Tris' pov
It's strange how my life changed within a matter of seconds. And completely heart-breaking to go back to that time, that awful day. One second, I'm on my way to volunteer at the animal shelter with my parents and my older brother Caleb just like we always did every Wednesday, and the next, we're seeing the lights of an eighteen wheeler right in front of us right before we collide.
The next thing I know, I'm being put into the foster care system. I've already gone through six foster families. They never like me. They say I'm too or 'closed off' or 'crazy.' The longest I've been at one is two months. I'm apparently a 'trouble child,' or so they say.
In reality, they just don't like me because I wouldn't speak to them except when it was absolutely neccesary, which was hardly ever. It isn't like I was a challenge for them or anything, I was just labeled as diffucult because they didn't know how to handle my silence and indifference.
Right now, I'm walking with my case worker Johanna to the house I'll be living in until they put me back into the system, just like every time. I'm used to it; they never want to keep me; they just take the money they get for taking me in and kick me out when they decide that I'm not worth it. She thinks this family will be the one that adopts me. She says that every time. But I know the truth: I am simply not worth it, because who could love some unattractive, damaged girl?
I wouldn't want to adopt me either.
I just really hope that this foster home is better than the last ones. I never had any friends or anyone who cared about me after the accident (but, in their defense, I wasn't very open with them either). The foster parents just fed me and then watched tv for the rest of the time, totally ignoring me in the process. It bothered me at first, but I quickly got used to it when I realized that they were all like that, and it wasn't going to change. All of my foster siblings had already made friends and obviously weren't looking for a new one. I just never seemed to fit in anywhere or with anyone. I'm so different from everyone else that no one knows what to do with me, nor do they want to find out. Let's hope that changes. There is a large possibility that I might go crazy if it doesn't; I don't think I could make it through another home without any friends. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm starved of human contact and compassion. It's a huge stretch, but I just want someone to actually care about me, and if they can't do that, they could at least pretend to not hate me. Is that such an awful thing to want?
Is that so bad? That I just want someone to be around?
But I know I'm not worth anyone's time.
We arrive at a giant three story brick house, and it has more than enough beauty to put me in a state of awe, my mouth hanging slack. I knock on the door and am greeted with a tall, dark girl around my age. Her beautiful caramel skin is barely covered with a black crop top and short denim shorts, and the smile on her face is blindingly wide and genuine. That may be the best part about her, that she actually looks happy to see me. She's beautiful. Nothing like me.
I will never be anything like her,so tall and gorgeous. I know I'm not ugly, but I'm not pretty either. I have dull blonde hair that falls past my hips and a small, five foot frame with absolutely no curves to be found. My nose is too long and my light gray eyes are far to big. I could never compete with her long legs and mature body.
"Oh my God! You must be Beatrice. I'm Christina! We're going to be sisters," she shouts excitedly. At least somebody at this one is nice. Maybe having her here will make this a little more bearable.
My name sounds strange coming from her lips. Too grown-up and sophisticated. All of the sudden, the name 'Beatrice' puts a sour taste in my mouth; it reminds me of my family. I might as well change it while I'm here. New place, new name.
And most importantly, no past. At least not for them to know about, anyways.
"Hi. You can call me Tris," I respond shyly. I am not used to someone actually being excited to see me. It's new, but strangely nice.
"Well, why don't we get you inside and you can meet everybody," she says while pulling me by the arm into the house.
She brings me through the foyer while chattering about God- knows- what while I am frantically trying to take in the details of the house.
I finally get a good look at the inside and am impressed with what I see. Hardwood floors, leather furniture, expensive looking art hanging from the walls. Expensive. They must be rich. Well, there's one upside to this. The other foster families didn't have very much money. That was why they took me in in the first place, because they needed money. Maybe since this family isn't needing for money, they actually want me to be here, which is more than I can say for the other families. Them having no money usually also consisted of having no manners. Or decency. Or kindness. I didn't have the best experiences at any of them, obviously.
We enter the kitchen and I am instantly faced with a tall,light haired man. His green eyes are cold and mean, but soften when he sees my case worker. I am immediately weary of him; I'll have to do my best to steer clear of him. Maybe they don't want me here, after all. He introduces himself as Max, not once acknowledging my presence. So far, Christina is the best thing about this place. Obviously Max isn't going be the best of company.
Max finally looks at me acknowledging my presence, but only briefly and with uncaring eyes. It doesn't matter how he looked at me; it wss all for show for Johanna, anyways.
Then he looks at Christina. "Why don't you give Beatrice the grand tour and show her where she will be staying." Code for, 'get her out of here.'
I already don't like him one bit."It's Tris." He just shrugs and turns back to Johanna, my case worker. Maybe it wasn't the best move to be rude to him, but I'm too far past caring about my manners. I've learned that manners are the last thing they care about in foster homes.
I look back to Christina, and she immediately grabs my arm again and starts dragging me farther into the house. She shows me around the house while they talk about my time here. She introduces me to four unreasonably large bathrooms and six empty bedrooms. Some have clothes in them,telling me that there are more foster kids here, but some are completely bare. And they are freaking hugenormous. I could fit like four of my old foster homes in just one room.
I spot a room that must be Christina's. It's pink and zebra and way too girly for me. On the next one, there is a girl on the bed. She has carrot orange hair and a bulbous nose. She's a little on the heavy side and looks like she is ready to bite my head off. Or anyone's head. Christina quietly introduces her as Molly and informs me that she doesn't talk much. Good.
