All Chapters of A Place To Call Home: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

It was after school one day when William and Cailen were playing in the living room that everything went down the toilet.They were just having fun, William had challenged Cailen to a handstand contest and said Cailen was too afraid to try it. So naturally, Cailen just had to prove him wrong.William had already done his, falling over on his first attempt but succeeding in staying up for about five seconds on his second try. William looked smug when he planted his feet on the ground, insisting that Cailen couldn't possibly do better and waiting impatiently for him to gather the courage to try.The thing was that he didn't want William to think he was boring and no fun.He wanted William to keep liking him and wanting to play with him because he liked playing with William. He knew it was stupid to get so attached when he'd probably be sent back at any moment but Cailen couldn't help himself.He just kind of enjoys being William’s big brother. He didn't know how because really, they did

"On Monday, you won't be going to school, love," Eden explained.She was sitting on the edge of Cailen's bed, brushing some hair out of his face while Dean stood beside the bed, looking down at him.It was hard not to jump to conclusions with what Eden had said. Cailen immediately thought they were returning him to the orphanage because, why else would he be not going to school?"We've got to go back to the orphanage and talk about the arrangements," Dean added, not doing anything to change Cailen's assumptions."We've got to fill out some paperwork and then head down to the adoption agency," Eden said with a smile.Cailen frowned at this. Adoption Agency?"Why?" Cailen asked, not following what they were telling him."Cailen, it'll be one month on Monday," Eden explained sweetly.Cailen was shocked. He's never made one month before or even anywhere near it. He'd nearly forgotten there was a second step to all this.He was so used to just being moved in and out of different families,

7 years later…Cailen sat in the backseat of the taxi, staring out the window at the familiar roads of Beverwood.It was the first time he's been home since he went off to university two years ago. He realized what a dick move that was but Eden and Dean were very understanding that he needed to focus on his studies.He felt really bad about lying to them, because of course, he could have made time to come home for Christmas at least but he didn't. He was worried that being around them would make them see through his mask he's worked so hard to construct.He knew he couldn't be his true self around his family or they wouldn't accept him. He learned early on that he needed to act more like other boys or Eden and Dean wouldn't have kept him.That's not to say he is a completely different person around them, no, just... More reserved in a way.There were certain things he didn't discuss with them or around them, certain things he didn't do around them and he was okay with that. Pretending

 Asher looked up and met Cailen's cerulean eyes.He smiled shyly at Cailen and he didn't blame him because he knew he was staring but he couldn't pull his eyes from him."Hey, Cai," Asher said awkwardly with a small wave.Cailen really had to pull it together. He knew that but he couldn't believe this was Asher. He couldn't believe this was little scrawny Asher. Asher that begged him to tell on the bullies in school. Asher who cries at Toy Story, every time.Asher who always made sure to include Cailen at the parties he was invited to. He couldn't believe this was Asher."Jesus, what's in the water here?" Cailen joked, trying to cover up his utter shock and possible drool.All four boys chuckled at Cailen, even Noah who really didn't know him."I should have stuck around. I seemed to have missed the puberty bus," Cailen joked, looking down at his s

 The two boys silently climbed the stairs to William's room together, Cailen flopping on the bed when they got there and William flopping down beside him.William's room looked like any other teenager's room.A bed against the wall in the middle, a desk on the far wall that had his school bag hanging from the office chair there, and a TV on the opposite wall of his bed, facing the bed so he could watch while laying down.There were band posters lining the walls along with school awards and sports medals, most of them being the award for 'most improved' or 'hardest working' because William really wasn't very coordinated and tended to fall a lot but that didn't stop him from trying."What do you think happened?" William asked, finally breaking the silence."I don’t know. She'd tell us if someone died, right?" Cailen asked.William nodded."Could be nothing... She really could be