Change is slow, until it's not.

Chapter Two: Current, Vi

It had been two years since Vi had last seen Powder in person. A hole in her heart had opened up, one that could not be filled or replaced, one that could not be substituted in, and one that could not be ignored. Vi felt the weight everywhere she went, even when she was out of state, even when she was in school or the store, even when she was fighting.

Vi had kept in touch with Powder, and she seemed to be doing fine, but occasionally she would ask why Vi didn't visit her. Vi didn't know what to say, she used excuses and vindication on her school and activities that were none extistant. Ever since Powder had been adopted, Vi had slowly let herself go. She ignored her studies, she didn't pay attention when she was supposed too, she got into physical fights with students, and she was mostly neglected and on some cases physically, mentally and emotionally abused.

But she never once complained about it. She could deal with it, she had survived much more, she wouldn't let a little hit, punch, kick or yelling get to her. She'd suck it up and soon enough she'd be out in a couple years and fight for some control over her younger sister.

Powder often talked about the man that separated them, Vi was polite when she would tell her about him and what he did for her. As she listened in slowly, she began to understand that the man could give Powder opportunities that Vi could not. Vi could protect Powder, she could not help her. But this man could. She was still bitter and angry, and she wanted Powder back, but deep down she knew that Silco could give Powder a better life than Vi could. And that hurt Vi's pride, ego and self esteem a lot.

Silco and Vi had only talked a few times before Vi hung up on him. She still didn't understand why Silco didn't take her in as well. Vi had done nothing wrong, she had never gotten into too much trouble, her grades were okay and Powder was attached by the hip to her. So why take one and not the other?

Vi had trouble dealing with that question. Was she not good enough? Was she so unworthy of having a family? Was she a horrible kid? What had she done wrong? What had happened to make her not get adopted but Powder did? Was she just...not meant to be loved? 

Vi was in the car of her case worker. Her foster family had been found to be physically abusive towards her after breaking her finger. She had been starved and not malnourished, so it was very easily to break a small bone like that. Steb had gotten her out of there as fast as he could, but he didn't do anything about the family, nor did he press charges.

He had done this many other times, he had figured out that the family was doing some less than pleasant things to Vi and gotten her out of there as fast as he could, but he would never report them. He would just let them go to do it to another child. Vi had assumed that the reason why no one ever reported the families was because she was too much of a hassle and deserved to be physically hurt. Or she was just so unimportant that Steb didn't care whether the families had done it to her, he just wanted to get her out of the situation so it didn't escalate and he have to explain why he didn't pull her out in front of a court if it got found out.

The car was well used, Vi had gotten used to the car. She had been in it more than enough times for her liking. The seats were made of nylon, with different stains that were washed out slightly with bleach. Vi looked out the window, ignoring the world around. She had left the foster house she was at with just her clothes.

Steb didn't give her enough time to collect her things before he shoved her out of the house and left. All she had was her backpack, the school supplies in it and the clothes she had on her back. Vi began to wonder how she would get new clothes. Most Foster parents she lived with didn't buy her clothes and tried to spend as less as they could on her. They were only in it for the money.

Vi was a trouble maker, a fighter, a teenager. Foster parents wanted little kids or kids preadolescent. Not a teenager. They wanted to take care of someone they could make an impact on, not someone they had to tolerate like teenagers. Vi had multiple notes in her file for behavioral issues, making it hard for her to have a decent foster person take her in. Most of the time the few good ones heard that and denied the offer.