Chapter Seven
Saying Goodbye
"Um, Hi Kira, I'm Scott's father." Johnathan said, stepping forward. For the first time he was seeing the bruised, and broken little girl that his son saved. He could tell she was in pain, and stressed out, and he felt bad for her. "My name is Johnathan." He said, extending his hand out to her. Kira was hesitant to take it, but did so. His calloused hands gripped hers, maybe a little to strong for her comfort, making her wince a little. "I can't imagine what you are going through right now, but I want you to know, that my son made a promise to you, and once a Hillstrand gives you their word, your either with us or you're not. If you accept, then your just as much family, as any other Hillstrand. You don't have to decide now, but I'm sure I can pull some strings, and you can come stay with us if you want."
Kira thought about what Johnathan had to offer. He seemed nice enough, and if it weren't for his son, god only know's what would've happened to her.
Maybe I do need to start thinking about myself.
One side of her brain said, but the other argued back, forcing herself into a lower pit. You know you don't deserve it. Your completely worthless. Why the hell would anyone offer to help you. Stupid, foolish girl! A sigh escaped her lip's, there were days like these where she contemplated her life. If she ended her life, then she would never have to be a burden to anyone again. Her father could live happily without her. Her friends would be freed of worrying about her. Her teacher's wouldn't have to get mad at her whenever she missed school. The world would truly be a better place without her. On the other hand, she thought about her mother. A happy-go-lucky kind of person who always had a smile on her face. Even when something went wrong, she would smile, and tell her daughter, "Everything happens for a reason, baby girl. Just keep your chin up, because everyone has to answer to someone. So when something goes wrong, it can just as easily be fixed." Or, "Dont worry about the future, because we never know what's going to happen. You just gotta live with the moment you have, and what that moment is offering you."With her mother's advice ringing through her mind, she wiped her watery eye's before making her decision.
"Thank's Mr. Hillstrand. I would really appreciate that offer. I promise I wont get in your way."
"Dont be silly kid. Let me go talk to these people, and maybe we can get ou out of here early." Johnathan said, as he turned to leave.
Scott stayed quiet, unsure of what to say. It was Kira that started first this time, "Why are you doing this for me?" She asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You dont even know me, and you've saved my life. You and your dad are offering to take me in, but why?" Kira asked.
Scott just smiled at her, not answering her question, but instead rubbing her head, before exiting the room.
Several day's later, and several interviews with the police, and pictures later Kira was sitting up in a wheelchair for the first time almost a week. Her ribs still hurt, but not as much as they did at first. Scott, true to his word, stayed right by her side the whole time. Kira couldn't understand why, and Scott would never give her a reason. Whenever she would ask, he would just smile.
Johnathan came in the room, a little loud, forcing his sleeping son to jolt awake, "You scared the crap outta me, dad!" Scott said, holding his hand over his heart. Kira laughed a little, but stopped as soon as Scott looked at her. Half embarrassed, and more so afraid of his reaction, she put her head down, trying to hide. Scott let it go, and stood up to stretch his sore back.
"Well, this is it, are you ready to get out of here Kira?" Came Jonathan's voice?
"Really? I can leave today?" As soon as Kira asked the question, a cop and a woman dressed in a black dress pants, and a white shirt. Her name tag read, "Sofia," under her name was her job title, "case worker." silence filled the room, and for the first time since Kira left her fathers abusive hands, she felt like she was about to get beat one more time.
"Hi Akira. How are you feeling?" Her soft voice echoed through Kira's ears.
"Who are you?" Kira asked in a small voice.
"I'm Sofia from Child Protective Services. Your being released today, and that's why I'm here."
"What do you mean that's why your here, she's coming home with us!?" Scott said, standing up, taking on a very defensive mode. The cop walked forward, eyeing the blonde haired boy. Then Jonathan took his place next to his son.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Sofia asked.
"I'm Johnathan Hillstrand, and this is my son, Scotty Hillstrand. Kira was supposed to come home with us."
