The Signing ((Katie))

[JordanCortes]

Jordan paced back and forth in front of the fireplace that crackled in her parlor. Everytime the bell would chime 10 minutes, she would snap her head to see the clock and sigh in relief when she realized it was only 2:10. Today was the day Jordan had been dreading and waiting for, for over a week. Today was the day the adoption papers got signed.

Jordan had never met Mr.Davenport, and in no way wanted to meet him ever. But, as Chris so lightly put it, "in order to keep Katie with us, we need to meet her so lovely father." Jordan sighed in disgust at the thought of meeting him. She didn't know if she could keep her anger and temper down low enough that she won't scream her head off at him. What kind of father was he?! To hurt his own flesh and blood like that?! It was stupid! AND WRONG!

Once again her eyes flew to the clock, 2:30. A half hour and they would be there, hopefully. Then, a whole flood of other worries overwhelemd her. What if Mr.Davenport changed his mind and made Katie stay? What if he took Katie somewhere with no intention of returning? Oh no... Jordan thought, as she sat down with nasuea and anxiety.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie was standing by the door of the empty manor waiting for her farther to come home. She felt so nervous and sad about what might happen. She than clutched her suitcase tightly in her hands it was full with her clothes, books, and money.

As a stretch limo came up to the door Katie took a deep breathe and walk outside. She opened the door seeing her father inside. He didn’t move or anything he just stared off into space.

"Get on the other side!" he screamed and Katie flinched and ran over to the other side of the limo. She opened the door and throw her suitcase in and sat down as far away from her father. She started to take more deep breathes trying not to hypervanulate.

As the limo was pulling up the glass house her dad spat.
"I am giving you to people who live in a glass house. Poor they must be." He said looking out the window. Katie could feel the anger rise within her and she screamed at him.

"NEVER SAY THAT ABOUT JORDAN!" Katie screamed and waited for him to do something.

He raised his hand and almost hit her but she dogged out of the way and opened the door and rolled out onto the grass while the care was moving up to the drive way.

Katie lay in the grass clutching her ribs. She couldn’t move much. She stayed where she was and looked up and saw no one wonting to help her up. She than finally got up and walked over to the door clutching her side. She stand write behind her father still holding the suitcase in her arms.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan had closed her eyes in silent prayer right when the clock struck 3. She then opened them and looked out the window. There stood a rather gruff looking man and a scared, timid Katie behind him. Jordan stood up, and felt Chris squeeze her hand reassuringly. Rosa got the door and led the two into the parlor where Jordan,Justin, and Chris sat.

"Katie..." Jordan exclaimed as she let go of Chris' hand and ran over to her friend. She looked at Katie's father and shuddered, not really someone you want to be by. Jordan took Katie's suitcase from her hand and led her to the opposite side of the room where she sat down on an overstuffed couch.

"Mr.Davenport. I'm Chris Cortes, this is Justin my younger brother, and Jordan my younger sister. Welcome to our home. Please, have a seat." Chris began, rather formally. He kept his cool, which Jordan admired him for. She watched on in silence, waiting for the next thing to happen.

"You okay? You look...no offense or anything...but you look terrible.." Jordan whispered to Katie, not taking her eyes off the two men who were talking before them.

[quidditchgrl34]

As Katie walked into the house she clutched her ribs even more they hurt so bad after her fall. As Chris talked to her father in a calm voice she took a seat down next to Jordan.

She looked up at Jordan still clutching her side.
"He made fun of you being poor and I screamed back at him and he almost hit me but I got out of the way. But I rolled out of the car and onto the lawn." Katie said than looking up at her father remembering what he told her about them being poor. She wonted to hit him so badly but she tried not too.

"No thank you where’s the paper I should sign I have to get to work and very soon." he said in a rather terrifying voice.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan's eyes flared up at Katie mentioning her father calling them poor. They weren't poor. In fact they were one of the richest people in all of the city. Jordan looked from Katie to Mr.Davenport.

