Rowan's POV.
After reaching home, Smith trailed behind me as I went up the stairs to the spare room Leo had given me. It was rather plain, with a 4-post bed, a small desk that had a brand-new laptop, an iPod and a desktop(and speakers), a small bathroom, windows that faced the main road, amber LED lights ETC. ETC. This was nothing like my other room in Sophie's.
Smith came in and shut the door, then sat on my bed as I plopped down on the rolling desk chair. He smiled at me.
"Where'd you guys go?" He asked, still smiling. I contemplated on whether to tell him, then decided not to in case he tells Tom.
-just played with the kitties and stuff
"Nothing fun?" he questioned further.
-well Martyn taught me how to play minecraft
His face lit up with a bright smile. "Really? What did you learn?"
-some basic stuff, the blocks... crafting... building
"Fighting?" he asked suggestively. I grimaced and shook my head.
-not into that kind of violence
He grinned. "You should try it some time," he said, getting off my bed.
"It's really fun to fight, like there's pvp and stuff-"
-whats pvp
"Player versus player," he answered. "Oh, and I heard about your party. Will there be booze?" he asked, smirking.
-whats that
"Like, alcohol, vodka, cider," he said. I shrugged, not sure even what those were. I'm pretty sure he caught sight of my puzzled look, for he continued, "Like, drinks that make you drunk and stuff." I nodded my head, faking that I understood.
-idk if well have it there
He nodded. "Anyway, about the fighting-"
-nope
"Whyyyyy?"
-nuh
He gave me a really good impression of the :'( face, then went on to ask me something.
"Are you still angry with Leo?"
-i never was
"Oh."
-i gtg shower pls
"Okay," he laughed, ruffling my hair. Then, he exited the room and closed the door quietly. I grabbed a clean towel and entered the bathroom.

●●●

After the shower, I changed into a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. As I was folding the towel, there was knock on the door. I quickly dropped the towel and went to get the door.
"Hey," It was Smith, he had come to check on me or something. "Leo wants to see you."
-why
"I don't know."
-...
"Go on," he urged. I sighed silently and and walked down the stairs with him behind me. I heard Smith close the door.
Leo was waiting for me on the sofa, smiling.
"Hey Ro," he said softly, inviting me to come and join him on the sofa.
-wut u want
"About the party-" I grimaced when he said that-"...What cake would you like?"
-idk, never had cake before
"You've never eaten cake before?" he asked, bewildered. It bugged me that people were always so shocked that I didn't do the things that normal people would've -- I never had a lot of money, I never really wanted to and I didn't get to. What was so hard in understanding that? Just then, Sophie messaged me.

Sophie: Hey Rowan, are you coping well?
Rowan: Yeah
Sophie: Your brother and I went to visit your neighbors, you know
(Rowan screamed on the inside)
Rowan: OMG! When?
Sophie: When you were sleeping the other day
Rowan: Leo's planning a birthday party for me
Sophie: Oh, am I invited?
Rowan: Of course!
Sophie: Haha, of course
Rowan: -.-
Sophie: I've got to go now
Rowan: Ok byeee
Sophie: Bye

I put down my phone, only to see Leo staring at me. I gave him a realistic -.- face. He grinned sheepishly.
"I'll get you a Strawberry Shortcake, how about that?" he asked suggestively. I shrugged nonchalantly.
-as long as it doesent have meat
"Why would cakes have meat in them?"
-idk, they might have
"How?" he pushed further.
-meh, i never had cake before so forgive meh
"A chocalate cake?"
-i dont fancy chocolate
"A vanilla?"
"Nah mate, get her a red velvet," Smith's voice said. "With cream cheese icing. I've seen those type in shops before."
-i know what to buy
"What?" They two boys looked at me with their heads cocked like little puppies.
-an apple stroodle thing
"Those type with ice cream?" Leo asked. I nodded, confirming it.(for those who dont know what apple stroodle is, its like a type of crumbly thing with apple bits and custard inside, and it comes with ice cream sometimes. Its really nice, but i dont quite like custard)
-its not a cake though
"Never mind," Leo assured me. "As long as you're happy," he smiled. Yeah right, I thought.
"Well, I've got to tell Lewis." he said, getting off the sofa and taking out his phone out of his pocket. He clicks it unlock and enters a number, the puts the phone to his ear.
"Yeah, this is Leo."
"Hey Lewis."
"No, it's about Rowan's birthday party -- she doesn't want a cake, she wants apple stroodle."
"Oh? Well that's nice! Ok, give me a call when it's done." And with that speech, he hung up. Leo turned to us, smiling.
"Lewis says that Hannah knows a good apple stroodle shop," he states helpfully, grinning. I faked a smile, happy yet sad that these people would go through the trouble to make a birthday party just for me. No one(except Sophie) had ever done anything nice for me. Especially before Sophie's husband died.

He was 45 years old. An alcoholic. An abusive man. A raper. His name was Griswold. I absolutely hated him from the ends of the Earth and back so much that I didn't even want to be in the same country as him. But what choice did I have? No choice at all.
Birthdays; Christmas; St. Patrick's Day; Halloween; Thanksgiving etcetera etcetera. On any special occasion that Sophie would be out for the day, he would come to me. Torture me. And leave me in pain. Every. Single. Year. Until one day, when I was 14(she didn't write this in the book), I decided that I'd had enough, and that this was all goig to end.
Let's just say my plan worked perfectly.
I murdered him.

A/n:
This is gettting craaaaaazy! I'll have a little more time to write today, but I'll be getting a pair of glasses. Those nerdy type.(for reference, see Kaeyi's glasses. Im getting those type)

(=^・ω・^=)