Page 68 of I Don't Need Your Protection
“Oh.”
I pull the covers closer to my chin and stare up at the ceiling. It’s not surprising that I can’t sleep, considering what today will bring. Not only will I have to spend the day with fake parents, I’ll have to watch the rest of my classmates hang out with their parents and families. I wish I could stay here all day.
I suddenly sit up when a thought occurs to me. “Are your parents coming?” Even though he technically is a student here, he’s on a job. It would be odd if his parents came, wouldn’t it? But won’t it be suspicious if they don’t come?
“My dad has to work,” he says as he lowers himself from the bar and reaches for a towel.
“And your mom?”
He pauses wiping his face, then turns around and walks to the kitchenette. He rummages in the fridge before producing a bottle of water and chugging half of it down. Okay…I guess he doesn’t want to talk about his mom? He’s just made me super curious. But I won’t pry if he doesn’t want me to.
“So do I at least get briefed on my fake parents or am I supposed to be surprised?” I ask.
After throwing the towel over his shoulder, Caleb heads to his tablet that sits on the desk, sweeps it into his hand, and thenmakes his way to me. The little hairs all over my body stand on edge when he steps closer to me. His body is damp from his workout, and despite that he smells really, really good.
Leaning even closer and causing my heart rate to spike, he unlocks the tablet, taps a few times, then hands it to me. “These are your parents, Julie and Jonathon Nelson. Your mom is a teacher and your dad works for the city.”
I stare at the strangers whom I need to embrace as my family for the next few hours. I get that they were hired by my grandfather for the sole purpose of keeping me safe, but I can’t help but feel like my heart is shattering. Why can’t it be my real parents staring back at me? I guess if I were to go down that rabbit hole and my parents were alive, I probably wouldn’t even be here. I would be back in my own bed in my own house. Where I was happiest.
“I know this will be difficult for you,” he says as he takes the tablet and places it back on the desk, “But you have to play your part if you want to be safe. It’ll only be for a few hours.”
“Can’t I stay in here all day?”
“Definitely not.”
With a sigh, I drag myself out of bed and walk to my closet. What does a person wear to Parents’ Day with fake parents? It takes a few minutes, but I finally settle on jeans and a shirt with a random logo. After I go to the bathroom and get changed, Caleb hurries back to his room for a quick shower, and then he meets me back in my room. He’s wearing jeans and a black shirt, and his hair is slightly wet from his shower.
Since it’s a bit early, I sit back on my bed and browse socialmedia while Caleb keeps his eyes on me. It’s a good distraction from what is to be a sucky day, but it doesn’t change my situation or make the time go by any faster.
Eventually, it’s finally time to start the day.
“Your parents will be waiting for you in the main building’s foyer along with the other parents,” Caleb tells me. “Your focus should be on them only. Don’t worry about possible threats—that’s my job.”
“Okay.” I sigh as I open the door and walk out.
Many girls from my floor chatter happily as they make their way to the stairs. A handful look like they’re about to meet the Grim Reaper while others seem completely excited to spend the day with their families. I swallow hard as I follow them outside and toward the main building, where many students and families are already gathered.
“Addie!”
I turn around and find Raven waving at me. She’s standing next to a man and woman and a girl around twelve. She looks like a mini version of Raven. With a smile, I make my way over and say, “Hi.”
“These are my parents and little sister, Robin. Fam, this is my new best friend, Addie Nelson.”
I exchange hellos with her parents and little sister, trying not to show how much this hurts me. I’m super happy for Raven that she’s seeing her family again after all these weeks, but my heart feels like it’s bleeding.
“Where are your parents?” Raven asks as she cranes her neck in different directions.
“Oh, um…” I scan the area for Julie and Jonathon, but I don’t see them anywhere. “I guess they’re not here yet.”
“Well, let me know when they are. I can’t wait to meet them.” She smiles as she waves and walks away with her family.
With another sigh, I skim across the adult faces packed into the room, searching for the people from the photo. Maybe they decided not to show up after all?
“Addie?” a female voice says from behind me.
I slowly turn around and come face-to-face with the people from the photo. I must say, they did a good job with their disguises. Julie dyed her hair to match mine and Jonathon is wearing contacts so his eyes would match mine. They’re dressed more casually, like how my parents used to dress. Julie’s even smiling the way I do. I wonder if she practiced that in front of the mirror.
“Yep, that’s me,” I say with a nervous smile. “Addie Nelson, your daughter.”