"1...2...3....4...5...6...7..8....9...10." Jordan whispered to herself, keeping her temper under control. Chris looked over at her, apparently hearing her self-control technique. He nodded at her and then turned back to Mr.Davenport.

"I assure you Mr.Davenport, that this will take well over 5 minutes." Chris said, not in the same tone as before, but in a slightly irritated tone. Jordan recognized that tone, it was the tone he used when he was agrivated at Jordan and Justin.

"Anything break? Our lawn's not very cushioney." Jordan asked her, breaking her gaze away from the scene in front of them to look at Katie. She examined her and saw nothing poking out or bleeding.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie could hear Jordan trying to keep her temper. She too was trying to but nothing seemed to work.

"It’s just a little sprain" Katie said to Jordan as her Dad and Chris were filling out the papers.

"That’s the last I will see of her than." her father said putting down the pen and walking out the door.

Katie couldn’t take it anymore she got up and walked over towards him ignoring the sharp pain on her side. As she reached him she punched him hard in arm and kicked him in the knee. She was paying back her years of being hurt on him.

"I am glad to leave you. I hate you go away." she yelled at her father. He almost raised his hand at Katie. Katie stood where she was not wonting to move she than kicked him and again.

"I HATE YOU!" she yelled again trying not to kick her ex father anymore.

[JordanCortes]

"Okay...maybe we can have Rosa look at later tonight..." Jordan whispered as the two men finished the signings. Katie then stood up and started hitting her ex father. Jordan sprung up and went after Katie, holding her back and calming her down. Mr.Davenport raised his hand to Katie, ready to strike, but Chris grabbed his wrist, his hold on Mr.Davenport firm.

"She is no longer your child Mr.Davenport. You lay one finger on her, I will call the police for trespassing, and random act of violence." Chris threatened with a hiss. He let go of Mr. Davenport's wrist, and Jordan saw her chance. She stepped forward, looking quite innocent.

"Oh, and Mr.Davenport...we aren't poor. See this house? It cost well over 500,000 dollars. It's all glass. Now, I've been to your house...and I'm pretty sure you have termite damage. You might want to get that checked..." Jordan smiled smugly then grabbed the adoption papers, grabbed Katie's hand, motioned for Justin to get Katie's things, and walked up the stairs to the guest room.

"Good night Mr.Davenport, and please do not stop by again. I wouldn't want to keep you from your work." Chris opened the front door and stepped away from it, letting just enough room for the man to step through.

[quidditchgrl34]

As Katie was being hold back from not trying to punch her farther to death. She was lucky she didn’t take out her wand that would have done more damage than her weak hands.

She than notice Jordan walking up to her father and telling him that she wasn’t poor. Katie smiled at Jordan and her ex father left the house. Katie was being dragged up the stairs to her new life. As they reached the room Katie spranged forward and hugged Jordan.

"That felt great to hit him and kick him. Your were really brave to stand up to my ex father." Katie said letting go of her. Katie than notice the gold heart shaped locket that was on Jordan neck. Katie smiled and looked up at her new sister.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan hugged Katie and then opened the door to Katie's new room. It wasn't going to be her room for long, later on they were going to move in to the downstairs, but right now this room would do.

"All Mr.Davenport is, is a coward. If he can't be courageous enough to work out his own problems, he isn't worth me being afraid of." Jordan replied to Katie saying she was brave to stand up to him.

"Now you...on the other hand. You were on a roll, a left jab here and a right jab there...one more hit and he would've been out like a light!" Jordan exclaimed as she replayed the moves with a smirk on her face. Chris then entered the room.

"How could you live with that man?!" He asked, a look of disgust on his face as he leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed. He looked at Katie and shook his head in disbelief.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie smiled at Jordan as she told her she could knock her father out.

"I couldnt I was already a coward in front of him." Katie said trying to keep the memoires away. They were no use to Katie she had many more years that lay ahead of her as a Cortes.

She than looked up at Chris as he was leaning against the doorframe.

"I had to live with him.... the only reason I didn't turn him in was because of my mom. She never knew the real him he always played a little act in front of her." Katie said looking from Chris to Jordan.

