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Weekend

Adam's parents left him alone once they were satisfied that he was okay. Before they left, Aurora promised to ask Imran to make whatever he wanted for breakfast. After some deliberation, he requested a burger. Aurora nodded happily, leaving the room and dragging a protesting Logan with her.

Adam checked his phone; he still didn't have a response from Samantha. He sent a follow-up message, asking how she felt. After five minutes passed without a reply, he concluded that she probably wasn't awake yet or needed some time. Adam decided he wouldn't keep checking his phone for the rest of the day.

Breakfast was, as he had been promised, a burger. Three burgers, really. Imran surprised the family with three styles of burgers: normal, fish, and lentil. Adam was happy to not only have a burger for breakfast but to also have options. He'd never had a fish or a lentil burger before.

With options laid out in front of him, he sampled all of them. The fish was light, flaky, and juicy, melting in his mouth. The lentil burger was crispy on the outside and chunky and chewy on the inside. It also tasted like meat! Adam had had burgers before that were greasy, hard, and burned. Imran's hamburger was in a different league from the others. It was crispy, moist, and super delicious!

Logan and Sophia didn't agree to having burgers for breakfast, but Aurora indulged Adam and herself. He ate all three to the full satisfaction of his stomach. He'd never been so filled before and, for a while, couldn't move from the dining table.

Saturday morning passed quietly. Sophia doubled Aurora's cardio session and gave Imran strict instructions regarding her meals for the rest of the weekend. Logan, on the other hand, spent the morning locked in his office. With nothing to do and everyone else busy, Adam stayed in his room, finally able to play his new game without interruption.

After lunch, Logan offered to take Adam out for a ride on the bikes again. The boy readily agreed, and the father-son duo left the house for the courts. Adam was overjoyed to have another go at the bicycle. His second ride, which was much more steady than his first, gave him the confidence to let go of the handlebars.

The bicycle wobbled out of control the moment he attempted to pedal. Seeing Adam struggle, Logan showed him some basic tricks to help with his balance. The boy practised as he was taught, and his balance showed improvement. The pair then raced around the court a few times before returning home.

The rest of the day was uneventful and quiet. It was weird for Adam to be at home on a Saturday without needing to leave. The unease made him anxious, and despite returning home with Logan after riding for a couple of hours, Adam found himself out in the yard rolling around on his skateboard. The excess activity made it easier for him to fall asleep.

Sunday morning came as it always did: slow and quiet. This was his first Sunday since moving to this city that he'd have a meal that wasn't saved from yesterday. Adam lay in bed smiling; he really could get used to these comforts.

The time he'd spent on his own was no different than being at home. He had to find his meals for himself, figure out where to sleep, and above all, avoid getting caught. He had none of those worries here. Three meals a day, plus snacks, for free! His own room and bathroom. He had a soft, comfy bed and new clothes. He now knew what it felt like to wear clothes fresh from the store—clothes that were yours alone to wear and not someone else's used throw-outs.

Adam rolled over and checked his phone. There was still no message from Samantha. Whatever, she'll message him when she feels like it. Adam stretched one of those long, happy stretches that made waking up feel like a dream. He was happy right here and had no reason to get out of bed today.

The bed vibrated, then shook violently. The windows and drawers rattled, cupboard doors swung open, and closet doors creaked. Adam scurried under his bed, phone in hand. Maybe he shouldn't stay in bed all day...

Following the earthquake, Adam's phone buzzed nonstop. His new friends, save Sammy, were messaging him frantically.

"Adam?!" called Aurora anxiously from the doorway.

"Yeah."

"Where are you?"

"Under here." He said, waving his hand from under the bed.

"Come on out; let me take a look at you. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Adam said as he crawled out from under the bed.

Before he got to his feet, Aurora pulled him up into a suffocating hug. A minute later, Logan rushed to the door to check on them. No one in the house had any injuries. There were some minor damages to the house: a fallen painting, some broken dishes, a cracked window pane, and one of the columns at the front of the house shifted.

Apart from the quake in the morning, the rest of Sunday was quiet and dull. The family spent the day in idle comfort in the sitting room, talking, watching television, and playing board games.

His parents confided that there was a brunch they should have attended, but after the events at Friday's party, they opted not to.