The next bedroom is mine. It has dark blue walls and a deep red bed comforter. It is a little smaller than the rest but is still pretty huge. Way more space than I would ever need and could ever expect. There is a bathroom attached to it and a large flat screen television. It even has posters of my favorite bands:Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, STRFKR, Phoeonix, and Paramore, hanging on the walls. It's amazing,exactly my style. Johanna must have told somebody the things I like. She always asks me my preferences,but the other foster homes either didn't know or simply disregarded them. I highly suspect the latter, but it doesn't matter to me anyways. It isn't like I stayed in any of them for long, but I probably won't stay here for very long either. Max will most likely kick me out before the end of the month anyways.
The next has a large boy around my age with dark hair and green eyes. He has a kind face, but that is quickly forgotten when he looks at me with disgust and closes the door in our faces.
"That was Peter. Don't take it personally, he's always an asshole," she tells me nonchalantly. He looks like he already hates me. That's two in a row:him and Molly.
I simply nod my head. I honestly don't have the thinking capacity right now to deal with them. There are mire pressing matters on my mind, like the fact that I'm worried about staying here with these new people and going to school tomorrow.
After showing me a game room, some more bathrooms, and a lounge, I finally retire to my new room before dinner.
After unpacking the clothes and family pictures I brought with me, I jump onto my bed and start reading my copy of The Fault in Our Stars. I've read it at least twenty times; it just never gets old.I am interrupted all too soon by Christina telling me that dinner is ready.
I walk back downstairs and sit at the unreasonably large dining table with Max, Molly, Peter, and Christina. Christina fixes me a plate of salad and pasta. Way too much. I'm not really a fan of food at the moment. I just take a couple of bites and move my food around with my fork. I have gone halfway through dinner getting dirty looks from Max, Molly, and Peter. I really don't know what I did to make them hate me, but it's making me uncomfortable.
Just as I'm about to excuse myself from the table, the door swings open to reveal three boys. One of them looks around my age, but the others look little older. I immediately assume the two dark boys are brothers. They are around the same hight and have the same facial features. When they move out of my line of vision and I finally get a good look at the third, and my breathe hitches.
He has dark brown hair and a spare upper lip that compliments his full lower lip. His nose is just a little crooked, like it has been broken before. His shirt is tight enough to reveal his amazing physique and toned muscles, but not tight enough to be showing off. What really draws my attention are his eyes. They are a dark blue as deep as the ocean. A dreaming, sleeping, waiting color. And they are locked directly on mine. I feel like I can't breathe, an then realize that I'm not. I am the first to look away. And I finally take a breath before I pass out from the lack of oxygen.
He's handsome. That's an understatement. He's beautiful. And way out of my league. I can't even see his league from my league. He's totally unnatainable, and I shouldn't waste another second thinking about him. I should be thinking about school tomorrow, but that doesn't stop me from seeing the deep blue of his eyes.
They walk in and head straight towards the bedrooms, avoiding eye contact with everyone else.
"That's Four. He rarely talks to anybody but Zeke and Uriah," Christina whispers to me.
Four. Strange name, but I guess everyone has a reason for everything. I assume Zeke and Uriah are the dark skinned brothers he was with.
I retire to my room for bed after dinner. I change into pajamas and wash my face. I can take a shower in the morning before school. Ugh. School.
Just as I'm drifting of into sleep, my door creeps open. A large silhouette stops beside my bed and leans into my face.
"Well hello Beatrice," I hear Peter's voice say."I don't like you. The sooner you leave here, the sooner you get away from the living Hell I'm going to make your life from now on."
And with that, he swiftly punches me twice in the stomach, making me double over in pain. I don't have time to react to anything. The room is dark and I was almost asleep. He caught me at my worst time, when I am completely unalert.
He then punches me in the temple. I see black spotting the edges of my vision. I'm going to pass out. Hopefully soon.
I don't know why he is doing this; I barely know him, and I haven't uttered a sylable to him yet. How could he have such a deep hatred for me already?
He won't stop. I can barely make a noise, but I can hear myself whispering, "Stop. Please don't do this."
I know he can hear me, but he is choosing to ignore it. All I hear are his mad- scientist like laughs. Asshole.
The pain is intense. This just hurts so bad, but I can't do anything about it. I am helpless. I am not in control. And that is what scares me the most. I hate that I am void of any control. It hurts worse than the pain Peter is inflicting upon my body.
He relentlessly sends blows into my thighs and upper arms. My armsbody is almost numb,but not qhite, so I can still feel the tourchuous pain. My only thought is,'Not again.' as I finally let the pain send me into unconsciousness.
Hopefully that wasn't too bad for the FIRST CHAPTER OF MY VERY FIRST FANFIC! I've been reading these for forever and I'm so excited to finally be writing one.
I can't wait to continue this story because it's going to be AMAZING! I really need y'all to tell me what you think about it, so please review. Whether it is good or bad. I'll take it all into consideration.
If you ever have an idea about how I can make it better, please pm me and I will definitely respond as soon as I can.
Keep reading this story! I will try to update as often as possible. It might be every three days or once a week. It depends on how quickly I write and how well y'all respond to this story.
If you ever have any ideas for the story, please feel free to let me know, I will definately listen.
Read on stay classy:)
Love Ty:)