Nick's POV
I cleaned up the mess and then left Clark and Jeff alone for a little bit. It seemed like Clark needed the comfort Jeff was giving him. I guess it's a sign that he's warming up to us. I then went upstairs and got dressed, brushed my teeth, hair, and then went backstairs.
I cleared my throat, in a way of getting Jeff and Clark's attention. "You boys should get ready." I stated and Jeff looked at Clark and then nodded. He moved Clark off his lap and then Clark followed behind him up the stairs.
Jeff's POV
I went upstairs and got ready like Nick said to. After I was finished and walked into Clark's room and he was dressed. He cleaned up pretty quickly. I then took a hair brush and brushed his hair, I figured I might as well, since he hadn't done it yet.
"Where are we going?" Clark asked.
"Well we're going to the elementary school down the street, since you need to go to school." I said with a grin. "And then we'll go to the grocery store and get some food. As much as I like pizza and I know how much you like it, we'll need to get some more food in the house."
"Don't I need stuff for school?" Clark asked and then glanced at the clock. "And didn't school start already?" I grin a bit—he definitely was a smart kid.
"You're not going to school—we're going there to register you—they'll test you to see what grade they'll put you in and such." I tried to explain and sighed. "I think Nick will explain it to you better."
"Do I have to—take a test?" Clark asked.
"Don't worry, they just want to see what you know."
"Okay." Clark eventually said, but he didn't seem too happy about it. I knew that tests weren't fun, but sure enough he'd be fine. It's just to make sure he's ready for the second grade. I followed behind Clark as we met Nick downstairs in front of the door.
Clark's POV
I got into the car and the drive seemed like forever. I didn't like the idea of having to take a test to see where I would be put. What if I get all the questions wrong? I don't want them all to think I'm stupid, even though I am. I do all the wrong things all the time and mommy always said I was.
I followed Nick and Jeff into this building and then we went back into this room and I looked up at this tall man. I took a few steps back, I didn't want to be here.
I looked up at Jeff once he was looking at me and held his hand out to me. I looked at it and took a step back. I wanted to leave.
"Hey, it's okay, don't be scared. You're okay." Jeff said and I shook my head. Then the man walked over to me and I wanted to hide—he looked scary.
"Hey, I'm Mr. Richards, and I'm guessing your name's Clark, right?" He asked me and I nodded. "Don't worry, we're just going to talk, okay?" I sighed and I nodded. I knew if I ran, I'd get in trouble and even though they said, they would never hurt me, I didn't know if I could believe that.
Nick and Jeff sat down in the chairs in front of this desk. They both then turned to me. "Come here, sit on one of our laps." Jeff said and I walked closer to him and then he pulled me onto his lap. I knew they had to since, I couldn't sit anywhere else.
They asked some easy questions first. My name, age, and stuff like that. Then he wrote it down, I guess if I was going to go here, they needed to know that stuff. Then after a while, they mentioned the test; I didn't want to do that.
"Just relax Clark, it won't take long and we don't expect you to get them all right." He says. "Just go with Ms. Kelly and she'll ask you some questions." He told me and I followed her. I didn't want to do this.
Jeff's POV
After Clark went back with this lady for the test, Nick and I talked with Mr. Richards and said how he was placed with us for week so far, to how it goes, and such. He wondered why we were doing it now, but school was important if he remains with us or not. And with Clark having no records, the sooner the better.
However, we'd have to wait and see. This was up to Clark too. We definitely want to adopt Clark—it's only been one day, but I have definitely taken a liking to him already, and I know Nick has too—but Clark has to want to be with us.
Then they talked about how the teachers were and such. They try to keep a good school environment and most of the kids were pretty nice; I knew there were some troublemakers, but they tried to handle those. This seemed like a nice school.
We waited a little bit and then Ms. Kelly brought Clark back into the room and he moved to the corner and didn't look too happy. "Clark you can wait outside for a minute." She said and he left the room. "Well Clark is a smart kid, but I don't think he's ready for 2nd grade." She says.
"So where do you want to put him?" Nick asks.
"Well based on what he knows, I'd say 1st grade is where he should be. I mean, he's definitely ready for 1st grade, he seems to be at the level those kids would be at." She says. I guess that's good, I mean there are some kids that start school a year late, so there would be some seven year olds in first grade.
