See Life In Focus [A. Cullen & J. Hale]

3.50 (Story Bonus) 🌑

Alex read the pamphlet that was in front of him as he looked up.

"Who are we meeting here?" Bella asked waving her face with her hand. "Why is it hot?"

"Take a chill pill and sit on that bench." The boy responded calling the number on the pamphlet.

"I hate this already." She looked around turning as she peeked over the back of the bench. A little boy, couldn't be more that 6 or 7 met her gaze and they had a silent staring contest. Bella blinked having gotten a speck of dust in her eye.

"You lost." He said in a light voice. His freckled cheeks bounced as he took a drink from his water bottle.

"Where's your parents?" Bella asked curiously.

"My dad is a lawyer. My mom told me to stay in the car while she took daddy his lunch but, I heard on the radio that it's bad for me." He chirped with an accomplished look on his face.

"Hayden!" A woman cried before running over. Her eyes narrowed protectively as she took the boy from Bella's view.

"Well she was a piece of work. Can't blame her I guess." Bella shrugged turning around to see Axel waving her over. She walked over and smiled at the man with glasses.

"So I heard you are interested in adopting?" He said in a bit of a nasally voice.

Axel sent Bella a look, "What do you think?" He waggled his eyebrows.

Bella rolled her eyes, "We aren't married. He was wondering about orphanage and foster care locations around Texas. He was once an orphan but was put in foster care soon after. He has no information about his remaining family."

"So no adoption?"

"No." Bella said blunting giving Axel a side eye.

"We're siblings in a way. I wanted to speak to my mother but I have no knowledge of her jail." Axel explained.

"I believe my colleague would be able to help you track your orphanage but you're on your own from there."

"Gotcha."
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The cold air hit them violently when they walked into the building.

"What was your name again?"

"Oh, me?" Bella nodded as he swiped his keycard, "Daeun. My friends gave me tha name Unnie or Dae."

"That's cute. So is your colleague a friend of yours?" She asked tucking her growing hair behind her ear.

"Yea, her name's Christine." He said leading them into a elevator and pressing the button for the 3rd floor.

"Why is this such a big place when I was barely given clothes in the orphanage...?" Axel wondered out loud.

"Don't ask me man. I'm just the expendable korean dude." Dae said with a shrug as the doors opened. Axel looked visibly pissed after that as he walked out.

"Is he gonna be...?"

"Don't worry. He's just throwing a fit." Bella assured nonchalantly as to not give any hints. She knew this trip was putting him on edge. He had been irritable since Jasper left and Alice was now gone too. The girl knew he was suffering from his PTSD.

The three walked into the office tensely. A woman was turned away from them with her heels on the window.

"About time you came back. Did you get my coffee?" She asked as her black bun wirled around.

"Sorry- Leave and get my coffee then." She interrupted shrugging innocently as she raised a eyebrow silently daring him to protest.

"Good luck with finding what your looking for. Make sure it's worth it." He sighed before leaving and closing the door behind him.

"So you're here for...?"

Bella explained and the woman instantly got to work with a smirk.

"I live the drama that comes with this job. What's your story, Kid?" She asked unprofessionally. Bella looked back and forth between her and Axel, who hadn't said a word since they arrived.

"My mom was abusive. Killed my father in front of me." Axel shrugged as if it weren't a big deal.

"That's not- That's just sad..." Christine whispered clicking her mouse a few times.

"I get that a lot. What's your story?" He asked.

"Only fair. I moved out of my rich parents' house at 17 and got a house of my own. I liked coding and I got this job until I finish my college classes. 20 now and worried about my future since I've leveled up some much in this job."

"Sounds like a back up plan to me." He whispered playing with the car keys in his hands.

"I have a record in Austin and one in Santa Fe, near Galveston."

"Santa Fe. We lived in Galveston." He said perking up.

"Axelieon July Uley. Born May 2nd, 1987. Age at registration was 10." She muttered underneath her breath making a print out of the address and a map.

Bella watched patiently stroking her chin lightly in thought.

Axel looked at her and she blushed looking away.

"I'm not Edward Cullen. Keep those googly eyes to yourself." He said out loud and she took her shoe off hitting him with it. He yelped and covered his head.

"When you guys of are done, I have the directions."

"Tell her to stop abusing me!"

Bella sat back in her seat before glancing at her and snapping at him again. Axel flinched reading her lips.

"Ok, I have the exact location and a map of the area. This should help you find out whatever you need to know."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Bella chirped grabbing it and dragging Axel out by his ear as he whined.