I sniffed, wiping a hand under my nose before putting the items back in the bag, where I found a phone case which I slipped on to the new cell phone as Dawn started the car and backed out of the spot.
“I know you aren’t used to getting things, but you’re fifteen now. Teenagers should want the newest gadgets.”
I felt ten years older than that,I thought.
“Dr. Shaw said it was a good idea when I mentioned it. Even if you don’t want to work with her, I think she has some good advice we can both work with.”
I turned my head to gaze out the window. I didn’t want to know what they had talked about. But on the other hand, I did.
“I hope I’m doing the right thing,” Dawn went on, more to herself than to me. “I’ve never been around kids, least of all teenagers. And I feel like I’m letting you down. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m glad you’re here with me, Koda. Just…you gotta let me know somehow if I’m not being a good role model or do something you don’t like. Heck,” she laughed softly to herself with a shake of her head that I caught out of the corner of my eye. “I don’t even know if you can read or write. I didn’t bother to ask. For all I know, you may have never learned and I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t with how much you bounced from home to home.”
Even though my heart beat too quickly in my chest, I placed my hand on her arm, my touch light, to stop her rambling.
Here I thought, I was the one that was worrying over every little thing. I guess I wasn’t as alone as I thought I was.
“You can read and write?”
I nodded, withdrawing my hand. I actually loved to read, and would read whatever I got my hands on wherever I was. I wasn’t stupid, despite so many people thinking so.
Just because I refused to speak didn’t mean I couldn’t read words or put them together on a sheet of paper. I just never wanted to. There’d never been a reason.
Maybe Dawn could be worth it, though. She deserved answers, at least.
“That’s good to know. I…I wouldn’t know where to start if you didn’t.” She cleared her throat, turning into another parking lot. “Now, a big question. What kind of cake do you like?”
I sighed, wanting to tell her that she didn’t have to do that. Any of this. I wasn’t into sweet stuff, anyhow.
Once Dawn parked once again, she pulled out the phone from the bag before opening a text thread, her name at the top.
“Type what kind. Any kind.”
I didn’t know. I didn’t know flavors or types or anything.
I shrugged, letting the phone rest in my palm. Then I pointed to her. She could just pick whatever.
“My favorite is red velvet. It’s like chocolate, but not so chocolatey. It’s not as sweet, either.”
I pointed at her again. That one sounded fine to me.
“Okay, I’ll get us both a cupcake to eat at home.” She gave me yet another smile before leaving the car, already knowing I wouldn’t want to tag along here either.
Since her text message thread was still up, I bit the corner of my lip and typed out two words. I hoped she understood how much today meant, even if I didn’t need any of it.
Thank you.
Chapter 10
Age 15
Being fifteen wasn’t any different than being fourteen. Or eleven for that matter.
Age meant very little to me. It was just a number, like the day of a month. It made no change to how I lived.
The only thing that changed was where.
I wouldn’t change that spot right now, since I actually was starting to like being with Dawn, even if my days were numbered. She didn’t have to say anything to let me know that. I could read the disappointment when we got back to her house.
Rubbing the snot from my nose, I made my way to my room. I had enough people for the day. Enough of them for a lifetime, if I wanted to be honest.
