Rough Path

The Beginning

I could hear murmurs from inside the office. I wonder what the principle is telling my foster parents now. Hopefully it wasn't about me but rather one of the other foster kids. They did have us all sitting down near the principal's office. My leg was bouncing a clear sign that I was nervous. I was skimming through a college pamphlets that they had at the principal's office, like I would go to college I thought sarcastically. Then the door opened. Principal Joy came out. After her, my foster parents came out. The people I wasn't expecting to see were three other people; My social worker and two of the other social workers.

What is happening? Did I get caught? Did one of the other kids get caught? My head was just complete chaos.

We all got released early from school, and I got in my car waiting for the other foster kids to get in so we can go home.

"What do you think is going on?" asks Alivia, as she got into the car. She was always the one that worried the most, her hair was out of her braids, which meant that she was nervous or worried. She was about the same height as me, many thought we were sisters since we actually were discovered together hugging, but she had straight hair while I had curly hair. Who actually knew if we were or weren't but we told everyone that we might. For that same reason we have the same social worker too, Alison.

All of a sudden Alivia screamed which is what snapped me out of my thoughts.

"What the hell Alivia!" I screamed. All I heard was laughing coming from everyone in the car.

"Well you weren't starting the car, so I was wondering if everything is fine in that mush they call Estrella's brain." She said while laughing but I could tell it was forced.

After that scare I quickly started the car after making sure Alivia, Marcellus, Bruce and Zelda were in the car. The unbreakable five is what my foster parents call us.

***

Once we got home we quickly all got out and got inside the victorian style house we call home. We five have been living here since we were all fourteen, we're all now getting close to what they belief is our eighteenth birthday.

Then it dawned on me. We didn't get caught but rather we were almost out of foster care!

I was having split emotions, I was happy to be on my own but sad because I had to leave my foster parents, Michelle and Andrew. Michelle is 39 and Andrew is 40, they were never able to have kids for some reason. They were very loving and understanding, unlike other foster parents. The check that the state gave them for us, they would give it to us to do what we wanted. Well except drugs.

Low and behold I was right. We had until June 20th to stay with them, which gave us five and three others one month to get place to stay. Michelle immediately offered to help us all find a place to rent. Alivia, Marcel, Bruce and Zel looked at me to see what I thought. We had already decided to stay together since we knew we should.

"Michelle. I think I can speak for the five of us" I said while looking at the four "That we want to stay together."

Michelle looked at us and turned to the other three boys and they said they wanted to each find their own place. I knew that it would be hard for them but I also didn't want to invite them to live with us because they were never really our "friends" per say.

While I was thinking of where they might get a place everyone was standing up and I realized that Andrew was telling us that our snack/lunch was ready. The other two social workers decided to leave at that time. Alison stayed. I knew I was safe with her but I felt like she knew more about me than what she let on.

"Why is Alison staying?" I asked Bruce who was staring at the sandwich in front of him like it was the most beautiful thing ever. I knew he wouldn't answer so I turned to Alivia. "Why is Alison staying?" I whispered

"Who knows. Wait why does she have your file with her?" She whisper to me. I hadn't even realized that!

ALISON'S POV:

I could see Estrella's questions in her eyes. What did she want? Shit what if she saw the file I had of her. What if she took off her bracelet. What if she knew what she was. What if she exposed herself. So many possible scenarios.

I tried to slow both my thoughts and my heart rate.

She can't find out right now, they're too close to finding her. She could easily get in danger. I can't let that happen to her, I promised her parents I would keep her safe.