Adopted by Mean Girls

You Know what I had More Of?

Trigger Warning: Mentions of abuse, but nothing too graphic

**Comet's POV**

I missed Erika. It was as simple as that. The new family that Maddie dropped me with reminded me of my father - the drinking, abuse, language, everything.

At five o'clock, the alarm on my phone went off. I quickly silence it and got dressed in the small closet-like room that the Kennedys had provided for me. I felt like Harry Potter. I crawled out of my bedroom with my backpack and crept down to the front door. I get out before they all wake up and try to stay away until late at night. Once I was out of the house, I ran to the subway and snuck past the security guard on duty so I could catch a train. I had been showing up at Casper's house around the time he woke up and tagging in for breakfast. If I didn't have the Locksworths, I don't think I would get any food.

On the subway, I plugged the earbuds Erika bought me into my phone and watched one of her Broadway.com vlogs again. I'm not allowed to talk to the cast because of some foster law so the only connections I have to Erika and the others are videos and songs. The train pulled into Casper's station, but I didn't get off. My appetite had been destroyed at the memory of my foster father kneeing me in the stomach the night before. I sat on the train, mindlessly letting it take me to the stop I would get off on when I lived with Erika. I indulged myself for some reason and climbed up the fire escape outside of Erika's apartment. I looked in a window and saw the living room and, at an angle, I could see the door to Erika's apartment and the warm glow that the rising sun produced as it bounced off picture frames, glasses, and mirrors.

I sat outside the only home I'd ever felt completely safe in for who knows how long. Nothing was happening because Erika wouldn't be awake for another few hours, but somehow just seeing the apartment helped me relax.

"Hey!" someone shouted, "Stop looking in that window!"

I looked around, only to see one of Erika's neighbors, Jason Fredricks, leaning out of his apartment. His expression instantly softened when he saw me.

"Comet? Is that really you?"

"Hi, Mr. Fredricks," I waved shyly.

"What happened to you, kiddo? We saw that woman take you away and since then Erika's been pulling crazy hours."

"That woman was my social worker," I explained, "Something happened higher up on the food chain and she pulled me out. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, Mr. Fredricks, but I really just wanted to come back."

Mr. Fredricks smiled, "You could never disturb me, Comet," he said, "But, why don't you swing by after school? I bet Erika would love to see you."

"I would love to see her, too," I managed a small laugh, "Believe me, but I can't. Some foster care law doesn't allow it."

Mr. Fredricks started to swear, then changed his wording, "Bu...But that's insane!"

"I know," I nodded, "But I don't think it says anything about having messages passed."

"What can I do?" Mr. Fredricks leaned against the windowsill.

"Can you tell Erika that I miss her, please? I miss her and I love her?"

"Of course, Comet," Mr. Fredricks nodded, "It would be my pleasure to be your middleman."

"I owe you one, Mr. Fredricks," I sighed.

Mr. Fredricks smiled, "No, Comet, you owe me nothing. Just don't be a stranger, okay? Promise that you'll come by?"

"Of course, sir," I agreed, "I would like nothing more."

Mr. Fredricks went back inside his apartment and I went back to watching the empty living room. Even when nothing was happening, Erika's living room still had so much more life than the Kennedys' entire house - so much more color.

I rested my forehead against the chilled windowpane and was about to fall asleep when movement caught my eye. The door to Erika's bedroom opened and she came out in her pajamas. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't. Erika looked tired and lonely. She went to the kitchen and took two mugs out of the cabinet - her favorite mug and my favorite mug. She filled her mug with water and put it in the microwave and just stared at the other. I saw her start talking to the mug as if I were on its other side.

Eventually, I tore my gaze away from Erika and climbed down the fire escape. Erika had promised that she'd get me back. All I had to do was believe that she'd make good of that promise.