She's My Daughter

The Woman

Selena POV

Yesterday, as I said, a woman came to see me and it was a very...surprising visit. I mean the fact that I even had a visitor was surprising, but what she said was even more shocking. I had to come out of my English lesson to go and speak to her in one of our school meeting rooms along with my head of year, and I was already very on edge about who this visitor could possibly be. Of course, my heart did it's usual marathon as my brain began the ludicrous but normal routine of giving me hope that it would be my mother or father. But that didn't last long. I guess you could say I've become immune to hope. Anyway, my second thought was that it was the police because of my current lifestyle, and this seemed to make perfect sense seeing as I hadn't told my head of year either, and so my heart re-started the marathon again, but this time in fear of what could happen next. Anyway, we reached the meeting room and I caught a glimpse of my visitor. She was a tallish woman with silky, dark brown, shoulder-length hair, chocolate brown eyes and bright red lips which contrasted with her pale skin in such a way that it made her look kind of like a cross between a gorgeous vampire and a super hot mum. She wore a knee length purple dress with a gold belt tied tightly around her waist and a midriff black blazer. This very official look, of course, set my heart racing again as I immediately believed she was another social worker, ready to cart me off to another dingy home. So, naturally, my walls went up and I walked into the room with a steely look on my face, determined not to let anything slip and even more determined not to give this woman any more of a reason to shove me into another home. As my teacher turned the handle and I walked in, my visitor immediately got to her feet and gave me a beaming smile, which I thought seemed slightly fake but that's probably just me being cold. She stalked up to me and extended her hand, which I shook quickly. Her fingers were cold, just as mine always were. For a moment, all I heard were whispers between the two women and I knew then that this was about another care home and I was all ready to bolt, when my teacher came towards me and gave me a reassuring squeeze before telling me my visitor had asked to see me alone. The caring smile she gave me, however, did not seem like her normal smile but as if I was about to get the biggest treat of my life. And as she turned away from me and out of the room, I swear I saw her wipe away a tear hastily. I frowned. Perhaps she had found out about my situation? But my thoughts quickly returned to the mysterious woman who had taken the seat opposite me and was watching me with a curious expression on her face.
"So, what even is your name?" I asked abruptly, wanting to break the silence.
"Hmm? Oh, I thought I told you, dear? When we shook hands?" She asked with an American accent, a small frown appearing on her face. I couldn't help but notice it was not unlike my own.
"Oh. Um, I didn't hear it." I mumbled, not wanting to meet her penetrating gaze.
"That's alright. My name is Regina. Regina Mills." She said smiling.
"My name is Selena, Selena-."I broke of hastily, not wanting to let this stranger know too much about me.
"Selena what, sorry?" Regina asked, a knowing smile appearing on her face.
"Selena Gold." I said quickly, looking at her belt and making a decision.
"Ah." She said, her smile growing even wider and showing more of her pearly white teeth.
"What's so funny?" I demanded as she gave a small chuckle.
"Oh, nothing. Well, it is something. You'll get that one later." And then she let out another snort of laughter, leaving me speechless. This woman was mental.
"Right...so are you just going to sit her laughing at your own jokes, or are you going to tell me what the hell you want?" I said, meeting her eyes as anger began coursing through my veins.
"Yes, sorry. I'm here to get-"
"If you're a social worker, you can bogg off." I retorted sharply. "And you'll get that one later." I added as I remembered her remark as Tracy Beaker came swimming to the surface of my mind. I snorted. That show's portrayal of a care home was about as close to real as unicorns were. Regina, however, simply grinned at my snarky remark and resumed talking in the same fashion.
"I am not a social worker or a care worker or anything like that, Selena. But I am here to offer you a home." Noticing my shocked and confused expression, she added coolly, "I would like to foster you."
I stared at her. She couldn't be serious. How did she even know I needed fostering? Who was she? My spilt second joy at her words were replaced by these questions and I quickly regained my steely persona.
"You are, are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I am." She answered calmly. "And I would have thought most people in your position would be happy about that." She added.
"Well, forgive me for not doing backflips around the room in joy, Miss Mills, but I don't think being offered a foster home with a woman I've literally just met is something to get excited about." I remarked angrily.
"And why is that?" She responded, her chocolate eyes flashing with hidden anger.
"Because it will never work out." I said matter-of-factly. Her face softened and she gave me a small smile.
"I know it's hard to believe that life can get better, Selena, but I assure you, this will work out as long as we're both willing to try." She said softly, and in that moment, all I wanted was for this woman to be my mother. Or big sister for that matter. But reality scoffed and punched me in the face and I smiled coldly back at her.
"It's not that easy, I'm afraid." I said, tearing my eyes away from hers.
"It can be." She said, leaning backwards in her chair and placing her hands on her crossed legs.
"Oh yes, I'm sure because Regina Mills said it can be it will be." I said sarcastically. She smirked.
"I'll tell you what, Selena Gold, how about you meet me for lunch tomorrow at 12 in that small cafe just down the street? If you show up, my hope will flare once more but if you don't, I'll understand that you want nothing more to do with me. Is that a deal?" She asked, leaning forwards and extending her hand once more. For what felt like aeons I sat there staring at her before thrusting out my hand and shaking hers.
"Excellent!" She exclaimed and then hopped out of her seat and extended a hand to help me up, which I ignored. Smiling slightly, she opened the door and stepped back to allow me to precede her before stalking out herself and letting the door slam shut behind her. I almost grinned at that. I never close doors, I wait for them to close themselves.
"It was nice meeting you, Selena." She said, her voice bringing me back to where we stood.
"And you." I replied stiffly. Still smiling, she nodded at me once and then walked towards the exit, the sound of her heels being slightly muffled by the thick carpet.
"Oh, and I've booked you a room in that weird looking hotel around here for a few nights in case you, ah, have grown tired of your current living arrangements." She added over her shoulder and then, with one final grin that seemed to hold a lot more than what was in plain sight, Regina Mills turned and stalked out of the building, leaving me more confused than I had ever been before.