Good and evil

The week after

(This is going to be a random chapter by the way. Hope you enjoy!)

1 week later*
Well it was one week after Brooklynn had called me mommy. Here's the update
•CPS arrested Brooklynn's mom
•I've graduated from high school and so has Ethan (during the ceremony Brooklynn stood up and screamed "you go mommy!")
I woke up to a small body next to me crying and shaking. I'd gotten used to Brooklynn waking up once a night after having a nightmare about someone beating her at her old house. I checked the time, my phone said 6:34 am. It was light out but I still didn't want to get out of bed. I pulled my phone off the charger and looked at my calendar to see if I had anything to do today. There was only one thing: Take Brooklynn shopping from 11:00 to 4:00. I better get ready. I'm going to shower. I take off my clothes and play the music off my phone. I sit there and think back to the phone call Tanya and I had with CPS
CPS: Hello, this is CPS how may I help you?
T: I think I've found a missing child.
CPS: Name, age, where did you find them?
A: Brooklynn Carlton, 4, a bus stop near her home
CPS: What's your address? We'll send an officer to your home.
A: 173 Cottage road. Apt. 36 (sorry if this is anyone's actual address)
CPS: Thank you. We'll be right over.
When they came to the apartment they visited her home. They burst on the door to a woman about 23 years old and some guys. They assumed the woman was her mother. They arrested her and the men. They started an investigation, but told us there wasn't much they could do. They asked Brooklynn lots of questions. They even did a lie detector test. Turns out her mom and her "buddies" were beating her and doing drugs around her. They asked Tanya and I if we'd like to adopt her. Tanya didn't feel like she was responsible enough to be a legal guardian for another child so they went to the next best option. Me. I didn't want to say no but then again I didn't want to say yes. I said "Give me a week to think about it." That week is up today. I'm going to the court house to sign the documents today. The documents to say yes. I'm going to be Brooklynn Maya Carlton's legal guardian. We are still going to live with Tanya and Brooklynn understands that I'm not her mom I'm just her well watcher. I get out of the shower and get dressed in a simple outfit. I walk back to my bedroom that I've been sharing with Brooklynn these past few days. I set out her clothes that we bought the other day because she's been wearing the same thing for 4 days. I walk over to the bed and shook Brook lightly "Brooky wake up, time to get up." It was 8:00 am. Sure a little early to get up for a summer day, but we had to be at the courthouse by 9:30. Plus it's a 30 minute drive from here. "I'm up, Ava." She goes into the bathroom to get dressed. I suddenly get a text from Ethan. It says:
"Hey, my cousins and I were going to go to the Twins baseball game tonight at 7, but one of them got sick. So I was wondering if you and Brooklynn would like to be my dates?"
Jeez, how do I respond to that.
"We're going to be out till 4 but if you'd like to pick us up around 5:30 that'd be great! I'm sure Brooklynn would love to get out of the apartment too."
"Great! See you around then!"
Looks like we are going to be out all day then.
I look at the time. 8:45 am. "Brooky time to brush your hair than go!" "Ok! Miss Ava!" I throw my shoes on and give Brooklynn her shoes. It's about 8:55 by the time we get in the car. Just so you know we did get her a car seat. We sing out loud (terribly off tune as well) to GDFR by Flo Rida. We pull into the parking lot and got out of the car. I walk in and see a short haired blonde sitting behind the counter. I walk up to the counter and say "Hello, I'm Ava Collins. I have an appointment with a lawyer his name is James Martin." "Okay. He'll be out to see you in a second.", the blonde said rudely. It was now 9:35 and he still wasn't out. Brooklynn is coloring in her book when I start to drift off into a thought. When Ethan said Brooklynn and I are going to be his "dates" did he mean like accompanies or the actual dates? "Ava Collins?", Mr. Martin breaks me free of my thoughts. "Right here! Come on Brook." I walk into his rather small office and sit down in a chair, Brooklynn sitting down next to me. "Ah hello Miss Collins, I assume you are here to sign the adoption forms?" "Yes sir." "Alright here they are.", he said pulling out several papers from a draw. I take them from him and place them on the desk, pen in hand. "Alright, initial here, name here and here, and initial her and her. Then she is yours and only yours." "Alright.", I sounded a little unsteady but I was ready to become her guardian. I sign my last set of initials. "Congratulations, she is now your daughter." I walk out skipping, with a giant smile on my face. We go to the mall of America. We walk in and go right to Gymboree. "Hey Ava?" "Yes Brook?" "I have a question." "And it is?" "About your shirt, do you actually like food?" "Yes I like food silly." "Oh it's just you're so skinny." I shrug it off, she's 4 what does she know. It's about 3:40 and we've bought lots of stuff with my graduation money, plus we've already had lunch. Brooklynn's tired and needs a nap before we go to the Twins game. We head home and Brooklynn falls asleep on the couch. I go and put all the stuff away. We each got a shirt to wear to the game. I set our game outfits out on the bed. I get together a bag filled with my phone which was now fully charged, my wallet, an extra set of shorts for Brooklynn (just in case), a blanket, and a sippy cup full of juice. I watch tv for a little bit. I look at the time 4:45, I should start to get ready and wake Brooklynn up soon. I quickly get dressed and woke Brooklynn up. It was 5:15 and I heard a knock on the door. "Hello, princess Brooklynn and miss Ava!", Ethan said as I opened the door. "Tattoo man!", Brooklynn ran to the door and attached herself to his leg. "Hello Ethan.", I say. "Hey tattoo man, look me and Ava are twinsies!" "Yeah you two are!" "Well, let me turn off the tv and grab the bag, then we can go." "Alright sounds good."

