Changed For The Better

Visits

Marie's POV

After school Ryan and I met by the top gate to walk back home. I know he is nervous for meeting Agatha, and probably for seeing Mike again, but he really doesn't have anything to worry about. I'm worried that it will be Ryan who doesn't approve of them or the house. Or what if I can't find anything for us to do? Then what?

I saw in the car park, Luke in the minibus with the doors all open so people could get on. he didn't see me, but I watched as we walked past. This time last week I was getting onto that bus at the end of the day. Weird, how now it all seems a world away.

Once we were far enough from school, I slipped my hand into Ryan's. He was sweating, a bit clammy.

"Ryan seriously, just relax. You'll be fine. It will only be small talk and dinner. The rest of the time you'll just be with me anyway. But soon enough you'll feel like this place is your second home and you'll be able to walk in and say hi guys I'm home and nobody would question it"

"But what if they don't like me?"

"They will"

"Mike won't. Mike doesn't"

"No, he didn't. He is different now. He is more like a grandpa at home then he is like a care worker. Either way Mike won't be there when we get back anyway because he's at work, but Agatha will so you'll be able to meet her as soon as we get back"

"Won't that be a bit awkward?"

"Not at all. Trust me, she is the friendliest person I've ever met. This is going to be easy"

We reached the house but I still don't have a key, so we had to knock and wait for Agatha to come. I guess it really is a good thing that she doesn't work, otherwise I would be totally screwed. After a few short moments, I heard the key turn in the lock and Agatha opened the door for us.

She was again wearing an apron and had all her hair pinned back. "Hey there Marie, and you must be Ryan. come in both of you, out of the cold and warm up. I've got you some snacks ready in the kitchen"

"Thanks Agatha" I said as we walked in. "And yes this is Ryan"

"Nice to meet you Agatha" Ryan said awkwardly, nerves clearly present in his voice.

"Nice to meet you too. Now I know you are staying for dinner, but do let me know if you need a lift back as that won't be a problem. I'm sure Marie will show you around. Feel free to leave your coat and bag out in the hall"

"Oh, alright" he said, clearly not expecting such a response as that. I did tell him how lovely she is. We all headed into the kitchen and started sorting ourselves out. Agatha placed two plates on the table, each with some neatly sliced fruit on them.

"Was your lunch okay Marie?"

Did she really just ask that? It was amazing! "It was brilliant" I replied. "But I won't need that much each day, I couldn't finish it!"

"Alright, I'll bare that in mind in the future. Anyway, you guys can take your snacks upstairs if you want, and let me know if you need anything. I'm going to go and work some more on that blanket. Dinner ill be at around six when Mike finishes, if that's okay with you two?"

I looked at Ryan, who nodded. "Yep, fine with us" I smiled.

Ryan and I each grabbed a plate of the fruit and headed upstairs. I showed him round briefly on the way up, but I didn't bother giving him a full tour of the house like they did on my first day. He'll get to know it soon enough anyway.

We went up to my room, obviously, where we sat on the bed and started nibbling on the fruit slices while we spoke.

"Your room here is massive" Ryan said as he took a bit of a slice of kiwi. Thinking about it, who the heck slices kiwi rather than just eating out of the skin with a spoon, like normal people?

"Don't you think it's a bit, too big?" I replied, as I looked round the room.

"Well, it's bigger than my room, and even my own room feels a bit too big now that you aren't there"

I didn't know how to respond to that. I can't allow him to think that I don't like living here, not the tiniest bit because then he will be trying to convince me to go back. But I also can't make out like this place is perfect because I don't want it to look like I'm bragging to him, or trying to make him jealous. This is a risky game I'm playing.

"You were right though" he continued. "Agatha is really nice. I know I don't know her too well, and she doesn't have my full approval yet, I still think that she is a good match for you. Specially looking back at some of the other people that you've been paired with to be fostered in the past"

I frowned slightly at the memory. Being locked in and abused, it kind of started to feel normal. But none of that matters any more. What's important now is that I am part of a caring family, where I didn't have to move schools, or even move far away from the dumping ground. And I don't have to jump out of a window just to get out, I can come and go as I please.

"I'm glad you like her. You'll probably be seeing her all the time so it makes sense"

"What do you mean?"

"Because you'll be visiting so often. Or I'll be visiting you. I did mean it when I said that I was going to keep in touch you know"

"I know but, I don't know. I feel like people always mean it, but then it never happens"

"Well it will happen for us. I'll make sure of it"

We carried on talking for ages. That's all I really knew to do with him. There isn't a lot to do here. No games console or anything like that. And we could have watched a film, but I'm not sure what Mike and Agatha have in their DVD collection yet, so I thought it best not to risk that.