Edited by Quirkista! Thanks QQ!
The rest of y'all :), let me know what you guys think in a review! I love feedback!
"You can't be serious." Claire said, tilting her head to the left.
Her eyes widened at the possibility. Well, everything was certainly news to her. She never ever dreamt, in her wildest nightmares, that she was put up for adoption. She was learning a lot of stuff today, and none of it was good. And if this was fact... she couldn't quite decide if she was happy about it yet. Not when she was more confused than a bird in the center of the desert.
Her words echoed softly against the walls, until they evaporated into silence. Mr. Larsen was standing just inside of the door, head down, not making eye contact. His partner was looking straight at Kendra and William Block, who were looking back in silence.
"Can it be..?" Kendra said softly. "Are you ... sure?"
"What?" Claire said again, stomping her bad foot on the ground. "What's going on?"
She ignored the excruciating pain in her leg in favour of analysing the silent exchange.
"Are you sure? No." William repeated. "Our girl went to a couple in California. Not... Florida."
His tone had a tinge of horror. Claire couldn't decide what exactly he was appalled about.
Florida? Or Claire herself?
"I'm afraid she was transferred."
The man clasped his hands behind his back.
"The couple you thought you were giving the child to, had some complications, and the child was given to the top of the waiting list."
"And we weren't notified?" Kendra said sharply. "Why weren't we informed? Didn't you think, that this would be crucial information?"
"I believe there must have been a mistake. You see, Miss and Mister Lyons."
The man paused to check Claire's reaction. Noticing the visible horror, he continued his sentence all at once, as if to lessen the pain, like ripping a band-aid off a wound.
"They had a more than acceptable home. There was no doubt in the world, that Claire would be happy with Jay and Judy."
"We know that." William said, eyeing the man. "As you know, I was good friends with Jay. He never mentioned he had adopted Claire."
"I see."
The man glanced at Claire quickly.
"I do believe this is her. The records match without a blip at all."
"What?" Claire repeated. "Would anyone like to let me know what's going on?"
With every passing second, Claire's long bangs were dampening and plastering against her forehead. Her skin became clammy with sweat. All of a sudden, she felt claustrophobic.
"Why don't we take a seat." Kendra spoke hurriedly, her ring-twisting reaching a new, intense pace. "We've got a lot to say." Claire obediently took a seat, and gazed at Kendra's blue eyes. Suddenly they seemed so much like her own.
"According to this man," William took a quick breath. "You are Massie's twin. Our other daughter."
"What?" Claire shook her head, sure she had heard wrong. The sound of the door closing directed her attention away from William, but only for a moment. She wasn't going to be distracted. Not when life-changing news was surely on its way.
"I was carrying twins." Kendra took over. "When we found out at first, after about five months, we were thrilled. Ecstatic, really. But then, reality settled in. To understand this, dear," she took Claire's hand in her own gently.
"You have to know that we didn't always live like we do now. I got pregnant at an early age, twenty-four. At the time, William was merely in an entry-level marketing job at Astra, earning enough for two people in Westchester. And a child. Maybe two. But when we learned the great cost of twins, we knew it would push us into debt. And William's job prospects weren't exactly promising."
"And we did what we had to do." William Block, (should she start calling him "dad" now?) said gruffly.
"We made the incredibly hard decision to place one of our daughters up for adoption."
A tiny glittering tear slid down Kendra's airbrushed face.
"I just couldn't make the decision. Neither could William. So we asked the nurse to choose the... the..." Kendra paused, obviously considering her words. "Well."
"And?" Claire's voice surprised herself. "And, and what about when you got a better job? What about when you could afford me?" Her voice lowered to a whimper. "You didn't... look for me?"
Both of the Blocks, her parents looked back at her blankly.
"They tie the knots pretty tight Claire." William Block was suddenly cold, his voice one tone, almost no emotion. "You don't just get to take your child back when you want. Imagine how Jay and Judy would have felt."
"William." Kendra scolded. Claire noticed how her voice had slightly closed off too. "And you didn't know Claire? About the rules? Well, I assume you didn't know you were adopted... but still. No information about parents is revealed until 18."
Claire put pressure on her foot again, the pain keeping her from slapping herself. How could she come across so ungrateful? Not all kids who lost their parents were lucky enough to magically get a backup pair. Or maybe she had lost her backup pair, and now she was using her original?
"Well. I guess that's explained. Bates? Larsen?" William called towards the door. The door opened, revealing the two suited men. "What's next?"
oOoOoOoOo
"Nawt!" Massie giggled, facing her three best friends. "Like I would ever wear this to school!" She threw her hands above her head and spun around, showcasing the tight Nike V-neck gray running shirt and the lavender spandex short-shorts. Light blue running shoes were on her feet, further baffling the three girls.
"Running?" Alicia Riviera said incredulously. "You know I don't run. Haven't you noticed?" She giggled, motioning towards her chest.
"And anyway, you know I hate sweat!"
"Of course we're not running." Massie giggled, extinguishing the hopeful look in Kristen Gregory's eyes. They never did anything Kristen wanted to do, preferring to do what Massie thought was fun. Mostly shopping. Kristen liked shopping, but without the bank to back it up, she was usually limited to window shopping. If she was lucky.
"We're going to pretend to run. By Derrington's house."
"So that's why you made us change?" Dylan Marvil concluded, running her fingers through her mane of fiery red hair.
"But Derrick? Why?" Kristen sniffed, still slightly upset about the snub.
"Not Derrick, ew. I heard Cam Fisher and all of his cute friends are going to be there." Massie bit her lip seductively, earning a snicker from Alicia.
"You're really going after Cam?" Kristen lifted her blonde head. "Really Massie?"
"What's wrong with Cam?"
"Claire?" Dylan burped, earning a disgusted sniff from the raven-haired Alicia.
"Who?" Massie said with a straight face. No one laughed. "Okay fine. Whatever."
"Her parents died three weeks ago." Kristen said, a tinge of disgust in her voice. "And you're going to take her boyfriend from her? At her weakest? When he can't even see her?"
"Wait. Pause." Alicia held up a finger. "He could see her. If he really wanted to."
"Ye-" Massie was cut off by Kristen.
"I bet he does want to. But Massie told him not to." Kristen said slowly.
"I did nawt!" Massie said, feeling her cheeks blush. She had forgotten Kristen had witnessed the conversation.
"Was it when Massie told us not to go see Claire? Because of her 'mental state'?" Dylan said questioningly.
"No matter!" Alicia hissed, dutifully protecting her alpha. "If Cam goes for Massie, it's his own damn fault."
Massie adverted her eyes from the group, deciding her plan. She hadn't expected the words to go over so badly. These were her friends, after all. They should always agree with her. And did Kristen actually dare to ally with Claire? Broken, messed-up, weird Claire? Over Massie?
Sure, Massie felt a little bad about Claire's... problem. But she was being such a downer about it. Sure, her parents died, but that had happened ages ago. Three weeks was forever in high-school time.
"Who's going?" Massie's glare at Kristen clearly conveyed her attendance was not required or requested.
"I guess I'll stay." Kristen said simply. "Don't really want to see what happens."
"Done." Alicia rose, casually pulling the celery-colored spandex out of her butt.
"I need to burn calories." Dylan followed Alicia. "Sorry Kris."
"Settled. Kristen, there's a DVD in the screening room." Massie beamed. Once again, Massie - 1 Kristen (or anyone, really) - 0.
Before you review, I'm sorry for making Massie such a female dog! It's the way the plot has to go. She's shut herself off to protect herself.
Would you guys like to see a blow-by-blow of what happens at Cam's house? Or just a slight inference? Let me know!
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splendeur