Chapter 1

Today's the day.

I hope you like the story!

Well... Today's the day. Yay! I guess.

"Are you excited, Max?" The social worker asked.

"Yes," I faked a smile. I learned at an early age to lie and hide emotions. We were driving to my new home. My foster home. I took a deep breath as we parked next to a two story house.

Okay, mental review.

Mom: Cheyenne Preston.

Dad: Ben Preston.

Sister: Alison Preston.

Brother: Zephry Preston.

I am there first foster child. But they adopted there niece when she was two. Alison. They know almost everything about me from the paperwork. Which is kind of weird because I've never met them before. But who knows, they sound like good people.

I grabbed everything I owned from the trunk of the car. A backpack, two duffel backs, and my stuffed dog Rodger.

"Can I help you, Max?" Anne asked.

"No, I've got it."

We walked onto the porch and Anne dang the doorbell. "It'll be okay," She said, hugging my shoulders. I nodded and smiled. When she looked away, I glanced down at my arms. Good the cover up still had the scars hidden. No one wants to see those. I should have worn a long sleeve shirt today.

A women with brown hair and green eyes answered the door. She was tall and thin. Cheyenne. I recognized her from the pictures. I realized I had glance up at her for a second then my eyes had drifted to my shoes.

"Hello Cheyenne," Anne said.

"Hi Anne! Oh and hello Max! It's so nice to finally meet you!" By her voice I could tell she was smiling. "Come in, come in! Come meet our family." I nodded and followed Anne in. Biting my lip and hugging Rodger closer to my chest.

*Flash back*

"Max, this is Rodger... He'll be here to take care of you and love you for me when I'm not here. I love you sweetie." My mom said.

"Thank you!" I squealed hugging the dog. "I love you too Mommy."

"I'll always be watching over you baby. Even though you might not be able to see me, I'll always love you, Max."

"I know, I'll always love you too. But, I know when you're not here, you'll be safe with god and angels and in heaven, right?"

She blinked a few times and nodded. She looked back down at me standing next to her hospital bed. She drew in a shaky breath, "And I'm so so very sorry, honey." She whispered.

"Why are you sorry, Mama?" I was only three at the time and didn't understand. If only I had knew what would happen in two years.

*End of flash back*

I walked into a large room connected to a kitchen. In the living room, I guess it is, at least, was a tall man with brown hair and eyes. Ben. He was was standing next to a girl who was about my age, fifteen. She had carmel skin, dark brown hair, and warm chocolate eyes. She was smiling friendly at me. She was siting on the couch with a fuzzy black dog in her lap. Alison. And next to her on the couch was a sandy haired boy with blue eyes. He, too, was smiling.

"Guys, this is Max." Cheyenne introduced me. "And Max this is Ben, Allie, Total, and Zephry."

"Hello," I said trying to look up from my shoes.

We made small talk for a while and then Anne left. I was praying she'd never leave, but she had other kids to attend to.

They showed me around they had a big house. I had my own room with an awesome balcony. They were very friendly too.

"Feel free to help yourself to anything, Max. Don't feel like you have to ask to use the computer or watch TV. And the kitchen is always open for business." Cheyenne chuckled softly. I fake another smile. "Would you like some help unpacking?" She touched my should. I tried not to flinch. I really tried but couldn't help it, I flinched and pulled away from the touch.

I looked up at her my eyes pleading for forgiveness. She smiled warmly obviously pretending it didn't happen and saying it's okay in the same expression.

"No, that's okay, but thank you though." She nodded and walked to the door.

"I'm right next door, if you need anything, Max." Allie said.

I nodded, "Okay, thanks."

"Okay go ahead get unpacked, and relax." Cheyenne said, "Dinners at seven."

"Thank you." I said as everyone left. I looked around my room. It was very big. I looked down at how little I had to fill up the space. Oh well, at least it won't be crowed.

Half an hour later everything was unpacked and in its proper place. Clothes in the closet, Rodger sitting on my bed. My four books I owned in the night stand, pillow on the bed behind Rodger, and a snow man snow globe on top of my nightstand.

I walked out into the living room. Ben was at the stove, cooking something. Allie, Zephry, and Cheyenne were sitting on the couches. Allie painting her toe nails over a paper towel, Zephry watching tv, and Cheyenne reading.

I wasn't exactly sure if I should just walk in and sit down or walk in and say hi. Would they yelling at me for interrupting what they were doing? Anne said they wouldn't treat me like he did. I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, walked in and said, "Hi."

They all looked up and said hi back. "Max! Can I paint your nails they'd looked so pretty in a pink shade! Or maybe blue? And-". Zephry slapped his hand over his sisters mouth. Holy jeez! What's he doing to her?

"You can out talk anyone Nudge," Zephry took his hand off of her mouth. Nudge? I thought her name was Allie?

"My nickname is Nudge," Allie told me.

"Oh that makes sense."

"So can I paint your nails?"

