NAOMI'S POV:

Perhaps it was the penetrating beating of my heart, or maybe the incessive rambling from Mr. Davis that prevented me from observing the outside of the house. When he said my old home wasn't far from his, I was expecting maybe another hour of a ride but before I knew it we pulled into the driveway and were standing on his front porch within twenty minutes.

Everything seemed so surreal, and my apprehension was blinding. Maybe it was my subconscious trying to block the sudden revelation that came from moving, but there wasn't a single thing that I could process right now. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that it was starring me dead in the face, I probably wouldn't have realized the door was a bright red. Trying to settle myself, I shoved my hands inside of my coat pocket. Mr. Davis carried in my bag, so I really did not have anything to twirl around to ease some of my frustration.

When we walked inside, there was a wall parallel to the front door with a welcome bench sitting at the bottom. Attached above were some hooks where a few coats hung. This door led you directly to the inside of the corner of the house; to the left was a hallway with one door adjacent to a staircase, the right was what appeared to be an extra living room with one closet, and I could see two catty-corner exits, one of which containing an entrance to the kitchen and then another archway where the main living room sat.

"Let me show you your room." He motioned down the hallway to the left after taking off his shoes and waiting for me to do the same.

I followed behind him, carefully observing the cleanliness of everything around. Everything was placed strategically to give off an overwhelming sense of warmth and relaxation. I will not lie, I was expecting Mr. Davis' home to be as tidy and Scandinavian-styled as he was, a direct parallel to his office. His house was completely different. It seemed to be more transitional. There were some items that utilized traditional furnishings but there was also a mix of modern elements that made you question identifying it as one particular style.

We climbed up the stairs, I walked a little slower than usual because I was trying to find some pictures of him or anyone else in the family but so far I've been unsuccessful.

"I had the bedroom made ready last weekend." He said a little unsteady.

Grasping the silver doorknob, he gently pushed on the wooden door. I stepped inside first, the agony was killing me, and I tried to take everything in all at once, but it was becoming more and more overwhelming. The carpet was a thick mix of white and brown that complimented the lavender colored walls. It was supplied with a beautiful engraved wooden wardrobe along with a standard bed and end stand. It was breathtaking and for whatever reason it made it feel utterly relaxed. Almost as if it were made by a future me.

"If you don't like the colors we can redecorate." He assured me. "We can paint the walls or change the carpet...and I-I picked out the bedding, I thought it was nice." He shrugged and smirked, being modest.

I walked closer to see a white comforter with magenta flowers, underneath the sheets were a matching white but with smaller yellow flowers.

"It's so pretty, I love it." I smiled at him.

"Really?" He was surprised, "Okay good. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that." He mumbled under his breath.

"Very nice." I sat down on the comfy bed.

"Why don't you take a few minutes to settle in and then come downstairs for breakfast."

I nodded, walking over to pick up my suitcase.

"How about waffles?"

"Perfect."

He nodded before turning on his heels and closing the door behind him.

Sitting in the corner of the room were the boxes taken from home after the investigation was concluded. Previous home, I need to get used to saying that. I let out a huge, deep breath that I've been holding in since we left the Academy this morning. Everything was jumping out at me so fast and so hard that it almost felt like I was suffocating. I never seriously realized how much I underestimated the emotional impact of a last-minute move as much as I do now.

I guess we never know for sure what life has in store for us, so I guess I should get used to this feeling of astonishment.

My mom always told me that when the time was right to move on, you move. That the boxes that fille and the house that empties become a memorable, joyful experience between you and the house. Maybe someone will find as much love and happiness in my previous home that I did...I really hope someone does. This morning I had said goodbye to my faded blue walls and warm memory of the scratched wooden floor where our Christmas tree laid every year, because now I must try my best to move on and carry on wayward in my life.

"How are your waffles?" He scooped up a forkful of his eggs and shoved them into his mouth.

"They're really good, thanks." I smiled, entirely grateful to have the sweet taste of maple syrup and fresh strawberries in my mouth.

He nodded, smiling at me for a moment.

"I bet you're nervous, maybe even a little scared. Do you want to talk about it?" He glanced up at me to see my reaction.

"I'll feel more at home once I unpack all of the boxes from my old house." I shrugged.

"Of course, and feel free to roam around the house, just stay out of my bedroom. It's the door right next to yours."

"Oh yeah, can we go over the rules?"

I felt like I've been walking on eggshells the entire journey here. Maybe it's just the institutionalized nature of the Academy, but I was desperate to hear some of the rules so I know not to break them.

"C-can we just go over the rules?"

He sat his coffee cup down gently, before inhaling sharply. "Listen to me Naomi, seeing that this is your first time here I want you to have a pleasant experience. I hope you get acclimated and feel comfortable...but don't think that I will tolerate any disrespect or insubordination just because we are outside the walls of the Academy." He spoke slowly to ensure his message would be comprehended. "Many of the rules at Braxton apply here, we can be a little more flexible with curfew and we can ignore the assignment of chores for now, but the standard rules apply. Is this in any way unclear?"

