Foster Daughter {Adopted By Calum Hood}

Emily

•Emily•

I sit silently, eating my dinner. The girls around me chatter and laugh while I quickly eat my food, desperate to leave the table.

I rush upstairs once I'm done, and into my room, taking a deep breath. I sit on my bed, relaxing my trembling hands.

I'm about to change, when Lily, my roommate, and local bully, walks in. She looks me up and down.

"Hey freak." She rolls her eyes. I take in a shaky breath. She scares the shit out of me. She's always so mean, and I'm the most sensitive person alive.

"What? Don't look at me like that, faggot." She snaps. My eyes widen and I look down, tears forming in my eyes.

I take another deep breath and grab my pajamas, going to the bathroom and changing into them. I hesitantly walk back into my room, seeing that Lily is on her phone that she bought herself, completely zoned out with headphones in.

I sit down on my bed and grab a book, reading it to pass the time. Not long after I finish the first chapter, there's a knock on the door. I look up and see Ornella walking in. Lily looks up from her phone, taking an earbud out.

"Lily, will you give us a minute alone?" She requests gently. Lily huffs and rolls her eyes, begrudgingly leaving the room. Ornella smiles and sits next to me as I place my bookmark in between the pages.

"So, I have some exciting news." She admits. I cock an eyebrow.

"A nice man wants to meet you and possibly foster you!" She announces. My eyes widen.

"Really?" I ask quietly. She nods lightly.

"You don't sound very excited." Her face falls.

"No, no! I mean-yes!" I stammer. "I am excited I just... I don't know how long he'll want to keep me. It takes a long time to crack my shell, if you haven't noticed..." I trail off, unsure of wanting to go through someone not wanting me again. All my life, no one has wanted to keep me. Not my parents, and not any of the other 6 foster homes I've been in.

"Well, he's coming tomorrow, so rest up." She pats my leg and leaves the room. I lay down in bed as Lily comes back in and resumes her position on her own bed.

§

I stare at myself in the mirror, trying to convince myself that this could work. He could foster me and then adopt me. Everything will work out fine.

I put on my black jeans, black Tshirt, chain necklace with a lock, and my chain that attaches to my jeans. I then start on my makeup, putting on concealer, a little bit of light purple and silver eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. I put the final touch on, my VANS beanie. Just then, the doorbell rings.

My eyes widen as I start panicking.

I can't do this.

What if he hates me?

What if-

"Emily!" Ornella calls from downstairs, interrupting my thoughts. I sink down to the floor, breathing in and out, trying not to have a panic attack.

I hear footsteps starting to make their way up the stairs. Soon enough, Nella walks into the bathroom and grabs my hand, pulling me up.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

"What if he doesn't like me?" I whisper. She huffs and rolls her eyes, annoyed. This happens every time someone wants to meet me.

She grabs my hand and starts pulling me downstairs. I squeal and pull against her.

"No!" I whine. "Nell', please!"

"You'll be fine!" She mocks me.

"He won't like me, I know he won't! No one ever does."

"Thats your anxiety talking. He'll like you." She says as she gets to the bottom of the stairs. "Now be a big girl and introduce yourself!" She says, gesturing to the man with blue hair standing in front of us. My eyes widen in fear as I step behind Ornella.

"Oh, come on!" She groans, turning around and pulling me out from behind her. I go to hide behind her once more, when she speed walks away and into her office.

I take a few deep breaths and play with my hands, staring at the floor, refusing to meet the mans eyes. He clears his throat awkwardly.

"Hi!" He chirps, stepping forward slightly. His slick black shoes come into view.

"Hi." I whisper. Suddenly my hands become the most interesting thing I've seen all day, so I stare at them.

"I'm Calum Hood." He extends his hand out to shake mine. My breath hitches in my throat and my eyes go wide as I stare at his hand.

I force myself to breath and move as I slowly start to move my hand towards his. My eyes travel up the arm and to his face, finally looking back at him. He has a soft smile and kind, brown eyes. I place my hand in his and his closes around mine, shaking it as I look back down.

"Emily." I say simply.

"Why don't we sit down, yeah?" He asks. I nod and follow him over to the couch.

"So what do you like to do?" He asks.

"Umm... I like reading. And skating. But not at skateparks. Those are super scary." I say quietly, hopefully loud enough for him to hear.

"You're really quiet, ay?" He asks. I nod and stare at my hands again, playing with them nervously.

"Sorry..." I apologize.

"No! There's no need to be. I was just... sorry." Now it's his turn to apologize. But I don't get what for. I scrunch my eyebrows together and finally look at him again.

"What for?" I ask.

"For bringing it up. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." I shake my head at him.

"Don't say that." I whisper.

He kept asking questions and I kept answering them. I felt like it was going well. Maybe-just maybe- I could start to trust him.