Hold Tight (Phan Adoption)

Twenty Seven

Joey's POV

"Yeah just like last time but with the holo.." I explain to the nail artist as I sit in my usual spot.

"Teal holo?" She clarifies and I nod. I look over at Waverly who is still staring at the racks of nail polish.

"See anything that you like?" I disturb her and put my hands in front of me to be manicured. She turns around to glance at me with a cute overwhelmed grin.

"Yes sir," She reaches for a shade of red and walks back over to our little station. "This one is cute." She says awkwardly.

"That's pretty, it fits you." I study the glittery bottle. "You don't have to call me sir you know.."

"I'm sorry, that's what Dan said when we met too.. It's a habit because in the orphanage was super strict about all of these rules." Waverly sets the nail polish down and holds her hands out like mine.

"I know this is like the stupidest question ever but, do you ever miss the orphanage? What was it like if you don't mind me asking?" I focus on her. She seems pretty lax about the subject.

"Oh I don't mind.. I don't really miss it. It was really hard on me even if that's like all I knew.  I didn't have friends but I already told you about that." She pauses to think has the nail artist files her nails. "I didn't have friends but I did have room mates. They fought over the stupidest shi- stuff." I can't help but laugh at her slip up (not that I care). "They'd blame missing stuff on me, even if I did steal it I would be taking back what they took from me. Every time we got new hairbrushes and like nice clothes I would have to hand it over. I feel bad now when my dads buy me stuff because I've never had anything to appreciate."

"What did you do all day for all those years if you didn't have anyone to just chill out with?" I ask carefully. Phil told me how hard its been to get her to open up, I feel so grateful that she feels like she can talk to me.

"My routine was pretty repetitive. I got up in the morning, went to the breakfast table, went to school. At school I'd just kinda lay low and sit at the back of the classroom, when I got 'home' I would either sit outside or read or something. It was boring.. I know it all sounds cliché but that's all there was to it." Waverly shrugs away her past. I can't even imagine being so locked up like that.

"Well," I sigh. "You're here now. You've got so many people that love you, you've got your own hairbrush." I giggle. She smiles at my joke and nods.

"Thanks, Joey. I've never actually gotten my nails painted like this. Of course I never got to use the nail varnish donated either." Her eyes glow a little. "It feels weird."

"Yeah that's what I thought at first. I couldn't wear it until I came out so now they are constantly painted." I put one hand in front of the mini fan to dry the coat of polish.

"I would've worn it any ways." She says with a little sass before thinking. "Well, never mind. I guess I get it... Speaking of coming out, you didn't mention anything to Daniel did you?"

"No! I would never! You tell him whenever you are ready, if ever." Waverly looks a little more relaxed at my confession.

"I don't know.. I try not to keep things from you guys." She looks down in shame. I'm not stupid, there's plenty of things I know she's hiding. She's had too much a past for me to know all the details already.

"You don't have to tell me anything. Just because I'm your friend doesn't mean I'm entitled to know all your secrets or whatever. It does mean that you can talk to me and trust me." I explain truthfully.

"Thanks for that.." She says sheepishly before muttering, "I'm so glad I'm here and not at Dan's mums.."

"Why's that?" I play it off as if I don't already know the conflict between Dan and his mother. Waverly realizes I heard that last sentence of hers and sighs.

"I uh.. ya know. She j-just doesn't like me very much. And it's boring over there anyways, so many rules.. Daddy told me about how strict she was growing up. I assume those rules apply to me too.." Waverly's nail artist hastily puts her hands in front of a fan before she realizes that's what she's supposed to do.  I glare at the brunette but keep my mouth shut. Wave looks down and fails to finish her thought.

"What about Ali? Don't you have him over there?" I notice she hasn't talked about him in a while. Her face becomes flustered with a vigorous nod of the head.

"So how's your book coming along?" She changes the subject to distract me. It works.

"I am announcing pre-order next week!" I gush. "I am so excited, I can't wait for you to read the whole thing and not the rough drafts."

"I'm proud of you.." she grins the most beautiful grin. Not for long. Seconds later her nail artist jerks her by the wrist and pins her hand down.

"Hun, I am gonna need you to cooperate with me!" the lady snaps. Waverly jerks back her thin wrist and winces. "Excuse me, I don't have all damn day!" She grabs for Waves hand only to scratch her up with her ugly acrylics.

"Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?" I stand up quickly. The woman that had finished up my nails stands with me in terror.

"Oh sir, I am so sorry! Are you okay baby?" She asks Waverly in concern. Wave just kind of nods and looks away obviously extremely uncomfortable with the situation. "Jannie! What is wrong with you!"

"I'm sorry but I'm not paying for such rude service." I state and snag my phone from the table. "C'mon Waverly."

"I wasn't gonna charge you, dear. I am so sorry!" The woman apologizes in embarrassment.

"It's fine.. Joey I'm okay.." Wave tries to speak up.

"No it's not fine, Waverly! I'm not letting some forty year old bitch walk all over you, she's been rude to you since we walked in and stood at the counter." I look at 'Jannie' and snarl.

"You got something to say?" she puts her hands on her trained waist. I grab Waverly's hand before starting to leave.

"Yeah but I will make sure to tell your manager instead of wasting the breathe on you." And with that, I drag Waverly out of the shop with no top coat to lock in the nail pigment.

"Joey.. why did you do that.." her worried voice says beside me. All I'm seeing is red, who the hell treats customers like that? I can't bring myself to talk the whole drive home. How can she not care how people treat her like that? Is this really what this baby is used to outside of Dan and Phil?

"Joey! Why did you say all those things? I'm fine!" Waverly enters the house after me. I stop in my foot steps and turn around to look at her.

"It's not okay, Waverly! It's not! I'm not gonna sit here and let people walk all over you like that! Do you think that's okay? For people to just treat you however the fuck?!" I look her dead in the eyes for one of the first times since she's been here.

"I mean yeah.. I can handle it.. I put up with that all the time.." Waverly shies away a little. I can't even control my words at this point, I'm so frustrated with how she thinks of herself. She's so great, why can't she see that?

"No you don't! You used to in the orphanage, am I right? Because you had no one to stick up for you, or to make you feel worth something. You are worth something, Waverly!" I grip her shoulders. "Just accept it! Love yourself, even just a little bit. Just enough to tell people that you can be a little spit fire, I know you can be. Use it. Don't let people bully you like that." I pull her into a tight hug and sigh. "Just try to hold your own, we are here to back you up."

"Um.. Did I miss something?" Daniel says from the couch.

a/n omgggg thoughttts???

1. Who's excited for Children Of Eden?

2. My ducklings that watch the Fosters like I do, thoughts on stoner Jude? xD