[JordanCortes]

"Lordy lou..." Jordan said with a slight sigh. She looked up at Katie and shook her head in disbelief. Sure, Jordan had been through a lot of things in her life, but ntohing like this. She couldn't help but, feel sad for Katie, and the only thing that Jordan could do to help that was to give Katie the love that she needed. Though, with Chris and Justin, and maybe even Rosa helping...that wouldn't be too much work.

"Well, since that is done and over with, Jordan why not give Katie a tour of the whole house?I'm sure she hasn't seen the third and fourth floor yet. I'll head down and help Rosa with the cooking, and call you for dinner when it's ready."Chris smiled, and left the room, leaving the two girls to themselves. Jordan smiled at Katie, then it dawned on her. Katie and Jordan were now sisters. Jordan squeeled with delight and hugged Katie jumping up and down.

"We did it! You're my sister! Ahh!" Jordan screamed, still jumping up and down. She stopped jumping, calmed down a bit and, smiled at Katie, her excitement still bubbiling over.

"Well, this will be your room, until we get the downstairs fixed up, and then we'll have our own apartment! So want a tour of the whole house? It may take awhile. It's a big house. You might get lost once or twice." Jordan teased.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie smiled at Jordan and Chris she knew she was going to have a good home also.

"I would love the tour of the house Jordan put I have to do something first." Katie said jumping up and down with Jordan for joy.

Katie walked over to her suitcase and grabbed her old jurnal full of the misery and pain Katie wrote down in it. She found a fire and she throw the jurnal in it. She was starting a new life with a new jurnal.

"I am ready." Katie said with a glowing smile at Jordan. She kept saying her new name in her head "Katie Anne Cortes". She really like the name.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan watched the journal burn in the fire, and nodded. She understood Katie's actions, she wanted to erase all memories of her father, Jordan had done this also. She shook her head out of the reverie she had entered and smiled at Katie before grabbing her hand.

"Okay, across the hall is my room. Two rooms over is Justin's...shall we take a peek? I wonder if he cleaned it..." Jordan trailed off and dragged Katie two doors over and opened the white door in front of her. It swung open with ease. Justin looked up from his computer, raised an eyebrow, and then went back to his work.

"Hey to you too Justin,"she then turned to Katie,"This is probably the cleanest it will get with him." She laughed and closed the door, continuing on down the hall. To her right was an empty room, her hand clasped the cold doorknob and turned it, she pushed slighly on the door and it opened to reveal a lively room.

"My Mim's room." Jordan said quietly as she looked around. So many memories resided in that room, and when she opened the door they all came back to her. Hiding her pain, she smiled and closed the door.

"That's the second floor. What floor next? First, third or fourth?"Jordan asked as she tilted her head in wonderment.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie stood where she was and looked at her journal burn in the fire. Katie smiled and followed Jordan down the hall to her Brother Justin’s room.

As she was walking down the hall Katie looked both ways at all the glass and the pictures that hung up. She notice a picture with the whole family she even noticed a man that must have been Jordan’s father. She stared at Jordan’s mom she was so beautiful to Katie and she reminded her so much of her mother.

Katie continue to followed Jordan to her brother Justin’s room. She smiled at him as he looked up from his computer and looked around in his room.

"You should see my room, I am very lazy." Katie said with a laugh and followed Jordan down to her mother’s room.

She than looked inside and she could smell a faint smell it really good to Katie. It also reminded her of her mother. Katie than looked up at Jordan they both were so much alike and now they can share each other secrets since they were sisters.

As Katie continued to follow Jordan and they stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"How about third flour." Katie said smiling and very happy to be where she was now. Katie no longer felt threaten or hurt she felt joy and happiness.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan nodded and continued up the glass spiraling staircase, before they stepped on the landing Jordan turned to Katie.

