Everything I Ever Wanted

Morning

'night night baby.' And with that I fell back asleep in the comfort of Lizzie's arms. She fell asleep shortly after me, taking a few extra moments to take in my adorable sleeping form. As a bonus, we didn't wake the twins so we wouldn't have to worry about that.
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Now:
It had been hours since I fell asleep again and i think it's safe to say this is the best and most I've ever slept. It was now nine in the morning and I could feel a soft hand rubbing my back. It started pulling me from my dreamless sleep and into the real world. I slowly opened my eyes adjusting to the now bright room. I looked up meeting the kind eyes of Lizzie, breaking her from what seemed like a trance. She had been watching me sleep for a while. It was evident in the way she admired my still sleepy form and with how awake she seemed. Why didn't she just move me off of her? Or wake me up? She smiled at me warmly when she realized I was looking at her. 'Good morning Bubba.' I just groaned in response burying my head back into her chest and curling further into the warmth her body emitted. (Side note: again with the big words. I know. But they're so fun to read and say.) Hold on did I just groan at her. Oh no. This is bad. She's gonna put me in the closet or take away my bathroom privileges. Or worse. She's gonna call Michael(side note: sorry to any Michael's out there it just felt fitting). I was internally scolding myself for making such a simple mistake but it didn't last much longer when I heard her release a small chuckle. 'I guess someone's not a morning person.' She guessed right. I hate mornings. They're awful. They just remind me of waking up from restless nights and staying up because I couldn't sleep or had a nightmare. There is nothing good about mornings. I just shook my head at her comment still snuggling into her. That is until she sat up pulling me with her. She scooted so her back was against the headboard and I stayed leaning against her with my head in her chest. I whined at the slight loss of comfort with the new position and the comforter having fallen off of us a little. 'I know you're tired princess. But if you sleep any longer you're never gonna wake up.' Ashley was right she really does call me something different every time she speaks to me. I mean I don't mind. All of the names are sweet and make me feel warm and cozy inside. It's just I assumed she was exaggerating when she mentioned it. 'I don't wanna wake up though. I'm still sleepy.' I protested in hopes she might change her mind. She sighed running her hands through my slightly tangled hair. 'How about this? If you get up now we can go get a late lunch at this place near the twins work and walk around a bit. It's really pretty over there.' I contemplated my options. Her offer was tempting considering the fact that for as long as I've lived in New York I haven't seen much aside from the same block of streets connections the school, orphanage, park, and grocery store. But I was still exhausted and knew that if I got up I'd never make it through the day. For most people they would just take a nap but I was never allowed. Plus, sleeping and me have never paired well together aside from last night. I leaned back a little to look at her. 'I want to, but I'm never gonna make it all day.' I said with a sad tone lacing through my words. She raised her eyebrow amusingly at me. 'Darling you know you can take a nap later right? If you're still sleepy after lunch or when we're out we can come home or go to the twins office and you can take a nap on the couch in Ashley's office.' 'Really?' I was totally surprised that it seemed so normal to her. 'Yes, really. If you're ever tired I'd much prefer you to nap than have to deal with a grumpy little girl. It's unhealthy to not get proper rest. So, what do you say?' I smiled at her.'Ok.' 'Great let's get dressed and have some breakfast. We can hang out for a bit.' Hearing the words get dressed reminded me that I had to go to the bathroom. Don't ask why I connected those two but it happened. I quickly got up and ran to the bathroom in her room barely having enough time to close the door before I sat on the toilet and did my business. I cleaned myself up and hopped off of the toilet letting out a small sigh of relief that I had realized before something happened. I wasn't used to sleeping in so late and talking for a while after I woke up. So, I forgot that I hadn't gone to the bathroom since I was at the orphanage. I went to wash my hands before I noticed that she had tall counters just like everywhere else in the apartment. I guess it makes sense. They are relatively tall and I'm not so it makes everything seem bigger than it actually is. Luckily for me Lizzie had followed me to the bathroom worried at how fast I got up. She knocked on the door. 'Evie, are you ok?' 'Yes... I think?!' I responded unsure of how to say I couldn't reach the sink and my hands were bandages up. 'You think? What's going on, sweetheart?' 'Uh, can you come in please?' I said making sure I was out of the way of the door. Shortly after the door slowly opened and she walked in. 'Baby, what's wrong?' I up at her remembering the previous treatments I got when I didn't make eye contact with adults. 'I had to go to the bathroom really bad, so I ran and did my business but I didn't realize how tall your counters are and now I can't wash my hands.' I explained worried for her reaction. 'Here let me help you. I need to check your injuries out anyways.' She lifted me up to sit on the counter and helped me wash my hands so I didn't mess with the bandages before she checked them. Then she gave me a towel to dry my hands while she reached into a drawer filled with first aid supplies to get similar supplies to last nights. 'Ok, you ready? I'm gonna take all the bandages off now.' I nodded my head in approval. She carefully pulled off all of the old bandages and I could see how much improvement the wounds had made in just one night. I don't know what ointment she used but it must be some magical treatment. 'Wow the scrape on your cheek is practically gone just a little mark and your hands look good enough to leave free of bandages. Do they hurt?' I looked at them and moved them a bit. 'No, they feel great.' 