Just You and I: Book 1 (Cody Carson)✔

New Family

"Sign here, here, and here." I watched as my new parents signed their names on the dotted lines. The judge looked up from the papers and smiled at me. "Amelia Kropp, I like it." I laughed at Emerson, who out of all the kids, will be the youngest. It has been 2 weeks since I came home from school and the Kropp family has been nothing but nice to me. They asked me last Wednesday if I wanted to become a member of the family, which I obviously said yes to. Now I'm Amelia Shae Kropp. (I can't remember if I put her middle name but there it is.) "I like it too little brother." He rolled his eyes at me and playfully punched Remington and Sebastian for laughing. "I'm nearly 16!" I chuckled and ruffled his hair. "All done!" I hugged my new parents. At first I felt like I was just leaving my mom behind, but now I know she would've wanted me to find another family.

"New years day isn't until tomorrow, why are you packing?" "I'm getting a headstart." Mom watched me with a sad smile. "I'm happy that I'm apart of this family. Those boys have done more for me than the man who created me has ever done in the years I knew him. I'm proud to say that I joined the Kropp cirlce." She laughed quietly at the family nickname. "I want to spend the day hanging out with guys before the boys and I start our 16 hour drive." She nodded and left my barren room. I heard a set of paws pad across the hardwood floor in the hall and Max ran into my room a dew seconds later. "Hey buddy, I'm packing for our trip to Kansas." He wagged his tail, I know he doesn't understand me. "LIA! WE'RE GOING OUT FOR FOOD!" I dropped what I was doing and ran downstairs, sliding into the living room in the process. "I'm coming." Emerson giggled and I linked my arm with his. "Be careful please!" "We will Mom!" The four of us made our way out into the misty night. We tried not to slip on the ice that had been forming all Christmas. "I love the snow so much, living here is going to be a dream."

"Have you talked to Maxx since Christmas?" I cursed and bit into a french fry. "No why?" "He's been texting me to see if you're okay." I pulled my phone out of my hoodie pocket and opened it. I texted the group chat and began eating again. "You need to get with Cody soon." I choked on my soda and glared at Remington. "I doubt he even likes me in the first place. Plus he's busy with school and his band, I will only be a distraction." I stared down at my cheeseburger. "Not true and you know it." I shrugged and heard my phone buzz again. Emerson grabbed it from me, it is already unlocked, and read through the messages I'm getting. "Maxx says he misses you and can't wait to see you back at school. Cody says he needs to talk to you when we get back. Dan is sending memes and Zach isn't talking." "I wonder what Cody wants to talk about." "I don't know what he wants! You are all nosy little shits." The three giggled while I playfully glared at them. "Lets get back before it snows anymore tonight." We all finished up our food and left.

"We're home!" Max ran towards me, barking loudly. "Hey baby." Mom and Dad poked their heads out of the kitchen and smiled. "I'm going to go finish packing, then we should watch a movie." "Agreed, try to finish before the fireworks start." I nodded and ran upstairs, Max on my heels. I went around the room, putting things in bags and suitcases I brought. I left some things out for Max and I, but everything was packed away. "We'll get you some stuff before we get settled into our second home." He looked at me and perked one ear up. "We're going back to Kansas baby, Mama won't be with us though." He put his head back on his paws and whined. I scratched behind his ear and placed a kiss on his nose. "Lia!" Max jumped off the bed and followed me downstairs. "Got everything packed?" I nodded and smiled at Mom. "I'm going to go get a drink." I walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter, breathing out heavily. Emerson walked in and saw me trying to breathe properly. "Hey, what's wrong?" "I'm just thinking about the accident. Before then I didn't think I was going to see my mom on Christmas, hell I wasn't sure if I'd be going home. Then it happened and I just pushed it away for awhile. I'm just missing her I guess."