Hi, my name is Laurie. This is one of my first stories. This story is generally about Marissa Foster (aka. Haley James basically) who is 16 years old. She is smart and kind, but she is socially awkward and has a hard time fitting in. She has a great relationship with her friends and family. This story will be long. There will be around 60 chapters and 9,000-13,000 words each chapter. I will try to get stories out as quickly as possible.
CHAPTER ONE: A BRAVE NEW WORLD
MARISSA:
People believe the world began 15 billion years ago. People believe that because the sun is constantly growing, it will eventually blow up and it will cause the end of the world in. Stephen Hawking predicted that the world will end, saying Earth would a become a giant fireball. He believed that global warming would cause the Earth to become Venus at 480 degrees. But these are only predictions.
Can you imagine how many days are in 15 million years? How many hours? How many minutes? How many seconds? In one year, there are only 525,600 minutes.
In just 60 seconds, you can create a single minute. In 60 of those minutes, you can create one hour. 24 hours becomes a day. 7 days make a week and 52 weeks make a year.
In some religions, people believe that God created the world. Muslims believe in Allah. Jews believe, not only in God but believes in the prophets: Abraham, Moses, Miriam, Samuel, Isiah, etc...
On the first day, God created the night and day. On day two, he created the sky. By the third day, he created the sea, land, trees, and plants. By day four, he made the sun and the moon. Day 5, he developed the sea creatures and birds. The sixth day, he made humans and all other animals. On the last day, he realized his work was done and rested.
It's amazing. He created the world in just seven days. He made the sea. He made us people and all types of animals, from bears to sea creatures. In seven minutes, you can start a load of laundry, clean the dishes, drink a glass of water. In seven hours, you can fly from Los Angeles to New York. But in seven days God created the world... But in seven seconds I managed to shattered mine.
EAST MESA DETENTION FACILITY:
SEPTEMEBER 24TH, 2016
My head felt numb. Like everything inside of it was just trapped like me. My eyes felt tired like I had been up since the brink of dawn. My legs felt like two pillars of stone being dragged through the mud. The smells of the cafeteria were mixed between sweat, human feces, month old urine that was left in the corner of the room, and the chicken noodle soup.
I could feel their vicious and glaring eyes on me. Like when you feel a spider crawling on you back. They all stared at me like I was a piece of meat and they were the competitors. They were the predators and I was the prey.
I felt the girl behind me push me and I walked forward towards the food line. I took a tray and I watched as the lunch lady dumped the slop onto the tray. It was an indistinguishable color that mankind could never discover.
I wonder if what I did was even worth it considering the expedient amount of abuse from self-starvation. People would say it's extreme, but they don't know what it's like. Yeah, I could have it worse. I could be in Africa starving. I could be in Turkey where even if you stole something like a lipstick or candy, your hand would be cut off. I'm not saying I have the shittiest life known to man, but it's not a life worth having.
I finally reached the end of the line. I looked around the mazes of cement tables. I looked around me. I have never felt so scared in my entire life. I saw women fighting, talking trash about each other, pulling each other's hair. I finally discovered an empty table. I quickly ran over to it.
Before I could even put the fork of slop into my mouth, two teenage black girls sat down next to me, both on each side of me. I felt suffocated. I felt as if my lifeline was cut from me.
"Hey, girly. We heard you're in here for assault. Is that true?", the one girl whispered with some kind of grin like she had something on me.
I couldn't help but look away, trying to hide or shield from them. I tried not to show fear, but there was no hope because my eyes showed it all.
The other girl told her friend, " Aw, she doesn't want no trouble?". I couldn't find a way to not look. I felt trapped like someone threw me overboard and I had no life preserver.
The other girl looked at me and asked, "That it?".
I felt a cold wind quickly brush past as the other girl pulled my hair and pushed her far closer to mine to make eye contact. I couldn't help but squeal from the pain. I knew whatever noise I made nothing could save me.
"Bitch, I asked you a question- is that true?", she asked.
I couldn't answer. I felt that if I opened my mouth, tears and fear would come and isn't that what they prey on? The fear?
Out of nowhere, I felt the pain disappear and the two girls got up. I felt a wave of relief, but I knew and they knew that the official business wasn't at ease.
I felt one of the girl's bend over to me. She whispered, "You're lucky, but you won't be next time."
I could hear both girls leaving. I vowed not to look back. I was frozen. I felt so afraid and alone like everything around me was moving, but I was stuck in time. I stood there as the blood in my veins remained where it was, the beating of my heart stopped, the breath of my lungs vanished. That's the thing about feeling alone and being in pain, it demands to be felt and there is nothing you can do about it until all the feeling inside your soul goes phantom.
I walked down the corridor. I had a visitor. In the 12 months, I have been here I have never had a visitor. What if you were cut off from the outside world? What if your lifeline to everything was just cut off?
My heart rate sped up as the guard pulled me into the conference room and I looked to my left. There he was, a suit, the man, my lawyer. For a second there, I actually thought my family would see me, I mean my brother. Just my brother.
I didn't know what to expect my lawyer to look like. I guess I could say I expected him to look like more of a prick than a decent guy. I walked over to him and sat down urgently. I noticed he offered to shake my hand, but from where I live, shaking hands doesn't mean anything.
He sat down as well. He opened a file, mine. "Hey, Marissa. I'm Sandy. The court has appointed me as your public defender." I showed no reaction. What was I supposed to do, jump around and cheer?
"Hey, you could do worse.", he told me as he looked down at the file. "How are you doing? You alright? Are they treating you good here?", he asked trying to make small talk as continued to look through the files and papers. "This is your first time in lockup? I'm assuming you don't plan on coming back, right?".
He looked to me as if he hoped for a smile or any type of a grunt of acknowledgment. He sighed as he looked back down at the papers. "Your record isn't the best, but it's spotless. Which helps."
Sandy came across my transcript. Oh god, let the praising begin. "You're grades aren't bad. Few high A+'s mostly low A's, not bad. A few honors. You were suspended twice for fighting. Your test scores..." He almost dropped the paper right then and there.
"You can pick your jaw up off the floor now," I responded as he looked at me with curiosity and shock.
"Ninety-nine percentile on your SAT ones? Ninety-nine percentile, Marissa. Here is some wisdom, start going to your classes and with these scores... Do you think about college? Do you think about committing to your future?" He said back. I could help but laugh. College? A kid like me? Hell no!
"Ok, modern medicine is advancing to the point where the average human life-span will be over 100 years old. But I read this article which said Social Security is supposed to run out by the year 2035, which means people are going to have to stay at their jobs until they're 85. So I don't want to commit to anything too soon.", I responded politely with a sincere smile.
He sighed. "Look, I can plead this down to a misdemeanor. It's pretty good. You will have 36 months of probation. Then you have to get over the fact that life dealt you a bad hand. I get it. We're cut from the same deck, Marissa. I grew up, no money, bad part of Brooklyn. My father was gone, never met him; my mother worked all the time. I was pissed off. I was reckless and stupid."
"And look at you now. Big time lawyer- guy. You seem pretty great now."
"A smart girl like you. You got to have a plan. Some kind of a dream." I scoffed at the thought of that. I knew he was trying, but I am not a damsel in distress.
"Yeah, right. Let me tell you something, okay? Where I'm from, having a dream doesn't make you smart. Knowing it won't come true makes you smart. We have different lives, so don't compare me to you. I have learned that faith, trust, miracles, hope, is just for suckers." I stated.
