29 Meeting the Atkins 3 (1/2)

I laughed at Noah's remark. It's true that this family seems pretty lively at all times. Just being with Noah all day, was more excitement than I'm use to. I couldn't imagine being with all of them, all the time.

”Noah. Are you mocking me?” Mrs. Atkins raised an eyebrow.

”No ma'am.” He sat up straight. ”I was just telling Jake that he's going to have so much fun in precalculus with the twins.”

She looked at me worriedly. ”Well maybe we should make sure you're in a different class time or something.”

”But then he won't share his other classes with me!” Noah refuted.

”What?! Jake's in math with us?” Dave walked in with a pan and set it on the table.

Kyle followed in with a pot of mashed potatoes. ”Wow. He must be brilliant. That must be why Noah is sticking so close to him.”

”Boys.” Mr. Atkins warned. ”We don't put others down. Especially your own brother. Someone get Zeke from the garage. Let's start taking seats before dinner gets cold.”

Mr. Duncan snuck in from the kitchen and quietly took a seat on the other side of me. ”You doing okay so far? I know it's a lot to take in. A lot of new faces.”

I shrugged, silently watching the bickering and moving about. Kyle went to get Zeke. Dave and Mrs. Atkins were going to and from the kitchen, bringing out food. Noah was telling his dad about the shopping trip yesterday.

There was a lot going on, but I felt at peace. This is way better than the dead silence I lived through. There was constant laughing even when they were supposedly fighting. When my mom and I would fight, it was just one-sided abuse.

”Listen up! Dinner is on the table so start simmering down and find a seat.” Mrs. Atkins sat at the other head of the table.