Chapter 39
I tapped my fingers against the arm of the couch, screwing my eyes shut. The sounds of children screaming in the yard outside was leaking into the common room, drowning out the tv playing in the corner. It had been almost a month since I had arrived there, but I still hadn't got used to the sound of so many children.
I opened my eyes, and peered out the window. The back yard was a clean square of bright green grass, littered with cheap toys. Children were every where, most of them around 4 or 5, the oldest one out there 11. A couple adults stood on the sides, to make sure that none of the kids wandered off. Not that is was necessary- there was a huge chain link fence surrounding them, securing that no one would be leaving.
James sat in the corner with a pair of 4 year old's. They were playing with barbies, carefully styling their hair to perfection.
I sighed, and leaned my head back against the worn fabric of the couch. Unlike me, James seemed kinda happy here- he had made friends almost immediately, and always had someone with him no matter where he was. He was eating more, laughing more... he seemed better in general.
Which I didn't like. I mean, of course I wanted James to be happy. But at the same time, I didn't want him to get too comfortable here- Only 4 more months until I could leave, and James would be following me soon. Then we would go back to our old lives. Well, better lives this time. I would be done with school, so I would have more time to work, and make more money, and maybe we'd get some help from the government or something like that... either way, things would be better for us this time.
While I waited to turn 18, I felt like I was slowly dying in the orphanage. I was the oldest one there, the second oldest at 15, leaving me with few people to talk to. The people who ran the orphanage seemed incredibly suspicious of me, despite the fact that I never did anything other than sit in my room, and when I was forced out of there, sit on the couch and watch tv.
My phone had been taken away, just like everyone else's, and locked up in a box next to the door. I was allowed to take it when I left for school each morning, but they tracked it to make sure I didn't cut class or something like that.
School was horrible, to say the least. I was at a new one, obviously, and everyone there seemed meaner. I didn't bother with classes anymore, and instead just stared out the window wondering if James was alright. I thought about Janice sometimes, and Drew, and Toby, and Ally, and Cath, and Dicky, and Mrs. Copper, wondering if any of them every thought about me. If any of them had taken a notice of my disappearance, if any of them had tried to look for me. At first I received endless voice mails from Janice, ranging from "You better fucking be here on time," to "Molly, please answer, I'm so worried about you," but over time, they had fizzled out. I had probably been replaced at McDonald's by then, my place at the stripper pole taken up by a new girl. Maybe she had a smaller butt than me.
I thought about Max the most. I had gotten a grand total of one phone call from him, a week after getting here, with one voice mail.
I had listened to it a million times.
"Uh... hey Molly... It's me. Max, it's Max. Uh, you havne't... you know... been in school, and stuff. I went by uh, Dirty Girls, to... to see if you were there. Dangit, I uh... I'm really sorry, ok? I um, I miss you. You're probably sick or something... Gosh, uh... I'm so sorry. I hope you get back soon. I love- I mean, no I don't... ok bye."
I wanted to call him back. I really, really did. I wanted to tell him I missed him too, and that I was so sorry about everything I had done, and explain everything that happened. I wanted to tell him where I was, and part of me wanted him to come and sweep me up, and carry me away to some other life.
I knew that wouldn't happen though. Even if it did, that would mean leaving James behind, and I couldn't do that.
I looked back out the window. There was a couple there now, wandering around between the kids. This was usual. They were searching for one to take home with them, as a foster kid most likely. They looked nice, two men with clean crisp hair cuts, looking in their late thirties. They gripped each others hands, as if they were trying to give each other strength.
The reached the corner where James and the 4 year old's were playing. They stood over them for a second, before crouching down to talk. My stomach did a cart wheel when they turned to James, but I knew it would all be ok- 3 couples had all shown interest in James, but that vanished as soon as they realized I was tied in. Of course I would only stop by every week or so, but it was an arrangement they didn't want. I didn't blame them- none of the other kids had quiet, weird, older sisters who didn't wash their hair enough which made them look kinda creepy.
The men stood up after about 10 minutes, and called over one of the people supervising the kids. I couldn't hear them, but I could tell from the way they gestured at James what they were asking. I could also see their bright smiles falter as they heard about me.
To my surprise however, they kept smiling, and after another minute of talking to the worker, they were lead inside.
I tried to turn up the tv, as if it would block out what I knew was coming, but a moment later, I heard "Molly?"
I turned my head to see the worker with the two men behind her. She was smiling, but her eyes seemed almost pained. "These men would like to talk to you."
I ran my hand through my greasy hair. The men sat down at a pair of mismatched arm chairs facing me. I clicked off the tv, and turned to face them. The woman stood behind them.
"Hi, Molly," The first one said. He was wearing a pastel button up shirt, and his hair was gelled back. "I'm Mike."
"I'm Henry," The other said. He was also wearing a button up, but his was crisp white. "We are interested in being foster parents to your brother."
Well, they certainly weren't trying to beat around the bush.
I was silent, trying to stare them down. Daring them to take on the kid with the crazy sister, while trying to scare them away.
"We understand," Mike said. "That you've been taking care of him for a while-"
"2 years," I said, my voice like stone.
"Exactly." Mike shot Henry a quick look of desperation. "So, we understand that you would want to continue to be a part of his life."
Oh, you understand, I thought. Sure you understand.
"They would like to figure out an arrangement with you," The woman behind them said, cutting in.
"Exactly," Henry said again. "We want to figure out how you can still see him, while he's staying with us."
I narrowed my eyes.
Mike swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing up for a second. "Would that be ok with you?"
"No," I said.
The couple looked almost taken aback, while the woman behind them didn't look surprised in the slightest.
"Why not?" Henry asked.
"I only have 4 more months," I said. "Then I'm going to take James home. He's not going anywhere with anyone else."
Mike leaned forward. "Molly, we understand why you don't want your brother with strangers-"
I raised my eyebrows, running my tongue over my teeth.
"But think about what's best for him." Mike took Henry's hand. "We've been trying to get a child for 3 years. We're completely prepared, and we're sure we will be great foster parents-"
"Well, I've actually been a parent for 2 years," I replied. "I know James. I can take care of James. I am his parent."
"You're a kid-" Henry said.
"I can take care of James!" I repeated, yelling it now.
"Molly," the woman said, stepping forward.
"No. I don't want him going with them."
"Please calm down-"
Instead of calming down, I stood up, and stormed for the stairs. I got halfway up them, almost at my room, when the woman caught my arm.
"Molly," She said, her voice stern. "This couple is going to get James no matter what. They are giving you the chance to see him, and if you don't cooperate, they can take it away."
I tugged on my arm, but her grip didn't loosen. "I suggest you drop this attitude, and take this chance. Because, no matter what, you can't keep him."
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Ayo.
Thanks for reading! If you liked it, please vote, comment, so on.
Sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes.
I ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS MY LONGEST CHAPTER YET.
(still super short though)
I think I'm going to be wrapping up Strip soon... *cries into pillow*
Ohmygod, and thank you sososo much to everyone who left a comment on the last chapter wishing me a happy birthday! I wanted to go through and reply to all of them, but I'm way too lazy, so to everyone who left one: YOU ARE A WONDERFUL LITTLE DRAGON FLOWER AND I LOVE YOU!!!
Thanks again!
XOX