Sandy sat there stunned for a second, not knowing what to say or what to do.
We walked down the corridor. The metal handcuffs were digging into the side of wrists. My ankles creaked with every step I took as I walked with the rest of the vulgar inmates in front of and beside me. I couldn't help but stare out the window.
I heard whispering. Like a thousand echoes being blown into my ears as if it were meant for me to hear. I saw this short, around 5'3", chubby girl in front me named Daphne starting to turn back and I quickly looked away. Daphne was the queen of the place.
I could feel her eyes looking my way. I continued to stare out the window. I felt the sun glisten against my skin. It felt like the softest ray petting my skin.
Out of the corner of my eye, Daphne nodded to her friend, Mags. She responded back with a nod as well.
The line continued to move at a steady pace. Daphne moved and let the girl behind her in front of her. Then, Daphne stopped in front me blocking me off and quickly turned around. I felt my heart crawl up from my chest and was beating intensely in my throat. He eyes were filled with power.
"Hey, Marissa. Mags was just tellin' me how you leavin' today. Is that true?", she asked as she and Mags surrounded me. I looked at the guards and they were completely oblivious.
I took a fee breath and tried to gulp down the fear. I looked the other way. Daphne scoffed as if she were offended and annoyed.
She got closer to my face and I could tell that she knew I was scared.
"Why so quiet?", she asked as she took another step forward.
"She asked you a damn question- you gettin' out today?", Mags asked.
"Huh?! You weren't so quiet last week when I cut in front of you in the showers. I lost all my hours and yard privileges because of you. " Daphne added as she got in my face a little more. "We oughtta beat the shit outta you."
I felt my heart constrict as the fear inside me started to build up. I looked the other way, trying to ignore the two girls. I saw Daphne looking at the guards and they looked suspicious. Daphne shot a look at Mags.
"Nah, you ain't worth it. You ain't worth anything, " she told me.
She stood at my face. I don't know what happened. I felt like a switch was flipped. I wasn't scared anymore it was like all the fear disappeared. I was filled with rage. I was built on the belief that I've never been worthy of anything. But I am more worthy of anything than her.
"You really need a dog treat for that breath of yours. " I responded as my face got closer to hers.
I couldn't tell if Daphne was laughing or not. Daphne started to back up. For a second I felt in control as she turned until...
I felt her knuckles slam into my face as if she were trying to knock the consciousness out of me. I fell back from the impact as if it were a fatality. I could hear my head hitting the ground as I sobbed. I felt Daphne punch and claw at me. I felt Mags kicking my ribs trying to break them.
All I could hear were my own sobs in the background. I felt alone, no one helped. No one made a sound. No one cared...
LENA:
I was outside the facility. The smell of rust and dirt lingered. I waited for my husband. I stood there as I felt the sun glisten against my skin. The color of the cloudless sky echoed for miles and the soft winds brushed against my skin as I looked around. I held my phone to my hear, listening to my husband's monotone voicemail.
I found myself greeted by a somewhat short, red-headed, scruffy-bearded man who was wearing a suit from what looked like was from a thrift shop. He came over to me holding a clipboard.
"Are you Lena Foster?", he asked nervously.
"Yes, and you are?", I responded curtly as my body stiffened to my own curiosity as he stared right at me.
"I'm Carl. I'm here to talk to you about Marissa.", he answered. He held out his hand with expression with a puppy dog's face and I shook it hesitantly.
"Oh, alright. Where's Bill? He's Marissa's social worker. I was supposed to meet him instead. Is everything ok?", walking ahead, I tried to avoid making eye contact with him. Not only was he a tad bit creepy, but he was a little condescending. He was around 5'9", but it felt like he was sizing me up to him, which seems weird, but is also very uncomfortable.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Bill had an emergency with another one of his cases and he couldn't make it.", he answered. He said with such a straight face like it was nothing. It didn't seem like he was ripping a band-aid off or hesitating, he said it like it was the easiest thing in the world. I stared at him in shock as I looked back at him. He was staring at the file, memorizing every detail.
"What happened? Is the child alright?", I asked, completely shocked and worried.
Carl looked down at the clipboard, confused. It was like he forgot what he just said or had no second thought of it. He realized what I was referencing to as he let out big 'OH'. "It says here that the child overdosed and was rushed to the hospital immediately."
"Oh my god. I hope that child is alright.", I said for a second after a gaping. He still had that expression like what he said didn't matter or was important.
"Yeah.", he said as he kept looking at his watch. As a few minutes passed, I could tell he was growing agitated as we waited for my husband. "So, will your husband be joining us or can we just start this?", he asked breaking the awkward silence.
I sighed looking down at my phone. No text messages, no voicemails, emails, or anything else. I shook my head, a little annoyed that he didn't respond. "I don't think so. He must be held up at work or in traffic. So, yeah we can start now. ", I told Carl. He happily nodded.
"Great. So, where do I begin? Marissa has had some parental authority issues which -", he began to say as I finished his sentence.
"Which is why Bill thought of us to her. Why is she here exactly?"
He nodded as he religiously looked at this girl's file like he had to. "She was in a Foster home with 3 other kids. John Pierson was her Foster father, he was the one who called the police. Apparently, Marissa had some sort of breakdown and attacked her Foster siblings then attacked John's car. Instead of going to jail, she was sent here and has 3 years of probation."
I gasped when he said vandalism. I couldn't believe his attitude nor what he said. "Vandalism?", I asked dumbfoundedly. He nodded and looked back at me as if I were stupid. "I can't have anyone violent in my home, and believe me I would love to foster Marissa but I have my own kids to worry about. I've known Bill since he placed the twins with us.", I stated with disbelief to the situation. I have seen her. I grew up to know not to judge a book by its cover, But even so, who knew?
"Mrs. Foster, Marissa isn't violent. I've looked at her records and they are spotless. She just has bad luck.", he said convincingly like for one second he had an ounce of compassion and sympathy.
How do you walk away? But how do you let someone like this in? My heart sank. I wanted to truly believe that she could be good, but another part of me was saying to walk away. All I could think about was the kids' safety, my safety, and Mike's safety. And that's when it hit me. How could I make this decision without him? I could hear the boundless and never-ending echoes of his voice of his opinions.
I sighed as I looked down at my shoes. I felt Carl's eyes on me. "I'm sorry, Carl. This is a rational decision that I have to make with my husband." , I explained sadly.
It was then when I heard someone rip the gate open, unlocking it. The buzzing sound went off. I turned to the gate. I saw this teenage girl. She has blonde hair that went around her ribs. She looked around 13 or 14. She was tiny, she was around 5'3". I felt my heart constrict when I saw how skinny she was. She looked like her insides were eating their way out to eat something.
I gasped when I saw her face as she looked up at me. When our eyes met it sent shivers down my spine, not in a creepy way. In a scared and frightening way. She wasn't ugly or had a disfigured face. She had bruises all on her face, but she acted like they weren't there like if a kid brought broken teeth to show and tell and never told nor did anyone notice. She was wearing worn out clothing that had rips and tears in them. She was wearing handcuffs s if they were an accessory like jewelry. She was showing such a straight face.
"Oh my god.", I muttered trying to fight the urge to take her home right now. How heartless can I be if I still want to say no?
Carl looked up and saw the girl walking through the gate. "Sometimes other inmates get jealous and like to pick fights. I'll be right back.", he said as he worked his way over to the broken and beaten girl.
