*Hi, everyone! This chapter sets the stage for a serious turn the book will take so I really hope everyone enjoys. As always, please be vocal with your thoughts, concerns, and questions! If you are not comfortable posting them then I encourage you to reach out to me directly! Hope everyone is safe and well. - K.A.*

NAOMI'S POV:

Mr. Davis wanted me to be ready to leave before chores and breakfast, which can only mean sometime before 8:00 a.m. You would think I'd be dragging my feet to get out of bed, a subconscious move to delay the pain and exhausting experience set out before me today. However, I've been awake for quite some time now. I went to bed somewhere around nine, although I did not fall asleep until midnight, and woke up a little after 5:30 a.m.

I guess my presentiment did the hard part of waking up early for me. Leaving me to sit here in my dark room with nothing but the sound of my own thoughts...and believe me when I say that I was drowning in them. I always knew that this day would come, but I supposed my hope had my heart and my mind clinging onto the idea of my parents returning unexpectedly before the school year began.

*Buzz, buzz, buzz* Glancing over at my obnoxious alarm clock, I realized that it was near 7:30 a.m.

"Uh," I sighed. "Alright, alright, let's get to the bathroom." I wanted to run some cold water over my face to give me a sense of refreshment.

Even though I could tell some of the other students were beginning to wake up, the usual for a Friday as everyone would like to get things done early so they can enjoy their weekend, my mind was still allowing my body to move as if it were 5:30. I journeyed slowly, with very little hesitation, and absolutely no stride in my pace.

"Hey, good morning" Jasper snuck up behind me and tapped me lightly on the shoulder.

"You scared me." I whispered but returned a smile. "Why are you in the girl's corridor?"

"Well after that night we shared together," He gave me a flirty smirk. "Mr. Davis gave me a long, long list of chores to do."

"Oh jeez, for how long?"

"When I asked him the same, but he gave me that look that makes my nose bleed."

"I am familiar with that look." We chuckled.

His smile could light up the entire building. All I wanted to do was touch him; to give him a hug and hold his hand because I know that he is still in a lot of pain. He was the only student at Braxton that recognized the pain in others, as he had done for me in the past, and he did so with selfishness. I could feel his pain every time I looked in his eyes, past that charming smile he wore so plainly. I could see right through him. I always could.

But after the other night, I've had different feelings every time I looked at him. I just wanted to connect with him as much as we had that night. I never knew what physical tension felt like, I've only read about it in books, but I think maybe this is what it is.

"Would you want to get together this weekend?"

"Maybe. I'm going to Mr. Davis' for the weekend, if we get back early enough on Sunday maybe we can."

"Mr. Davis'? Are you ready for that?" His eyes narrowed, and there was a subtle hint of concern in his voice.

Instead of answering, I could only laugh. I was given very little notice, but even if he had told me four months ago, I doubt even then I would be ready for it.

"I don't really have much of a choice." I shrugged. "It's not like things with my family are becoming any clearer."

"Yeah, I know. I wish I could help."

"I appreciate that." I smiled again.

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself this weekend." He grabbed my hand. "Don't do anything rash or anything that could get you into trouble. I know how determined you can be." He smoldered, relinquishing an expression that made me want to melt.

"You should go." I said quietly as I heard a thump from down the hallway.

Without an answer, I turned and continued down the hallway to the lavatory. I know he is still standing there, and probably will be for a moment or two, but I can't make a promise that I know I won't keep. My mother always told me that the hard truth was better than a fallacious promise. And who knows what will happen this weekend.

I splashed an extra handful of cold water on my face after that and felt that I needed another. I know Mr. Davis will be at my door any minute now, but I wanted to take a few seconds and try to pull myself together before I had to face him. He's been extremely patient and generous with me, everything he's done and tried to do for the last four months has not gone unnoticed. I wanted to put on a brave face, to try to make things as easy as possible on him today, but there was this penetrating pressure forming inside my chest that traveled to my head. Leaving me in tears and out of breath in only a few seconds.

I braided my hair and wiped my eyes, thankfully before someone entered, before heading back to my room. When I got closer, I could see that everyone was acting stiff and quiet, which can only mean one thing; he was already standing in the hallway.

"Hey honey, are you ready to go?" He said openly without a care of anyone else's thoughts.

