Hi - I want to apologize for not writing for so long!! School ended so I have more down time but so far summer has been so hectic! I promise this time I'll be better! So i'm going to post two chapters! Enjoy :)
AMELIA'S POV:
I have been tossing and turning all night just thinking about going back to school tomorrow. I told Lena I feel better to sleep in my own bed for now. I toss to the other side of the bed, facing the clock. 2:12am. I sighed and got up to grab a glass of water from downstairs, hoping it would make me tired. I quietly opened my bedroom door and tiptoeing downstairs.
As I was gulping down my water, I heard footsteps approaching. I freaked out and thought it was Stef or Lena but was relieved when I saw Jesus.
"What are you doing up?" He rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"I should be asking the same question to you." I passed him a glass and the pitcher of water and watched him pour some for himself. "Come sit with me." He said, walking towards the corner area of the kitchen.
"Why?"
"I just want to talk to you."
"Okay..." I hesitantly sat down.
"Jeez don't act all creeped out. I jus wanna tell you a little story." He chuckled. "So it was freshman year and I think it was like the second day of school. I had no idea where I was going all day. I didn't know where my classes were and I looked like a freaking lost puppy." We both laughed. "Anyways, I really had to pee and so I got up and asked my teacher if I could use the bathroom. She said yes so I tried to find the nearest bathroom because I really had to go. I finally found the bathroom and I ran in. Turns out, I ran right into the girls bathroom."
I bursted out laughing, covering my mouth trying not to be too loud.
"Hey shh!! Were not even at the good part yet." He smiled.
"Alright keep going."
"Okay so there I was -- little freshman Jesus ready to pee his pants standing in front of four girls who were reapplying their makeup in front of the mirror. I was humiliated. I had two choices in front of me. I could either, run out and try to find the nearest boys bathroom... or I could run into the stall and let out the pee I had in me for too long."
At this point I was trying to hard not to burst out into laughter, tears came down my eyes because it was so funny.
"Wanna know which one I chose?"
"Y-Yes!" I snickered
"Well...lets just say that I get horrific flashbacks every time I walk past that certain girls bathroom."
Now I couldn't hold it in anymore. I haven't laughed this hard in such a long time. "Wait let me get this straight," I said in between laughing, "You actually went pee in front of those girls in their bathroom?!"
"You bet your ass I did."
"Okay this was a really funny story Jesus and it truly made me laugh. But why are you telling me this? Especially at like 2:30 in the morning?"
Jesus didn't answer my question when I asked, he simply went on with the story that I thought ended. "So after I, you know, was finished in the stall, I washed my hands and went back to class. Within one class period, what I did was roaming all over the school. I was known as "the kid who likes to pee in girls bathrooms". It was embarrassing don't get me wrong..but Amelia," He stopped and met my gaze. "It all blew over in less than a week. Everybody stopped talking about it. Something else exciting or interesting happened and they stopped talking about me."
"Yeah well I'm not sure that that's gonna happen with me." I scoffed. "And how did you find out what those girls said about me?"
"This family shares everything. And I like to know whats going on with my little sister."
Before I knew it a tear was running down the cheek of the left side of my face. "Hey. Hey Ami please don't cry what's wrong?" He put his arm around me, allowing me to rest my head on his shoulder. I quickly wiped the tear off my face and sniffled. "Are you sure that it's going to blow over? I really need people to forget about this."
"I totally believe it's gonna die down. Trust me if me peeing in the girls bathroom died down... this will totally blow over."
We tiptoed upstairs and headed for our rooms. Jesus said goodnight and gave me a loving hug and told me to get some sleep. I laid in my bed no longer feeling nervous about tomorrow.
AMELIA'S POV:
"Good morning, my love." Stef whispered to me as I slowly opened my eyes from sleeping.
"Uggghhhhh."
"I know, I know but you gotta go to school and learn new things babe!!" She said way too loud for me to register.
"Shhh..." I put my finger against her lips. "I'm not much of a morning person." I whispered. "Clearly!" She laughed. "Come on, Lena's making pancakes for all of us."
That instantly woke me up. I jumped from my bed and rushed downstairs as I heard Stef laugh at my action. I made my way to the kitchen and sat down in my usual spot, waiting for the delicious pancakes. Lena had her back facing me, flipping pancakes and humming. She turned around and jumped.
"Oh! You scared me honey. You waiting on pancakes?"
"Mhm!"
"You're in an awfully good mood for a Monday morning." She said as she handed me a plate of pancakes.
"After all the crap I've gone through I'm trying to be positive about today. So yeah maybe I'll get made fun of tomorrow but I just know its going to blow over." Lena came over and gave me a kiss on the head and cupped my face. "That is a wonderful way to look at it sweets. I'm proud of you."
The whole family ate breakfast together and piled in the car to head to school.
It was already third period and I've gotten a few stares but nothing more. The girls who tormented me on Friday were no where to be found. During my free period, I decided I would spend it in the auditorium.
