Ash

He-he wants to adopt me? No one has ever wanted to adopt me. Is this some sick joke?

"You want to a-adopt me?" I stutter out.

"Yes, I do. I can't think of a better person to call my daughter. I know you are almost eighteen and you probably want to go living on your own instead of staying with me," he sadly says.

"No, I don't want to live alone. I am not ready for that. I am barely ready to chose what I am going to do after high school let alone be forced out on my own," I admit.

"Really?" John asks with a smile on his lips.

"Really," I confirm.

John's smile grows wider if that is possible and he hugs me tight. I hug him back and tears slip out of my eyes.

"What's wrong honey?"

"Nothing. I am just so happy," I grin as I wipe away my tears.

***

I am walking through town towards the beach to find Cress. I can't wait to tell her this amazing news. I still can't believe I am getting adopted. I feel like I am dreaming and soon I will wake up back at the orphanage.

I can see the beach now and I pick up my pace. I spot my crazy friend talking loudly at an ice cream parlour with Cas sitting across from her looking bored. I walk up to them and sit on the other side of the table.

"Hey Ash," Cress sighs, "How much time do I have with you?"

I decide to mess with her and put on a sorrow filled face, "I have to leave in an hour."

"What? I only get an hour with you before you leave?" Her voice shaking.

"Yeah," I sigh heavily.

There is a silence before I can't take it anymore. I smile and chuckle aloud. Cress looks over at me like I have lost my mind.

"I'm joking Cress. You should have seen your face," I start laughing harder.

"What? What do you mean joking? Do I have a full day left to hang out with you?" She asks hopefully.

"No, not a day."

"Then how long?" She wonders.

"Until you get tired of me," I smile.

"What?"

"I am getting adopted!" I cheer.

Cress breaks out into a smile and jumps up from her seat to give me a bone crushing hug which sends us both flying back in my chair as it tips. A squeal escapes my lips at I prepare to fall to the hard ground.

"Ouch," I say when we hit the ground. "Get off me you big goof."

Cress looks at me with a smirk and doesn't move an inch. I shove her off of me and stand up.

"Hey!" Cress chuckles as she stands up. "I am so happy for you! You deserve it!"

"Thank you Cress," I smile as we break away from the hug.

"Good for you," Cas grins and I nod in appreciation.

"Let's celebrate!" Cress shouts in excitement.

"By doing what?" I ask. We aren't old enough to go to bars or clubs.

"We will throw a party! You know that beautiful clearing in the woods?"

I roll my eyes at my best friend, "How are we going to throw a party in a few hours?"

"You leave that all up to me, I got this," Cress confidently smirks.

"Alright, but don't come complaining when you realize that it can't be pulled off."

She scoffs and then bids us a-due, leaving Cas and I alone.

"So, you are sticking around after all. Does that mean that you will think about going on a date with me?" Cas questions.

"No Cas, I will not go on a date with you. I am not looking for a relationship and i would never do that to my best friend."

Cas looks defeated after I finish telling him what I had to say. I have to admit that Cas is good looking but Cress has a crush on him. I would never take that away from her. I don't need a boyfriend either. I just got adopted and will be going off to college soon.

I walk back in the direction of my house. My home. Cas leaves to god knows where as I walk by myself. I open the front door and walk into the kitchen where I smell delicious food being made.

"Hey John, whatcha making?" I ask.

"Ash, I am making some lasagna. Will you be home for dinner?" He wonders.

"Of course, Cress wants to hang out later though. It will probably just be the two of us and maybe her crush Cas."

"Cas, I haven't heard of him before."

"He is new and Cress is swooning," I giggle.

"Oh god, Cress seems to be swooning over a new guy every few weeks nowadays. When is she going to build up the courage to ask one of them out?"

"I really don't know. Any who, when will dinner be ready?" I ask as a ding goes off from the stove.

"Right now," John replies as he removes the dish of homemade lasagna from the oven. John is one of the best cooks I have ever met. I take a bite out of the pasta and moan at how good it is.

"Wow, John, this is your best one yet," I compliment.

"Thanks Ash, I am glad you like it. I have something to give you."

I give him a curious look as he slides a folded piece of paper across the table. I reach for it and open it up. I begin reading and tears come to my eyes. It is my certificate of adoption. I stand up and walk around the table to give John a big hug.