*In the car*
"Ava?" "Yes baby?" "How much longer?" "We'll be there soon, then you'll see some baseball players!" "Really! I can't wait! Thanks daddy for bringing us!" Ethan looks at me nervously, obviously not knowing what to say. I just shrug. "You're welcome pumpkin.", he says.

*at Target Field*
Ethan parks the car in the car park. Brooklynn is the first one out of the car. As soon as Ethan and I are out of the car she grabs Ethan and I's hands. We walk down the stairs and onto the sidewalk of downtown Twin Cities. We walk up to the front gates. Ethan hands me and Brooklynn each our ticket. Our ticket checker person was an older woman probably 50. Ethan went first, followed by Brooklynn, then finally me. As the lady is checking the bag she whispers to me "You have a beautiful family. Treasure your little one though they grow up fast." "I will thank you." "Where's our seats?" Now I assumed they were up around the middle but when I stopped and Ethan and Brooklynn kept walking to the very first aisle, I gasped. I showed the guard my ticket and he directed me towards my seat I was sat right in between Ethan and Brook. "Ava.", Brooklynn whispered to me quietly. "Yes Hun?" "Can we take a picture with him?", she said pointing to omg Brian Dozier. "Yeah sure totally." I tap Ethan on the shoulder and say "Brooklynn wants a picture with him, can you ask him?" "Yeah sure." Once he gets Dozier to our seats, we ask for a picture and he says sure. We snap a picture and say hello. "Thank you so much mommy and daddy!" "You're welcome baby." The game is starting in about 20 minutes so I decide I'm going to take Brooklynn up to go to the bathroom before it starts. "Let's go to the bathroom quick ok?" "Hmm okay." I take her hand and race her up the stairs. We each take a stall and wash our hands when we're done. We race back down the stairs and back to our seats just in time to see the first pitch. "Why did he walk back the that little hole over there?", Brooklynn asked me. "Because he's out. Don't worry he'll be back." "Oh ok."

*7th inning*
It was the seventh inning and surprisingly Brooklynn had only gotten up once. Her mind was focused on the game and so was Ethan's. Brooklynn was sitting on Ethan's lap and they looked....... Similar. All of a sudden I heard a "Heads up." And something land right by my feet. I pick it up and see that it's a foul ball. I hand it to Brooklynn and she says "Thank you, this is the best parents and Brooklynn day ever!" the inning is now over and it's time for the 7th inning stretch. First it was the song Take me out to the ballgame, then the YMCA, then Kids Cam (Brooklynn got on by the way), the. Kiss cam. Ethan and I both sat down for this seeing as we aren't together. People around us started to chant "Kiss, Kiss!" Even Brooklynn. We looked at the big screen and sure enough we were on. No this can't be happening. We looked at each other and leaned in. Our lips touched and sparks honestly flew. We heard cheers and "awes". We pulled away and just smiled at each other.

*after the game*
We walked out happily, but I was still confused. Are Ethan and I together or not? Brooklynn fell asleep in the car. I stared out the window the whole ride back and Ethan just drove. Not a word was exchanged. Ethan pulled up to the apartment building and I got out and got Brooklynn. "Bye.", Ethan said. "Bye." "I'll text you later." "Yeah okay." I put Brooklynn on the bed and I pull off her shorts and then mine. I lay down next to her. I'm so confused. It's my final thought before I pass out. It's been a long day.

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Hello Lovelys! This is a really long chapter so I'm going to keep this part shorter. Here's the part some of you have been waiting for. They actually kissed! I however didn't want them to get together just yet. But you never know. I'm watching the Grammys! Who else is? Please check out the outfits. I made them on polyvore. Anyway. Peace out lovelys! Love you all!

Qotd: Twerking or Grinding?
Aotd: Grinding.

^_^ Hannah