"Hey, Marissa. I am Carl.", he sated as she looked around frantically as one of the guards were seemingly kind enough to hold her bags.
Her eyes finally looked up to him. She looked like someone took a brick and smashed it into the side of her head until she lost consciousness. "Hi, Carl. Where's Bill? He's supposed to be here.", she said as she continued to look around, totally ignoring Carl and was oblivious to me now. Before he could even utter a word, she kept asking questions in a scared way. "Is Jake here? Did he call or ask for me?", she asked frantically as she looked around. I could see the worried and warily look in her eyes.
"That's enough. I don't know what you are talking about. Just come with me.", he scowled as he began to lose his patience with the girl. He looked back down at the file. Marissa looked back down at her shoes. I could feel her pain like it was emitting through the air from her own body. Like radiation.
Before I knew it, Carl was walking over to me dragging the girl with him. Up close, she looked even more tragic. I looked at her and right then I could see the pain in her eyes. One part tragedy and two parts left alone. I looked at Carl who had his eyes glued to the paperwork.
The echoes of Mike's voice grew louder as I kept looking back to Marissa then to Carl. I could hear him ask 'how I could do this', 'how I could make a decision without his opinion'. I examined her with my eyes. She had a gash above her right eye and a bruise under her left eye. I could see her bruises began from her wrist, but I could tell that it went up her arm even if she was wearing a jacket.
"I'm sorry, Carl. I'd have to talk to my husband about this. I'd love to take her in.", I said as my own voice cracked at the end. You could tell I was disappointed as well. One part said to walk away, but ninety-nine parts said to look back. Carl groaned in frustration as he tried to hide his anger.
He sighed and shook his head. I looked back to Marissa. She looked sad, unloved. Is this what I have had to come to. Is this who I have to be? Carl looked at me and said with a conceited tone. "No. Other Foster homes don't really want someone who's been to Juvie into their homes at the moment.', he said sarcastically. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. "I guess I can just put her in a group home."
I felt my heart stop when I heard him say that. I have heard stories and read articles about when a kind is in foster care and they are put into the high-risk category, they are put into a group home and once they become one of those kids the chances of being adopted are slim to none.
I felt my gaze drift towards Marissa. She stood there looking towards me. I looked at her bountiful blue eyes. I could see one of many stray tears begin a trail down her face. I could the watery reflection in her eyes. She pulled her hand to her eyes to wipe away the tears, trying to not cry.
Carl's phone rang. "Thank you for taking time out of your day to drive down here. I'm really sorry to waste your time." I didn't know what it was, I saw something in her. She looked so broken, like she was from the inside out, but looked so fragile. Have you heard the expression of seeing something so broken, but you can't help but feel connected because you see yourself in that thing?
"You're sure that it would only be a few weeks until you can find her something permanent?", I asked to make sure he wasn't bullshitting me.
"Yeah.", he nodded trying to hurry up to answer the call.
I sighed. I looked at Marissa looked at me with hope.
"Alright. I'll take her in.", I said without my regrets. I looked up and instead of my heart beating rapidly as I looked at Marissa it was steady. Marissa showed a little, innocent, safe, warm smile.
MARISSA:
PRESENT DAY
The smell of the coffee lingered throughout the house. The smell of the toast being toasted in the toaster kept calling out Will's name. He quickly grabbed the toast and ran out the kitchen door.
I could hear the sound of the waves crashing down on the sand on the beach from across the street, I could hear birds chirping and woodpeckers pecking at trees. I could see butterflies flying outside the kitchen window.
I could hear the rumbling in my stomach roughen. The quarrel in my stomach got violent and I quickly rushed to the cabinet. I stood on a chair to reach the cereal. I gawked at the restock of cereal. It was like being prepared for the Hunger Games, but without the games and more with hunger.
I sighed. I have been known to bring out my indecisive side over cereal. My selection is: Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Captain Crunch, and Cocoa Puffs.
"Ok, what do we got here? Let me see, sugar. Sugar. Sugar. Oh, and a thousand more calories of life threatening sugar. Good thing sugar tastes good.", I said to myself as reached for the box of Fruit Loop and Cheerios from the cabinet. I closed the cabinet and went to another to get a bowl.
I got down and started to pour some of the cereal in the bowl. I heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. My parents, Lena and Mike Foster, walked in. They were both talking, but stopped when they saw me. They couldn't have been anymore subtle to the fact that they were talking about me.
I tried to ask what they were talking about and they completely denied the fact that they were even talking. Instead, my mom walked right past me to the coffee maker and dad went to the toaster.
"Have you seen the twins this morning?", mom asked as she poured herself a full thermos of coffee.
"They're cleaning out the garage. I mean, they are trying. I think they got the door open.", I said jokingly.
Mom and dad said that they had to clean the garage and if they did one of them could have their own room. Mom and dad have been trying to have a baby for the last year, but they eventually gave up. I would love to have a baby siser and/or brother. My mom said that they both have everything they need right here or something cheesy like that.
"How did you sleep last night? Any better?", dad asked as he looked at me. All I can say is that the last year has been hard, I can't talk about it without breaking into complete tears and drowning in my sorrows. The last year everything has been crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. I mean, I'm happy that they care this much, but it can be a little much. It's suffocating.
I sighed, but they didn't notice. "I slept fine. I'm really ok. You guys really need to stop worrying about me. I'm ok.", I said to reassure them.
"Good, because me and your father got you something. We have faith that you'll really like it.", mom sad with a huge grin on her face. She handed me a wrapped package that she had hidden behind her back, what this what they talking about.
"What is this? Wait, is this like a bribe or something? It's a little too early for a birthday present and Christmas is like three months away.", I said as I tried to figure what this was for.
"Come on, Marissa. Just open your present, please?", mom begged as she started to lose her present. I'm pretty sure that if I didn't open it, she surely was going to.
"Ok.", I said as I quickly ripped the wrapping paper to shreds as I rested the box on the counter. I took over the cover and removed the tissue paper. I was shocked.
A plaid skirt? What the hell kind of gift is that?
"What's this? Am I gonna be in some Britney Spears' music video or something?"
"Even better. You're going to Keaton Preparatory High School.", mom hollered basically jumping up and down. I stood there complete in shock. Keaton Preparatory High School. It was private school. Not only that, but the best school in the entire world basically.
"What?", I asked trying to put things together to see if this was really happening or if it was just a mirage.
"We got the letter. It came in the mail. This is so exciting.", she stated as she took the letter from her purse. She unraveled. "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Foster, we are happy to inform you that we have a vacancy at Keaton Preparatory High School starting up immediately. Due to your daughter's excellent grades and recommendations, and your enthusiastic pursuit of her enrollment. We would happy to accept her as soon as the first semester's tuition has been received.", she red off the paper. My heart stopped. I have been trying- no, we have been trying to get into that school for almost 2 years now. It is extremely rare to get an opening. Since the day I was 5, I always wanted to go to Yale or Harvard, or Princeton, but that may be a little to, you know, liberal for me. All my dreams that I've ever had was lining up and coming my way. My way! For the first time, I feel that my dreams will all come true.
"Wait, what about my parole officer? Is it ok with him?", I asked.
"We talked to your probation officer and he said that's you can go can switch to Keaton as long as you stay out of trouble and keep doing what you're doing.", dad staed.
"Really?! That's awesome!", I yelled jumping up and down.
