You're Not Alone, You're With Me | DISCONTINUED

2) Pretty Lady with the Swollen Eyes

Austin's POV

  She was a pretty spunky, funny kid. Besides the fact she apparently was kidnapped and forced to watched her family die, she's got character.

  I finished signing the forms, then sat in the waiting room. The receptionist (Margaret, was it?) kept her eyes on me and it sorta creeped me out, besides the fact that many women have done the same thing.

  "Charlotte Graham, downstairs." Someone said into a device, and I heard a girly squeal in the background. It squealed in a sing-song voice jokingly, "Carlota, you're in trouble!" The two burst into fits of giggles, and a minute later, Charlotte and a purple-haired girl were in the doorway.

  "It's been fun hanging out with you, Charlie," Margaret said, choking on her tears. Charlotte's eyes widened, and nervously said, "What's going on?"

  I stayed silent for Margaret to explain, being I didn't want to scare her. I was sitting right behind her, I don't want her to have a heart attack.

  The redhead Margaret smiled, tears pooling at her eyes. "You're getting adopted," and with that, her eyes flicked to me. Charlotte followed her gaze, and her anxiety quickly turned to excitement.

  "No way!" The purple-haired girl squealed, and hugged her friend tightly. "I told you someone wanted you!"

  Charlotte feverishly hugged her friend back, and gave me a thankful smile.

~~~

  We were in a shop that Charlotte had literally dragged me to, and I stood awkwardly behind her while she quickly looked at balls that were titled Aroma Therapy Balls or something.

  "You need this, why?" I asked her, reading the description of a blue packet. Aroma therapy ; anxiety to be tamed! I looked over to a pink one that was described, Aroma therapy ; a nice, outdoorsy smell when you're stuck inside!

  "This." She passed me another, this time green. It was apparently to help ADHD (ADD), and she took the four aroma therapy balls (helping with ADHD; anxiety; OCD; and fevers/colds) from my arms. She reached for her own wallet, but I paid for it before she could protest. I just gave her a look, and she stopped going for her wallet after we went shopping in other stores. It was funny when I could tell she was exasperated. She obviously was used to taking care of herself, and I made a point to give her a break, as long as I am her father and still breathing.

~~~

  We got back home when her jaw dropped.

  "You good?" I asked. Her eyes were glued to the house, which caught me off guard.

  It wasn't your grand home; it was just two stories, and actually in a neighborhood, so I didn't see why she was surprised.

  "It's so cool!" She answered, holding out her fist for me to bump. I did so, then we got out and made our way to the door.

  I gave her the code to the front and back doors, along with keys for the house when we got inside. I instructed her to put her belongings at the doorway, and gave her a tour starting from the left (west) side of the house.

  "Dining room ahead, living room in that room to the left, game room opposite of the living room's door, kitchen on the left, door to the backyard opposite of kitchen, trophy room there, and stairway to the bedrooms." I mapped it out for her as we walked up the stairs. "My room, guest room opposite of mine, guest room, guest room, guest room, guest room, guest room, and guest room. Pick which guest room you want to live in." I gave her caring pat on the shoulder as her eyebrows knit together. She went on a search to tell the difference between all of the bedrooms, and finally decided on the room across from mine.

  "Why this one?" I asked her, confused. This was one of the smallest rooms, which I thought she'd want the biggest one. Girls like space, right?

  "I've never had a big window in my life. Actually never had one window." She smiled at me, and I chuckled.

  "Not once?" She shook her head as she waltzed over to the window. 

  "And besides, I get to see scenery, not a driveway." She said simply as she ran downstairs to grab her bags.

  Chuckling to myself, I skipped two steps until I got to the bottom floor to help her.

  I started to take a heavy duffle off of her shoulder when she sent a grateful glance my way. Now realizing how in pain her shoulder was from how much weight was on it, I just took everything but a suitcase from her.

  We hopped up the stairs when I set her bags on the ground at the foot of the bed. She dragged the suitcase in when I blurted, "Ya know, if you have trouble with anything, just tell me. You don't need to tire yourself out." I went to the linen closet, handed her a pair of fresh new sheets, and bid my farewell.

  "I'll be back soon, gotta run some errands, 'kay?" I asked. She nodded, and I gave her number, while she gave me hers. "If you have any concerns or need any help finding anything, ring me."