ADOPTED BY PHAN

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

hi quick confession I have no idea how this website works anymore so can someone like give me their instruction manual bc mine never came aND I JUST REALLY WANT TO REPSOND TO COMMENTS CORRECTLY I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING FÜCK

ok well that's all I have to say so

It's almost been a week since Iris met her biological brother. At first she was extremely upset and hung up on the whole situation, but now it's not even on her mind. Actually, the thing currently troubling her the most is Skye. More specifically, what to do for her birthday.

There's nothing Iris can get her that would be better than the news Skye received; she's getting discharged today. Although Iris was confused at first, - as she remembered that Skye's parents didn't want her living with them - she was recently informed that Skye will be moving in with her grandmother, Helena. She had already been staying with Helena on weekend passes, but Iris has never met her before. She hopes that'll change soon.

Stressing the thought of birthdays and relationships, Iris hadn't realized she was already at school. Time flies when you're freaking out. And the only reason why she's stopped and taking in her surroundings, is because Floyd is flamboyantly skipping toward her.

"Hey little piggy! Where have you been?!" Floyd asks, propping a hand on his hip. He then opens his arms, "Come give daddy a big ass hug!"

Iris covers her face with one hand and looks to the ground, praying that Floyd is only drawing attention to himself. Fortunely, Vic strolls over to save Iris from this public humiliation.

"Hey there," Vic says with a smile. Though Iris isn't focused on that aspect of his face. Instead, her gaze is fixated on his reddened nostril, where a small silver ring has been scewered through.

"I missed a lot, haven't I?" She asks, gesturing toward the piercing.

Vic is about to respond, but Floyd cuts in. Grabbing the thinner boy's hand, he looks at Iris and says seductively, "Oh yeah."

The brunette's jaw drops, and she excitedly questions them, "Seriously?"

"No!" Vic shouts, yanking his hand away. "Not seriously!

Floyd rubs Vic's shoulder, whispering, "Come on baby, don't be that way."

"Fuck off, man!" Vic pushes him away, shouting but fighting off a smile.

"Okay, yeah, that's not a thing." Floyd finally admits, painting on a disappointed face.

The bell finally rings, allowing the kids into the school. Floyd says goodbye to his friends, before walking in the opposite direction from them. As he turns away from them, he can't stop his heart from dropping.

It's always been this way. Floyd has always been the one left out. And seeing those two so happy together, only reminds him that he will never have something like that.

He will never have a best friend.

* * *

After school, Skye came around for a visit. All was well until they were left alone in Iris' room, and the younger girl spoke up about the news she had received earlier.

"Did you really tell Vic everything that happened?"

"Look, babe, I'm sorry." Skye says, taking a seat on the bed. "I just needed someone to talk to and he was the only other person I'm close enough to."

"He's my friend too, you know. Well, he was. Now he just pities me." Iris looks down, clearly upset.

"I didn't mean for this to happen ba-"

Iris interrupts with a quiet, "Just forget about it."

They bury themselves in the deafening silence, Skye staring at Iris as she stares at the floor. After the wordless argument becomes more of a mind palace of regrets, an apology is presented.

"Iris, baby, please look at me," The brunette does as Skye asks, but doesn't verbally respond. She opens her arms, quietly speaking, "Come here, love."

Iris takes a seat on the bed and leans her head against Skye's chest, allowing herself to be comforted.

"Doesn't it bother you?"

"What?" Iris pulls away from the embrace and looks up into the dark blue orbs of Skye's eyes.

"This whole situation with your brother." Skye repeats herself, "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Well, yeah." Iris shrugs, "Who wouldn't be bothered by something like this?"

"You."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Iris crosses her arms, preparing to defend herself.

"I don't-" Skye sits a little taller, "I don't understand you. You say it bothers you, but I never see it. I just- I wish you were more open about your feelings, you know? And I'm not sure, maybe you're just naturally like this . . . or maybe you don't like me-"

"Of course I like you!"

"You never really show it-"

Iris leans forward, resting her hands on Skye's shoulders. She softly connects her lips with the older girl's, causing her heart to flutter.

Placing a hand over her cheek, Skye responds to the kiss. Iris sits up on her knees, taking control of her girlfriend. However, Skye isn't that easily dominated. She grabs the brunette's bum, causing her to gasp, and let Skye slip in her tongue.

Iris smiles against her lips, taking on the challenge. She slides her hands off Skye's shoulders; past her chest, down her stomach, the rim of her jeans-

"Iris!" Dan shouts, his footsteps coming down the hall.

The two girls immediately break away. Iris falls off the bed at the exact moment Dan opens her bedroom door.

"Hi," She responds with a smile.

"Jesus Christ," Dan mumbles.

"Honey, what are you doing on the floor?" Phil asks, popping his head into the room.

"Oh, you know . . ." Iris taps the carpet, "Just trying to be Aladdin."

Skye whispers seductively, "Baby, I can show you the world."

"What did you just say to my daughter?"

"I think she just quoted Aladdin-"

"I know what she did Phil!"

"What's wrong Dan? I thought the joke was-"

"Stay out of this!"

Phil's expression drops, and for once in his life he seems to be fearing Dan. As he makes his way out of the room, the younger man regrets his outburst. An apologetic look is sent the girls' way, before Dan closes the door and follows after his fiancé.