Glowing Eyes// Adopted by The Joseph's [√]

[ 13 ]

The teen sat at the group table, thinking of how boring inactive his day had been so far. He reached for his preordered sprite and took a longing sip to drown out all the possibilities of his anxiety blooming out.

You see, he'd rather be hanging with his friends right now, or better yet, playing his instruments at home, locked away in his room. But nope, his father had given him to his mother for no exact reason and now, he's at an Olive Garden waiting for a family, or new family friend member their supposed to meet.

"Who are we meeting again mom?" The teen asked, tilting his head that was firmly planted in his palm to reach eye contact with the red headed woman.

"Tyler and Jenna's daughter. Stop being so impatient Corey." She scolded. Debby was as much of a best friend to Jenna as Josh was to Tyler.

Josh furrowed his brows, lowering the menu that was covering his face, involving himself in the conversation as he reassured; "They're almost here. I'm sure you'd love them... Or her..." He teased with a wink.

The teen, Corey, rolled his eyes at his mothers boyfriend. "What is she, five?"

Josh just simply shook his head at him. Then giving a large smile and a wave from across the room to catch the attention of the family that had just entered.

Curiosity taking over him, he turned his body to catch a glimpse he'd can't believe he almost had missed. The girl was beautiful. She had chestnut brown hair that soon lost its pigment at the tips as it fadded into a lighter brown, no sign of hair dye visible. She had a symbol on her hand, not common to see. Her eyes a whole different story. Her appearance was bold and strong, but her vulnerable eyes exposed all of the agony and pain beneath. Something that rarely anybody noticed, but Corey did. And Elizabeth recognized that. Her eyes, laced with a teal outline, but tied together in a icey blue, stared back.

She wished she'd noticed the boy staring at her before, only because of the beauty she saw. Not only in his cunning features, but what lied within his eyes. He had a seemingly handcrafted jaw and cheekbones to make it all seem human. His eyes a deep shade of deep blue, though slightly covered by the lock of hair, a mix of autumn red, and a coffee brown. He was a stunning sight in Elizabeth's eyes.

And Corey would say the same, but the longness that they've been staring, admiring each others existance, could set at the new world record.

A obviously fake cough cut the two from their trance. Tyler, thankful for the small relief of the intense stare the boy was giving his daughter. He didn't like where this was going.

Corey stood quickly and extended his hand and introduced himself, but quickly was ignored as Elizabeth engulfed him in a unexpected hug, not that Corey didn't mind or anything, he loved it. She smelled of vanilla and the scent women always seemed to have. A signature to that was lovely, but indescribable.

The hug ended, but all Tyler seemed to care for was drilling holes into the boys skull and making him wish he never woke up this morning with his signature 'I just got to know you but I already don't like you' stare.

((A/N: You're Welcome 😏:

Now you can get back to reading))

He felt sudden pressure to his right foot as he hissed in pain before Jenna leaned into his ear, making her words loud and clear. "Cut. it. out."

Tyler simply rolled his eyes. He silently stood up, and mentally argued with Jenna, before they switched seats, so now, Corey was directly in front of him.

"So Elizabeth..." Debby started. "I've heard so much about you! Tell me about yourself." She smiled.

Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably. Corey noticed and furrowed his eyebrows at her in reassurance. Tyler noticed his movements and softly held her hand "You don't have to if you don't want to." He stated.

She shook her head with a small smile that Corey internally died for. "Well, I like to draw. Or more specifically paint. Sometimes its frustrating to find references for drawing. Sometimes I just go to music." She shrugged.

Debby smiled at her progress. Joshua informed her that she was a very shy, very quiet person, but she got more words out of her than she thought. "You like music? What kind? Do you play?"

Elizabeth let the questions filter through her mind thinking of an answer. "Yes, very much. I don't really know much of any other songs or music genres besides dad's and Josh's music." She stated quietly. "And yeah, I do play instruments."

Debby grinned. "Oh really? What kind?"

"Well, I learned the piano first. My mother taught me. Then I learned the bass by ear at the orphanage." she smiled at the memories of when she where younger with her mother. The bright days and gleeful nights. But she doesn't view the world like that anymore. "Dad's showing me how to play the piano and ukulele."

Debby smiled. But Corey's interest for this mysterious girl grew as she stated that she lived in a orphanage.

"Do you still play the ukulele as well, Corey?" Jenna questioned.

He nodded his head. "Yeah, but the fourth string snapped the other day while I played. So I might go get another set today." He informed.

Tyler just grinned maybe you shouldn't strum so hard. Then you might actually get farther not breaking stuff. He thought. Then looked over at Josh, remembering the many times he's snapped his drum sticks, or even the hardest part of the instrument. The kick drum, during one performance. Never mind... He recited in his mind.

Tyler leaned across the table slightly as the group conversed about anything and everything.
"You didn't tell me Debby's kid was coming too." He whispered.

Josh leaned in halfway as well, meeting halfway. "Daniel showed up at the house and gave him to her yesterday with his bags packed. I don't know exactly why so just go with it Mh'k?" Josh knew that the boy had the looks of his father that could lure in a girl a mile away and send shivers with her spine with a single word if he played his cards right.

Tyler caught a glimpse of the boy happily chirping about what sounded like pets and he complimented on how it was 'so cool to have a otter'. He seemed like an innocent adolescent, but he knew better to assume. He had to keep a sharp eye on that boy even if it took every last breath to keep him away from his daughter.

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