Pen Pal Project [Alex Gaskarth]

Chapter Sixteen

July 6th

"Rise and shine little ball of fluff!" I shot up off my pillow completely confused. I looked around bleary eyed as I tried to find the source of the voice and I was met with Alex stood in my room with a huge grin on his face.

Scrambling from my bed, I threw my arms around Alex and he laughed, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" It wasn't like I wasn't happy to see him. I just felt confused.

"Really? Have you really forgotten?" Instead of looking irritated like the sentence would have suggested, he simply had a look of amusement which only served in confusing me further.

"Forgotten what?"

"We're putting the forms through today." It took a minute to process the information.

"So we become a family? Like, for real?" The excitement was undeniable even in my sleepy state and Alex simply laughed.

"Yes. We become a family for real." He grinned, and I couldn't help but squeal as I hugged him again. "I'll let you get dressed first because I think it is a tad early. I just thought I'd be able to take you to breakfast before we head over to the head office."

A grin spread across my lips as I shoved him out of the room, him laughing as I did so.

"I'll be waiting downstairs for you then?"

"I'll be ready in half an hour. I need a shower."

True to my word, I only took half an hour to shower and get dressed. I bounded downstairs to be greeted by Alex and Rosie chatting over coffee.

"My lord, you're alive." Rosie commented and I giggled.

"I finished school, so sleep is my best friend."

"Not today kiddo." Alex smirked and I stuck my tongue out at him. "God you're such a child Charlia." He teased and I shrugged.

"I'm still under 21. So yeah, I am a child. Now can we go?"

Once we'd had our breakfast, I could feel my hands shaking in excitement. The paperwork going to be finished off today, I was going back to the home to collect my suitcases and say my goodbyes and I'd be travelling back to Baltimore with Alex.

By this evening we were going to be a family.

"Hey kiddo, I know that you're gonna be pretty jet lagged when we get home, but well, the guys want to throw you a welcome to the family or welcome home party whichever you prefer." I couldn't help but grin in response.

"Welcome home new family member?" I suggested and he laughed before reaching over to ruffle my hair.

"That's how I know you'll fit in just fine. I'll text Cass and make sure she knows then. Anything you want to do?"

"How about Baltimore's finest restaurant. Or in other words a place with seriously good food." He laughed a second time and held his hand out for a high five. I gladly returned it.

Once we'd arrived at the offices, I felt nervous. I'd never really spent any time with my social worker. Because I had always been a lost cause, she never really had tried. So she left pretty much everything to Rosie.

When we entered and gave our names, both of us were given small name badges whilst the woman on the desk informed us that it was only for security measures.

By the time we were sat in the waiting room for my social workers office, I almost felt like a scolded child waiting to see the principal.

"Don't worry kiddo. This will all be sorted soon."

"Can you not call me kiddo?" I groaned in response and he simply laughed as the door opened.

A petite brunette walked out, her hair styled into a short bob. As she passed us, she gave us both a tight lipped smile. We sent each other a look before my social worker stepped out.

In some ways, she reminded me of the actress Meryl Streep, only her hair wasn't blonde. It too was light brow colour with some faded greys hidden. That was the only thing that really showed her age.

"If you want to come on through, we can crack on with the paperwork now."

After introducing herself to Alex as Carol, the two of them went over some documents which dictated if I was able to live there or not.

"She's been given the all clear to move. And we're also setting out the forms ready to enroll her into school, but we kinda want her to make her own choices rather than get persuaded by myself and my bandmates."

"Why?" Alex hadn't expected the interruption but Carol gave me an encouraging smile.

"Why what?" He shot back and I groaned.

"Alex. Why my own choice?"

"Because three quarters of the band went to the same high school. It would be a biased opinion so I spoke it over with Cassadee who said that maybe you'd prefer to pick your own choice, without being corrupted by the guys or myself." He shrugged as he explained and I could somewhat understand where he was coming from.

We then moved onto the basic paperwork of my new address, new numbers if ever they needed to contact me.

When she said that, I silently prayed that they would never have to contact me. I was done being the only one who couldn't get a family and there was no way in hells chance that I was letting this slip through my fingers now, not when I've had a taste of what being a family is like.

It's something which is completely alien yet so completely normal to me. For the to turn around and say that Alex wasn't fit to be a dad would possibly break me.

By the time Alex and I signed the last form, Carol grinned at me and I felt the excitement bubble up once more.

"Now the paperwork has to get processed and everything so that it can be documented, but you are now legally a family." As the words sunk in, I felt my heart soar at them. I had a family of my own.

It was saying goodbye to the people who had become my family that was the hardest part.

The smaller kids weren't as bothered. They hadn't really known me and when they'd arrived at the home, they had been too young to remember me.

The older kids however, they'd been apart of my life and made me feel like the little sister that would always get picked on but when it came to and outsider, they were protective and caring.

And I knew that this goodbye was going to be the hardest for Jake.

I gotten around and said my goodbyes. But I was clinging to Jake like my life depended on it. And there were plenty of tears to accompany.

"Hey, it's all good Charlia. We've both got our own lives now and like Alex promised, he'll be able to get me out there for weekends and stuff so I can still see you. And we have skype." None of his words soothed the tears.

I was loosing my best friend and it sucked.

By the time I was bundled into the car with Alex, I just felt sad that I was leaving Jake behind.

"Hey, he'll visit too. Don't give up hope so easily shortstuff." Alex squeezed my hand as we turned out of the driveway.

"Just make sure Jack doesn't kill me with love when we arrive because I honestly think that Jake would kill him." I teased and Alex laughed.

"There's the girl we know and love. Now come on. We have a flight to catch and a party to get to." He grinned and I groaned.

"I'm pretty sure that by the time I turn eighteen, I'm never going to like any party at all. Not if you guys have thrown it."

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