"Adopted By" Oneshots!

Happy Pride! (Part 1)

(AN: Part 1 contains Catlynn, Matilda, Valerie, and Josie! Part 2 contains Keira, Penney, Clementine, Tripler, and Miriam. And for the first time ever, this is going to be a 3 part oneshot! Happy Pride!)

Books: All of them! 
Year: 2022 

Catlynn's Age: 21
Matilda's Age: 20
Valerie's Age: 13
Josie's Age: 16

Catlynn

"Hey, babe. Wake up, it's June 1st." Red said, gently shaking me awake. I groaned and went back to sleep for a bit before Red's words started to sink into my brain.

It was June 1st. The start of Pride Month. 

When I was a kid, I hated Pride. Everyone at school was able to be out and proud, but I couldn't for so long because I was scared of my family hating me or kicking me out for being bi. But I came out almost a year ago, and now I could officially celebrate my first Pride out of the closet. 

And that was the most amazing feeling I've ever felt.

I smiled as I realized that Red had left the room. That girl- always sneaking away to plan a surprise for me, God, I love her. While Red was off doing whatever she had planned, I took my bisexual pride flag off the wall and tied it around myself like a cape. I didn't own many Pride-themed things, just my flag and my Converse, but I decided to wear what I did have with pride.

"Hey. Kit." Red said from behind me. I turned around and was met with the most beautiful sight- Red decked out in full Pride wear. She was wearing a rainbow shirt, a lesbian pride necklace that I had given her for Christmas this past year, a rainbow ribbon keeping her ponytail in place, a pair of rainbow leggings, and her lesbian pride Converse. 

"Kit, you need water? You're blushing up a storm there."

"Come on, Red, stop. You know I'm blushing cause you're the most beautiful girl in the world and seeing you wearing rainbow makes me so happy don't get me wrong everything you wear makes me happy cause you make me happy and you're so beautiful and I'm-"

I was cut off by Red kissing me. She knew how much I love surprise kisses.

"Happy Pride, you dork. I love you."

Matilda

Today was June 1st, one of the best days of the year.. and the worst for a different reason. 

By a sudden coincidence, my best friend Lex's birthday fell on June 1st, and she died the month before her Sweet Sixteen. So seeing my friends celebrate Pride Month always hurt a little, because the first Pride after Lex and I were both out, when we were fourteen, we went to our first Pride Parade together to celebrate Lex's birthday.

But every single Pride after Lex died, I've always had to remind myself that Lex loved Pride. She would've hated seeing me cooped up in my room during the best month of the year. I know damn well that if she was here today, she would've knocked on my bedroom door and dragged me out of bed to take part in all the joy and festivities.

So I did what Lex would've wanted me to. I got out of bed and put on my signature Pride shirt, tying off my braids with rainbow ribbons instead of my normal hair ties, slipped on my skates (with rainbow laces, I added those laces months ago and don't regret it one bit), and skated off to my dad's apartment.

I took a deep breath when I reached my dad's front door, softly knocking on it. Five seconds later, my dad opened the door, looking surprised to see me.

"Hey, Dad." I said, giving Grey a hug. "Happy Pride, I missed you."

Grey hugged me tighter and kissed my head. "Happy Pride, Tilly. I missed you too, I know today's kind of a hard day for you. I know you're hanging out with your friends tomorrow to celebrate, but do you want to just hang out today and enjoy each other's company?"

I smiled and took my skates off, leaving them at the door. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Valerie

"Happy Pride, Daddy!" I squealed, wearing my ombre pansexual pride dress that I wore to every single formal event I went to. Today wasn't anything formal, it was just June 1st and I was planning on going out for a casual lunch with my girlfriend. 

My dad walked out of his bedroom and scooped me up in his arms. "Happy Pride, ValSal. You're wearing your dress!"

I giggled as George set me down on the ground. "Yeah! I just need to wait for Reed to get here, we're going out for lunch once she comes! She's probably gonna show up dressed in all rainbow looking like the dorky gay disaster she is."

"You love that girl, don't you? I don't blame you, Reed's a really good kid. She's perfect for you, Valerie, she's lucky to have you." George said with a smile.

"Daddy, stop it." I said, getting embarrassed. "You always take the opportunity to embarrass me in front of Reed. I mean, she gets a kick out of it and it's adorable, but still!"

George laughed and headed to the kitchen to make the banana bread he promised me he'd make. While he did that, I sat down in the living room and played on my phone, waiting for Reed to arrive.

Then the doorbell rang.

"Reed!" I yelled, jumping up and going to open the door. My girlfriend was standing at the front door in all the rainbow getup I expected her to wear.

"Hey, baby!" Reed said, hugging me tightly and kissing my nose. "You excited for lunch?" I nodded frantically and then a realization hit me.

"Reed? Aren't these the same outfits that we wore to that school dance in sixth grade? The dance where you surprised me after your surgery?" 

Reed smiled and nodded, giving me a big hug. "I was hoping you'd notice, Valerie, now let's go. It's our month and I'm not gonna waste a moment of it.

Josie

"IT'S PRIDE MONTH!" I yelled to myself, scrambling out of bed and diving through my dressers to get all the Pride merchandise I could find. I had gathered a lot over the years, I've known I was bi since I was six years old and I came out to my adopted family when I was nine, and ever since then, I've gotten something Pride-related for every single birthday, Christmas, Pride, and important milestone from someone.

"Woah! Trina, I know it's Pride, but it's 6 in the morning!" my mama said, coming in the room. 

"But Mama, today is special. I couldn't sleep, I was too excited for today. I'm going on a date with Harper tonight, she keeps blabbing about how this is a big surprise for me and I'm so excited to see what the surprise is!" I said. 

My mama smiled and hugged me. "Happy Pride, Josie. You know I'm so proud of you and I love you so much for who you are, right?"

"Yeah, Mama." I said with a giggle. "I love you more, thank you so much for being the best supporter and mama in the world. You're the one that encouraged me to be more open about who I am, and I'm forever grateful for that." 

Mama kissed my head and hugged me tighter. "Anytime, baby, you're a beautiful, amazing person just the way you are and I'm so grateful to be able to call you my daughter."

I giggled and said, "I hate to break up the sweet moment, but what's for breakfast?" Mama smiled and said, "I may have gotten you rainbow bagels?"

"Hell yeah!" I yelled, running to the kitchen. I was presented with a plate of rainbow bagels with cream cheese, and I shoved the bagels in my mouth with a smile.

"This is the best Pride ever!"