If you asked Marlene what her relationship with Liam was like, she'd say it was okay. The two hadn't really hung out alone together and seemed to only really hang out when Frank was around.
But when Liam comes back from yet another foster home and...
After the girls got in the car, Carmen finally said her goodbyes. Marlene frowned when she heard Carmen's voice breaking. Having to say goodbye to your best friend wasn't an easy task.
"Don't forget to call me!" Carmen reminded her as she stepped back. By now, both girls had tears running down their faces.
As the car began to drive away, the kids, minus Carmen, chased after it until it reached the gate. They stopped and began waving, shouting their goodbyes. It was always bittersweet when one of them left.
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"You okay?" Jack asked. The two had been sitting on the couch, his arms wrapped around Marlene's shoulder whilst she stared at the floor. She hadn't been very talkative since he arrived.
Marlene looked up to him and smiled. "Yeah, just Lily and her sisters got fostered today." She explained, hoping he'd understand what she was trying to say without her having to come out and say it.
He didn't. "But that's a good thing, isn't it?" He asked, looking down at her confused.
Marlene turned back towards the floor. Sometimes it felt like Jack didn't understand her at all. She couldn't really blame him for that, but sometimes she wished he were someone who did understand.
"Yeah, it's a good thing." She sighed. "And I'm really happy for them, but it's also another reminder that I'm still in care. And let's face it, with each day that passes, it's more unlikely I'm ever going to get out of here until I'm sixteen." She explained.
This didn't seem to help his confusion. "Why's it more unlikely?" He asked.
Marlene closed her eyes for a brief second. "When people are fostering, or adopting, they tend to go for the younger kids. They want the younger ones, they don't want to adopt a fourteen or fithteen year old." She didn't give him time to answer before changing the conversation. "Do you want to stay for lunch?"
It was in this moment Marlene decided she wasn't going to talk about anything care related with Jack anymore. It was easier that way, even if that meant not talking about a big part of her. It seemed no matter how many times she explained things about the system, he still didn't understand.
It almost felt like he wasn't even trying to understand. It wasn't something he had to worry about, so he didn't bother trying to understand it at all. It's not as if he was ever going to end up in the system anyways.
But his girlfriend was, and surely that should have been enough for him to at least try. Even to make the smallest of effort. Marlene had made effort after effort to understand things about him, and things that he enjoyed, she really wasn't asking for much in return.
"Nah, I can't." Jack shook his head. "I've got plans." He shrugged though Marlene barely heard him.
She was to busy watching as Tee pulled her hair tie out of her hair, an angry and upset look on her face. After exchanging a few words with Carmen, though she was glaring at Johnny, Tee stormed out.
