Adopted by Dan and Phil (editing in process)

14

PHIL'S POV:

It was dinner time, but I was eating cereal on the couch in the lounge, absent-mindedly scrolling through Twitter.

I had just finished uploading a video and so I tweeted about that, but now I was just stalking the replies.

Dan walked in about 20 minutes later.

"Where's Clara?" I asked him.

"Still sleeping. she stayed up late watching youtube." He replied, pouring himself some cereal as well.

"I can't believe we have to take her back to that awful place in less than a week!" I said sadly.

"I know, it doesn't seem fair, and I don't think Clara's happy about it either. At least she has Emily." Dan said, trying to find the silver lining. It didn't exactly work.

We sat there for about 10 minutes, thinking silently as I went back to scrolling Twitter, when Dan's phone rang.

"Hello?" He answered. "Yes, I am Dan."

He was silent for a second before his face went an ash white and he looked at me. I had never seen him so terrified. 

"What?" I asked.

>•<

DAN'S POV:

I scrambled to get my ringing phone from the Kitchen counter, where I had left it when I got breakfast.

"Hello?" I asked.

A very official-sounding woman's voice answered, "Hello, are you Daniel Howell, temporary foster parent of Clara Brown?"

"Yes, I am Dan." I said hesitantly. Who the hell was this lady? Why was she calling?

"Great," she continued, "I am here to let you know that Clara's father is out of jail, and Clara will be returned to him."

I nearly dropped the phone. My face must've shown how horrified I felt, because Phil looked at me, 

"What?" he asked.

"Hello, sir, are you still there?" The lady, who I was beginning to loathe, said.

"Y-yes, I'm still here." I stammered, "What are you trying to say?"

"Mr. Brown has been let out of jail-"

"How the HELL did that happen!" I said, raising my voice.

I wanted to stab the woman for remaining so calm, when she was telling me that a murderer was free.

"Well, the money owed was paid and he was released."

"What does this have to do with Clara?" I asked.

Phil's eyes widened at the mention of her name.

"Well, as her father, he is the legal guardian of Clara and so he is going to take her back from the orphanage."

It took me a long second to process the words.

"You can't do that! He is a bloody MURDERER!" I nearly screamed.

"Yes, but he served enough time and the legal actions were taken, stating his release. And since you are only Clara's foster parent, he has every right to take custody of his daughter."

"You don't understand! He murdered his wife! You can't just let a murderer out of prison and then give him his daughter! Who's to say he won't kill her too!"

"I know that you are upset, but I am only here to tell you that Mr. Brown expects Clara to be back in his custody by August first."

With that, the line went dead and I was left fuming.

"W-what is happening?" Phil looked as horrible as I felt. His eyes were wide, and his face whiter than usual.

"Clara's father is out of prison, and he is taking her back." I said.

Right at that moment, Clara walked in, and I knew she had seen us talking about it.

"Wait, did you say my father is free?" She signed. The fear in her face was so horrific, it made me want to throw up, "B-but he murdered my mother!" Tears were starting to stream down her face.

"I'm sorry, Clara." I signed slowly.

"No. No I CAN'T go with him!" She signed violently, "Can't you do something to stop it? Can't you adopt me!"

We got very silent.

"I don't know, Clara." I didn't know what to say. I didn't exactly want to be a father. I loved Clara, but I couldn't see myself taking care of a child full time. I still had the rest of my life to live. I wanted to get married, and have kids of my own. Phil was probably going to accidentally invent some life changing product and then live on his own island with his wife and six children.

"Please! I- I don't want to be killed. He murdered my mother. He can kill me too. Why isn't he still in prison! That's where he belongs!" It was worse than when she had the nightmare the first week she was here. This was real and she could be physically harmed.

Phil tried to put his arms around her, but she turned away and went into her room.

"What do we do?" I asked Phil, "We can't let her go with him. He could do far worse than killing her." 

I didn't want to think about it.

"Could we adopt her?" Phil said.

I stared at him.

"I mean, I know we had that whole plan where you would get a wife and kids and I would accidentally become a billionaire from my life changing invention and live on my private island, but if Clara gets hurt, it would be our fault. If she already had parents who adopted her and were her legal guardians, then maybe Mr. Brown couldn't do anything."

"I don't know Phil, can we talk about this tomorrow?" I didn't want to think about Clara leaving right then, so I got up and went to wash my bowl out.

             ...

The next morning, I woke up and looked over at Clara's curtain that separated her from my side of the room, giving her privacy. She was still asleep, so I quietly tip-toed into the Kitchen.

Phil was still sleeping too, so I just watched youtube on my laptop until he got up.

I got dressed and by the time I got out, Phil was already done with his breakfast.

"Where's Clara?" He asked.

"Still sleeping." I told him as I got the milk out of the fridge and poured myself a glass.

"It's already 10:00, I'm going to wake her up so she doesn't miss breakfast. I thought we could have a day out. Go and do something."

He went into my room and came back a couple seconds later.

"Dan," he said, out of breath, "She's gone!"

"What do you mean she's gone!" I exclaimed.

"I mean, Clara isn't in her bed!"

.....................................................................................

OOOH! So this is an intense chapter! No more happy parties and spa days! Things are taking quite a turn! Anyway, I hope you are enjoying it and if you are, please vote! I love seeing what you guys comment as well! Please tell me your opinion on things! I read every comment and I love it!

Anyway, keep reading!

~ Isabel💜