𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 ✔︎

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Two days passed and I was at the dinner table having my breakfast. The breakfast made me feel sick afterward. It was fried egg on avocado toast and my egg was not cooked properly. My stomach lurched when I swallowed the liquid yolk and gooey white. It was disgusting. Violet sensed I was sick and made slurping noises with her mouth and Liv giggled. I left the table and continued going upstairs when Nina called my name.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said.

Nina's smiley face appeared from the door, her gorgeous cornrow braids decorated with colourful beads framing it wonderfully.

"Alright?" she said. "I think it's time to install a lock on your door, petal. I brought someone to do it so come to my office for a little chat, will you?"

I followed Nina.

"Come in," she said when she opened the room to her office.

I entered and sat down.

"What's wrong, petal?" she asked, taking a seat too after shutting the door behind her.

"Nothing. I just didn't feel well after that egg. It was too liquidy, a bit to the raw side," I explained, clutching my stomach.

"Oh so that's what it's all about!" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry, petal. Next time, I'll ask Rory to make sure everything's cooked well, especially food with egg. Sorry, Zoe."

I smiled. "It's okay. Sorry for worrying you," I said.

She looked at the rug, thinking deeply. "Do you think I should take everyone out? A day out by the beach? There has been no rain today at all. It seems quite sunny. Do you think I should?" she questioned.

"That would be fun. Okay!"

"Wait for me near the minibus then. I'll get everyone out after having a chat with them about rules. I'm sure you'll behave well so I don't need to explain anything," she waved. "Off you go, petal."

I left her office and went to my room to grab some clothes and change in the bathroom while the man was installing a lock on my door. Then I made my way downstairs, slipping past Violet and Liv who were eyeing me.

Nina drove us to the beach and told us to have fun before we were left on our own to run around freely, sunbathe or swim.

I have been longing for a deep, beautiful tan so I lay down with my eyes closed, my face burning from the bright sun and my feet burning from the hot sand.

"Need company?" someone said.

I opened my eyes and saw Layla smiling down at me.

"Yeah," I said.

She lay next to me and we both silently looked at the sky for a couple of minutes, our breathing syncing.

"Let's walk around," she suggested.

I got up. "Okay," I replied.

When we turned a corner to see the big rocks on the sand we began climbing them to sit on the highest one with our legs hanging off, which you can see the full view of the beach and the horizon.

I couldn't help shivering. The sun disappeared and it was getting cold and windy so I shivered, feeling goosebumps going down my bare arms. It was so windy, the bun fell off my head, setting my hair loose.

"It's freezing," Layla said.

"I know."

"I'm so glad you joined the foster home," she said.

"I'm glad too," I said.

"Zoe, I have to tell you something," she said. Her tone sounded sad and upset.

"Tell me," I replied.

She looked at me tearfully with her honey-coloured eyes. "A couple wants to adopt me. They took me out some time ago but now they actually want to... adopt me."

"No! Layla you can't leave me here! You're nearly sixteen so there's no point in living with them because you can have your own house or flat at sixteen. I don't want you to leave me here alone."

"I said no," she said. "But they wouldn't take no for an answer. I'm leaving tomorrow at seven in the evening."

I didn't know what to reply with.

She looked at me with a crestfallen face.

"Layla," I said. "What should I do about Violet? I'll have no friends if you leave me."

A few minutes later, we heard Nina's voice call everyone back, echoing the whole beach. It had started raining so we all ran to the supermini.

"Just ignore Violet, Zoe," she said.

"I'll try."