the first day of school.

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Before this chapter begins, I should say here that I am forever grateful for the people that read my stories. I have made friends from this and I don't even remember how I got into this. I remember attempting to raise views of my stories and now I have a story nearly at 80,000.

I mean it when I say thank you.

Enjoy this chapter!



After the last week of being introduced as Luke's adoptive daughter, you'd think Charlie would be annoyed by it and secretly hope it would end— but you're wrong.

Instead, she would hoist her head up high and agree. She would say, "Yep!"

When Aiden left for France the few days before, her heart broke a little. She had given him her new number and a giant hug before he left for the airplane.

After her court hearing, Aiden had to leave back for France and Charlie's heart broke a little as she watched him enter his private airplane. While she had given him her new number and the longest hug ever before he left, it still hurt a little.

Despite all of the emotions running through the air, today was a new day.

It wasn't any new day. It wasn't just a random Friday.

It happened to be Charlie's first day of school at BainBridge Private School. A new school in which she had toured a little bit ago. A new school where she happened to be a new person. She was no longer Charlotte Abbot. She was Charlotte Abbot Hemmings.

"Don't you look gorgeous?" Ashton said as Charlie walked down the staircase in an outfit she had debated on wearing for at least 10 minutes.

Charlie wore a plain white t-shirt with blue overalls overtop of the shirt with one strap hanging low over the denim. White converse on her feet as well with her hair all the way down.

Charlie did a small spin for Ashton to show him her outfit. "I feel like an actual teenager. Worrying about what I wore."

"You are an actual teenager." Ashton put his hand on her head gently. "Don't stress yourself out, honey, you'll only raise your blood pressure. You look beautiful no matter what you wear."

"Don't worry about me," Charlie said with a wave of her hand. "Is Luke taking me to school soon?"

"Yes," Ashton confirmed with the nod of his head. "I wish I could go with you, but I have an operation in an hour and I cannot be late."

Charlie smiled lightly. "Duty calls," She said. "It's alright. Don't stress."

Ashton smiled back at Charlie. "I'll make it up to you by cooking your favorite pasta tonight. Since I am the house cook,"

Ashton cooked for the entire house, and that was an unspoken rule. The man knew how to cook anything. If you showed it to him through a photo on your phone, he would make it exactly how you envisioned it. He was a god at cooking.

Which is why when he mentioned pasta, Charlie felt as though her day got a lot better. The small smile once on her face grew.

"You are indeed the house cook, Ashton." Charlie hummed.

Ashton kissed Charlotte's temple before packing up his own lunch and leaving the house. As you'd expect, Ashton was the only one in the house who packed a lunch. The 3 others thought it was dumb due to the free food they got at the cafeteria— which Ashton was not fond of.

Charlotte swung her legs back and forth as she slowly ate her breakfast— a wonderful meal Ashton prepared. A strawberry banana smoothie, two pieces of not too hard but just right bacon, a cut up apple, and over-easy eggs.

Ashton had said directly to Charlotte— "Breakfast is what keeps you going." and while she lives underneath his household, she better believe it.

She turned her head when she heard footsteps walking down the stairs and a small grin on her face when Luke turned the corner, his face on his phone.

"Goodmorning, sweetheart." Luke said once his head was lifted. He walked up next to Charlie and kissed her head. "How are you feeling?"

Charlie shrugged her shoulders. "I'm feeling okay."

"Just okay?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

"It's just very new." Charlie smiled. "I'm excited and nervous."

"You'll be okay." Luke said, walking around the corner of the counter and beginning his morning coffee.

For the rest of the morning, the two talked about school rules and how Charlotte felt. Luke wanted to make sure he wasn't pushing her into this and that she actually wanted to be in school.

At exactly 7:30, Luke and Charlotte left the house. Charlie carried her bag in her hand that contained her lunch that Ashton insisted on making— and her backpack around her shoulders. She carried her bag in her hand.

Charlie's leg bounced against the car floor as the school became closer in view. Her teeth bit into her lip in nervousness.

"Here we are." Luke said, pulling into the drop off zone. "I will be here at 3 pm sharp to pick you up. If anything happens before then, you call me and I will answer. I don't care if teachers don't allow phones. I want to know you're okay."

Charlie's heart warmed at the thought of Luke wanting to know she was okay. She was slowly warming up to the idea of him being her 'father figure.' So, with a firm nod, she agreed.

"I'll see you at 3 pm, Luke." Charlie said.

Charlie messed with her rings as she approached the front office of the school. She buzzed to open the door and walked in to see two office ladies.

After a moment, she scanned the room. It was as normal as a school office could be. Two office ladies in the front desk— one managing the attendance and one managing the kids walking in. A boy sat in the back of the desk— drawing on his paper.

"Hello dear. How can I help you?" The lady smiled brightly.

Charlie smiled lightly. "Hi, um. I'm new to the school and I was told to find the front office ladies who would help me with a schedule and that."

"I see," She smiled, looking down at her computer. "What's your name?"

"Charlotte Abbot Hemmings." Charlie replied.

"Yep! I see you." She turned on her chair and looked at the boy sitting and drawing. "Theo, can you take Ms. Charlotte to the counselors office?"

The boy— who seemed to have been entranced with his drawings— looked up at the mention of his name, Theo. He nodded and slowly stood. "Yeah." and walked toward Charlie.

The two did an awkward smile at each other and Theo began to walk Charlie to the counselor's office.

"You're new to Bainbridge?" he asked softly.

"Yep." Charlie nodded. "I'm Charlotte."

Charlie extended her hand for Theo to shake, and Theo shook it back. He smiled. "I'm Theo. It's nice to meet you, Charlotte."

The two teenagers made casual conversation as they trudged through the school. As the two approached a door that clearly said 'Counselors Office' on the front, Theo stopped.

He said, "Here we are, Charlie."

"Thank you."

Charlie walked into the counselors office, exhaling a nervous breath while the door behind her shut slowly. A lady from a desk inside of the office looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Hello honey."

"Hi, um." Charlie messed with her overall strap. "I am a new student and I'm here to meet with the counselor."

"I see. What's your name honey?"

"Charlotte Abbot Hemmings." Charlie said.

"I see. Alright, Mrs. Johnson in the back will see you now." 

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