Figuring Out Foster

Chapter 25

I felt a hand grip my right shoulder startling me awake. Blinking my eyes, I glanced around me at the white-tiled hallway coupled white plain wallpaper reminding me where I was before my eyes rested on the person who'd waken me up.

"First the bus stop and now this hospital bench," Michael smiled down at me, "You like to fall asleep in unusual places don't you?"

"What time is it?" I asked, my voice groggy from sleep, before I yawned and stood.

"Almost eight—"

"...In the morning?" I couldn't believe I fell asleep for the entire night. Now that I thought about, my neck was chinked a bit from falling asleep in such an uncomfortable position. I tried to massage the muscle with my good hand and glanced up at Michael, who had his gaze on Foster's hospital door. "Are they releasing him already?" I asked and he looked back at me.

"Well, my dad pushed the doctor to. Foster has to be in court before nine."

"Did anyone let Foster's mom know about his episode?" At my question Michael nodded and that confused me, "But, she's not here." I mumbled the simple fact, glancing down the hospital hall on both sides of me seeing no sign of her.

"She didn't want to set him off by showing up. She was glad he was okay."

"So, Foster's better," I smiled to myself, and suddenly wanted to see him. I missed his normalcy. His disoriented state last night had me worried, "Is he awake?"

Before Michael could answer me, the door to Foster's hospital door opened up grabbing both of our attentions. I took a deep breath and smile brightly, expecting to see Foster walk out.

My smile fell slightly as Michael's mom shut the door quietly behind her.

Upon seeing me she gasped and walked over, "He woke you up didn't he?" Her son flinched expecting what she was going to do next, which was lightly slapping him on the shoulder in a scolding manner. She stepped forward to stand in front of me, and continued, "You were up late last night, right?"

"It's fine. I'm glad I'm up when Foster is." I told her honestly

"I'm sorry we couldn't talk more last night, you know with everything going on with Foster." She sounded regretful. She was rushing around with her husband last night, helping him fill out paperwork.

"You were busy." I shifted there awkwardly in silence, before suddenly realizing I hadn't introduced myself to her yet, "I'm Maggie, by the way." I rushed out the words, suddenly embarrassed.

"I know exactly who you are." She smiled at me, reminding much of Michael's personality.

"...from Foster?" I asked casually but she gave me a weird look and peeked up at Michael.

"Actually, Michael has talked to me a lot about you."

"Oh...," was the sound that came out of my mouth. I now knew how Foster felt when he found out I didn't tell my dad about him.

She laughed my sudden depressed look, and then leaned into me as if to tell me a secret, "Don't worry about that though; Foster likes to keep things to himself."

I thought about that for a moment and realized that Foster wouldn't be Foster if he didn't keep some sort of mysterious era around him. Confessing his feelings to his family was something he avoided. Sometimes it took a big push from me to get him to open up about himself, too.

"Yeah, that's true." I said smiling back at her.

A knowing look, one which I couldn't possibly read met my smile before she slowly lifted the corners of her mouth.