I'll take care of you

Chapter 13

Hey guys! I don't think anyone is actually reading this, but if you are, I'm not going to be updating for a while because my basketball season started, and I have no time to update. But to my 37 reads... TYSM!! YALL MEAN SO MUCH TO ME!! anyway, lets get started!

I walked toward the kitchen, and Jackson threw me a look, that said you good? I nodded, and gave a faint smile.

He smiled slightly back, and we all walked into the kitchen, where Mrs. Scobell was making dinner. It smelt really good, and I could see chicken ceaser salad. I smiled, I really liked salad and things like that.

I also just liked getting fed, and not making Noah go out and buy us food.

It wasn't fair to him.

"It's a special night, we don't have to sit at the table. You guys can just sit at the coffee table. Your father and I have something to talk about anyway. Don't be afraid to grab as much as you need, okay guys?" I could tell the last bit of Mrs. Scobell's sentence was directed at me and my brothers.

I nodded and grabbed a plate with Walker. I moved to the salad bowl and began to grab a bit, careful not to spill or break anything. 

After I had gotten my share and Walker had gotten his, we moved to sit at the coffee table. I sat criss-cross on the floor next to Walker, and ate my dinner slowly. 

After dinner, it was about 6:30. We still had another hour and a half, at the least, until we got to go home. 

I did like being at the Scobell's house and all, but I wanted to go home and sleep in my bed, even if it was some blankets on the floor. I just want to go home and pretend none of this ever happened. 

We were watching Mean Girls, because Leena insisted, Matthew agreed (of course he did), and I agreed as well. We were just at the part where they were at the mathleats competition when the doorbell rang.

Walker, who had been sitting with his arm around me, rose to get it. Leena paused the movie as we waited for Walker to get back.

"MOM!! SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOR!" Walker yelled from the door, and I got up, curious on who was there.

It was the social worker again, Penny, holding a clipboard and looking as perky as ever. She smiled at me. 

"Hello, Elle!"

I waved back as Mrs. Scobell came down the stairs, a zip-up half on. "Hello again."

"Hello, Heather. I'm just here to take the Solace's back home."

I was excited to go home before, now I was just plain scared. What if we got beat? What if he starved us? But worse, what if nothing happened, and he didn't get arrested?

"Matthew, Jackson, Noah!"I yelled at the couch. "We're leaving."

I checked to make sure I had my phone in my pocket as my brothers came to the door. Suddenly, something unexpected happened.

Walker hugged me.

I could feel my face getting hot, but I wrapped my arms back around him, drinking in his smell. 

"It'll be okay, come over if you need it,"he murmured in my ear. I nodded, and broke the hug. I realized how red my face probably looked when Noah smiled like he was going to laugh. Walker looked even more red, because his mom stood right behind him. But she was smiling too. 

"Thanks so much, Mrs. Scobell, for everything," Noah said as we started to walk out the door.

"Anytime, honey." She said, smiling. 

The door closed behind us and we walked to our house.

Even though it was only 6:45, it was super dark out, so I naturally tripped face first into the concrete.

"You good?"  Noah asked as I got up quickly, dusting off my hands.

"I'll be fine."

Noah gave me a look, and grabbed my hands, and saw they were bleeding. I tried to snatch them back, but he had a good grip on them.

"No, you're not. I have band aids at home, it'll be fine I guess." he sighed. "You don't have to lie to me."

"Sorry.." He let go of my hands, and I itched the back of my head awkwardly.

We reached our front door, Penny knocked. She rocked on her heels, waiting for a response.

The door swung open, and my mom was there in her nightgown with a sweater pulled over. "Can I help you?"

"Hi, yes, we met earlier, Audrey. I'm Penny. I have your kids right here."

"Oh! Goodness we've been worried!" my mother came over, and hugged me. I didn't hug her back, I just tried not to shove her off of me. She smelt like drugs. It was all I could do not to gag for that 10 seconds. She moved to hug my brothers as well, and Jackson couldn't take it, he actually gagged.

"I'm fine," He coughed out. "Something in my throat."

"Alright guys!" Penny said after my mother finished hugging us. "I will come check up back tomorrow. Bye!"

We waved goodbye, and my mom ushered us inside. The whole house just smelt like alcohol and drugs.  My dad stood in the living room, looking mad as ever.

"I would beat the shit out of you right now, but then that stupid caseworker would notice the bruises." He growled.

"We'll just go upstairs, no trouble. I wouldn't want to ruin your night," Noah said in a polite voice.

"No, you can stay downstairs. And if any of you tell the caseworker tomorrow, I'll kill you. Maybe one of your siblings." He cracked his knuckles, looking around threateningly.  "Now, who told the caseworker about this? My bets are on the girl."

"It wasn't Elle," Matthew said quickly.

"Then who was it, smart boy?" dad looked him up and down.

"It was me."

Who hates me now? Im sorry I took forever to update, I'm really busy with basketball and soccer, but thats not much of an excuse. I have a double header this weekend, so don't expect any updates this weekend or next. I have a tournament the next.