Nodding, I grabbed my bookbag while he grabbed my suite case and we both bypassed everyone in the hall, most of whom seemed to be exchanging whispers. But I did not care right now. They could talk all they want; they'll be gone after a few months anyhow.

He did not stop the entire time; we went direct from my room outside to his car. After we went through the main corridors, I could sense that, despite his compassionate demeanor, he seemed to be in too much of rush. There was obviously something on his mind despite the obvious. And, yes I know, that today will more than likely be just as hard on him as it will be for me.

"Mr. Davis, is everything okay?" I asked as he popped the trunk and put everything inside.

"I-I have something to discuss with you..." He tried to say clearly, but he eventually caved. "I'm just a little nervous about it, but we'll get to that in just a short while."

Something to discuss with him? Could this day get anymore estranged?

Opening the back drivers-side door, he motioned for me to climb inside and shut the door easily after I did.

"We have about half an hour before we get there, I can wake you when we do in case you would like to go back to sleep." He said, glancing in the rearview mirror.

MR. DAVIS' POV:

Within the first ten minutes, she had fallen asleep. Even though her head was slumped over her left should, exposing some drool, she looked so peaceful when she was asleep. I wish I could make it so she always at peace, but I do not have much confidence that she will be able to feel this way for a while after today.

Knowing that today would be a very emotionally distraught day for her, I stayed awake almost the entire night last night trying to develop a plan to make this as painless as possible. After a while, I had an idea that I hope will give her the much-needed closure she deserves but this means revealing a hard truth...one I am scared she is not ready for. If I was to tell her, it would have to be now while we were away from the Academy. I honestly would have preferred to keep this to myself and put it off for a little while longer until I could uncover some more information, but with the semester beginning and her desperation growing, it was forcing my hand.

I've rehearsed in my head so many times what I would say to her when we reached our destination. And, shockingly, I still have no idea exactly how to phrase it nor even where to begin. I've only had her for a few months, but she is so precious to me, and she has been through so much for being only fourteen years of age. She doesn't deserve this, no one does, but especially not her.

Pulling up to the curb, I shifted the car in Park and turned off the ignition. Reaching back, I tapped her slightly on her knee. "Naomi."

"Huh?" She opened her eyes and stretched her arms, followed by a loud and heavy yawn.

Looking out the window to the left, I could see the confusion wallow in her face and see how it turned into complete fear.

"Why're we here?" She asked immediately, her consciousness regaining in both her speech and awareness.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned completely around so I could face her, "We can go inside if you'd like, or I can continue driving."

Turning her attention back to the left window, she stared at the plain-like features of what had become of her old home. "No, no I want to go inside."

"Alright, let me get the door for you." I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped outside.

Opening the door for her, carefully shielding her from the oncoming traffic, I motioned her out.

NAOMI'S POV:

Stepping onto the curb, I stood facing my old home that I shared with my parents and brother. Trying to engrave every single feature in my head, I began to realize how many details I've never noticed in the fourteen years I've lived here. Suddenly without my input, every single outdoor memory began playing inside my head; planting flowers with my mom, hanging Christmas and Halloween decorations with dad, chasing Otis around trying to get the squeaky ball from him, and walking my little brother to the bus stop just outside the gate. These were all the memories that would soon fade from my mind. Holding on to them was just too painful.

Looking at the gate, I slowly unlatched the metal hook and pushed the wooden door open, exposing the beginning of the cobblestone path to the front porch.

Instantly seeing how empty the yard look, how lifeless it appeared with everything missing, the reality of my family's disappearance began to settle in my mind more than it ever had.

"I'll get the door open for you." Mr. Davis stepped ahead of me, entering in a code to the keybox to get the key to the front door.

"Am I allowed to go upstairs?"

"Sure, you can go anywhere in the house." He assured me.

Instantly bypassing everything in the area, I headed to the staircase and climbed it as quick as I could. My brothers' room may have something left inside that would give me a hint to where they've gone. Afterall, he was always such a lousy cleaner. His room would be the last one on the right side, immediately next to my parents because he was the youngest.

My adrenaline suddenly came to a halt when I approached the white door with a golden doorknob on the left side of the hallway. The door slightly cracked open as if it were taunting me inside. I haven't been in this room in almost six months. I wonder if they stripped away all of my things.

