Mariana's best friend | Jesus foster

Six

"You see what you do? You're a worthless, lazy, careless little girl who only cares for herself." David – my foster dad – yells as he runs his fingers through his black, almost gray, hair, pacing around the living room. I sat on the couch while my foster parents stood in front of me, scowling at me for whatever reason they had to blame on me this time.

"Ever since you barged into our lives, everything has been ruined!" Jessica – my foster mom – cries out, her palm flat against her forehead. All those words they say, the words that tumble out of their lips without second thought, the harsh words, they engraved into my skin. So much now, that I start believing them.

I'm a worthless girl who ruins everything.

"You're the ones who took me in?" I raised my eyebrows, messing with the zipper from my backpack that was on my lap to keep my hands from shaking.

"I wish we never did, David." Jessica turns to her husband with a sigh and a frown. "We need to call her social workers." She grabs the wine glass that was resting on the coffee table, taking a gulp.

"Please do," I say, crossing my arms, looking at the digital clock nearby. 9:24 AM I was already late to school, with Mariana blowing up my phone asking where I was.

"I know, I know." David sighed, rolling up his sleeves and looking at his watch. "But, honey, we need the money." He looked over at Jessica who cursed under her breath, nodding along with him.

Ah, yes. Money. That's what they were using me for. I'm always being used. They say that they need money, for me and my education, and everyone believes them, giving them money that they use for themselves. None of it for me.

"Can't we just get another one? Take her back."

"It was hard enough getting this shit. It'll take months!"

"Listen, while you both take care of this," I said, standing up and slinging my backpack on. "I actually have school to get too. Hopefully, by the time I'm back, I won't be needing to stay with you loathsome creatures." I pushed past them and go out the door, starting my way down towards the high school.

=

"Hey, where were you?" Mariana asked when I entered the class, handing the teacher a late pass.

I sat down and placed my bag next to my feet on the ground. "Jessica and David kept me back, telling me how they wanna call my social workers to take me away-"

"What? No!" Mariana grabbed my arm, her eyes wide and a frown. "Well, I mean, I want you to get a better family, but a family close by here!"

"Calm down, I don't even think they'll do it. Sadly." I grabbed my notebook and quickly started writing down the notes that were on the board.

"I wish I can I do something." Mariana sighed.

"I just don't think they'll call them around this time, but one day, I'll be gone from that house." I gave her a faint smile.

I'll be gone.

=

"Brandon is having this party with Courtney at her house or something, but you should come!" Mariana told me as we all sat down outside for lunch in the courtyard.

"A party?" I raised my eyebrows. "Your moms are letting you all go?" I asked Callie, Mariana, and Jesus who sat with us.

"It's their anniversary," Jesus said as he bit into his apple. "They won't notice." He exhaled.