SETTLING IN

Angela sighed as she closed the door to the bedroom she now shared with her husband, Mr. Wills. It had been a long day of unpacking, settling in, and dealing with the stress that comes with moving. She looked around the room, still partially filled with unopened boxes and scattered items waiting to find their place. The familiar scent of Mr. Wills' cologne mingled with the crisp, newness of their home, creating a comforting atmosphere.

She found him sitting on the edge of the bed, leafing through a book. His reading glasses perched low on his nose, and a warm smile spread across his face as she approached.

"Hey there," he said, setting the book aside and reaching out to her. "How's Noah settling in? Taking the whole moving situation alright?"

Angela sat beside him, leaning into his embrace. "She's not entirely comfortable yet," she admitted, "but I think she'll come around soon. It's a lot to take in, especially with everything happening so fast."

Mr. Wills nodded understandingly. "It's a big change for all of us. But I'm sure she'll be fine. She's a strong girl."

Angela glanced around the room, suddenly noticing the absence of another family member. "Speaking of which, where's Nick? I haven't seen him around since we arrived."

"He went out to prepare for the family get-together party," Mr. Wills explained. "He wanted to make sure we had everything we needed in place. He's been planning this for a while now."

Angela smiled, a sense of relief washing over her. Nick had always been reliable, taking initiative when needed. "That's wonderful. Do you think Noah will be excited to come to the party?"

Mr. Wills chuckled. "I think she would. She's always up for a good time, and it will be a great way for her to meet everyone and start feeling at home."

Angela's eyes sparkled with warmth as she looked at her husband. "You're amazing, you know that? Accepting Noah so wholeheartedly, without any issues. I was worried at first, but you've been wonderful."

He pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. "I love you, Angela. And I love Noah too. She's part of our family now, and I'll do everything I can to make sure she and Nick become the best of siblings."

Angela's heart swelled with gratitude and love. She had been through so much, and having Mr. Wills by her side made everything seem possible. "I love you too," she whispered. "And I wouldn't trade this for anything."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the closeness and the quiet of their new home. The future seemed bright, filled with promise and the hope of a happy family life.

____

Noah lay sprawled on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The new house was eerily quiet compared to the bustling noise of her old neighbourhood. She had unpacked most of her belongings, but the sense of unfamiliarity and the loneliness of the new environment weighed heavily on her. She missed her friends, her school, and the comforting routine of her old life. More than anything, she missed Betty, her childhood best friend who had been her confidant and companion through every up and down.

Sighing, Noah decided to take a break from her boredom and explore her new closet. She opened the double doors and surveyed the neatly arranged clothes and shoes. It was larger and more organized than her old one, a small perk amid so many changes. She grabbed her phone and snapped a picture of the closet, thinking it would be nice to share a piece of her new life with Betty.

As she sent the picture, she typed a quick message:

**Noah:** *"Check out my new closet! Miss you so much. Wish you were here to see this."*

She hit send and lay back on her bed, waiting for a reply. The thought of Betty brought a smile to her face. They had been friends for as long as she could remember, sharing secrets, dreams, and every little detail of their lives. Even though they were miles apart now, Noah knew their bond was unbreakable.

While she waited for Betty’s response, Noah’s thoughts drifted to Dan, her boyfriend. She felt a pang of guilt for not reaching out to him earlier. The move had consumed her, and she hadn’t made the time to connect with him as she had promised. She picked up her phone again and sent him a message:

**Noah:** *"Hey Dan, I'm sorry I didn't reach out today. It's been crazy with the move. I'm really tired, but can we talk tomorrow? Miss you."*

Noah put her phone down and closed her eyes, trying to rest. The unfamiliar surroundings made it hard to relax, but she forced herself to breathe deeply and let go of the day’s stress. Just as she was about to drift off, her phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw a message from Betty.

**Betty:** *"Wow, that closet is huge! Miss you too, babe. How’s everything over there? Tell me everything!"*

Noah smiled at Betty’s enthusiastic response. She quickly typed back:

**Noah:** *"It's okay, I guess. The house is nice, but it doesn’t feel like home yet. I miss you so much. School is starting soon, and I'm nervous about meeting new people."*

Betty's reply came almost instantly.

**Betty:** *"You'll do great, Noah! You’re amazing, and everyone will see that. And hey, you can tell me anything, anytime. I'm always here for you."*

Noah felt a warmth spread through her. Betty’s unwavering support was exactly what she needed. She began typing a longer message, sharing more about her day, the new house, and her worries about fitting in at a new school.

---

The next day dawned bright and clear. Noah woke up so early feeling slightly more rested but still nervous about the days ahead. She checked her phone and saw a sweet message from Dan:

**Dan:** *"No worries, Noah. I know moving is tough. Looking forward to our chat today. Miss you too!"*

Her heart swelled with affection. Dan had always been understanding and supportive, and knowing he was there for her made the transition a bit easier.

Dan always had a way of making her feel appreciated and loved.

But as her stomach growled, she was reminded that she hadn't eaten breakfast yet. The idea of going to the kitchen to make something to eat seemed like a good next step. She was particularly craving a sandwich, her go-to comfort food. She could almost taste the crispy bread and the creamy spread she loved so much. Just as she was about to get up, her phone rang.

