The horror of a parental substitute.

Disclaimer,sawisnotmine

Kate shivered in the hospital bed. It'd taken them over an hour to get her out of the apartment. After the shock had worn off Kate had refused to leave. Kicking and screaming like a child, until eventually breaking down in tears.
Now she lay there, humiliated by her outburst, horrified by her father's death, and frightened by the huge complicated hospital.

They wouldn't let her leave. They wanted to check her over, give her grief counselling and find someone for her to live with. Fat chance. Kate's mother had committed suicide just after Harry divorced her. Kate had no other family.

She shivered again at the thought of a kid's home. She knew what they did. She'd had a friend in care a few years ago and she'd told Kate enough gruesome tales to still keep her awake at night. Kate knew she was just being silly, they weren't really like that. But every time she shut her eyes Kate saw herself covered in bruises, screaming for help that would never come.

And it wasn't like anybody was going to come along and get her out. Tears slid down Katelyn's face and she slipped under the covers. She had never missed her dad that much until now.
"Kate Moon?"
A nurse. Kate moaned
"Fuck off"
The sheets were pulled back, leaving her exposed. Moaning again, Kate sat up.
"What?"
The nurse smiled
"someone to see you"
The door opened and in came a large man. He was tall, with full lips and floppy hair. He looked quite smart, wearing a suit. He smiled widely at Kate.

"Detective Mark Hoffman. I'm investigating your father's murder."
Kate nodded quietly.
"Also, I've agreed to be your temporary foster parent until we can contact a part of your family"
Kate stared at him. Was he being serious?

"I'm going to live with you?" she asked
"yes" he smiled
"you mean I'm not going into care?"
"Not permanently."
"What do you mean?" Kate was at the end of her bed now, staring into Mark Hoffman's face. She was desperate not to go to a kids home, even if it meant living with a total stranger.
"You'll be in care for a week or 2, while we get the paperwork sorted out."
Kate frowned. 2weeks. No. She frowned at the thought of being in a strange house full of other kids. She didn't want to be the new girl.
"I'm NOT going into care."
Hoffman gave a shameful smile
"I'm afraid you have to"
"the only I'll go into a care home is if you drag me there"

XXX
Kate sat in the front seat of Hoffman's car on the way to the care home, Scowling viciously.

"A BOOSTER SEAT?" she finally exploded, kicking the dashboard. She'd almost screeched when she saw it, and after a long row Hoffman gave over and put it in the back. But Kate was far from satisfied. Hoffman tutted.

"It's the law, you're under 5foot 5, so you have to have a booster seat. You do realise if we get pulled over I have to pay a fine."
"Oh no, then who will throw me into a house full of strangers who'll hate Me." she frowned. She was fuming, TOTALY fuming.
" Why do you think they'll hate you?" asked Hoffman.
"Cos they will." Kate Sulked "And think about how much worse it'll be if you make me use a booster seat!"
Hoffman sighed.
"Look, I know you've had a tough time, but it won't be that bad. You listen to too many rumours. Care homes are OK."
Kate continued to sulk, ignoring Hoffman's attempt at small talk, and only showing signs of life when shooting a withering glance at him.

Hoffman on the other hand was totally oblivious. He talked and offered drinks and even sang along to Jedward on the radio. Kate simply slid lower and lower down her chair. If she'd been with her dad, things would have been so different. She'd be sitting in a Mercedes, drinking soda, singing to iron maiden. But here? She was in an old rover with an orange juice, blocking out ice ice baby.

From nowhere, Kate found tears in her eyes. She turned to face the window so Hoffman wouldn't see. She was ashamed. Things were so bad. As the silent sobs came, Kate shut her eyes and wished her dad were there.
Xxx
"Kate? We're here"
Hoffman nudged her awake, jolting her from a nightmare. Slowly, Kate peered out of the window. It was night, and in front of them was a huge building made of stone. Judging by the amount of windows, a lot of people lived there. Kate suddenly felt very small, and scared. And she didn't want to go in.

Hoffman opened her door, but Kate clung to the chair, refusing to move.
" Oh for Pete sake" groaned Hoffman "you act like you can't wait to get rid of me and now you don't want to leave!"
"Hoffman." cried Kate, burying her face into the chair "please don't make me"
Hoffman seemed to soften. He patted her back.
"sorry."
Kate sniffed and rubbed her eyes, then nodded. After that, she just went along with what Hoffman said. She was just too tired to fight. She stood next to Hoffman at the door, anxiously waiting to see what it was like.

The door opened, blasting out lights, music and the smell of soap. In the doorway stood a large blond woman with lots of braids. She was wearing an apron and a pair of jeans. Kate recognised her top instantly, iron maiden.
"hi! I'm Rose Thompson, but you can just call me Rose. You must be Kate."
Kate nodded.
"well, come in. I'm sorry for the mess but the boys were having a soccer game INDOORS, oh God I don't know..."
Her voice trailed off as Rose and Hoffman wandered away, leaving Kate in the doorway . Kate stared around the hall.

