The Broken Truth

Chapter Two

It didn't take me long to unpack; moving around all the time meant I didn't have that many things so I took the time after placing my few possessions away to admire the view from my balcony while Eva Cassidy played softly in the background. As my gazed roamed the peaceful coastline, I noticed a pier jutting out towards the placid waters with a small platform at the end of it, just a few metres past the house. Intrigued, I decided I would have do some exploring at some point. 

I glanced at the time; 4:00PM. I guessed that the other girls would be home soon.

Before the move here, Julia and I had spent countless nights sprawled on the floor of her spacious yet cosy apartment, stuffing ourselves with Chinese food and reading all the information Jane had sent us about her place while I did everything in my power to avoid going back to the house I was supposed to call home. Suddenly, as the daunting task of meeting the people I would be living with crept closer and closer, I was eternally grateful for those times and the fact I didn't feel as blindsided. 

I’d learnt that other than myself and Jane, there were five other girls living in the home, not including the one I was replacing, with ages ranging from eight to seventeen. Jane assured us that they were all sweet and good hearted girls after Julia had mentioned my fear of the house being full of rowdy delinquents that would tie me to my bedposts and shave my hair off in my sleep for no purpose other than to make me feel small and to amuse themselves. It may sound a tad extreme but a girl from one of my many foster homes had had this happen to her. She grumbled thoroughly about the experience as she rubbed after-sun lotion onto her very burnt, very bald head.

As if right on cue, I heard voices coming from downstairs as a door slammed just before Jane shouted up “Ali! Are you ready to meet everyone?”

With nervous anticipation I pressed pause on my iPod and checked myself in the mirror. My long, dark hair fell in loose curls, stopping just before the bottom of my back and my brown eyes were as boring as ever and just that little bit to big for my face. 

A bit like one of those bush-baby’s actually. 

Taking a deep calming breath, I turned for the door and headed down the stairs. 

I reached the bottom and saw Jane leaning against the wall, patiently waiting and offering a warm, comforting smile as I made my way over to her. 

“You ready?” She asked.

No. 

“Yes” I croaked, scaling myself for the crack in my voice.  

Jane didn't say anything else and instead grabbed my hand, giving me a reassuring squeeze before stilling through the arch way leading into the kitchen. I followed behind her, my heart hammering against my ribs.

We entered the grandiose kitchen and headed to the oak table overlooking the immense stretch off beach the was literally in the backyard. Sat around the table were 5 girls, chatting happily to one another. As they noticed Jane and I walk in, they gradually all turned to look at us, conversation abruptly ending and I felt a faint blush spread across my cheeks at the attention as a few curious glances were cast my way. 

“Take a seat anywhere Ali” Jane said, sitting at the head of the table.

I chose a seat next to Jane and a pretty red headed girl with a light smattering of freckles across her dainty nose, that looked to be around my age.

“Girls, this is Alessandra Archer, our newest addition. Ali, this is Avery, Summer, Sammi, Emily and Ivy”

She gestured her hand around at each of the girls in turn and I gave a small wave and smiled back at them.