"I see. What is your relation with Akira?"
Kira looked at John, and Scott tears threatening her eyes. They knew she was desperate, but what were they supposed to say or do? Scott almost jumped forward, as if on attack. He wanted to rip Sofia's face off, aswell as the cop. He knew what she was going to do. She had no intention of letting Kira go with them, and for that, he needed to do something, anything to try to keep Kira with him. "She's my girlfriend." Akira's eye's widened, and opened her mouth to resist, but the look Scott shot at her told her otherwise.
"Oh really? How long have you two been together, Akira?" Sofia turned to the trembling girl in the wheelchair.
"Uh... Um... I..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say.
"We've been together for a year." Scott said.
"I asked Akira to answer the question." Sofia said, before turning back to Akira. "Even so, I'm sorry to tell you that you have to come with me." With those words, Kira's eyes flooded with tears, as they streamed down her cheek's. Scott instinctively walked over to comfort her. He kneeled down, and wiped her tears away.
"What do we have to do to get custody of her?" Johnathan asked, eyes focused on his black cowboy boots. Sofia stepped forward, handing him her card with all her contact information. "This is where you can reach me. By law, I have to see if she has any family other than her father that is willing to take her in. If not, she will be put through the system, and that is when you can step in. If you are approved, then she can go home with you."
"How long will that take?" Scott asked.
"The process is not an easy one, it can take several months, sometimes up to a year or more."
Kira's heart sank deeper, and deeper. She didn't want to go into foster care, she didn't want to live in a children's home. She wanted to go home with the Hillstrand's, and possibly live the rest of her life normal, without worry. She couldn't understand her feelings for Scott, but she knew deep down he cared for her, just as she cared for him. The only problem was that she was terrified to admit it.
"Are you kidding me?" Scott yelled, "Dont you think if her family really cared, she would have been taken away from this mess a long time ago?" Scott was beyond annoyed, and let it show. He didn't want anyone taking Kira away from him. There was something about her that he was beginning to love. She needed him, even though she may not know it.
"I could say the same thing about you." Sofia shot back, "Now if you excuse me, we need to get going. I have several more cases I need to work on today." Sofia said, gripping the wheelchair, and turning to leave.
"Wait!" Scott shouted, as he ran in front of the wheelchair, stopping Sofia from pushing Kira anywhere else, "Can you please give us a minute to say goodbye?"
Sofia was clearly annoyed by the rowdy young man, sighing, she nodded, "Five minutes." She said before exiting the room, the cop following behind her.
"I don't want to go." Kira cried. Scott hugged her, and stroked her hair, "I know." He said, but there was nothing he could do.
"Look kid, I don't know how this is going to work, were both fishermen, and we live in Alaska. We just came down for a visit with some friends..." Johnathan started, but was cut off by his son, "Isn't there anyway we can just take her? She can come with us back to Alaska, and she can start a new life, and..."
"Scott..." Johnathan called, "Say your goodbyes, I think we have some things we need to talk about."
As heartbroken as Scott was, he couldn't disobey his father, he knew better than to do that. For the first time he felt like he was being scolded, just like a child. Was there really no way around this? Scott thought to himself. He had only known Kira for a short time, and grew incredibly strong feelings for her in that time, saved her life, and fell for her even more. Not to mention his promise to protect her, and stay by her side, now they were being ripped apart. Both of them were too young, and naïve to stop it. There was nothing they could do except wait.
Finally updated! It's been awhile since I actually sat down and wrote a chapter for this story, can't believe I finished all of this in less then one hour tonight! So now that this is updated, gotta work on the second chapter for It's A Start.
Also started playing around with a new story theme. Wanna hear it?
So the Hillstrand's own, and operate their own ranch. Johnathan's daughter is a champion Barrel Racer, and when she offers to teach her friend how to ride, she gets more then she bargained for, but so does Andy!
Let me know what you guys think? Like I said, I'm still playing around with this theme, but this is the main idea I have in my hear right now. So... REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Love you guys!
