I looked up at Jaxs in surpise. "You would really adopt me?" "I can't leave you unhappy with a family that might take you out of everything you're in and I'll never see you again. You're like a daughter to me." "I can draw up the documents and get you and your husband to sign in a few days." "But you have to promise me some things first." She turned to me. "Of course," "You have to promise me you'll continue to dance at school, with me at studio, and at home." I nodded. "You have to promise to keep your grades up and you have to promise you'll go and visit your grandmothers, niece, nephews and your little cousin every week." "I promise I will." "Ok then when they release you we'll go pack some of your stuff and then we'll figure out what to do with the rest later on."
A few days later Jaxs and her husband signed the adoption papers. Getting her husband to agree to sign the adoption wasn't as hard as I thought. I had known her family for years and apparently he thought of me as a daughter as well. The day after the papers were signed and approved I was released from the hospital. "If you want bill and I can go in and get some of your things?" Jaxs asked me while parked in my driveway. "No I'll go get it." I got out of the car and set myself on my crutches. I went into the house and it felt like a slap in the face. When you walk into the house you go through a long foyer and automatically see the chandelier. On your right is the dining room, which I used as a practice room. After the foyer and dining room you come to the kitchen and living room. There everything had its place and everything was completely clean. Mom was a little OCD so everything had to be spotless. Jaxs and Mr. Bill were right behind me taking my big house in. I continued to my parent's room and then their walk in closet. I tried to grab a suitcase from the top shelf with my crutch but I couldn't quite get it. "Oh honey let me get that." Jaxs said reaching up and grabbing the suitcase. As she brought it down it got caught on a hanger and sent the garment to the ground. I bent down and picked it up knowing exactly what it was. "I didn't know she finished it." I said looking at it all over. "What is it baby?" "It's my comp dress. My mom was making it custom and she went to 14 different stores to find the right fabric, sequins, and the stripes." I held it up to show her. It was the perfect dress; white with sequins and rhinestones with zebra jagged silver stripes. It was quarter sleeve and looked like it was ripped at the end of the sleeves and at the bottom. "I didn't know she finished it. She worked all night every night to finish it by next week. Now I'm not even going to be able to wear it." "We'll put you in a separate solo competition somewhere else once you get your strength back." "I don't know." I said folding the dress carefully. "Hey you promised me if I signed those papers you'd continue to dance. I held my end of the bargain now it's your turn." She said picking up my chin to look me in the face. "Yes ma'am," I said grinning a little. I told Jaxs and Mr. Bill where my room was and I told them I'd be there in a minute. I hung around my parents' room and my mom's sweater was folded neatly on the bed the way she had left it. I grabbed it and sat on the bed. I held the sweater so close to me imagining my mother hugging me. Through my tears I saw a notebook in between the nightstand and the bed. I grabbed it and just took it with me hearing Jaxs call me. I hobbled to my room and packed two suitcases worth of clothes and some personal items.
"Aria!" Jaxs' daughter, Arianna, yelled running to hug me. "Oomph… hey cutie." I let go of one of my crutches as she hugged me to hug her back. "Careful Arianna," Jaxs said pulling her off of me. "We don't want to hurt her any more than she already is." "I'm fine Arianna. You can still hug me just gently. My ribs still hurt so I'll tell you when it hurts." Arianna nodded. Arianna was the cutest little thing ever. I've known her ever since Jaxs found out she was expecting her. I remember when Jaxs told me she was expecting her third child.
"Jaxs why do I need Traci today?" My ten-year-old self complain. Traci was the dance teacher that was in training and was learning under Jaxs. Mostly she would just count off while Jaxs did the choreography. I wasn't really comfortable with Traci, plus I just really didn't like her. "You're going to have Traci helping you with the choreography for while so get used to it." "But Jaxs you're my teacher. I only want you to teach me not some newbie who has no idea what she's doing." Traci came in as I was finishing my sentence. If she heard what I said she didn't acknowledge it. "Are you ready Aria?" "Not if you're teaching me and not until I get some answers from Jaxs as to why you're teaching me and she isn't." I gave her and Jaxs attitude, which Jaxs knew I never gave unless I needed answers. "I can't dance with you like I normally do because I'm pregnant with a little girl."
"We'll get the boys' things together and Brandon will move in with Logan and then you can have that room so you don't have to share with Arianna for long." "I don't mind sharing with Arianna." "No, you're a teenage girl who needs her privacy." "Thanks Jaxs," Jaxs put my bags on the little bed she had against the wall. "I'll leave you to get your things in order." She started to leave. "Jaxs," She turned. "Thanks for everything you've done for me in my life." She came back to me and gave me a hug. "Anytime and anything, but you already know that." She wiped away my tears and I wiped away hers. "I'll call you when dinner is ready."