"Nineteen, twenty, twenty one," Tommy grunted from outside of my room.

"Oh my God, you're such a freak," Avery shouted from her room.

"Get a life, Avery!" Tommy retorted.

"Says the boy who's doing knee pushups," she yelled back.

"Avery!" Tommy whined, "They are not!"

"Can you both shut up?" Shouted Margaret from what I'd assume was the top of the stairs.

"Mom, can you talk to Avery? She's being such brat," Tommy complained.

"I'm sick of the two of you!" Margaret replied.

"Avery, Tommy, don't make me come up there." Larry screamed.

"I was just working out!" Tommy said loudly.

"You got nothing to show for it, bro," Avery responded.

"This is nothing? This is nothing?" Tommy asked.

"Put your shirt down!" Avery said loudly.

"Don't let my muscle mass intimidate you." Tommy laughed as Avery scoffed.

I got out of bed and stretched my arms over my head. I never knew loud houses growing up. My home had always been sadly quiet. I wasn't allowed to run or allowed to be messy, even as a child.

This was a welcome change. I had been at Avery's for a few days and it reminded me everyday of what I'd missed all my life. This is what it felt like to be accepted by your family and feel love and support.

I changed quickly into a white long sleeved shirt and tucked it into my jeans before opening my door and going downstairs.

Margaret and Larry were in the kitchen cooking as I'd realized was per usual. Larry was wearing an apron that said I like to get high (quality ingredients).

"I'm liking the apron this morning, Larry." I greeted as I walked into the kitchen. I put some coffee beans into the coffee machine and turned it on. It almost seemed as though they had an endless supply of inscribed aprons lying around.

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating for illegal substance abuse," he stated as he flipped a pancake over in the frying pan he was using, "What I am advocating for is witty wordplay."

I reached for the coffee pot and poured two cups out. I put cream and sugar in one and placed it next to Larry as he took a long sip with one hand as he flipped another pancake with the other.

"You always make it better than Margaret," Larry grinned, "if you tell her I said that I'll vehemently deny it."

"I'm not telling a soul."

"Whatever it is, you can trust me," Tommy stated confidently coming up behind us.

"You're adopted." Avery said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah right." Tommy said crossing his arms at her.

"Where do you think your brown hair comes from? We're all blonde."

"Shut up," Tommy replied.

Tommy grabbed a piece of toast from next to Larry before Larry swatted his hand away. "Can you wait like a normal person?"

"Where's mom? She always lets me eat before food is ready." Tommy stated glumly.

"I never do," Margaret replied walking into the kitchen as well. "Read the apron. I'm not kidding today." Her black apron had the words No bitchen' in the kitchen scrawled across the front.

"You both have way too many aprons," Avery said.

"It's a problem," Tommy agreed.

"If it was a problem I'd be able to diagnose it," Larry defended. "As it is, I'd say we've got less to worry about than you two."

We all sat down at the kitchen table to another amazing spread. Larry really was outdoing himself lately. Pancakes, croissants, fruit, eggs, and toast were laid out on the table. I felt like I had gained twenty pounds since coming to stay here. My mother would have been horrified to know what I was eating everyday. I took a lot more pleasure than I should have out of that.

She had yet to make contact with me in anyway. It wasn't like I was expecting her to, but I assumed she was would at least want to know where I was spending my nights.

"So," Avery began, "Olivia and I have been talking and we've decided to get our own apartment."

"Sweet, I call your room." Tommy pumped his fist.

"It would still stay as my room you dork."

"Not fair," Tommy replied.

"That's great," Margaret said ignoring her children's bickering, "Have you been looking at places?"

"We've seen a couple," I replied taking a bite of the most fluffy pancakes I'd ever tasted, "but we haven't found anything as of yet."

"You know you're always more than welcome to stay here, Olivia. We love having you." Margaret stated genuinely.

"I really appreciate that, but I think this is something I need to do. I want you to know how genuinely grateful I am to you for letting me be a part of the family though, especially during tough times." I told them sincerely.

I knew first hand how you didn't know who your friends were until you were faced with difficult circumstances. People disappointed you, but Margaret, Larry, and Avery were steady and constant in their encouragement and support. I would always be grateful for that and for them.

"You don't need to thank family ever, Olivia." Margaret replied.

"Though I'd just want to clarify that I think of you as more of a family friend than an actual family member. That way there's no misconceptions when we start start dating." Tommy interrupted.

Avery burst out laughing, "Could you be any creepier?"

I smiled at them both. I knew Tommy was kidding. Mostly. "Thanks, Tommy. I'll keep that in mind."

"Why don't you eat another pancake there, Avery." Tommy retorted.

"My God," Margaret muttered, tearing her apron off and throwing it behind her. "What's the point."

"Why would I when you're eating for two?" Avery patted Tommy's stomach.

"I'm working out. I need the carbs," Tommy swatted Avery's hand away.

A horn sounded outside and Tommy jumped up. "I forgot that Mrs. Jackson was coming to pick me up. Frank and I are going to play video games at his house."

"Have fun," Margaret replied.

"No drugs. This doesn't give you permission," Larry pointed at his apron.

"Love you!" Avery exclaimed as Tommy ignored her. "I said I love you."

"See you Olivia," Tommy stated.

"Tommy, I could die tonight." Avery lectured.

"Alright alright, love you too," he muttered under his breath.

"Have fun, Tommy," I chuckled. I loved Avery and Tommy's relationship. It was so wholesome. They gave each other a hard time but were always there to support each other. I remember when Avery broke up with her boyfriend in the eleventh grade and young Tommy slipped chocolate bar after chocolate bar under her door, using his own allowance money until she finally emerged. They truly loved each other.

Tommy left the house and Larry turned to me. "How are you going to manage the finances of the apartment, Olivia? We'd be more than happy to cover the cost."

I smiled at him gratefully, "Thank you, that's so thoughtful. I'm going to use the the trust fund my dad set up in the will for me for when I turned 18. I haven't touched it until this point, but I'm considering it now. And the semester's almost over so I'll look for a part time job during the summer."

Margaret nodded, "We're here should you need anything."

For the first time in a long time, I had faith in the fact that that was true. I could rely on this family with my problems and they would accept my faults with open arms.