Foster Troubles

Chapter Ten

We were walking home from Bethany's and Jacob's. We got to Leo's room. I sat on his windowsill, looking out. I saw a moving truck, with its group of men, and a small car with a man and a teenage girl. The only empty apartment was the one directly across from Leo's apartment.

"Look, there's a family moving across the hall." I said, waving Leo over.

"How do you know it's across the hall?" He asked, standing behind me.

"It's the only empty apartment. Where else? The attic? Boy, good thing you're cute." I chuckled, and he laughed, shaking his head.

"Don't call me dumb, that doesn't end well."

"For you or me?" I said, raising my eyebrows. He kissed me.

"Don't test me, Miller." He smiled.

"They just arrived, we didn't see them when we were coming up." I said.

"No shit, Sherlock." Leo rolled his eyes.

"Don't push it, boy." I stood up. I grabbed my phone, and went out of his room.

"Where you going? I'm sorry." He followed.

"Oh, it's not you. I'm going to get some orange juice. Want to come with?" I said.

"Again? Just buy those big containers of orange juice. I know you drank mine." He said. I opened the door, and we went out.

"It wasn't a secret. I'll get you one back."

"Thank you. What's with you and orange juice?" He said. We reached the front porch.

"It's natural." I said, as we saw the girl and the man carrying boxes out of the car and towards the entrance of the apartment, while the workers hauled furniture out of the truck. We walked down the steps and out of the way, as the workers went upstairs. The man and girl stopped in front of us.

"Look, Rosie, there's kids your age." The man said, as he greeted us.

"How cool." She groaned. "Hey, I'm Rosie. This is my dad."

"I'm Leo and this is Camila." Leo said.

"We're heading to the store, want to come with?" I questioned.

"No, thank you. Maybe another time. I'm a little tired. Thanks for the offer, though." She said, and waved goodbye. She followed her dad into the building. I walked down the block, as Leo walked beside me.

"She's pretty, you think so?" I said. He was silent. I chuckled. He looked at me.

"I won't kill you, if you think she's pretty."

"Okay, I think she's pretty. You happy?"

"I'm not going to kill you, Foster." I said. We walked to the store, bought some food, and went back to Leo's apartment. We hung out for the rest of the weekend, together. On Monday morning, I waited for Leo, dressed in my black leggings, black and white flannel and brown booties. I straightened my hair, and accented with a flower crown. I got my bag, and waited on the front porch of the building. He came down, a few minutes later, with Rosie. She greeted me, and we walked to school. I took her to the office.

"Ms. Miller, can you take Ms. Gerald to her classes, and lead her around? It'll put you off probation. Thank you." He announced.

"Okay. Come on, Rosie." I said. I led her around the school, and to her classes, all day. I walked home with her. Leo was going to Jacob's.

"How you liking this school so far?" I asked.

"It's pretty cool. You're on probation?"

"Yeah, it's a long story, but I got suspended, and I'm on probation right now. If I do something bad, I'll be expelled, but not anymore." I smiled.

"I got expelled from my middle school, not the school I went to before I moved, but the one previously. I was doing graffiti in the school gym. That was the year my mother died."

"I'm so sorry." I said, as we reached the apartment.

"It's not your fault." She said, waving me goodbye. I went into my room, and straightened up, before leaving for Bethany's. I walked to her house, and rang the doorbell. Phil came to answer the door.

"Hey, Camila!" He gave me a hug.

"Hey, Phil. How are you?" I questioned.

"I'm doing good, how are you?" He said.

"I'm good." I answered.

"That's great. Go on, kiddo. Beth is upstairs." He said, and I went upstairs. I went into Jacob's room, where he and Leo were playing video games.

I kissed Leo, aiming for the mouth, but he gave me a side kiss. "Hey, baby." I said.

"Hi, Simone.." He doze off in his game.

"Bye, Leo. Hey, Jacob." I said, leaving the room. I went into Bethany's room, but she was using the bathroom. I went into Ryder's room. He was laying down on his bed, on his phone. I waved to him.

"Hey, Camila." He said, standing up. I gave him a hug.

"You still sick?" I questioned.

"I was never sick, Mila." He chuckled.

"You're so fake. I'm leaving." I left his room, and went back to Bethany's room.

"Oh my god, you're here!" She grabbed me into a hug. She pulled me onto her bed. We sat across from each other, with my back facing the door, and hers facing the wall.

"Yeah, I am." I said.

"Rosie Gerald. I don't like her. She moved out of this town, when 5th grade ended. Now she comes back?" Bethany sighed.

"I don't know. She's pretty, though." I said.

"She is, but I saw her laying eyes on Leo." Bethany looked at me. I chuckled.

"Oh, well. It doesn't matter. She can have him, if she wants." I shrugged. Then I felt hands on my cheeks. I screamed, and then the hands covered my mouth. I tilted my head back, to reveal Leo. He laughed, smirking.

"I'm not yours to give away. I'll date her, if I want to. At least, she might treat me well." Leo said, as Bethany laughed behind me.

"Go date her, you know you want to. I bought you an orange juice. If that's not good enough, what is?" I looked at him.

"Okay, that's only because you wanted some, and you owed me. Maybe I will date her." He said, putting his hand on my cheek, and he stuck out his tongue. He left the room, and I turned back to face Bethany.

"You two are adorable, but aren't you afraid you'll lose him to Rosie?" Bethany asked.

"No. He can go date her, that doesn't bother me." I said, shrugging.

"If you say so, but I don't like her."

"I don't hate." I said.

"Lies!" Leo yells from Jacob's room.

"Shut up!" I yell back. "But don't hate yet, Bethany."

"So there's a possible chance?"

"Yeah, sure." I said.

"Yes!" Bethany cheered.