Be Careful in the Dark

Chapter 1

I sat in the passenger seat of my social workers car reading through a magazine as he talked to my foster parents, well ex-foster parents now. They claimed that I was stealing their money to buy drugs. What really happened is they were robbed because they're drug dealers and made a lot of money, but sure blame it all on the defenceless foster kid.

My social worker Braden Jason opened the door and stepped into his car. He's like an older brother to me, I'm almost 17 and he's 21. I could be out of foster care but my request to be emancipated was denied, so I'm stuck going to and from foster homes.

"Do you really believe I did that?" I asked Braden as we pulled out of the driveway.

He shook his head. "I know you well and there is no way that they'd catch you if you committed a crime."

I laughed. "Come on I only have petty crimes on my record: trespassing, some shoplifting, and I got in one fight."

"You were trespassing on the school property at 3 am." He smiled. "You stole a box of tampons, but when did the fight happen?"

"A few girls from school were making fun of my foster brother and I interfered." I explained.

"Mack, you really can't do that." Braden said stopping at a red light.

"He was the only brother I ever had until I met you. What's an older sister supposed to do?" I sighed.

"Not get in fights that get them kicked out of foster homes." He smiled.

"Yeah, but if I wasn't kicked out of that one you wouldn't of been assigned me." I blushed.

"Then I'm glad you got kicked out."

"Where am I going next?" I asked.

"You'll see, but it's a really long drive."

"How long?" I worried.

"A few days." He smiled.

"What?!" I gasped.

"Well we're heading up to Canada."

"Canada? why?" I asked.

"I found a perfect family for you." Braden looked over at me.

"Really?" I smiled.

"Yep, and they're going to love you just like I do." He said quietly.

I gasped. "Did you just say you loved me?"

"Yeah..." Braden sighed.

"Like friendly love or romantic?" I demanded.

"The second one." He admitted not taking his eyes off the road.

"Oh." I muttered looking out the window. "For how long?"

"Since we met." Braden said glancing over at me. "Do you feel the same?"

As I looked up into his eyes, I felt as if I was 12 again when Avery Peterson liked me. I was new to the school and he sat next to me in practically every class. One day he passed me a note explaining all his feelings for me. Unfortunately that was the day I was kicked out and forced to move out.

The look in his eyes when he slid me the note was a look of desperation worry and fear. Before I read the note I knew exactly what it was going to read.

"Avery," I had said, "I don't feel that way about you."

I looked up at Braden to find he was looking back at the road. His knuckles were white and there was a vein sticking out on his neck.

"Braden." I said with a slight smile.

"What?" He snapped.

I plugged in his iPod and played his favourite song, Chloe (You're The One I Want) by Emblem3. He smiled as we sang along completely off tune.

The sun slowly set and we pulled into a motel.

"Really?" I asked examining the place.

"I'm sorry." He said scratching the back of his head nervously. "It's all I can afford until tomorrow when I get my check."

"It's fine I guess, but can you pop the trunk I need to get my bag." I asked.

Braden pressed a button under his seat, and I could hear a click as the trunk opened. I then got out and grabbed my small black suit case. Inside of it all of my clothes are neatly folds and crammed making it practically impossible to open.

We walked into the office to the motel, and a skinny man with greasy hair and rat features sat behind a desk. Rat man was playing solitaire on his computer.

"Can I help you?" he asked minimizing his game.

Braden stepped up to the desk, as I looked around the small office. There were a couple of plants that looked real, but when I got a closer look; it was evident that they were plastic. On the desk behind rat mans desk was a few monitors with security cameras pointing outside the door of the rooms, and in the office. On one of the monitors I noticed a small movement out in the darkness. A shiver ran down my back.

"All set." Braden said putting his hand at the small of my back.

I walked out the door and towards the rooms; Braden close behind me. He turned into the 6th room and unlocked it. As we walked inside all I could smell is a strong yet somewhat sweet smell.

"Ugh..." Braden growled. "It smells like weed in here."

I giggled and looked at the bed afraid to sit on it. "Would you rather we find somewhere else?" He asked.

"No no here's fine." I lied. I'd so much rather sleep in his car then stay here but he doesn't make a lot of money and I don't want him to fall asleep at the wheel.

I managed to sit myself down, and Braden sat beside me turning on the television. Images of naked girls dancing appeared on the screen, and he quickly turned it off.

"Or not." He smirked.

Braden leaned over and looked at me, his blue eyes sparkling. "What?" I asked.

"Nothing." He smiled.

I smiled back, and Braden pressed his lips to mine. I thought about it then pulled back.

"Braden!" I gasped.

"I'm sorry," he sighed, "but I couldn't help myself."

I got up and ran out the door. "Mack!" He called from behind me.