Chapter Text
Reginald Isaac Peters didn’t intend to wake up on his birthday inside the rec room at the LA County DCFS office. Granted, sleeping on his best friend's parent’s pullout couch wasn’t ideal either. The now fifteen-year-old longed to sleep in an actual bed in a room that wasn’t connected to the kitchen.
It could have been worse. Despite Emily and Mitch Patterson’s clear disdain for Reggie, it was nice getting to live with his best friend. He knew Luke’s parents didn’t actually see him as a part of their family, and if they did then he would be packing his bags and getting ready to fly to Boston to spend Thanksgiving with Luke’s dad’s family. But he wasn’t. He was currently in limbo waiting to see if he would be spending the holiday in a group home or if he’d be shipped off to some unlucky family who has to host a complete stranger for the Holidays.
Reggie’s case worker, Chad Danforth-Evans gave a small smile as he walked over to one of the cots where Reggie was currently sleeping. He always hated when one of his cases had to spend the night at the LA County DCFS Office. It was almost like he failed Reggie, but he knew that wasn’t what actually happened.
Chad had been desperately trying to find a forever family to place Reggie with. The Patterson’s were fine, but they clearly only took Reggie in to look good with their friends. He had seen the Patterson’s parade Reggie around like some kind of trophy to show that they weren’t solely focused on their son’s education. Emily and Mitch did make one thing clear though, if Reggie got into any trouble or managed to get Luke into any trouble then they would kick him out without a 7-day notice.
The only reason Reggie was still inside that home was because he and Luke were best friends, and Chad knew that Luke wouldn’t let his parents do anything to harm Reggie. Also, the Patterson’s lived close to the Los Feliz School for the Arts, the same school Reggie received an almost full scholarship to. The school wouldn’t pay for his lunch, let him take home an instrument, or issue him one of their iMacs to study (they claimed that they didn’t want anything mysteriously disappearing), but everything else, including his private music lessons were paid for.
“Good morning sleepy head,” Chad said with a sleepy smile. “We need to leave in thirty minutes if we want to make it to Eats and Beats on time for your birthday breakfast with your friends.”
Reggie immediately groaned and started to rub his eyes. He sat up on the cot and sighed realizing that there’s no shower here.
“You know if you guys are going to regularly make kids sleep here, then you guys should at least invest in some showers,” Reggie said as he dug through his book bag for his last clean shirt.
“I’ll add that to the suggestion list,” Chad said, rolling his eyes.
Reggie quickly got dressed, brushed his teeth with the last remaining bit of toothpaste he had left, ran his hands through his hair, and went over to Chad’s desk to hang out as he waited for him to get off another call.
“Look, I understand it’s the holidays but-” Chad said, before getting interrupted on the other line. “Yeah, no I understand. Thanks anyway.”
Reggie bit his lip as he put his book bag back over his shoulders. “Let me guess, another failed attempt to find me a placement.”
“Look kiddo,” Chad sighed as he hung up the phone. “I’m really trying here, but you may have to spend Thanksgiving at the Covington Home For Boys.”
Reggie’s eyes immediately went wide. He heard horror stories about that place in his foster care support group and he did not want to risk stepping foot in those doors. Apparently Caleb never let the boys leave campus unless they were going to school, or illegally working at The Hollywood Ghost Club, aka Caleb’s side hustle that is fully staffed by foster kids that he doesn’t even pay.
“Can’t I just spend the holiday with you, Ryan, Nick and Lilly?” Reggie asked with pleading eyes.
“We’d love to have you, but we’re going back to Albuquerque to visit family, and there’s no way we can get a judge to sign off on that trip.” Chad said, sympathetically.
“This is going to be the worst birthday ever,” Reggie groaned.
“Don’t say that,” Chad said with a smile. “You’re going to have the best birthday breakfast with your friends and after I go home and get a couple hours of sleep, I’m going to spend the entire afternoon to find you the best respite placement.”
“Sure,” Reggie said, dismissively. “Can we just go? I don’t want to keep Bobby or Alex waiting.”
“Of course,” Chad said, with a sad smile.
Reggie quickly started walking out of the building towards Chad’s car. He anxiously shook his leg as they started to get a block away from the coffee shop.
“You can just let me out here,” Reggie said, grabbing his book bag.
“Are you sure? Chad asked, kind of shocked.
“Yeah, Luke and Nick are kind of the only people in school who know that I’m a foster kid,” Reggie said, blushing. “It’s really embarrassing, especially since everyone who goes there has these perfect families and they live in really nice houses. Plus, I doubt it would be a good look for our band.”
“Okay then,” Chad said, wanting to respect Reggie’s privacy. “Nick’s already inside, and I’ll pretend you’re just another one of his friends when I go grab coffee.”
“Thanks,” Reggie said, smiling as he got out of the car.