"Okay, so Clark should be able to start Monday, I'll e-mail you the information when I have him placed in a class." I nodded and then Nick and I shook his hand. We then went out into the hallway to where Clark was, he looked scared. I guess he was worried we'd be mad at him for not being ready for second grade or something like that. I don't know—just a guess.
"You'll start first grade on Monday." I told him with a smile.
"You're—you're not mad?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Why would we be mad?"
"I'm too stupid for second grade."
"Hey, you're not stupid. You're just not ready for second grade." I said and then got down to Clark's level. "I didn't start second grade until I was eight." It was true and it seemed to make Clark feel better—probably because he knew I wasn't stupid and I'm sure us not being mad at him helped as well.
"Come on, let's go shopping." Nick said.
We went to the grocery store. We put Clark in the cart to start off and he didn't seem to argue. We went through produce first and got bananas, apples, grapes, strawberries, mangos, and oranges. Then we went over to the vegetables and got some carrots, celery, broccoli, tomatoes, and the lettuce we use for making salads. "We'll have to get dressing if you're planning on making salads."
"Well I'm going to get some meat and cheese from the deli, why don't you take Clark and get some snacks and such." Nick suggested and looked to Clark.
"Want to come with me and get some good stuff?" I asked Clark and he nodded. "Do you need the cart?" I asked Nick and he shook his head.
"I think I can manage carrying sliced meat and cheese." Nick said and then I took Clark through the aisles. I picked up some white bread and then saw some yogurt. I picked up some Cherry and Vanilla and then went through the next which was mostly pasta.
"Let me know if there's anything you like." I told Clark because he seemed to be looking around. I then picked up some pasta and then saw Clark pointing to the macaroni and cheese. I should have guessed; all kids love macaroni and cheese. I put a few boxes of it in the cart, but not too many. Nick prefers it if I make macaroni and cheese and I'm sure if Clark tasted it, he would too.
I noticed Clark squirming around after getting a few more things. "Do you want to walk?" I asked and he nodded. I picked him up and put him on the ground. I got some snacks—crackers, chips, and cookies. And then I got a couple of things and then saw Nick coming my way. He put some stuff in the cart and he looked at the stuff that I got.
"What are you trying to buy half the store?" Nick joked as he looked through. I laughed and then he picked up the macaroni and cheese boxes and gave me a questionable look.
"You should have seen how Clark was eyeing them. I wasn't going to tell him 'sorry we can't buy them because Nick says they're bad'."
"Alright, but just this once. I'm sure he'll agree once he tastes you're homemade." Nick says and then his eyes glance around. "Speaking of him…where is Clark?" He asks. What is talking about he's—I looked and I don't see Clark anymore.
"He was just right here a second ago—I swear." I say—oh my god, did I just lose him?
Clark's POV
I was with Jeff and after he put me down, I saw the ice cream and I couldn't help but go to where it was. I had it once before and it was the best. I wondered if I asked, they'd get it. I turned around to ask but Jeff was gone. I walked out and I didn't see him or Nick. I saw a lot of people, but not them.
I walked a bit and still didn't find them.
I looked and still didn't see them.
They were gone.
Looks like they decided they didn't want you.
I started to cry. Where did they go? Why would they leave me?
Jeff's POV
I can't believe it. I lost him.
"Where could he be?" Nick asked and I shook my head, I didn't know. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. Day two and I already managed to lose him.
Nick and I turned the attention when we heard loud crying, it was close by. We went out and then saw Clark, oh my god. I started quickly going towards him and called out his name. "CLARK!" He looked up to me and once I got to him, I picked him up and wrapped my arms around him and he continued to cry.
"Shh, it's okay." I said softly as I stroked the back of his head and held him close. I felt relief knowing that he was safe. "I got you."
"I lost you." Clark said quietly.
"I know, but we found you now. You're okay now." I said as I walked back over to Nick. "I'm sorry, I thought you were right next to me."
"I-I'm sorry—I saw ice cream—and then I turned a-around and—you w-were gone." Clark stuttered.
"Shh, it's okay. I got you." I told him as he started to finally calm down. "Did you want ice cream?" I asked him and he looked at me and nodded. "Come on, why don't we go pick out a flavor?" I asked and he nodded. I got a container of half and half. Clark didn't know what flavor he wanted, so I decided that would be a good choice. We then paid for the food and went home.
So Clark's going to be in first grade. And Jeff and Nick lost Clark in the grocery store briefly, but I'm sure every parent has that happen, right?
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