Opening it slightly, I kept my eyes fixated on the ground for a minute because I was too afraid to know the answer to that thought. When I forced them to bear witness to the inside of my room, I found that there was nothing left. There were a few hooks and nails on the walls where I had paintings and posters, but the room itself was cleaned spotless. It looked as if they tried to hide a crime scene.

Shaking my head, "This is the cleanest my room has ever been." I know my comment was unfunny, but it did not give me the slight amusement I wanted.

The one window parallel to the door was shining in a beacon of sunshine so bright that it highlighted my cloudy blue walls, making them appear bluer than they were in the shade. I did not have a closet and, since there was nothing else left, I had nothing to look for as a souvenir to the life I once lived.

"Naomi?" Mr. Davis appeared behind me. "I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"This was my room." I went over to the right wall, which was slightly indented from the remaining of the wall, where my bed used to rest. "I used to sleep here." I slid my back down against the wall, allowing me to take a position on the floor.

"I uh, I could have guessed that. This color suits you."

"I miss them so much." I shook my head. "You remember when you and Mr. Patry called me into your office to tell me they disappeared?"

He bit his bottom lip, coming over to join me, he nodded along the way.

"My first instinct was to call my mom and talk about it." I laughed at my ridiculousness.

"I loved this house, and I still do, so, so much. Thanks for bringing me here one last time." I smiled.

"Well actually, that is part of the discussion I wanted to have with you. We could live here if you wanted."

Logically, his statement would mean he would move from his house to live here. But for some reason my spooked mind could not process the idea. "Wait, what?"

"This house was never paid off, which means your parents will default on their loan and the bank will repossess it. The house itself is in such great shape that the bank will more than likely auction or put it up for sale. So, I can buy it for you, for us to live in."

"But it's a lot of money and you already have a home where you and your wife..."

"I could sell my house and use the proceeds to purchase this one." He shrugged. "I told you before that since, since Audrey passed, I never had a reason to return home, but people are not confined to houses. Anywhere I take the memories and reamendments of her will always be home to me."

"I can't ask you to do that." I felt so overwhelmed, my mind was immediately flooded with reluctance but guilt of making Mr. Davis move for me.

"Audrey and I always knew that family came first, and you're part of my family now." He tilted the underneath of my chin. "So, I would be more than happy to do this if it would improve your mental health and make you happy. I can't make any promises, but I could bid...At least consider it. You do not have to decide now."

"Live here again?" I asked myself, putting my head against the wall and tried to imagine the crazy idea. "Do you really think that it is a good idea?"

"Well, I was doing some reading and I know that you, as would any person, have sentimental value to the house and grief is often best mourned in stages. You are familiar with the setting in the house and the neighborhood, your former school is nearby, and you know many individuals in the neighborhood so it would be a good step for your personal growth." He looked around the room, inhaling sharply. "I can't bring back your family Naomi, but I can at least try to give you a parallel of your previous life. This house could be the first step in doing that."

I scooted closer to him and squeezed his wrist, "You're so nice to me. I want you to know how much I appreciate this."

He did not have a slight reaction to that. "Before you decide, there is something you need to know."

"O-okay?" I asked, worried that our golden moment would suddenly turn dark.

He nodded. "Almost a month ago, the adoption process was complete. I became your legal guardian."

"Yeah, you told me."

"Well, after we first exhausted all administrative remedies, our attorneys and me were going through the discovery, which is just a legal term for the research we do for the case," He stopped to catch his breath as he was rambling. "we found...custody papers that were already signed by your parents."

Pre-signed custody papers? I almost had to sound the words out to allow myself to process what he was implicating.

"Are you sure they were custody papers? I mean they could have just of been an accidental print out of something..." I stopped when I finally realized how ridiculous I sounded. "My parents were really deferential people, they probably put it in there just in case something happened."

Looking up at Mr. Davis' pitiful face, the confidence I had in my alternatives was diminishing by the second.

"Maybe they, maybe it was..." And then I thought; "Maybe they knew they never wanted to see me again."

