Love Me When I'm Unlovable

Chapter 10: Rita

"Hey, Baby Girl."

I turn around, smiling. Lucas. He brushes his bangs out of his face and smiles at me. My heart flutters.

"Hey," I say. "What's up?"

"Nothin'," he says. "Where you been?"

"I moved again," I say, rolling my eyes. It's what I say when my placement gets moved. "What are you doing at my school?"

"I wanted to see you," Lucas reaches over and messes with my hair, tousling it a little. "There. That's better."

I giggle a little. "Thanks." Butterflies take flight in my stomach.

"Don't forget to give me something tonight, Baby Girl," Lucas says, kissing the top of my head.

I giggle again. "Yes, sir."

He brushes his hand against my cheek, brushing my choppy brown hair away from my ear. He leans in, and I brace myself for a kiss, when he says, "Or I might lose interest."

"Rita, you ready?"

LeAnna's standing outside the bathroom door, tapping her foot impatiently. She hates being late for youth group. I don't particularly care about it, but I don't much have a choice.

I roll my eyes. I pop an extra Tylenol in my pocket, just in case, and slide my phone into my hoodie, right after hitting the send button on the photos to Lucas.

It's been almost two weeks since the hospital trip. My ribs are still sore from all the chest compressions involved in CPR, but Mrs. Corbin is making me go back to school tomorrow. I'm thinking of ditching.

"Yeah," I say, shutting the doorway.

LeAnna's eyebrows practically shoot up into her hairline. "Yowza, that's a lot of eyeliner. You sure you need the whole bottle?"

"Let me be me," I say, flicking my wrist as if I'm shooing away a fly.

"Imma bite that," LeAnna warns, swatting my hand out of her face.

I fake whimper a little and cradle my hand.

LeAnna rolls her eyes. "You're fine," she says playfully, and motions for me to follow her to the car.

"Oh, Mrs. Crobin," I say, stopping. LeAnna sighs. She hates being late. "Uh, I had a question."

"Sure, sweetie," Mrs. Corbin says. "But make it quick." She cuts her eyes to LeAnna. "I think LeAnna's going to have a heart attack if you make her wait much longer."

"I will," LeAnna adds.

I glance at her and continue. "I was thinking. I, uh, haven't seen my brother in months. It's almost been a year. I was wondering if, uh..."

"We can ask your caseworker about it," Mrs. Corbin offers.

I nod eagerly. "Yes, please."

"Alright, will do," Mrs. Corbin nods. "Have fun." 

"Don't get attached, Rita. If you get attached, it's harder to leave." Hannah's words echo in my head. But what if I want to get attached? The Corbins feel different. They feel more like family than any other foster family I've had.

"Do you have friends in the youth group?" LeAnna asks.

"Nope," I say, without hesitation.

LeAnna sighs as she gets in the car and starts it. "What about at school?"

"Nope," I reply.

"Rita, you need people," LeAnna says.

"No, I don't think I do," I say.