Have Faith In Me

Chapter One.

Chapter One---

The smell of coffee and dust was strong in the air as I walked into the office of my newly assigned social worker, Bill I think he introduced himself as. No need to remember; he would be gone in a month or so, and I would be assigned to someone else. I was very familiar with how the system worked and learned early not to get attached to anyone. They all left. Always.

"Ella...." I was snapped from the thoughts when Bill waved his hand in front of my face. I rolled my eyes at him. More out of habit then annoyance.

"Yeah?" I was not in the mood to drag this meeting out. I already knew what was going to happen. I would be placed in yet another foster home, my 3rd one this year.

Bill cleared his throat before he spoke, "I see this is your third placement this year?", his eyebrows rose as he looked through the file in his hands.

"Yeah?" I repeated harshly, glaring at the ground.

"Lets try and make this home last a bit longer than the others, shall we?"

"I'll try my best" I spat shifting in my seat.

"I see you just turned 17?"

"Three weeks ago. So?" What was he hinting at?

"Ella, you only have little less than a year in social services, If you can't make this home work....Well I cannot guarantee that there will be another family for you", he looked away uncomfortably.

"Well then why don't you just put me on the streets now then?!" my jaw was clenched, Bill was wearing the little patience I had thin.

"Ella. I am only trying to help you."

I laughed a real laugh. Bill was not trying to help me. None of these social workers were here to help me. They always placed me in shit homes, homes where the parents were only doing this for the money. If he thought I could ever think he was actually trying to help me he is bat shit crazy.

"Just introduce me to whatever family I am staying with for now. Lets get this shit over with" I was on my feet slinging my backpack over one shoulder and grabbing my other bag off the floor.

Bill rose to his feet not saying another word until we were in front of a middle aged couple. They rose to their feet, trying to peek around Bill to get a good look at me.

"Ella, this is Mr. and Mrs. Williams." He pointed at the couple. Both had the cheesiest smiles on their faces. Probably fake smiles to look good in front of Bill.

"Umm.....Hey" I muttered.

"Ella! Oh my you are absolutely stunning!", the women beamed at me, she made her way passed Bill and held her arms out to hug me, when I didn't move she wrapped her arms around me pulling me in for a huge hug squeezing me gently. I just stood there not knowing what else to do. "I'm Anne!"

The man walked over to us. He tried to go in for a hug but I instinctively took a few steps back. He frowned at me before looking back up at Anne, her smile faded and her eyebrows were creased. He quickly regained his composure and extended his hand out for me instead.

"I'm Rob", he smiled.

I looked at his hand then back up at him. I nodded in acknowledgment and he quickly retracted his arm.

"Are you ready to come home?" Anne asked trying to take my bag, but I only tightened my grip on it.

"Sure" was all I answered.

The car ride was awkward. Anne tried to keep the conversation going, but she soon gave up after my third 'yeah' in a row. The neighborhood we were in was much more upscale than the ones I had been placed in before. We pulled into the drive of a rather large house. The outside was a dark brick and stone. The house was amazing and I was sure the inside was just as stunning. Rob grabbed my bag from the back seat before I could reach for it. Having someone else carry my bags made me uneasy. The few personal belongings I still had were in those bags, them being in the hands of someone else made me anxious.

When I walked into the house my nose was filled with the scent of honey and cinnamon. The house was huge, much bigger than I expected. I was standing in the foyer two huge staircases leading upstairs. I followed Anne and Rob into what I assumed was the family room.

"Harry!!", Anne yelled up the stairs.

Did they have a dog or something? I was busy looking around the room when Anne called my name, making me quickly turn around. I was met with a pair of green eyes. Oh, I guess they didn't have a dog.

"Ella, this is my son Harry", Anne introduced.

"Hi", I muttered taking in what he looked like. Tall and lean, but not scrawny. His eyes were the prettiest shade of green I had ever seen. His curly dark brown hair was pushed up and out of his face making his eyes pop even more. He was hot, no doubt about it.