The movie ends a few minutes before Lena gets home, it's around 8.30 PM. She greets her kids and me.
"Okay, why don't you all go and get some homework in?" Jesus moans but everyone complies.
"I still don't have my school books," I say as I stay seated on the couch.
"That's okay, I wanted to talk anyway." She sits down next to me. "Were you alright after we dropped you off?"
"Yeah, Callie and I made dinner for everyone, well Callie did most of the work, but I helped. Then I took a shower, Callie lent me her clothes and Mariana fixed my hair. You have really great kids. Then they let me pick a movie." I try to smile but it's hard when I still feel so weird.
"That's great. I'm glad to hear you're settling in well. I wanted to ask you about school. Your transcripts arrived today." I see where this is going. "You were already quite a bit behind in some of your classes, and you've missed a lot this week too."
"Yeah, I've never found school easy. Except for English."
"Well, obviously you don't have to go back to school straight away but-"
"No, I think I want to. I don't want to fall behind anymore."
"Are you sure?" I nod. "Okay, well I spoke to a few of your teachers and they agreed you could improve with a tutor, would you be alright with that?"
"Yeah, I think that would be good for me. But, don't you usually pay tutors?" I sigh, feeling guilty enough that I'm taking up room in their home.
"Not necessarily. Mariana could tutor you for science, and Jude can help you with the classes you're in together."
"Really, they wouldn't mind?"
"No, I spoke to Jude earlier today and Mariana loves science, I'm sure she'd be thrilled to help you." I feel relieved.
"Wow, thank you. It really means a lot. Um, I have a question."
"Go for it."
"There's going to be legal bills, and medical bills from today too. How do I pay for it?"
"As long as you're under this roof you won't have to worry about that, money is the least of your worries."
"Is that why Stef took a double shift?"
"That's one reason, but there are other finances." I nod, feeling guilty again. "And listen, as soon as Stef's home, which should be very soon, we're going to tell the kids you'll be with us for a while, do you want to be here when we do?" I kind of want to see if the others want me here or not. So, I agree to stay. "You look pale honey, are you feeling okay?" Truly I still feel sick after last night.
"I'm just tired I guess."
"Why don't you go and lie down, I'll shout for you all when Stef's home okay?"
"Okay, thank you." I get up.
"You don't have to keep thanking us." She smiles, getting up and hugging me.
I walk into Mariana and Callie's room. They're sitting on their beds doing homework.
"Gracie, come and look at this." Callie brings me to her bed. She shows me her laptop.
"What am I looking at exactly?"
"This is Fost&Found, it's a website that Mariana and I built, there's an app that goes along with it too. I thought, maybe you might want to post something on there? Not a lot, maybe just make a profile and give a little background about yourself?" She sees my face. "You don't have to, I just thought... No never mind, it's cool."
"Sorry, I just don't want kids from other homes I've been in to see it, what if somehow John finds me? I'd be screwed."
"Who's John?" Mariana says, I forgot she didn't know.
"Uh no one, just an old foster dad. Sorry again Callie."
"No, it's fine. I totally get it." I go and sit on my bed and start texting Sophia.
I had left my phone in here all day, she's already texted me a million times. I decide to call her instead, taking my phone down to the kitchen to get some privacy.
"Hey." I realise I haven't told her anything.
"Hey, what happened? Callie told me you're staying with her for a few weeks, she told me to ask you why?" I don't want to say it out loud again.
"It just didn't work out." I lie, I hate lying to her.
"Did your foster parents hurt you?" I don't say anything. "G, talk to me."
"Look Sophia, I love you, but I just can't talk about it anymore. You can ask Callie." I hang up on her and bury my face in my hands. She tries to call me back, so I switch my phone off and slam it down on the table. That's when Stef gets home, she comes straight into the kitchen. "Sorry, I'll go." I get up to walk past her, but she stops me.
"No love, you can stay. Are you alright?" I avoid eye contact as she tries to get me to look at her. "Come on honey, sit down." We go and sit at the kitchen table. "Do you wanna talk?" I shake my head and start to get choked up. Then suddenly I burst into tears. "Okay, sweetie I got you." She wraps her arms around me and rocks me back and forth. "You're safe here." We stay like this until I calm down, she brings me a glass of water and we sit in silence for a while and Lena comes in.
"Is everything okay?" She comes and strokes my back.
"Gracie just had a little moment."
"Are you ready for us to tell the others or would you rather wait upstairs while we talk to them?"
"No, it's okay. I'll stay." She gives me a caring smile and calls everyone into the kitchen for a 'family meeting'.
"Did something happen?" Mariana seems panicked.
"No, no nothing like that love. Come on sit down everyone." Stef says ushering them into the kitchen. "We just wanted to let you know that Gracie will be with us for a few weeks, she's got a trial coming up and-"
"Stef." Lena stops her from saying any more, she wasn't supposed to tell them what happened to me.
"A trial, what did you do?" Jesus asks, making me feel awkward.
"Jesus!" Lena shouts.
"It's okay Lena," I say quietly. Maybe if I just tell them I can avoid all the awkward questions and stuff. "Um, last night at John and Mary's, I uh, I was sexually abused." I swallow my fear. "And I got examined today, John got arrested and I have to stand up in court against him." I take a sip of the water. They all go quiet, and they look sad, but not as if they pity me. It's like they hurt for me.
"I'm sorry Gracie, I didn't realise," Jesus says.
"It's okay, you weren't to know." He gets up and comes over to me, taking a second before hugging me. "Thank you." He lets go and sits back down. "I'm okay considering. I don't think I would be if it weren't for you guys. You took me in. No questions asked, and I couldn't be more grateful." I take another sip, dragging it out so they don't expect me to say anything else.
"So, I want you help out a little more around the house, maybe make dinner a little more often, take the trash out when you're asked. That kind of stuff." Stef says. They all nod along, I can't tell if they're just not happy to have me if they're sad for me. But at least I have somewhere I won't get hurt.