Shadows And Light

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of gentle knocking on my door. Rubbing my eyes, I got out of bed and opened the door to find Roseline standing there with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Aurora," she greeted me. "We're going to the mall today to get you everything you need for school."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. It had been a while since I'd gone shopping for new things, and the thought of starting at a new school made my stomach churn.

"Alright, get dressed and come down for breakfast," Roseline said before heading downstairs.

I quickly dressed in my usual hoodie and jeans, brushed my teeth, and tied my hair back. When I got downstairs, I saw the boys sitting around the breakfast table, looking half-awake. Roseline was flipping pancakes, humming a tune.

"Good morning," I said quietly.

"Morning, Aurora!" Roseline beamed at me.
"Take a seat. Breakfast is almost ready."

As I sat down, I noticed the boys glancing at me, some with curiosity, others with indifference. Nathaniel rolled his eyes, clearly not thrilled about the mall trip. Dylan gave me a small, encouraging smile, which helped ease my nerves a bit.

Once breakfast was done, Roseline announced, "Alright, boys. We're heading to the mall to get Aurora her school supplies. Everyone needs to come along and help."

A chorus of groans erupted from the table.

"Do we have to?" Nathaniel complained.
"I had plans with my friends."

"Yes, you have to," Roseline said firmly.

"Aurora is part of this family now, and we're going to support her."

"Fine," Nathaniel muttered, crossing his arms.

The ride to the mall was tense. The boys sat in the back, whispering among themselves, while I sat up front with Roseline, staring out the window. The mall loomed large as we pulled into the parking lot, its glass facade gleaming in the morning sun.

Inside, the mall was bustling with activity. Roseline handed me a list of things we needed to get: school uniforms, notebooks, pens, a backpack, and other supplies.

"Alright, let's split up," Roseline suggested.

"Aurora, you'll come with me to get the uniforms. Boys, you handle the school supplies."

Nathaniel sighed dramatically, but he didn't argue. As we walked through the mall, I felt a strange mix of emotions from the boys. Some were genuinely trying to help, while others, like Nathaniel, seemed to be there out of obligation.

"Aurora, this way," Roseline called, leading me into a clothing store. We spent the next hour trying on uniforms and picking out clothes. Roseline was patient and kind, making sure I had everything I needed.

When we rejoined the boys, they had already gathered most of the supplies. Nathaniel was leaning against a wall, scrolling through his phone, while Dylan and Hugo were comparing notebooks.

"Got everything?" Roseline asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Dylan replied.

"Great. Let's check out and grab some lunch," Roseline said.

At the food court, we found a table big enough for all of us. I noticed how different the boys' reactions were. Dylan was chatty, trying to include me in the conversation. Hugo was quiet but polite, while Nathaniel barely acknowledged my presence. The rest of the boys were a mix of curiosity and indifference.

"So, Aurora," Dylan said, turning to me. "What do you like to do in your free time?"

"I like to read and write," I replied, feeling a bit more comfortable.

"Cool," Dylan said with a smile. "Maybe you can join the school's book club. They have one, right Hugo?"

"Yeah, they do," Hugo confirmed.The conversation continued, and I found myself slowly relaxing. Despite the mixed emotions from the boys, I was grateful for Roseline's support and Dylan's kindness.

As we left the mall, bags in hand, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a place in this new family after all.