Taking My Shot- Adopted by Hamilton

Chapter 20-Bear

Riley's POV

"Alright were here," Lin says opening the door to our apartment. Alex is gripping my hand tightly and I can tell that he's trying not to let anymore tears spill. I squeeze his hand telling him it's okay to enter the apartment, when we walk in Lin is already talking to Vanessa in hushed and rushed whispers. Vanessa sees me and smiles but then looks to Alex and frowns concern filling her face.

"Hey honey," Vanessa says coming over and kissing me on the forehead, "You must be Alex it's nice to meet you I'm Vanessa Riley's-" she stops looking at me not knowing if she should say mom or foster mom.

"This is my mom," I say looking to Alex with a kind smile and helping Vanessa, I can see Lin and Vanessa look at each other and smile in the corner of my eye. Alex looks at me and Vanessa and nods, my small smile drops just wanting to embrace him in a hug. Vanessa looks to me and I frown and she nods slightly knowing that now is not the time small talk.

"Well it's late you kids oughta get to bed," Vanessa says, she looks to Lin for confirmation and I can tell Lin didn't tell her the whole story of why Alex is here because I think she would've broken down crying by now.

"Yeah so Alex I'll get some blankets and pillows and you can sleep on the-" I cut Lin off.

"You can sleep in my bed I'll take the couch," I say squeezing Alex's hand who looks to me with a confused look but I just smile at him.

"Riley you don't have to-" he says his voice very soft and quiet.

"No I want to," I say letting go of his hand and grabbing the blankets from Lin and throwing them on the couch. "Come on I'll show you into my room." I say grabbing his hand and pulling him towards my room, I'm surprised Lin doesn't protest but he knows Alex wouldn't do anything let alone in this state of mind. I open the door and lead Alex in and then close it behind us, Alex stands in the middle of my room staring out the window looking very lost and numb. It breaks my heart to see him like this, this boy is always the one to be laughing and joking around or finding one small reason to smile but it seems as if that side of him has left leaving a cold shell behind. I go over and slip my arm around his waist and he pulls me in tighter wrapping both his arms around me putting his face into my shoulder. He's taller than me so he has to lean down and it's kinda awkward so I pull him over to my bed and sit down with him. He pulls me into his lap and wraps his arms around me holding onto me as if his life depended on it. We are both silent for a while both just lost in our own thoughts, I feel like I should say something but I have know idea what to say. What if I say something and make it worse? After awhile I feel him take a deep breath as if he's about to say something but right as he's going to my door opens, it's Lin. Alex keeps his grip on me as Lin enters my room holding some clothes.

"Hey I figured you wouldn't want to sleep in your jeans so I brought some old sweatpants of mine," Lin says kinda awkwardly holding them out for Alex to take. I feel Alex's grip loosen and I get up grabbing the pants from Lin and giving them to Alex.

"Thank you," he says standing up and looking around wondering where he should change.

"Here we'll leave so you can change," I say grabbing Lin and pulling him out the door, shutting it behind us.

"How's he doing?" Lin asks concern filling his voice, which kinda surprises me at first but then I realize it's Lin of course he's concerned. He has such a big heart and hates seeing anyone in pain.

"I'm not sure we haven't really talked his just very distant and lost," I say quietly not really wanting Alex to hear me.

"Yeah poor kid I mean loosing both your parents in one night, that's not something you can just shake off," Lin says with a frown and it makes me think back to the night of my parents death I still haven't been able to shake that and it's been 5 almost 6 years.