'Good. They weren't too bad I just didn't want them to get infected last night so I wrapped them up and now they look great just have to finish healing. As for your knees, they're still banged up quite a bit so we'll put some more ointment on and some new bandages and I think you'll be pretty much good to go.' I agreed with her and she put some fresh ointment on my knees before bandaging them up and making sure everything else was good. When she finished, she helped me off the counter and told me to go change while she did the same. I didn't have much to choose from so I changed to my cleanest outfit and walked back out meeting Lizzie in the kitchen, fully dressed in some jeans and a simple shirt. 'How does some yogurt and berries sound for breakfast?' She suggests while rummaging through the fridge for something simple. 'That sounds really nice.' 'Ok, great. I'll get this ready if you wanna go pick out a movie or something for us to watch.' She tells me while pulling out two bowls from the cupboard. Truthfully I've only seen the movies they show at school or if I'm lucky part of one from the orphanage. Normally if a movie was being watched at the orphanage, it was either the older kids saying I'm too young to watch it, me being punished for doing nothing, or being told to do chores. I walked over to the living room finding the remotes on the table. I was already confused enough by the fact I was allowed to watch something and now pick it, that seeing the five different remotes did not help. I didn't want to pick one a turn on something I shouldn't so I just waited for Lizzie to come. Sure enough she walked around the couch with two bowls and sat them down on the coffee table. She looked up at the TV confused to find it still off. 'Why didn't you pick something?' I debated saying something like I'd rather just talk or I don't even know what, but I can't lie. Like I'm really bad at it. 'I didn't know which remote to use so I waited for you.' 'Oh, well you could've just asked but I guess that works too.' She reached over and picked up a skinny and smaller remote from the pile and turned on the TV. 'Just so you know now, it's the one with a feint arrow on the bottom(if you've ever seen a fire stick remote it's that). The big one is for stereo/sound system, the gray one goes to the DVD player, the medium one is for fake candle lights on the mantle and the one that looks like a tablet is for the lights. If you ever forget just ask. It's not a problem even the twins and I mix them up sometimes.' 'Oh, I never would've gotten any of those.' I giggle a bit. She laughs a little with me. 'You'll figure it out eventually, so what are we watching?' ' I have no idea. I haven't really seen any movies outside of the polar express, the grinch, the Lorax, and the Lion King.' I say casually. I guess I never realized how crazy that is for someone my age. So I was not prepared for- 'What?! You're telling me you've only seen four movies and none of them are Disney princess movies or marvel.' 'I mean yeah. I don't know.' 'That's insane. We are gonna have to have a movie day to watch all the classic Disney movies. And all of the marvel movies and Disney princess movies are their own day. This is kind of amazing because we'll get to see all these movies with you for the first time but also means we have a lot of catching up to do. Although it does explain a lot.' She rambled completely taken back by my lack of movie knowledge. 'What do you mean?' 'Evie, do you remember how the kids at the orphanage were going a little crazy when we showed up and how nice the lady was being with us? Or how we drive a black car and the twins wear sunglasses inside it since they sit up front?' 'Yeah' 'Well the twins and I are sorta famous. The twins used to act a lot when they were younger and people loved them. Now they don't act but they are fashion designers because that's what they love to do. But I'm an actress. I act in all sorts of things and I'm most known for my role in marvel, since it's a very big company. So, when we go out people will recognize us and take pictures or ask questions and it can be overwhelming. I just want you to understand so later you'll see why I'm protective of you when we go for lunch and our walk.' 'Are they gonna take pictures of me and ask me lots of questions?' 'Unfortunately a part of fame means the media and everyone wants to know what's going on in your life and be a part of your business so yes. People are gonna want to take pictures of you and ask you questions, but I want you to stay close to me and not answer anyone. I wish we didn't have to make you deal with this but we don't really have a choice, so now we just have to protect you when it comes to interactions like these.' 'It's ok. I don't mind it if I get to stay with you.' She smiles at me. 'What did I say last night? You're stuck with us now, but I'm still gonna try to make it easier. Now how about we watch Finding Nemo. I think it's a good place to start.' 'Sure.' I sit up in a better position when she hands me my bowl after starting the movie. As I'm eating the yogurt , I can't help but realize how good of a cook she is. Even though all she's made me has been simple dishes, they're still so delicious. I finish my yogurt a couple minutes after her as I'm a slower eater and it was as really light breakfast. I reach down to set my bowl on the table and almost fall off the couch but Lizzie catches me and pulls me back. 'Woah there. Be careful.' 'Sorry. I'm ok.' I sit back watching the movie intently and can't help but find myself slowly inching closer to Lizzie. And as predicted by the time the movie was halfway done, I was tucked into her side with one of her arms wrapped around me. I was carefree. I was comfortable. For once I wasn't worried about how I was gonna be treated or what was gonna happen to me. I was just able to be a kid watching a movie with their mother? parent? Aunt? Guardian? I don't know. I'm not sure yet. But it felt relaxing and most importantly safe. And that's how we spent the rest of our morning watching Finding Nemo cuddled up on the couch.

A/N: Ahh! My uploads are getting a little closer together. Anyways I made this chapter a little longer since the last one was so short. Also, I have the worst migraine and have so much work to catch up on in school since I missed a week from being sick. I'm also doing high school soccer right now so I have no time. But I didn't proofread this since it's one in the morning and I frankly don't have the energy. But enjoy.
Love,
EJ