"Remember, just keep doing what you have been doing. No getting into trouble or anything. I have to get to work.
Dad kissed my forehead and then mom's. He buttoned up the rest of his police shirt then left. I looked out the window and from here I saw my sister, Sophia. Then,nit all came back to me. Sophia, my sister, my best friend in the entire world. If I go to Keaton I won't see her as much.
SOPHIA:
I quickly tossed down the dusty box from the shelf. There are dead roaches on the shelf. It was so disgusting. Ewww!
I quickly dropped another box faster than last time. I hurt Jesus grunt when he caught the box. "Slow it down!", he hollered, but when he said it I dropped another box.
I heard the box drop to the floor. I looked down and everything fell out. "Sophia! What the hell is wrong with you?! That almost fell on me!", he scowled at me.
"I'm sorry. I just want to get this over with, so I can finish packing up for school.", I stated. I quickly climbed down the ladder. I helped Jesus pack up the box and we quickly went inside.
I quickly ran upstairs to my room. I hadn't cleaned my room as much as Marissa does. She is like the Adrian Monk or Monica Gellar of having her room organized. The room was a little messy, like a few shirts didn't make it into the laundry bin.
I went over to the window and closed the curtains. I quietly and quickly went over to my bed and looked under my bed then took out a shoe box. I opened it and took out money. Sophia takes out money. I began to count the money and I scoffed quietly to myself.
"Oh, shit! I'm short $200. God, what am I going to do?", I asked myself.
Out of nowhere, someone knocked at my bedroom door. I gasped and dropped the money in the shoebox.
"Sophia, time to go.", her mom said to her waiting outside the door. I gasped as I could finally breathe.
"Alright, mom. I just have to get my water bottle.", I lied as I quickly put all the money in my purse impulsively.
MARISSA:
I quickly walked into the kitchen.
I saw Sophia at the shelf by the sink. She looked like she was looking for something. She took something, I couldn't tell what it was. She put it into a brown paper bag. Whatever she took she put it back in the basket and put it back on the shelf.
Sophia turned around and gasps when she saw me.
"I was just getting a glass of water. I have to go.", she lied as she rushed passed me to leave. What was she doing and what was she hiding?
I love school. School is my happy place. I mean, it used to be…
We walked through the school lobby. We were talking about some guy Sophia has a crush on. We were both laughing like silly school girls.
I turned my head and it was like my heart stopped by all the blood inside my veins were still flowing through my body. He was a magnificent creature. He had baby blue eyes then made you melt from the sight, he had very fair and tan skin, his muscles nearly tore his shirt. He was a beauty. I have never felt this way about anyone.
I could feel my legs keep moving, but my head stayed gawking at the handsome guy. He was sitting on counter on his leg as he was flirting with some freshman. I wasn't hurt, but just to get to see the sight of him was worth it.
Out of nowhere, I felt my body crash into something. I looked over and the summer camp billboard was on the ground along with it's stand. I had wanted this boy's attention, thus I received it.
Our eyes met.
Once he realized I've been staring at him he had this cocky smirk. I just stood there for a second, blocking out the rest of the world. It was romantic.
I was humiliated. I wanted to run away, but my feet wouldn't move. I was frozen, but my mind was yelling at my feet. All I could do was respond as he smirked at me. I smiled back, I'm such an idiot.
Out of nowhere, I felt someone gripping my arm in the other direction, tearing my gawk away from Mr. Dreamy. I looked and it was Sophia. She had been trying to get my attention. I honestly can say that nothing could have gotten my intention during those 3 seconds.
"No boy drama. Your life is finally stable. Especially everything that happened since Cam's incident...", she blurted out.
I looked at her, my stomach were in knots after that, she looked at me and I could see in her eyes that she wanted to erase what she just said.
"Never mind. I mean...Just promise me? Hoes over bros." I couldn't help but laugh. She held out her fist for a fist bump.
I fist bumped her hand. "I promise."
She put her arm around and we both headed to class. For the first time, in a long time, I think everything is going to be okay again, okay as in the way life was or what it used to be.
MIKE:
I continued to stare at the massive mansion. I looked at the gates as they were completely opened. The smell of the cut grass reeked. The flowers on the lawn blew up the entire lawn. I kept tapping my index finger against my coffee cup and I continued pacing back and forth by my car.
I took a deep breath as I made eye contact with the house. The holiday and birthday reunions were bad enough, but coming here willingly?
This had to be the most excruciatingly embarrassing thing I have ever done, but it's for my daughter. I tried to convince myself to move my feet. I physically couldn't. It wasn't because I had something wrong with me, it was because of my pride. As long as I have known, I have been very proud.
After several minutes, I felt my legs move and as soon as I knew it I was moving closer to the front door. I remember being at the brink of 16 going on 17 years old, I left this monstrosity of a house, thankfully I found and grew from this stem to a flower, a caterpillar to a butterfly, I grew from the belief that I am not rooted to the animosity of this world they tried to force me to.
I softly pushed the doorbell. It was a beautiful sound. I pushed it again and again to make a tune. I pushed the button to make the tune to the Friends into.
Out of nowhere, the door flew open. I expected to see one of the maids or butlers or whoever the hell my mother is hiring these days to acquaintance her.
It was my mother.
Patricia Foster. She was the most de-picketing, manipulative, judge mental, snobby, self-luxurious, and bitchy person the planet. She thrived on wealth. She wasn't the type of person who granted to live of a husband with money. That wasn't her. For years she wanted a job, but she stayed at home to raise a family.
"Mike? This is quite a surprise. Is it Easter already?", she asked trying to be subtle but is quite shocked to see my presence as well as I am too.
"Well, I headed out for a lunch break and I was in the neighborhood, I realized I had time to kill and I thought what the hell, why not stop by?", I said trying to brush off the wicked bur my mother threw at me.
"Well, is that nice? Oh, please come in.", she asked opening the door as she began to walk off.
"Thanks.", I said as I walked in following after her.
It always was such a state-of-the-art, upscale, million dollar home. Granite floor tiles, heavy expensive drapes, and crystal chandeliers make up a house that says "Don't touch anything".
"It hasn't changed.", I mumbled to her as I looked around and started to remember all the memories that hit me like a brick, it was a blast from the past.
"Well, there you go.", she mumbled as we walked into the living room. The living room was even more imposing and elegant. There was another glass chandelier. There were portraits of Patricia and, my eccentric father, Derek. Another portrait was of little me.
We both sat on two different couches across from each other. We were both completely evasive to make eye contact. We sat there for a moment not making any movements or any sounds as we looked at our shows, the walls, the curtains, outside the window as the birds chirped.
"So, how are the girls at the Philmont Country Club?", I asked breaking the silence trying to make small talk.
"Hideously old.", she said in a somewhat subtle but disgusted tone as she took a sip from her teacup.
"Oh, well... good. I think.", I said not knowing how to react. I heard the clink between her teacup and the saucer.
"I hear from a little birdy that you're taking college classes.", mom stated as a question.
"Yeah. I take a business class twice a week. I'm pretty sure that I've told you this before.", I answered back trying to suck the very last drops from my coffee cup as she nodded.
"Well, like always if you're sure then you must have."
"So, I was just promoted to captain last month. I run the whole place.", I joked laughing a little, but she clearly didn't get the memo. I stopped.
"So, you must be pretty busy."
