Adoption

Chapter 1

*Seth's POV*

"Seth, buddy, can we talk?" I could barely hear Robert over my music. It wasn't all the way up, it was about one-third of the way up. I took my earbuds out.

"Yeah Rob," I answered quietly.

"How would you feel about me adopting again?" He asked, still standing in the doorway. I shook my head.

"Why?"

"I like things the way they are," I quietly stated.

"Think about how you felt before I adopted you Seth. Alone, unloved."

I looked down. "It was better than being with my parents..."

"Seth how many times do I have to tell you? They aren't your parents. I'm legally your dad buddy. They never showed you love. They neglected you, abused you."

"They only abused me when they were drunk!" I said with my voice raised.

"They were always drunk! They were alcoholics!"

"Shut the fuck up," I muttered.

"Don't swear."

I rolled my eyes. I had lived with Robert for four years. He adopted me when I was 12. Now I'm 16. I don't call Robert my dad. He isn't my dad. He's more like a friend. But I hated when he talked about my parents.

"Would it make you happy?" I asked, keeping my voice quiet.

"What Seth?"

"Adopting again..."

"I want to get another troubled child help, like I did you."

"Then go ahead."

"Are you sure Seth?" I nodded.

"Really?"

"I said yeah!" I snapped.

"Okay...I'll go call," he said, walking out of my room. I put my earbuds back in.

***********************************

About 45 minutes later, I was playing Guitar Hero when I heard a knock on my open door. I paused the game and looked toward the door at Robert.

"We pick her up next week. She's the same age as you. She likes to be called Scarlet, or Scar. She insists it's her real name. It must have been changed, but not legally."

"Did they tell you anything about her?" I asked just above a whisper.

"She's gonna be hard to handle. She was abused and neglected by both her mother and her father. Her father raped her a few times, or was paid by other guys to rape her. She doesn't talk unless she honestly has to. She self harms and the adoption agency was about one more of her slip ups away from a mental institution. That's all I'm going to tell you. I'm not going to into detail."

I nodded. That's sick! Poor Scarlet... At least she won't have to worry about it her, even though I don't really want another adopted kid here...