It seemed Duncan realised he had been waffling but she offered a small smile, "It's fine." She assured him, "Adam told me I was going to Albuquerque Academy. I have an interview with the heads of departments on Wednesday, my timetable has been submitted from my old school, with luck it won't be hard to accommodate." She stepped further into the garden, letting the feel of the grass and wind wrap around her, they were here for fruit right? "I don't mind busy classes, though it will be nice to focus on the work." She wasn't much into popularity contests, she'd been popular of course, first for her looks and second for her parents. It would be strange starting at a new school, starting fresh but it wasn't something she had given too much thought too. 

"Me?" She asked, when he asked about her, she shrugged and moved to one of the heavy laden trees, her fingers toying with one of the large, soft fruits. "I like to sing, history, art and travel I guess." She gently twisted the fruit to lift it free of the branch without putting pressure on the already heavy branches. "I moved states, Uncle Adam moved across state though." She said gently, "My mum and dad are going through a divorce, it's messy and the arguments are... constant." She sighed lightly and lifted the fruit to smell the freshness of its skin, she hated lying, she was good at it, but she hated it. "So I ran away, Uncle Adam took me in but he was living in a one room apartment. He came to an arrangement I guess and got us here. I'm sure he's probably angry with me for it, he's had to change jobs and house." 

Gesturing to the fruit, "They smell great, are they organic or do you use pesticides?" She asked, changing the topic away from her and her faux life, she was still getting used to being called Isla.

++++++

Duncan's father continued on and Adam nodded lightly, "Yeah, don't get it myself, all those apps and snap chats and facebook. Far too much hassle for my liking." Again the heavy subject of Duncan's past came up and Adam remained quiet, relieved for the butlers interjection. "Oh don't worry at all miss, honestly I should have mentioned to you how I like it." He stated with a friendly tone, taking the tray from her and placing it on the workbench. Adam didn't like butlers, not personally, but found it awkward watching people serve others. Always started with good intentions and lead to some of the darkest parts of history, "Though for reference I like it strong, black, with two sugars. I'm not sophisticated enough for the other stuff." He teased himself, putting a couple of cubes in and stirring it before straightening up again. "Good work in the garden by the way miss." He took a sip and looked overjoyed, "Oh man, that hits the spot, I haven't had good coffee in two days."

He turned his attention back to Mr. Miller and nodded lightly, "Ah, I see. Better safe than sorry though right?" When he went on about him getting married he shuffled uncomfortably, "Ah don't know if that's a viable option really." He said lightly, not while [b]his[/b] Mister Miller was missing, Samantha needed him and the murders of Ceila were out there. besides how would he meet a kid anyway? Still he grinned lightly and nodded along, "Ah yeah, had a girlfriend like that. She could burn cornflakes." He said with a laugh.

When the topic turned to the school he relaxed a little, leaning back on the workshop table and nodding lightly. "Crime is always a problem, in my experience even when people say there isn't any, there usually is, somewhere." He winked lightly and took another sip of the coffee, "Heard good things about this place though. One of the lowest crime rates in America, great schools, good opportunities for Isla." He took a moment to enjoy the smell of the coffee, this family had been happy to over share so... "See, her mum and dad are going through a divorce, messy business. Poor Isla is stuck in the middle of it, having to listen to the arguments, watch the fights. It's no where for a kid really. One day she just turned up, suitcase packed in tears." He sighed lightly and shook his head, "The trouble that got me in... eventually though the lawyers and they agreed that it was better she stay with me for a while. You can't keep a teenage girl in a one room apartment though so. Here we are." He said, straightening up and drinking half the cup. [i] If only that were true.[/i]

"As long as Duncan doesn't mind, I think Isla's more nervous than she lets on about going back to school. She lost her whole life coming here with me. She doesn't know anyone here... and your boy seems to have taken a shine to her." He said, neither happy nor upset about the fact, he couldn't tell which way he leaned. On the one hand Isla needed a friend, more now than ever but on the other she had just turned sixteen and didn't need a boy to distract her from work. Duncan seemed nice and all but he was older and clearly he had some very high expectations. 

"Food? Just some basics, nothing fancy, we'll go shopping properly tomorrow while the decorators are in sorting out the house." He said, though he filed the Wal Mart information for later. "That sounds like a good idea, I'd be happy to get Duncan if needs be, give Masumi a break now and then. Would be nice to have a back up in case I'm stuck somewhere for Isla too. Don't put yourselves out though, we can manage, last two days we've had take out and garage shop food." He laughed lightly and shook his head, "Can't believe they let me keep her, reckon its more she looks after me to be honest."