Change is slow, until it's not.

Chapter Two: Current, Vi

Vi had gotten out of the house she was living in so fast, she wondered who had taken her in so fast, and if the living conditions were really going to be much better. Steb looked in the rear view mirror and saw the pondering look on Vi's face. A large bruise was placed on her cheek, her broken finger was under her other arm, a small cut on her upper lip, and another bruise on her collarbone. 

"You're going to have to go to a new school." Steb said, turning onto a neighborhood that Vi didn't recognize. Vi assumed so. Usually, she changed school often, she could never stay put for long. She was so used to up and moving that she never made friends or meaningful relationships. She also never tried or put up the time and effort.

"Wow. Who knew." Vi retorted, she rolled her light blue eyes and rested her head against the window. It was cold, and for a moment she shivered, and grabbed for her jacket, only to realize it wasn't there and that she left it at her former house. She frowned.

Steb was used to her sarcasm, retorts, insults and overall coldness. So he didn't comment much on her attitude. Vi closed her eyes, but kept alert as Steb navigated the neighborhood. Slowly, Vi felt the car come to a stop. Steb got out of the car and Vi remind still, her eyes closed, taking a deep breath. Not yet ready to face the ruthless world that kept changing.

She exhaled loudly and grabbed her meager backpack and opened the car door. She jumped out, closed the door, shivered as the wind hit her like a punch and walked slowly behind Steb. Her head was up, taking in the house.

It was two stories, but not large. More like a town house, but not quiet. A small garden with flowers decorated the front porch, the grass just green enough that it doesn't look fake, but also not entirely natural. She went up the porch stairs, and took it in as well. There was a roof over them, and a window looking out. A garage on the side, with a few bushes slowly dying as winter comes on and tree's going back into what Vi assumes is the backyard.

Vi had been in a places where the outside was utterly perfect, good cut grass, flowers blooming, and bushes shaped properly. But the foster people were usually abusive, but good at hiding it. They wanted to be the perfect, generous family. But often neglected the foster kid's because they didn't want to deal with them, or out right abuse them when they did something wrong.

Steb knocked on the door, and Vi looked at it, she hated going to a new foster house. She never knew who was going to be waiting on the other side of the door. She straightened her posture and crossed her arms. She looked at Steb one last time before her eye's turned to the opening door.

Her first thought:

And you thought that he was a better choice than the house I was just at?

Vi took in the burly man. Tan skin, metallic gray eyes, was tall as a bear, muscular, and looked like he worked out for a living. His hands took up more than one of Vi's shoulder's, and he was more than 3 times Vi size. Vi knew she had it in for herself.

Steb and him were talking while Vi ignored them, and thought of a way to escape. She'd run away multiple times, it used to be with her and Powder. If Vi thought that the couple taking them in would hurt Powder physically, she'd devise away to escape. And usually they did, but they would be caught after two days.

Vi hadn't done that since she lost Powder. She didn't care that she would get hurt, she just wanted to make sure Powder wasn't getting hurt. Vi's hole opened a little bit more as she thought about her little sister. That reminded her that she needed to talk to her.

She was snapped out of her thoughts as someone said her name.

"So you're Vi?" The man asked, his voice was deep, and rich, but gentle. Vi snapped her head up and her eyes narrowed. She expected his voice to be more harsh, more gravelly for a man his size. Vi nodded, refusing to talk, knowing that the man in front of her was waiting for her to say something. Before it got too awkward, Steb stepped in and asked,