Jenna'sPOV:
Fog. That's all I could see outside my bedroom Window. It comfort me. It gave an ominous feeling of mystery and wonder in my mind. It made days like today manageable.
"Jenna." Someone knocked on the door. It was my foster mother, Ms. Lilian.
"Yeah?"
"Just wanted to see if you were ready."
"Almost." I put on a fake smile.
"Well hurry up dear, Concert starts at 8." Her Light brown hair made her look older than she was.
I nodded as she left the room.
I'd be better off staying here. I thought.
I walked into the bathroom, which I shared with the other girls in the house, and showered up. I put on black skinny jeans, black boots, a red knitted hat, and a white t-shirt that had the Japanese flag in the middle. I brushed her long jet black hair, that made her brown eyes look darker.
"Oh look, the average 15-year-old American teen. Yay me." I mumbled.
I put on the thick blue bracelet with Japanese writing on them. It was the only thing I've ever had of my old life in Japan. I was put into the system at age 2, and was bounced from foster care to foster care in Japan and America. I finally ended up in Ms. Lillian's care two months ago, in Chicago. So far, I hated it here. Not just because of the cold weather, but the kids I lived with. I'm always bullied everyday by the older kid, Justin, who liked to call me his little "Geisha" to flirt with me. When I say no, he would hit me just for fun. Today, me and the rest of the kids were going to a small concert in town. Which I hate. Being in crowds was never my thing, and all I want to do was stay in.
"Jenna, c'mon we're running late." Ms. Lilian shouted.
I grabbed my tote bag, and headed downstairs.
"Lets get this over with." I groaned.
The Hardies' bar and Grill was one of the most popular place in town to perform, and be noticed by big music labels. Ms. Lilian took the kids 13 and up to see bands come back to the stage. The fog had lifted a little, making the Chicago city lights brighter. The 7 of us sat at a booth near the bar and ordered our food.
"Place is more cramped than usual." Marlene shouted.
"Yeah, its a homecoming for some of the biggest bands out there." Ms. Lilian smiled.
"Its alot of people." I felt trapped with everyone around.
Justin grinned at me.
"Hey Geisha, why don't you get me a refill?"
"You have legs, why don't you get it yourself." I snapped.
"Jenna!" Ms. Lilian glared.
"I have to go to the bathroom first." I rushed out the booth, and ran into the stall.
Pull it together Jenna. I thought. Just a couple of hours. Jenna breathed in, and swung open the door. She moved so fast, she almost bumped into a man.
"Sorry." I didn't look straight at him.
"Its alright, just having one of those days." he joked.
I finally looked at the man. He was wearing glasses, a black fedora, and a scarf.
I thought he looked familiar, but left before I could remember. I passed by the back stage area, where dozens of band names were written on a wall. Marie Doe, Black clad, the 3 down below. One name was written bigger than the rest. Fall Out Boy. Around it were names of the band members: Andy Hurley, Joe Troeman, Pete Wentz, and Patrick Stump. I gazed at the wall, when someone poked my shoulder.
"Pretty cool, huh?" The woman in her early 30s said. She had purple dye in her hair, a skull tattoo on her neck, and a small name tag. Neja.
"Yeah." I hardly spoke over a whisper.
"They use to say that when ya come to Hardies', ya leave with something you'd never forget."
"That's... interesting." I mumbled. This woman was creeping me out.
"Well better get back to work." She beamed and walked off.
I shook my head, and sat back down in the booth.
"Where's Justin?" I said. The name feeling like oil on my tongue.
"Over there." One of the other foster kids, Gavin nodded to him, flirting with a blond waitress.
I rolled my eyes.
"OOOO. Get ready, their about to perform!" Ms. Lilian and the other girls started squealing.
"Who's performing?"
"Fall Out Boy!" Just as she said the name, four guys came on the stage.
I saw one face that was similar. The man I bumped into. He was the lead singer on stage.
"Is that-"
"Patrick Stump! He is SO cute!" Marlene squealed.
My face turned red. I bumped into a celebrity. Great. I thought.
They were playing Death Valley off their new album.
I sat and focused on Justin flirting with the waitress, who didn't seem interested. Then Patrick started singing.
"I wanna see your animal side. Let it all out. I wanna see the dirt under your skin. Mend your broken promises."
I instantly focused my attention towards the stage. my eyes popped at the sound of Patrick's voice.
"I want the guts and glory, baby. Baby. This town is wasted and alone.
Cause we are Alive. Even death valley. But don't take love off the table yet. And tonight, its just fire alarms and losing you."
I had to admit, I was mesmerized.
"Havin fun?" Ms. Lilian asked.
I nodded. "They're pretty good." but I thought they were amazing.
I swayed with the song, when I noticed Neja standing awkwardly next to the stage. She was holding something in her bag. My mind raced with terrible ideas.
I hopped out of my seat, and pushed through the crowd to reach her. I was stuck in the middle of the room. All I could do was stare at the stage, as Patrick sang on.