"Yep. My boss, Sergeant Rhodes, is gonna be retiring next year and so is the Lieutenant and Rhodes says I'm suited to take her position after she retires.", I explained.
"Well, wouldn't that be something.", she mumbled in that snotty tone of hers.
We sat there for a second. For a moment I forgot why was even here. It felt like a million hours were going by. By the time either of us utters a word, the closest grocery store would be closing.
"Would you like some tea?", mom asked.
"I'd like some coffee."
Out of nowhere, the front door opened. Great my nostalgic and coherent father. A gruff voice called out.
"Patricia? I'm home."
"We're in here."
My dad came in wearing a suit. The same one he wears every damn day as he goes to his cookie-cutter, typical, average, snobby, wealthy job. He stopped at the sight of me and is shocked too.
"Wow. What is it, is it Christmas already?", he joked. Wow, I never knew these guys were such comedians. They should put an act together.
"Hey, dad."
"Michael was on a lunch break and was in the neighborhood. I guess he just decided to drop in and see us. Was this after or before the business class?", she asked me, informing Derek.
"What business class?"
"Remember, he told us about it, dear?"
"No.", he stated.
Things haven't changed. He rushed to the bar and poured himself a glass of scotch.
"Is he staying for dinner, darling?", he asked avoiding to speak with Mike.
"No, he's not. I actually came here for a reason. I wasn't in the neighborhood - Dad, could you maybe sit down for a minute?", he looked at me hinting that this was important.
I scoffed as he continued to look through the mail. "You need money.", he said without even looking up.
"I have a situation.", began to say.
"You need money.", he repeated.
"Would you please just let me get this out? Please?", I asked looking at them both. Derek sighed as he sat next to my mom farthest away from me as he started reading his newspaper.
"I was trying to tell you that we got a letter in the mail. Marissa, your granddaughter, was just accepted into Keaton Preparatory High School.", I explained.
"Keaton? Oh, that's an amazing school, darling. Your father and I both went there. It's only like five minutes away.", she stated.
"I know it is. I've been trying for almost two years to get her in there. And now there's an opening and we just found out about it. She can start as early as Monday. The problem is I have to put down an enrollment fee plus this semester's tuition and I have to do it immediately or she loses her spot.", I explained furthermore.
"So, like I said before, you need money.", Derek stated reading the Washington Post.
"Yes." They both looked at me. Mom looked at me, wanting to help me, my dad couldn't care any less than he did right now.
"It's not for me, okay? It's for Marissa. This is a great opportunity for her, and it would simply be a loan, I fully intend to pay you back every cent. I just can't let miss out on something this important. I don't ask for favors, you know that."
"Oh, yes. We know.", she answered pointedly looking at Derek. They both were using their eyes to have a conversation. Derek gave in and sighed.
"I'll go get that checkbook."
I gasped, breathless. They just said "yes". Part of me was worried that they would reject it. "Thank you. I can't tell you... Thank you."
"On one condition.", Patricia stated before dad could even leave the room. We stopped and looked at her.
"A condition?", I asked.
"Yes. Since we are now financially involved in your life, I want to be more actively involved in your life. I want more contact. Not just holidays and birthdays. Marissa's going to be going to school five minutes from here, and you said yourself are in town at least twice a week, as you told us.", she started saying pointedly.
"I did tell you."
"I want a weekly dinner. I can do twice every other week. Once a week, Friday nights, you and Marissa will have dinner here. Or twice a week every other week, Monday and Friday nights.", she continued. My heart stopped and exploded like a grenade. I held my chest.
"And you have to call us once a week to give us an update on her schooling and your life. That's it. That's the condition. If you agree, you can come to dinner tomorrow night and leave here with a check. Otherwise, I'm sorry we can't help you."
I sighed being torn between the pride of my soul, my consciousness. "I don't want her to know that I borrowed money from you guys. I want this to between us."
"I seven good for dinner?", she asked with a grin that made Texas look like a little coastal town in Rhode Island.
"Perfect.", I said as if she took a belt to me, I was beaten.
I sat at my desk trying to focus on my work. I couldn't stop thinking about my mother and the tortuous shattering of my pride.
I heard my office door fly open. It was Cranston, my co-worker. He had paperwork on our latest case. A missing child. He tossed the file on my desk, almost knocking over my coffee.
"BAM! I just got the forensics report back. The RV is completely clean. I mean it's filthy as shit, but it's clean.", He stated excitedly.
"That's impossible. Mr. Dover's son said that this was the exact RV that he saw at the scene. Are you sure it's clean? That can't be right. Are you sure that there wasn't any cloth fibers found or any evidence of movement that the girls tried to escape?", I asked looking at the forensics report.
"No. I looked at the report and it states that there weren't any signs. Even if there was any slight evidence of the girls or the culprit struggling, we would have found something."
I scoffed. He was right. The piece of shit was clean. "Goddamn it! I'd start looking with the search team. After a week, the kid has half a good chance of being found. After a month, they have a slim chance of being alive.", I scowled throwing the file at him. He was always a lazy cop, you know, the kind that sat at a desk and at donuts all day long and night.
"You know what. It hasn't been a week." He yelled back. I began to get angry. I have been stressed all day and don't need him being stupid. We heard a knock at the door and Stacey came in.
"Rhodes wants to see you".
"What the hell did I do wrong now?", I asked. Since my promotion, she has been giving me a kick in the ass every day for apparently doing everything wrong. Stacey sighed.
I walked into the office. Rhodes was sitting on the edge of her desk.
"Sergeant, you wanted to talk to me?", she said. I expected her to be a little fiercer.
"Close the door and sit down."
I looked at her in confusion for a second then complied her demand and closed the door. I turned back and there she was. We had been divorced for almost 15 years. Every time we see each other it is awkward.
"Stephanie.", I greeted.
"Good afternoon, Mike.", she complied.
"Now, that Vazquez left the division. I need someone to replace him.", Rhodes stated.
"So, you're going to pair me up with Stephanie.", I stated as I finished her sentence.
"Actually, Stephanie came and asked me if she could take Vazquez's spot. I don't think it's a bad idea.", Rhode corrected.
I looked at her and almost asked if she were out of her mind. I sighed. "Um, can I have some time to think about this?"
"No.", she hollered.
This is just great!
MARISSA:
I put my Moby Dick book into my box. The aroma of sweaty guys lingered as the basketball team finished practice and ran through the hallway leaving.
Kelsey, one of my friends, gawked at all the guys as she leaned herself against the locker.
"So, I told my mom you were changing schools?", she told me as I finished taking down my locker decorations.
"Was she thrilled?"
"The party's on Friday.", she said smiling.
I giggled. I sighed as the last seconds dawned on me. This would be my last day at Lakewood High School. For the last year, I have spent my days glaring at the walls and waiting for Graduation.
I took a deep breath as I closed my locker. "Well, that's it. Thirteen – eighteen – twenty one. It's all yours. You're gonna like it. The football and basketball players come out all sweaty and it has a great front door access.", I said as I handed her a card with my locker information.
"Thanks. Well, I have to go. See ya later.", she said leaving, disappearing around the corner.
I nodded. I almost tripped over a book that fell from my box. I groaned, bending down to pick it up.
I looked up and almost had a heart attack when I saw him.
Mr. Dreamy. The guy that blew my heart away with that damn smirk. I stood up without even knowing, well, until now. I gawked at the size of his biceps, his blue eyes, his raven black hair, and his damn smile.
