"Does someone happen to know why Addison asked us all to come here?"
She had dragged them to the conference's room in a hurry, only to disappear seconds later.
"There is something we need to talk about." Addison said from the doorway. "In the past week, I met someone we all knew years ago." she sat between Pete and Cooper. "I met Betsy. And Kevin and I are seriously think about adopting her."
"Care to explain this?" Naomi breathed out.
"Betsy came to the practice with a friend, Addison gave her her number, then she caught her stealing in a shop. Last night, Betsy asked her to pick her up in Compton. That's it, shortly." they all turned towards Kevin as he talked.
"What are you doing here?" Addison exclaimed.
"I asked for half a day off and I'm here to support you."
"She was stealing?"
"Addison, you said no."
"Compton?"
Their friends' voices mixed up in a loud noise. Addison sighed, and waited for them to calm down. "Kevin and I, as I was saying, talked about adopting her. She needs stability, and a home, a family. She kinda hates me, so she could refuse. And it'll be a long deal, anyway."
"She doesn't hate you." Kevin interrupted her gently, with a smile. "She called you, remember?"
She shrugged slightly, not totally convinced but hoping that he was right.
"And what, what are you going to do now?" Violet stuttered.
"I have a meeting with her social worker later."
x
Betsy pressed the butt with her foot, blowing out the smoke. She ran her fingers through her dark brown hair, loose on her shoulders. She knocked on the wooden door, smoothing her skirt with an evil smile.
"Betsy!"
"Where is Addison?" she walked past Kevin rudely.
"In the shower."
"Oh, and why are you not with her?" she smirked.
Kevin ignored her. "Did you smoke a cigarette?"
"Excuse me?"
"You smell of smoke; was it a cigarette or something else?" he knew he should've asked what she was doing there first, but the words slipped out of his mouth.
"Hell no. Of course it wasn't a cigarette." the girl laughed.
"I'm a cop, you know."
Betsy looked at him skeptically. "How scary. Do you have a beer?"
"Yes but, no way." he followed her as she moved through the rooms. "What did they tell you for going out at night?"
"Oh, nothing... they don't give a damn." she finally found the kitchen and opened the fridge.
"Well, Addison and I do." he took the beer can from her hands.
"Give that back here! Anyway, if she cared about me she would... - Do you have money? I need money and I don't have any?"
Kevin looked into her eyes. "Betsy? Do you resent Addison?"
"You know, I don't really know her. I don't know anything about her or her life and I don't want to. So, the money? Can you give me some?"
The man took his wallet and grabbed some banknotes, but pulled it away just before she had a chance to take them. "I'll give you the money if you stay for dinner. It can be as quick as you want and we can keep our mouths shut all the time, but I'd like it if you had dinner with me and Addison."
Betsy sighed. She really did need the money.
x
"Hey stranger." Addison walked to where Kevin was and wrapped her arms around him. "Why are there three plates?" she asked then.
"Guess who's in the bathroom?"
"Er... I don't know." she laughed a little and gave him a quick kiss.
"Betsy."
"What?" she exclaimed, pulling away from him. "Are you kidding me?"
"No. Honey I'm serious, she wanted to see you. I told her you were in the shower and invited her over for dinner. Well... actually she didn't have a choice. She asked for money and I blackmailed her."
Addison ran her fingers through her hair. "Oh my god, Kevin! And now?"
"Now we have dinner with her. Come on, I made lasagna. It's ready, sit down."
As she sat at her usual place, Kevin called Betsy.
"Hey there sweetie." the redhead said when the teen walked in. She had an air of superiority that took away Addison's breath; that girl seemed to have the whole world at her feet.
"Hi." she answered indifferently, sitting down.
Kevin set the plate in front of her with a smile. "If you don't want water we also have coke or juice – and don't look at me like that because beer is off limits for you. See, we won't drink it when you're with us." he smirked.
Betsy rolled her eyes a little and started eating.
"Enjoy your meal." Addison told her.
"Whatever." she mumbled back awkwardly.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Can we just eat? It's what I'm here for."
"No, you're here for money." Kevin reminded her. "And you also wanted to see Addie."
"I didn't want to." she teased.
"It's okay. Just eat." she said as an answer, warmly excited by her presence in her house. She couldn't help but think – and mostly hope – that it could be a new beginning. The beginning of Betsy in their life.
A/N: I feel like the last part sucks. I just didn't know what to write. Anyway, about the sentences said by Addison's friends at the practice when they talk all together: the first one is by Pete, the second by Violet and the third by Cooper.
Please tell me what you think!