Doctor Wild led me through the corridors until we reached a brown door titled 'Family room' I inhaled a deep breath and entered. Charlotte was sat on one of the chairs, her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying. There were two police officers and a Lady wearing a suit. All eyes turned to me as soon as I was in sight.
"Scarlett" Charlotte shouted as she came and hugged me.
I smiled as she pulled back.
"Charlotte harris?" Doctor wild adressed her.
"May I speak with you?" She asked her.
Charlotte nodded her head and smiled as she left the room.
"Hello there Scarlett, I'm PC white and this is PC morgan. Can we ask you a few questions please?" Pc white asked me with a kind smile. He had slight greying hair and warm blue eyes.
I nodded.
"Michelle here is going to write down some notes for your files, is that okay?" He asked me once again.
I sighed but nodded.
"Hi there Scarlett, I'm Michelle White. Pc whites other half" she laughed. I just nodded. I really didn't give a shit who she was.
"I'm also part of Social services." She told me with a warm smile.
I didn't say anything, I just wanted to roll my eyes and shout 'no shit' but that would be highly rude.
"Do you know why were here?" Pc white asked me.
I shook my head, I honestly didn't know.
"Well, the hospital contacted social services and they contacted us as well as your next door neighbour." He started.
"Did your father do that to your eye?" Michelle asked me before she carried on.
I nodded hesitantly.
"We had to send some officers around to your house to take your father in for questioning. You've been admitted into hospital twice in 5 months. You even broke your wrist correct?" Pc White said. I sighed but nodded. When the officers got there he was passed out on the floor with a bunch of tablets and a bottle of whiskey. We found bags of cannabis and heroin around the house so the police and ambulance was called immediatly." He finished.
"We searched the house for any more bags and found that a bag of cocaine was hidden in your room. Can you explain how it had gotten in there?" PC morgan cut in.
"I-I don't know" I told him honestly, when did this happen?. That bastard had put drugs in my room?
"When the ambulanced arrived, your fathers pulse was very weak. They did everything they could but he didn't make it" Michelle informed me.
I felt my world come crashing down. My father? As in Michael Mayers was dead?. No this had to be a sick joke.
"I'm sorry honey" she said as she pulled me into her embrace. I hugged onto her for dear life and cried into her shoulder as my whole world came crashing down.
"Whats going to happen?" I croaked.
"Harleys going to go back with Charlotte and we have no other choice but to place you in foster care" Michelle informed me.
I sobbed.
"Can't I stay with Charlotte?" I asked with urgency. They can't take Harley away from me.
"I'm afraid not. Charlotte has now got a new job in new York and has been given an apartment with it. I'm afraid there's not a lot of space." those words were a stab in the chest. No room for me, more like because she didn't want me. Charlotte and I never really got on. Probably because my father cheated on her like no tomorrow and constantly rambled on about how much she's like my own mother.
"Can I go back to Harley please?" I sobbed.
"That's the other thing Scarlett. Charlotte doesn't want you upsetting Harley as he doesn't understand at the moment. I think it's best if you just leave with us now and when we get the new address for Charlottes place and her new contact details then we can sort out letters and things for you to send. " She told me with a comforting smile.
That made me feel much worse and before I knew it I was breaking down. I slid to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest and just sobbed.
"Come on love" Pc white cooed softly as he lifted me up from the floor. My body felt weak and I was exhausted.
"Will I ever see him again?" I asked Michelle.
"I have no idea love. Hopefully before they set off tomorrow" She informed me.
"Tomorrow?" I shouted, anger seethed through me and I kicked a chair back.
"Come on" she said as she tried to comfort me.
I shrugged out of her grasp and walked out. I walked past all the corridors and walked down the stairs and out the exit of the hospital. It hit me as soon as I felt the breeze of the mid October air. I was free from my dad, but a prisoner in my own mind. This was all my fault and now I will never get to see my baby brother ever again.
—-
It had been 2 days since I was put in foster care. I stayed in bed for the 2 full days, refusing to get up and interact or socialise with anyone else. I had one bag full of all the items I owned. The police visited me yesterday and gave me a ring that my dad owned. I placed it on a chain and wore it around my neck. Harley had left and was currently in New York city. The police also handed me a photo graph of myself and Harley which Charlotte took a few months back when I took Harley over.
That now lies under my pillow as I sleep or break my heart. I was now tired of moping around. I was tired of feeling empty. I just wanted to feel like myself again. My stomach grumbled for the millionth time. Sighing I stood up out of my bed and made my way down the corridor and into the lounge where all the other kids who weren't in there rooms hung out. The room was green and blue and yellow and all the colours of the rainbow due to the mosaic on the wall of a bunch of kids huddled together. The other 3 walls were a bright yellow. There was a flat screen on the stand and a pile of been bags scattered around the place. There was no real sofa. I carried on making my way through the house as I came across the kitchen. There were two other teenagers in here, around 15/16 was a girl and the other a boy. The girl was washing the dishes while the boy dried them and put them away. They turned to the door in which I was placed and looked at me.
"Hi" the girl greeted while the guy rolled his eyes.
I smiled feeling out of place.
"I'm hallie and this is reece" she introduced herself and the boy.
"I'm scarlett" I said back.
"Nice to meet you" she said as she hit Reece over the head.
