The Adopted Daughter of The Good Doctor

Sacoglossan Sea Slugs and Birthdays Part One

*here's a Zach-themed chapter because I love you guys*

Zach woke up on June 10th in a good mood. He was another year older and was happy the summer had arrived. That meant no having to go to school, make up any work, and they could stay out late if they wanted to.

He rolled over and checked his phone. He already had multiple "Happy Birthday" texts from his friends. Bailey sent him three different gifs, Logan sent Happy Birthday with multiple emojis, and Dylan sent gifs and a selfie of himself for some reason. He turned off his "do not disturb" mode and almost immediately got a phone call from Clara.

"Hey."

"Happy Birthday, Dude!" Clara exclaimed into the phone.

"What happened to calling me 'bitch'?" Zach joked.

"Your birthday happened and I've decided to be nice to you."

"Aww, you do have a heart," Zach fake swooned.

"I will scoop your eyeballs out with a spoon," Clara threatened.

"Are you threatening me with a spoon?"

There was a pause. "Touché, jerk."

"If you think I'm gonna call you a bitch, it ain't happening. I'm more of a gentleman than that."

Zach heard obnoxious laughter come from the other side of the phone. He bitchfaced the phone even though no one could see him.

"I'm messing with you, Zach. Anyways, I'll see you later."

"Kay, bye, love."

"Bye, babe."

He hung up the phone and went to the bathroom. When he was finished, he went downstairs. There was a gift sitting on the middle of the table for him.

His sister, Rachel, punched him in the shoulder. "Happy Birthday, Old Man."

"I'm, like, a year older than you."

"Which still makes you older than me. Anyways, Mom's in the kitchen making breakfast and Dad's watching something in the living room."

He walked by his mom to grab a water from the fridge. His mother pulled him into a tight hug.

"Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy."

"Thanks, Mom."

He sat at the table and stared at the present. It was medium-sized and flat.

"That's from me, so you better appreciate it," Rachel said while eating a pancake. "I spent good money on it."

He opened the gift carefully. Zach ripped apart the wrapping paper to reveal a green hoodie. It was still in the plastic packaging so he had to take scissors to cut it.

The hoodie had a Metallica logo on it.

"How'd you-"

"We listen to the same playlist. And I know you."

Zach hugged his sister. "Okay, you big lug, you're crushing my airflow."

He immediately slipped on the hoodie and sat at the table. His mother was beginning to put out bits of breakfast for everybody to dig into. Zach grabbed a biscuit with gravy and a piece of greasy bacon.

It was delicious. Zach then went upstairs to shower and change into day clothes. He'll never admit it because Clara would never let him live it down, but Dove body wash works wonders. He didn't care if he smelled like a girl. At least now, his skin was slightly soft and didn't break out as much.

He blames Clara. They stayed over at Bailey's a few times and he forgot to bring his own soap with him. Bailey told Zach that he could use the shampoo but if he touches the body wash, then he better look out. There was a reason Bailey was a bodyguard after all. Clara, being sympathetic, lent him some of hers and he's never gone back.