The Foster House

Beginnings

I couldn't do anything but stare out the window and rethink my entire life until this moment. Only 3 weeks ago, the people who gave me life were in a car crash that took their own, coming home from a New Year's celebration. Now here I am on a plane being sent to live with my mother's childhood best friend.

Her name is Claire Foster. According to my mom, she was a very successful business woman. Together, Claire and mother did competitive ballroom dancing at the same studio growing up. Then she moved away to start her life after graduation and my mother stayed in their hometown. She, Claire, now owns multiple estates she rents out including apartments with hundreds of units a piece. At least, that's what the internet told me when I searched up my new guardian.

Before her passing, my mom was my best friend, and my biggest supporter. I'm completely lost without her.

I was made as her carbon copy. Nearly identical facial features and very similar emotional standpoints and opinions. We were inseparable because we understood each other, and when we didn't, we listened.

The last two days I've tried gathering all information I possibly could about Claire and her family. Over the web, I could find pictures and a few articles about this highly successful family and their reputation. Something I found shocking for someone so indulged in her career, she had foster children. Living up to her last name.

Not to mention, all are boys.

Four of them were scattered around my age, otherwise she had a 7 and 13-year-old who were, obviously, a ways younger.

This year I turned 17, back in May. Now I'm heading into my final year of grade school, before I can go off into the world, earn a degree, and escape my pitiful past. Until then, my anxiety heightened at the possibility of being exposed to so many new males at once. I've never been a girl to hang out with many of the male species, growing up with only two or three guy friends, I was only pretty much allowed to socialize with other girls.

There was 3 hours and exactly 48 minutes before my flight would come to an end, and we would land in Southern California. Not even four hours until my fate was settled and I was put into a new household.

🌹

"Juliana! I'm so happy to see you." Claire's warm smile greeted me, she rushed forward to embrace me in a tight hug. Letting go of my duffle bags, I accept her affection and offer a loose hug. "This is my husband, Paul." She lets go and turns around too motion towards a older gentleman with a few stray gray hairs framing his hairline.

The man was dressed in khakis and a striped Navy Polo with white embroidery. His dress shoes looked polished and were a subtle tan color, to slightly match the khakis.

His beautiful wife was in a simple yet pretty sundress that was white and ended at her mid thighs. She wore delicate white sandals with a slight platform to give her an extra inch in height, that matched her white bow on the of her updo.

I felt completely underdressed and as a misfit, standing awkwardly in my oversized boy band t-shirt and simple black leggings with a cheap brand of sneakers.

Offering my best fake smile to cover up my anxiety, I reply "nice to meet you. Thank you for taking me into your home Mrs. and Mr. Foster and for-"

"Oh don't bother speaking to us professionally, dear." Claire smiles widely, her eyes sparkling with motherly kindness. "Address me as Claire and him as Paul."

"Oh, well then thank you, Claire and Paul."

Her husband grins and speaks for the first time, "let's go home now, so you can meet the boys. I assume you are aware we have seven sons?" Seven? There were six per social media not seven. Definitely NOT seven. Even the small difference triggered the slight tremble in my fingers.

"Yes sir." I lie.

Mr Paul assists me in carrying one of the duffles out of the airport while Claire begins to share about her proud family. "We have Dominic, he is our youngest, 7 years old and quite the little prankster. If he causes you any trouble this year, let Paul or I know and we will tell him not to bother you." She offers me another smile. Which I return half-heartedly.

"Keegan is 13, he's our track star. Loves to run and in three different sports, baseball, track and field, and basketball. Then of course our middle children, we have Landon, who's turning 16 this month, our football prodigy. Jeremy and Andrew, both are 17. Jeremy likes his gaming console and Andrew is our soccer and track athlete. Then finally our upcoming college sophomore Gage, he's nineteen. We keep him living at our house since he's going to university only a few minutes from where we live."

Finally we came across the parking lot to their vehicle. Paul and I loaded my luggage and we all got inside the car to start the journey home.

The car ride was decent as my new caretakers tried to get to know me better, and also informed me about their sons to further extent and some general house rules they expect me to follow during my stay.

For the first time in 3 weeks, I felt relieved. But then again, minutes later my thoughts came barreling about the unknown, how this move would change the rest of my life.

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THERE'S THE FIRST CHAPTERRRR

Chapters will be getting longer as I get more progress into the book for sure! I do most of my longer chapters when it's going to be a shorter novel most of the time that has a sequel following it.

Decided to give this story a shot at blowing up because I found one of my old journals and decided let's see if child me was on to something. Hahaha

This is a teen fiction, most of my other novels are fantasy, or fanfiction or criminal romances. Any recommendations would be amazing to hear, if anybody wants to put one of their characters into any of my stories give me a message on my account page or comment and I'll reach out! :)