Free DIFFERENT (Different Series Book 1) by Erin J. Cross Page A

walk down the stairs, across the hallway, and out of the front door whilst the rest of the Prestons were no doubt sitting around the kitchen table. I knew that they’d be relishing the fact that I wasn’t with them as they ate Gloria’s homemade chicken and bacon pasta bake.
                  I knew what they were eating because ten minutes earlier I’d received a knock on my door and I’d opened it, thinking that it was Louisa forgiving me, but instead all that was there was a plateful of pasta bake in front of my door.
                  I’d felt like I was a nuisance who they just wanted to keep out of the way. I just wanted to feel a part of a family; I just wanted someone to want me.
                  I’d brought the food into my room, although I hadn’t eaten any it. Normally Gloria’s food was too good to resist, but this time the smell of heated cheese didn’t appeal to me. Instead, the stench seemed to fill my entire room, and I found myself longing even more to leave.
                  As I stepped outside of the Prestons’ house in my blue skinny jeans and my black jacket, I walked up the driveway, and I was glad when I’d walked out of the neighbourhood.
                  I imagined that I wouldn’t have much time left in Oakwood, and I wondered what would happen to me next. I was the girl that no one seemed to want, and this fact sucked. I’d really thought that this time things would be different. I liked the Prestons, and I liked having Leo as a friend. The problem was that the Prestons would always favour Louisa, and Leo would always like Megan more than me.
                  It was a breezy, extra cold night. I found myself shivering through my jacket as I quickened my pace. Sometimes the cold was good, as it reminded me that I was alive.
                  I arrived in the park early, and I wandered over to a bench that wasn’t far from the entrance.  Apart from the few people that were walking down the park’s path, the only other people in it were a bunch of teenagers that were sitting on the grass, but they were too far away for me to see if I knew them or not.
                  I sat down and picked at my nails as I waited for Finn to turn up. I started to doubt if he would come. What if he turned out to be like all the others and let me down? After all, I hardly knew anything about him.              
                  Finn was ten minutes late when he finally walked up the path and then sat down next to me. I had to admit that I was relieved to see him, even though I’d started to believe that he wasn’t going to turn up.
                  ‘You’re late,’ I said, not meeting his gaze.
                  ‘Sorry. Although I wasn’t sure if you’d actually turn up.’
                  ‘Well I kinda want to know why you keep stalking me and telling me things that make no sense.’
                  ‘I wouldn’t call it stalking. I am trying to help you’
                  ‘But why? How can you know all these things about me?’
                  ‘I can’t tell you that; you just have to trust me, Celeste.’
                  ‘How can I trust you when I don’t even know you?’
                  ‘Then get to know me.’
                  ‘I don’t have the time to do that. I don’t think I’ll be living around here for much longer.’ I looked at him as I spoke, feeling low about the whole thing. I really didn’t want to leave Oakwood, but if the Prestons didn’t want me anymore, then I didn’t want to wait around to be taken back into care. I’d rather brave the world on my own.
                  ‘What’s happened?’
                  ‘Me. I always mess things up.’
                  ‘What’d you do? No one got hurt, did