"Sorry.", he said. Damn, even his voice was sexy.
"You're just like Ruth Gorden in Rosemary's Baby. You just stand there with the tannis root. Make some noise or something.", I stated as I started to walk away.
"Rosemary's Baby? That's a really good movie.", I heard him call out.
I felt my heart stop. Most of the kids here haven't even heard of the movie, let alone watched it.
My heart flowed down to my stomach. The whole weight of the world was weighing down on my shoulders. His big blue eyes. His spectacular smile. His raven black hair that shined right at you. I have never felt this way about any human being.
"It looks like you're going somewhere.", Mr. Dreamy added as he motioned towards my box.
"Oh, right. I am.", I answered vaguely as I continued to obviously stare at him.
"Where?"
"New school. Private school."
"You're moving?"
"No, just my books are."
"My family just moved here from New York City."
New York City. I love that city, though I have never been there, there is something about it that makes everything feel right.
"New York City. The busy city that never sleep.", I stated smiling back at him.
"Yeah. That's the place.", he stated.
We stood there for a second in awkward silence. I stared at my shoes as I felt him staring at me. As right as it felt, it was a little uncomfortable.
"I'm David.", he greeted.
"Hi.", I said as I looked at him, grinning. He then looked at me like he was expecting me to say something then it hit me. "Oh. Marissa. Me. That's ...me.", I babbled. "I am Marissa. Well, in an intellectual kind of way my name is Marissa, I am not Marissa like there is only one Marissa, but my name is Marissa. Well, technically my birth certificate says Marissa on it and I like my name so I went along with it."
"Marissa.", he said. I could tell that he liked my name as he kept repeating it to himself with intrigue. "Marissa, I like that."
"I never really talk this much." I looked away kind of embarrassed by all this talking as he looked at me with this huge smile.
"Well, I'd better go. I have to go look for a job.", he said as he took a pen and a paper scrap from his pocket. He held it out to me and I took it.
"If you hear of anyone hiring around here maybe give me a call."
"Oh sure. If I hear."
David smiled and I knew this encounter was coming to an end. He turned back and started to leave. I felt my head and my feet telling me to get him back here and to stop him from leaving.
"You should check in with Karen Clearfield. She's my boss down at The Dot, but she'll know if there are any openings.", I called out. He turned back.
"Oh. Great. Thanks." He nodded as he began to walk away again. I sighed a little, disappointed. I really wanted him to stop, but I didn't know how. I am not those type of girls who just goes after guys they want.
I looked up and saw David as he stopped and walked back. My heart rate sped up.
"Hey, what're you doing right now?", he asked.
"Nothing. Much.", I lied. As much as I didn't want to miss school, I wanted to know him. Something inside me wanted to know him.
"Maybe you can show me where this Dot place is?", David asked.
"Yeah. I guess so. I don't really have anything important to... so let's go.", I exclaimed excitedly. I dropped the book and ran over to David.
Shivers went down my spine as I felt his touch when our hands met when he grabbed my box to hold.
SOPHIA:
I felt the sun illuminating against my skin as the wind brushed against the palm trees. I heard the cars driving by.
I felt my phone vibrate against my skin and I quickly glanced down hoping it was Marissa. It wasn't. It was the last person on the planet I wanted to ever call me especially now. I declined the phone call.
"Where the hell are you, M?", I mumbled saying to myself as I looked around for her, but she was nowhere to be found.
I heard footsteps approaching and it was Jesus. He seemed impatient and impulsive.
"Hey. Can I borrow five bucks?", he asked quickly holding out his hand like a little puppy asking for food.
"No. I already used most of my allowance. The rest I'm saving for a car. Why?", I asked sternly as I continued to look for Marissa.
"Come on, sis. I didn't eat breakfast or lunch and I'm starving. God, I could eat like an entire horse.", he groaned as he grew impatient.
"Sucks for you."
"I'll pay you back.", he suggested as I looked away to find the impossible search of Marissa Foster.
Out of nowhere, I felt a hand grip on my handheld purse and it was Jesus. "Hey!", I hollered.
"Give it back!"
Jesus opened the purse and in that moment his mouth went agape. His jaw dropped to the floor and ran around the corner. He took out all my money.
"Where the hell did you get all this money from?", he asked looking at me in shock.
"Nowhere!", I hollered as I took the money and purse back. I scoffed from the fact that he did that as I took a twenty and gave it to him.
I stormed off looking for Marissa. I looked back at Jesus as he stood there wondering. He looked at me and our eyes met. He looked at me suspiciously, wondering what is going on with me.
I took a sip from my water bottle. Mom was doing her dinner ritual of chopping up vegetables. Today was the longest day ever.
"So, I was talking to Bill and he mentioned that Robert and Meredith are going to get divorced.", she stated as she continued to cut celery.
"Really? That must be hard for Jess. Does he know who she is going to stay with?", Marissa asked as she sat on the counter sneaking a carrot from the batch into her mouth.
"He didn't mention anything. Marissa, can you go set up the table in the dining room?", she asked.
Are we eating in the dining room? We never eat in there. I mean, for parties, holiday dinners and family birthdays. We usually eat in here around the kitchen table or at the counter.
"We're eating in there tonight?", Jesus asked as Marissa took some plates and utensils into the dining room.
Len a stiffened. "Stephanie is coming over for dinner apparently.", she stated.
We all could tell the strain and hurt in her voice. Lena and Stephanie never got along. Long story short, Stephanie cheated on my dad with her best friend and left him, they got divorced and Mike got custody of Will.
"Um, what were you talking to Bill about?", I asked remembering she said something about Bill.
"Guess.", Jesus looked at me stating the obvious with just a look.
"I wanted everyone to be home for the surprise. I and Bill were trying to set up a time for you to meet your birth mother.", Lena stated.
When I was around 5, Jesus and I were put into the foster system. We never knew our father, all we heard was that he didn't even want to know us. The feeling was pretty mutual since then. Our biological mother, biological, not real.
When we were really young she used to drink and do drugs, and sometimes around us. She was 15 when she had us. She revolted against her parents and left taking care of us. Not only did she revolt against them, she revolted against the real enemy, herself.
She used to date a lot of men. In a week, there were about 7 guys. One day, she met this guy and she really liked him. She told us that she was going to take us to get ice cream. We got into the car. Instead of that, she dropped us off in front of the police station and drove off.
They never found her and we haven't seen her since. For the last six months, this has been the most excruciating and time-consuming thing I have dreamt about. I mean, it was.
I tried to look excited, but my real feelings escaped before I could gulp it down to hide.
"What's wrong? I thought you would be more excited. This something you've been talking about for the last 6 months.", Lena said in shock.
I felt a lump in my throat. I sighed. "I just don't really want to meet her anymore.", I lied.
"Did Jesus talk you out of it?"
"I didn't say anything to her. Leave me out of it.", Jesus stated. He walked off.
"I just don't feel like giving her a chance after what she did to me and Jesus.", I lied for a reason.
"Alright."
LENA:
SEPT. 4, 2014 - 6:02 PM
I remember the day we brought Marissa home. It felt like yesterday she had the bruises on her face.
Jesus and Sophia were sitting up the kitchen table for dinner. I was cutting up pieces of carrots. The smell of the baked ziti lingered from the stove. You could smell it from outside.
Marissa was sitting at the counter, her face is worse than before. It is bruised all over and she has a few gashes. She has a huge cut on her lip and eyebrow.
