@Spider-man
I'm bored soooo yeah. If anyone wants to read and critique that would be great!
CHAPTER 1
I tried my hardest not to get kicked out. I really did. They were perfect. The dad cooked every meal and would even pack my lunch. The mom was working a lot but when she was around she was kind and asked me how I was adjusting. I think she was a shrink but she didn't seem to constantly analyze me. So there was no way I wanted all that to go away, but here I am in the backseat of my social worker's car heading to god knows were.
“You were doing so well Cat. They were even talking about adoption.” Mr. Davidson glanced at me from the front seat. I looked down at my lap. He acts like I didn't already know this. Then again I didn't think they’d actually adopt. No one wants to adopt a 16-year-old. Especially one that they called a “violent animal” after one fight.
“I didn't even start the fight, that bitc-”
“Caterina,” Mr. Davidson warned. “The other girl almost had to go to the hospital. Just be lucky her parents didn't press charges.” No, they didn't sue me. Instead, they got me expelled from the only high school in that town. She was faking most of the injuries anyway. I only got to hit her like twice before I got pulled off.
Silence filled the car and I looked out the window. All I could see where trees and highway signs. I tried to find the cities I’ve lived in. I know some of them are around here. I really have to keep my mouth shut around Mr. Davison. My life is in his hands. My silence only lasted 10 minutes.
“Have you heard anything from Alex?” I tried to act casually. Like I didn’t want to know, but I held my breath while waiting for a response.
“Cat we’ve talked about this. Even if he did contact you he would have to have a stable job and living space to get custody of you. I hate seeing families separated like this but there’s nothing we can do.” My hands clenched around my trash bag, creating a small tear.
“Have you heard from him?” I repeated.
“Cat if I hear from your brother you will be the first to know,” He Lied. I knew it was a lie. The last time he told me about my brother was a year ago. He said that he was planning a meeting that never happened. He must be lying. There's no way Alex would disappear for this long. He wouldn’t just abandon me.
“Fine can you at least tell me where we are going?” I looked away from the window after seeing the exit for Lynn. I had two houses there. the pink carnation and verbana tattoos that sit right next to each other on my lower back. I also saw Chelsea, where I broke my wrist when I tried to skateboard to impress a girl. I did get her number of my cast, but I moved the next day. That left a rose on my shoulder.
“Kibly. It was really hard finding a family that would take you. I’m warning you if you get kicked off this one I’ll have no choice than to send you to a group home.”
“You're sending me to Kibly? Wow, you really want me dead,” I muttered. Kibly was one of the worst cities. Alex and I were born there. Luckily my father is still in prison so running into him would be impossible. IT was still bad. The Italian Mafia is rumored to be connected to a few of its gangs.
He ignored me for the rest of the hour-long ride. We finally parked in front of a small, one-story house. A few of the windows were boarded up with wood. The whole front yard was overgrown and had random chairs and broken shit was just thrown around. No, I couldn't do this again. Mr. Davidson got out of the car but I didn't move
“I think I’d prefer the group home,” I said only half joking. I'd rather go to a group home than another one of these houses. At least there I knew the rules and that they’ll have to feed me. I can't say the same for houses like these.
“Cat, get out of the car,” he sighed. I listened, clenching my bag to my chest. We walked to the front door and Mr. Davidson rang the doorbell. A few seconds later the door flung open revealing a lady probably in her mid-30s. She had blonde hair, but her brown roots were showing. Her skin looked orange from a fake tan. She was wearing a crop top, short shorts, and a choker. Her bloodshot eyes made her look high. Judging by the skunk smell coming from the house, she probably was.
“Hello, Bella. This is Caterina She’ll start school tomorrow and is already set up…” Mr. Davidson kept on talking but I blocked it out. He had a large fake smile. At one point Mr. Davidson left and I was in the rundown house. The inside was just as bad as the outside. The entrance led to a living room, which had a beaten up couch, beer bottles all over the floor and trash on the coffee table. There was a nice enough looking TV but then I realized it was cracked and probably stolen. There might have been a computer on a desk in the corner but I couldn't see it with all the papers and trash.
“Listen, kid, your rooms the last door to the right.” Bella pointed to a short hallway that had four doors. “If I were you I would stay in there at all times. My husband, Henry, should be on his way home from work with some of his poker buddies. He doesn't like his games being interrupted.” I shrugged. I already knew the drill in homes like these, Listen to rules and don't show emotion. If you show any sign of resistance or wine in any way, well you might leave with a few bruises.
I went into the bedroom. If you can call it that. It might have once been a really small office space or a large closet. A twin size air mattress with a pillow and blanket sat in a corner. That took up the majority of the room, only leaving a foot of space between the bed and the wall it wasn't touching. There was a window but it was one of the windows boarded up with wood.
I threw my trash bag onto the bed and sat down next to it. The air mattress sunk so low I could feel the wooden floor. It was already 6. If I planned on going to school tomorrow I’ll need new school supplies. My old foster family didn't let me take any of the things they bought for me. That includes all my school stuff. I pulled on an old red hoodie from my bag and dug through to my emergency cash. I only had $30. I took ten even though that meant I wouldn't be able to get everything I need.
I shoved the money in my pocket and left the ‘room’. As I walked down the hall I heard laughter. The husband must be home. I poked my head to see if there was a way out. There where four men in the living room. I'd have to walk right past them to leave the house. I was about to slowly back up and see if the window in the bathroom opens, but I was already spotted.
”Hey Harry, who’s the kid?” one of the men asked. I stepped out of the hall knowing that there was no point in turning back.
“That must be the new foster kid. Bella’s friends a social worker and helped us get one. We are going to get a lot of cash from her. Girl what's your name,” A guy, who I can assume is Bella's husband, Harry, barked. He was swaying slightly in his seat and holding a half-empty beer bottle. Can’t wait for them to see the first check. It’s never as much as they think.
