12th January.

I like I have a broken kneecap. Why, you ask? Because my soon-to-be sister is 6 today and thought it would be super fun to jump on me so I could join in her sadistic screaming at 6am.

I'm not happy, and neither is Jak who is still sharing my room.

Now it's 10am, the girls are high on 'Smarties' and mom is trying in vain to dress them both at the same time.

"Lil, come here. Are you gonna wear your purple stuff today?" She nods viciously as Mom throws me a grateful smile. I quickly close my eyes while she pulls on her underwear then I help her put on the white tights, then the white long sleeved shirt and finally the purple corduroy pinafore dress that mom and Luka bought her for Christmas. Lei has a matching one in blue.

"Shoes!" She screeches and then laughs. I rummage through the closet and pull out her purple boots which I slip onto her feet and begin brushing her hair.

"Noooo! Mama!" Both me and mom stop moving and look at each other. Lilia pulls away from me and runs to mom who instinctively picks her up.

"Lil, why did you call me mama?" she asks patiently.

"You are Alex's mama and you look after me. My mama looked after me, and made me food and hugged me. You do all that." Lilia looks up at mom. "Are you going to be my second mama?" Mom thinks for a second then smiles.

"Yes, after Uncle Luka adopts you he'll be your 'dad' and then if I marry him that will make me your second mom." Lilia seems content with this explanation but still doesn't let go of mom.

Leioa trots over to me, holding her clothes and smiles.

"Do you want to get dressed?" I ask, laughing.

"Please." I go through the same ritual with Lei and soon she's dressed too, but lets me do her pigtails while Lilia gets breakfast.

Once we're all finished eating Luka stands up.

"Now, because today is Lilia's birthday we're going to the aquarium but first we thought we take a trip down to the city hall." We all look at him blankly. "Where we can sign the papers for the adoption." He adds, rolling his eyes. Suddenly it's like someone let a firework off. Leioa scrambles onto mom's lap and hugs her, Lilia attaches herself to Luka's leg and Jak and me jump around the room laughing.

"So you're all happy?" Luka yells over the racket, picking up the birthday girl.

The noise is enough to answer his question.

"Does it mean I have to call you dad?" I pipe up, leaning between the seats. Luka keeps his eyes on the road but glances at me quickly.

"Well, it's really up to you. You can if you want, but I don't mind."

"I think I want to." I've been thinking it over for a few days and it sounds right in my head.

"So do I." Leioa wriggles around behind me.

"And me." Lilia takes the lolly out of her mouth to speak then replaces it.

"I don't know if I do." Jak says quietly.

"Well I won't be offended if you don't." Jak nods and smiles softly. I've noticed he's kinda quiet and sad a lot of the time. I obviously understand why so I'm letting him come out of his shell.

He's been put in my classes at school but he's starting to make new friends. Everyone loves him! I'm starting to feel a little…jealous.

"We're here." Mom calls brightly. We all fall out of the car and bounce around the parking lot til Luka pushes us up the steps and we're hit by the silence.

"It's all…quiet." Leioa says, whispering.

"This way." We trail after dad until we get to a room. Me and Jak don't pay any attention to what the man is saying until mom says rather loudly.

"What?"

"I'm sorry but the legal limit is 8 months for time in the country." He drones.

"8 months? We can't adopt them for another 7 months?"

"I am afraid not. But…Alex, being born in this country, can be freely adopted. Has the named father signed consent?"

"I didn't name a father on his birth certificate." Mom says and both me and Luka gasp. She looks at us and rolls her eyes. "By the time Alex was born Steve was half way across Canada. I realised what a waste of space he was."

"Well would you like to proceed with the adoption of Alex Taggart?" Luka looks at me and I slowly nod, and then look at Jak who beams a smile at me.

14th January

I pick up my bag from underneath the desk and put my book away.

"Jakob, are you having lunch?" I look up in bewilderment at Stacey. "I mean, are you staying here for lunch?"

"Yeah."

"Do you wanna sit on our table?" I shrug and zip up the backpack.

"Sure, why not. Al, you staying…" I stop as Stacey frowns and shakes her head. Alex looks at me then continues packing his bag. Suddenly I realise Stacey doesn't want Alex to join us. "Erm…see ya round Al." As I walk out the class Joey, Tag and Rosie join the group walking to the canteen.

"Why didn't you want Alex to come with us?" I round on Stacey.

"He's weird, ok? He has a thing about blood and gross stuff. Plus he's not as nice looking as you." I blush and turn to look at Joey but I catch the sight of Alex, standing in the doorway. In earshot. Looking not too happy, and I suddenly feel like the most evil person in the world.