Finding Family

Chapter 3

The next morning both girls woke up and started to get ready for school.

"Remember both of you have a therapist appointment today after school," Emily reminded the girls. Lily sighed, knowing that it was going to be a waste of time and money because she knew she wasn't going to talk. JJ and Emily drove both of the girls to school and dropped each of them off.

Charlotte was excited to meet new people. She had always been a people person, always positive and happy. She practically jumped out of JJ and Emily's car and ran in. She quickly found her homeroom and made conversation with her tablemates. Meanwhile, Lily was still thinking about the events that happened last night.

"Have a good day at school Lily. Call us if you need anything," JJ said as Lily opened the door to get out. Lily walked to her first period with her head down, her first class, Calculus. She headed to the back of the room, sat down and laid her head on the desk and she was out like a light. She had not fallen asleep the night before. After JJ had left, she woke back up not wanting to wake the house again.

"Lily please wake up," her math teacher tapped on her head.

Lily's eyes opened and all eyes were on her.

"Sorry," Lily said, shrinking back into her seat not liking all the attention.

The teacher continued through her syllabus and soon the class period was over. The day was slow for Lily, each class had felt like they had gone on forever.

Back at Charlotte's school, she was getting ready for lunch, excited to sit next to her new friends. She had made some new friends in every class and she had a lot of fun. JJ and Emily picked up Lily first. They saw as Lily slowly walked into the car, as she dreaded going to this therapist's appointment.

"How was your day?" Emily asked.

Lily shrugged, not wanting to talk, hoping that they could hurry up and get Charlotte so that way all the attention was on her. They pulled up to Charlotte's middle school and she was talking to some of her friends outside. Charlotte immediately saw their car and waved goodbye to her friends as she hopped into the car.

"How was your day?" Emily asked.

"It was so much fun," Charlotte replied ecstatically, "I made a bunch of new friends and I like my science teacher, she's super fun!"

"That's great!" JJ replied.

"Lily how was your day, " Charlotte asked her older sister.

Charlotte looked to her sister, but only then did they notice that Lily had fallen asleep. JJ and Emily looked at each other worryingly as they drove to the therapist's office. Once they got there JJ woke Lily up, Lily immediately opened her eyes pushing away as she felt JJ's touch.

"It's okay, it's just me," JJ reassured.

Lily relaxed and got out of the car.

"You guys wait here, we will talk with the therapist first and then each of you will go in separately," JJ instructed as they entered her office. The girls nodded as they took a seat in the lobby.

"What brings you in today?" the therapist asked as she sat JJ and Emily down in her office.

"Well both our girls have been through quite a lot, they've been fostered by several families," the therapist nodded understandingly, knowing how bad the foster system was, " and the oldest, Lily, has just been so closed off with us, " Emily stated.

"Both girls have a lot of nightmares, and Lily tries to avoid them by not sleeping," JJ continued.

"We honestly don't know much about the girls because they don't open up to us much. Charlotte has a very bubbly personality, but sometimes I feel like she uses it to shield herself from all the bad in the world, she had a good day at school today, thankfully" Emily finished, hoping the therapist would know what to do.