traumatized minds, luke hemmings

i want to adopt you.

( Charlie Abbot,
October 10th, 5:10 PM )

"I have gathered you all here today to explain myself."

I know I had explained everything to the guys a couple days ago, but everything wasn't everything. I had so much more to tell and I believed it needed to be said.

"We are all here to listen." Calum confirmed.

"So," I sat down on the footrest. "I was born to my parents Alizabeth Jennings and Oliver Abbot, as you know. I was born as Charlotte Adelaide Jennings. They were young, not ready for a child. But my dad, Oliver, wanted me to be born the second he found out I was a girl so bad. When I was 5 months old, my mom moved toward the outskirts of Inglewood, California from Tampa, Florida. We started a new life. My whole life, I was told my dad died a couple weeks before we moved to Inglewood."

The look on their faces— they were listening very intently.

"And because my mom was so young, and she had no idea how to get around, we were homeless for 5 months. When I was nearly 11 months old, her first boyfriend arrived— his name was Melvin. He was nice, but my mom broke up with him when I was 3." I said, "Then her second boyfriend, Jenson, who happened to be a drug addict. He was nice but also not. They broke up when I was 6, and then her third boyfriend— Jacob." I swallowed. "He was the worst."

"He, um, sexually assaulted me from the ages of 9 to 13. It went on for 4 years." I heard Luke gasp. "One day, while my mom and I were home alone and Jacob was somewhere else, I heard a loud scream from downstairs. When I went downstairs, I nearly killed him— but I didn't. I thought he was a bad guy, but he actually saved my life. His name was Aiden." I explained. "He took me from my mom's house and drove me to Santa Monica. When we arrived, I met my dad. I hated it, screamed, kicked, and begged to go home— but in the end, I stayed. After my dad proved to be a horrible dad, and after 6 months, Aiden took me somewhere he believed to be safe."

"He drove me to Los Angeles, and I started living with my uncle. I had turned 14 while in custody of my dad, and was now 14. Then, I got a job and worked. I was the sole provider from 14 to 15. Aiden stopped visiting and I stopped hearing from anyone about my dad, so I went with it."

"I bought food. Hell, I bought everything. A couple months after I turned 15, Vincent bought me Strawberry. I named her Strawberry because I was shopping with her, and saw Strawberries and that's what I decided. And then, a few months later, he dropped on our living room floor and that's how I met Luke." I inhaled a sharp breath. "Question time."

"Alright..." Calum exhaled. "How was your father able to change everything? Your last name, medical records, everything."

"Life is easy when you have the upperhand." I said. "Truthfully, I have no idea. He just did. I was able to live my life under the name of Charlie Abbot instead of Charlotte Jennings."

"Which do you prefer?"

"I've always loved Charlotte. I would not be against changing my name back. Honestly, life would be a lot easier if I could change everything back to the way it was. I will speak to my father about those arrangements,"

I had been taught to act like I was a part of the royal family while around my dad's people. It was natural, in some way.

"Alright." Luke exhaled. "I would like you to keep an open mind, Charlotte—." Luke paused. "I would like to sign you up for therapy. A place to talk about your feelings freely. Everything you've been through is tough."

I thought for a moment. While the idea wasn't so bad, there are some roadblocks.

"I wouldn't be totally against it," I rubbed my hands against my jeans. "But how am I supposed to explain everything without getting in some kind of trouble?"

"We can take care of that." Luke nodded.

"Then I wouldn't be against therapy." I agreed.

Ashton exhaled a very sharp breath. "What was your mom like?"

She knew this question was coming. She had waited for it. Charlie knew that she could not hide her story much longer, which is why she planned to explain everything.

"She was—" Charlie paused. As much as she thought over this conversation, she never thought of her answers. "She was special. She was as caring as a mother who let her child get sexually assaulted was. I like to tell myself she was blind sided by love, but I know that wasn't the case."

Luke gently grabbed my hand. "I have another question."

I nodded.

"Who was Aiden?"

Who was Aiden? A question I would love to answer. A part of my memory I adored, and kept sacred to my heart. Aiden was the someone who saved me, and I like to keep it dear.

"Aiden was my dad's assistant. He was the nice one. He was kind of like my guard, if you will. I feel like an actual princess when I tell people he was sort of my bodyguard. He was only there to make sure I actually did take care of myself. He did a lot to protect me. I haven't seen him in quite some time. I hope he's doing alright,"

It seemed as though no one knew what to say. I don't blame them, I wouldn't either.

"And I don't even know where to go now." I exhaled. "I don't have a guardian anymore. Where do I go now?"

Luke swallowed. I was a bit confused why he seemed to be holding back what he wanted to say. I never expected him to say the words–

"I want to adopt you, Charlie."

But he did.

And I happily accepted.