Some parts of this chapter were written by the lovely LaurenLove18 ! I could not have finished this without your help so thank you! Please, please, please read her stories! <3
1 Halsey Path (Southampton) (Saturday,
April 10th, 2023) (10:47 AM) (Bella's Perspective)
I woke up to find myself in the basement. Elodie, Nathan, and Noah were gone. They're probably upstairs. With today being my adoption day, I have so many memories flowing around.
"Bella, look at what your godmother got you." My eyes widened at the sight of the bracelet.
"Do you like it?"
"Mhm! I love it so much! Thank you, Aunty Eve!" I spun around in my dress and giggled.
"Read what's engraved on the heart." I picked up the heart charm and read it.
"Remember to always stay sweet!"
"What does that mean?"
"It means that even when you begin to act like you're all that and think you're grown, to never change."
"Huh? I'm not all that and a bag of chips!"
Mom still reminds me to stay sweet to this day. I hope I'm doing a good job. I folded my blanket, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and went upstairs.
"Happy Adoption Day!" There were some balloons in the kitchen and there were tons of food for the party later. Nearly everyone was there spreading confetti and using those stupid wind blowers.
"Thanks, guys! What's for breakfast?"
"A lot of stuff! I helped cooked!" Leia stated. I kissed her.
"Come here, baby! You're so darn big!"
"Aww Mom, don't cry!"
"I'll try not to cry until later." I rolled my eyes playfully. We all sat down in the kitchen and talked as we ate.
"I remember her adoption day so clearly, Bella demanded chicken tenders as soon as we left the courthouse." Everyone giggled.
"Then after lunch with Aunty Amanda and Fin, we met up with you guys! The party was pretty awesome."
"And after the party, we had a sleepover." I nodded, feeling nostalgia from the stories.
"Hey, Bell! Happy adoption day!" Elliot said while kissing me.
"Thanks, El!" He had a wrapped present in tow and I couldn't help but smile.
"What's this?!" I asked while smiling.
"Open it!" Leia told me. I opened the carefully wrapped box to see a matching set of yellow gingham paper bag shorts and a cropped cami.
"Thanks, El! So when I was rambling about how I wanted this, you were listening?"
"Of course I was-"
"Yes, of course he was, you've been going on about it for the past 3 weeks!" Noah joked.
"Look, I was waiting for it to go on sale!" I hugged Elliot and thanked him again.
"Oh my goodness, it's 5 past 11 already, we need to start setting up outside soon."
*******************
437 Deer Lake Rd. (Easthampton, New York) (12:35 PM) (Jake's Perspective)
"Shit!" I muttered to myself. Bella's probably upset with me. For the past couple of days, I haven't been texting her much. It isn't because of her. You see, I sorta kinda got my phone taken away because I might've came home past curfew. Why was I late, you ask? Well-
I walked into the album shop nervously. This is completely new territory for me. I felt so out of place in here. I don't listen to k-pop but I know that Bella does occasionally. I'm not that fine-tuned in the world of pastels and "aegyo" but I do know that Bella likes this singer named IU.
"Good Evening, do you have any IU albums?" I asked. The cashier pointed to the rear of the store. I checked the time, 9:56. I'm going to be in trouble. I looked at the albums for a moment.
"Jake, you should listen to Lilac! It's really good." She offered me her AirPod.
"Sure, if you say so." She put down her book and watched me intently as I reacted to the song. It wasn't my favorite, so I put on a little show.
"You really like it?!" She asked.
"Yeah, it's cool."
"Me too. I wish I could get my hands the album though." She said with a bummed expression.
The store just so happened to have one more Lilac album.
I ran inside of the house and looked for Mom.
"Mom? I'm going to get ready for Bella's party. You said you'd drop me off." She looked up.
"Mhm. You can have your phone back by the way. The next time you come home late without explanation it's gone for a month." Yes! Let's just hope that Bella doesn't hate me.
************************
The Party Begins... (1 Halsey Path) (1:15 PM) (Bella's Perspective)
"Hannah, Paisley! You're here!" I ran up to my besties and hugged them.
"Hey!! Happy adoption day Bellz!"
"Thank you and thanks for coming! Let's go put your duffles in the basement and get this party started!"
"Hi, Hannah and Paisley!" Leia rushed up and gave them hugs.
"You're so cute! Are you doing good?!"
"Yep! My friend Stella is here! Bye!" She left as quickly as she came.
"She's so cute. My sisters miss her. They want a sleepover ASAP!" We rushed downstairs to the basement and chatted along the way.
"So apparently, Hilary isn't coming because she has to go away for a family thing. But how come she's knowing this last minute?! Aren't family things planned way in advance?" Paisley asked.
