Home Is Just A Room

Chapter 4

Days passed slowly but surely, and everyone was trying to get used to the new routine. First, Connor would get up and wake up Rachel and Jack, who both always had a hard time getting  up early in the morning. They'd have breakfast tiredly announcing their plans for the day, then leave. All of this in almost complete silence, since Troye came home very late from his performances and had to rest longer in the morning.

Jack's school happened to be just a few blocks away from the one where Connor taught, so they drove there together. Rachel, on the other side, caught the bus as always not to change her habits and consequently make her friends suspicious. She hadn't told anyone what had happened, maybe because she didn't want the others' pity or just because she didn't like to talk about her feelings. She shrugged everything off with a 'just tired' whenever they asked her if something was wrong.

After school Rachel picked Jack up and got the bus home, since Connor'd still be at school and Troye'd be out giving private lessons. Nonetheless, not later than 6pm they all were at home and shared their stories from the day. It was a simple routine, really, but they all loved it.

But Rachel was having none of it.

*Rachel's p.o.v.*

It was the sixth day we were staying here and it was all fun and games until I understood that Troye and Connor hadn't the slightest idea of what they were gonna do with us. That's why I decided to confront them and we were now sitting in the living room.

"We actually have only one option available" Connor started, "if you want to keep living with us, that is". It's not like we had much choice, we didn't have any grandparent or uncle to take care of us so if we left the Mellet-Franta household we'd be put in a foster home or something. Staying with someone we knew was ideal.

"What'd that be?" I replied clearly  on edge.

"Adopt you".

Well, well, well. I should've expected it. It was just the legal way to get custody of us, they explained, but nothing would really change. The thing was, did I want that?

Despite everything they put us through, I was unsure about neglecting my parents. What if Jack suddenly didn't like it there and wanted to go back? My expression must have given away my thoughts, as Troye hurriedly added,

"We should talk with your parents about it before doing anything drastic. I'm sorry to say this, but I don't think you'll go back living there so maybe they'll agree it's the best thing to do". I took a deep breath but nodded. I had gone over each and every possible option millions of times and this was the only one we could rely on. Maybe it won't even be that bad, maybe we could get used to it and forget our "family". I still had Jack after all and that'd be enough.

I then had to talk with Jack and make sure he wanted to stay, too.

"Jack, can we talk for a second?" I asked walking in on him doing peacefully his homework. He nodded, adding a smile when it took me a while to choose the right words.

"I'm very happy to live here with Troye and Connor, and I'd really like to remain here. Would you like to stay and live here with us?"

He looked at me a bit confusedly, then asked, "Of course. But when we go home?"

That's where I had to take another deep breath and calm down because I was positively freaking out,

"Not going home. Staying here and that's it. Would you do this with me?". My heart was breaking at that point because he was getting teary eyed and almost whispered a tiny and broken, "But I wanna go home"

"We can't Jack, I'm sorry"

"Why?"

"Because we just can't" I stated a bit too harshly, trying not to get upset in front of my little brother, but causing a tear to fall from his eye. He sniffled a bit and dried his cheek with his sleeve, then lokked back up at me.

"I like here. If you stay, I stay"

*Troye's p.o.v.*

The following day, Connor and I were walking towards our lawyer's studio. We wanted to make the two siblings once and for all members of our little family, so we were determined as ever to go through all the various procedures. We were nervous, indeed, but glad we could put a happy ending to all the fights and nonsense coming from their parents.

We had gone to talk with them earlier in the morning, but this time the butler didn't let us in. We then explained why we were here and he disappeared inside to report our words. He came back with an apologetic look and shamefully whispered that the Douglas didn't want anything to do with their kids anymore.

That's why we were convinced we were doing the right thing, taking Rachel and Jack under our wing. Jack was a really open child in general, so we weren't surprised he got used to living with us extremely quick. Our concern was still on Rachel, who never talked about her feelings and always had that defeated look on her face. We knew she'd have to get over her parents sooner or later and frankly, I expected her to be happy to live with us but she was still a bit hesitant. Nonetheless, she understood that was their only chance and accepted it.

Everything was going really well, it was a nice late morning in November, breezy but not too much and with a light sun peeking from the clouds every now and then. It felt surreal to walk through such a scene, let alone to become parents.

It'd had been a happy ending for everyone, with relatively the least trouble possible, but fate had other plans.

That's why in the lawyer's waiting room we saw the Douglas.

*Dun dun dunnnn drama llama. Why are the Douglas there?

Hehe you'll find out.

Comment and vote and do all that stuff and I'll love you forever.

Byeee xx *