Ghost Bird The Academy: Jameson Addition.

Hendricks and McCoy's Lackey's

"Your abuser is only as strong as your silence."

                                

It was weird being back at her foster home.

She had let herself fall into an easy pattern with the guys. Maybe because of the emotions of having friends or having crushes. Perhaps because she felt an inkling of safety with them.

She couldn't afford to fall into those patterns. She'd been burned one too many times and she needed to keep her guard up.

James couldn't imagine a life not on the defense.

Still, it didn't mean that she didn't miss waking up at Sean's house. The pleasure of getting to see both Sean and Owen in a relaxed setting was too good not to pass up. Or waking up at Kota's and getting snuggles from him and Max. Even on one night with Nathan...it was hard to ignore these thoughts.

This line of thinking was making her want to let herself fall into that easy pattern.

The past couple of nights at her foster home...left her on edge. She couldn't sleep, she tried, but she tossed and turned. It was hard to be comfortable when Beatrice was harder to read.

She missed Cecelia. Guilt gnawed at her, she wished she was better to her previous foster mom. Everyday she regretted how she treated Cecelia. How defensive she was. How challenging. Cecelia was the best foster mother she had.

Beatrice was  her karma.

But at least she knew Beatrice. Even if the women was a little more unpredictable lately. She would take Beatrice a thousand times over rather then ending up in a new foster home with someone like him.

The other's didn't understand but they weren't foster kids. They hadn't been in the system. James had moved through it faster then the seasons changed. She didn't want another unknown situation when her best foster home in years had been here. With Cecelia.

There was still so much to uncover here. And here with people she knew and could operate is better then somewhere completely unknown.

She missed spending the night at the other's homes where for once...there was a very small safety net. The lack of sleep was making her slightly irritable.

It didn't help that she was still on her period. She felt terrible. Luke had stayed with her. He was planning on sneaking out so she went downstairs to talk with Author.

He often worked to keep Beatrice out of the house or away. She wasn't always terrible to James. Normally a bit bitchy but sometimes...Jameson would blink and somehow cause a problem. It didn't help that Veronica liked to see James get into trouble. She swore the girl got pleasure from it.

"How are those boys treating you?"

James snorted as she moved into the kitchen. The author had eggs and toast plated for her, and a cup of orange juice. She moved picking up a piece of toast and taking a bite. "They're nice." She admitted her voice soft eyes darting around. She knew Author wouldn't be so open chatting with her if Beatrice was around.

He always looked out for James's best interests.

The older man smiled, "You've got to be careful-"

"I know she'll call CPS on me the first chance she gets-" James sighed as she drank some juice. She was standing with her backpack on her shoulder. She couldn't talk long but she missed these interactions with the older man. "Been there done that. Wouldn't be the first time in a foster home."

He frowned, "I don't want to see you get hurt."

An unexpected sadness blossomed in her chest as she looked at the man before her. The author truly looked so concerned for her. She supposed she always recognized how he looked out for her but sometimes she was blind to the people around her truly caring for her.