and then i met you {chim}

Chapter 1

Jane's POV

I opened the front door and walked into the all-too-familiar office.

"We meet again?" The woman sitting at the desk has her glasses hanging off her neck, on top of her white buttoned up shirt that's tucked into her grey pencil skirt.

"At least I'm on time and clean...unlike last time!" I whined to Karen, she never understands what happens when I leave those front doors.

"Alright, name?" Karen is sitting at the front desk of the foster system offices.

"C'mon, Karen you know my name." I'm already annoyed that I'm here again, I don't understand why we have to do this every single time.

"It's procedure, darling. I have to ask you the questions again and you must verbally answer. We've been over this." I rolled my eyes and answered all her questions again.

"Jane Eloise." It was Karen's turn to roll her eyes.

"Full name, please."

"Jane Eloise Scott." I hate it. I hate having that last name that you inherit from the parents who don't even want you.

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen." I just turned fifteen two weeks ago, October 13th.

"Why have you been inducted into the foster system?" Why, oh why?

"I have been inducted for the millionth time because my foster parents have done 'bad things' to me...again." I put air quotes around 'bad things' because the little kids running around can't hear the words.

"Jane-"

"I know.  I'm sorry, I can't help it.  I'm just not happy anymore, I just want a nice couple to pick me up.  One that I can go out and have ice cream with and then they tell me they love me.  They don't touch me in aggressive and inappropriate ways.  Someone who will protect me and will take all my nightmares and crush them.  Someone who will take that dream and make it into reality." I spilled every thought in my mind to Karen, making her frown at me.

"I want somewhere where love only grows." She smiled sadly at me and changed the subject.  I've known Karen since I was a baby, so seeing me get hurt upsets her.

"Address of last current foster home?" Karen changed the subject and went on looking at the paperwork.

"6217 Maple Avenue." It sounds so nice, peaceful, and calm.  But it's not, bad things happened on that street - and I was only there for 2 months.

"Alright, I've got the rest.  You're free." Not really. 

I walked out of the office and up to my usual room.  I don't like the fact that I'm so used to this bed, the hallways, the faces, everything.

I've seen terrible things and these hallways are the only place I can call home. They may be dark and hollow, but it's all I have.

I walked into my room, unpacking everything all over again. I changed into the uniforms we have to have. We have to wear them in the foster home after you turn ten - the little kids get to wear whatever they want.

Also, when you turn 16 you're allowed to go into town sometimes by yourself.  I only have one more year until I can do that.  But sometimes I sneak off like a kid skipping school.

I put on the green and white plaid skirt we have to wear and a green button up, collared shirt.  I put a loose, white sweater over the shirt.

I walked downstairs, hearing all the kids.  There's a ton of nice people my age, but I prefer hanging with the littler ones.

"Jane!" Two of the little girls, Lily and Jessie, ran over to me.  They hugged my legs and smiled at me.

"We missed you!  Why do you always leave us?" They frowned at me, they always ask me this question.

"I just needed to take a little time to myself.  I'm back now, that's all that matters." I bent down to their eye level, smiling at them.

"Can you come play with us?" I nodded and smiled, they always make me feel that little bit better.

I sat with the two for a while, watching them play with the building blocks and they pretend kitchen set.  They giggled and laughed, they're so oblivious.  They don't know where they are, they haven't realized that when they were born, they were unwanted.

I sat in the play corner with them for a while longer before finally making my way to bed.  I change out of my clothes and put on my pajamas.  I lay in bed, it's silent.  For once in the past two months, it's calm.  But it's also scary, it's scary how this place is calm to me.  It's not normal for a kid to feel this way about a dark place like this.

I'm too far from normal now.