"Say hi reece" she scolded.
"Hi" he muttered.
I just smiled.
"Ignore my brother hes being an ass" she replied. Hearing the word brother made me freeze. I miss my harley.
"So need help?" She asked with a friendly smile.
"Wheres the food?" I asked.
She chuckled and pointed to the fridge, I smiled and opened it up.
I'll have a yogurt; a fruit salad and hmm a brew. I thought to myself as I pulled it all out. I made my self a steaming cup of tea and my fruit salad mixed with yogurt and made my way back to my room. My room was blue and white. There was a band called avenged seven folds poster up on my wall. Not that I know who they are or anything. I ate my food and drank my tea and climbed back into bed and slept. I stuck to the same routine for the next 3 days but once day 5 came. I had a surprise.
"Scarlett" Michelle's voice shouted from the lounge. I hated having my room on the ground floor. I wish it was on the third.
I jumped out of bed, not caring what I looked like and trotted down the hall into the lounge.
"Ah, there you are honey, I have some exciting news" she squicked.
I rolled my eyes.
"Yes?" I said.
"Theres a family who want to foster you. There called the Johnsons" she smiled. I stood in shock, someone wants to foster me? As in Scarlett Mayer?.
"Wow" I said still stunned.
"Sarah Johnson will be here any moment with her husband James Johnson." Michelle stated.
"I-I don't want to go" I said in shock.
"You have to. Your 17!" She stated.
"Exactly, why can't I get my own place?" I asked her.
"Because your still in education and have no money and your not mentally stable at the moment" she told me. I sighed in defeat.
There was a knock at the door.
A big smile plastered on her face as she walked to the door.
"Hello, I'm Sarah and this is my husband James" Sarah introduced herself to Michelle as she shook her hand followed by James.
I took taking in there attire as Michelle lead them over to me.
Sarah has blonde hair and blue eyes, she looked around her mid forties but was a beautiful women. James on the other hand looked around late 40's but had chocolate brown eyes and brown greying hair. Handsome.
"Hello, you must be Scarlett" the couple smiled at me. My body stiffened as I realised I was stood with my hair in a messy bun and a pair of new pyjamas. I blushed.
"You must be Sarah and James Johnson" I smiled back.
"Nice to meet you" Sarah said as she leaned in and gave me a light hug. I smiled already liking the couple.
"Lets go to my office and have a cup of tea" Michelle suggested.
"I'll go and get dressed." I muttered.
The couple smiled at me, as I took off in direction of my room.
As soon as I entered my room, I retrieved a pair of light blue jeans and a white vest top. The care home went and got me new clothes because I only had a few outfits. I slipped on my black flats and braided my brown hair. I didn't wear makeup as I could never afford it nor did I care enough to learn how to apply it. I quickly exited my room and made my way back to the office.
"wow, sorry but did I hear that right?" I asked Sarah and James as I walked into the room over hearing there's and Michelle's conversation.
"Yes, we have 7 boys and 1 girl" Sarah laughed.
"How will I survive" I laughed to myself.
"Oh please, I can tell they'll be the one asking themselves that question" James cut in with a smile. I chuckled. I rather like these two.
"So what are they called then?" I asked the pair.
"well..
Connor James Johnson=21 years old, teaching assistant- university.
Haden Michael Johnson=19 years old, footballer/works.
Kyle Daniel Johnson=16 years old, High school.
Tayo Xavier Johnson= 14 years old, High school-trouble maker.
Lewis Ethan Johnson= 9 years old, Primary school-dislexic.
Adam John Johnson (Aj)= 6 years old, Primary school.
Ryan Archie Johnson= 3 years old, twin to Isabella-rose-Nursary.
Isabella-rose Marie Johnson= 3years old, twin to Ryan-Nursary." James informed me.
"Wow, so you have 8 children and the only girl is 3 years old?" I grumbled.
Great, I felt a little at ease knowing I had a 'sister' that I could turn to without having to confide in any of the guys, but that won't be happening now she's only 3 years of age.
"Ah yes well, there was actually supposed to be 10" James informed me in a serious tone, all the joy and happiness had left his mouth.
"James" Sarah scolded him with watery eyes.
I was so confused, what did he mean there was supposed to be 10? what happened to the other two?
"Our two eldest boys Kiyan and James got into a bus accident a couple of years ago" James told me as Sarah began to wipe away the stray tears that fell from her eyes.
I was speechless, they were still suffering over a loss just like I was.
"Scarlett, would you like to be in care of the Johnsons?" Michelle asked me from her desk.
My body froze and my hands began to cramp.
Mr and Mrs Johnson turned to look at me.
I gulped, did I really want to go and live with complete strangers? Although, they did have a homely aura around them filled with pride and love. A smile played on my lips as I nodded.
Sarah squeeked and gave me a hug as she ran to my chair.
I laughed.
"James, we have another girl around the house" She smiled and beamed at her husband.
"I know" He smiled at me.
"Scarlett why don't you pack your things while Sarah and James sign paperwork" Michelle smiled at me.
"Just like that?" I asked. I thought we had to do home visits before I was able to leave.
"They've been in contact with us for a few years now. James here donates money and clothes to the less fortunate in here. We've already done the back ground checks" Michelle smiled.
Stunned I smiled and exited the room. I hope I was doing the right thing...