Eye of the Storm -SAFE HOUSE BOOK 2-

24

Pulling on his new sweatshirt on Friday night, Austin opened his biology textbook and began to take notes on the chapter. His teacher had been dropping test hints and he wanted to be ready. With a sigh, he rewrote all of his notes and then pulled out the practice test he had printed off of the textbook's extra help website. He wrote and read until his hand cramped up and his eyes were sore. Tossing his work to the side, he stretched out on the floor and closed his eyes, only opening them when there was a knock at his door. Courtney popped her head in when he gave the okay. "Hey, we're all going to watch a movie. Mom's making popcorn, come on," she piped up, donning a sweatshirt from her room as Austin nodded and followed her.

Smelling the buttery mess from the hallway, he took Briana's hand as she came to the staircase, grinning at the promise of a fun night. Already, he could hear the chatter downstairs. Courtney joined in immediately. "I just had to review six documentaries for school. You're fooling yourself if you think I'm going to watch another one, Dad," she countered, taking a handful of popcorn, and ruffling her little brother's hair as he ran up to hug her. Jamie shrugged and kept looking.

After a while, they settled on an action-romance, with a few mutters of disagreement from Devon, who lost himself in his phone seconds after the opening credits began. Austin shrugged, stretching out in his own spot, feeling Briana give his hand a tight squeeze. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but she only shook her head. She seemed alright, so he didn't press her to open up.

The main character was dangling off the edge of a tall building when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Laura nodded, motioning for Jamie to keep the movie going. Phone in hand, she made her way to the foyer to answer the door. Austin pulled Briana into him as they waited, unsure of the situation. There were some quiet discussions, but it was all out of earshot. "What do you mean," Laura cried out of nowhere, making Austin's heart race. "I don't understand. When did this happen?" What was going on? What was Laura talking about? Clenching his friend's hand, he looked over at Jamie, who was already getting to his feet.

"Kids, I'll be right back. Devon, why don't you take them downstairs, okay? I'll sort all of this out," Jamie instructed as Laura came into the room with a pair of strangers, tears filling her eyes. Bodies froze in place as the social worker looked down at Briana, his jacket smelling of pine cologne and cigarette smoke. A woman stood beside him in fresh-pressed slacks and a button-down shirt, a thin file in her hand. Oh my god, that's mine, Austin thought, heart thundering in his chest as everything pieced itself together in his head. What did this mean?

Just as Devon was about to open the door, Laura shook her head ever so slightly. Swallowing hard, Austin clenched Briana's hand. He needed answers, and soon. The woman came up, trying her best to smile. "Briana," she began, "you need to come with me. Don't worry, you'll be alright," she stated, receiving a terrified stare in return as Briana and Austin shook their heads, hair smashing into Briana's face as she moved. Austin kept his eyes on her as the social worker took her other hand, attempting to lead her away from him. He pulled back in anger. 

They didn't understand. Briana was his family, and the Carters were his family. He couldn't just pack up and run away. They wouldn't keep him. He wanted to stay in the house, where he knew people and he was safe. Why was the man taking his arm? Why did they keep saying he needed to pack a bag? Nothing made sense. "I'm sorry, but you two need to get in the car. Laura and Jamie's license has expired. They can't have you in the house until it's renewed," the man finally revealed as tears filled Austin's eyes. Did they really expect him to just leave, just like that? Did they expect him to pack up his entire life and just leave in a matter of moments? Looking to Jamie for support, all the hope fell from his eyes as his foster father just shook his head with tears in his eyes. Was he crying? Austin had never seen the man show so much emotion before.