Alive and Breathing (Adopted By Alex Gaskarth)

Chapter Twelve

Morgan
We got back to the venue. Fans were already all over the place as the gates opened at 8 am. Band members were left and right. The guys went back on onto the bus to get changed and ready up for their show. Sara said she was going to take a nap. I was worried about her. I know how overwhelming it can seem especially jumping right into this lifestyle but I know she's going to be okay. I was settled comfortably into my wheelchair hoping that I'd be able to have a lung transplant soon. I didn't feel ready to die right now. I wanted to live. But I could tell even with my oxygen on six liters a minute that my lungs were still trying to overcompensate.

"So, Morgan, I actually wanted to talk to you about something,"Andy said, stopping pushing me and crouching in front of me. "What's up?"I asked. "We've been working on doing this Adele cover of When We Were Younger and I was wondering if you would want to do a duet with me and the band?"Andy asked. " I can't sing..."I lied. "Really? Lying to me and yourself,"Andy asked, laughing. "How do you know? You haven't heard me,"I said sassily. "I have so. You don't have to do it if you don't want to but I'd absolutely love to do it with you. You're the perfect person for this! You only live once!"Andy said in an attempt to hype me up. I was afraid because to sing you have to be able to hold your breath and my lungs were already being shit.

My phone buzzed just then. I saw Andy trying to catch a glimpse but I knew it could be Lisa so I decided a good distraction. "I'll do it. But we have to practice some first! Gather the guys up. I'll wait here by our bus,"I said. As he walked away, I took that moment to check my phone.

"I get off in a few minutes and I'm gonna swing by my apartment to shower and change. Is there anything specific I should wear?"Lisa's text read. "Nope! Just be you! See you when you get here!"I replied. Suddenly, I was moving fairly quickly. I looked up behind me and found Sara with a goofy smile. "What's up?"I asked as I let out a laugh while band members jumped out of the way of my wheelchair. "Andy asked that I bring you to meet him! I'm gonna watch y'all rehearse!"she said. "Heck no!"I said, absolutely appalled and terrified. "Why not?"she asked. "Cause I'm nervous. I'm not that good,"I said. "You are so. If you're nervous in front of me then what are you going to do on stage?"she asked as a challenge. "It's different when it's strangers,"I answered. "You won't even know I'm there. You can do this Morgan!"Sara said with an unexpected burst of positivity.

We were almost to the Black Veil Brides bus when a boy was running, narrowly missed hitting me, and tripped, falling flat on his face. "Oh my god, are you okay?"I asked. As the boy sat up, I gasped as did he. "Morgan?"he asked. "No! You can't be here. No, no,no,"I said. Sara looked at me confused. He noticed this. "Pardon me, let me introduce myself. My name is Jakob and I'm Morgan's older brother,"Jakob said, holding out a hand for Sara to shake. She ignored his gesture and turned to look at me. "I thought you said you were abandoned on the firehouse stairs when you were nine months old?"Sara asked. "I was,"I said. The memories were all coming back.

"How is he your brother? I thought you were alone?"another voice spoke up behind me. I spun myself around to find Andy. "How much did you hear?"I asked. "Enough to know that you're a pathological liar,"he said, turning to walk away from me. "Andy, I can explain. Please, don't walk away,"I begged, eyes full of tears. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. But we should probably do this in private,"he said making a small gesture to look around. Sure enough, we caught attention from everyone around us. Andy led us to their bus. "The other guys went to grab some food. You were taking awhile to rehearse so I told them I'd find you. What the hell is going on, Morgan?"he asked. Jakob sat with his eyes downcast on the couch. Sara was sprawled across the dinner bench. Andy was standing in front of my wheelchair.

"He almost ran me over. That's what happened. No I'm not an only child, clearly,"I said. "Jakob was put into the same foster home as me when I was four years old. We bounced around homes together for six years. Growing up in foster homes, in the system, you grow up way faster than normal. Especially when you're chronically ill like myself. He was my only family. Unlike myself, he wasn't born with CF or any other illness. When I was ten, I was in the middle of a hospital admit for antibiotics for bacteria in my lungs when a family took interest in Jakob. He's six years older than me. He was sixteen. He was going to age out. But once he turned eighteen and got kicked out, he still had the chance to be adopted until he was twenty one. At eighteen he could withdraw me from the system as long as he had food, shelter, and a job. My foster family gave him the choice knowing that we were family and that they wouldn't be able to keep me which is obviously how Alex found me. Jakob decided to go. He forgot all about me, deserted me. I never heard from him again. No letters. No phone calls,"I said, tears rolling silently but endlessly down my cheeks.

"Morgan...I can never apologize enough. I want to make things right,"Jakob said. I refused to look at him. Andy put a hand on my shoulder, squatting down to look me in the eyes. Seeing the pain there that I'd hid down, deep inside me, he pulled me into his arms. And that's when my sobs broke loose. My phone buzzed. "Hey I should be there soon!"Lisa's text read. I send a thumbs up and smiley face, wiping at my face to get rid of the tears. "I'm going to go fix my makeup,"I said, not waiting for a response from anyone as I began my trip back to the bus.

A/N: woah! Two chapters in one week. Look at me go! Honestly though, let me know what y'all think! This story is far from over, I have so many ideas left. I hope you enjoyed. Much love!

B