"I must warn you, this floor is basically for our creativeness. My easels are up here, all my sketchbooks are up here, my camera's, Justin's guitars, Chris' radio equipment and Rosa's room. It's a mess, unless Rosa cleaned it but I doubt that." Jordan smiled and then stepped foot on the landing. The familar aroma of oil paints and lead pencils filled her lungs and she welcomed it. Pushing aside a roll of canvas, she made room for Katie to step in. Rosa hadn't cleaned. Her painting hung on the walls and in one corner stood a very messey desk with papers and pencils scattered all over.

"My space." Jordan explained before opening a door. The room that Jordan had just entered had guitars, a recording booth, and plenty more music things. She sighed and knew that Katie and Justin would get along. They were bound to, they were both so musically inclined.

"Justin's space. You might want to spend some time in here, you might like it." Jordan told her, before closing the door and turning to the last one. She opened that and smiled at Chris' radio station. He never broadcasted from there anymore, but he normally listened to music in here. Mixed CD's and recorded some of Justin's things.

"And Chris' work room." Jordan smiled, happy that Katie was there. She pointed to a room across the hall.

"That's Rosa's room. We only go in there for emergencies, or to visit."

[quidditchgrl34]

As Katie walked right behind Jordan still gazing at everything they reached the third flour.

"This reminds me of Hogwarts you know First flour, Second flour, Third flour, and on and on." Katie said with a grin.

Katie walked into the room full of guitars and a recording booth. Katie mouth drooped open and she looked at the room in amazement. She loved music so dearly since her mother was a choir teacher and a guitar player. Katie waked around the room and saw a red telecaster and she grinned at it. It was bight red and it made her eyes sparkle.

As they left the room full of music Katie made a mental thought about talking to Justin about music. Katie than looked inside Chris work room she wondered what kind of job he had. He had a radio so it must also do something with music or something else.

"What kind of a job dose Chris have?" Katie asked Jordan after she told her about Rosa room.

[JordanCortes]

Jordan laughed at her Hogwarts remark.

"I know...which is why I enjoy it so much, well besides the glass." Jordan shuddered and turned to Katie. Chris' job...hmm...that was a toughy. She never realized that Chris had a job. She never paid attention to that.

"Well, last time he talked to me about it, he was a radio D.J. hence the booth. We can ask him tonight at supper if you want." Jordan answered, biting her lip in slight thought.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie smiled at Jordan she had many members in the family who loved music like Katie.

"Now the fourth flour let me guess it up the moving staircases." Katie said with a laugh. She loved Hogwarts but the idea of a moving staircase freaked her out. Just the thought of the stairs moving under your feet scared her.

"Lets go I am ready to look at your wonderful glass houe." Katie grabbed Jordans arm and she hoped she went up the right flights of stairs to the fourth flour. Katie felt so much at home she could now finaly be herself. She knew her nexts year living with Jordan, Justin, and Chris were going to be great.

[JordanCortes]

"Haha, moving staircases? I would never leave this place, it would remind me too much of Hogwarts. Besides, those are magical and considering I'm underage and no one else in my family is a witch or wizard, that couldn't be possible." Jordan replied. Her brown eyes sparkled with delight and they raced upstairs, this floor was relatively the formal floor. There was a ballroom, a big fancy bathroom, a magnificent library, a screening room where Jordan and Justin watch movies, and so much more. She stepped through and remembered her mother's 31st birthday. It had been huge! So many people had shown up and so many people were dancing and swaying. Jordan remembered it well. She also remembered her first slow dance with the first guy she had liked, but she was young and naive and hadn't known him that well. Plus, she broke a couple of his toes.

[quidditchgrl34]

Katie laughed she loved Hogwarts so very much. But too bad she couldnt do any spells she would of done wonders to her father.

Katie looked around at the fourth flour and smiled at the ball room she never seen one her father always went to balls and left Katie at home all the time. Katie than thought of Quidditch and reached for some money in her pockets. She smilied she knew next year she was going to try out for the house team as chaser. She wonted to try out for keeper but Ron already the Keeper.

Once Katie thought of Ron she chuckled she rembered giving him the piece of candy that gave Dillion zits.

"Okay now I think we need to go back down the stairs and to the first flour." Katie said smiling and grabbing Jordan hand again and going back down the long staircases.