It's a strange thing, hope, it's like sickly darkness that swallows your confidence. I've been preparing myself for so long to actually accept the idea that I'd be at the Academy for another four years that I never game myself time to process any certainty that I may get one day. I guessed I always expected that I would be sad and probably a little self-conscious that even my own family abandoned me...but all I feel right now is cold.

"When you said you found them, how did you not notice them the first time?" I asked harshly.

"It was shoved inside a random section in the contract, we did not review it during closing because everyone was present and signed willingly." He ran his fingers through his hair. "And, if I'm being honest, it was all my fault. The intake of new students is my duty but I wasn't very focused at the time because of...certain things happening."

I could see the guilt forming in his face, his eyes were becoming as red as his skin. His eyes turned glassy and the shaking in his voice was becoming more apparent.

"You were assigned to the Academy for only a short period, and you had no identifying traits that would be classified as someone we needed to devote extra time to..." He closed his eyes. "I am sorry Naomi, so, so sorry. I'll regret that lapse in judgement for the rest of my life."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Even though I could tell he was waiting for a response, all I had in the moment were questions.

"I've been hanging on to the same hope you have, that one day your parents will return."

"I know I'm a lot to deal with." I said quietly, resulting in a snap back from him.

"He narrowed his eyes and turned to face me, taking my hands in his. "I would never want to be without you, I did not mean it like that. I just know that I would be willing to sacrifice my happiness if it meant you could return to yours...with your parents. I was hoping to get some results..."

"Results? How would you get results?"

"Mr. Patry has a few friends in law enforcement, I persuaded him to give me someone who would work as a private investigator. So far he's been unsuccessful."

"Y-you're doing that for me?"

"Of course, I am, I would do anything for you. Even if it means sacrificing my comfort and happiness for the sake of yours." He shook his head. "I just want to give you closure."

As easy as it sounds to be angry with him for everything, he was making it so hard for me to channel it at him. Blaming him was pointless. He made a mistake, everyone does, and he is trying so hard to compensate for it. Hiring a private investigator, offering to shift his life and buy me the old house I used to live in, coming forward with the truth...If that does not make him redeemable for forgiveness then I do not know what would.

I'll never forget this...and maybe that will help me in future conversations to come.

"It's not your fault." I wiped my eyes. "I have no one to blame but my parents for this. I understand," I stopped to breath so I would not burst out in tears. "That it was a mistake. It's okay."

The tears cluttering in my eyes this time they were not of sorrow, instead they were hot, hateful symbols of the pain I was feeling.

"Thank you for understanding." He said, regaining his confidence. "Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you."

I got on my knees and went to him for a hug. He was the nicest person I've ever known and I was lucky to have him given my circumstances.

"Mr. Davis." I said, still with my arms around his neck.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"I'm not going to stop." I pulled back. "I won't let this go...I need to know why they did this to me."

"I respect that, if there's anything I can do to help then it would be my pleasure."

Somehow, despite receiving the most information I've heard in the last four months, I was feeling more distant from the truth than what I had before.

"C-can I continue going through the house now?"

"Absolutely." He stood up quick and offered me his hand in support.

There wasn't much time spent upstairs with my family, that was predominantly where we went to escape each other so I did not have much emotion here. Most of our family time was spent downstairs in the living room or in the dining room where we ate our meals every day.

Mr. Davis followed me down the stairs. I remember sliding down these one-by-one on Christmas and sometimes late at night when I should have been asleep. I never appreciated the knick-knacks my mother decorated with, the "family quality time" she made us spend together putting up wreaths, stickers, and ornaments. You could walk outside by the front gate and still manage to see more holiday decorations than the ordinary household features. That used to be so special to us.

There were faded outlines on the walls of where our family pictures hung. Right to the left of the fireplace was always my favorite; it was taken during a time we went to see Meme (grandma) and we stopped to take a group photo by this huge waterfall. I've never seen my parents so happy for such a random stop. They meant the world to me.

"Crap." I said after a tear fell from my cheek. I told myself I wouldn't cry more than three times today and I've broken that in less than two hours.

"I know, I know it's painful."

"Can we leave? I'm tired of being sad." I bawled into his chest.

"Let's go get some breakfast, my house isn't too far away."

Nodding, I pushed myself back and wiped my eyes for the fifteenth time while wiping my nose on my sleeve. I was ready for a long, long nap to give me some relief from the pain.