhere between forty-five minutes to an hour. It wasn't my fault I had thick hair to take care of. But I guess it was my fault that I enjoyed laying down and taking naps in the tub. The way the steaming water fell onto my skin was somehow so relaxing, couldn't help but get sleepy.

I stood in front of my bathroom mirror which was insanely fogged up. That's another thing about my showers, if the water wasn't on the verge of melting my skin, it wasn't hot enough. I have a problem.

I wiped a portion of the mirror so that I could see myself. My hair was longer than I remembered, then again, I never was one to spend time looking at my reflection. It fell a couple inches past my boobs, making me feel like a mermaid with the way my hair covered myself. Standing back, I took a moment to appreciate my body. I wasn't bulging in the chest or butt, but I was a nice average. I did a little bounce in the mirror, then laughed at myself. My body was good enough for me and that's all that mattered. I never needed to impress anyone, and I wasn't starting now.

New life does NOT mean new me.

Honestly, I wasn't sure how I built up my confidence, but it wasn't getting torn down anytime soon. I guess where I lacked the support from a mom and dad, I just decided to support me all by myself. I winked at my reflection and grinned widely. Then decided it was probably time to put clothes on.

Grabbing one towel for my hair, and another to wrap around my body, I left the bathroom. I made my way to my dresser and thought again about that photography club David suggested. What's the problem with giving it a shot? No pun intended. If I don't like it I can just leave and not go back. 

Rummaging through my drawers made me wonder if David was going to take me clothes shopping. I've been in need of some new outfits, especially with school starting soon. The thought of my new school made me quickly hope that it wasn't the kind with a mandatory uniform, I shuddered at the thought.

Finally, I decided on a burgundy tank top and some black jeggings. I also set aside my favorite grey beanie. And when I say 'my' beanie, I mean the one I borrowed from James a couple years ago. And when I say borrowed, I mean stole. It looked better on me anyway.

All while I was getting ready for the day, time had been going by quicker than it felt. Soon enough I heard the front door open and David was home. I waited patiently in my bed, knowing he was probably making his way to my room. And I was right.

"Hey Robin, how was breakfast?" David said as soon as he rounded into my bedroom. His iconic smile plastered on his face.

"Awesome, David. I hope you plan on cooking daily cause I'm starting to get addicted to your arts." I replied in a happy tone.

David chuckled and walked further into my room. I had just realized he had a hand behind his back, holding something. My eyebrow raised and lips curled into a smirk, "Whatcha got now, David?" I queried curiously.

Sitting at the edge of my bed, he handed me a small box. "As much as I enjoy spoiling you, this is something you're actually going to need."

I looked down at the box and beamed. "Holy hell you bought me a phone?! I own a phone now?!" I exclaimed.

David nodded, "I've got it all set up with my number in there. You're on my unlimited plan." He explained, smiling with me.

Still thrilled, I opened the box and took out a grey Galaxy S5. Even though I was thankful to the max, I had hoped he hadn't spent too much on it. In realty, I didn't need anything fancy for a phone. All I need it for is contacting David. I had no reason for social media, but maybe I'd find myself downloading a few games for when I'm bored. I thought about that weird dating app, Tindr? I wonder if there's something like that, but for finding friends in the area, not 'hot singles'.

After thanking David, I decided to bring up the club. Letting him know I was interested only made him smile bigger. He told me he'd make me something to eat for a late lunch and then he'd take me there.

~~~~~~~~~~

With my tummy filled up on PBJ sandwiches, David dropped me off at the community center addressed on the flyer. I let him know that I would call him when it was time to come get me, and after a couple goodbyes, he drove back towards home. I stood awkwardly in front of the building, clutching my camera bag by my side with the strap hung across my body.

Now I was alone in a place I didn't know, about to do something I wasn't 100% sure about. Sounds safe. 

I walked into the bricked building and thankfully ran into directional signs for the hallways. The place wasn't deserted, but as I searched for my destination, I noticed a handful of people also wandering the halls. But everyone else seemed to know where they were going, while I was the only one looking lost. 

Hallway B, room number thirty-three. I repeated this in my head so that I wouldn't forget. I could easily remember phone numbers and addresses, the long term stuff, but when it came to trivial things, I was terrible.

Worried about the time I was taking, I hurried my pace. Turning a corner quickly, I had hoped I was nearly there. But instead of finding my room, I found a girl. And when I saw found, I mean ran into.

We collided and she hit the floor while I maintained my balance. For a moment, I stood there staring at the girl, still confused as to where the hell she came from. Her blonde hair was in a long ponytail and her glasses were now crooked on her freckled nose. She wore overalls covered in paint and an equally paint-covered white shirt underneath. It didn't take many more hints to realize she was a fan of arts, specifically painting. She also looked about my age.

"Oh shit," I blurted when I finally registered what happened. I reach my hand out to the girl and she shyly smiled as she allowed me to help her on her feet.

Before I could apologize, she beat me to it., "I am so so sorry, I wasn't even looking where I was going and- Wait, you're an unfamiliar face."

I felt my cheeks redden and immediately the girl was apologizing a second time. "Oh no no I didn't mean that in a bad way! I was just meaning that it's easy for my to notice a newbie to our club center."

"Our? I'm sorry, you work here?" I tried to ask without sounding to ambivalent. My only intention was getting the subject changed onto anything other than me.

"Actually yes," The girl said proudly, standing straight now with her hands on her hips, "I'm an Arts Representative and the found of our Painter's Cl- Oh crap! I'm gonna be late for my class! It was nice meeting you camera girl!" She said happily, looking down at my camera bag before making her exit. "I'm Sarah by the way! I'm sure I'll see you around!" She exclaimed finally as she took off in a run, waving her hand behind her.

"Robin." I stated under my breath as Sarah disappeared around a corner. I was really hoping I could slide into this club thing with little to no detection. But after that encounter, I was now believing I was going to have to introduce myself High School style...

"Hi my name is Robin, and one interesting thing about me is that I'm newly adopted at the age of seventeen by an uncle I never knew existed."

No thank you.

I looked around the hallway, returning to my mission. Hallway B room... Uh... Twenty-two? Or- no. Room twenty.. thirty.. uh...

Shit.

I facepalmed and shook my head, ready to turn around and restart at the front of the building with the directory. But when I turned around and noticed how many directions there were behind me, I quickly forget the direction I even came from. I began frantically looking around and started concentrating really freaking hard trying to remember. Right before I starting having a panic attack, a familiar voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"Is that my little troublemaker?"

Liam?