It's been a week since Charlie epic break down. As soon as it was over Charlie acted like it never happened like everything went back to normal. Or atleast that's what Charlie did.
"Is this a bad time," Becky asked peaking her head in the door.
"Nope," Charlie said adding a stroke of black paint to her painting.
"Cool," Becky said awkwardly closing the door.
"As you know we have been working to find you a placement," Becky added.
"Yeah and," Charlie said.
Nia swatted at her thigh.
"Hey you couldve messed up my masterpiece," Charlie pouted.
"Sorry Michael Angeho," Nia said looking down in her book trying to hid her jealous.
Its not that Nia isn't happy for her friend. She just wished she appreciated what she had more. Nia would do anything to have a foster parent who actually wants her and not just the check. But she knew why she didn't get as many as Charlie . That check by behavioral issue is why.
"Nia language," Becky said
"Sorry Ms. B," Nia said.
"Back to what I was saying we've found a placement," Becky said.
"Don't get too excited this may not be your forever home," Becky added.
"I didn't plan on it," Charlie said with a bit a sas.
"They're wonderful people you'll like them," Becky said.
"You say that about everyone," Charlie said finally setting about her paint brush.
"Well sometimes it's true," Becky said with a smile.
"So get packed and ill be back before dinner," Becky said before walking out of the room.
"I'm just a week back and people are already fighting for me like I'm meat," Charlie said before flopping down on Nias bed
"Yeah well at least you got people fighting I've been in here for 4 years with only 2 foster homes," Nia said complaining.
"I'm sorry but it gets tiring moving from place to place,"Charlie said to her, "And most of the time they're just in it for a check,".
"Atleast people want you even if it is for your check," nia said pouting.
"Oh baby come here," Charlie said with her arms out.
"No you have your paint shirt on," Nia said.
"Oh just come here," Charlie said.
"Ok," nia said scooting over slightly and it was just enough for Charlie to hug her.
"You'll find your forever home and if you don't I'll come visit till you turn 18 then you can move in with me but I highly doubt you won't find your forever home," Charlie said.
"You for real," Nia asked?
"Of course you're a gem. Your personality is a one in a million type thing. You got this essence to you. Any family would be dumb if they passed up a child like you. You're brilliant, Nia. Just because people are too busy with babies doesn't mean you won't find your forever home," Charlie said trying to comfort her.
"Gee thanks now you made me cry," Nia said laughing as she wiped the tears from her face.
"I'm gonna miss you," Charlie said.
"I'm gonna miss you too. And you're pep talks," Nia said.
"Well thankfully this isn't goodbye just a see you later," Charlie added before she let Nia out of the hug.
"Want me to help you pack," Nia asked?
"I would love your help," Charlie added.
They packed all of Charlie's stuff pretty quickly. Becky would get all her medicine and important stuff. Charlie didn't have a lot to pack anyway. But that was the life of a foster kid.
Nia insisted on taking the suitcase down.
"Nia its ok I got it," Charlie said.
"No I got it," Nia insisted.
"Ok,"Charlie said.
Nia struggled to put the suitcase in the trunk of Becky's red car.
"I can help," Charlie offered.
"No I got this," Nia said barely putting the suitcase in the trunk.
"I guess this is see you later," Charlie said hugging Nia.
"I think this is good bye," Nia said with a strange look on her face. It was a new one for Charlie.
"I doubt that but text me later ok," Charlie said.
"I will goodbye Charlotte," Nia said waving as Charlie got in the car.
"See you later Niaomi,"Charlie said sticking her head out the window.
Becky made her way around the car making sure to shut the trunk.
"Have you said all your goodbyes," Becky asked starting the car?
"Yep," Charlie said popping the p in yep.
"All right,"Becky said taking off.
The drive was long but quiet. By the time they arrived to her new foster home. The sun had set and a night had begun. When Charlie was around 8 her developed a phobia of the dark. It started after she walked in the to dark bathroom and tripped over her moms dead body. You'd be surprised by the amount of trauma that girl had been through because she'd never show it. She'd suppressed it pushed it all down til she forgot about it. But she always kept a nightlight with her so she was never in complete darkness.
"Hey Charlie wake up," Becky tapped Charlie's shoulder.
"I'm up," Charlie blinked.
" were here," Becky told her.