"Sure." I sat by her feet on the floor and she sat next to me on the ground. "I've only had my nails painted when I was little. I bet they'll look pretty."

Nudge looked stunned, "What?"

I shrugged.

She shook her head, "Well that's definitely going to change. Which color?" I chose a blue. Nudge painted my finger nails, each stroke of the brush was gentle and careful. She did a perfect job.

"Years of practiced."

I smiled a real smiled. "Thank you," I said to her.

Her whole face lit up.

"Dinner!" Ben called. I stood up and walked over to the table with Nudge. I sat in an empty chair next to her.

That's how the rest of the week went. The family was very friendly, happy, and helpful. I liked them and starting to get used to them and a normal house hold. Especialy Ben. At first I didn't really talk to him anf didn't like being in a room alone with him. But he was okay and understanding. He seems like a good guy, a real dad. I looked down at the scars on my arms as I lay in bed, not able to recall why I used to cut myself.

I woke at two AM sweating and biting my lip to keep from screaming. I took a deep breath just a dream Max, just a dream. I felt the strange feeling fall over me - that hollowness feeling- I was sorta of used to that feeling though. I always got that feeling before my dad would rape me. I shivered. Take a deep breath, he's in jail and can not get to you.

And then I had an answer to my questions. That's why I cut myself.

In the morning I slipped on a long sleeve T shirt to hide the newly cut marks on my arms. I would put cover up on them instead but they could get infect. That happened before, not much fun.

I walked out and sat next to Gazzy on the couch. I found out his nickname too. I also found out why he had that as his nickname.

A little while later Cheyenne walked into the living room.

"Hey, Cheyenne? Can I take Total for a walk?"

Cheyenne looked delighted, "Of course! His leashes is right here." She picked a blue leach off the counter and handed it to me. "He loves walks."

"Total!" I called. He came scampering into the room. I leashed him up, said bye, and walked out the front door.

I walked down the steps and looked around at the neighboring houses. I caught sight of two boys throwing a foot ball back and forth in their front yard next door, they were laughing at something. They looked to be sixteen. There was also a girl yelling at them about something she looked ten.

Total yapped excitedly when he saw the girl.

"Total!" The blond curly haired, blue eyed, ten year old shouted racing towards Total.

Fang's POV Eight AM.

"Did you hear Mrs. Preston is fostering a fifteen year old girl?" My mom shook her head and clicked her tongue. Judge mental, as always. "I hope she isn't a crazy kid. Doing drugs and such. What if she is? What if she starts breaking into people's house? And robbing them?" Mom gasped.

"Mom. Breathe." Iggy said rolling his eyes.

Mom looked offended. "Well," She muttered turning around to the sink.

"That poor girl," Angel shook her head sadly.

"Wanna go throw the football around?" Iggy asked.

I nodded and we walked out side with Angel following us.

"So, a foster girl? Think she's pretty?" Iggy asked tossing the football at me.

I smirked, "Hopefully."

"You guys are mean! Mrs. Preston told Mom and I she was physically, mentally, and sexually abused." Angel said.

"So, think she goes all the way?" I looked at Iggy and we started cracking up. Angel rolled her eyes.

We heard a dog barking, "Woah... Dude, look." Iggy said. I turned around and there was the beautifulest girl I ever saw standing there. She had shoulder length blond hair, brown eyes, she was tall and thin, she had full lips, a small butt, and she was at least a size C at the smallest.

"Total!" Angel cried sprinting over to the new neighbor girl and Total. Total? Holy shit. That girl is the foster girl.

I looked over at Iggy, he had made the same realization.

Max's pov.

The girl ran over picked up Total and hugged him tight. He licked her cheeks happily.

"Hi," I said to the girl.

She looked up, as if realizing I was here. "Oh, hi! You must be Max! I'm Angel." She smiled at me, then looked over her shoulder as the boys approached. "They're my brothers, don't make friends with them. They're butt heads."

I laughed and smiled. "I'll try not to then."

The boys walked up to us.

"Hi... I'm Iggy and my brother Fang and my little sister Angel." Iggy introduced us.

"They're also known as the butt head squad," Angel said causing me to laugh again. "We already met." Angel said, rolling her eyes at Iggy.

"Hi, I'm Max." I said to them.

"Nice to meet you," Iggy said. "We were just playing football, wanna play?"

"Oh, sure. I'm not very good though."

"That's okay," Fang said. That was the first word he ever spoke to me. He had a nice voice, kinda dark and deep.

We played football for awhile. I was fairly good, just throwing the football back and froth. We had talked a lot, everyone. And Angel accused both boys of flirting multiple times which always maybe me laugh. Why would anyone want to flirt with me?

When I was headed back to the house I noticed they didn't ask why I live here or if they did know they didn't bring up the fact I was in a foster home. I smiled a real smile. Good, because it's nice. Not to have them know about my old life. Maybe I won't tell them about that for awhile.

So, what'd you think? Good? Bad? Should I keep writing this story?