A/N Only a short chapter . Mainly a filler , but read it anyway . I promise the story will really kick off in the next chapter ;)
Cait was waiting for us in the minivan .
“Finally” Terri said , when we got in .
“We had to go to the office” Tashie replied . Or hissed , might be better .
“Cait won't tell us who got adopted until dinner “ Terri said . That explained the pissed-off looks on everyone's faces .
“Did you find out then ?” I asked Cait .
“Yes . Nano called me while you kids were at school “ She spared a look at me , then turned bak to the road . “You'll find out at dinner , like Terri said . And I'm not giving any hints out before then .”
“How many of us are getting adopted ?” Tashie asked , “You can at least tel us that .”
Cait hesitated , before nodding .
“Just one of you .”
Just one of us I thought , Only one of us get to escape .
When we got home , everyone was buzzing about who was getting adopted . It felt weird , like in the space of twelve hours I had been transported through three different worlds ; Hanging out with a rockstar , Joining a new school , and Life in a foster home .
While Cait began to cook dinner , she advised us all to go up and get started on homework .
I had gotten homework in most subjects , including History .
“What's your least favourite subject that you got homework in ?” I asked Tashie , as we walked to our rooms . She paused for a moment , thinking .
“Spanish “ She replied eventually . I grinned .
“Tell you what “ I said , “I'll do your Spanish homework , if you do my History .”
Tashie thought for a second , before nodding . “Deal” She agreed , shaking my hand . She beckoned me into her room , and we gave each other the books that we needed .
“Thanks !” I said as I left .
My room didn't have a desk . I realized this only when I came into it , and thought back to Friday evening , when everyone came home from school and crowded around the dining room table .
“So that's why they did that “ I murmured .
I sat down on my bed , and layed my books out in front of me . I started with Maths , laughing quietly while I remembered Darren's antics .
I was glad that if Alex didn't adopt me , I would have some friends here . Tashie , Darren , Emma . Sasha too . Tashie seemed to like her , although I hadn't met her yet .
If Alex didn't adopt me .
Of course he won't A sly voice at the back of my mind said . Who would want to adopt you ?
I shook my head violently . That wasn't true .
Of course it's not The voice muttered .
I shook my head again , then laughed .
“I can't believe this “ I said to myself . “I'm arguing with myself .”
When Cait called us for dinner , I had barely finished my homework . I slid my books into my bag , and nipped around to Tashie's room to give her her Spanish homework .
She looked like she'd been finished hers for ages , she was leaning back on her bed , eyes closed , deep in thought .
“Tashie ?” I asked quietly . No answer .
I stepped closer , and shook her shoulder gently .
Her eyes blinked open , and she looked up at me .
“Oh , hey Hazel” She said , yawning .
“You fell asleep ?” I asked in disbelief . Tashie bit her lip and nodded .
“Well , Cait called us all down for dinner .”
Tashie jumped up , smiling .
“She's going to tell us who is getting adopted !” Tashie said . I nodded , and together we went downstairs .
Everyone else was already waiting at the table . Cait smiled at us , and gestured to two empty seats .
“Well , now that everyone's here “ She said , passing us our dinners , “We can get down to business .”
“Who is it !” Terri demanded .
Cait glanced around at us nervously .
We pushed our plates away from us . No one was hungry anymore .
“Well , only one of you have been chosen” Cait said . We nodded ; she'd told us this already .
“That person … hasn't been here long “ She continued . A few of us sighed , and looked down . I didn't , though . I hadn't been here long , there was still a chance for me .
Then , my hope stopped . That one dream I'd been clinging on to , crashed down on me . Just a couple of words , whispered to me .
Tashie didn't mean it , though . She didn't want to hurt me , she wasn't thinking that way at all . She wasn't even thinking about herself when she said it .
So I couldn't hold it against her .
Tashie leaned towards me , and whispered , just four little words .
“I can't leave Fay” She hissed . “I can't , I just can't leave her .”
And with that , she got up , and left the table .
I sat there for another second . Tashie thought Alex had chosen her to be adopted .
And , now , I did too .
It made sense . Alex had never met Tashie , but I'd met Alex , and in that time I'd realized what kind of person he was . He liked doing things with absolutely no real reason behind them .
He'd seen Tashie storming off , and watched her curiously . I'd pointed out to him her door , and he'd looked at it with a type of longing .
Cait was saying something , but I didn't listen as to what it was .
“Can I leave , please ?” I asked . Cait looked surprised , but nodded .
Once I left the room , I ran . I wished I could have run away , into the streets and just think , out in the open , but I knew that was impossible . So I ran upstairs instead , and into my room .
“Stupid !” I hissed , “Stupid ! Alex would never adopt me , why would he ?!”
I sat down on my bed with a thump . Tears began to flow out of me , and I cried , the first time since the accident . Fuck , I cried .
I spent about half an hour , just lying on my bed and crying .
After a while , I sat up an wiped my eyes .
“No point in just crying about it” I muttered to myself .
I didn't want to think about it , though . Glancing around my room , I spotted something that might help lift my spirits . Steven's guitar .
I picked it up , shifting it around on my lap until it felt just right . And it did feel right .
“Thank you “ I said softly . I knew Alex couldn't hear me , but I whispered it anyway . “Thank you .”
I named the strings , tapping each one , then began to pluck out scales .
The sound of the guitar relaxed me , so I kept going over and over what Alex had taught me .
“Hazel ?” A voice asked . I jumped , the guitar sliding out of my hands and onto the floor .
I need to get a strap for that I thought .
I walked to the door , and blinked when I saw who was standing outside .
“Terri ?” I said .
Terri shifted awkwardly .
“I just wanted to say congratulations “She said .
“Huh ?”
Terri frowned . “Well , you know , for getting adopted .”
“What !”
“Didn't you ...”
I stared at her , then blurted out a thank you , before running downstairs .
“Where's Cait ?” I asked someone . Blondie , green eyes . Cute .
He shrugged . “Kitchen , maybe ?”
“Thanks !”
Cait was in the kitchen . I jumped to her side .
“Who is it ?” I asked her .
She blinked . “What do you mean , love ?”
“You said only one of us was getting adopted – who was it !”
Cait frowned . “You are .”
“I am ?”
She nodded slowly . I got the distinct impression that as soon as I left the room she would be calling a shrink .
“Of course , it's voluntary . If you don't want to , then -”
I cut Cait off before she could jump t any conclusions .
“No , I want to . Thank you .”
I wished I could talk to Alex . Ask him , why , out of all the homes he'd visited , out of all the kids he'd seen , why he'd chosen me .
I fell asleep , that thought still lingering in my mind .