"Hey." I say, confused when I walk in and see Pippa sitting at the table.
"Hey, Scout. What are you doing here?"
"I have to work on a project at school."
"So you're even there on Saturday now?" I laugh, lightly, walking up to the counter. I order three coffees and two donuts. "So what's the project on."
"We have to create a country based on a form of government and try and find a solution to all the ways it might work and write about the ways it is most likely to collapse."
"Fun."
"It sucks." She laughs.
"Elena." The lady at the counter says. I turn back around and grab the coffee and donuts.
"Thanks." I say before turning back around to see Pippa smiling. I roll my eyes. "I should get to school soon."
"I'll walk with you." She says, standing up and grabbing her bag. She follows me out the door and to the crosswalk. It's windy out and I keep having to tuck my hair behind my ear. I'll be okay without a coat but I'm a little cold. I have on a heavy zip up sweater that falls to my thighs and then jeans and some old fall boots. I need to clean them again. I wait for her to say something about my name when we stop and the crosswalk.
"Are you okay?" I look up at her.
"What?" I ask, thrown off guard.
"I don't know." Her eyes return to the light that we are waiting to turn to a walking person. "It's just-" she continues, "-you seemed- I don't know. Never mind."
"Okay." I look back at the light myself.
"Upset. You're different." Pause.
"No." I say, quiet but audible. The light finally changes.
"You're not different?" I shrug. "Did you ever end up going to that party?"
"I don't wanna talk about that." I say, without a pause after her questions at all. Not even enough time to think about what she asked. Barely enough time to process it.
"Okay." We make it to the end of the crosswalk and start towards my school.
"How was that interview?"
"Same as all of them. I'd hoped the questions would be original this time around."
"They'll be some other questions in your future. And not one of the five they always ask."
"How many more times do I have to answer those first?" She asks, rhetorically. We arive at the steps to my school and I turn and face her.
"I'm going back into foster care." Her eyes grow and her mouth gapes the slightest.
"No, you're not."
"Yeah. My brother kicked me out. I'm living with friends until he officially puts me back in."
"You're not going back into the system."
"Says who?"
"Says me and the entire cast of Hamilton. What's your last name."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"Last name. Now."
"Ray." I say, surprised by her persistence.
"Elena Ray. Go work on you project. I'll see you soon."
"Alright?" I say, opening the door. "See you soon." I let the door fall behind me and glace back to see her hurrying down the steps to my school. Odd.
-
The whole class looks at me as I glance up from my book.
"Ms.Ray." She repeats. I stick my bookmark in and close it before picking up my bag by the loop on it and pushing my chair in. Eyes follow me to the front of the room.
"Here's the homework and the worksheet I'm handing out in a few minutes." My teacher says, handing me them. "I'll see you next class." I follow the other teacher out of the room, shutting the classroom door behind me. I don't ask her about it at all. I just follow her down the stairs and through the atrium to the administrations office. Right to the principles. I sit down across from him and the door behind me shuts.
"Ms.Ray, it's been quiet a long time."
"That's typically a good thing when it comes to the principles office."
"Normally, yes it is. But today, you are not in trouble. In fact, you never have been at this school. Your record is clean. I love seeing that from my students. I wanted to talk to you about your home situation very quickly. Are you aware that there is a family that would like to adopt you as soon as you're let go of by your brother?" I shake my head.
"No, sir. I'm supposed to be moving into a group home tonight. I go back into the system in a few hours."
"Well, there is a family looking into adopting you, or at the least, fostering you. And I received a call from them today. You do understand that you are allowed to remain in this school as long as your legal guardian allows it." I nod again. "You may remain in this school, Elena. You have excelled here. I would hate to see you let that go while you are waiting on them to finish their process of becoming foster parents."
"So this is about not letting my grades slip?"
"I don't expect that they will. But I was asked to give you a heads up about the family and to ensure you that you will still have a place in this school so long as you are allowed to attend this specific one, considering no one can take the money that your father left for his children's education. I want to make sure that you understand that you are not leaving this school unless you and your legal guardian find that fit. Now, there is a kind man here, waiting to bring you to get your stuff and then to your new home. I hope it all goes well and feel free to talk to your councilor at any point."
"Thank you, sir."
