Laurex ~ A Cinderella Story

Chapter 12: Note the Sarcasm

Lauren's POV
I'm nervous. Today's Monday. It's been 3 days since Friday night. Where Alex and I danced and almost kissed. Well actually, he danced and almost kissed "Ella". But then again, Ella is me.

I'm worried he remembered everything but at the same time, I'm worried that he completely forgot it all.

Ok, I need to stop worrying about this. I just need to stop thinking about him.

Anyway, it's 6:59 AM and Angela texted me that she's out front. So I better head downstairs.

(Lauren grabbed her backpack and phone and walked downstairs. She opened the door and someone called out to her.)

"Lauren, come straight home after school," I hear Natasha call out to me. Oh c'mon.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"You heard me. Come straight home after school. It's time for the monthly evaluation from the foster care system," she said. Oh, that's why she wants me home. Ugh. I hate these evaluations.

So every month the foster care system comes to the house and asks questions about how I'm being treated. This way they can know if I'm in a good home. If I'm not, they can transfer me to another foster home.

The fact that I'm still living in this house for 5 years means that Natasha makes me lie during the evaluation. She usually goes over the rules she set with me before the social worker gets here.

"What time is the social worker getting here?" I asked.
"4:30, but I need you to clean up the place a bit so the social worker doesn't see that we live in a zoo," she said.
"Alright fine. I'll see you after school," I say and leave.

I close the door behind me and walk over to Angela's car.

"Good morning," she says to me and puts the key in the ignition.
"Morning," I say as I put on my seatbelt.
"Are you ok? Did something happen right now?" she asked me. I'm telling you, she can read me like I'm an open book.
"Yeah. It's evaluation day," I told her.

Angela knows what evaluation day is. She, Taylor, and Alyssa all are very familiar with evaluation day.

"So basically another chance you lose from getting out of that cave," she said. And she starts driving.
"Mhm. I hate that every month there's so much for me to say to get out of here, and I have to lie just so Natasha can keep me and the money she earns," I tell her.
"I know. How the hell did she pass those classes she had to take for her to become a foster parent?" Angie asked.
"I have no idea," I reply to her.

So if you want to open your home for foster kids and become a foster parent, there are classes you must take first. Those classes teach you how about the rules and how to deal with specific kids. Considering all foster kids have a past, there are rules depending on the child's past.

My category is dead parents and trauma from accident. I know that sounded so bad when you put it that way, but that's basically what it is.

"So you have to go home right after school again, huh?" my best friend asked me. And I nodded. "Ok. Oh, what do you think is going to happen when you see Alex?"
"I was trying not to think about that," I tell her.
"Do you think he remembers?" she asked.
"I don't know," I replied.
"Do you want him to remember?" she asked. Yes. And no. 
"I don't know," I say.
"Do you want him to forget?" she asked. No.
"I don't know," I say. Did I just straight up lie?
"So you don't want him to remember but at the same time you do," she said.
"How do you know?" I asked her.
"Because you were so happy with him. And I can tell you've been thinking about this. So it's kind of obvious. But we'll find out soon," she said. And then she parked into her usual parking spot.

I want to see him. But at the same time, I want to avoid him. What if he completely forgot and I'm here thinking about it like an idiot? Or what he remembers perfectly and figures out it was me? At this point, I don't know if that would be a good thing or a bad thing.