Maybe this is where I belong...

Chapter 8.

Hi guys! I'm so sorry its taken me soo long to update. my life has been pretty hectic but ill update more i promise! please comment with ideas/opinions! ENJOY :-)

STEF'S POV:
"Who was the last person to see Ami tonight?" Lena demanded. Everyone was wide awake at 3:00am. We were all worried sick, wondering where our Ami was.

"I-I saw her go into her room last tonight." B said. "I said goodnight to her and she said it too. Th-that was it, she didn't seem sad or upset or anything. She just kinda seemed.." He paused, trying to find the right word. "Numb." He explained. "Yeah, yeah numb. Like she didn't have any feelings anymore."

I looked over to Lena, who looked so broken. Mariana walked over to her, hugging her tight.
"Does anybody have any idea where she could be?" I asked. "Any place around here that she would want to be?"
"Mama, do you have keys to Anchor Beach?" Jesus wondered.
"Uh.. Ye-Yeah I do." Lena sniffled.
"Where did you leave them?"
"On the kitchen table. Why?"
"Go check if they're still there."
Lena got up and walked in the kitchen, listening to Jesus' order. Within seconds, she comes back to the living room.
"Th-they're gone. Why would she take them?" Lena asked.
"Am I the only one who remembers that Ami loves to dance? And we have a big auditorium at school? Anyone connecting the dots?" Jesus said sarcastically.

Before we know it, all five of us are were in the car, heading to school. About fifteen minutes later, we made it and Lena started to run right out of the car right as I put it in park.
"Hey hey baby hold on just a second." I stopped her.
"What? Stef. She's in there. I know it."
"Okay, okay. You are probably right but we need to go in together. She needs both of us right now." I turned to Brandon. "B, you're in charge. Please please just, stay in the car, it's the middle of the night so please just stay safe and in the car, yes?"
"Of course mom. Stay safe too please." Brandon smiled at me.
"I love you my babies." Lena said, before getting out of the car.
"Love you too." My kids said, almost in unison.
Lena and I got out of the car and headed into the school building that was unlocked, which gave us a pretty good feeling that Ami was in there. The school was pitch black so we turned on the flashlights to our phones and Lena grabbed my hand and held it tight. We made our way to the auditorium and we see Amelia. The lights were dimmed and she must have found the auxiliary input to plug music into because there she was, dancing. Her body moved like I have never seen before. I was in total awe. She was most definitely lying when she said she wasn't all that good because she was the most beautiful dancer I have ever seen. I look over to my partner and she had tears in her eyes, no surprise. Lena and I just watch Amelia express herself on stage the only way she knows how. Her technique was unbelievable. I was no dancer but I knew that she has a special gift. She was showing so much emotion through her moves it gave me goosebumps. Every jump, turn, extension she did was perfectly executed. The song ended and she hit her final pose of the dance she was doing and she let out a deep breath. Lena and I started to applaud, causing her to jump squinting her eyes to look out into the crowd.
"O-oh my god. I'm so sorry I should have never--I'm so sorry for taking your keys. Pl-please don't be mad." Amelia pleaded.
"You know. You have a gift." I told my out of breath daughter. "Being able to move like that, to listen to music and instantly find rhythm within it."
"I agree." Lena followed. "You were born with that baby." Lena went over to Ami, who was sitting on the edge of the stage, breathing heavily after dancing her heart out.
"I-I'm jus-s-t so so-sorry." Amelia stuttered, before bursting into tears.
"Oh my love.." Lena hugged her, signaling me to come over and join in. The three of us stayed like that for a while, until Amelia stopped it to look at us.
"I'm so sorry for running away. But you guys shouldn't have to deal with my trial and all of the painful things that have happened in my life. It's not fair to you. I'm not your daughter, I'm just staying at your house. Just like any foster kid does." I meet Amelia's gaze, "Love, you shouldn't worry about whether this is too much for Lena and I. We love you and we are always here for you. We're gonna fight this. We're gonna keep you safe." She retreated back to hugging me. "How about we head to the car and go home, huh?" Lena softly said.
"Good idea." Amelia sighed.
We all got up and Amelia grabbed her things and we headed for the door.

"Why didn't you tell us you liked to be called Ami?" I asked, putting my arm around her.
"I-I don't know. I never wanted to mention it because I didn't think I would be here long."
"Well, if you want, you will forever be our Ami." I smiled and said.
"I'd like that." Ami grinned.

We were walking to the car and once Mariana caught a glimpse of the three of us, she opened the car door and ran towards us, greeting Amelia with a hug.

"Marian-- Y--you're squeezing me a little too tight." Amelia choked and coughed.
"Sorry I'm just really glad you're okay."
"We all are!" Jesus yelled from the car.

We all made it home safe and sound and B, Miss Thing, and Jesus were luggage as they trudged upstairs to their room. Thankfully, it was a Friday night so they had tomorrow off. As they headed upstairs, Amelia lingered into the kitchen where Lena and I were having a cup of tea.
"What's up sweets?" I poured piping hot water into my mug.
Amelia opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself short. "I-I'm just a little scared to be alone tonight." She soon confessed. "Come over here Ami baby." Lena said, motioning for Amelia to come sit. Lena's arms were wide open and Amelia sat on Lena's lap, with arms around her. "Do you want to stay with me and Stef tonight?" Lena asked.
"Are you sure? I don't want to be like a bother or anything. I'm sure I'll be fine."
"No no no." I argued. "You're scared love it's okay to need people."
"Are you sure?" She asked, with both of us connecting eyes.
"Positive." Stef and Lena said practically in unison.
"Go head upstairs baby we'll be up in a couple minutes." Lena said as Amelia rose and headed out of the kitchen. Lena yawned and sighed. "I have to call the lawyers tomorrow morning please remind me I feel like I'm gonna forget."
"I just can't believe that Patrick is arguing that he never actually raped her" I said with disbelief.
She nodded her head.
"I know love, me too."
"Do you think he actually has a case against her?"
"I hope not. All Beth said on the phone is that he has the officers saying that when they walked into the house, there was no proof of rape. "
"Oh that's ju--" I scoffed. "Amelia was raped. She still has bruises from her recent attack, I saw the pictures that were taken at the hospital!"
"Stef, Stef I know this is upsetting." Lena tried to calm me down. "But we need to be strong for her." She put her hand on my face and stroked my cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you too Stef. With all of my heart."

AMELIA'S POV:
I climbed into Stef and Lena's bed and quickly drifted off to sleep until I heard them come in. I heard a loud clatter and then Stef groaning, "Shit! I swear if Mariana leaves her wedges in our room one more time I swea--"
"Shh! Don't wake her." I heard Lena whisper.
"I'm sorry I'm sorry!"
I shifted to the other side of my body, facing Lena as she climbed into bed.
"Stef." Lena whispered.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. She's just so beautiful when she sleeps. I don't want anything to happen to her. I have so much love for her already."
After I heard Lena say those words, I felt completely safe. I adjusted myself to lay on her chest, falling asleep again.