It was Betty, her voice bubbling with happiness. "Hey, Noah! Guess what? I’m so happy for you!"

Noah smiled, feeling her friend's enthusiasm through the phone. "Thanks, Betty. You always know how to make me smile."

"I just had to call you," Betty continued, her voice teasing. "And by the way, what's up with that ringtone? Noah, you seriously need to change it."

Noah laughed, knowing exactly what Betty was talking about. "I know, I know. I've been meaning to, but I haven't had the best yet to use for it, seems I would leave it that way and most especially Dan loves it.

"Of course he does," Betty chuckled. "Anyway, how’s everything? How’s your stepdad treating you?"

Noah sighed, her mood shifting slightly. "He's... trying too hard, I guess. It's like he's trying to buy my affection with his money, and I just can't accept that."

Betty's tone softened. "I get that, but maybe he's just trying to find a way to connect with you. You’re so lucky, Noah. You're part of this rich family now. You should try to enjoy it and relax a little."

Noah appreciated Betty's perspective but still felt conflicted. "Maybe you're right. I'm just not used to all this yet."

She changed the subject, feeling her hunger grow. "I'm heading to the kitchen to make a sandwich. Not sure if we even have the ingredients I like, though."

Betty laughed. "Describe the house to me while you’re at it. I’m dying to hear about this place!"

Noah stood up and started walking down the grand staircase. "Well, it's huge, for one. There are these amazing artworks everywhere, really gorgeous pieces. My mom's new husband has quite the collection."

She continued to describe the house as she made her way to the kitchen. The walls were adorned with expensive paintings, and there were elegant sculptures in almost every corner. The place was like a museum, filled with beauty and history.

"And then there's Mr. Wills’ son," Noah added, lowering her voice. "My mom can't stop praising him, but I've never met him. Sometimes I wonder if he's a ghost or something."

Betty laughed again. "Sounds like a mystery waiting to be solved! Maybe you’ll run into him one of these days."

As Noah reached the kitchen, she looked around, trying to spot the ingredients for her favourite sandwich. "I hope we have what I need," she muttered, opening the fridge.

Betty’s voice turned curious. "So, what's in this sandwich you’re craving?"

Noah grinned. "It’s pretty simple. Just some fresh lettuce, tomatoes, a bit of cheese, and that special spread I love. But I doubt they have it here."

To her surprise, the fridge was well-stocked, and she quickly found most of what she needed. "Looks like I’m in luck," she said, pulling out the ingredients.

"See? Being rich has its perks!" Betty teased. "Now, enjoy your fancy sandwich and relax a bit, okay?"

Noah laughed, feeling a bit better. "Will do, Betty.

Thank you for the call Betty you always know how to cheer me up.

Just as they were about to say their goodbyes, Noah was startled by a movement behind the fridge door. A young, handsome, and undeniably cute man stood there, smiling at her. His sudden appearance made her jump, and her phone slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor.

Betty, still on the line, heard the commotion. "Noah? Noah! What happened? Are you okay?.

Noah couldn't pick up the phone, her heart racing. She ignored Betty's frantic voice, her focus entirely on the young man. "Shit!" she muttered under her breath, feeling a mix of fear and surprise.

The young man approached her slowly, his expression both apologetic and curious. "You must be my father's new wife's daughter," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Noah forced a smile, though it was tinged with annoyance. "Nicholas, right?"

He nodded, folding his arms arrogantly, exuding anything but the gentleman he was supposed to be. "That's right. And you are?"

Seriously, Noah replied in a harsh tone, "Noah. Betty, are you still on the call?"

"Are you still there, Noah?" Betty’s voice crackled through the speaker, filled with static and concern.

Nicholas raised an eyebrow, surprised. Noah? "Isn't that a boy's name?"

Noah’s patience snapped. "Your limited vocabulary doesn't include the word 'unisex,' does it?" she replied sharply.

Noah turned and bent to pick up her phone, but was startled by the sudden presence of a gigantic dog. The beast barked ferociously at her. It hadn’t met her before and was defending its territory. Noah was so scared that she froze, unable to pick up her phone.

"Do you know what Thor's favourite word from my vocabulary is?" Nick asked, his voice dripping with amusement as he watched her fear. The dog's name, Thor, echoed ominously in Noah's mind.

Noah took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She couldn’t afford to show fear in front of Nicholas. Gathering her courage, she stood up slowly, keeping her eyes on the dog. "Calm down, boy," she whispered, though her heart pounded in her chest.

"Thor’s favourite word starts with 'a', then 'that'," Nick said, his voice dripping with amusement as he watched her fear. Thor still barked so loudly that Noah couldn’t hear her thoughts. She attempted to pull her phone closer to her, but the dog’s barking made it impossible to focus.

"Then it ends with 'ck'," Nick continued, revelling in her distress.

"It's not funny," Noah replied, her voice trembling as she tried to maintain her composure.

"He doesn't like you," Nick said, a smug smile on his face. "He must think you snuck in without permission, but that's not true, is it?"