•1631 words•
Waaaat! New Zealand then, it looks like! My social workers have already agreed that I can move countries, as long as I can get a valid passport. Yes! We have to stay in England for a bit though, to get used to Crofley's and to find out what work we'll be doing when we arrive in New Zealand. They said it'll be a couple of months yet. Nevertheless, I'm so exited. I'll be living under legal guardians. I'm basically going to be adopted in another country, with my best friend! Talking about Brooke, I do think I kinda like her. Maybe... I don't really know yet though. I'm just trying to figure myself out. Before I turned 15, I didn't even really know what bisexuality was. I don't know anything about myself but I guess that's just a part of growing up. You're a teenager, Ashlyn, and you are allowed to question things, even if that means thinking you like your best friend.
Brooke and I are allowed to meet on our little bench at the park again. It's Monday night and tomorrow we're skipping school (hooray!) and going to Crofley's for a 'very important' meeting. Apparently we're gonna get told about the type of detective work we're gonna be doing, etc, etc. I've managed to convince Sue and Mark to let me out more often, but Brooke hasn't said anything about her carers letting her out, yet. Maybe we could meet up more often, like we both wanted to in the first place. Brooklyn comes around the corner.
"Hey Ash, how you doin?"
"Good thanks, I'm just dreading tomorrow. It's gonna be soooo boring!"
"It won't be boring," Brooke startles me when she says this, "It'll be fun. We get to find out about what crimes we'll have to solve and what we'll have to do in New Zealand! Does that not sound fun?"
"Hm, in a way," I say, looking totally uninterested, "But I still think it'll be pretty boring."
She sits down next to me and we end up talking for around 3 hours- laughing, playing games, just being teenagers. Being kids. That's something Brooke and I have never really had the chance to be, kids. And we haven't really had the chance to have fun. Ever. Ultimately, we both turn round and walk home. I think I do actually love Brooke, despite thinking I was only into guys my whole life. This is our spot now, our place. Our special place where we can just forget about everything. We won't be in the UK much longer anyway, so why don't we just do what we like?
Tuesday comes round again and ugh. I would do anything to get out of this meeting. Remembering what Brooke said, I'm trying to have a positive mindset about this, but all I can think about is that I'm actually moving to New Zealand and getting out of foster care! I've been waiting over 8 years for this, and although I'm not getting adopted, and I don't have a loving family, I'm moving to a new country with my best friend fulfilling something love! You never know, we might meet all sorts of people in New Zealand. I guess this meeting won't be so bad after all, I kind of do need to find out what's gonna happen with Crofley's, and what's going to happen when we get to New Zealand in a few months. I'm really excited about today! I run downstairs and out the front door, wearing my second favourite hoodie. It's black (of course) and has my favourite rock band's logo on it, in white. 'The Shulgar Retchids.' In my opinion, they're the best band on the planet. I run to go and meet Brooke at the park bench, where the coach will pick us up to leave for Crofley's.
"Hey Ash! Same old place again then, eh? I'm really gonna miss coming here, you know."
"Me too, I guess." I stutter out, but I'm really not in the mood for going to the Crofley's meeting anymore.
"Ash, you okay? You're normally the one excited about going to Crofley's!"
"Yeah, but not when it's a stupid meeting. I really don't want to go, Brooke."
"Look, you might be worried o-"
"BROOKLYN JERVIL, I AM NOT WORRIED!"
I don't know what's happened to me, but I storm off and run home. I can't do this anymore. Brooke can go off and do it on her own, I didn't want to go anyway. Ugh.
The coach leaves in 10 minutes and then I get a phone call from Brooke. I don't answer. I'm almost at my house, well 'the' house, when I decide to turn back and run to Brooke before the coach departs to Crofley's. I feel terrible about what I just did. That could've been the last of me and Brooke and I can't lose her, she likes me as more than a friend, and I might like her as a bit more too. I've never had a best friend before so I'm not too sure of the challenges a friendship can bring, but I know I definitely shouldn't have shouted at Brooke, just then.
I arrive in the park and I run over to the bench. My arms open wide, I go to give her a huge hug, like our tradition, but she's sitting on the bench crying her eyes out, with her head on the table (it's a picnic bench) and she doesn't speak to me. I slow down in my tracks and walk up to her, taking tiny steps. I am so worried. I doubt she'll even talk to me after what I just did.
"Hey, Brooke. I'm so sorry, okay? I- I have no idea if you're going to forgive me but I just wanted to talk this through. We're teenagers, sometimes we'll just snap. Like I just did. I'm so glad I made it back here in time, " I say, puffing, after just running for 10 minutes. "Look, basically what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry I shouted at you, we're best friends, Brooke, so of course we're going to argue sometimes. I'm sorry I never answered your phone call too. I didn't think you would be ready to talk after how horrible I just was to you. I love you, Brooke. Come on, let's go to Crofley's. I'm excited now! Aren't you?"
Brooke gradually lifts her head off the table and looks at me. I'm so worried about what she's gonna say next. It comes as a surprise to me when she doesn't say anything. She rises from the bench, comes over to me, and gives me a big hug. Our tradition. I feel so safe in her company and a tear rolls down my cheek. I'm regretting what I did, but I know that Brooke forgives me. The coach arrives to pick us up, and Brooke and I can't stop talking on the coach. It was only a mini argument anyway, not even that- just me shouting, but it was like nothing had ever even happened. I tell her that I'm excited for this and I really am. Even though this meeting might be slightly boring, I'm moving to New Zealand with my best friend, so I should be excited about that. I am.
We arrive at Crofley's again and suddenly a wave of déjà vu hits me. I have been here before, but its the type of déjà vu where it's also a kind of PTSD. Do you know what I mean? A type of 'I'm scared because I've been here before.' There's nothing to be scared about though, I'm going to be living in New Zealand extremely shortly, solving crime and doing what I love, with who I love.
After a long 2 hours, Brooke and I can finally go back home. I don't want to go home though, it's not even my home, essentially. I'd rather go back to school. At least that way, I can spend more time with Brooklyn. The coach drops us back off at home and the two of us have piles and piles of information about Crofley's, Berkley's and New Zealand on our laps. We say goodbye to each other and sneak a little, 'i love you' in. Maybe I do love Brooke. Maybe I do have a slight crush on her, after all. I'm not too sure, but the pair of us are living in New Zealand in a few months. We have to go through a couple more training courses over the next couple of weeks, we have to work for Crofley's and move into the crime academy (it's kinda like a university- you live there and have your own dorm) before we can move to a beach house in New Zealand!
Brooke and I squealed during the meeting when we were told we would be living in a beach house with two other people, on an island called Wusba Island! I'm so glad I went to this meeting; beforehand I thought we would be staying in a little apartment in one of New Zealand's biggest cities, so to know that we're gonna be living in a beach house with 2 teenage New Zealanders is just incredible! My dream has finally come true. No more foster care. That means no more 30-year-old men on drugs, no 50-year-old women going through menopause and no more 2-year-old puking babies! That also means I get to move away from the 9-year-old girls playing barbies and no more 13-year-old Jamie Corvanze playing heavy metal rock music in his room on full blast. Well, I think I've gotten rid of him.
Ash x
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Chance✔️
Teen FictionAshlyn is a teenage girl who has been in foster care for over half of her life. She's sick of it- and she waits helplessly to either be adopted, or to become an adult so she doesn't have to be in foster care anymore. At school, she gets the chance...
