The Delacours

three.

                Sarah and the twins had been adopted, so things were pretty quiet around the house. Odette had finally received a phone call from Aria's social worker – they'd found Aria's family guilty and Odette had been granted full custody of her as a foster parent.

"Really? So what does this mean!?" Aria asked excitedly as she received the news.

"It means that unless and until someone adopts you or you turn of age, you will live here with me."

"And then what happens?"

"Well, if no one adopts you, you're free to leave when you turn eighteen."

After lunch, the girls played with Aria and me while the boys played video games with Chris and Ray. Odette had gone out to buy some groceries and since the rain had cleared, the kids were finally able to go outside – I sat and watched them with a book in hand.

"So, when are you going to get the rest of your stuff?" I heard Ray ask Aria.

"I don't know. I mean, I've been wearing the same clothes for almost a month now, but I really don't want to see my family again... What if they do something, or say something? Life's been good here."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. My family sucked too."

"Why did you come here?"

"...That's – that's another story for another time."

"What, no. Come on, tell me."

"I can't, really. I'm sorry. Now what are we gonna do about your clothes?"

"I guess I'll just take a walk over there. I need to just clear my head and think about what would happen if they said or did anything. I'll be back soon."

Aria returned about an hour later. She was crying, and it sounded like she was shuffling into the house. I saw Aria covered in scratches, blood, and bruises, holding her arm. It looked bent at an awkward angle and her things were thrown on the floor.

"Here, take this!" Ray bit his arm and offered the blood to Aria. She looked at him in shock.

"I'm sorry.... What?" Aria asked.

"Ray! What are you doing!?" Chris ran over to him and pulled him into the kitchen as I sat down next to Aria. "Are you okay?"

"My arm... it hurts. What did he... just do?" she gasped out.

"It looks broken. We should take you to the hospital."

"N – no. No hospital."

"But if your arm is broken, you should go so that it'll be fixed."

"I just told you. No hospital!"

"Fine, just try to relax. I'll be right back with something to numb the pain until Odette gets home. She's a nurse; she'll know what to do." I left Aria on the couch as I tried to figure out what to do. Chris had Ray pinned up against the wall. I pulled Chris off and separated the two of them.

"What is going on here?" I said, holding them apart.

"This idiot was about to expose us!" Chris said.

"Yeah, I know that. What the hell were you thinking Ray?"

"She's hurt. I'm trying to help her!" Ray responded.