"No sir. Knowing that makes things a little clearer." It really wasn't anything that I did not expect.

I bit my bottom lip and shuffled the remaining waffles on my plate. "Mr. Davis, will you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

My dad used to tell me that you were only as strong as your weakest point. The unfortunate event I spent with Mr. Davis this morning truly was an emotional breakthrough for me, it gave me a lot of the closure I needed.

"I don't want any more special treatment; all it's doing is haunting me with the past. I want to move on...and I don't want to go back to my previous home."

He took a moment to allow my words to sink in, "I can respect that."

NAOMI'S POV:

We spent the rest of a day with a tour around the house and then Mr. Davis took me shopping to get a few more furniture pieces for my room. He was so generous, every time I mentioned that something was nice or even showed a little interest in it he immediately insisted that I let him buy it for me. I wouldn't allow that, of course, so we made it back to his house with a bookshelf, a mini bench to put at the end of my bed, a standing mirror and a desk with a computer chair.

It's strange in a way that sometimes I almost want to thank my mom and dad for running out on me, because I never would have gotten as close to someone like Mr. Davis. I was so grateful to have someone like him with what has happened to me in the past year. Next to Jasper, he was becoming my best friend.

But I had to remain focused on finding answers. If he wasn't willing or able to give them to me, then I'll have to get them myself. Carefully creeping out of my bed, I slid on my slippers and treaded across my bedroom out into the hallway. I took advantage of the fact that there was a bathroom right next to the staircase, that would give me some coverage to travel down the hallway. Opening the bathroom door, I shut it firmly to give the appearance that I was in there. Then I slowly slid myself down the stairs.

MR. DAVIS' POV:

Tossing and turning, I must have moved around my bed at least seven times to find a position that would finally allow me to fall asleep. Audrey used to sleep right here, right next to me. She used to shimmy her foot on the end of the bedframe, it would create this loud creak that was emphasized in the silent room. Drove me nuts for nearly six years. I swear I contemplated kicking her downstairs to sleep...but now I lay here, waiting for that creak that never comes.

I need some sleep; it can't go on like this. Everyone tells me that I'm getting down too low and that I just got to let it go...and maybe they're right. Now that I have Naomi to look after, she needs to be put ahead of me and my sorrows. Audrey would have loved her, who wouldn't? We always dreamt of creating our own family. She wanted a boy of course but I wanted a little girl that looked just like her. Nothing would have made me happier than to see that.

I heard a sudden creak on the wooden floor downstairs and my immediate reaction was to quietly crawl out of my room to check on Naomi. Her room was at the end of the hallway whereas mine was closest to the staircase, so I can be the first line of defense in the case of an emergency. I had to look again because of the swirling darkness brought on by the darkly colored hallway; her bed was empty.

NAOMI'S POV:

I haven't exactly figured out how to get into Mr. Davis' home office, I know that the door is locked but there must be at least ten keys on the keyholder by the front door. I don't really want to take that chance until I know which key is for sure the right one. My next guess would be somewhere in the basement, he mentioned there were some old Academy files down there, so we skipped that during the home tour.

It took me a moment before I found the basement door, I may have seen everything at face value today, but I still feel like my entire world is upside down. Hopefully I'll be able to find my bedroom quickly and with little effort.

There was a loud creak on the floor just a few feet ahead of me, its suddenness causing me to suppress a loud gulp. Fumbling everything around me, trying to think of something to say or to read the expression on his face but it was too dark to see clearly. Not that I couldn't already guess.

"What're you doing?" He asked, looking behind him to see the isolated basement door.

"Nothing that concerns you." I said in a panic.

"What did you just say?" He flipped the light on, instantly giving me a mild headache. "Come here." He motioned me forward.

Immediately regretting my response, I complied as fast as I could.

"I suggest you try that again."

"I um, I couldn't sleep." I answered more clearly.

"So, what're you doing going to the basement?" He asked a little cockier as he folded his arms over his chest.

"You said to explore the house to get used to it, so that's what I was doing." I tried to say confidently. "It's a lot different to look at something alone, I'm not as nervous." I tried to plant a little bit of guilt on him.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel nervous today, but it's nearly two in the morning. You know better than to go wondering out of bed in the middle of the night." His voice turned stern.

"Yes sir, I'm sorry."

Stopping to contemplate, he kept his Administrator face intact. "Alright, alright, I'll overlook this but just this once. No more freebies."

I nodded.

"You're on thin ice Naomi, if you put another toe out of line, I will put you across my knee in a second. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir."

"Off to bed and stay there." He pointed behind me.