Red, Brown and Blue - chapter 5
Dan felt the pain in his heart disappear as he walked home with Ben that night almost in a dream, as the two brothers strolled down the dark street. He barely noticed the raging argument going on between his oldest step-sister Amy, who he hated with a passion, and his foster brother Mathew. He just floated up the stairs to his room.
Zoe, Aniesha and Keri were walking back to Aniesha's house for a sleepover. Keri had already agreed to come around and Aniesha had invited Zoe too when she found out that Frank hadn't sorted her a foster home yet, which he would do in the morning. Zoe didn't stop smiling all evening she was just so excited about being back with her real family.
The next day.
Zoe turned up to Hq to find Frank, Stella and a familiar looking woman waiting for her.
"Hi Zoe we have found you a new foster house which I am sure you'll be glad to here, this one though is slightly different to your last one." Stella said smiling at her.
"Why don't we just take her there it would be easier to explain that way." Said the lady she had a warm smile, she was about middle aged, short with light brown hair, brown eyes and had a slimish figure.
"Yes that would be the easiest, I have to go do something, but I am sure Frank would go with you." Stella stated. Frank and the woman nodded before ushering Zoe out of Hq, were Frank took them to his car.
"Zoe are you ok with sharing a room, do say so if your not, because two of my children will happily share with each other?" The lady asked.
"Oh, I am more than happy with sharing, miss." Zoe said excited at the prospect of a new roommate.
"Good, oh and by the way my name is Amanda, but a lot of people just call me Aunty Mand. Take your pick love. Oh by the way my house has quite a few children in and some of them will argue twenty four seven, with everyone so just don't take it personally. My oldest son is defiantly the most argumentative, but I think he is just a bit understood." Amanda told her smiling. When they arrived at the house Zoe was in oar, it was rather big and was well taken care of.
"I think most of the kids are in the garden so I will give you a quick tour of the house then we will go out and see them, alright?" Amanda beamed leading Zoe through the blue door.
A girl about 13 was sat on a brown sofa in the lounge on her phone with the TV blearing. "This is my step-daughter Nicole, Nicole this is Zoe." Amanda introduced causing the girl to look up from her phone. She had make up on and a lot of fake jewellery. The girl nodded to Zoe as Zoe waved to her and smiled. "I think we shall start upstairs. Amanda said leading Frank and Zoe to a stair case which a tall man was coming down with dark brown hair and a washing basket in hand.
"Hi honey," the man greeted placing a kiss on Amanda's lips. "Is this Zoe by any chance?" The man asked looking at her.
"Yeah, Zoe this is Dave my husband." Amanda said before continuing with her tour. "Right that room there is mine and Dave's, but Zoe before you go into anyone's room which isn't your own you must knock unless it's an absolute emergency, ok. Otherwise the older ones generally throw stuff." Amanda said before leading them further down the corridor. "This Chloe's room, her, Nicole and Amy, who you'll meet shortly, are Dave's children." Amanda said before once again leading them further down the corridor. "That's Mathew's room he is also a foster kid from Ireland he is 14." She said pointing to a door with the Irish flag on, "that's Ben's he is my son and the one next to that is yours, and my daughter Sky's, I'll get her to show you your room later. And finally for the rooms." Amanda said taking a deep breath "this is Shane's and Nate's rooms who stay here every other week when there dad is on mission, they are 15 like you and 13. This is Amy's room who likes her privacy and Daniel's room who is also gets very angry at you if you go in his room, but I suspect he won't with you dear. Yes that is your boyfriend Dan's room." Amanda said suddenly they could hear raised voices. "For the love of god." She muttered before storming back down the corridor and down the stairs through a kitchen and onto a porch with Zoe and Frank in tow.
Two figures were in the middle of the garden shouting at each other while others figures were scattered around some joining in others shouting fight at the pair in the middle. Amanda stormed over to them and a figures slivered up next to Zoe, it was Sky! "Be prepared for fireworks." She whispered to Zoe and Frank a glint in her eye.
"Now what were you two arguing about this time!" There was a mumbled reply from the girl, but the boy who Zoe had realised was Dan was having no so much approach.
"She insulted dad! I should be ripping her throat out not standing her having a telling off! I was having a nice time playing football then she comes out and accuses me of stealing her money!" Dan yelled shoving the other girl so she fell over.
"Daniel!" His mother shouted as two boys jumped forward one being Ben to detain Dan. "Daniel go to your room now and don't come out till your prepared to be civilised." Amanda shouted helping Amy up.
"Me, I did nothing wrong! I always get the blame just, because of what happened at St Hopes, an earthquake happened, blame Dan! Someone we have never met before falls ill, let's blame Dan! Mum and dad get a divorce let's blame Dan! I heard you talking to Dave last week!" Dan yelled his face going red. Amanda's composture softened slightly.
"Daniel that's not true... just please I have more important things to deal with right now, please just go to your rooms." Amanda said deflated. "Both of you." Amy trudged back to the house while Dan glared at his mum one final time before stomping back into the house saying a mumbled greeting to Frank and Zoe.
"See, fireworks." Sky whispered before dragging Zoe over a group of four boys one of whom was Ben to introduce her to them.