Sexy soul punk Patrick just chillin like...
After school I had brought home my sketchbook. I was beyond excited to work on my art. I had began to see it as a possible future career. I immediately went to my bunk when we arrived home. It wasn't really too structured in the home. We had Sunday's that were made for looking nice and being polite but besides that is was up to the girls to finish their school work and bathe every day. We had a chore chart that was taken pretty seriously but it was set up so that every girl had a couple things to complete one day a week. Mine were on Saturdays so I didn't have to worry for a while.
I had finished all my homework at lunch in the library so I would have enough time to work on my art before the little girls smothered me with homework questions. I added stokes of charcoal to the edges of the greyed paper. I had almost finished but it needed more color. I didn't have any paints at home so that wasn't an option at the moment. It was something I'd have to finish tomorrow. For now I headed downstairs to find a snack, seeing as I didn't eat lunch.
Most of the girls were down in the dining room already. Mrs. Newbury prepared food on Sunday but the rest of the time it was up to us to keep ourselves fed. The girls were gathered around someone at the table. I peered into the dining room, confused at the excitement of the new guest. I noticed Jenny sitting next to the crowd. Smiling and nodding along with the girls. I'll have to walk around them to get to the kitchen in the back. I try to discreetly make my way around them but right as I'm about to get to the kitchen someone notices me. Just my luck.
"Hello." I cringe, I just know the male voice behind me is directed at me. I sigh and turn slowly. Sitting on the bench right next to Jenny are two men. One has a sweet face and blonde hair peeking out of his fedora. The other is almost the complete opposite. He is all dark hair and dark clothes. He raises an eyebrow in a confused manner.
"Who might you be?" The one with dark hair speaks. Leading me to believe the blonde one had talked first. Blondey at me now and I notice their hands linked beneath the table and his bare forearms compared to the other man's ink-covered ones.
"I could ask you the same." I finally sputter out an answer but Jenny is already on it. Fucking Jenny.
"Oh that's the girl I was telling you about! Pete don't you remember. Lucy, she's the oldest. Been here since she was eight. Or was it seven. I forget nowadays." I cringe again, this time at her voice. She's one of those loud people who have a nasally voice and talk with their hands. "Lucy, this is Pete and Patrick." She gestures to them. "They just got back from touring with their band. They stopped here in Seattle to see their old friends from college before house hunting in LA." She smiles, so very proud of being able to introduce people.
"Hi," Patrick says. He smiles sweetly at me. "Would you like to join us? Or do you have homework to do. I know you just got back from school." I shrug and turn into the kitchen. It's not that I don't like these new people. You can't make opinions based on first impressions. I learned that the hard way.
I pick out a semi bruised apple. Then I face the predicament of the dining room. I flick my dark hair over my shoulder and decide to sit at the end of the table. It's not like I have anything better to do. Pete and Patrick don't seem all that bad. From what I'm listening to they have two other guys in the band, Andy and Joe. They tell stories of hotels and crazy fans while I eat my apple. They've been married one year last week and just got back from a break with the band. Other than that I don't really take in what they say. I just daydream of my drawings and wonder if Ms. Liva will let me come in during lunch.
After a while I leave without a word. I look back at Pete and Patrick one last time before leaving. Pete looks straight at me and give me an almost knowing glance. Like we're both in on the same secret. I just nod at him and escape to the room.
===
That night after I've showered and the other girls have fallen asleep I lay awake in my bed. I can hear Allie's steady breaths above me. I wait an extra five minutes just to make sure then I hang the upper half of my body off my bed and look beneath it. I see the shadow of a rectangle and reach for it. I slide my fingers along the edge before hooking around the handle.
I slide it as quietly as I can against the wooden floor and hoist it on my bed. I hold my breath and listen for a couple seconds before returning my attention to the case before me. The latches on the side are rusted and take some time to work open. It's one of those old suitcases with the solid frame and metal hooks on the side. I don't even remember when I got it. I just remember always having it under my bed. I open the case and hear the crack of the leather as its flattened. My fingers feel around before landing on one furry object.
I pull it out by the ear and it dangles, a shadowy shape from my finger tips. I bring it to my nose and a familiar scent comforts me. I hug it close, not caring if I look childish in the dark room. I feel tears prick at my eyes as I think about Mama. I remember that night. It's the only one that's ever mattered.
I'll be right back. I promise. That's what she said. She promised. If that doesn't mean anything then I don't know what does. Promises are permanent. She taught me that. The only person so far who has broken their promise was the man who found me that night.
Where are we going? I was so innocent, so naive. Then he left me at the door of this goddamned place. He left me here, he said he was going to help me find Mama and he left me. I hate whoever that man was. He told me his name but I had immediately forgotten it afterward. I hate him more than Mrs. Newbury or Jenny or even Maxwell Homes, who's the biggest jerk in school.
I set my stuffed rabbit back in the case. I feel around for the slit I made in the fabric so many years ago. Beneath it is what makes my case so special. In here is everything I will need for when I finally get out of here. Of course there are more trivial things I will need, such as clothing and a toothbrush. But this is the important stuff.
My fingers finally close around the thing I'm looking for. An old, yellowed envelope. Mama gave it to me the night she left. I hadn't been able to read very well back then so through the years I had began to understand the letter she left. What I always understood was the immense amount of money slid in along with the letter. There's a good thousand or so dollars there. I've never told anyone about my small fortune. I fear they will take it away, steal it. Buy dumb things like candy and temporary tattoos. I need this money to find Mama. The police aren't doing a very good job, and they have tons of money.
I don't bother taking out the letter. I know it by heart.
My dear Lucy,
If you are reading this something terrible must've happened. I can't tell you why, but I know it was for good reason. You will probably have questions but I can promise you one thing. As long as I'm breathing, I will be back with you. Don't give up hope just yet.
Love, Mama.
I slip my hand out of the slit in the case and close it back up. It's slid under my bed and soon I'm staring back up at Allie's bunk. Listening to her breathing again. In, out. In, out. Repeating over and over till I fall asleep.
Little longer than usual, but I felt like it all needed to be in one part. The stuff with Pete and Patrick will start happening soon, I promise.
WHHAAAA book reference. Sorry I'll stop.
Bye now.
YOU ARE READING
I Promise || Adopted by Peterick
Fanfiction*Completed Lucy Ann Crowley was left on the highway at age seven. Her mother said she'd be right back. She said she promises. After daddy left mama promised she'd never leave. But one day she did. Eight years later she's fifteen and still without pa...
