Embracing Reality: WATTY AWARDS(:

Embracing Reality: Introduction

Embracing Reality

Introduction:

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Welcome To Westwood High School!

I briefly read the large, bolded message engraved on a stone sign that was placed at the entry of the parking lot that led into the school. I sighed irritably as the bus I was riding ungracefully turned into the parking lot, cutting off cars and without a doubt scraping some rubbing off the back right tire as it made impact with the curb.

I closed my eyes against the headache searing in between my temples and tried to think positive about my new school. Well, new home. It was the first day of school so I wouldn't be completely noticeable, point. It was a good way to start fresh, point. It was somewhere to go to escape a full seven hours, or nine hours considering the bus ride, away from my new house, definite triple point.

The obnoxious screeching sound of the buses brakes cut me out of my thoughts. My eyes snapped open and I glared holes into the back of the elderly man driving this rusty bolts on wheels.

The bus shook and spluttered a few long seconds before the bus driver pulled the knob, forcing the doors to come apart in a not-too subtle way, and then the bus shut off. If by the mans doing or from the raggedy condition of the death trap, I wasn't quite sure but I wouldn't think twice with betting on the second option.

"Have a great first day." the man rasped out in his old worn out voice as students filed out of the bus with unnatural slowness. I merely grunted as a reply to the man as I passed him.

The bus was only temporary until my car was driven down here by my nineteen year old brother, Kaleb.

We moved here to Palestine, Texas from North Carolina. But while Darren made me come down here the same time he did; because I was a 'minor' as he put it; he let Kaleb, the son of his dreams, stay an extra week to say bye to his friends and some family that stayed down there near our old house.

Darren sold our old house already so he told Kaleb that he would have to stay with a friend or family member if he was staying a week longer. Unlike Darren, I knew that Kaleb had a girlfriend back home so without a doubt I knew he wasn't staying where his dad thinks he is. At Marty's, mine and Kaleb's friend.

Also, you might be wondering why I'm referring to Darren as Darren to me but as Kaleb's dad. I'll elaborate for you to let you understand; Darren is Kaleb's biological father but not when it comes to me.

Kaleb is my half-brother; being my biological mother and Darren's son. My father, well let's just leave that part as I don't have any clue who he is, or was. He could be dead for all I know. I have never met him, never seen him in person or in picture form for that matter, or heard from him.

My mother died earlier this year. Ironically I had never met her either until three months before she was killed; car accident. I didn't even know she existed until six months ago when Beth and Josh, the foster parents I had been staying with at the time, told me that my mother was trying to regain custody of me. Apparently my biological mother had had custody of me from the day I was born until I was two.

Basically, from zero to two years old I lived with my mother. My Aunt Lily gained kinship care of me until I was six and a half. My Aunt Lily died of a heart attack; I was then put into foster care. From age seven until age ten I was put into what is called a Foster Family Group Home which I shared with four other kids who were between the ages of seven and twelve.  Somewhere around the age of eleven I was placed in a new group home until sixth grade, at age twelve. From twelve to a little after age fifteen I lived alone with foster parents Diana and Steven. I got into some bad trouble in my freshman year in high school which ended up with me spending almost a year long in Juvenile Detention. 

When I got out I was placed under strict watch which meant I had to be 'home' schooled until Junior year, if I didn't get into any more trouble that is. 

One month after my sixteenth birthday I was released back into foster care. The nine month period between when I was released until the day I started living with my mother, Darren, and half-brother Kaleb, I spent bouncing from one foster home to the next. I ended up at a total of ten different foster homes before Diana and Josh who kept me until my mother regained custody. A total of fifteen foster homes including staying with my Aunt Lily all together before my mother got custody of me.

My attitude was what got me kicked out of pretty much those ten other foster homes before Diana and Josh. I did get into trouble twice again before the court said that if I fucked up one more time I would be sent to a Detention Camp for a long period of time. Not exactly their choice of words but it pretty much sums it up. And with my record, now that I am only nine months away from age eighteen, they could easily try to charge me with the adult crime charges. 

I haven't had an easy life and Darren probably wishes that my mother had never got me back to start with because now that she is gone and Darren is considered like my step-father I am stuck with him. Unless he decides he doesn't want to deal with me and if that is the case then he can send me back into the hell called foster care.

As I walked into the school building, heading for the main office, ignoring the cliques, the pervert guys, and stares I got that judged me on the spot, I tried to remember that violence comes with a price. And a price that I was less than willing to take.

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So, I've got an interesting story line (NO SUPERNATURAL INVOLVEMENT! Just to throw that out there!) and I hope you guys stick with me through this journey(: Thank you so much for your support.