Punz doesn't like it here.
He has already unpacked everything from his bag, and lays on the perfectly made bed. The ceiling is fascinating. He can hear Foolish and his brothers in the garden, laughing and squealing. They sound like they are having fun but Punz doesn't regret not wanting to go out.
It's perfect. The house is beautiful and from what he saw looking out of the window, the garden is too. Puffy is really nice and Foolish seems to be a wonderful kid. But that's the problem. It's good. Too good. Maybe too good to be true.
Punz groans in frustration, head hitting the pillow. Punz knows foster homes. He's been to loads. This one feels different.
There's a knock at his door and Punz jumps.
"Hey Punz, can I come in?" It's Puffy, and Punz makes a noise of affirmation.
"Is everything okay? I noticed you weren't outside with the others." She pokes her head around the door and looks at him with a sympathetic smile.
"I'm fine," he murmers, "just tired."
"Oh okay, do you want a drink?" Punz shakes his head and avoids her eyes. A test. "Alright. I was thinking of going shopping a bit later. We can get you guys bedsheets and stuff to decorate your rooms. Would that be something you'd be interested in?"
Punz shrugs. "I guess."
"Alright. Well the boys are outside and I'm downstairs so if you need anything don't hesitate to ask." She leaves after that, closing the door quietly.
Punz would never show it, at least not intentionally, but he thinks he's the most pessimistic out of the three of them. He tries to be strong as a front because he's the oldest. It's his job. But soon, he'll be eighteen and forced out of the system and into the streets. He hopes, secretly, that Sam won't let that happen, but Punz know loads of older kids who steal from shops just to eat.
Puffy is nice. Her house is nice. Her son is adorable...and Punz has been to plenty of places like this before. It never ends well. Disappointment is not fun. Bouncing home to home is not fun. Nothing is fun when Punz knows that he will soon reach an age where he is not allowed to live with his brothers.
About an hour later there is a gentle knock on the door, and Punz didn't realise he had started to fall asleep.
"Hey." It's Dream and he pokes his head around the door. "Puffy wants to take us shopping, are you coming?"
Punz just yawn and nods which causes Dream to frown.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, it doesn't sound like everything is okay."
"I just think it's strange that you two seem to immediately put your trust in this lady when we've been here a few hours. Shit has happened before Dream, and I stopped looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses a long time ago...I wished we stayed at Sam's."
Dream stands still at the doorway and Punz avoids his eyes a he gets himself sat up and ready.
"Punz...would you believe me if I told you I have a good feeling about this place? I don't usually get that."
"A good feeling means nothing Dream, she's just nice." Punz snaps and regrets it only a little as Dream flinches.
"Let's just go." Dream snaps before he turns on his heel and leaves.
Shopping with Puffy isn't too bad. The trio have definitely been to this particular shopping centre before. There isn't anything spectacular about it apart from the fact that it is decently clean and has an equal amount of shops for everything they need.
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Fanfiction"Dream legs it down the alleyway, bag gripped tightly in his hand. His cheeks are already red and angry from the bitter cold wind and his feet numb inside his shoes. He can hear rasped shouts from behind him, and forces his legs to move faster." Or:...
