I love writing this story. I'll admit it, I do. I think it's because of all you guys who are reading and reviewing it! And the other person who had a hand with making this story is -DuckEgg-, who still hasn't emailed me back lol! But she did press me to start writing this story in the first place, and the character of Rachel is based on her. =-)

And I finally reveal Kayla's last name, which I seemed to have forgotten to mention before. =-S

Anyway, enjoy this chapter and thank you for all the reviews! Please continue to! And I will ease up on the Author notes =-) Xx

As Alex peacefully naps on the gold thread embroided blue cushion of the sofa, I'm panicking. There's actually no words to describe how I'm feeling right now so don't expect great things. I want to be like Alex- blissfully unaware of what's happening around me and the only worry in the world is where my pacifier is. Now I completely understand what elders mean when they sigh and say 'oh, to be young again'.

Along with panicking about the six o'clock 'meeting', I'm thinking about how monumentally shit my life is. It's almost laughable. First my mother abandons the family, my dad becomes an abusive alcoholic wreck, my brother leaves, my dad gets sent to prison, and my previously good school life which I could escape to shatters. And I'm only sixteen. I shouldn't have to deal with all this.

But I can't dwell on it- that wouldn't be healthy, and I won't let it wreck my life. I want to be happy, even though my childhood wasn't. I'll just have to grit my teeth, get on with it, and try and make the most of my life.

But first I have to get through this first. Hopefully by the end of it I won't be catastrophically devastated.

I swear to God I'm wearing in the thick navy carpet, but I can't bring myself to care. My thoughts range from what to wear- I'm currently in my gray bottoms and matching hoody with a white vest-, what to say when I see Brady, and worry about what they're going to tell me. In my opinion, there isn't anything to talk about. Why do they want to meet with me?

Somehow, deep down, I knew Sam was right when he said that I knew this was the right thing to do. I'm finding it freaky that he knew exactly how I was feeling. And somehow, I know I can trust him. Yes, I've only know him a few days, but there's just something about him that I know I can trust.

Maybe Jordan can make some sense of all this. He should be here in about an hour and a half before I go to meet Brady. I'm not expecting him to come up with a miracle and tell me every single thing that's going to happen when I meet them, but somebody else's opinion would be nice. I can't exactly ask Alex. Well, I could, but he would just gurgle and giggle.

See, now I'm rambling. This is what I do when I'm nervous and afraid of a heart attack because of it.

I could phone Rachel?

I sit down gently on the sofa, careful not to wake Alex, and put my head in my hands. In that moment, I feel drained with everything. There's so much to worry about, and I have no way of releasing it.

Look on the bright side- I tell myself, taking a deep shaky breath and sitting up. I'm not dying, I have a brother who loves me, friends who stand by me, and a further best friend in Alex. Things could be much worse. But right now I, Kayla George, am a mess.

Making the decision to call Rachel, I reach into my pocket and take out my phone. I've turned it off the past few days, as texts and calls from Chloe have been practically raping my phone, but this time I need to use it.

I call her and tell her everything, and to be quite honest, she's not that much help. She keeps saying that I shouldn't go and just leave him alone, but for some reason I know that's not what I'll do. There's something in me ordering me to go. Like a command that you can't disobey. What's stranger than that is how I feel when I picture Brady's face in my mind. I get the exact same tingly feeling like I had used to before Chloe became a bit of a whore. And, needless to say, I hate myself for it.

Hanging up the phone and leaning back in my seat, I sigh. Alex is still sleeping blissfully- I had to talk quietly on the phone for him- and his pacifier moves up and down in a steady rhythm in his sleep. His little hands move as if he's having the most wonderful dream in the world. If only dreams could still be a comfort when we wake up from them. Then I wouldn't be feeling as panicky as I am right now.

I don't know what I do for the next hour- the time just seems to pass by itself. I read a few of the old magazines which are in the rack- they're mostly for the kids and adults who are using the living room as a waiting room while paperwork is sorted out. This was the room that Jordan came to visit me in a few days after I got moved to the Orphanage. Even now, I can distinctly remember the static, worried atmosphere in as I had sat on this very couch two years ago. That was when I had no idea what my future was and I was more scared than I'd ever been in my life.

Today is about as half as bad as that.

But when Jordan comes round, everything starts to look up a little.

As soon as the doorbell rings, I'm standing up abruptly and rushing towards the door. He's halfway through a hello when I throw my arms around his neck and cuddle him.

He sighs, as if he's been expecting this somehow. I can't blame him, to be honest. And I'm too panicked and upset to tell him off for predicting my feelings correctly.

As I lean my head against his, miraculously with no tears, he picks me up easily in his arms and carries me into the living room. Obviously noticing Alex, although I can't see for myself because I'm facing the other way, Jordan's steps become noticeably quieter as he shuts the door. He sets me down on the couch and sits himself down next to me. My face just feels blank and exhausted, and I lean my head on his shoulder.

There's silence for a few minutes. There's not much point telling him how I feel at this moment, he already knows, but there is a point in telling him of why I'm feeling like this.

Instead of heading straight onto the subject, Jordan starts with another one.

"Is that Alex?" his voice sounds shocked while referring to the sleeping baby lying on his back to the right of me.

"Yeah," I smirk for a second.

"God, he was just a month old the last time I saw him."

"I know, they grow up quick," I sigh, stroking down Alex's soft cheek with a finger.

Silence again. The only sounds between us until Jordan finally asks the question I've been waiting for are Alex's snuffles.

"So what's happened?"

I tell him everything. There's no point boring you with the details, but yes, I tell him everything. About the movies with Rachel last night, Brady saying those strange things, and about Sam's visit this afternoon. He doesn't say that much, occasionally the odd question, and just listens.

When I finish, I watch him carefully with a wary expression. He may to one of two things- go to Sam's house and start yelling, or stay here and support and moan with me as best he could. I'm hoping it's the latter.

For a second, he stares at the carpet with a serious expression. In this awkward silence, I have to fight the urge to do something random- like poke his cheek.

"I'm coming with you," he finally says.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"No, Jordan, I need to find out what he wants on my own. It's my business and I'm not dragging you into it. Besides it'll look weird, you showing up as my bodyguard," I say defiantly.

"I'm going with you, Kayla. What if he hurts you?" Jordan replies furiously.

"Sam will be there!"

"You're leaving your safety to someone you've known for, what, two days?"

I don't want to tell him about the fact that Sam saved me from spending a night in the woods right now. Too much convincing to do right now.

"Look, I'll be in there for ten minutes or something. And if I even thought there was a risk of them doing something like that, do you think I'd go? I'm not an idiot! You can drop me off and pick me up, if it makes you feel better?" I say, looking up at him with puppy eyes that change into a pleading scowl.

We have a scowling match for the next ten seconds or so. I seem to win because he sighs exasperatedly and looks at the ground again.

"Fine. But I'll be waiting round the corner."

Alex wakes up right then, but somehow my mind is stuck on the last thing Jordan just said about the matter of Brady. For some reason, I feel that something else is just around the corner. And there's no telling whether it'll be good or bad.

So what do you think of Kayla's last name? ;-) Xx