"They are! She's lying, I'm telling you!" Hannah said.
"What if she's being honest?" I asked.
"I doubt it! By the way, your outfit is so cute!" I was wearing the outfit Elliot gave me earlier. I don't know why, but it was giving me this sense of confidence that I don't usually have.
"Thank you! El gave me it!" I put my friends' belongings in a safe place and we headed back upstairs.
"Is the pool open?" I nodded eagerly.
"Yep! She warmed it up a bit, it's going to be awesome!"
"Bella, Juliette is here!" I heard Mom say.
"Julie? I'm excited to meet her! She seems so nice from what you've said." Juliette walked inside with her bag and smiled.
"Hi Bella, thanks for inviting me." She hugged me.
"Hi, Hannah and Paisley! Bella's told me a lot about you guys."
"Hey! Same here!" The three of them got on pretty well which makes sense considering we all like the same things.
"Bella confuses me because she still hasn't finished the episode! It isn't that bad!"
"Exactly! Bella's such a weirdo!" They joked. I rolled my eyes playfully and told them I was stepping away for a sec. I walked around our backyard, looking for my Mother or Aunt.
"Hi, Aunty Amanda!" I picked up Billie and kissed her.
"Hey, sweet pea, happy adoption day."
"Thank you! Hey, have you seen Mom?" I asked.
"I think she went over by the drink table babe." I thanked her and preceded to walk again.
"Mom? Aunty Eve?" I asked quietly. They were talking to Fin and Carisi with big grins and laughs galore.
"Hey, enjoying the party?"
"Yeah! It's just one little thing..." I said with my voice slowly drifting.
"What? What's wrong?" I looked back at Elodie, who was talking to my friends and I began to speak.
"Yeah, it's just that Jake hasn't said if he's coming and I really want him here."
"Do you want me to call his Mom?"
"No, erm I'd rather wait and be surprised."
"Bella, I've told you this several times, boys are useless. This instance just so happens to prove that. If he really cared he would've shown up, wouldn't he?"
"I guess you're right. I'm gonna go talk to my friends."
^^^^^^^^^^^
"Ashley...Ashley, I get hard when she walks past me!!" My friends and I chanted. We were having a blast jamming to the music.
"Because, she's thick!!" Jonathan attempted to twerk.
"Jon, what the hell are you doing?!" Ethan playfully shoved him and gave him a "proper tutorial".
"The cringe! Keep dancing like that and you'll break your back!" Kylie said.
"These boys are shameful, my goodness. I wonder why I became friends with you guys sometimes." Sapphire joked. We were having so much fun! We were joking, taking pictures, making memories, and mom was getting ready for our annual pool photo. While that was amazing, it would be ten times better if Jake was here. He'd love this. Part of me still thought that he was coming, and I just couldn't fathom the thought of him missing out.
"Everyone, we're going to take the photo in five minutes!"
***************
1 Halsey Path (2:15 PM) (Jake's Perspective)
I was nervous to see Bella. I had brought her the album. I just hoped that she would like it.
"Honey. I can tell that you're nervous. Just be yourself. I think she'll love your present." Mom was really reassuring. As we pulled up outside, she looked at me.
"Have fun. I'll see you soon." I got out, kissed her cheek, and made my way into the garden. Two of Bella's uncles started walking towards me.
"I'm Finn. This is Carisi. Do you really like Bella?" I nodded.
"I do. She's my friend." They laughed.
"We're just playing with you. Just don't mess her about.. otherwise, you'll have us to answer to." Her mom then waved at me.
"Hi, Jake. Were these two bothering you?" She then glared at them.
"No Mrs. Stabler." She then took me to find Bella.
"Hey, Bella." As she turned around, she smiled.
"Hey, Jake." Her mom smiled at her.
"Let's go and find the others." Spending time with everyone was lovely. I loved it. As Bella spent time with the girls, I spoke to the guys.
"Hey, Jake." Ethan hugged me.
"Hey. Did you want a drink?" I said yes.
"Here we go." As we chilled out, Ethan said that he could tell.
"Tell what?" I blushed.
"You and Bella. Just tell her that you like her already! The chemistry is so real between you two." I know that she had been through a lot... I just didn't want to be the one to hurt her feelings.
"I think it's best to see where things go. I'll continue being mates with her." She then walked towards us with the girls.
"Did you guys want some food?" We both said yes. "Let's go and get some then." Bella then smiled at me again. God, she was so pretty.
"Alright, it's time for the annual pool photo! Can everyone line up along the right side of the pool please?!" It took a while but eventually, almost all of the guests fit.
"Okay! Fin, is the camera ready?!"
"Almost!"
"Hey, Jake?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for coming." She said with a small smile.
"Alright! There are ten seconds on the timer!"
