Adopted by Heathers: The Sequel

Volunteer Work

"It feels so weird to be here again. I haven't been here in so long." I said as Elle pulled into the parking lot of the children's hospital.

"Sunshine, what are you talking about? We came here last week to transfer your records over. Anyway, have fun, and I'll be here to pick you up at...what time are you done?" Elle asked.

"Five, I think. See ya, Mom!" I said, jumping out of the passenger seat and slamming the door.

This summer was gonna be a weird one. I was balancing volunteer work with my first summer job. Despite me being an adult and most kids my age having steady jobs by now, I waited until the very last minute to get myself a job.

I walked into the hospital and saw a bunch of teenagers. Some of them I recognized, I could pick out Ami, Veru, Emi, Cee, Lex, and a few others. And then I saw the short purple hair and the flannel.

"Fritz?" I asked. Fritz turned around and gasped. "Cat!" She ran up to me and hugged the life out of me.

"Hey, kiddo! How's life?" I asked. Fritz giggled and said, "Guess who is no longer straight or single?"

"Who are you dating, Fritz Marks?" I asked. A dirty blonde girl walked up to Fritz and I waved. "That's Zinnia Kennedy. My girlfriend. I met her here. Zinnia, that's Cat, one of my friends."

"Are you-" Zinnia asked, looking me over. I laughed, knowing exactly what she was going to ask.

"Elle McLemore's daughter? Yep." I said.

"No, gay." Zinnia said. "Though that's...awesome. You just give off the gay vibe."

"Yeah, I am." I said. Fritz rolled her eyes and said, "You're bisexual, you twit."

"Shut up." I said to Fritz, who pulled me aside.

"Uh...hey, there's something I need to tell you." Fritz said. She sighed and said, "I'm non-binary. My pronouns are they/them. I'm sorry!"

I hugged Fritz and looked into their eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Fritz Marks. I love you for the sweet, chaotic kid you are. And I heard you're a theater kid now?"

"Don't get them started!" Zinnia groaned from the corner. "Even though I'm the biggest theater nerd alive!"

"She isn't lying." Fritz said. And then we heard a crash from the corner.

"RORY!" all the children in the room yelled at the same time. A purple-haired kid emerged from a bunch of toys that were in a massive heap.

"Rory, get back here, now." a nurse said. Rory rolled their eyes and said, "Never," then darted off into the next room.

"I'm supposed to be in charge of them." Zinnia said. "We're all mostly in charge of one kid. Fritz's kid isn't here today, so they're just chilling. Wait...speaking of Rory...where did they go?"

"I wasn't paying attention!" Fritz said. "I'm getting a Gatorade. Zinnia, you're the head volunteer in charge now that Juliana's gone, go tell Cat where she needs to go. Cat, want me to get you a bag of chips?"

"Sure." I laughed. Zinnia came back, Rory in tow, and looked at her clipboard. "Cat...uh...you're with Phoebe Vincent."

Where have I heard that name before?

Zinnia pointed to a girl with caramel brown hair who couldn't look much older than eight or nine. I slowly walked over to her, and as I got a good look at her face, I realized I did know this girl. She was the blood condition girl I met way back when.

"Hey, Phoebe. My name is Catlynn." I said. Phoebe pulled at her pigtail and said, "Cat Lynn?"

That caught my attention. That was the same name Phoebe called me when she was just five. Either she remembered me, or she still didn't know my name was just one word. I sighed and said, "Uh...how are you?" I really did not know how to start a conversation with a kid nearly half my age.

"Good." Phoebe said softly. I sighed and then Zinnia ran over to me.

"Fritz gave me your phone number, I'll text you later." Zinnia said. "Gotta go!"

"What? They should've asked me first!"

"It's what they do! Bye Cat!" Zinnia said.

As the clock struck 4:45, I realized I didn't want the summer to end.

I had so much for me here, going away to college would be the hardest thing yet.

AN: Google Translated ABH has been so fun to write that I forgot to write an actual chapter! Sorry! Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!