Toxic

Chapter 3.

Sighing somewhat wearily, I looked straight ahead through that large window in my room, watching the cloudy sky with a smile. After a more than a day's drive, we had from Texas to Washington, finally arriving in Bellingham, where the Kramer's house is; my new home.

Arriving at my new parents' big house I couldn't help but be amazed, as it was like a dream. My parents live in a residential area within Bellingham, a place full of beautiful houses with large gardens and green areas; even the day when we arrived, even though it was night, I could see people walking through the empty streets or walking their dogs without worries.

Noticing my surprise at what I saw in the streets, Mrs. Kramer clarified: —This residence is very safe, it is a few minutes away from downtown, and we have guards that protect the entrances and there are cameras in the streets. You can walk around here safely even at night.

Understanding her words better, I nodded feeling silly, looking out the car windows again, taking in all the beautiful parks and houses we passed by on the way.

When we arrived at Mr. and Mrs. Kramer's house I couldn't believe it was my house, that I was going to live there. It was a rustic-style house on the outside, with a large garden full of flowering bushes, and a backyard with a specific space for barbecues. The inside of the house was also large, with a kitchen, two living rooms, a dining room, a study for Mrs. Kramer, a study for Mr. Kramer, and the bedrooms.

My specific room was on the second floor facing the back yard of the house, across from the stairs and near the bathroom. It was an average-sized room, with a large window that let me see the whole garden, a large closet, and more than enough space for me. And although it didn't look like it, that room meant everything to me at that moment. In my head, I couldn't help but think that having that room was another sign that I finally had a home; if I had a room in this house it meant I belonged here.

Spending the first night alone was not easy. All my life I slept next to other people, at the orphanage when I turned to one side I would see Kiara snoring in her bed, and when I turned to the other I would see Audrey with her back to me. Now as I turned in my new bed, I saw nothing but darkness near me. I'd be lying if I said I didn't fall asleep at the end of it all, I was exhausted after such a long trip as we had on the road on the way here, but I spent a long time tossing back and forth until I fell unconscious. I suppose it is a matter of habit, for now, that more than a week has passed since I arrived here, I can sleep more soundly than I ever slept anywhere.

The next few days of that week, Mrs. Kramer took it as her "personal" project to help me improve my wardrobe and appearance for classes. It was exactly one week until school started, and I had to look like a normal girl when I got to high school, so I had to hustle.

The first thing we did together was to get my hair cut, Mrs. Kramer took me to her usual beauty salon in the city, and helping me with it, she let her stylist cut my hair in a more normal way. My blonde hair was long, reaching below my hips, the stylist just cut the ends a little bit and made me a cute little ponytail, which I honestly really like, changing my style quite a bit to a better one.

The next thing I did with Mrs. Kramer was to buy me clothes and accessories, going through many stores and taking everything we thought I needed, from pajamas to dresses for the summer. And even though for a couple of days we were only in charge of shopping, the big white wooden closet in my room was nowhere near full, barely having the hangers and some drawers half full of things stored in them.

—Don't worry about it, every week we can go to the mall and buy one or two outfits, soon the whole closet will be filled —Mrs. Kramer told me, realizing that I was feeling distressed about it.

Mrs. Kramer made me feel very good, she made me feel calm.

And one evening when we were waiting for dinner to be delivered, Mr. Kramer came home from work with some presents for me. On the way home, he had bought me the first technological gadgets I ever had, a laptop and a cell phone. Seeing those expensive, beautifully colored gifts, I didn't know what to say, and could only hug Mr. Kramer to thank him. I think we were both embarrassed to do so, but like everything around me now, it must be a matter of getting used to it.

Learning to manage my electronic devices was not something extremely complicated, it was quite intuitive, to tell the truth, it took me a couple of hours to know well what things I had and what things I did not have to do with my phone and my computer, but after some videos and instructional documents, I could assure that I was a little more prepared for that "challenge".

However, the most difficult part of this whole process was to create my accounts in the most important social networks, or those that according to a video I saw, is the most used by people my age. Entering those sites, besides following famous people, I couldn't add anyone. It's sad because my friends from the orphanage still don't have access to these things, and although I could add people I don't know but who look nice in their profile picture, I just don't want to do it, because even I understand that it would be weird. If you ask me why I'm talking to you, I don't want to sound like a crazy person by saying that I have no friends on any social network and that's why I sent you a message.

However, the one good thing I can say about this whole thing, is that finally after a couple of trials, I was able to get through to Sister Meredith on my email. Sister Meredith didn't have a social network that I used as such either, but at least she was quick to respond to all my emails, and it felt good to feel her so close; now I had her by my side through technology.

At the end of my first week with the Kramers, I learned with some trepidation that we would be having something similar to a "party" for Labor Day. My parents were inviting their friends from work and the neighborhood to a small barbecue at home, where my dad would make some meat, there would be beers, and most importantly: they could introduce me to some people. This made me too nervous, I was afraid of not being able or not knowing what exactly to talk to them about, of not being able to have a friendly chat with everyone; I was even afraid that they would make fun of me because I didn't know how to match my new clothes.

However knowing what would happen, Sister Meredith managed to reassure me, telling me that it would be like practice because the day after Labor Day I would have my first day at high school, and there I would be in a bigger crowd than the people at the party, so I would have to get used to it. So trying to do things right, I watched some dress up tutorials or outfit ideas on the internet, and recreating one of those outfits the best way I could, I wore simple jeans and a somewhat light sweater, a carefree look, I didn't want to be seen as overdressed for something I knew was common.

On the day of the barbecue, the guests didn't make me feel uncomfortable, luckily. They nicely welcomed me, to tell the truth, they were kind and even introduced me to their children; who were a few years younger than me most of them. I guess my parents had told them that they were adopting, and they were warned that I was coming that week, so many of the neighbors or my parents' co-workers were ready to greet me.

And of all the people who went to the barbecue that day, it was a girl my age and school, who was the daughter of one of Mr. Kramer's co-workers. I was super happy to meet Andy at the party, as we would most likely end up crossing paths in a couple of classes at school; so I wouldn't be alone. Andy was extremely nice to me, understanding that I didn't know much about phones and stuff, he installed some apps on my phone, and gave me his social networks, telling me that I could talk to him whenever I wanted.

After spending most of the day at the party, little by little people were leaving the Kramer's house, Andy's family being the last ones. We both got along really well, so I was excited to finally have a friend.

That night after the party, however, although I was a little hesitant about it as I didn't want to be too heavy-handed, I sent Andy a couple of messages, of which she didn't respond to any of them. This seemed a bit odd to me, but she was so nice to me that day, that I didn't hesitate to think it was something wrong with my phone or that I was doing something wrong, it will be funny to tell Andy about this the next day in class.

I don't want to think badly of anyone, and I'm sure tomorrow will be a great day at school.