"What happened to your face? Did you get in a fight?", Jesus joked around trying to be funny.
"That's enough. Cut her a break, she's had a bad day.", I cut in. Marissa looked hurt. I saw the pain in her eyes.
"Is there a bathroom I can use?", she asked, trying not to burst into tears then.
"Sophia, would you be kind enough to show Marissa where the bathroom is, please?", I asked.
Sophia and Marissa headed upstairs. Jesus walked over and looked to see if they were gone.
"Now, where is she from?" he whispered.
"Jesus, just let it go. She has had a rough day." Sophia came back down. "I want you guys to be nice to Marissa. She has had a rough time lately."
I pulled out the pan of baked ziti. I put it on the stove as I quickly closed it to take off the mitts. Marissa came back in, she looked like she had been crying.
It felt like home. Sophia, Jesus, and Marissa sitting at the table. It felt like she belonged. I just wish she felt that way.
Out of nowhere, the kitchen door opened. It was Will and Mike. Will was dressed in a dress shirt and khakis. His guitar audition.
"Did you guys finish your homework?", I asked as I set the pan of ziti in the center of the table.
"I did.", Sophia answered as pointed toward Jesus. Marissa laughed a little.
"What? Just because you get straight A's and I don't mean that I don't do my homework?", Jesus asked defensively.
"I didn't say that.", Sophia responded with a smirk.
"Hey, how was it, Will? Are you gonna be a pro guitarist any time soon or no?", I asked as he sat down at the table.
"I made it to the finals!", he announced.
We all stopped and almost jumped out of our seats.
"Congrats, bro.", Jesus said.
"That's amazing!", Sophia stated.
"Thanks, you guys." He sat down at the table and looked up and saw Marissa.
"Mama, who's this?", he asked looking at Marissa.
I looked up and everyone just started staring at Marissa as if she were a piece of meat.
"This is Marissa, she is going to stay with us for a while.", I stated smiling.
"Oh, alright.", he answered.
That's one of the many things I loved about Will. He always let new people in no matter what. He looked past the bruises and the breakage of that girl right there and saw a human being.
"So, where'd you get him? Did you get him at the 99 cents store or something? They do have everything there.", Marissa joked.
We all laughed. Mike came in with boxes.
"No actually, Will, is my husband's biological son. Him and his ex-wife got divorced and Mike has legal custody of him.", Lena stated.
"Hey, guys", Mike greeted.
"Hey!", we all said.
"Oh, and Jesus and Sophia, are yours and his biological children, right?", Marissa asked, confused.
"No, Jesus and Sophia were in the Foster system for 6 months. We Fostered them for a year and officially adopted them 9 years ago."
"The Foster system sucks.", Jesus added.
"Jesus.", I exclaimed.
"Well, it does."
"So, Jesus and Sophia aren't your real children?", Marissa asked.
We all stopped. Marissa knew she crossed a line. I don't think it was intentional. I think it was just the wording of it all. We all looked at Marissa with disbelief as Jesus and Sophia were obviously uncomfortable.
"Who's this, sweetie?", Mike asked me. I looked back and we were clearly furious. I could see the anger in his eyes.
He dragged me outside to the backyard. Dinner was over. We were out of earshot away from the kids. Jesus and Sophia were washing dishes. Will and Marissa were watching movies.
"What were you thinking?", he asked as he looked at me with his hands on his hips.
"I'm telling you, Mike. If you were there, you would have seen the way this girl looked at me.", I defended.
"And what happened to her face?", Mike asked.
I sighed, looking down at my shoes. "She was beaten up in Juvie."
"In Juvie? Why don't we let someone in from a gang in our house too?", Mike said sarcastically.
"I know what you are thinking and I talked to Bill. This was only a one-time thing. She isn't dangerous in any way.", I added as he paced and scoffed.
"Alright". He sighed and looked at me. "Honey, I know you are just doing this from the bottom of your heart and I can't blame you for that, but we can't save them all.", he stated.
"I know.", I answered shaking my head and he kissed me on the cheek.
"I love you."
"Maybe I should bring kids home more often.", I joked, smiling and he sighed.
"No. If you keep bringing kids home, we'll be like the Brady Bunch and we definitely aren't the Brady Bunch."
MARISSA:
I remember the first time I was in my room. It actually wasn't a room. It was like an office. Instead of an actual bed there is a sofa bed.
Lena was making the sofa bed and put sheets on it and was getting like 5 pillows.
"One pillow or two?", she asked and I really didn't care. I shrugged my shoulders. "Okay, I'll leave them both. It's just for tonight. Tomorrow I'll order a mattress and have Will and Jesus move it in here so you can have his room. There's a bathroom just down the hall. You have a toothbrush?", she asked.
I remembered eyeing my bag. I only had a few pairs of clothing, a pair of shoes, and a brush.
"No, I don't have a toothbrush. I just got out of juvie. They normally don't give you a two for one special when you leave," I muttered. Od, how could I even have a toothbrush anyway.
I saw her sigh. She seemed a little annoyed. "Ok, Marissa? We're on your side. I know you've had a rough time lately... but we're the good guys. So you can take it down a notch." I could tell that she was serious and so far, they didn't seem bad.
I nodded then looked down. I started digging around in my backpack, then realized something.
"I need a toothbrush."
Lena smiled and stood up.
"Let me get you one. And I'll grab you a towel, so you can take a shower if you want.", she stated as she made her way out of the room and down the hall to a closet.
I started looking around and then I noticed a tree outside the window. It kind have looked like the one from my last foster home. Then it all came back to me. The soul crushing images of beatings and yelling.
"You okay?", I heard a voice ask. It was Lena. She was holding a towel and a toothbrush.
Lena looked so upbeat and happy. I bet when you look at me you see a beauty, but also a grey nothingness as well.
I nodded.
"You seemed pretty upset when you were talking to Carl earlier...", Lena stated.
"Um, it's just... when they sent me to juvie -", I stated to say as Mike came in from the hallway.
I felt something inside me clamp up. I knew that Mike didn't like me. I mean, I was the trashy foster girl who said his children weren't his real children.
"Got enough blankets? Need anything?", he asked.
I felt like my mouth was locked up and I looked up at Lena who was shaking her head to him.
"Okay. Good night.", Mike stated as he left the room.
Once he was gone, I felt the weight of the entire world off my shoulders.
I heard someone playing a song on a piano. I looked down the hall and I heard it from a room. The door was open, it was Will's room.
He was lost in the sound of his own music. I was partly amazed. I used to the play the piano when I was younger. I was good at it, but like everything else, my chances disappeared.
He didn't even see my presence. He had his piano book in his lap and he had his guitar leaning against his bed.
I looked to the side and I saw his nightstand. I saw his phone plugged into a charger. I have been looking for the phone for 15 minutes now. It was in the kitchen.
He really wasn't paying attention. Something was telling me to go get, another part was saying not to. It was like in the Brady Bunch movie when Jan had those voices inside her head.
I felt my heart rise as I reached inside his room at the doorway. I slowly reached for the phone and unplugged it. I moved to the wall out of sight. I heard the charger hit the floor and instantly bolted out of the hallway.
I ran to the kitchen and no one was there.
It was fun.
I went to the call icon and typed in a phone number. I heard the dialing as I waited for someone to answer.
It was him...
"Hey, it's me. I'm coming back. I just need to find a way to get to you."
