The Runaways

Running with the new

  At that moment I was fine. I was on my small single bed as I hummed quietly to the music from my headphones. No one else could hear the music but me, no one could feel the emotion but me, I was in my own world.

   I started to feel my eyes want to close before I heard a knocking. I jumped up, the sound from the real world made me wake from my melody world.

   "Jaxon?" I hear the voice of my foster parent she opened the door. (If u can even call her that since she's payed to be here.) I take off my headphones as I sit up and resistantly motion her to sit down.

   "What's up Jamie?" Her face was drained and pale. I could tell she had bad news by the way she couldn't look me in the eyes. She gave me that look alot.

   "The state called, they told me that they cant pay for you anymore." She sighed, looking down at the floor in disappointment.

  "W-what are you saying?" 

   "They are sending you to a shelter. Your seventeen and they are running out of money for the foster and orphan systems. They wont pay for kids that wont..."

   "That wont get adopted..." I swallow the sentence full. Thinking of it many times before but never letting escape  my lips till now.

"Look Jaxon I can help you get a job and help you pay for a small apartment. You will be there for a half a year or so."

"Half a year? My 15 years in this hell hole had gotten me half a year in a shelter?" 

"Jaxon im sorry I don't know what more to do."

She put her hand on my shoulder trying to console me. I pushed her away as I felt her cold hands touch my hoodie.  My life felt like Lemmeny Snicket's Unfortunate Events in a more realistic way. Instead of having two siblings and a evil uncle it was myself and the many couples that decided I was too broken to be loved. She was there for all of it and for some reason I resented her for it.

"How long do I have?"

She looked to a small calendar on the wall. It hung with many posters and drawings kids have done and been proud to show their future families. "You have till the 8th of April."

"So my 18th birthday."

She nodded. "You have about a month, maybe we can get some money so you wont have to stay for so long."

"19 days."

"What?" She looked at me with confusion in her tone.

"19 days before I left to myself." I sat in silence for a moment before finally standing up. "I'm gonna go for a walk."

"Jaxon you know you have to stay in the house since the incident happened." She stood behind me wanting to make me feel better but knowing I'd push her away.

"I'll walk around the house then." I stated before leaving her to the boy's room all by herself.

As I walked down the stairs I heard the many voices of children chattering at the dinner table. All of them having different breakfast meals as the bright morning light came through the windows.

I continued walking down the stairs as the multiple voices kept on without hesitation.  I watched as each kid would individually
Do their own thing, one quiet in a corner while another would tell stories as the other laughed with milk coming out their nose. It was chaos but it was the chaos that made me felt comfortable.

I finally took a long breath before continuing through the house. Feeling each doorframe and soaking in the air  of each room.

I was left by myself as all the kids were all back in the kitchen. With how long I've been there I know all their names and what their like. Each one having a story. Rather it be simple as a young mother not yet ready to be a mom or a long history of rejection and abuse, they were all unique and special.

I look to the window from the living room, green grass reached to a tall metal gates with the house's name: Berkeley Orphanage Home for Children

They made it a place for foster children as well back in the 80s. I'm not sure which I am anymore, and not sure if I wanna know. 

I suddenly hear all the other kids go from the table to different parts of the house. I sighed as my silent moment ended.

"Jaxon!" I hear a small voice call for me from the other side of the room.

"Hey Cara whatcha need?" I bend my knees to her height as she seemed so small and delicate compared to the others.

"Theres new kids!"

"What?" I look up to the entrance as the children surround  the newbies. Even with being taller it was hard to see them.

As the dust settled I could finally see what they looked like. The first was very tall and skinny. My guess was he was the eldest of the three of them. He seemed protective and wary. That reaction was normal  but something told me he had a fairly cautious personality.

The second had baggy shorts with a oversized shirt. He had a beanie covering most of his hair and I could tell was very athletic and confident. 

The third was a small and innocent 5 to 6 year old. His cheeks were rosy and his eyes were puffy. You could tell he had been crying. I felt bad, being so young and not knowing what lies ahead. He reminded me of myself. Myself before my innocence was taken away.

I sighed before heading back to my room to hide. It wasn't long before it was time for visitors and I never much cared to stuck around.

As I walked up the stairs I found myself watching the three new foster or orphan roommates. I didn't yet know how my fate tied with them but something told me they were different than the other children here.

                     Very different.

Thx for reading the first chapter of my book! I hope to bring in a lot of readers that are really  going to love it and really connect to it so please stick around if u can. Also if you could vote for this chapter if you liked it and comment any suggestions or helpful thoughts I'd so appreciate it!

        Stay weird and happy, Jinx