"We're gonna die, its just a matter of time. Hard times come; good times go. I'm either gone in an instant, or here to the bitter end. And I never know."
Then Patrick was looking straight at me. I wanted to look away, but couldn't.
"What I got will make you feel more alive. I will be your favorite drug I will get you high. I will get you high."
I finally snapped back to find Neja. She was gone. I walked over to the place she was standing. The bag she was holding had a camera inside.
Must've over reacted. I thought.
The song ended, and everyone in the bar cheered. I peered down the hallway, and saw her. We made eye contact, and she darted out the back door.
"Hey!" I yelled out.
I felt a pair of eyes on me, but ignored it. I ran out into the cold alleyway. I didn't see Neja, but I saw someone else. Justin.
Patrick'sPOV:
After the performance, we left off stage and sat down in the VIP area.
"I. Am. Swamped." Pete plopped down in a chair.
"It's worth it though. Haven't played at Hardies' in years." Joe fiddled with his phone.
My phone buzzed. I glanced at it. It was 5 voicemail messages from Elisa.
"Whose that?" Andy took a swig at his water.
"Another voicemail from Elisa." I said flatly.
Everyone moaned.
"What does she want now?"
"Don't know, don't care." I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
"Dude, you guys got divorced 6 months ago. Why is she still calling you?" Joe asked.
"More importantly, why do you still have her number?" Pete joined in.
"I don't know. Just kinda hoping." I mumbled.
"Hoping that she'll come back?"
"Yeah."
Pete stood up, and sat next to me.
"Screw her man. She left. Her lost."
"Yeah, she can't replace what we got with you man." Joe fist pumped me.
"I can't have kids with you guys."
"Bull. We get one kid, raise em' ourselves."
I chuckled a bit.
"I'm gonna get some air." I stood up and walked to the back door.
"Don't do anything stupid." Joe called out.
"Please, thats Pete's job."
all of us laughed hysterically when Pete flipped me off.
Jenna'sPOV:
Justin was wobbling around with a beer bottle in his hand.
This was one of the worst things he could ever do. I slowly walked back to the door. It was locked.
"Hey, Geshia girl." he slurred.
My stomach flipped. I turned to Justin, who stumbled toward me. His breath Reeked of alcohol.
"Come to see me?" he grabbed my waist.
"Get off me." I pushed him off.
He threw the beer bottle at me, but missed. Justin gripped my arms and shook me like
a rag doll.
"F*CKING B*TCH!" He hissed.
He rose his hand and slapped me. Hard. I fell on the rough gravel, cutting my cheek.
Justin hovered over me with a evil grin. He sat on top of me, and started pulling
at the bottom of my shirt. I struggled to move, but it was useless.
I saw a figure far off on the street.
"HELP! HELP!" I screamed.
"Shut up!" He slapped me again.
I let a tear roll down my cheek. Black spots messed with my vision.
Justin's hand was about to reach my bra, when he was knocked over.
I didn't dare try to move. I heard yelling and punching. I finally
had the courage to lift my head. I couldn't believe what saw. It was Patrick. He had a few scratches on his face, but was otherwise fine. Justin on the other hand, had a bruise on his eye. His nose was bleeding and was bent to the side.
"You touch her again, and I'll break your arm." He growled.
He then turned to me. I quickly stood up. My cheeks felt raw, and my arms were cold.
"You okay?" He asked.
I didn't know. Everything felt like a huge rush. I looked at Justin again. I saw his chest
rise and fall.
"I'm fine." my tone was rude.
I limped over to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Inside."
"Your boyfriend just assaulted you."
I quickly turned around.
"He is NOT my boyfriend. He's my friggin foster brother!"
I went back to opening the door. This time it was unlocked. I quickly ran into the warm and bright bar. Patrick followed up behind me.
"Foster brother?"
"Yeah, as in not my real brother."
"How long has he been doing this to you?" Patrick asked.
"Since I've been at at my foster house, which is 2 months." I replied calmly.
People were congratulating Patrick as he followed me to my table. The bar was closing early for the night which cleared out the restaurant a little.
"What are you doing about it then?"
"Look, thank you for helping me back there, but unless I'm adopted or moved, I'm stuck with him."
I finally found Ms. Lilian, who was sitting at the table alone.
She looked up at me, and her smile quickly vanished.
"Jenna, what happened to your face?" She looked like she was a out to cry.
"I found her out back like that. Said her foster brother did it." Patrick explained.
"Did Justin do this to you!?" She asked.
"Yes, look I'm fine." I tried to shrug it off.
"Well thank you for helping her Patrick." Ms. Lilian hugged him.
"Anytime Gina." He said.
They know each other? I thought.
Patrick was about to turn and leave, when he stopped.
"Actually, I also needed to tell you our little surprise." He was grinning from ear to ear.
"What surprise?" She asked.
I was curious too, considering I didn't know what was going on.
"I'm adopting Jenna." he said.
My heart dropped into my stomach. The words I thought would never come across my path rattled me. I was being adopted.