There was a big staircase in the centre at the back, there was a long rail guarding the landing, which had doors stretching all across. 2 corridors were at the sides of the main hall. On one of the Walls was a notice board, and all the kids pictures. She noticed her own had been put up as well. It was from last year. Kate was in her best friends pool, posing on the diving board, her long brown hair worn loose.

"nice photo."
Kate turned round to see a teenage boy standing behind her. His short blond hair was thick with mud and he was wearing a football kit. He grinned ear to ear showing a cracked tooth.
"you're the new girl Kate ?" he asked
Kate nodded
"I'm Sam. Come on then, I'll introduce you"
Dumping her stuff at the door Kate followed him down the left hall.

"so how long are you here for?" asked Sam
"a few weeks" said Kate, finding her voice at last. "Then I'm moving in with my foster dad"
Sam laughed
"in and out in a flash. Well, not in in a flash. That guy had to practically carry you."
Kate's face flushed red. She hadn't known anybody had seen.
"Was everybody watching?"
"Pretty much." said Sam "but hey, don't sweat it. I've seen people much worse." Kate decided in that moment that Sam was awesome.

"He's a cop isn't he?" Sam asked. They were passing the kitchen, Kate could smell cake and chocolate. The smells mixed together, making her nauseous.
"H-how'd you know?" she asked, trying to shake off the smell.
"he was in an article about your dad...no offence, but he shouldn't have left you alone"
Kate fought the tightness in her throat, and her stinging eyes as hard as she could, but Sam still saw.
"I still miss him"
Sam put his arm around her, little flakes of mud scattered across her top.
"you're allowed to. He was still your dad. And half the kids here are orphaned. Don't worry, we're mostly nice."
Sam grinned at her, and for the first time since Harry died, Kate grinned back.

They turned into a brightly lit room. Inside were 4 kids, all indulged in a big (and loud) game of Mario kart.
A girl about Kate's age, she had short black hair in a bob. She was wearing skinny jeans and a camisole and she was driving princess peach maniacally with tanned hands. Next was a boy who looked 17, he was in an identical football kit to Sam, he had floppy brown hair and was very tanned, and he was enjoying driving Luigi off the side. A little girl sat on his lap screaming happily. Her long blond pigtails flew everywhere. Her pink dungarees clinking. Finally, a red haired boy was waving a checkered flag enthusiastically, wearing a mini football kit complete with cleats.

"OI!" shouted Sam. The game paused and everybody turned.
"This is Kate." he gestured like he was selling a couch, arms spread vertically. "Kate, the orange girl is Megan, the man is David, the pink princess is Harriet and the flag man is Dominic"
Kate waggled her fingers, they all smiled back. Harriet and Dominic launched themselves to Kate's leg and hugged. Kate patted their backs awkwardly. David stood up and shook her hand.
"read about your old man. Tough break" Kate smiled at him. Megan waved, not willing to give up her new lead on mario cart.
"nice to meet ya" she winked
"room for 2 more players?" asked Sam
"Definitely" laughed David

Xxx

They played mario cart for hours. David Sam and Kate tried hard but Megan thrashed them all. Eventually, They all flopped onto the couch, giggling like monkeys.

"Kate?"
She sat up to see Hoffman in the doorway.
"I have to leave now."
"ok" said Kate, she tried to sound careless but couldn't stop her voice catching. Slowly, she got up and hugged him.
MESSAGE RECEIVED
she reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone
"Kate put that down" he warned
But she'd already opened it.
BRING PARTS FOR 2 RBTS
J.K
"What's an RBT?" she asked
Hoffman pulled the phone so fast it burnt her hand.
"NEVER READ MY MESSAGES" he demanded.

The chipper mood disappeared, and the rest of the kids turned to stare at them.
Kate turned away, hurt.
"Kate?" asked Hoffman. He sighed "sorry"

Kate didn't move, fighting the urge to run from the room.
Realising the lost cause, Hoffman patted her shoulder and left, and Kate rejoined her friends.

Xxx

"Bedtime!" yelled Rose, scooping up Harriet and Dominic expertly. They'd fallen asleep ages ago, while the rest had played poker.
"No!" Kate and Megan yelled in unison. They were both up $50 and unwilling to throw it away.
"you heard the lady." said David, hiding his shameful 2 pair under the table.
Reluctantly, Kate and Megan threw down their cards and went upstairs with the boys. Everybody trailed into their rooms. Except Kate. She hovered on the landing biting her lip.
"need a hand?" asked Sam, coming out of his room
"no." said Kate indignantly
Sam laughed " room to the right of mine, sorry in advance, it used to be Harriet's. Bathrooms on your other side"
Kate nodded and went into her room.

It was ghastly. Deep pink shag pile carpet with pale pink walls. At least they'd tried to fix it. A bright blue duvet, White curtains and a sheepskin rug. Kate changed into her pyjamas And walked onto it. The wool snuggled against her toes, it felt lovely. Next thing she knew she was curled upon it, burying her head in the softness...

"there is a bed you know." laughed Sam from the hallway. His pyjamas were totally football themed right down to the slippers.
"get lost," Kate mumbled, trying to snuggle down. But the moment was gone now. Kate crawled over to the bed and clambered under the covers.

"night" she mumbled, for no particular reason.

I like pie