To say Puffy is stressed is an understatement.
"I forgot how hard this is Sam." She murmurs into the phone, her other hand fiddling with her hair.
The morning was a nice one if a bit chilly, and she had woken up to the sound of her phone ringing.
Despite it being a spam call Puffy was already awake and decided on breakfast. She barely even got a bowl out before her phone started ringing again only this time it was Sam.
Now she paces outside. She had took Sam's advice and read Punz's file. She wanted to cry. She still wants to cry.
"Do you need me to come over?" Sam asks, his voice croaky from just waking up.
"I don't want to bother you Sam." She trails off.
"I have the day off anyway, and I've also found a few colleges and apprenticeships that Punz might be interested in. I was thinking about talking to him about it soon anyway."
Puffy nods knowing Sam can't see it. "That does sound like a good idea."
"Or, I could give you what I found and you could talk to him about it." Sam suggests and Puffy wants to cry again.
"He is already so cold towards me."
"Punz tends to be, and if you read what I think you did, then you'd understand why." Sam sounds like he's getting up, evident by the grumbling Ponk in the background.
"Maybe I can take the others out and you can do it yourself..." Puffy tries to convince Sam.
"I think you and Punz need time to become neutral with each other."
"I think you have too much trust in me to do this."
Sam groans over the phone with irritation, but years of knowing him lets Puffy know that he is just being dramatic.
"I'll be over at ten." He hangs up and Puffy muffles a scream into her sleeve.
As she walks back inside, she swears she hears frantic footsteps coming from the stairs.
She also swears she left a file on the table. Maybe she didn't bring it downstairs?
Didn't she read it downstairs?
She shakes the thoughts, and wonders if any of the boys are awake yet; it's still early.
She can hear chatter coming from upstairs, and can't help but be curious. She needs to shower up there anyway.
She's about halfway up the stairs when the voices get louder and more agitated. She paused for a brief moment and debates continuing going up.
It takes a second and then she hears a very abrupt "IT'S NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS DREAM!". She bolts up the stairs to see what the commotion is.
In front of her, outside of Purpled's room, is a very red Punz. She can only guess that the other two are inside the bedroom.
"What is going on?" She asks as calm as possible.
Punz's head snaps to face her and he is raging. "Did you read it?"
Puffy nods although it is hesitant.
"Why would you do that to me?" If Puffy looks at Punz, really looks, then she can see tears pooling in his eyes. He looks betrayed and gutted and so very vulnerable.
"I asked Sam for advice, and he suggested I read it. It's in my possession for a reason." She tries to be reasonable but is heartbroken when Punz shakes his head in disbelief.
"Why can't you get to know me? Why does every single foster rely on a bit of shitting paper?"
"Punz, you haven't exactly made it easy for me to get to know you." She murmurs, hoping that the eldest boy doesn't hear. But he does.
He storms past her and and down the stairs, ignoring the shouts from Puffy, Purpled and Dream who have both emerged from the room.
"Shit Punz come back, I'm sorry!" Dream shouts but is cut off by the slam of the front door.
A tense silence fills the air, before Purpled tapped Puffy's shoulder. She turns around to see him holding the file.
"I shoudn't have took it, but I did, because everyone always reads that one paragraph and then treats him differently. I didn't want you knowing about Eret."
She can't be angry at Purpled, especially not when Dream pushes past her to follow Punz out the front door. She doesn't get a chance to stop him.
"Right, okay, alright, this is fine." She spins on the spot a little still figuring out what to do. "Okay, I'm going to call Sam."
"I'm sorry Puffy." Purpled whispers, and Puffy turns to see him crying. "I didn't want you to know."
"Oh Purp," she pulls him into a hug, "it's okay. I promise you that you're not in trouble."
Purpled wraps his arms around her middle. He's taller than her by only a little, and probably still has a lot of growing to do, but even holding him now, Puffy feels as though she's embracing a scared child. A kid that needs a hug.
"I'm going to call Sam, and he's going to find Punz and Dream so I can stay here and look after you and Foolish, alright?"
Purpled nods.
"Mama?" Puffy feels another set of arms wrap around her and looks down at her youngest.
Foolish smiles up at her.
"Mama can I have toast?" The youngest boy seemingly missed out on all the commotion for which she is grateful for.
"Of course, I just need to make a quick phone call."
She makes the phone call downstairs and and can feel herself sweating with anxiety. Sam picks up on the third ring.
"Back already Puffy?"
"Sam, Dream and Punz have left the house, Purpled is upset and I can't leave Foolish alone-"
"What do you mean they left the house?" Sam interrupts.
"Sam, I just need you to look for them in your car or something, please." Her voice strains with desperation.
"That's fine, I'm on my way alright, don't worry. Get Purpled some water if he's upset, and get yourself some too, I know you're stressing."
"But Sam, I shouldn't have-"
"Puffy, this isn't the first time this has happened. I'll find them."
She hates that Sam hangs up, and feels waves of guilt wash over her. From where she is stood, she can see Purpled sat on the stairs. He must've been listening in. The other two could be anywhere, and it's all her fault.
She wishes she never touched that damn file.
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:...