"Thank you," I whisper to him.

***

I am walking with Cress into the woods in my cute light green dress with black boots on my feet. I let my blonde hair flow down my shoulders in natural beach waves.

She insists that she pulled it off and threw a party for me. I still don't believe her, I mean how can I? Within three hours, I am supposed to believe that she got a whole wack of people to attend and music and food AND drinks? No way

As we get closer to the clearing, I can hear music blasting in the woods. As it gets louder, I can make out some conversations between people. Weird. We are still pretty far, how can I hear them talking? I shake the thought off when we emerge into the clearing and my mouth opens in shock. She did it. There is a bunch of people, there is music, food and drinks. How in hell did she do this?

"How did you manage to do this?" I voice my thoughts.

"I told you I would so I pulled through," Cress smiles triumphantly.

"You really did," I mumble as I am pulled through the crowds of people towards the food. My friend knows me so well.

I look at all of the junk food in front of me and take a plate. I put on some Doritos, cookies, Eclaires and some popcorn. Yum. As I munch on my food, Cress leaves me to go find Cas. As I take the last bite out of my cookie, a deep voice appears from beside me.

"Congratulations," Cas smiles.

I nod, "Cress is looking for you."

I hear him sigh in annoyance, "Can't she just leave me alone?"

I hold in a laugh, "Cress is a very...persistent woman. She won't stop until she gets what she wants or she loses interest. I mean, look at this party. It should have been impossible."

"Oh god," Cas says sounding scared causing me to snort out a laugh.

"Can I have this dance?" A voice asks from behind me.

I turn to see Malakai. What is he doing here? When I was at my last foster home across the country, he was the family's son. He was always nice to me and I was grateful. I didn't think I would ever see him again.

"What are you doing here?" I wonder with a huge smile on my face as I jump up to bear hug him.

"I hear the news from a buddy of mine that you got adopted. I wanted to come congratulate you."

"I've missed you," I mumble into his shoulder.

"I have missed you too," he squeezes me tight and spins me in a circle before putting me down.

I hear a growl come from behind me and then an arm on mine, pulling me away from Kai. I look to see Cas glaring at Kai and Kai looks pissed off. I rip my arm from Cas' grip and walk back over to stand next to Kai.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I almost shout at Cas.

"Who is he?" He spits out.

"This is my friend Malakai from New York," I reply.

"He is not welcome here," Cas grunts.

"What the fuck do you mean he isn't welcome here? You have no say in that," I tell him, getting angrier by the second. Cas huffs in anger before running off into the woods.

"He doesn't seem to like me too much," Kai chuckles. "Want to take a walk with me?"

I nod and we start walking into the forest before my name is being shouted by the one and only...Cressida Williams everybody. I roll my eyes and turn around to face my best friend.

"What Cress?"

"Who is that?" She wonders.

"He is my friend from when I lived in New York," I answer.

"So this is the guy that I have to beat as best friend status?" Cress looks Kai up and down, "Won't be too hard."

I laugh, "We are just going on a walk, want to come?"

"Nah, I will stay at my awesome party. You go ahead and have fun. I will see ya in a few."

I nod and smile before turning around and following Kai on the walk into the woods.

"So, has anything changed since I last saw you?" Kai asks.

"In what way?"

"I mean, yourself. Anything different I should know about?" He questions, making me confused.

"No, not anything I can think of," I answer truthfully.

"You are lying Ash," Kai growls causing me to jump slightly.

"No I'm not," I reply in a hard tone.

"Yes you are, you are eighteen now and...." I cut him off.

"Nothing has changed Kai!" I shout. I am not even eighteen yet. That is still a couple weeks away.

"Fine then. Don't tell me," he grunts.

I roll my eyes and continue to walk through the forest. I can tell we are pretty far away from the party because the music is barely audible.

"Maybe we shoul..." I start to say before I am tackled to the ground by....a wolf? Fuck, this is the day I die.

I see Kai standing there watching with a smirk on his face. Is he not terrified of this wolf that is about to eat me. Kai takes out something from his pocket and puts a cloth over my mouth and nose. I try my best to not breathe it in, but I am terrified and my lungs are burning for air. Soon I fall into the darkness as I feel a huge weight lifted off me physically and a huge weight slam on me mentally.