Adopted by Phan

Chapter 36

Dan's P.O.V.

Louise didn't end up going home, she stayed for the night in my old room while I slept in Phil's. Jay ended up going on her own, I think she just wanted to be alone to think.

We had stayed up a little longer than Louise and Jay, who had gone up to bed just before 10 and we had stayed downstairs until a little after 11, just to be with each other for a little longer.

Neither of us were actually paying attention to the television, which was still on and playing loudly, but I was paying zero attention to it, eyes fixed onto my hands. They were clutched in Phil's hands and he was playing with my fingers, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Are you okay Phil?"

"Yeah, I just- I just don't want to think about Jay's dad. I thought he wouldn't be out for at least another two decades." I could hear the pain in his voice and I knew he was more than upset, and so was I.

I had really hoped that he would never come out of jail, what he did to Jay should never have been forgiven.

"I just wish they hadn't let him out, he's coming back to find her."

---------------------------------------------------

Filming the video was much harder than I thought it would be, even though we had already come out. I could tell that Jay was even more scared than I was, she barely talked all morning until we started filming.

She had been sitting behind the camera on the floor of Phil rooms, her crutches lying on the ground beside her and her back up to the wall. She was holding up the questions for us on pieces of paper, so we didn't have to have our phones in the video.

Right at the end of the video, after we had answered all of the questions about us, Phil started talking.

"We said that there was a reason we came out, and there is. There's a very important reason we came out now and that reason is a person."

We had decided to do a jump cut and then Jay would come and sit on the bed, which actually took a while because we had to go and help her stand up, and even then she fell backwards.

"This is the reason we came out. This is Jay, our- our daughter? The documents say daughter don't they?"

"Yeah they do. Anyway, this is Jay and ignore the broken leg, she fell down the stairs the other day and we spent a night in hospital. Do you to introduce yourself?" She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, clamping closed again.

I looked over at Phil and then back at the camera, before back at Phil. He started speaking for her.

"Jay's 15 and she's originally from New Zealand but she moved to London to live with her grandma when she 10. Her grandma was moved into a funeral home a year later and Jay lived on the streets for 4 years, until we adopted her a couple of weeks ago."

Phil looked down at Jay.

"Is that all I should say?" She nodded, wringing her hands together.

"Okay guys, that's all for this video but Jay is coming to Vidcon with us soon so if you're coming you might be able to see her then. Later!"

-------------------------------------------------------

I didn't get much sleep, maybe 3 or 4 hours and when I awoke it was just past 6. Phil was already awake, his eyes fixated on the ceiling and hands resting behind his head on his arms.

"Mornin' Phil." He looked around and when he saw I was awake he reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me into a hug.

"We've got to get up soon." He groaned and shook his head.

"Phil, the flight's in like 4 hours and we have to be there in 2. We haven't packed either." He groaned again but still didn't move, at least not until I pulled the covers off him and then pushed him off the bed.

"You know we've got to help Jay too right?" He nodded from the ground and then stood up, grabbing some clothes from the pile sitting on the floor.

Not much had happened in the week and a half after we were given the notice that Jay's father was released, Louise practically lived in our house and Jay became increasingly frustrated that she couldn't get around properly, spending a lot of time sitting at the window, watching everything outside.

Our flight was due to leave for California at 10 o'clock and we had fortunately managed to book business class seats, with a little extra foot room. It was a relief for both myself and Phil, who were, as I had described it myself, freakishly tall but I think it was even more of a relief for Jay, who would hate to be cramped in a small area, especially with a broken leg.

While Phil got dressed I went down the hallway and woke up Jay, who glared at me before reaching out for her crutches and sitting up.

"What clothes do you want? Something comfy would be the best." She looked around me from the bed, at the drawers where her small number of clothes were stored.

"Can I have the grey track pants and the black hoodie? I don't mind what t-shirt as long as it's not tight." I threw them onto the bed, closing the door behind me so she could have some privacy. I knew she was underdeveloped, she didn't even need to wear a bra because her chest was so flat, there was nothing there.

As soon as I walked back in through the door of my bedroom Phil threw a bundle of clothes at me, which turned out to be a t-shirt, my favourite black and white striped sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants, which I would have quite happily worn any day.

"I'll go and help Jay pack if you want to start packing your suitcase." He gave me a quick kiss before disappearing out the door and down the hall.

I sighed, pulling a suitcase from the top of my wardrobe and opening it on my bed. I pulled some of my clothes from my draws, sorting through them for my favourite clothing. It was only for a few days, so I took the bare minimum, knowing there would be at least a few gifts from the fans.

I took my laptop and my laptop charger, my phone and its charger and anything else I could think of before closing the trunk and dragging it down the hall, placing it at the front door.

Both Jay and Phil were in the kitchen, a bowl of cereal already sitting waiting for me on the bench. Jay smiled at me, sipping on a cup of milk which she seemed to like.

"You ready for the long flight Jay?" She sighed, placing her head on the bench.

"I think so, I don't know. I'm already bloody exhausted."