Cross My Heart I'm Dead

Chapter 27

----Alexis' POV----

Crystal has finished with my makeover - which is absolutely stunning - and we are all waiting in Ben's room for Mike to come back with my new ID. Crystal and Ben currently chatting and me and Derek just sitting together, me in his arms.

"I don't want to go," I mumbled into his shirt even though I knew that I had to do this.

"I know, it's going to be okay, don't worry. I'll make sure to see you at least once a week, even if you move to another continent. It'll all work out in the end, don't worry." Derek whispered, kissing the top of my head. I'm going to miss him so much. Nothing is the same without him. I've been without him before; it was the worst time of my life. I need him, I need Derek.

"I love you Derek," I whisper and lift my head so my eyes meet his.

"I love you too, Al." He replies just as Mike walks into the room.

"Al, its done. I wish you the best." Mike says as he hands me the ID and hugs me.

----later on that day----

I have now said goodbye to pretty much everyone I wanted to - which was much harder than I thought it would be. Its just me and Derek, sitting on the pavement outside the foster care.

"I'm gonna miss you Astrid," he said, using my new name so we get used to it.

"I'll miss you too. Promise you'll visit?" I asked, looking at him with my eyes filled of hope.

"Of course I will. Always." He kissed my forehead before helping me up and off the ground. I smiled another sad smile as we walked into the building. There was a desk up ahead and a few doors leading to more rooms.

"Hello, I'm Caroline," the girl at the desk said with a genuine smile. 

"I'm Derek and this is Astrid. I'm not entirely sure how this works, but Astrid's mum has just past away and she now has no one to care for her, can she stay in foster care until someone comes and adopts her or something?" Derek said, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist.

"Wait, Derek?! I almost didn't recognize you, my, you've grown," she gushed, remembering him from when he himself was in this care.

"What gave me away?" He asked with a smile.

"You still have that girl's name on your wrist, Alexis. You love her, don't you?" She said and I turned my head to look at Derek who simply nodded and took in a long breath. How have I never noticed that? He had my name on him. He has loved me since we were kids...

"Jennie will take great care of her, don't you worry!"

"Is it okay if I come and check up on her every so often? And if I can be here the day she leaves, if she does?" Derek asked her with pleading eyes. I looked at the lady who smiled warmly and nodded.

"Of course its okay. You can go in with her now if you like. You know where Jennie's office is, just head in there and she'll talk to you some more."

"Thanks Caroline," he replied with a smile.

"Thank you," I said in a quiet, shy voice. The new me is shy and hardworking. Or in my words a boring person getting on with life. Yay! Not.

"Oh, it's no problem." I nodded and followed Derek into the back room.

When we walked in, I finally realized what it was. This was where all the other kids and teens stayed. The room in the front was some kind of office room where you would either adopt or put someone in, I think.

"Come on, Jennie's office is just up back," Derek said from in front of me and I sped up so I could walk beside him.

"Promise to keep in touch?" I asked him even though I knew the answer. He stopped and turned me to face him.

"I will try and visit you as often as possible." He leaned down and gave me a short kiss before turning around and walking ahead.

"Yay! Thank you," I smiled and he chuckled. We walked in silence after that but it wasn't one of those awkward or uncomfortable silences; it was actually pretty nice. We reached the end of a corridor and were met by a set of stairs that lead up to a few more rooms. It was the second room on the left and had the words 'Office of Jennie Rose' on it. Why did they call her Jennie and not Miss or Mrs Rose? Oh well. It doesn't really matter. Derek knocked on the door and instead of waiting for an answer, he just walked in with me following quietly behind him.

"What is the point of knocking when you are going to walk right-" the lady turned around and smiled before returning to speaking. "Ah, Derek. It's been so long," she said, lovingly.

"Hey Jennie. My friend Astrid is new here and... Well, you know," he finished off with a smile.

"Oh okay, come and sit down," she smiled. I walked over to a seat in front of the brown desk. Derek came and sat in a seat next to me and started talking to Jennie but I just zoned out and looked around. The room was a reasonable size and one of those cliche offices. Brown hard wood desk, Dell computer, two seats in front for visitors (like Derek and I), a few nice paintings and a small and cosy rug.

"So, I'll be able to visit her when I want and its okay for me to see any family willing to take her in?" I focused back into their conversation seeing as it would be important for me to know.

"Yes, of course. Oh, Derek, just so you know, we are now more firm and review the families to see if they are suitable and won't be cruel. After your running away we noticed a few things wrong. How children were being abused at times and how they were too afraid to come and say so. Don't worry, its all settled." She smiled and I saw Derek relax slightly.

"Okay thank-you, I'll just show Astrid around and show her the room she will be staying in."

"Sorry, I almost forgot, she will have to enroll in a nearby school as well. I suggest the high-school in the nearby neighbourhood. What was it called?"

"Evergreen High?" I asked in my shy voice. Evergreen High (stupid name if you asked me) was the high-school I went to with Jed.

"I was thinking of Crashton High-school but that one seems fit too," she smiled.

"Which one? Crashton is shit and I heard a student died recently at Evergreen," Derek said. Oh yeah, he went to Crashton. It sounds like a bad school but if I go to Evergreen people might recognize me.

"Why does she have to enroll in a school? She has always been home schooled and I could tutor her," Derek added and I smiled.

"Well then its settled but I want you to set a program; I will not have you slacking, Astrid seems like a bright kid. You two may now go and settle in.