"5!"
"4!"
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"Happy adoption day!"
***********************
My Backyard (6:55 PM) (Bella's Perspective)
The party was beginning to wrap up. While I was sad, I had an amazing time and all good things have to come to an end."
"Bye, Evan! See you Monday!" I gave him a warm hug and he messed up my hair before leaving.
"Your hair is all sorts of crazy! Let me fix it." Juliette put my curls up into a bun as I covered myself in a towel.
"Thanks, girly!"
"Anytime. Leah, who's your favorite character from Dynasty?"
"Steven!"
"Why Steven? He's a bit annoying."
"Look, he's a nice guy and he always tries to see the best in people. I think that's pretty cute."
"Yeah, but that's what makes him naive." Sapphire pointed out.
"I think that's adorable! More to learn!"
"You are so weird," I said while playing with my ankle bracelet.
"This is why she gets harassed at every sleepover." Julie, Sapphire, Leah, Pais, and Hannah would be staying the night as Mom promised. The cherry on top of this whole ordeal. As I went to grab myself another drink, I felt a shadow behind me.
"Bella, can we talk?" I nodded. As mad as I was with Jake for hanging me out to dry, those warm eyes make all of those feelings evaporate. I took Jake to a secluded part of our backyard. We have our swing and treehouse there. When I need space, I usually go there.
"Hey, wanna go in the treehouse?" We climbed up and Jake looked fascinated with the art supplies, posters, and trinkets.
"Woah, this is awesome."
"Right? It's my safe space whenever Leia isn't wrecking everything." He laughed.
"Bell, I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for not texting you and talking to you as much these days. It isn't what you think, I promise."
"What is it then? I thought that if you liked someone you wouldn't ignore their texts and avoid talking to them at school. Do you even really like me?" I asked.
"Bella... I do like you. I like you a lot. It's just that I've been so busy and I haven't gotten the chance-"
"That sounds like a load of excuses. If you really care about someone you'd make time for them. You always make time for the guys." I noted. My eyes were starting to water a bit. Why am I crying? You know what, maybe Aunty Eve had a point. He stared at me blankly for a moment before I started to get annoyed.
"What's the real reason? Be honest, Jake." He pulled out a wrapped present from behind his back.
"You see, I got my phone taken when I went to get you this." I carefully tore it open. The Lilac album! I've wanted this for weeks.
"Jake...you didn't have to." My eyes began to tear up.
"What's wrong??! Did I get the wrong one?"
"No...I-it's perfect. Thank you." I hugged him. As my head rested on his chest I thought about how kind it was for him to get himself in trouble just to do this for me. He really does like me.
"Y-you're welcome." He said, stuttering. I swatted him.
"Oww! What the hell."
"You're really dumb! You had me crying. All you had to say was that you got grounded and I would've understood. You're a dumbass!" Jake laughed.
"If you're trying to be mean, you kinda suck at it to be honest." He claimed with a grin
"You won't be saying that when I-"
"Bella!! Mommy said to get your stinky butt down here and say goodbye to Aunty Eve and Uncle Niko!" I instantly let go of Jake and peered out the window to see Leia with Stella next to her. Way to ruin a good moment.
****************
The Entertainment Room (7:56 PM) (Leia's Perspective)
I was a little cranky because I couldn't have a sleepover with my friends, but Bella let me play with hers so I guess it's okay.
"Let's play Just Dance?"
"Which one?"
"Play the one with Let it Go in it!" Julie looked through the game shelf and picked out Just Dance 2015.
"Look, there's Let it Go."
"What else is there?" Leah asked.
"Happy, Birthday, Dark Hor-"
"Omg, yes!! Let's play right now!" I giggled at the way Sapphire said it and grabbed a Wii remote.
"You know, I'm the best at Just Dance. I can beat all of your butts and get 5 stars."
"Well, let's see about that!"
"Bella and Leia, Fin and Phoebe are about to leave!"
"Be right back guys!" We went upstairs to see Uncle Fin and Phoebe putting their jackets on.
"Thank you so much for coming! It means the world to me, really! It was nice to meet you too Phoebe." Bella gave her a hug and kiss before smiling. I dunno how I feel about Ms.Phoebe. If she and Uncle Fin get married it'll be different.
"Bye Uncle Fin and Ms. Phoebe. It was nice meeting you." I gave my Uncle a kiss and her a hug.
"Aww, you girls are sweet. Enjoy the night, okay?" We nodded and waved before going back downstairs.
"Do you like her?" I asked.
"I'm not sure yet."
"Me too."
"Oh my gosh, Leah sit down! You can't dance to save your life!" Bella and I laughed. Today was a really fun day! I think Bella had a good day too! She isn't moody or anything so that says something!