All I Want • Alex Gaskarth (Adoption)

Full Rights and School Fights

All I know about 'becoming a part of the Gaskarth clan,' as Alex put it, includes a lot of paperwork. Sitting in the Services Office, I'm told to sign papers here and there, and Alex's full attention was on the stack of papers in front of him. A mediator is in the front of the room, keeping an eye on us and supervising the process. I grow bored occasionally and take advantage of the fact that Alex is distracted. Every once in a while, I get up and leave the small room. It's not a big building, but I suppose it's big enough. I exhale deeply as I walk along the hallway outside of the room in which I had just occupied. I take a deep breath and sit down, sliding along the wall.

I think about everything in this time. So much has happened through my life so far, and living with Alex has been the best thing - apart from being with my biological parents. Biological. I knew them for only a couple of years. Here I am, having known Alex for not even that time span, and he seems like so much more of a parent than I've ever had. Of course I miss them, but it's time to move past that. It's hard to think about, knowing they aren't alive and here for me. But Alex is and he has been since I've met him. He's helped me in ways nobody else has. And I'm grateful.

Maybe they're looking down on me, my birth parents. Maybe not. I used to pretend they were - or I guess, hoped they were; as if they could actually help me when I wished them to.

It's about Alex and I now; it's time to begin a new chapter in my life.

-

I'm not sure how long I sit outside before the silence is interrupted. An hour? Forty-five minutes? Alex pops his head out of the room, smiling and calls me over.

"Time to come back in. I'm done," he grins. I follow him into the room, taking a deep breath before stepping inside. I take my seat next to Alex, quiet as I await the time to come. A lady - which is not the mediator, who was a man with an incredibly big mustache - stands at the front of the room with her hands clapped together.

She plants a smile on her face. "Welcome, Alex and Lexington," she begins. It takes all I have not to groan, which I think Alex knows already because his knee shoves mine. I don't groan.  "The paperwork is complete, and everything has been looked over. I assume that you know this process is usually done in front of a court." Alex and I both give a curt nod. She continues, "but this is much better than a court, because it's quicker and more swift to get on with. As procedure, I have to ask a few questions first."

We sit in silence waiting for the questions. Above the table, Alex holds his hand out for me to hold. I hadn't realized I was shaking. I take his hand and he immediately squeezes it. His way of silently comforting me.

"Alex, through record of your friends and parents, it's known you're a fit parent. By law, you must have a home for the child with it fully equipped to have another person survive on. They've all said you have a bedroom for her, a lot of new clothing, and even have her enrolled in school. Is that right?" She questions, eyeing us both.

"Yes," Alex answers and I nod to agree with his reply. The lady, very professionally, writes on her notepad. She turns to me next.

"Lexington." There is that dreaded name. I am nearly about to speak up about the name again, before Alex squeezes my hand and silences me. "Would you say Alex is a fit parent for you? This is very important that you answer truthfully. If you want to answer these questions in the hall, I'd be more than willing to do so."

I hear Alex's intake of breath this time, he's as nervous as I am. I clench my fingers on his hand, and shake my head at the lady. "I can answer the questions here. I say yes, he's definitely a fit parent." I hear his exhale, and his lips lift into a partial grin.

"Do you see yourself living with him, as a legal guardian?"

"Yes, I do." Alex brings my hand up to his lips, kissing my hand in thanks. But thanks for what? He's been the best he could. The lady watches as he kisses the back of my hand, giving us a smile and writes something down.