Changed For The Better

Dumping Ground

We shortly arrived back at the dumping ground. It was so weird walking back up the driveway towards the house. It was so familiar yet felt so different for some reason. It really hasn't been that long but I already don't feel like I belong here any more. Like when you get home after a really long holiday, only I know I don't have a bed or room full of things to go back to.

"Ryan, do the others know you were going to see me?"

"Luke did" he replied. "I had to tell him where I was going, obviously. Did you tell Mike?"

"Yeah. I tried to get him to come with me actually"

"Why?" He asked as he finally unlocked the door.

"It's silly now"

"No, tell me"

"I was really nervous about coming here, which was obviously my original plan. Anyway, I was worried that people would want to have a big catch up and I wouldn't get the chance to talk to you first. So I thought if Mike came with me, everybody else would be busy catching up with Mike so you and I could just sneak away and talk without the others wanting to see me"

"That never would have worked" he said as he fully opened the door and we both walked in.

"What not?" I said. "I thought it was a good idea"

"Well I hate to burst your bubble, but everyone has kind of moved on from Mike"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean it has been ages. The last time they cared, was when they first found out that Mike was going to be fostering you"

"Really? Why did they care back then?"

"Well, selfish reasons really. They even had meetings in the attic where they would talk about it just before and after you left"

"Wow, I had no idea. What were they saying?"

"They were just talking rubbish about you, saying it should be them getting fostered by Mike and not you because you knew him for less time or something. Stupid, I know. They were just jealous"

"Oh, yeah I really didn't have a clue"

I stood in the lobby as Ryan locked the door behind us. It's so weird being here, it's like a massive part of me was here. A massive part of my personality, if not all of it, was created here. I took aa second to look around. The room feels bigger, and tidier too. Maybe Mai Lee has cracked down on the upkeep of the house.

Ryan came and stood beside me and laced his fingers with mine, just as I heard a loud laugh sound from the lounge. The double doors were almost shut so I couldn't see what was going on in there. I don't know if I want to face the others just yet, I think I would rather just spend some time with Ryan.

Just as Ryan was about to say something, the office door opened and Tyler walked out with his eyes to the ground, Luke followed behind him and patted him on the shoulder.

"...and I trust that we won't see a repeat in these actions" he said sternly. They both looked up, noticing that we were there.

"Marie! Hi, how've you been? It's been so long!" Luke said excitedly, as he left Tyler and approached Ryan and I.

"That's because SHE left and didn't look back" Tyler sneered.

"Tyler!" Luke scolded,

"What? She obviously doesn't want to be here. If she did, then she would have come back sooner. Just saying. She doesn't care about any of us"

With that, he walked away and into the living room. I thought Tyler was a pretty good friend, but I guess not. I can see where he is coming from though. That's another thing to add to the list of things that are all my fault.

Do all the others think the same thing? I would hate that, for them to all turn on my just because I had a chance and I took it. If they were in my shoes they would have done exactly the same thing. Maybe they would have visited, but for all they know I have genuinely been busy. And it hasn't been as long as they are making it out to have been.

"Just ignore him" said Luke as if he could read my mind. "I'm glad you came. Are you staying for dinner?"

I looked at Ryan who nodded his head vigorously. "I guess so" I smiled.

"Great! I'll let Mai Lee know in a bit. But for now I'll leave you two to yourselves but I expect lots of gossip over dinner Marie. You need to fill me in about everything that's happened since you moved out. Oh no, there aren't any problems are there? Please don't tell me that's why you're here..."

"No of course not" I smiled, interrupting him before he got too far ahead of himself. "It's nothing like that. It's just....Ryan and I met up and he suggested coming back here since the weather is so bad outside."

"Well feel free to make yourself at home" he said, which was followed by a moment of awkward silence as he realised what he said. "Well, you're always welcome here and you know that. Now I'm very sorry but I've got some things to attend to. But I'll see you later" he said, trying to play it cool.

Ryan and I watched as he awkwardly walked away into the kitchen. "Has he always been that awkward?"

"Pretty much, but it isn't normally that weird" he replied. We were silent for a moment, before we both burst into laughter. I missed this. I missed this place. I missed being with Ryan. Why have I been dreading this? I'm really enjoying myself and I can't wait to do this more often.

I'm dreading dinner later though. I only agreed to stay because Ryan looked like he wanted me to. If any of the others feel the same way as Tyler then it will be one, long, awkward meal. It should be good to catch up with Mai Lee and Luke though, as well as everyone else of course. There are so many of hem, so I have a lot more catching up to do than they do.