Just Breathe - Adopted by Mandy Gonzalez - COMPLETED

5 - Sister

Mandy held my hand as we walked into their Washington Heights apartment. It was nice and spacious and looked like something off Pinterest. Everything was immaculate. "Wow this place is beautiful. I can't believe I get to live here."

"It's not usually like this, I just had everyone tidy up to make it perfect for you." Mandy smiled.

"Yeah she fucking did. I spent 3 hours on here and the kitchen. So you'd better be grateful kid."

This time I stood my ground. I stood strong, "I'm very grateful Douglas. Thank you. I appreciate it."

I could see rage in Mandy's eyes. She glared at her husband. "Our room now." She pointed down the corridor as Doug walked off.

"Maribelle come on." Doug called to his now youngest daughter.

"No I'm staying with my sister." She gripped onto me around my waist and I held her tight.

"Girls I'm going to sort your father out. I won't be long. Maribelle, do you want to go show Becky your room and then we can show her her room together."

"Okay Mama." Mandy walked off leaving Maribelle and I in the living room.

"Follow me." She took my hand and lead me down the corridor. "So this will be your room. And then this is mine. I tidied up especially for you." She opened the door and we walked in.

"This is beautiful Maribelle." Her room has a teal theme. She had this gorgeous bed with teal bedding and a white wooden tree next to it. "What's this?" I asked walking over to it.

"It's to help me get ready for school. I hang up my outfit when I go to bed and then it means it's ready for me the next day. I also hang my rucksack from one branch."

"That's so cool. I love your beanbags." We sit down on one each and talk.

"What do you like doing Becky? For fun."

"Well I do a lot of drawings using my laptop. I got it for my sweet 16. I also do a lot of regular drawings. I write stories and sing a lot. I don't think I'm very good, but Mandy thinks I am as does lexi and the rest of the cast."

"Well clearly you're very good if they all think you are. I think mom said she was going to give you vocal lessons."

"Yeah I think so too. I also listen to a lot of musical theatre and I do a lot of interior designing of non existent rooms. So I create a room size, then find furniture and things for that room, I do it all online."

"That's so cool. You'll have fun doing you're room then. It's a bit smaller than this one but has a built in bed so seems quite big still."

"Okay, What do you do for fun?"

"I go to dance class on Tuesdays and Fridays. Then I do lots of reading and sometimes help dad in his studio when they can't find a sitter for me. But I have you now so I probably won't need one."

"Okay."

"Hey girls, are you in here?" We hear Mandy calling outside.

"Yeah, I've showed Becky my room and we talked about what we like to do for fun." She says as Mandy walks in.

"That's nice, do you want to see your room now Becky. As I said, it's not much but I'm sure you can do something with it. If you design something this weekend then we can go shopping and get you whatever you need."

"Oh um okay. Wouldn't that cost a lot, I can use any bedding and things in there then I'd just need a cheap table to work on."

"No, you can spend a bit. I'll give you a budget tomorrow once I discussed it with Doug, and then you can find what you like to fit the budget. Think of this room makeover as your birthday present."

"Oh Okay. Thank you." I stand up from the bean bag and give her a hug. "Thank you Mandy."

"Anything for my girl." I wave Maribelle over to us and we have a girl hug. I feel like I have a true family now. Even if Douglas hates me, I have Mandy and Maribelle in my life.