Penny's Pov
I hated school, not just because all the kids in their were idiots, it's the teachers too.
Being the 'poor kid' who couldn't afford proper clothes, especially when I had already stolen a twenty from my social worker, they won't give me anymore to get some decent things. I guess that's what I get for being abandoned by my mother.
I slid on my worn out converses that I still squeeze into everyday, my blue dip dyed-by me-top, that didn't go as well as I thought it would, and my favourite black jeans that had a few holes in, but I convinced myself that it was the fashion.
I don't have a mobile phone and have never once wanted one.
A few of the kids at school show me sometimes, only to tease me though, but I don't care.
I'm in my junior year now, another grade to go then I'm out of the home and out of school. I slid down the rail on my butt, once again caught by Lou, the tell tale of the home. "Shut it, Lou" I stormed towards the fourteen year old.
"You are seriously troubled..." I heard Adam come down behind me, the big brother of the house.
"You okay Lou?" He reassured little miss snitch.
"It's her" she pointed up at me.
"Give over" I say moving her arm out of my way.
I skipped into the dining room, I sat down and picked up a few pieces of toast with the other twelve kids, digging into the pancakes and waffles.
I chewed my dried toast mournfully, dreading school.
Martha and Daniel came into the room, the carers of the home, smiling at us poor lot.
"Come on, Lola school soon" I wipe little seven year old Lola's mouth with a napkin, she's my sister.
I've always dreaded the day we get split up, she'd be lost without me, and I'd be lost without her.
I tell the co-workers straight, I get fostered, so does Lola, Lola gets fostered, so do I.
She could have never remembered the day we got dumped outside of this horrible place.
My mother placed a kiss on my little forehead, gave me Lola and left.
It would be four and a half years ago soon of being in this dump.
My mother was an alcoholic, probably still is now, our lives with her were terrible.
She made a good choice, because if we were still there, Lola would never be the smart, pretty and gentle girl she is now.
He blonde wispy curls dropped down past her shoulders.
I brought all of her hair and messed around with it for a few minutes before I realised the time.
"Lola, get your shoes on, time to go. And you lot" I say pointing to everyone who was left at the table.
"We're doing shapes today, but it's very very hard" Lola smiled up at me with her cheesy grin.
"Oh really! I know you'll smash it because your super smart, just like mother" I say lifting her up from the chair next to mine and carry her out to the stairs.
I sit her down and put on some old tatty shoes of hers.
She admires them, then twirls in her floral dress.
"Beautiful" I say kissing her nose.
I hold both her hands and pull her close, "I'll get a job soon, and I'll buy you all kinds of things, I promise" I grab her backpack and my backpack, with both our lunches in and books.
"Okay" she smiles.
"You ready?" I say stopping at the door.
There's a pause.
"Ready" she jumps the step with me, then we are off to school.
Hand in hand we skip through the park.
School is quite far away from here, especially Lola's.
We walk through an alley and find ourselves being stopped by a strange man.
"Hey girls, where you off to?"
"Out" I say.
My mother always told me to never talk to strangers, but she's not here now, what's she been hiding from me?
"You both sister?"
I nod, Lola creeps behind me.
"You're beautiful" he bends down to Lola, I take a step back.
"What do you want?" I ask holding Lola closer than ever.
"I know you're going to school, I just wondered if you wanted a ride?"
Should I trust him?
Lola's terrified, but tired of walking.
"I think I might pass..."
I steps in front of me, "just get in the fucking car!"
He grabs hold of me and pushes me against hi car and I loose grip of Lola.
I turn around and find he's messing around with her dress.
"What the hell!" I scream in horror, hitting him with my bare hands.
I grab Lola and run for my life.
"Run, Lola" I pull Lola along while turning into an alley.
We were trapped with bins and a huge gate.
I hauled myself, Lola and our bags onto the trash.
My heart was beating so fast, "tell me when you see him, Lola"
She nodded, panicking.
I threw our blue bags over the gate and watched how far down they dropped.
I grabbed Lola and tackled the gate, I got half way down then jumped with Lola on my back.
We ran to Lola's school, still scared, I made us both late, hoping he didn't follow us.
I sat with Lola in my lap outside the school behind some trash cans and sorted her hair out.
"Are you scared, Lola?" I say hugging her gently.
"Yes, but i know not to be because you'll protect me" she turns around and gets onto her knees, hugging me.
"Promise me, that if you see him in your school you tell a teacher, an adult, that he tried to hurt you before school, okay?"
She nodded.
"Right" we both got up and went into Lola's school first.
I went over to her teacher, Mr Jonas, he smiled at me and marked her in.
I crouched down beside Lola, "your lunch in is your bag and your books, also I put a drawing in there" I winked.
"Really?!" She whispered, seeming so excited.
I smiled then kissed her goodbye.
