Learning To Live Again

Chapter 5

Mr. Kent---------------------------------------------->

Malia’s POV

I let out a sigh of relief as I got into the car and buckled up. I didn’t know what it was, but there was something off about Wally and his friends. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

“So, how was your day? Was there any problems? Did you get everything sorted out at the office? “Mrs. Kent asked as she pulled away from the school and started to drive home.

“No. Everything was fine.” I told her while looking at the scenery outside the window.

Mrs. Kent started talking about her day and what she was going to make for dinner while I was trying to figure out Wally. Growing up in the system makes you realise that everybody, no matter how nice they are, always has an ulterior motive. I had to learn that lesson the hard way.

“Mrs. Kent, Do you know who Wally is, he has short bland hair and is about my age?” I asked, trying to sound not too interested.

“He’s friends with Damion, and Jason right? She asked looking at me from the corner of her eye.

“Ya, you know him of him right? I asked again, already regretting the question from the smile that was forming and Mrs. Kent face.

“Oh, Wally, such a sweet nice boy.” she gushed out like a 16 year old girl. Then she looked right at me.

“Why do you want to know about him, do you fancy him? Oh Malia, your first day of school and already you have a budding romance.” I just sighed and looked down as Mrs. Kent went one about how nice he was and how she thought we would make a good couple. That made me snap my head up and looked at her.

“Mrs. Kent,” I said cutting her off, “no offence, but I won’t be here long enough for any of that to happen.” I said while looking back down. I looked back up as I felt the car come to a stop and looked at Mrs. Kent with a confused look on my face.

Mrs. Kent looked at me with a small frown on her face. She started to say something but I cut her off before she could start.

“No, Mrs. Kent. Don’t start. I’ve been doing this for a while and I know how things work. Everything starts out fine and I start getting close to others and then in a few months, back comes Mrs. Kim to get me and I get placed in another stupid group home while they try to find some stupid foster parents for me to stay with who don’t care about anybody but themselves and are only in it for the money from the government.” I said angrily, and before I could stop them, tears started to run down my face.

Mrs. Kent didn’t say anything for a moment while I sniffed and tried to stop the tears from falling.

“Malia, I’ll make you a deal.” Mr. Kent started to say and I looked up at her waiting for her to finish.

“Mr. Kent and I are not like the other foster parents that you lived with. We truly care about your welfare. So, if you promise to make an effort to get to know other people and interact with them and just smile more, then I will do everything I can to make sure that you stay here. And Malia, you can come and talk to me if anything is bothering you. You don’t have to keep everything bottled up inside all the time. Okay?” She finished.

I looked at her for a while and I for some reason I could tell that she was truthful and really did want to help me, and quite honestly I was tired of having to change homes every few months.

“Okay.” I said looking at her. “You have a deal.”

Mrs. Kent smiled and started up the car and started to drive again.

“Just some advice sweet heart, don’t let Mr. Kent see that you’ve been crying. He’ll go and get his shot gun.” She said with a small smirk on her face.

I couldn’t help the small laugh that came out. The ride the rest of the way home was quite, but unlike the other times, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Mrs. Kent and I had a moment.

As we pulled up to the house, Mrs. Kent told me to go and start on my homework while she started on dinner.

Mrs. Kent POV

“Hey, slow down, there’s no running allowed in this house” I heard Daniel call out as Malia raced to her room.

“Daniel.” I scolded with a smile on my face.

“You’re late.” He said gruffly while watching TV with a beer in his hand.

“Daniel, you’ll never believe what happened after I picked her up.” I said as I sat down beside him while he put the TV on mute. Once I knew I had his full attention I continued.

“She opened up to me a bit. We had a moment. And she promised that if she tried to get along with others then we would let her stay and finish school here.” I rushed out a smile on my face.

“Susan,” you herd what Mrs. Kim said. She’s had things happen to her that changes people. And people like that have a hard time adjusting back to normal life.” Daniel replied as he went to go and un-mute the TV, but I stopped him.

“And that’s why Mrs. Kim placed her with us. We can help her.” I told him ending the conversation. He just grunted and said that Malia better not be bringing boys home, or he'll have to bring out my shot gun and how he’s too old to be dealing with teenage hormones. I just smiled and went back to cooking diner, knowing that he already cared about Malia, he just refused to admit it.

Malia’s POV

I kept silent as I listened to Mr. and Mrs. Kent talk. Listing to them talk about me was nothing new and I figured that I would be leaving soon if Mr. Kent had any say about it. However when I heard his remark about boys I let a small smile come to my face and couldn’t help but think that Mr. Kent had just sounded like an over protective grandparent.