Fostered

Chapter 1: Smile

       The House is what caught my attention. A big white, house. The a/c in the car felt good compared to the San Antonio heat id felt during the transfer. The driver, John, didnt say much this time. He learned I hated being transferred early on. 

    “This time will be different, c’mon kid” John tried to cheer me up. All i could think about was how I “wasnt a kid anymore”. I was 13. 
   
    “Sure John” is all I could say, he was nice, didnt want to upset him. Stepping out of the car, instantly you could feel the heat cooking you, and smell dirt, nothing but dirt. A man dressed in a white shirt and slacks greeted us, like they always do when we arrive. He wore a big smile, clearly faked.
   
    “What a cutie, we’ll love him he-
Suddenly his head jerked right and my left knuckles hurt. His hands flew to cover his mouth and his nice shirt had a few droplets of scarlet on it now. 
     
    “What the hell kid? Hes gone. Hes not staying here.” The smiling-no-more man grunted through a hand. 
    I should explain I have an instinctive intuition. I can sense what people really intend, I dont know how, I just can. 
    John sighed and led me in by the arm. 
    “Again? Kid, youv-
    “I have a name. Its always kid, you never use my name John.” I rush, mainly to stop the oncoming lecture. 
    “ Alright, Grey, listen. I know you think you know what they want to do to you, you had a bad experience, but that doesnt mea-
“Enough. I get it. I cant just “punch people in the face” because of ptsd, stop. Pitying. Me.” He always goes to the incident he knows about. 
    “Just.. give the next home a chance. Ill be back in a few days, earliest I can is Friday.”
“Thats two days from now. Ill be gone.” He knows the drill. More than a day and I leave. 
    “ki-Grey. Please, no more running.” he pleaded, more out of annoyance than concern. 
“No promises.” Im shown my room. Inside is a bed, with white sheets, a single pillow and folded blanket. A cedar dresser, with a mirror on top. The mirror shows me, with my army green dufflebag over a shoulder, light blue eyes and black hair that hangs just above my eyes. My ears come to a slight point, and im rather pale, considering Johns dark skintone in contrast. His hand on my shoulder, making eye contact in the mirror, only emphasizes the paleness. 
“Please. 24 hours, one full day. Thats all im asking.” He lifted his brow being more of a stern statement than asking. 
“Fine.” I set up the bed to be at least a little comfortable and set my bag under it, and make my way to the small section of room outside my window. It was almost sunset, so I open the window-
“Whaddya doin’ up here?” A light and airy voice startled me. Looking up, and stumbling out the window, I find a girl, around my age, with auburn hair, and light eyes, a round face full of freckles, wearing a white tanktop, and camo pants. 
“Uhhhhhh sunset.” Smooth. She giggled, and patted next to her. 
“Me too, its great here, lookie” she said pointing toward the horizon. 
    “Great because theres nothing here” I mumble. 
“Exactly!” she yelled giddily. “Theres nothing to block it, no trees, tall buildings, or anything!” Ive never seen someone so excited about nothing. We talked and watched, not really about anything specific. 
“Southpaw?” She asked, nodding to me hand. 
“Uh.. yeah howd you-
“Saw you hit Dylan. He so deserved it. Nice hit, by the way” she said leaning into me, smiling big. 
“Uh.. Thanks. Has he..?” I ask, trying to dig in
“Not me, but others, im sure. Theres no proof, just rumors” she stated, casually. 
“You never told me your name” I said, hoping she’d tell me. 
“Tomorrow” she said with a wink, as she rose and climbed into her window. She had an almost unreadable aura. I stayed out and watched the stars for a bit, before climbing in and deciding id stay the night. Entering my room, hands wrap around my arms, pulling me onto the bed, and pinning me there
“Et tu Brute?” I say casually, while another set of hands grab my chin, to meet dark brown, hateful eyes. 
“Around here, we trade punches, kid” Dylan said, backhanding me. Iron. I tasted Iron.. blood. I struggle and the guy holding me down smirks, and Dylan starts talking. 
    “Were going to teach you what happens, when you hurt a staff member, dont look at me like that kid, you learn. Lift him” He told mystery man, as his hands fiddle with something at his waist. As im lifted I introduce the guys nose to the back of my head, quickly turning and laying a few punches into him, before he could grab me again, and ducking under his arm as he reaches for me, jabbing into his ribs wth my right, and kicking his knee forward, and the further one out, with a pop. I turn and slam him into the ground by his head as Dylan grabs my shoulders and throws me off of the other guy. 
“You just dont learn kid.” His belt is in his hands, and the top button of his slacks undone. He swung the belt and it caught my arm and ribs, a failed block, so with a stinging sensation I lunge into him, and pants him, kicking him onto the other guy, before hes up and standing I throw my door open and yell, but his hand covers my mouth and cuts it short. I try kicking behind me but he moves, pants still around his ankles, he pulls me against him
“You look like youll enjoy this kid” he growled from just behind my ear, so close I could feel his breath, so I kick his slacks forward falling onto him. Headbutting him from the front, and twisting to pin him, I start throwing punches to his head left, right, right, left, until the other guy pulls me off and I start hitting him too. A loud, highpitched scream from my doorway stops us all, and footsteps are heard coming down the hall. Auburn hair saves the day. Two staff members bust in, clearly concerned, and upon seeing the scene, a young boy, with a bloody nose, busted lip, and bruised arm and ribs, with a beaten worker, and top care man, with his pants down. 
    Needless to say, the cops were called. John showed up, in pajamas. And auburn hair helped tell the story, and several other young boys piped up. Dylan was taken away that night, along with nameless brute. John apologized, and raked his hands across his face. He knewe I didnt take it personally, no one would believe a random teen had a great sense of intuition. I asked for a different room, and gathered my things to wait up until morning.    
A knocking at the window caught my attention. Auburn hair was there, so I let her in. 
“Thank you for-
She was hugging me. I dont like being touched, but she hugged me anyway. 
“Are you okay? Of course you’re not, im here, and im not leaving until I know youre okay” She spoke quickly still hugging me. 
“Can we at least take this to bed?” I ask, not realizing the context. 
“Flirting after that? Really?” She look stunned, but had a smirk walking to the bed and sat on it, patting next to her. 
“I- no, im tired, and wanted to lay- ah no I-” 
“Shut up and come here” She said,  watching me walk to her. She pulled me close, centimeters from her face, and pulled me into the bed, holding me close. She kissed my forehead, and held me from behind, whispering its okay, and will be. She stayed all night.