My Foster Sister

Chapter Four-A Fun Soccer Practice

I wake up on this nice Sunday morning to the sound of someone throwing up followed by Jessica's mumbled voice. How pleasant. Being the nice person I am, I decide to go to see how she's doing.

I'm about to open her door, but I hear voices from inside her room. I decid to stay and listen instead.

"It's OK, dear, if you're not feeling well then you can stay home from church. Are you alright staying here by yourself?" My mom asks her with a gentle voice.

Silence follows, in which I'm guessing Jessica nodded her head or something. I hear some shuffling before mom speaks again.

"Here's the home phone. Just call me if you need anything. Take care of yourself, alright?"

Again, I hear no response, so I go get ready for church. But seriously? Lying to my mom is not something anyone should make a habit of. Clearly, she trusts Jessica.

As I pass by Jessica's room on my way out, we lock eyes through her open door. My light green eyes stare at her Hazel ones. I stop walking. Eventually, she turns her head and starts texting on her phone. What is up with her?

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I take my books out that I need for my last class of the day. I also have soccer practice after school so I grab my soccer bag. My locker is decorated in fourteen magnets of fourteen of my favorite singers. Singing is important to me, and these people on my locker are my role models.

As I reach for my English Honors book, I feel a presence beside me. I know it's not a friend of mine because they would already have started talking. So, I ignore the person and continue getting my stuff.

"Where's that pretty little friend of yours? I haven't seen her all day," a deep voice asks next to me-a voice I recognize instantly as Drew's.

I swing my soccer bag over my shoulder and slam my locker shut. I turn to him with a glare.

"Like you don't already know. It was YOUR party. Who schedules a party for a Tuesday night? And shouldn't you have a hangover also? What are you doing at school? And more importantly, at my locker?" I reply crossing my arms over my chest.

He smirks at me and comes closer. I feel my anger build more, and I want to bite his head off. Yesterday, I saw him drive Jessica home from his party, and yet again I helped her because what else could I do?

"I don't drink at my own parties," he whispers, standing too close to me. His body heat starts seeping into my sling and I shutter in disgust. He better not if he's driving Jessica home.

"Good. Drinking and driving is illegal anyway. But then again, so are your parties," I state.

Drew narrows his eyes, suddenly looking at me suspiciously.

"How do you know I drive Jessica home?" he questions.

Sick of Drew and this conversation, I glare at him straight in his eyes. He needs to get my message loud and clear.

"Stay away from Jessica. And while you're at it, stay away from me also. You annoy me," I respond, walking away to my last class. I can't wait till soccer practice.

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Thud, swish.

Thud, swish.

Thud, swish.

Thud, swish.

Thud, swish.

I line up another five soccer balls on the 18 yard line and aim. I look at the first soccer ball, wishing that it was Drew's head. As I pull my leg back to shoot, a voice calls to me and I kick in another goal.

"Caroline, you look like a mad woman! You're beating up those poor soccer balls," my friend and teammate, Tessa says to me.

She must have just been running a lot because I can hear her labored breathing. I look up at her to see her hands on her head. She's wearing her practice jersey and some short black pants. Her light brown hair is up in a pony tail, and of course she's wearing her shin guards and cleats.

I make eye contact with her for a moment before I look at the next soccer ball and carefully take aim. Then, I shoot it in the goal.

"Good," I mumble, taking it as a compliment. It makes me feel as if she's complimenting me on beating up Drew, which makes me happy.

I shoot the next ball. She sighs beside me and as I bring my leg back to shoot the soccer ball, she blocks my view. I raise my eyebrows in question. The cool spring breeze blows my hair in my face. I quickly pull it back.

"What's the matter, Caroline?" Tessa asks. She puts her hands on her hips, refusing to move. Out of all the girls on the team, she's probably the girliest.

I take a look at the soccer ball, then bring my eyes back up to hers.

"You. You're kind of standing in my way of the goal," I answer. She rolls her eyes. Tessa tightens her pony tail.

"I'm not moving until you tell me what's wrong," she proclaims, eyeing the balls. I let out a frustrated sigh because I know she's stubborn and true to her word.

"Do you know Drew?" I ask.

"Andrew Laster? Yeah, I know him," she says, taking her hands off her hips. She seems a bit surprised that I let up so easy.

"He's taken a sudden interest in my foster sister and I don't like it," I tell her.

"I didn't know your family was fostering. Who is she?"

"Her name is Jessica."

Tessa steps back, startled. She looks at me intently.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but she isn't exactly holding him back. She looks like she likes him, and quite honestly like an easy lay for Drew."

Tessa steps away from my line of vision. I kick the soccer ball and watch it fly through the air and slam into the net of the goal.

"That's what I'm afraid of," I tell Tessa as Coach Lilly blows her whistle signaling for us to bring it together.