The Girl in Cleats

⚽️Chapter 22⚽️

{Asher POV}

"This will be your room. You share it with two other boys. You can get settled in, dinner is in two hours." Mr. Lewis tells me.

Mr. Wesley shipped me over here to Florida because I wasn't "behaving correctly". Right, like I was the one misbehaving.

Apparently this foster home is actually less strict, and the kids that come here are the bad ones. The manager here, Mr. Lewis, isn't mean like Mr. Wesley. But he's very strict giving him a rough personality. I figure if I don't get on his bad side, I'll be good.

I let out a sigh, picking the bed that isn't occupied and setting my bags down.

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~Kiera POV~

"DAAAAAAAAAD!" I yell from the top of the stairs.

"WHAAAAAAT?" My dad answers back in a mocking voice.

"I can't find my box of stuff from Mom's house!" I yell.

"It's in the closet under the staircase!" He yells from the kitchen.

I practically fly down the stairs, skipping two or three at a time. I brought a few boxes from mom's house because it was clear I'd be staying here for a while. I didn't know if I would need the stuff, some of it just seemed important as I grabbed miscellaneous items off of the shelf. I open the tiny closet door and walk in. The closet is actually quite large, but you wouldn't think so because it's got such a small door.

I grab the box that I had marked as "Stuff from Mom's House" and start to head out when another box catches my eye. It's a regular cardboard box, and I wouldn't of noticed it unless I hadn't seen the writing on it. "Aiden" I've seen this box and others like it, but there's a photo sticking out of the top. I grab it and stare at the young adult in the picture. It's Aiden, in his army suit and cap. He's looking out into the distance like there's something there, but we all know there's nothing. Just air. I gently place the photo back into the box and stack it on top of my others.

As I climb back up the stairs, I trip and the boxes go flying. I hope there isn't anything breakable in that box. My dad comes to the foot of the stairs, concerned if I'm ok.

"Honey, are you alright? What happened?" He says.

"Yea I'm great, Dad. Just tripped." I grab the boxes and put the stuff back in them, but not before a newspaper article grabs my attention.

-Soldier Ashton, Disappeared-

Reporter, James Clarkston- Soldier Aiden Ashton, gone missing. Disappeared in the night, never seen again. General Grate says he is dead, but people think otherwise. Soldier Jason Morris says, "Aiden talked about leaving, but none of us thought he would. He knew it was dangerous, but if anyone could do it, it's him."

The article is cut off there, but I know enough. Aiden has to be alive. But why would he disappear? I guess I don't know enough. I need answers, but my dad won't be the person to give them to me. There's gotta be something online.

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~Asher POV~

I'm looking at a picture of my parents that I printed out, when two boys walk into the room talking about the newest basketball shoes. I quickly tuck the paper back into my bag and look at them. One has dark skin and black hair, and the other is blond, like me. But his hair is cut short at the sides and long at the top. They both stop their conversation and stare at me. I suddenly feel very self conscious, but I stand up and hold my hand out to them. "Hey, I'm Asher."

The dark haired boy shakes my hand firmly, and his muscles ripple under his shirt. Better not get on his bad side either, though he seems like a nice kid. "The name's Jordan." I nod my head at him and the blond kid comes forward and shakes my hand, just not as firmly as Jordan did. "My name is Chase. You staying in here with us?" I nod my head. Jordan looks to be sixteen, possibly seventeen, while Chase seems to be fifteen.

"How long have you guys been here?" I ask.

"Jordy has been here since he was ten, I got here two years ago." Chase informs me.

"Where are you from? I've never seen you around." Jordan asks with an eyebrow raised.

"Ohio." I say, thinking about Kiera. I wonder if she knows that I'm here, and I can't help but wonder if she misses me like I miss her. It's like I can't get her out of my head. I just want to talk to her, to hear her voice. Just then I think of something. "Hey, do you guys have a phone I can use?"

"Uh, yea. Only sixteen year-olds get them." Jordan says with a smirk.

"Would you mind if I use it?" I ask, hoping for the best. I need to talk to Kiera badly.

"Sure, you can use it after dinner." Jordan says with a toothy smile. He lowers his voice then and says, "Just don't let Mr. Lewis know." He winks at me and I smile back, hoping that dinner doesn't take too long. I'm instantly in a better mood and decide to wash up for dinner.

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Hello my lovelies! :) How did you like that chapter? Tell me, did you love it, or did you love it? Do you think Aiden is alive? Or did he die in the process of escaping? Why did he want to escape in the first place? Just a few questions to get your minds spinning. Of course, I know if he survived or not, but you don't. Isn't that just beautiful? Haha.

Until next time. :)

-KD Montague