"Ok," Charlie yawned taking off her seatbelt.
Becky had already gotten the suitcase out. It was evident as the suitcase sat right by her.
" you ready," Becky asked grabbing the suitcase.
" I guess," Charlie said standing up.
Charlie was curious as to what stood behind the door. She always played a little game with herself trying to figure out the backstory of her new foster family. But she had fell asleep on the car ride her so she didn't get the chance to play it. So she thought she'd just play a mini version now.
They have a fence so kid or a dog. They have a rainbow flag so gay or nice allies. Ok so gay men with a chocolate lab is my final guess Charlie thought to herself as Becky rung the doorbell.
" who is it," a women asked?
"Um this is Becky with CPS," Becky said making her presence known.
" oh just a second," the women said getting herself together on the other side of the door.
"Hey," the women said finally opening the door.
"Hey Callie we spoke on the phone early," Becky said.
"Right right," Callie said.
" so this is the kid I was telling you about," Becky said gesturing the Charlie.
"She a bit older than you made her seem," Callie said but harsher than she intended too.
"This was a recorded," Charlie thought to herself. " a minute in and already making me feel unwelcome usually they wait until Becky leaves before they begin to hate me.
"So you're Charlie," callie asked?
"Yep," Charlie replied awkwardly.
"How about we go inside so you can get to know everybody," Callie said welcoming them in.
"Um actually I have to go so how bout you go in and if you need you thing you have my cell right," Becky said handing the suitcase to Callie.
"Yep," Charlie said.
She knew Becky would have to leave but she never wanted her too. As soon as Becky left the real monsters would come out. I'm her past homes they didn't hold back. They would make it know that she wasn't wanted. That she should be grateful they're taking her in. How they because of the kindness of their hearts.Even though they got paid to do it. Becky was the security blanket. She was a since of comfort. Without Becky there was no one there to protect her from the evil people of the world.
"Come in," Callie welcomed her in but she couldn't make herself move.
She didn't want to be hurt again. Becky turned around to see Charlie frozen in her spot on the stairs.
"I guess it won't hurt to stay for a bit," Becky said walking back up the steps.
Charlie waited till Becky entered the home. She followed behind her like a scared child. Mostly because she was a scared child.
"Who was at the door Calliope," The blonde women asked not realized two extra people had entered her home.
"Becky," Callie whisper.
"Oh," the blonde said look at the women. "Oh," she added when her eyes landed on the kid.
"You didn't think to tell me," the blonde attempted to whisper.
"It was on short notice a forgot," Callie told.
"You don't just forgot to tell your wife you're taking in a child," arizona said.
"I'm sorry," Callie replied.
"Um I'm Arizona I'm sorry about the mess," Arizona said.
Charlie was used to mess but this wasn't mess. Yes there was a few dishes in the sink but it wasn't mess.
"No it's fine," Becky said smiling.
"Um my daughter should be home in a few minutes you can meet her then but in the mean time I can show you to your room," Callie said taking the suitcase in hand.
Room that was new. Of course Charlie always had a "room" but she was never allowed to sleep in it .normally she would sleep on the couch or in the basement but never in her own room. Even in her last foster home she had to share a room with her foster sister. But maybe it was just an act because Becky was still here. And after she left the would tell me I'll sleep on the ground in the living room cuz pets aren't allowed on furniture.
The room was yellow it was neutral like it could be adapted for a boy or a girl.
" I knew you wouldn't like it," Callie said as she watched Charlie look at the room. "I told Arizona the yellow wasn't cute but she convinced me it's better than white," Callie said awkwardly.
"It's cool," Charlie told her.
"You sure because we can go to the paint store and change it," Callie offered.
"I'm good," Charlie said.
"Ok I just want make sure you're comfortable," Callie said putting a hand on Charlie shoulder.
The sudden physical contact made Charlie flinch. It concerned Callie but she didn't want to unsettle the girl with deep questions on her first day in her new home.
"I uh had just finished dinner if you want to come eat or I can leave you to unpack," Callie offered.
" I think I'll unpack," charlie said.
She plopped on the bed. Charlie couldn't remember the last time she slept in a comfy bed. So she was gonna make the most of it before she was forced to sleep on the floor again. She started making snow angels in the bed like a kid. She'd never been this happy about a bed. But she'd never meet a bed this comfy. