Shadowbook

Chapter 15: Nocturne Park

Understandably, the next day I moved homes. My foster mother had been planning to get rid of me for weeks, so there was already a new home set up for me. It was in the same neighborhood. My new foster mother's daughter was in middle school, and my sister would be going to this new home with me.

I rinsed all the syrup out of my hair (which took a long time. My folds somehow magically cleaned themselves). I packed up my things, and knew that this time I'd be moving homes with a report that I was not only violent, but also deranged. The social worker took me aside for about an hour to talk to me and to make me promise that I would never do anything like that again. She said that my new foster mother didn't think I was deranged at all, just troubled by my life. She thought that she could "fix" me. I wonder what that meant.

At least I wouldn't have to leave my friends, and at least Patricia would be going with me. I knew how hard it was for her to change homes, and I felt guilty that I had put her through this. Again.

"I'm so, so sorry, Trish."

"Don't worry, Alex. I didn't like this place, either." Patricia is the only person who I allow to call me Alex. "Isn't it great we'll be in the same neighborhood?" she continued.

"Yeah, it is great. When does that happen?"

"Like, never! This is the first time it's ever happened, in all our years of switching homes!"

"I think that makes the shortest amount of time we've stayed anywhere."

"Alex?"

"What?"

"She said you were with a boy."

"Who said— What?"

"Our ex-foster mom. She said that last night you were with a boy."

There was no point in lying to her. "I was with a boy."

"You have a boyfriend?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Well, it wasn't official until a couple days ago..."

"Who is it? No, wait, let me guess—" she started naming random boys from the school that she thought were cute.

"He doesn't go to the school, Trish." Did Astor even go to school? Was there some special school for Umbragardian elite, or did Shadows just not bother?

"Oh. Is he cute?"

"He's gorgeous."

"Really? Tell me more! What's his name? Where does he live? How did you—"

I was saved from having to explain Astor by the social worker. "Alex?"

I glared spitefully at her. "Alexandra." It's very easy to get me to hate somebody. It used to be even easier, but now I have friends and have found love.

Moving homes is always difficult. We were driven across town to a home that looked too small for my liking. A woman greeted us at the door, smiling the way they all do. She introduced us to her daughter, Isabel.

Isabel was shorter than me, with long, very dark brown hair and blue eyes. She chirped a hello and told us her name, despite that we had already been introduced to her. After helping us set ourselves up in the guest room, she led us to her room. She seemed very exuberant, spinning around and smiling at us before opening the door. "A thing about me— I love vampires!"

Vampires. Great. Just great. How convenient.

There was black all over her room and she had a whole bookshelf full of vampire romance novels. "I mean, I look kind of like a vampire," Isabel was yapping. "I have really long, dark hair and super pale skin..."