Crossing Paths

Chapter 3

"The younger one seemed like a great kid." 

"Really? I thought he was a little odd." 

"Henry, you have no idea what he's gone through."

"I know, I know." My dad replied simply, sounding as though he wasn't thoroughly convinced. 

I listened in on their conversation as I walked down the stairs. Once I reached the kitchen, I saw that Jeremiah was already sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal, but he didn't seem to be very interested in my parent's conversation. He was staring at his phone with a ridiculous smirk on his face. I couldn't help but wonder what girl he was planning on hooking up with this time. He usually picked one that neither me nor my parents were very fond of. The good news is they usually only lasted a couple weeks at most. 

"It's the older one I'm not so sure about." My mom continued, sitting down next to Jeremiah with a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. 

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl before also taking a seat at the table. 

"Oh nothing. Your father and I met the Blake's new foster kids last night." 

"Foster kids?" I repeated, perking up in my seat. The gears in my head were suddenly turning faster than they had in days. "The Blake's do foster care?" 

"Yes." My mom hummed in agreement. "They haven't had a placement in awhile, but they've just recently taken in two kids." 

"Mom, this is great!" I announced, throwing my forgotten apple aside. Both my parents turned their attention to me. They looked at me with a mixture of worry and confusion. 

"What are you on about, Aliyah?" My dad asked just to be courteous. I could tell by his tone that he wasn't all that curious.

"My assignment from Aunt Willow. A kid who is in the foster care system would make for a great report. I bet a lot of them have a really interesting past." 

My mom frowned. "I don't know, sweetie. You probably shouldn't conduct a psychology report on a complete stranger. Especially a troubled foster kid. You never know what you're going to get." 

"But-" 

"I agree with your mother on this one." My dad's superior voice cut into my protest. "You shouldn't waste your time on kids like them. They seemed rather unstable to me." 

"And what makes us better than them?" I challenged hotly, facing down my dad with a pointed glare. 

"Nothing at all." My father shot back with a calm and civil tone. "All I'm saying is that I would much prefer if you did your assignment with someone that you know and trust." 

I let my frustrated silence act as my reply. I hated it when my parents became overbearing and controlling. I had tried to talk to them about it in the past, but they were just blind to the fact that they often treated me like I was a child and not a junior in high school. 

It didn't help that they let Jeremiah, who was only a year older than me, do whatever he wanted. 

"Life just isn't fair, is it?" Jeremiah looked up from his phone and taunted, as though sensing exactly what I was thinking. I didn't have any sort of comeback, so I just tossed him an annoyed look and decided to give my apple another try. 

"What about Park?" My mom suggested. 

"I already asked. She doesn't want to." I muttered glumly, not at all appreciating my mother's attempts to help me. 

"Well I'm sure either your father and I could do it." 

"Thanks, but no thanks." I said sharper than I had intended. I abruptly pushed my chair back and stood to my feet. "You two are the last people I'd chose."