Free Wide Awake - Academy of the Fallen Series by Daniele Lanzarotta

really bothered me.
     
    ‘If you don’t want to talk to me, fine.  But I need to know what Benjamin wants with your dad.  Find out whatever you can.  This is important, Kayla.’
     
    I glanced around, and Hunter was by his car, looking to make sure I got his note.  I ripped the paper into a million pieces.
     
    “Another note?”  Jess asked.
     
    “Oh, um no.  Just some sales junk someone left on my car.”
     
    She looked as if she didn’t believe me, but she didn’t say anything.
     
    We were supposed to go shopping that day but I backed out.  I couldn’t even get the thing about my dad out of my mind.
     
    I went home and anxiously waited for Kelly and Andrew to get back from work.
     
    Kelly was all hormonal and stuff, so I knew that asking her about my biological parents wouldn’t get me anywhere.  I would tell Andrew that I needed help with a Science assignment, Kelly hated Science, and I would take the opportunity to talk to him.
     
    My plan worked, but unfortunately, Andrew told me that he and Kelly had discussed this before and decided that when it was time to tell me about my parents, they would do it together.
     
    ***
     
    I sat on the recliner, across from Kelly and Andrew.  They both looked uncomfortable and I felt horrible for even asking about it.
     
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bug you with that.  Forget it, I don’t need to know.”  I started to get up.
     
    Andrew asked me to sit back down.  Kelly said, “It is okay, hun.  It is only natural that you are curious.  There is really nothing to feel bad about.”
     
    Andrew said.  “We knew this day would come, we just… well, there is no easy way of telling you this, Kayla.”
     
    I sat there, just staring at them.  Kelly got up and came to sit on the recliner next to me, putting her hand over mine, as Andrew started to tell me everything.
     
    And I regretted asking, I still regret…
     
    Andrew and Kelly said that I was a special case.  They needed to disclose everything about my past, about my parents past, because of all the medical history involved.
     
    Mom left right after I was born.  Apparently her and dad were having problems, and she was probably afraid I would turn out like him, so she left us both.  Dad managed to raise me until I was a little over three.  A neighbor helped him out during the day while he worked, until that neighbor started seeing him interacting with things that were not there, with people who did not exist.  There was a full record of complaints with social services, but there was no proof.  Of course, by that time the neighbor was no longer helping, but my dad was the one who asked her to take me away that day.  He told her he just couldn’t have me in that environment.
     
    I took a few deep breaths; I was determined not to cry.  I was terrified that whatever mental disease he had, I also had.
     
    “What happened then?  Did he get committed?”  I asked.
     
    “We honestly don’t know, Kayla.”  Andrew said.  “I can look into it if you really want, but I’m not sure that is a good idea.”
     
    “No!”  I lowered my voice.  “No need to.”
     
    “Was there anyone else?  Did I have any brothers or sisters?”
     
    “Not that we know of.  We actually got to speak with that neighbor, and she did not mention anyone else.”
     
    I met Kelly’s gaze.  “Why did you adopt me?  You know, with all this medical history.”
     
    Kelly was all emotional, she had been crying, but as soon as I asked that, she smiled from ear to ear.
     
    “Kayla, we met you before we even found out about your biological parent’s history, and from the moment we laid eyes on you, we knew that you were our kid.”  She giggled.  “Besides, who could resist that little tiny person running and hugging us, asking if we were going to be your mommy and daddy,” and she was back to crying.
     
    Trying to make them feel better, I laughed and said, “I didn’t really do that, did