There's more to life (Adopted by Brendon Urie) | #2

#64

Song of the Chapter: Kids in the Dark by All Time Low

Anna's POV

After dinner, I go back upstairs and play guitar.
"May I join?" I hear. I look up to see James.
"Of course." I smile and pat the space next to me. He wraps his arm around my waist while I play.
"How was work?"
"Good. Callum and I listened to your performance. It was amazing."
"No it wasn't I messed up a lot."
"No it sounded amazing."
"Thanks."
"And a girl that was a fan that said to say hi."
"That's sweet."
"It was Cali."
"Cali? Really?"
"Yeah."
"She lives in Phoenix what is she doing here?"
James shrugs.
"Did she seem ok?"
"A little sad and tired I guess."

I put my guitar down and grab my phone.

To Calibamd: hey. My boyfriend told me you are in La
From Calibamd: yeah I heard your song being played
To Calibamd: what are you doing in la?
From Calibamd: visiting family
To Calibamd: oh cool. Want to meet up?
From Calibamd: yeah you free tomorrow?
To Calibamd: I am but are you free now?
From Calibamd: I mean yeah but it's almost 7 pm
To Calibamd: if it's ok with your family, meet me the diner on Maple Street
From Calibamd: ok

"All ok?"
"Want to come with me to meet Cali?"
"Now?"
"Yeah."
"All ok?"
"Yeah I just want to make sure she's ok."
"Alright."

We walk downstairs and I go up to dad.
"Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to go and meet someone."
"What? Now?"
"Uh yeah. Do you remember Cali that I mentioned when I was in Phoenix?"
"Yeah?"
"She's in la I just want to make sure she's ok."
"Ok, don't be too long and call me if you need anything."
"Will do thanks dad."
"Love you."
"Love you too."

I jump in James' car and we drive to the diner.
"What makes you think she's not ok?"
"I know that she struggles with mental illness and has been dealing with her parents arguing and she's being ignored by her parents."
"You're too good for this world."
"Any decent person would make sure she was ok." I shrug.

When we get there, I immediately spot Cali.
"Cali!"
"Anna! Oh my gosh hi."
"Hey how's it going?" I smile and embrace her.
"Good thanks how are you?"
"Good thanks. Cali this is my boyfriend James."
"Hi nice to see you again."
"Good to see you again, thanks for the amazing coffee."
"Anytime."

"So what brings you to la?" I say once I had ordered 3 milkshakes.
"Oh umm, just visiting family." She says avoiding eye contact.
"Are you sure that's all?" I ask. I was worried about this girl, she was thinner than when I first met her and I could see a badly covered up bruise under her eye. She nods and stirs her straw in the milkshake that a waitress had just placed down. I grab her hand.
"Cali. What's going on?"
"It's ok."
"No it's not I can tell that somethings wrong."
"I don't want to bother you."
"Cali, you won't be bothering us I promise please let me know what's wrong."
"My d-dad g-got." Was all she could stutter out before sobs overcome her body. I get up from my seat and sit in the seat next to her.
"It's ok." I say hugging her.
"I-I'm s-sorry."
"No it's ok, take your time." I rub her back and she cries into my shoulder.

She sits up and James hands her a napkin and she wipes her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok don't apologise." James smiles.
"Want to tell us what happened with your dad?"
"He started getting drunk and violent and he hit me so many times and I couldn't handle it so I ran away."
"That horrible-" I say angrily before James interrupts me.
"A." He raises his eyebrow and give me a look that says 'calm down'
"I'm sorry Cali that your father did that to you it's horrible. How did you get here?"
"I stole some money from dads wallet and caught a bus as far away as I could but it's fine."
"No it's not fine not at all." I say and James agrees with me.