Penguins Can't Fly

4. Where it all began

     Bodies pressed against me as I tried to make my way across the dance floor. I fought my way through, barely avoiding getting thrown towards the ground. Music blasted from the speakers, almost leaving me deaf. 

Alcohol was the only thing I could smell for miles. I finally made it across the sea of bodies and emerged gasping.
The first thing I saw was her unmistakable blonde hair,  with its luscious curls and volume. Her latest boy-toy was pressed up against her. She gasped and pulled away. The boy's face had a smirk written all it. 

"I-i'm here!" I yelled over the music, though it came out more like a squeak. She turned on her heels and smiled at me.

"You made it, little brat! Honestly, I thought you wouldn't come, considering basically everyone here's 18. I'm proud of you, you bad girl." She ruffled my hair and winked. 

"I'm not that innocent Lindsey! I may be four years younger than you, but I'm just as tough" I yelled, trying to sound confident. I really wasn't though, I was already regretting having come. 
Lindsey laughed as her boy-toy walked closer.
"Tracie this is Eric. Eric,Tracie." He smiled and shook my hand. I shook his hand, while still not being able to believe that I had let her drag me to this party. She didn't even live in the group home anymore! It's not like I had to spend time with her or anything.

     I looked around, suddenly feeling insignificant. I mean, I was a 14-year-old at a high school senior party. Lindsey smiled at me, and turned to look at Eric with a puppy-dog look in her eyes.
      He nodded and whistled obnoxiously loud. "Charlie get over here! There's someone you have to show around!" he barked.
     I turned as a boy that looked roughly around 15 walked up to us.  He had dark black hair,  and he had tan skin. His light brown eyes bore into mine.
     He walked over, sighing. Charlie apparently had been hiding in a corner, in his dark clothes, trying to hide.
     "What now, Eric?" He said in a cool tone.
      "Show her around, and mind getting us a drink?" He demanded pointing to him and Lindsey. Charlie nodded and began walking. He gestured for me to follow him. 
        I treaded after him in silence. He stopped at a cooler. "Yo bring the six-pack!" We heard Eric yell over the booming music. 
Charlie sighed and heaved the box out of the cooler. I tried to reach out a hand to help, but he carried it himself over to Eric and Lindsey.

       "Drink," he ordered, as soon as Charlie and I reached them.

       "I'm not going to." Charlie answered calmly.

       "I said drink it!"

        "No! I'm not go-..." soon, he was cut off, as Eric forced the drink down his throat. Charlie almost choked.
     I watched in horror, a hand covering my mouth. I slowly backed away, still watching.

        15 minutes passed and Eric made him drink four more full bottles. Charlie was absolutely drunk now. I had been hiding in the corner, watching it all go down, like a coward. I sighed and faintly panicked as Charlie walked over to me, a new step found to his old walk. He was smirking and he came closer, pressing me up against the wall.
       "H-hey." I squeaked. He smirked and leaned in. I turned away and instinctively held my hands up in front of my face.
"Why won't you kiss me?" he asked, smirking still. He was slurring madly and his eyes seemed to be searching everywhere. 

       "I don't want to..."

       "Trust me you will."
       He leaned in again and I managed to scramble away. He chased after me, yelling for me to come back and kiss him that second. I ignored him and began to sprint across the dance floor.
       I tumbled people down, got a few drinks splashed on me, and fell a minimum of two times.
      But I made it to the door, and that's all that mattered. I swung it open and started to sprint as if my life depended on it.
     Your worst idea yet, Tracie. I told myself as I slowly ran out of breath. Seconds later, rain started to pour down. Great, as if this situation couldn't get any better I sighed until I finally reached the bus station. I shivered and tapped my foot on the wet ground, mentally urging the bus to get here faster. 
     In the distance, I could see Charlie's dark figure as he approached me, walking slowly. He didn't seem concerned at all. I was getting more anxious by the second. He walked calmly, his hands in his pockets. I fidgeted with my hands and pulled my hood on. Covering my face.
      He got closer to me, slowly and then the bus screeched to a stop in front of me. "Thank god!" I yelled and stumbled on. I frantically told the driver to close the door as I rummaged around my pockets for change. I paid my fare and continued to urge him to close it. The driver grumbled something and left the door open. I sat down, anxiously bouncing my leg up and down as Charlie climbed the steps. 
        But Charlie had no money so he couldn't get on the bus. A sigh of relief escaped my lips.  I grinned as I waved to him from my window. Finally feeling safe, with my head against the window, I closed my eyes.

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"We've got a girl, around 13 or 14,  completely still, eyes closed. Pulse is steady, but she appears to have some minor injuries!"  My head throbbed and I couldn't make sense of the sounds around me. 
Sirens blared as I felt my body being lifted. I opened my eyes and found myself to be inside an ambulance. My head hurt and I couldn't feel my legs. I tried to figure out what was happening, but my consciousness kept drifting from fully aware, to barely even there. 

"Name." The paramedic next to me said. 

"Tracie Paullen," I answered hoarsely. 

"Age."

"14"

"Emergency contact."

I struggled to answer this. Who was my emergency contact? I had no one to rely on. Deborah, my caregiver at the group home would have to do. 

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     I gasped and sat up on my bed. Another dream. Another time to remember. It had already been three years but it was the clearest thing on my mind. Always there, waiting to haunt me. 
     Mom walked slowly into the room. "You okay sweetie?" She smiled, and I knew she had been standing in my doorway watching me, making sure I was okay.  I nodded, but not very convincingly. She stroked my hair and smiled. She always knew how to make me feel better. 

  Trying to change the subject she said "I've got good news." A pause. "We're going to have another foster child. She should be coming tomorrow. You guys could be great friends," she whispered softly, still stroking my hair. She smiled hopefully at me, hoping that the news made me more happy than upset. 
I gave her an insincere smile and she nodded before taking off. She knew I wasn't really happy with what she had said, but it was something I had to deal with.  Let's just say human contact isn't really my strong suit. I was raised in a group home, after all. I sighed and tried to fall asleep again.

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   "Good morning sweetheart." Dad called from across the table.

   "Morning," I answered. I was already dressed since mom always helped me early in the mornings. So, it was up to Dad to feed me. 

       A young girl strolled into the room, smiling at me. I grinned and looked back at Dad. So far so good. Dad pulled the milk out of the refrigerator.  He set the milk down on the kitchen island and went to get a bowl. My wheelchair was completely hidden by the kitchen island, so only the top half of my body showed.

"Uh I'm Nicole..." she finally said. She smiled shyly. 

"Tracie." I gave her a smile. 

"You're very pretty."

"Thank you." I laughed. Dad sat down and began feeding me, spoonful by spoonful. I could do it myself, I always insisted, but my parents were strict with what the doctor had said. No upper arm movement unless necessary. Not until we found out completely what's wrong with me. She looked confused for a few seconds and then she saw my wheelchair. Her expression changed to an apologetic one.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't notice before..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say. 

I smiled at her. "It's okay, most people don't. But I'm okay, really. I swear." 

She looked at me awkwardly and waved goodbye as she left the room. I looked up at Dad and he tried to smile reassuringly. 

"Don't worry sweetie. We'll adjust." 

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A/N hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this special treat. Long chapter yay! Anyways thanks a million for reading, love you guys!
c:

Also, Nick Robinson will be playing Dan! As well as Maria Quezada being Nicole! I know, such a random chapter to include it in, sorry.