The New Foster (Niall Horan)

Chapter 21

Harry and I stayed up late at night watching all the old shows that channels play at night. 5 episodes of Full House and 7 episodes of Friends. After laughing so hard that our sides hurt, both of us fell asleep on the couch.

The next morning Kristen woke us up telling us that couples were coming over to see if they wanted to adopt any of us. I've given up on trying to be adopted since I was 10. Parents seemed to ignore me.

But because we have to, I got ready and 'tidied up' to look presentable. Kristen told Harry that he had to leave for the day and he looked fine with that. Harry gave me a hug and a kiss before exiting. After that, things started moving quickly. All thirteen of us came downstairs and stood in a line from oldest to youngest. Zach, Niall, me, Jake, Abi, Iris, Sydney, Kate, Jai, Lily, Audrey, Devon, and Tyler (who's been put down in his high chair.Kristen forced us to smile and be polite. She went over the rules like she does every year. Most of us have it memorized.

Rule 1: No running

Rule 2: No watching TV

Rule 3: No lying about our personality

Rule 4: No pranking the couples

Rule 5: No begging for the couple to adopt you

Rule 6: No saying I abuse or not feed you to trick them into adopting you

Rule 7: No interrupting me or anyone who is talking

I remember when I was little, I tempted to try rule 6. It didn't work obviously. But it was a good try.

After going over the rules, couples started walking in introducing themselves. Four couples, thirteen of us.

Kristen told us to introduce ourselves in order.

"I'm Zachary and I'm 20"

"I'm Niall and I'm 20"

"I'm Jake and I'm 19"

"I'm Savannah and I'm 19"

"I'm Abi and I'm 19"

"I'm Iris and I'm 18"

"I'm Sydney and I'm 13"

"I'm Kate and I'm 12, but it's going to be my birthday in nine days" the couples smile at her. She always has a way of making everyone smile.

"I'm Jai and I'm 10"

"I'm Lily and I'm 10"

"I'm Audrey and I'm 8"

"I'm Devon... I'm three." he hold out three fingers.

"And this is Tyler and he's going to be one in October."

Three couples went straight to the younger kids (which was expected).

The Roberts went to Audrey. Jacson's went to Jai. Framela's went to Tyler. I see Niall's worried face in the corner of my eye when the Framela couple picks up Tyler.

££££££££££££££££££££££££££

After a few hours, the Jacson's started to talk to me. About my life plans, what my job is, questions about college. They seemed to really like me, but I doubt they would adopt me.

None of the couples asked about the other older fosters. Only me. And I didn't like that, at least ask about the others.

But the Jacson's said they were looking for someone younger, so they could have time to spend with them before college. Of course...

Kristen had dismissed us and asked Jai and Lily to stay. She also picked up Tyler. When we got upstairs everyone went to their rooms, but Audrey tapped me.

"Savannah?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk?" she starts to tear up.

"Of course..."

Audrey pulls me into her room. "What's wrong?" I kneel down to get to her height.

"Do you think that they'll adopt Lily?"

"Well, probably."

"But they can't do that! They can't take my best friend away from me!" she sobs.

"Audrey, stop crying. Everything will be okay. I turned out okay without my best friend."

"Do you miss her?" she wipes her tears with the back of her hand.

"Of course I do. All the time," I start thinking about the day my absolute best friend Jennifer got adopted. "Look, it won't be easy.But you're one of the toughest girls I know. You can get through it."

"But whose going to share a bedroom with me? Prank people with me? Play hide and seek with me? Laugh at my jokes?" she cries.

I sigh before promising,"I will."

"You will?"

"Whatever it takes to make you feel better." I smile.

Without warning, she wraps her arms around me and thanks me repeatedly.

"No problem."

"Okay... the queen wants you to leave now." she puts on hand on her hip and the other points at the door.

"Okay, queen." I bow and walk out almost bumping into Niall, who's sitting by the stairs listening to the conversation downstairs about Tyler. He immediately stands up and apologizes. I just nod. "They're adopting him." he whispers and tries his best to smile.

"I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, I should've known they would adopt him. If I was smarter I would probably hide him under my shirt so they wouldn't see him." he smiles.

Both of us laugh and out smiles fade quickly. Tyler is what brought us together.If it wasn't for Tyler, I probably would've never talked to Niall. Or even look at him.

Niall just stands there looking down the stairs, a tear rolling down his cheek. I hug him before thinking what I'm doing, and he hugs me back