Warning: Abuse in this chapter.

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Now Beatrice, this house was kind enough to take you in at the last minute. Don't cause trouble like you normally do. We are running out of foster homes that are available," my social worker, Jeanine Mathews, threatens.

I get frustrated with her words but I try not to show my anger. I always tell them the truth about why I get kicked out of the houses but no one ever believes me. Why would they? I'm just another foster girl with no family. Nobody wants me. No one cares for me. I cringe when I think of my last foster house. The words that they said to me. The aches from where they beat me are still burning whenever I move at all.

Flashback

I walk as fast as I can home from school. My teacher had me stay late to talk about the work that I need to catch up on. I didn't pay any attention though. I won't be here long enough to even memorize all my teachers' names. There is no way I will be here long enough to catch up on work. I have already been here for five weeks. For me that is a long time. But I know it won't last. I am just waiting for the moment when I have my suitcase in my hand with Jeanine glaring at me as we move on once again.

I know being late will be a huge problem in this house. I am supposed to make dinner every night so that when my foster father comes home it will be ready. Tonight though I pray that maybe he had to stay late like he sometimes does.

As I come to my current house I know I am not that lucky. My foster father's car is parked in the driveway. I walk into the door quickly and just hopes this all ends soon.

I'm greeted with the furious expression of my foster father's face. "Where have you been, you little bitch? We went through this. When I have been at work all day I expect a cooked meal ready. Instead I come home after a long day only to find that no dinner is ready and you aren't home."

"I am so sorry. I had to stay after school to talk to the teacher because she wants to help me catch up." I knew that was the wrong thing to say when I see him practically seething. I feel the punch and I fall to the ground. I cover my face as the beating continued.

"LIAR! No one would ever waste their time on you," Punch. "You are worthless," Punch. "Less than human," Kick. "A piece of trash," Punch. "You must have been out with some boy, you little slut," Kick. "YOU MUST Have payed him to," Kick. "after all no one would willingly want to do anything with you," Punch. "you are too hideous after all."

Tears come to my eyes. Everything I hear him say I have heard before but it doesn't make it hurt any less.

This continues on and with each kick and punch I seem to be able to think less and less. I knew it wouldn't be long before I passed out. When I started seeing black dots in my eyes I welcomed them. I knew this meant all the pain would stop soon and I would be free. Right before I gave into the darkness I heard sirens in the background and knew I was almost safe.

Flashback ended

There is a small part of me that hopes that this house will be different but I doubt it. Ever since my family died I have been to fourteen other homes in three years. For some reason or another I always leave. The longest I've stayed at a house is three and a half months.

I nod my head in response to Jeanine as the front door opens and a women comes out. "Oh you must be Beatrice and Jeanine. I'm Valerie."

I wince at the name Beatrice. The name reminds me of my past, which I'm trying to forget. It hurts too much to remember. The day my family died, the day I almost died, and the worst year of my life because of HIM.

I pull myself out of my dark thoughts and go in and sit down when she invites us in. We sit at what appears to be the dining room table and I introduce myself. "It's Tris actually."

Jeanine glares at me and Valerie either ignores her or doesn't see as she smiles in reply. "Nice to meet you, Tris." Her smile seems genuine. One of the homes I was in was run by a women who always smiled and it seemed fake. It creeped me out. I think her name was Joanna. I nod and return her smile with a slight one of my own.

I'm not a big talker. In fact I only talk when I absolutely have to. I used to talk all the time but it stopped after that year. I stopped doing a lot of things that summer. Talking…Eating…Sleeping. My parents and brother knew something was wrong but when I refused to talk about it they didn't pressure me.

In some ways I wish they would have forced me to talk. So I could tell them what was wrong. So maybe they could help. But that was a selfish thought.

As I hear Valerie and Jeanine talking I look around. I notice this house is well organized and makes you feel like you're a part of the family. I see lots of pictures with kids and a man who I am assuming is her husband. I can tell they are well off but they don't seem to flaunt their money like some people would.

Jeanine's voice calling me by my full name breaks me out of my thoughts. "I have to leave so I expect you to be on your best behavior."

I want to glare at her. No matter how many times I correct her she still doesn't call me Tris. I think she does it on purpose. It wouldn't surprise me. As much as I want to glare I refrain. My parents taught me better than that and even though they are gone I still want to respect their wishes.

Jeanine turns to Valerie when she sees that I am not planning on responding. "I have my cell phone with me if you need me."

"I doubt that will be necessary but I will keep that in mind," Valerie responds. I look at her and smile to show my gratitude. She doesn't say anything but grabs my hand and squeezes it in reply. Immediately tears come to my eyes. That was so similar to something my mother used to do I can't help it. I push my tears back though because I refuse to seem weak.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Jeanine mutters under her breath as she leaves.

"Nice lady," Valerie sarcastically says. We both laugh at that.

We sit and talk for a while just getting to know each other. Valerie makes me feel comfortable and speaks to me almost like how my mom used to. It's painful but it's also nice in some ways. We talk for so long that neither of us notice that it's almost dinner time until a group of nine people come in.

Valerie and I stand up and turn towards them as they look at me confused. I blush slightly. I don't like attention on myself. "Oh. I didn't realize it was so late. This is Tris. She is going to be staying here."

Everyone acknowledges me in some form of "hi."

"Really guys? You can't even introduce yourselves?" Valerie glares.

"Sorry. I'm Christina. Four, Zeke, Uriah, Eric, and I live here. Will, Shauna, Lynn, and Marlene don't live here but are over ALL the time. Zeke and Uriah are twins, Will is my boyfriend, Shauna is dating Zeke, Lynn is Shauna's older sister and Marlene is dating Uriah."

"Okay. My name is Tris."

"Nice to meet you Tris. Not to be rude or anything but I am starving. Where is dinner?" Uriah asks. Marlene slaps him for the rude comment but Valerie answers anyway.

"Amar should be here anytime. So calm down." Just as she replies a man who I assume is Amar walks through the door with a few boxes of pizza.

"Hey guys. Who wants pizza?" Uriah grabs the boxes from him. Amar stops what he's doing when he notices me. "You must be Beatrice. I am Amar. Nice to meet you."

"Tris, actually. Nice to meet you too."

"Okay now that everyone is officially introduced let's all start eating," Valerie instructs.

"I think some of us have," everyone turns to look at Shauna in confusion until we notice Uriah eating. Everyone laughs.

"What? I told you all I'm hungry."

"You know the sad thing is I'm not even surprised anymore," Zeke's comment makes everyone laugh even harder and Uriah's face is bright red.

I'm surprised at how comfortable I feel here and am a little worried. What happens when I leave? What if they don't like me? What if it turns out bad?

I look around when I feel someone's eyes on me and find Eric looking at me with an evil smirk on his face. He is the only one I don't feel comfortable around and I start to get a bad feeling. Maybe this house isn't so great after all.