Present day:
I was behind the counter working my shift. The Dot. It is a beautiful café full of people. It isn't like Starbucks or Panera Bread where it looks modern. I was cleaning the counter.
I heard the bell from the door ring and my dad came in. He was just coming from work from the looks of it. He was still wearing his uniform still.
"Hey, Marissa. What are you still doing here? Didn't your shift end at 6?" he asked as he sat at the counter.
"No, my shift changed. Are you eating at home or do you want your regular? Double bacon cheeseburger with steak fries.", I asked smiling.
"Oh, with that proposition, I'll eat here.", he stated and I laughed.
"Maybe I should cut you off. It's like the second time this week, then it was like three times last week.", I stated as I poured him a cup of coffee.
"Please, please, please?", he begged.
"Fine, junkie." I gave in as he took off his and I wrote his order down and gave it to the kitchen.
"You were late getting home tonight your mother said.", dad said as he took a gulp of coffee.
I had spent my entire afternoon with David. I showed him around town and gawking at his face, but mostly gawking at him.
"Oh, yeah. I was studying at the library.", I lied cleaning the counter, completely avoiding eye contact.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. We're having dinner with my parents tomorrow tonight. So, wear something nice.", dad announced.
"We are?"
"Yeah."
"But, it's September."
"So?"
"What holiday is in September?"
"Look, for once it's not a holiday thing. It's you and me going over there just for dinner, alright?"
"Fine, sorry."
Patricia and Derek Foster. They aren't the easiest people to like. Patricia is the snobby little rich but grew up into the snobby woman who liked having money and took advantage of that by going on European trips every holiday, even Harbor Day. The whole of gist of our relationship is that we only visit them on special holidays and birthdays.
"Your mother finished your skirts today.", dad stated.
I looked down not saying anything. It didn't go unnoticed. I'm not even sure if I want to go to Keaton. I really liked David, if I left school I would never see him again and plus I know how expensive Keaton is going to be if I even go there.
"You know, a grunt of acknowledgment might be nice for once.", Mike stated subtly.
"It's just ...I just don't understand why we're going to dinner tomorrow night. What if I had plans?", I stated trying to avoid the point. "You didn't even ask me."
"If you had plans, I would have known.", he answered.
If I had plans he would have none, what is he, my calendar?
"How?"
"You would have told me or your mother and even if you didn't. You're not exactly every parent's nightmare, I mean, for the past few months you haven't had been.", he stated.
I laughed. "Oh come on, dad. I don't tell you guys exactly everything. Like every teenage girl I have my own things."
"Fine. You have things."
"That's right I have things."
"Hey, I thought I had the dibs to be the ass tonight."
"Just tonight?", I mumbled under my breath. He clearly heard it as I looked up at him.
"Hey, what the hell's wrong with you?", he asked whispering to me, not trying to create a scene.
I took a deep breath as I looked him in the high. Here I go. "I'm really not sure if I want to go to Keaton.", I blurted out.
"What?"
"It's just that... the timing is really bad. And the bus ride to and from Keaton? It's forty minutes each way and that's just without traffic. That's time I could be studying, or helping out here.", I stated.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing.", dad stated as he shook his head in disbelief as he stood up.
"Plus, I don't think we should be spending the money right now and I know Keaton's gotta be costing you and mama a lot."
"Oh my god, Marissa." He rubbed his temples looking down. "Oh, you have no idea. It's just, you had so many plans and they were working. What happened to college? About Yale?"
"Dad, my chances now could be great, too. All, I'm saying is why do all of this? Who is to say that I can't get into Yale or any other Ivy League school that I desire to go to if I stay where I am now?
"Ok, end of all the crazy talk here. I really appreciate that you're concerned about the money, unlike other teenagers. But, you don't have to be worried, I got it covered.", he stated.
"I still don't want to go. I don't want to be the new girl again. I hate being the new girl all the time and it's old for me.", I stated. I had been the new girl 12 times. When I was in the foster system, I was pulled and put into 13 different homes.
Dad couldn't look at me right. He shook his head in disbelief as he put his jacket back on. "I have to get out of here."
I followed after him.
We walked around the corner arguing about it. I was vague about the fact that it was partly about a guy. He would lose his mind if he found out that, that was a prime factor.
We heard someone call after us and we turned back. It was Stephanie. I looked up at dad and he stiffened uncomfortably.
"Hey, Marissa!", she called out as she ran over to us. "I know you were asking about job openings and because Karen won't be back until next week. I think I found a job for your male friend.", she stated.
I felt my heart speed up. I looked up at my dad and he looked at me in shock. I could tell that the look in his eyes is realizing what is going on.
"What male friend?", he asked Stephanie as I felt his withering stare on me.
"They need a stock boy at the supermarket. I already talked to the manager about him. You tell him to go by tomorrow.", Stephanie explained.
"Ok. Thanks.", I responded as I nodded.
"He was a cute boy. You have good taste in guys. Hey, Mike.", she greeted as I felt my mind yelling at my feet to get a minute start away from my dad.
"Stephanie.", he greeted back.
She walked away. Part of me wanted to stab her, but I restrain myself.
I looked up at dad who was too out of it to notice. I walked right passed him, avoiding all eye contact.
"What male friend?", he asked. I heard him approaching. I didn't even look back as I kept walking. "Oh, you're going to have to walk a lot faster than that. You're going to have to turn into friggin 'FloJo to get away from me."
I ran home, taking a shortcut. We arrived home at the same time. I really didn't want to talk about this. He wouldn't understand.
We walked into the house. The tension was boiling. It was suffocating.
We both angrily threw our coats on the rack. I barely made it up the stairs before he started yelling at me.
"This is about a boy. Of course. I can't believe I didn't see it. All this talk about money and bus rides...you've got a thing going with a guy and you don't want to leave school.", he scowled. A thing? Who the hell does he think he is? And what I said before about the money and bus rides were all true.
"I'm going to bed.", I answered completely ignoring him.
"God, I'm so stupid. That should have been my first thought. After all, you're a mini-girl version of me.", he stated. I quickly turned back. The anger was building within me. I am not any version of anyone. I am an original version, but some model that someone built in their shed.
"I am not you!", I yelled back. I saw mom come in from the living room.
"Really? Someone willing to throw some amazing life altering experience out the window without thinking over someone they think they care about. That sounds like me."
"Whatever." I started back up the stairs.
"So who is he?"
"There's no guy!", I hollered, started to get furious.
"Dark hair? Romantic eyes? A little dangerous? Muscles bigger than Texas? How old is he? Is it legal?"
"This conversation is over."
"Tattoos are good too. Maybe you can get matching tattoos."
"I don't want to change schools because of all the reasons that I already told you a thousand times. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine. Goodnight."
"Does he have a motorcycle? Cause if you're going to throw your life away, he'd better have a motorcycle!"
I scoffed. I couldn't believe him. I screamed and then I angrily stomped up the stairs.
Cherry Hill is just a place on a map. People drive through here and others live here. If you look around, you'll see people, ordinary people. If you'll look closer, you'll see culture and this beautiful world we live in.
If you look even closer, you'll see people with goals and prior life achievements. If you look the closest you can, I can assure you that you will see someone like you. Someone who is just trying to find their way.
Gandhi once said: "Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it because nobody else will". It's like when someone comes into your life and half of you says "You're nowhere near ready". And the other half says "Make it yours forever".
I'm trying to work on the forever part.
