"I'm taking you to the park," Chad says grabbing his keys. I slide my phone into my pocket and nod.

We get there, and Chad insists of buying me frozen yogurt. I walk over to the swings, where a boy, who appears to be my age is swinging.

"Hey, I'm Collin," he says, sticking out his hand. I shake it, and shyly reply, "I'm Mia."

"So Mia, by any chance could somebody as beautiful as you be single?" Collin asks. I tuck a short piece of hair behind my ear and blush, "I'm single."

He looks shocked, but I just shrug it off. "What school do you go to?" He asks me. "Uhh actually I'm homeschooled," I reply. He nods, "Ah yes, that would explain why I haven't seen you around. I go to He's Alive Christian."

Chad comes over and hands me my yogurt, "Here ya go, kiddo," he says. I thank him, and turn to Collin.

"Collin, this is my big bro Chad, Chad this is Collin," I say. Chad shakes hands with Collin but shoots me a very concerned look.

"He's your brother?" Collin asks. "Well, not really, it's kinda a long story," I sigh. Collin shrugs, "I've got time."

I try to explain the story of why I'm living with Alan, and how I met Chad and such. Collin nods along seeming to be interested. Once I finish, he hugs me.

We pull apart, and looks into my leyes. I stare into his Carmel colored eyes. "Mia, wanna go to the movies or somethin'?" He asks.

I turn to Chad, sending him a pleading look. "You'll have to ask Alan, and have a chaperone if he says yes," he tells me. I turn to Collin, "I'll have to get back to you on that one."

He nods, "It's all good. Maybe we could exchange numbers?" I grin, and hand him my phone. He hands me his and after typing our numbers in, we return the phones.

"Talk to ya soon, Mia! And it was great meeting you Chad!" He shouts over his shoulder as he leaves.

I turn to Chad, and smile as wide as I can. "Soooo?" I ask. He shrugs, "I don't know Mia."

"You don't know what, Chad? Collin seems nice. And he's cool. He goes to a Christian school," I say. "I know kiddo, but you don't really know him, and you don't know if you can really trust him," Chad tells me.

I want to tell Chad he's wrong, but I know he's right. I just met Collin, he could be a player. I sigh, and move to the place where Chad's sitting, and place my head on his shoulder.

"You're right, bub. You guys are always right," I say. He puts an arm around me, "We're no perfect either, kid, we make mistakes too. But there are some things you just gotta trust us on."

"Can you take me to Alan's, I think I have a few things to say to him," I ask. Chad ruffles my hair, "Sure sour patch, lets go!"

~*~

"I'm sorry," I sigh, wrapping my arms around Alan. He places his lips on my head, and grins, "It's okay, sweetie, I'm glad you're back."

"I wanna do something special for you, Brycie, and the kids tonight," I tell him. "And what is that?" He asks, raising an eyebrow in suspicion. "It's a secret. I'm gonna have Caleb come over and so I'm not alone, take the kids to the movies," I say.

"Okay. When do you want me to leave?" He asks. "A few hours before dinner, if that's okay with you," I say. He nods, "That's good. We'll have to leave soon."

~*~

"Bye Mia, be good!" Alan says, shaking a finger. I nod, "No worries bro, just bring 'em home in a few hours for surprise." He nods, "Okay, bye pretty girl."

A few minutes after the Powells leave, Caleb shows up. "Hey hey hey hey the party can now start!" He exclaims quite loudly.

"Okay, come on grammar freak, we've got a lot of work to do," I say, taking his hand, and leading him to the kitchen.

"What the heck are we doing?" He asks. "Making dinner for the fam," I inform him. "Family," he states matter-of-factly, "The correct term is family." I playfully shove him, "Shut it!"

I pull the bag of frozen chicken that was thawing in the fridge out, and let it finish thawing.

"Caleb, get the spices," I demand. "You're not my boss," he chuckles out. "Pwease," I say, sticking out my bottom lip. He shakes his head, "Cuteness doesn't work on me."

I grin slyly, and walk over to Caleb, wrapping my arms around him. "Pwease Cabey, pwease get me the spices."

"Fine," he sighs, and brings the spices over by where I'm preparing the chicken. "Grill this," I say, handing the prepared chicken to him.

He playfully salutes me, "Yes ma'am!" I giggle, as be carries the plate of chicken to the patio.

"It would've been easier to get Chick-Fil-A," he whines. "Hey, suck it up, and cook my chicken!" I tell him. He reluctantly begins grilling the chicken.

"Bring it in when you're done, I'm gonna work on the mashed potatoes and start a can of corn," I say.

I head into the kitchen, and put on some KLove, and then put a can of corn on the stove, and let it cook. Then, I begin working on the mashed potatoes. First peeling, then chopping, then boiling.

When the potatoes begin boiling, Caleb brings the plate if now grilled chicken inside. "Please tell me there's nothing else to do," he says.

"But there is something else to do," I say. "Ughh what is it?" He sulks. I need you to put the biscuits in the oven, then we have to start on the pie," I reply.

He grabs the tray of biscuits, and slides it into the oven. "What ingredients do we need for the pie?" He asks. "The recipe is there, read it."

I help him gather the ingredients, and begin mixing them. "Caleb, get the mixer, and mix the potatoes together with some butter, then wash the beaters off so I can stir this dough," I say.

He slides a chair over to the counter and stands on it, stretching to reach the mixer.

I take the freshly rolled out dough, and lay it across the pie tin, trimming the edges down. I dump the peach filling in, and place the top of the pie on. I put it in the oven, and take the finished biscuits out.

While the pie bakes, Caleb and I sit down and listen to some Hawk Nelson, belting out the words and dancing like idiots.

My phone beeps, a text from Alan.

Done at the movies girlie, can we come home yet?

I run into the kitchen and check the pie. Done.

Yeah see ya soon bro

I take the pie out, and put it on the table along with the other food. "Caleb, you're free to go!" I holler over the song Sold Out.

The music stops and he comes into the kitchen. "Bye kiddo. Love you," he says, patting my head. "Bye. You too." He leaves, and I go back to listening to Hawk Nelson.

\\author's note//

my fantabulous readers, the trailer for this book is out. i can't link it right now, on account of technical difficulties. head on over to @GodGirl91's account to see it. hope you all love it as much as i do!

peace & love
~ elephantgirlemp

~ elephantgirlemp