A/N: Hey so this is going to be set in 2021 but no covid, cause covid messes stuff up. Some bits might be unrealistic, as well as misinformed cause I know next to nothing on the foster care system thingy, please review and leave constructive criticism. Thxs!
Disclaimer: I know it's obvious but I don't know if this is compulsory or not, but basically. . . .drumroll please . . . I don't own any eastenders character . . anti climax I know.
Chapter 1:
Feb 20th
Noah James crosby. Useless. Weak. fairy. dirty. Spineless. Freak. Misfit. Faggot. Scared. Thats me summed up, the foster kid no one wants, 14 and so fucking alone. The only person I have is my little sister and even she has been separated from me. She is in another care home, all by herself. She's only 5, and like my daughter at that. I love her, but she's the only crack in my tough guy exterior and that's dangerous. The care home I'm in is rough to say the least, it's ridiculous that all the "trouble makers" like me get lumped together, I guess I am a troublemaker, I drink, I do drugs, I party but half the time I just wish I was with Charlie. I have to fit in to survive in this building and if that means acting like a total thug then so be it. I don't mention charlie much it wouldn't do to look soft. Afterall, feelings kill, sounds cynical, but it's true, at least it is in this hell hole.
Feb 23rd
I walked downstairs slowly running my hands through my previously immaculate hair. Feb the 23rd Charlies 6th birthday today, I wanted to see her so badly to hug her tell her how much I love her or at least give her, her present. I had bought it anyway despite not knowing if I would see her, It's a tiara jeweled delicate, and damn well expensive for glass chips. Then I also got a pink hoodie with Princess emblazoned on the back in glitter. She's the typical cliche disney princess kid, anything pink probably would of worked to be honest. I needed to get it too her its just figuring out how, I could sneak out but I can't go this morning because the school is on to me about attendance and I seriously can't afforded to be chucked out. And I can't really go in the afternoon because I had some bullshit meeting with "prospective adoptive parents" like six different families are coming round I think it's crap, they're treating us like damn cattle! But that was at 4:20, school finished at 3:15. . . .maybe I could make it too Charlies Home and back, it would be hard considering I didn't actually have a plan to get in unnoticed, but it wasn't like I hadn't broken it to somewhere before. I think this might actually work, I was feeling confident now, I was going to see my little sis! As I reached the kitchen my mood dropped considerably when I caught sight of the clock. Bollocks, school, I slang my bag over my shoulder and headed out the door. I was walking along the pavement, when my phone pinged. I slid it out of my black jeans pocket (fuck uniform) and skimmed through the text,
Hey noah, ik its charlies bd but we r gng out in da arvo, so if ure sneaking in to c her come b4 3, dnt gt caught! Matt x
I groaned in frustration, I really didn't want to skip school but it was my only choice, as I couldn't go in the afternoon as charlie wouldn't be there and it was the adoptive parent thingy as well. I sighed, resigned slipping into an alley to pull of my school shirt, revealing a plain white. I was already in jeans and trainers so that was sorted, I kept going walking in the harsh summer sun, I was in a tightly packed street with a square in the middle, there was people weaving around each other, there were loads of kids I guessed it was an inset day for them as well as Charlie. I was getting tired of walking, I considered calling a taxi and be done with it but I didn't want any unnecessary questions asked being underage and all. I was crossing past a small alley when I caught sight of little girl in the entrance, she looked so like charlie, though maybe a little older, that she took my breath away. I was worried when I saw her crying quietly and was alone. I chewed on my lip deliberating, I had plenty of time, why not? I crouched down sitting on the floor next to her, "Hey, what's wrong?, fairies shouldn't cry!" she looked up her interest piqued. "Actually today im a princess" I grinned at her easy confidence, "Sorry, my mistake, Im noah, who are you?" "Lexi" we sat in companionable silence for a minute "so. . . are you going to tell me why you were crying?" she sniffed, looking at me hesitantly, "I lost my dad . . .and . . .I'm not really supposed to talk to strangers" "ah, well you shouldn't really talk to strangers, but I promise I won't hurt you, in fact i'll do the opposite, tell me, where did you last see your dad?, he's going to be frantic, imagine losing a princess!" Lexi hopped up gripping my hand, surprising me with her trustfulness. "We were playing hide and seek, but I did too much hiding" I smirked again at her comment and started to lead her up the street, "yeah, not wanting to be a buzzkill but I don't advise coming up here again without your dad" This was an understatement the street looked like it was filled with drug dealers and criminals, the streets were littered with beer bottles and cigarrete buts. It was rank. I smiled bitterly, almost like being back home. A voice jerked me from my thoughts and I turned and saw someone I really didn't want to see, He was blond, sneering and had the whole evil mastermind thing going, I remembered him from one of my dads past "business deals" and then i had got involved with him, drugs mainly. . . . .god I was stupid. He was staring not at me but at Lexi, "hello sweetheart, Lexi Mitchell, if I'm not mistaken?" his eyes flicked up to my face but remained calm "and the piece of vermin that cheated me out of my money" (one of my finer moments). This was bad very bad, caught down an alley by screw-loose-staz with a mini mitchell next to me. "You know" staz stated carelessly "I've been meaning to teach you a lesson, I'm not usually one to get my hands dirty, you should be flattered" Lexi was shaking beside me now clutching my hand. I knew I needed to take control. I tugged my hand away from hers and pushed her away, "run!" she was of like a rocket, out of sight in a split second. Staz made no move, letting her go, he obviously didn't care as much about the mitchells as I thought. He was moving fluidly, advancing, face stretched into an almost maniacal expression, but I stood my ground settling in to a fighting stance, I had been in a fair few punch ups. I reckoned I could give Staz a run for his money.