Reggie quickly started walking to Eats & Beats and smiled when he saw Bobby parking his car with his cousin Carrie, who was unfortunately in Reggie’s grade. Carrie immediately went inside and met up with the rest of dirty candy.
“Happy Birthday!” Bobby said, getting out of the car and running towards his bandmate to give him a hug.
“Thank you,” Reggie said, blushing. “I know how much you hate getting up in the morning so this means a lot to me.”
“Of course,” Bobby said, kind of shocked. “I’m just surprised your parents let you out?”
Reggie immediately blushed as he tried to come up with an appropriate lie as the two walked inside.
“I uh... I snuck out,” Reggie said, unconvincingly.
“Hmmmm, sneaky, I like it,” Bobby said, knowing Reggie was lying through his teeth.
The truth, despite Reggie wanting to keep his living situation a secret. Bobby, Alex, and Alex’s boyfriend Willie all knew that Reggie was a foster kid, and they couldn’t care less. Luke spilled the beans last week when they were trying to figure out what they should do for Reggie’s birthday. Bobby and Willie wanted to host this massive party at Bobby’s uncle’s house where the band could play a full set, but Luke knew his mom wouldn’t let Reggie go. They originally planned to just do something at Lunch, but after Luke told them Reggie was going to spend his birthday in respite care since Emily and Mitch wanted to leave for Boston on Thursday night so he could tour Boston College on Friday and witness the true college experience.
“It’s so stupid,” Luke said with a huff. “If I’m going to go to any college in Boston then it would be at Berklee.”
Luke was also pretty sure that they were ditching town a day early to avoid celebrating Reggie’s birthday, but Luke wasn’t going to tell anyone that. It wasn’t Reggie’s fault that Emily hated him. Infact, it was kind of unfair, considering the fact that Reggie was currently in the top of his class and on track to make it into the National Honors Society. If anyone would benefit touring Boston College then it would be Reggie.
“I’m paying for your birthday breakfast by the way,” Bobby said with a smirk as he pulled out his Uncle’s credit card.
“What?” Reggie asked, completely shocked. “Are you sure? I helped one of my neighbors bring in her groceries the other day and she gave me $10.”
Reggie wanted to save the money for a new pair of shoes that he desperately needed, but if he was going to the Covington Home for Boys then he needed to spend it fast.
“Save it,” Bobby said with a smile. “”Birthday boys aren’t allowed to spend any of their own money. It’s a rule.”
“Fine,” Reggie huffed as he and Bobby waked inside.
Reggie immediately started to tear up as he saw birthday balloons and presents at the back table with Nick, Alex and Willie running towards him to give him the biggest hug. He was so sure this was going to be a lowkey breakfast, since Luke wasn’t able to make it, But Luke wanted to make sure that Reggie had some sort of birthday celebration just in case his respite placement didn’t do anything.
“Happy Birthday!” Willie said, jumping on Reggie.
“I-I can’t believe you did all this for me,” Reggie said, wiping tears from his eyes.
“Of course,” Alex said, giving Reggie the biggest hug. “Only the best for the best bassist at Los Feliz.”
“We should probably order though,” Nick said, not wanting to be late for class.
“Fair enough,” Bobby said with a smile as the boys got in line and ordered. Once all of the boys had placed their orders they all sat in the back and started to enjoy their morning.
Chad waited a few minutes in his car before walking into Eats & Beats so it didn’t seem like he showed up with Reggie. Chad immediately smiled as he walked in and saw what Nick and Alex did before Reggie got there.
Chad quickly walked up to Nick and gave him a quick hug before going to order a cup of coffee.
“Morning Champ,” Chad said, kissing the top of Nick’s head. “I’m just grabbing a cup of coffee before going home for a bit.”
“Will you be home for dinner?” Nick asked, biting his lip.
“I’ll try,” Chad said with a small smile. “Happy Birthday Reggie.”
“Thank you Mr. Danforth-Evans,” Reggie said with a small smile.
“Of course. Well you boys have fun and please do not be late for school.”
“We won’t,” Alex said, nodding his head. “I have a chemistry test first period and there is no way I’m going to be late for it.”
Chad gave a small laugh and walked up to the counter to grab a cup of coffee. He was surprised to see Rose Molina, the owner, working this morning especially since she usually takes the afternoon shift.
“You look tired,” Rose said, pouring Chad a cup of his favorite roast.
“Thanks,” Chad said, bitterly. “I just got off work so I’m about to go home and sleep for a couple hours.”
“Well guess what,” Rose said with a big smile. “We just got our foster license approved!”
“You’re kidding?” Chad said, as his eyes went wide.
“Nope,” Rose said, shaking her head. “The Molina house is now open to teenagers who needs a home.”
That’s when the light bulb went off in Chad’s head.
“Would you guys be willing to take in a fifteen-year-old for a week?”