Chapter 1
All I could think to do was run. Run forever, without stopping for air. I can’t deal with this crap anymore.
I’ve been in the foster system for years, and I can’t deal with all of the terrible families anymore. I’ve been to six families over the last 3 years, each family being worse than the one before. I just can’t take their crap on top of my own. My parents dying in a car crash with my sister Cali on the way to Parent Teacher Conferences caused me enough crap to last a lifetime. Having to deal with their funeral and seeing crying people all around just made it hurt so much more. But I wouldn’t show it, it would make people give me sympathy, something that I didn’t need. I only cried when I was along or when I had a dream about the accident. This was almost every night.
So I did the most rational thing possible when the social worker dumped me at this place, run. I didn’t know the area, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that I was getting away from my past.
I had been running for a half an hour. I ran down the secluded street. I came to an intersection. Which road should I take? I listened for any sirens, though doubting there would be any. There was nothing. Clear as day. I looked at the street signs, Melrose or Washington? I went with Melrose because the name sounded more peaceful.
I walked for what seemed like hours. I looked behind me. There had been a car following me for ten minutes. I saw a street coming up. As soon as the street started to dip into a curve, I ran. I ran even faster when the car started to speed up and took the same road as me. You’re probably guessing that I’m in Track. Well, I’m not. I’ve just gotten used to running and it’s not like I’m going to stay in a town long enough for practices and meets.
The car sped up even more to where it was driving right alongside of me. I turned my head to see if they were the cops. Yep, they were. I didn’t need a plan on which way to go, so I abruptly turned a U turn and started to run in the opposite direction. The cops looked dazed at what I had just done. Guess they’re newbies and didn’t know what to expect from me.
A slow grin started to rise on my face. But just as soon as it appeared it vanished as I saw their backup, standing in a neatly formed line.
Oh, great. I slowed down and just started walking towards them with my hands in the air like I had killed someone.
“Fine, you caught me, this time.” I stated strongly.
“Come on, Aria. You know the routine. Get over here.” The police chief said in a lazy tone, like he had known me his whole life. This was understandable.
“I’m coming. Anyways, I can’t run now that you have the whole squad here for a reunion. That would just be unfair to everyone.” I said but everyone still had the serious look on their face except for one guy in his early 20’s that cracked a knowing smile at me. He must not have gotten the, “Be-serious-at-all-times” talk yet.
I think I’ll like this one, even though he’s on the squad, he’ll still be my favorite out of them all.
The police chief came over to me and put his hands on his hips and said in a calm voice, almost fatherly, “Why do you always run Aria? Don’t you know that we are trying to give you the best opportunity to start something with your life?”
I just looked into his eyes and said, “I know you are, but I just need to be with people that actually care about me and not the money that’s given to them. I just can’t take it anymore. All of them ignore me like I’m not even there. I can’t do anything other than run. And I know that you’re probably going to tell everyone that I’m a softy but if you even try to tell anyone about our conversation right now, I will make myself never trust you with anything anymore.” I gave him a staring look showing him that I was serious.
He looked at me and smiled, “Trust me Aria, I would never tell anyone about our conversations because they would be too confused with your actions to even believe me. So I would rather not waste my breath. Now we have to go, but I pinky promise you that I will only give you to anyone that has relation to you or your parents had been friends with. But you have to promise me that you will stay with them until you turn 18.” He said as he held out his pinky.
I looked at him and smiled. Even though I am 16, that doesn’t mean that I don’t make pinky promises. To me, pinky promises are the most important thing that I can do to show people that I will keep a promise. I took his pinky in mine and squeezed. Then I stated, “My parents have no one that they are related to that is still living. So I guess you’ll just have to find one of their friends who are willing to bring a practical stranger into their house. I guess I could try and stay…” I pressed my lips together.
“You would be surprised at how many people don’t mind. And plus you just turned 16 so you wouldn’t be with them for long, only until you hit 18. And you can’t just try to stay, you have to.” He gave me a hopeful smile.
“Got it.” I smiled back at him. Though not all of me accepted living with another family, I would stay there, because in truth, I was tired of running. I just wanted to stop. Stop hiding from everything.
He took me arm in arm, and we walked to the cop car as I thought about how I would have to stay with a family for 2 years. I had never stayed with a family other than my own for longer than 3 weeks. I guess I was ready for a change.
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Teen FictionAria Strider is a 16 year old girl who has been in the foster system for 3 years. After her only family died in a car crash with her younger sister Cali, she has nowhere to go. Until, the police chief of Waughtown finds her a family friend for her...