Wronged

- Anna's POV -

My brother used to tell me stories when I was really young - four years old - but even then I could understand morals and concepts behind the stories he told. One of the quotes from him that I picked up was, "If we were meant to stay in one place, we'd have roots instead feet." He was an adventurer, and even though I couldn't go out with him, he still told me watered-down tales of his reality. To make it child-friendly and exciting. I never really knew exactly what he went out and "adventured."

But I never actually found out what that quote meant personally. I understood the deepness and value of the words, but I never experienced them like he wanted me to. I tried and still try my best to stay inside, avoiding social contact or anything that involves more than three or four people.

Only now do I think of this quote. I haven't thought about it for many years- years since he left. But Aiden, I can see, is going to force me to break out of my introvert shell today.

I glance down at the brace that is on my knee. He happened to have it in his room, telling me that he had hurt his ACL when he was thirteen in a match. What kind of match, I don't know. But he hurt his knee, and this fit him as a kid, so now he put it on me. He sure seems to know a thing or two about medical inquiry.

"You good?" Aiden asks me, side glancing at me as he tries to focus on the road, hands on the wheel. We've exited the city, and in turn, have violated my "must" law number twelve: Must not leave the prohibited amount of miles from foster home without permission. I'm well breaking this rule, but I don't really care. Right now, we're only five and thirty-three hundredths our from the substantial miles. It's not too bad, and not bad at all if I'm not caught.

I nod. "Fine. Where are we going?"

He smirks. "You'll see."

We turn off to the right onto a cut off road. As we continue on, grass appears and we begin driving up a hill. About another five miles and we've reached the destination. It's at the top of the tall hill, and confusion fills my stomach.

It's a house in the process of being built. A big house at that. It'll be two stories high, and with at least four bedrooms that I can see. Large bedrooms. Right now all you can take in is the wooden skeleton- the first layer of what it will become. It's going to be gorgeous, especially up on this hill out of the city with beautiful landscape and a view of the clear sky expanding westward and away from the crowded inner-city.

I wish.

We get out, and Aiden comes to the other side. He turns around and points behind him with his thumb. "Get on my back."

I raise a brow, using the crutches to support my weight. "Huh?"

"I said get on my back."

I sigh and roll my eyes, tossing the crutches into the grass. I balance myself by placing my hands on his shoulders. "So demanding."

He chuckles as I hop on one foot and clamber onto his back. He carefully situates his forearms so they're under my thighs, my legs dangling in front of him a little bit. I wrap my arms around his neck.

Aiden seems to carry me so easily, and it's no surprise. Underneath the clothing, I am skinny. And right now, I look normal. But my eating habits are going to catch up to me, I know it.

We walk up to the house and he brings me into one of the squared-off foundation areas. "This will be where the kitchen is," he comments.

I look around. "I can maybe see that."

He lifts his hand a little, cautious as not to drop me or anything, pointing to the soon-to-be room next to us. "That'll be a dining room."

I scrunch my brows. "How do you know?" Is he working on this house with a crew? That would explain why he just waltzed in here. This is private property.