Terminally Flushed

Car Radio

I didn't know it'd take 45 minutes to get to the damn mall. We were on the highway with another 20 minutes to drive. Mituna lost privileges to the radio when he kept playing a FNAF rap song on repeat so now the sound of a violin fills the car. I didn't really put Latula as the kind to listen to Lindsey Stirling. Kurloz ended up falling asleep leaning on the window. His makeup didn't smudge against the glass as he lightly snored the time away. I watch the scenery pass by out the window. I'm here not even a week and I've already made friends. It's strange to me. Whenever I moved to a new city and started a new school, it'd take quite some time before I gained even one friend. Then again, with a murky past like mine, who wouldn't be cautious of the new stranger in class. The Makaras learned more about me in one night than Mrs. F when she and I first met.

Flashback

"Don't you guys have a book or something? I'm so damned bored." I snapped the gum I was chewing the hundredth time, making the woman behind the counter wince again. She just gave me a rude glare and glanced at one of the seats in the room. This was probably the fifth time I've been in this room in this same situation within 2 years so everyone here was kind of peeved with me. Meaning no entertain as a punishment. They were getting mad apparently because "it's getting harder and harder to find someone who can deal with me." Not my fault they can only find pansies. I groaned loudly, mainly to piss off the snob, before trudging to the seat in the far corner away from the desk. It'd be about another 2 hours until I hear some sort of update. Might as well take a nap.

I leaned my head on my hand and tried to fall asleep, but this chair was unsurprisingly uncomfortable. But a sound from down the hall kept me from moving. It sounded like 2 people were talking as they came up the hall. I recognized one as John, the guy who usually handles me between homes. The other one wasn't familiar to me. Definitely a woman. My best guess is she one of the newbie fosters; young bleeding heart mothers who want to try and give the "less fortunate children/teens" a loving and caring home. As they came closer, i could hear their conversation and my suspicions were confirmed: she's looking for a foster child. I swear to whatever sick god is out there, if John assigns her as my foster parent, I will kick his ass when I turn 18. It's bad enough I put up with the experienced ones. But a newbie? Oh hell no.

Before I could make a run for the bathroom to hide, John and the woman walk into the room and look right at me. I sit up and glare at him, especially since he knows I could hear him and how much I'm going to hate this. Knowing him, he considers this a punishment. He just gives me an innocent smirk that I just want to punch. Sighing, I look at the woman. She's got to be at least 25, long black hair contrasting her pale skin. She had green bambi eyes. Ya know, those eyes people have that makes their innocence even more noticeable. I felt bad for this woman. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm a handful. My past foster families called me "aggressive, sarcastic, narcissistic, yada yada yada." If John is assigning her to me, then he must be looking to see who'll crack first: me or her.

Standing up, I introduced myself to her with a not so warm smile as I shook her hand. She just introduced herself as Miss F. John handed her my packet of information (a hefty one) and wished her luck with her new foster kid. Miss F thanked him and started walking out to her car with me behind her. I threw my 2 bags in the backseat next to a...booster seat? This lady already has a kid? Why would she want to foster another? I glanced at her before snapping my gum again. The gum didn't even phase her. She just sat there making sure everything was good before backing out of the parking spot and leaving the bland building behind. We sat in silence for about five minutes before she broke it, and very surprisingly too. "Don't expect me to give up on you after a month or two. I do have another daughter and I have a niece around your age. I know how to handle girls and teenagers." I gawked at her before looking out my window. Trees rushed past like green blurs, it was almost hypnotic...

Flashback Ends

Coming back to reality, I hear Latula and Mituna singing along to a familiar song. It's "Car Radio" by Twenty one Pilots. This is one of my favorite songs. Both of them don't notice that I'm listening as they were distracted by their own singing. A certain part was coming that I thoroughly enjoyed. As it came closer and closer, I closed my eyes and readied myself to blow their minds. 3, 2, 1...

I ponder of something terrifying
'Cause this time there's no sound to hide behind
I find over the course of our human existence
One thing consists of consistence
And it's that we're all battling fear
Oh dear, I don't know if we know why we're here
Oh my,
Too deep
Please stop thinking
I liked it better when my car had sound

There are things we can do
But from the things that work there are only two
And from the two that we choose to do
Peace will win
And fear will lose
There's faith and there's sleep
We need to pick one please because
Faith is to be awake
And to be awake is for us to think
And for us to think is to be alive
And I will try with every rhyme
To come across like I am dying
To let you know you need to try to think.

Opening my eyes, I noticed we had stopped, parked outside the mall already...aaaand everyone was staring at me. Blood rushed to my cheeks as I quickly rushed out the door and hastily walk to the doors to wait for them. A hand grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around to face Kurloz. He was just staring at me, his eyes sparking with an emotion I don't recognize. Before I could ask him what was wrong, he pulled me close enough so our lips touched. He kissed me with light, gentle touches but his hand was firm as it moved to hold the back of neck, keeping my head in place. I thought I heard somebody cheer in the background, maybe Latula or Mituna. I don't really remember anything besides Kurloz's soft lips against mine and the sparks I felt crawling all over my skin. He pulled away slowly, leaving me breathless. He smiled at me before wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me through the doors of the mall while the other 2 rushed to catch up with us. The rest of the day was a blur, mainly due to the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. I was so distracted by it that I didn't notice the figure following our group a few steps behind.