Thankfully, no one was in there so I put my backpack down and plugged in my phone and turned the volume to low sound, trying not to bother anyone who was in class. I started practicing for dance auditions that were after school today. Mariana told me that it was going to be an upbeat jazz combination. I played one of my favorite songs, Feeling Good by Michael Bublé and I start stretching and dancing, hoping that I can practice enough to get on the Dance Team.
Before I knew it, the school day was over. The bell rang and I walked over to my locker to retrieve my books and was ready to head to Lena's office before going to the dance team audition when someone tapped on my shoulder.
"Hi. You're Amelia, right?" A redheaded girl questioned. She looked familiar, but everyone was still new to me.
"Yeah. Hi."
"I'm Riley! I think you're in my Biology class? You have Mr. Sears, right?'
"Y-Yeah, yeah fourth period."
"Right! Yeah I'm in your class. I was wondering if you wanted to work on that project that we have assigned. I was going to ask you at the end of class but I couldn't catch you."
"Oh! Yeah sure I'd love to!" I instantly smiled when she asked me.
"Okay great! Next class I think he'll explain more about what the project is and stuff but I'm excited to work with you!"
"You too! Bye." I smiled as she walked away.
My mood shot from decent to incredibly happy.
"Come on in!" Lena said after I knocked on her door.
"Oh! Hi, my love. What brings you here?" She placed her pen down and rose from her chair to sit on the couch with me. "Just killing some time until I have to go to the gym for tryouts." I sighed, "I'm so nervous I could practically throw up."
"Oh well don't do that!" She joked. "Honey you will kill those tryouts," She placed her hands on my knees, "I know it." She winked.
"Oh and I made a friend! Well, at least I think so. She asked me to work on our biology project that we have. It sounds stupid but I'm hopeful and excited about it"
"That's great honey! And it's not stupid, I'm glad you told me!" She gave me that sweet, maternal look that gave me a warm and safe feeling. I looked at the clock, "I gotta go! I can't be late." She quickly gave me a kiss on the cheek before I could rise to go out the door. "Good luck baby! You're going to kill it!"
"Thanks Mama--I mean.. Lena. Lena. Sorry." And I flew out the door. Completely embarrassed that I called her that. I'm not her daughter. I can't call her that.
LENA'S POV:
My heart skipped a beat when I heard Amelia call me "Mama". That finally meant she was warming up to us and could see her being with us forever. Hearing that word come out of her mouth made me feel like I am doing something right. I picked up my phone from my desk and dialed Stef's number.
"Hi my love."
"She called me 'Mama' "
"What? Who did?"
"Ami!"
Stef gasped, "Aw honey! That is so good to hear? What made her say it?"
"She came to my office before dance tryouts and I told her good luck and she said it. Stef, I want to ask her if we can adopt her." I confessed, taking a deep breath after.
"Hold on Lena. As much as I want to adopt Ami, were just getting started with the charges with Patrick and the trial. I think if we asked her now it might put even more stress on her."
I sighed, "You're right. I just wish she was officially ours already. I don't even know if she wants to stay with us forever."
"Lena honey." Stef replied in a comforting tone, "She called you 'Mama' , she loves you just as much as Mariana, Jesus, and Brandon do."
"I know..Hey, I'm going to go watch the dance tryouts; I'll call you later?"
"Of course, love. I love you."
"I love you too."
AMELIA'S POV:
After that embarrassing moment with Lena. I now had to try out for the dance team. I was so nervous I was shaking. I walked into the gym where Mariana and her friends were sitting at a table with sign up sheets.
"Hey Ami!!" Mariana leaned over the table to give me a hug.
"Here." She handed me the sign up sheet, "Write your name and grade here, okay? I'll go grab you a name tag with your number. She rose and went to the side of the gym where she put the name tags. One of the girls who was also sitting at the table looked up at me,
"Hi! You must be Mariana's little sister. I'm Jess." She reached out and shook my hand.
"Foster sister, yeah, hi."
"Do you dance regularly?"
"Uhh.. No, I-I haven't actually taken a class in a while."
"Oh," She shot a look at the other girl sitting with her, "Well that's okay! I'm sure you'll be great." She smiled.
Mariana finally came back with my name tag and stuck it to my leotard. "You're all set! You can take a seat on the bleachers with the other girls."
I sat down next to a girl with blonde hair and hair tightly in a bun, looking like a Rockette. Meanwhile, my hair was in a loose pony. I looked like a mess, I thought to myself. I quickly wrapped my hair in a bun to make it look a little more presentable. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lena standing in the door way coming into the gym. Ugh. As if I didn't already embarrass myself enough in front of her.
"Hi ladies! Welcome to the dance team. My name is Mariana Foster and I'm one of the assistant coaches along with my friend Lexi and this is the head coach, Jess."
"Hi ladies, I'm Jess!" She laughed awkwardly, "I know this might be scary and this may be the first time you're auditioning for something, and if you don't make it, please don't be discouraged! Try out next year and the year after that! Never give up."
And with that, try-outs begun.