| VEXED |

chapter | thirty seven

Alex

I felt someone shaking me lightly and I opened my eyes slowly. everyone was standing around the bed and it freaked me out. "please tell me it was a dream." I rubbed my eyes sitting up, but when I felt paisley beside me I knew it wasn't. 

"so, paisley's condition is fine. she can be discharged tonight." the doctor smiled and I nodded. "Ms Parker, how old are you?" the doctor asked me and I furrowed my brows.

"I'm seventeen, why?" I asked and she looked over at paisley. "I see how close you two are, and paisley doesn't have any other family members. her dad isn't in the picture, and your mom won't answer..." she trailed off and I nodded.

"if you can handle it, I would like to release her into your custody temporarily. until you turn 18, we can't sign over guardianship, but for now, we think her having you in her life is the best thing for her. with he just losing her mom, it's crucial at this age for her to have some relevance to that." she continued and I felt my eyes widen.

Ryan looked at me with a questioning look. "she's only seventeen, still in high school." Ryan responded looking over at them and the doctor nodded.

"yes, I know. but it seems like she has plenty of great people surrounding her that could help out, including you Mr. Parker." she smiled.

she handed me a paper and pen. "if you want to be her temporary guardian then sign. if it's too much for you then we'll place her in the nearest foster home." the lady looked to the side and I shook my head. "no way is she going to one of those." I whisper yelled.

"why can't I just sign for guardianship?" Ryan asked and the police officer looked at him. "we did a background check on your Mr. Parker, we didn't find the best results." he eyes him and Ryan clenched his jaw.

I looked over at Ethan and Grayson who were looking at me impatiently. Ethan gave me this reassuring look, it made me feel for a second that everything would be okay. that's all I needed.

"awex, tomorrow can we go get a Elsa doll?" I heard paisleys little voice from beside me. she sat up rubbing her eyes and I felt everyone's eyes burning into me. the cop walked out giving us more room.

"Yeah baby, that's fine. I might can even get gray or e to pick you one up tonight." I pointed to them and she smiled shyly at them. 

a woman walked in, she was kind of dressed up and had a straight face. "is this the child?" the woman asked holding paperwork in her hand. 

"We have an open spot for her in our children's home, I checked as you requested." she showed the doctor the papers. the doctor looked back at me, and I looked at paisley who stared at me. she was almost scared, I couldn't stand it.

I grabbed the pen and signed my name quickly holding it out to the doctor. she sighed in relief and took it out of the room and began talking to the lady on the other side of the glass. it was only me, Ethan, and Grayson in here now with paisley.

"you just did that." Ethan breathed out and I breathed out slowly. "I just did that," I repeated looking down at paisley who was still cuddled to my side.

"you ready to go baby?" I asked her standing up. she stood up on the bed and held her arms out for me. I picked her up and looked at Grayson and Ethan. "can you guys do me a favor?" I asked and they nodded.

"I can't go to Dani's house right now, it's just too much. would you guys be able to go there and pack some of paisleys stuff and bring it back to the house for me?" I asked and they nodded. "of course Alex." Ethan held my arm. he leaned and kissed me on the cheek.

"ill see you later paisley." he tickled her and she giggled. Grayson nodded in my direction and walked out after Ethan.

-

I laid paisley down in my old room at Ryan's house. I shut the lamp off and walked out, cracking the door.

"Are you sure she will be okay until I get home tomorrow?" I asked Ryan and Elena. they nodded and smiled. "im going to stay home from school anyway, I still don't feel one hundred percent. ill watch her." Elena smiled and I nodded.

"I have to go up to the funeral home tomorrow and make arrangements for Dani." I said slowly and Ryan nodded. "I have to write a check for everything," he said quietly and looked away. "I love you two, ill see you tomorrow." I tried smiling and they nodded.

-

I walked into Ethan's house, well my house too now I should say. I didn't see anyone, so I took in the silence. I closed their front door behind me and slid down it. I looked at the ground and felt tears threatening my eyes again.

I thought about Dani, and about my poor niece. about what im going to have to do tomorrow, it's just all flooding through my mind. 

"Alex, you okay?" I heard a deep voice making my jump. I looked up and saw Ethan standing there. he looked tired, I haven't even looked at the time. 

"uh yeah." I stood up wiping my cheeks. "im was just about to go to bed." I nodded turning in the direction of my room. I felt my chest tighten, and I turned to face Ethan again.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" I asked just above a whisper. I really don't want to sleep alone tonight, I can't.

he nodded and held out his hand. I took it and followed him up the stairs. once we got to his room he threw me one of his t-shirts, and he turned around so I could change. like old times.

I finished and crawled into his bed, he got under the covers beside me. I was laying on my back, with a good amount of space between us. I glanced at him, and he was looking at the ceiling.

I scooted closer to him and laid my head on his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me gently. "you don't have to pretend to be okay around me Alex. if you need to fall apart, or scream, or whatever it is, im right here." he whispered, running his fingers through my hair softly.

"I have to go to the funeral home and meet with the funeral director to put plans together. can you come with me?" I asked resting my hand on his chest.

"yes, anything you need princess." he pulled me closer and I let my body weight fall into the bed as we drifted off to sleep. 

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I genuinely cried editing this. ugh