Searching For Me
Summary: Sometimes to get the answers you require in life, you just have to go out and get them yourself. Joey/Lauren/Original Character – please read and review! Thanks and enjoy! :)
Chapter 1: Introducing Me
I felt numb. Really numb. My parents were dead. The Police called it just a tragic accident. An accident. An accident that could have been prevented. Apparently, they lost control of the car through no fault of their own; the cold, dark, icy winter night road and some drunk driver colliding together gave my parents no chance. At just age ten I was an orphan. My parents were both separated from their families so I knew when the Police turned up at my house, where I was being babysat by my elderly neighbours, exactly what they were hinting at. They told us they had not got an updated will from my parents for after I came into their lives which would have stated who I was to be left in the care of.
"Miss Branning?" I looked at the red haired woman in front of me, my favourite teddy bear my parents gave me when I was born clutched tightly to me. "My name is Alyssa but everyone just calls me Aly. I'm going to take you somewhere safe, so how about we go pack you some things up?" She held her hand out for me to take; I knew I didn't exactly have a choice but I ignored her outstretched hand and ran up to my bedroom, my chestnut brown hair swinging side to side in its ponytail behind me, tears flowing down my face. I wanted my Mummy and Daddy.
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After packing up a few essentials and any of my important things, the female special officer, Aly, led me back downstairs to where her male colleague was waiting with a social worker.
"Is there anything else you need?" Aly asked in her soft voice, my elderly neighbours giving me a sorrowful look as they watched on. I didn't need their pity; I didn't need anyone now.
Shaking my head, I sat on the edge of the sofa with one of my most important possessions, Ted, still clutched tightly to me.
"Will she be ok?" I heard my neighbour, Mrs Connor, ask the other Police Officer. What sort of question was that? No I'm not ok and I never will be.
"We will place her in emergency temporary foster care for tonight and take things further in the morning." He explained. Great, is this how my life is going to be now; just a number and name in the system? Life sucked.
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Sitting outside the unfamiliar office in the care home I'd been placed in this morning after the foster family I stayed with brought me in, I looked into the activity/playroom I was taken into earlier where kids in similar positions to me interacted. I hated this place. I watched as various adults came and went from the office, where they were discussing me. Last night when we finally left our house, Aly had sat with me as we drove to an unfamiliar place in town; my parents had lived out in a quiet countryside village just out of London as my Mum hated city life when they weren't working and told me she liked us being able to go for peaceful walks to the local shops rather than being in noise and hustles constantly. Everyone I'd met had been friendly but I wasn't interested in making friends; I knew how these places worked well enough to know you can be gone quicker than you came.
'My room', I shared with another girl who had been brought in a few days earlier, Clara, but she was leaving today as even though her parents had died in some freak skiing accident abroad, her parents had appointed her Aunt to take her in. She was one of the lucky ones; a few days of getting in touch with her Aunt and sorting out papers and she was done. I, however, had no idea how long I'd be here; every minute felt like an hour which probably wasn't helped by the fact I didn't, well couldn't, sleep last night. I just wanted to go back home and for everything to go back to how it had been just twenty four hours ago; back when I was sat at home having breakfast with my parents, my Dad making Mum and I laugh with his silly jokes. I loved and missed them so much; despite my short life with them. I felt the hot tears running down my face again. Frantically, I tried to wipe them away with the sleeves of my t-shirt to avoid showing any signs of weakness; I knew weakness was a bad sign to show in these places.
How do I know how these places work? Well you see, this isn't my first time in care; I've been in and out of care homes my whole life. My biological parents gave me up when I was born and I was in and out of foster homes for nearly seven years when finally, just over three years ago, my 'parents' adopted me. I have no idea about my real family, just that my Mum left me a note telling me she was sorry and she loved me. Nothing more, nothing less. There had been another note from an anonymous person saying this was for the best and they hoped I would be happy with my new family who could give me everything they couldn't.
I didn't really know what to make of the notes; I'd only recently been shown them when my parents decided to talk to me about us legally changing my name. They tried to explain that they understood if I didn't want to; they just didn't want to lie to me about things and showed me what my Social Worker had kept back from me because they felt I was too young before. I did want to change my name because my parents truly felt like my parents and I knew it would make them happy although I did have a little bit of self doubt. I'd always been a Branning and I didn't think I could truly ever be known as anything else.
Sorry, I just realised I haven't introduced myself; I bet you all must be wondering who I am? Sorry, please excuse my manners; my adopted parents wouldn't be impressed. I'm Violet. Violet Branning. And the only thing I know about my past, including my family and biological parents is that according to my birth certificate, I'm the ten year old daughter of a Lauren and Joseph Branning.
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A/N: Finally, I'm back! Still not well (you will understand if you read 'A New Anti-Valentines Tradition') but at least this is done. I have a feeling some people will be disappointed with this because everyone had high expectations after 'A Desperate Deal'. I am working on another short story (will be M rated I know) which is set back around their normal ages that hopefully will be done in the next few weeks, if you're not a fan of this.
If you know any of my previous HSM stories, you will know I have a thing about original characters; I just can't help it. This will be mostly written from Violet's P.O.V, unless otherwise stated; it does switch a little further into the story. The first three chapters are just setting up the story so don't worry, familiar characters will soon appear.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether or not to continue this. Its twenty chapters, including the epilogue at the minute. If people like it, I might post the second chapter later to give you more of a feel as it's another fairly short chapter. Anyway, look forward to hearing your thoughts! Bye! :) x