Adopted by Lin!

Chapter 23

" Good luck" I say to all the actors before they go on stage and then, I take Lexi by the hand to the door to the seats.

" Hey, Andy" I wave to the choreographer as I take Lexi to the seats.

"Hey, Paul" I speed past the costume designer.

" Oh, sorry. Hey, Thomas. Hey, Howell. " I say hi to the director as well as the lighting director.

" Wow, you know so many people, E. " Lexi says as the lights begin to dim.

" Well, I basically live here. The theater is like my second home" I say, before eagerly watching the show. How does a bastard, orphan, immigrant.....

At intermission, I asked Lexi, how she liked it. She said, " It was so amazing so far. But, I have a question"

" Yeah" I say, giving my full attention to Lexi.

" Are we going to stay friends even if Lin and Vanessa adopt you?" She says.

I frown and say, " Obviously. You are my BFF. Why would you even question it?"

" Well, you made so many friends here so quickly. Sometimes, I wish you would have stayed at my house or something. " She says.

" Lex, we will always be my BFF. " I say, hugging her. She looked as if she was going to say something else but then the lights dim again and the show restarts.

Seventeen, Se-se-seventeen, ...

After the show, I went to hug Anthony and Lin as always. I can't seem to get over their deaths. The death scene is so sad.

Thankfully, Vanessa was already here so Anthony and I could tell everyone now, but before we could, Lexi asked to talk to me.

" I need to tell you something. " She says,and she seems very upset so I say sorry to Anthony and tell him 5 minutes and then go outside with Lexi.

" Um... So I'm dating someone." She says, sadly.

" Go, girl! Yay!" I say, but she still seems sad, so I ask, " Are you okay, Lex?"

" I'm dating Mike" She says, confidently. I stare blankly at her for a second. Did she just say Mike? AkA Mike Johnson. AkA the Mike that has hurt me so badly many times to the point that I would cut and want to die, kill myself.

" Excuse me?" I manage to splutter out. " I thought we were best friends. "

" We are.." she says but I cut her off, saying, " No, we aren't. I thought it was you and me against the world. Now, I know why it was easy to make friends with other people. You aren't a true friend. "

" I am."

" No, you are not. A true friend wouldn't do that. I can't believe you. How long have you been dating?" I ask

"Since you left" she says, looking at the ground.

" What?? How could you do this to me? You used me! Just so you could meet the cast but you were probably faking being my friend all day, huh?" I say, as tears start to stream down my face. She doesn't say anything, confirming my thoughts. " I can't believe you"

I run inside past everyone and run to the girl's bathroom and lock myself in.

"Emma, " Anthony bangs on the door. " Are you okay?"

I choke back my tears. I trust to easily. " Wait, Anthony. Let me talk to her. " says Pippa.

" Sweetie. Emma, please unlock the door. At the very least, let me inside. " I hear.

" Only you and Anthony" I mange to choke out.

" Okay, sweetie. Just me and Ant. It's okay, you can open it for us. " she calmly says.

I choke back my sobs and open the door a crack. Pippa and Anthony let themselves in and shut the door behind them.

" Babe, what's wrong?" Anthony rushes to me and hugs me. I collapse into his arms. I just shake my head. It's too painful.

And then the flashbacks come back,

Idiot

Slaps

Whore

Slut

Jerk

Punchs

Asshole

Bitch

Dickhead

Cuts

Mike was the worst one in the family. He used mental and physical violence.

I look at my wrists and see all the cut marks and think about how my best friend, sorry, ex-best friend, is dating the guy who made all this happen. I run away from Pippa and Anthony and sit in the corner and ball my eyes out.

" Don't come closer" I say to them in between sobs.

" Baby, You're hurting me. Tell me what happened. " says Anthony.

" Em, come on. It's okay. We won't hurt you at all. " Says Phillipa.

" Do you see these scars?" I point to my wrists. " I did this because of one of my foster brothers, Mike. " I see Anthony ball up his fists.

" do you see there bruises" I say, lifting up my shirt to show my stomach and pant legs. " All Mike"

" And do you see that son of a bitch anywhere here? NO, but he always will haunt me. " I hear Pippa gasp as I curse, because I usually don't.

" What happened?" asks Anthony.

" That jerk of a " Best friend" is dating the person who did all this, the person who is giving me nightmares and probably always will. And on top of all that, she used me so that she could meet you guys" I scream. I burst into tears. Anthony and Pippa try to give me a hug but I usher them away.

" Can I just be alone for a little?" I say.

" Actually, can I talk to you for a second?" Asks Anthony.

" Sure" I say, drying my tears, but more are coming down. I just can't stop and I don't know why.

"Okay, can I tell everyone what happened?" asks Pippa, " They are all worried about you. " I nod my head as I try to read my phone through my blurry vision.

" Babe... look at me" Anthony says.

I look up and see the most handsome man I have ever met.

" Hey, Shrimp, Listen. Right now, I really want to go pummel this kid that hurt you but I have a question and this is kind of selfish, but are we still together?" asks Anthony. " I understand if you need time but I just want to know"

I quickly shake my head yes. " If I lost you too, Ant, I don't know what I would do" I choke out.

" okay, good. Now listen to me. People like Mike like it when they bring people pain and right now, he is probably on Cloud 9 because of how in pain you are. Shove him out of your life. " Anthony says.

"I can't though" I say. Anthony hugs me from the side and I lay my head on his shoulder and he lays his head on mine.

" Listen. You know celebrities, you have this amazing life, you have an amazing family, Two actually. The cast and the Miranda's. What do they have? Nothing except their happiness that they get from your pain. But, the minute that you are not in pain, then they have nothing. So, don't give them stuff. " He says, standing up and holding his hand out for me. I pick myself up.

" Thanks, Ant" I say, smiling.

" No problem. " he says, kissing my forehead.

" Wait, but I don't want to face anyone right now" I say.

" Come here" He picked me up and walked out of the bathroom.