GETTING ADOPTED

After I had said goodbye to Rilili and her family, I went back to say goodbye to Rose and her dad.

"Where will you stay?" Rose asked me in a whisper when I hugged her.

"I think I'll tug along with Ray." I whispered straight into her ear and she flinched,"Your father would not be comfortable with me around."

I pulled away from the hug and smiled down at Rose who looked back at me with a subtle frown. I glanced at her father and waved at him before leaving. Ray was easy to find as he was also looking for me with his mother.

"There he is." Ray said to his mother while looking at me,"What do you think?"

"What do you mean what do I think?" she asked him smiling at me.

I couldn't bring myself to smile back at her because she had a very peculiar sparkle in her eyes that made me feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, the smile didn't reach her eyes and it looked strange for her eyes to be perfectly wide open. She stood in front of me, still smiling, and extended her hand to greet me. I shook her hand and felt her squeeze it and I fake flinched guessing that was the reaction she wanted from me. Her smile widened but it still didn't reach her eyes.

"Bella McGuire." she introduced herself and then her smile finally reached her eyes.

I finally smiled back at her and heard Ray chuckle.

"You looked so scared man. Ma does that to all my friends to see how truthful they are and you are one of the very few who have passed her test."

"Test?" I asked while my.hand was still being held by Bella.

"You didn't hide the fact that you found me creepy so you passed." Bella said and I nodded,"Why did you smile at the end though?"

"You didn't look scary anymore." I replied looking into her deep emerald eyes,"Your eyes are lovely."

The compliment left my lips in a whisper and it caught her off guard but she said a little breathless and shy thanks.

"Your father is going to love him dear." Bella said.

"I know right." Ray said looking around,"Where is he anyway?"

"Work. It's always work for your dad." Bella said sighing loudly as she let go of my hand,"I can't even remember the last time we had....."

"We don't need to hear that ma." Ray stopped her waving his hand in her face as he grabbed me by the shoulder so we could stand together,"Where's the car?"

"I parked over by the dinner." Bella said smiling at us.

"Why? That's far!" Ray complained.

Bella laughed and then started walking away.

"You need some exercise unless you wanna look like uncle Phil." she said as she walked away.

I don't know who this Phil is but I'm guessing he is overweight or out of shape. Ray and I followed slowly behind her as he told me about what it was like in their house. I stopped paying much attention when I heard whispers from some of the parents as their children told them who I was. I've read about the concept of being famous and now that I am experiencing it, I don't like it.

"Vermont!" I heard a lady call me.

I turned around and saw a woman I have never met before waving at me. She run towards me and stopped about half a meter away from me; a distance that is not to my liking. She was wearing a fluffy looking fur coat that covered nearly every part of her body and if I am not mistaken some tights and winter boots. It's hot though; really hot.

"You are?" I asked.

"Don't you remember me?" she asked slightly surprised.

"No." I responded bluntly.

"It's me, Bernice Vercelli." she said excitedly and loudly.

I know her now. A fellow fairy; a breed between an ice fairy and a fire fairy that had not inherited either one of the traits of it's parents. In short, she was an outcast and I had befriended her. I don't think accepting that I know her will be good for me but denying it will be soul crushing for her. How did she change so much though? Judging by the coat she hasn't gotten rid of her wings. She had disappeared mysteriously about a year ago so it is strange that she still couldn't figure out how to do so.

"How did you find me?" I asked in a whisper stepping closer to her and she sharply took in some air.

"It's a coincidence. I saw a pic of you on the news so I thought....."

She stopped talking when Bella stepped in between us.

"What are you doing stepping so close to my son?" Bella asked and I struggled to keep my expression passive.

"Your son?" Bernice asked taking a step back.

"Yeah. Vermont Dee McGuire." Bella said in a matter of fact way.

"Ohh.....I must have stopped the wrong Vermont then. Sorry to bother you." Bernice said nervously as she backed away.

"Let's go boys." Bella said turning to look at Ray and I,"Dad must be waiting."

The rest of the walk was pretty much quiet and incredibly awkward. Why did she say that? Did I just get adopted? We got into the car, Ray and I at the back while Bella sat in the passenger seat. How will she drive?

"You alright Dee?" she asked looking straight into my eyes.

"Yes....Why did you say that?"

She smiled at me and then looked at Ray suggestively. Did he reveal my identity?

"He told me about your parent's murder so I figured that girl was probably from your past. Did I help?" she asked me and I smiled.

I nodded and she turned to look in front. I turned to look at Ray and mouthed a thank you and he smiled. A minute later a tall, well built and handsome man entered the car and sat in the driver seat. Ray looks like him so this must be Mr McGuire. He greeted me enthusiastically and then handed me some papers that he asked me to fill out.

"What are these?" I asked him.

"We need to get you a knew identification, don't we?" he asked back as he started the car.

"We do." I replied.

"Then start filling kiddo." Mr McGuire said smiling.

He hit the accelerate and the car roared and rolled onto the street. Ray didn't ask about why his father was here when Bella had told us that he was working so I suppose it is a normal thing for the couple to do. The drive wasn't a long one so we were at the McGuire residence in no time. The house is far bigger than I had imagined. They must be a wealthy family to own that type of house.

"Is that your house?" I whispered to Ray just to make sure I wasn't mistaken.

"Yeah. Pretty neat huh."

"You've got a lovely house." I said to the two people sitting in front.

"Thanks kiddo. It's gon' be your house too now that you're our kid, kiddo." Mr McGuire said with a smile pregnant with pride.

He parked the car just in front of the house and stopped the engine making the car fall silent as no one was talking.

"Do you have to call me that?" I asked not liking the way I was being addressed as 'kiddo'.

"If I call you Dee then people will think I'm picking favourites with my kids so I'll call you what I call the others." he answered in a lowered and not so cheerful tone even though he was smiling,"Got it.....kiddo?"

"Yes sir." I replied slightly embarrassed and I looked down.

"How dare you!" he exclaimed turning in his seat and the car shook a little.

What did I do now? I looked at him feeling a bit unsettled but he was smiling, the same smile as Bella..... except creepier.

"Did I do something?" I asked gulping.

"Yeah kiddo. I'm here showing you all my love and you just built a wall around yourself by calling me sir!"

"I'm sorry Mr McGuire."

He slammed his fist on the steering wheel; still smiling even though he was looking at me like he was about to kill me. What am I supposed to do now? I have no idea what this man wants from me and I hate to admit it even though I am the stronger species here but..... I'm scared.

"Dad." he said as his smile turned into a frightening grin.

"What?" I asked not understanding what he meant by saying dad.

He moved his upper body into the space between the front seats to get closer to me and I sunk deeper into the seat.

"Dad. Call me dad."

Seriously! Is this what this is about?! No one can replace my father though.....but I don't have much of a choice do I?

"I'm sorry dad." I said.

"Perfect." he said as his face brightened up and was adorned with a smile,"That's good kiddo. Now let's go meet your new family."

New family? If only it was this easy to get a new life as well.