forum "This is the family I chose for myself, and you're not taking them from me." (CLOSED BUT STALKERS ARE LOVED AND APPRECIATED)

Started June 24, 2018 by @Natasha

tune

Abby sat in her white Corolla for a second and took a deep breath. Ok, so board meeting today. No biggie. You'll be fine. She turned the key and the car sprung to life.

(olivia lol) "you dont underperform, you do things differently." she smiled softly at her

Cal came back a few moments later from his room, slipping his bag onto his back as he worked on bandaging his cut knuckles. They had scabbed over a bit, but everything stung them, so he decided that a few bandages would do the trick. He yawned softly, running a hand through his dark hair in an attempt to fix it as he moved towards the door.

(Sorry I'm tired)

She began to tear up and stood up to properly look at her. "That's… the best thing you could have said to me. Just don't treat me any different than the other workers, got it?" Vivian added.

Abby pulled into the school parking lot. She recognized Molly's and Kelly's cars and smiled. She grabbed her backpack, her water bottle, and her stick and headed to the school. She went straight to the board room and sat in her seat. Molly and Kelly came over to her from the corner of the room where they'd been talking.
"Bad news," Molly whispered, sitting on Abby's left. Kelly sat on Molly's left.

"What?" Abby questioned worriedly. The meeting was about to start. Molly only looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

(Sorry I'm tired)

She began to tear up and stood up to properly look at her. "That's… the best thing you could have said to me. Just don't treat me any different than the other workers, got it?" Vivian added.

Olivia smiled at this girl. A girl who was a stranger at one point in her life and now was like a long lost sister "I wouldn't dream of it." She smiled and hugged Vivian tightly.

"Molly, what-"
"Everyone, please have a seat." Ms. Pinto, the Chairwoman of the board, said calmly.
Here goes nothing…

(Hi! Veda could text Abby after this…:)

Abby gazed evenly at Ms. Pinto and listened to her start. "As you know, the school district has been going through some… painful, but necessary budget cuts over the past few weeks. I'm sorry to say that we will have to make a few more." Murmurs sprouted around the room. Abby bit her lip nervously. "For the time being, we've decided to only cut a piece out of the field hockey team's net budget to-"
"What?"
The room immediately fell silent. Abby, flanked by Molly and Kelly, stood up and glared at the Chairwoman.
"I'm sorry, Miss Ling, but the school needs funds, and the field hockey program has not experienced major significant growth-"
"And we won't if you keep chipping away at our funds," Abby interrupted.
Ms. Pinto's mouth pinched. "Well, I'm sorry, but there is nothing that I can do. The board has already made an executive decision. This meeting is adjourned."
Abby quickly paced over to the Chairwoman as folders shuffled and muttering grew. "You can't do this, Ms. Pinto, we have States next week. Five of our players are County All-Stars! What am I supposed to tell them?"
"Whatever you like. Your sport is not popular among the student body." Ms. Pinto smiled pointedly. "I'm sorry," she said, not looking like she was sorry at all. She left the room with board members following her. Abby stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Abs, it'll be good," Molly placed a hand on Abby's right shoulder and massaged.
"Yeah. When we win States, then they'll see 'major significant growth'," Kelly mocked.
Abby nodded. "Alright, let's plan practice then."

Vivian wrapped her arms around Olivia as well. "Okay I hate to break the mood but my ribs can't take this amount of pressure anymore."

Abby pulled out her phone and texted Veda quickly.

Hey, if you're awake, how are you feeling?

Veda had just woken up when her phone buzzed. She picked it up.
Hey Abs. I'm feeling a little bit better. You okay? She texted as she pulled herself out of bed. She walked over to her closet, grabbing a white tank top, a pair of shorts, and a blue sweatshirt. As soon as she picked up the blue sweatshirt, she hesitated, then put it back in her closet and put the rest of her clothes on, then grabbed her phone and headed to the kitchen.

"Veda!" Vivian tore herself away from Olivia to get closer to Veda. "Are you feeling better? We missed you last night."

Veda turned slightly towards Vivian, cringing when she realized that she had only told Abby about her scars. "Yeah, I'm feeling better. Doing worry, I'm fine."

"That's good. Oh, Olivia offered for me to apply at the bookstore cafe thingy she's working at. I'm going to go down there later. I'm not sure if I'll get the job, but I'm still exci–" she paused in her rambling, noticing Veda's scars. "Veda, what…?"

Veda sighed. "Long sto–" She heard a knock on the door. "Hold on Vivian." She said as she walked towards the door. She opened it. "What do you want now Car–" Standing in the doorway was a girl with dark purple hair and brown eyes. "Sophia!" Veda grabbed the fourteen year old by the wrist and yanked her in gently, closing the door quickly. She hugged the shaking girl tightly. "Hey, what's wrong? What's up?" She asked as she pulled Sophia into the kitchen.

Vivian was so dumbfounded that when she tried to talk, blabber only came out. "I-I- what- who-"

Sophia let Veda lead her into the kitchen. Veda turned to Vivian. "Again, long story. I'll explain as best I can. But Soph, why are you here?" Sophia shrugged as she looked at her feet. "It's been two years. Mom and Dad don't understand. And….they miss Kierra a lot."
Veda gave a soft and sad laugh. "We all do Bubba."

Vivian was silent for a moment, before speaking once more. "Why do all these people know where we live? ….Wait, do I really want to know why? I'm tired… need some coffee before dealing with people."

Cal tugged his hoodie closer to his body as he walked into the high school's hallways, keeping his head down as he tried to hide the limp from his prosthetic. It was no use anyways. The classic 'Populars' made fun of him constantly, pointing out his limp and calling him names. Cal didn't say anything of course and just shrugged it off, hoping that it would stop one day.

She began a new pot of coffee, sighing at the turn of events. I really thought today was going to be a lazy day…

Olivia walked into the kitchen and looked at Veda in curiosity.