Eye of the Storm -SAFE HOUSE BOOK 2-

35

Austin won the case, as the lawyers had suspected he would. Briana had a large weight taken off of her shoulders as she coursed through the school day, classes seeming to start and end in the blink of an eye.

She straightened her dress as she headed to her car after last bell. Eric and Preston fell into step beside her, something they had grown accustomed to doing over the course of the past few weeks. She did her best to tune them out at first, but Eric was so interesting. They liked some of the same songs, and they read the same books. Biting back a smile, she listened to his stories about summers on the lake and Christmases in Bali. What was it like to sit on the beach on Christmas day, basking in warmth while their quiet hometown was covered in snow?

She was nothing like him. He was nothing like her. Maybe that was why she liked him so much. Wasn't that what had drawn her to Charlie, at first? Maybe she wasn't supposed to be with a rich, drop-dead gorgeous boy who only dated her for her looks. Maybe she belonged with someone who actually saw her for who she was and treated her like a person rather than a prize. Wasn't that what drew her to Terry? He liked her because she was smart and creative; he didn't want her to change anything about herself. If only she could find that again.

"Where would you go right now if you could go anywhere in the world," she asked him just as the question popped into her head, putting a hand on his shoulder as they leaned against his Maserati. She watched his hair fall into his eyes, each black strand moving freely.

Thinking, he bit his lip and tilted his head back. "I would go back to Maryland. I had a whole other life there, and my parents decided to rip the rug out from under me when we moved here. I've made great friends here, but I'll never be able to replace everything my hometown gave me," he explained, a sad look passing over his eyes. He didn't look at Briana as he spoke, too overcome with longing to focus on anything else. She didn't care that he wasn't looking at her. At least he was giving her the time of day, which was more than she could say about the other boys in school. He listened to her, and he actually wanted to hear what she had to say. That meant something.

Soon, Briana and Eric said goodbye. He pressed a kiss to her cheek as he did so, giving her hand a quick squeeze. Briana couldn't help but notice the rush that came with his touch, shivers going down her spine and a swarm of butterflies dancing through her stomach. She bit back a smile as he pulled out of the lot, blinker on to head to the main road.

Sliding into her own car, she turned towards home. The entire ride, she couldn't help but replay those moments. His hands felt so right on her skin, his touch so intense and calm she wanted to feel it again and again.

It was a short ride back to the Carters' house, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her as she stepped over the threshold and into the place she was beginning to call home. Jamie's car was in the driveway, and she could hear his voice as he sat in his office on a call. Taking an apple and peanut butter, she sat at the kitchen table with her homework until she heard everyone else get home.

Austin swung his backpack to the floor as he walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge immediately. "Hey, Briana," he greeted her, a smile on his face as he took a seat beside her. They ate their snacks together before heading to Austin's room to do their homework.

"Do you feel better now," Briana asked. "I'm sure a huge weight was taken off of your shoulders when the jury took your side." He looked at her for a split second before nodding. Lewis wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else again; his days of being a foster parent were over. He couldn't explain what it felt like to know that. Would she understand? Austin wasn't sure. Maybe she could; hadn't they witnessed the same sort of childhood? Weren't her parents behind bars, too? She had always understood him better than he understood himself. Wasn't that what friends were for?

He nodded as he flipped to the right page in his math textbook. "Yeah, I mean, there was a part of me that felt like he would get off, but now that we've won the case, I feel like I won't have to worry about any other kids getting hurt because of him," Austin said, tapping his leg with his thumb. "Part of me thought we would lose, and he was just going to keep hurting kids, never getting away with anything. I'm relieved now that I put in the work to get him to go away for what he did."

Briana nodded, not entirely understanding but remembering what it was like to finally get something she had been begging for. Wasn't that sort of how she was brought up, pleading that someone would understand what she was going through enough to know that she needed a way out? Didn't she beg for a new life to somehow eclipse the pain she and Austin had witnessed so early? The life she lived now was something she had been begging for for what seemed like her entire life. How lucky they were now, to be loved.

*****

The mall was crowded as the Carters walked in that Saturday afternoon. Children ran circles around their parents, all begging to have the coolest, newest toy from the kids' store. "You guys have all put up with a lot while we waited for the verdict in Austin's trail. Your mom and I thought you all deserved a little treat, so we're taking you guys shopping today. In a little while, after you each pick out something nice, we'll have lunch. How does that sound," Jamie asked, twirling his keys on his index finger as they all walked around the mall complex. All of the kids grinned, nodding their agreement. Laura took the girls, and Jamie took the boys, heading towards a video game store first. Austin's mouth watered as they walked past the funnel cake stand, wondering about how good they tasted. Sorting through his thoughts, Austin chose his treat with ease. Holding up a new combat game everyone was talking about at school, he looked at his father with pleading eyes. "That's what you want," Jamie asked, a smile on his face. When Austin nodded, Jamie gave his approval. He clutched the game in his hands while his brothers chose their own rewards. Only a few minutes had passed before Jamie was leading them towards the check-out line.

Lunch was served in the up-town restaurant almost an hour later. Austin beamed at Briana as they talked about college and their futures. Checking her email on her phone, Briana's eyes scanned pages and pages of messages until she found the one that she wanted. Austin held onto her hand as she selected an email from one of the local universities. We are pleased to inform you.... "Mom, I got accepted," she cried, joy filling her eyes.

Laura beamed as she sipped her glass of wine, telling the kids how proud she was of all of them. As everyone enjoyed their meals, Briana couldn't help but notice how distracted Austin seemed. When she asked him about it, he just shrugged. "I'm fine, Natalia's just been distant these past few days. She won't tell me what's wrong." Briana wasn't sure what to say, but she held her best friend in her arms for a few moments. She wasn't sure how, but she knew everything would work itself out. Now that she had a good chance at getting adopted with her best friend, she wasn't sure if anything could bring her down.