“Caterina,” I answered while avoiding eye contact. I tried to stand up tall and just walk past them. My back was turned to them when a voice stopped me.
“Where do you think you're going?” Henry asked before I could get to the door.
“Look at that ass,” Another guy slurred after whistling. The others chuckled. I immediately turned and glared at the men. shoving my hands in my sweatshirt pocket and gripping the ten dollars. At least the sweater I was wearing was baggy and not revealing like the shirt under it. I tried to just turn around and leave again but someone grabbed my arm. It was Harry.
“I asked you a question bitch,” He growled right in my face. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
“I have to go to the store and ge-,” I tried to explain but another man interrupted me.
“We can give you some money,” he suggested.
“Oh yes all you have to do is entertain us a little,” another said. Harry seemed to like this idea since he smirked and pushed me into the center of the living room.
I left the house an hour later with five ones stuffed in my bra. I moved them to my sweater pocket.
By some miracle, I found a Walmart after about a half an hour of wandering. The sun was already starting to set as I entered the store. I grabbed a basket and went straight to the school supplies. It was the end of the year so there wasn’t a lot of stuff.;
My basket had a small $7 backpack, 2 notebooks, and a folder. I had a pack of pencils in my sweater pocket. They were expensive okay. I did out the math in my head and found that after tax, I should have a dollar left. It’s enough to maybe buy chips at school tomorrow. That might be all I eat if I don't have free or maybe reduced lunch.
The sun was probably setting outside and there was no way I was walking back to the house in the dark. It wasn’t safe. Luckily I had a plan. My eyes searched the aisle until they caught a girl about My age a few feet away. She was gorgeous. I could only see half of her face but her skin was a beautiful dark brown and her hair was up in a bun. She is proudly wearing a rainbow bracelet around her wrist. That means she’s either an “I love unicorns and rainbows” girl or gay. Judging by her flannel shirt and serious demeanor It's safe to assume the latter. Perfect. It's so much easier to flirt with girls than with guys.
I slipped off my sweater and wrapped it around my waist. I was wearing a tank top since it was hot earlier. It didn’t leave much for the imagination and showed off some of my flower tattoos. I walked over to where she was standing and picked up a pack of led pencils that were way above my price range. As I went to place them back I ‘Accidentally’ dropped my entire basket. The little stuff I had scattered across the aisle.
“Shit,” I muttered. I kneeled down hoping she would follow. She did. She helped me gather everything and put it in the basket. “Thank you, I’m such a clutz!” I tried to make the gratitude not sound forced. I’ve been told that I'm a scary good liar. I could feel her eyes on me, looking me up and down. I usually would feel grossed out, but I didn't with her.
“It’s no problem. I don’t think I've seen you around, and I usually know all the pretty girls,” she smirked and her eyes found their way back to mine. Wow, she really wasn’t holding back, and her voice was beautiful. Low but still feminine. My cheeks turned a slightly pink and I broke eyes contact, instead looked at her lips while slightly biting on mine. All of this was, of course, part of the act. I never act this embarrassed when someone's actually flirting with me, well at least I never show it.
“Oh, I just moved here,” I said quickly making eye contact and smiling.
“Are you going to Kibly High? If so I’d love to be the one to show you around.” she winked and moved closer to me. Wow, I know that I’m good but this girl is making things so easy. I didn't know what school I was going to but this was an underfunded city so there's no way it has more than one public high school.
“Yeah, I am. I’m a little nervous. I’ve never been the new kid before.” I've told this lie a million times. Always looking shy and sweet.
“Don't worry everyone is really nice,” she said inching closer. There was a small awkward silence. Shit, I had to think of something to say.
“If they are anything like you then that’s not hard to believe.” I looked down at my feet with another fake blush.
“Well I can't promise that they are as nice as me.” she winked and I giggled. “I'm Hanna by the way.”
“I’m Caterina, but you can call me Cat,” I inched closer as well. I didn't tell her a fake name just in case we did end up going to the same school. There was less than a foot between us and Hanna was looking down at me. I hadn’t realized how tall she was. I didn't look her in the eye instead, I once again stared at her lips. They were plump and looked soft.
“Well, Cat how about we get out of Walmart and go somewhere a little more…” Her voice was low. Our heads were so close and I thought she was about to kiss me, but instead of going to my lips her mouth was next to my ear. “..interesting.”
“Sur sure let's just um let's go and pay,” I didn't even have to fake the stutter. Why did I have to pick a hot one? It's going to be so much harder when she finds out half the stuff I said is a lie. Hanna backed away smiling at me.
“Of course,” Hanna chirped as she grabbed my hand. “Do you have everything?”
Our lips were connected as soon as we were in the car. We didn't even bother with pretending we were planning to drive. Both of us were in the backseat where the windows were tinted. Hanna’s knees were on either side of my leg’s while we kiss. It was one of the best make-out sessions I've ever had.
It didn't last long. After a moment the doors on either side of us swung open. I was ripped away from Hanna. something cold was placed against my temple and a hand was over my mouth. I looked at Hanna and saw a masked man holding her tight with a gun to her skull and a cloth to her mouth. Her eyes were getting droopy.
“I’m going to take you to the van. Any resistance and I’ll shoot. Understand?” I nodded, my eyes getting watery. The man with Hanna just picked her up since she was passed out but the man holding me practically dragged me to a van right behind the car. It was the stereotypical white windowless van. Great, I’m going to die! He shoved me in the back and got in himself. Once inside the car jerked forward. Hanna was placed on the ground while my arms were forced behind my back. What felt like plastic was tightened around them. I was then forced to sit next to Hanna’s body.
