Chapter 3
I silently followed after Chris as he led me to their dining room. The uncomfortable pit in my stomach only grew as we got closer. Surviving through the first dinner at a foster home is important. I'll probably meet the rest of the family and get a feel for family dynamics, and how I can squeeze myself through the gaps to live here. In one of my homes, Mr. Fraiser was a bumbling drunk who would hate my existence until he had a drop of liquor. I may or may not have spiked him throughout the day but it's not like he wasn't already an out-of-control drunkard. It's not the most moral activity but I survived well enough until he finally got rid of me.
It felt like my mind was going a mile a minute analyzing all the possibilities. Sure the Millers look clean and perfect but you never know the skeletons these kinds of people will hide for perfection. Even if they treat me nicely at first people's true colors will always be exposed when faced with an outsider.
We were the last to arrive at the table and I hesitantly took the seat next to Chris and faced an older teenage boy - who is probably Anthony. He seemed taller than Chris but I couldn't really tell. They looked similar but Anthony's features were clearly more defined with less baby fat clinging onto him. However, they both had the same honey-blond curls and clear blue eyes. Mr. Miller was sitting at the head of the table and I accidentally caught his eyes as I took my seat. He was huge. I could definitely see where they got their genes from. He was a burly man and well he was smiling at me. I quickly looked away and down at my empty plate.
"Well, it's good to see you boys come down. I hope you two got along well?" Mrs. Miller's clear voice cut through the silence with hopeful eyes.
"Yeah, Mom it was good I was just telling him about the audition." He responded while grabbing some chicken from the large dish in the middle. He glanced at me tilting his head towards the picatta. I take a quick glance at Mrs. Miller and she's already nodding her head. I gingerly take some chicken and some asparagus to my plate.
"Come on Chris did you make the poor guy sit through your acting too?" Anthony's voice was a touch deeper than Chris but the playful teasing was basically oozing out of his words. A smug smirk on his face as he was eating.
"Yeah yeah whatever you say Anthony you're just nervous I'm gonna blow you out of the water at auditions." Chris childishly stuck his tongue out at his brother. "I know you're reallyyyy just jealous of my acting ability."
Anthony just shook his head at him as Chris laughed. I quietly sat through dinner observing them as they chatted softly and ate through all the chicken picatta. Mr. Miller is apparently a director and was on set all day working on a new show or movie. I would reply lightly to any questions they would ask me but they relatively left me alone throughout dinner. As dinner was ending and everyone got up to put their plates into the dishwasher Mr. Miller tapped me on the shoulder.
"Are you fine to have a quick talk in my office unless you're too tired? I don't want to overwhelm you since you just arrived."
"It's fine Mr. Miller. I'm not too tired."
He softly smiled as he started walking to his study while I followed him. Honestly, I had no idea what Mr. Miller wanted. He was mostly silent during dinner but sometimes I could feel his gaze heave and assessing. The Millers felt so regular. Anthony and Chris seemed to have a good bond with plenty of brotherly affection. Mr and Mrs. Miller were loving and quite attentive to each other and their children. Honestly it kind of threw me off balance to not even see a sliver of a crack, of something going on with the family. It's impossible. If nothing else the chicken picatta was really the best.