One Last Hope

Twenty-Five

It was a rainy Monday morning when Kaylee sat down in her third period class. She ran there to be the first person in there since she didn't want to speak to anybody. Whispers about Jasmine was the only thing you could hear throughout the hallways. People were making up rumors about her. They were saying she was living off of prostitution and that she was a drug addict. Kaylee did her best to ignore the rumors but everybody was getting on her nerves. She got so irritated that she screamed "SHUT THE HELL UP!" as loud as she could and quietly walked to her next class. Kaylee was already depressed enough, she didn't need a bunch of snobby know it all's talking shit about her literal other half.

"Are you okay?" Nathan walked into the classroom and sat next to her.

"You heard me?" She hoped she didn't scream that loud.

"I think all of North America heard you." He half smiled, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Do you think its true? That shes a drug addict?" Kaylee really didn't want to give into some silly rumor but Jasmine was high on some drug when they found her.

"No. Maybe she wanted to try it to know what it feels like. It doesn't mean shes a drug addict." He grabbed her hand, comforting her.

"I know, your right. I'm just so worried about her.. What if they don't let me see her?" Kaylee shook her head.

"They have to." He reassured her. The waning bell rung and a stampede of teenagers came rushing in. Nathan got up and went to his assigned seat. Kaylee saw Tom come into the classroom and got a little worried since his assigned seat is right next to her.. for the next 2 classes.

"Hey!" Tom smiled.

"Hey. I'm guessing that your chemistry test went well?" Kaylee was taken a back since he was in a good mood.

"Yeah, it did." He took out a pencil and then looked back at Kaylee. "I'm sorry about the other day by the way. I was really rude."

"No, no. Its fine." Kaylee's bad mood quickly started to fade. She was glad that he wasn't mad at her after all. Now she just needed Elenas forgiveness and to speak to Jasmine in order for her to stop feeling so down all the time.

**********

Jasmine stood in front of her new foster family. They greeted her with smiling faces but she refused to give up her upset expression. Once the social worker left, the family's smiles turned to devilish frowns. The mother grabbed her by her hair and shoved her into a walk in closet and locked her in. She started banging on the door with her fists but it was no use because nobody was going to open up the door. Jasmine sunk down to the floor and shut her eyes. She finally got away from her father and now she was stuck with another abusive family.

"How could Logan do this to me?" She thought as she angrily threw her jacket at the wall.

"Do you mind? Were trying to sleep over here." A voice through the darkness of the walk in closet said.

"Quiet, Angela." Another voice whispered.

"Who's there?" Jasmine was very confused. A little clicking noise came out of nowhere and the lights turn on.

¨Hiyah! I'm Mable." An excited girls face popped out right in front of Jasmine which made her jump. Then she pointed at the sleepy girl in the corner. "That's Angela. Shes sort of a constant downer."

"Hi.. how did you two get stuck in here?"  Jasmine thought shed be the only one stuck in this mess.

"The same way you did. Ive been in here for 2 days because I left a spot of dirt on the dishes I was washing. The mistress likes her house squeaky clean." Mable made a squeak noise and smiled.

"Mistress?" Jasmine thought it was funny that she called her that.

"Mmhm, if you don't call her that, she will double your chores." Mable informed her. "Angela's been in here for a whole month. She attacked the mistress and attempted to run away but she got caught. Its 5 months in the closet for her." 

"Excuse me for asking, but why are you so happy?"

"I think every person who has ever met her would like the answer to that question." Angela yawned.

"I guess I'm just a happy person in general." Mable shrugged.

"And it doesn't bother you at all that the Mistress locked you up this closet for two days?" Jasmine inched away from her.

"No. How could I possibly be bothered? I've been a bad girl, I need to learn my lesson." Mable smacked herself.

"But all you did was leave a speck of dirt on the dishes!" Jasmine thought it was outrageous.

"Dont even bother. You cant break her spirit. The mistress raised her this way, she honestly thinks something like that deserves punishment." Angela said as she braided Mables hair.

"The misstress is my mother. I know she never says so but she loves me and knows whats best." Mable stood her ground. She hated it when people spoke badly about her mother.

"Has she hit you before?" Jasmine decided to ask. 

"Oh no, of course not! She will pull your hair or your ear if you misbehave but she isnt cruel." Mable defended her mom. Angela nodded in agreement which made Jasmine sigh in relief. 

All the sudden, the mistress opened the door and told the girls to get out. Angela hesitated since she was supposed to stay in the closet for 5 months not just 1. So the mistress pulled her out by the ear.

"I'm guessing my daughters have told you the basic rules around here. I have zero tolerance for sloppiness or rebelliousness. Obey what I tell you to do and you will avoid being stuck in the closet." The lady paced back and forth.

 "Yes, Mistress." Angela and Mable said at the same time.

"Do you think your special enough to not answer me when I speak to you, newbie?" The lady was all up in Jasmines face.

"No, Mistress." Jasmine said only so that she wouldn't have to smell that lady's garlic breath anymore.

 The Mistress took the girls into the basement that had two bunk beds and a lamp saying that this was their room. 

"Well, this situation couldn't possibly get worse." Jasmine jumped onto the top bunk. The unstable bed started trembling and fell apart. 

"You may have spoke too soon." Angela laughed at her and made herself a bed on the floor.

"No kidding." Jasmine said, climbing out of the pile of metal bed parts.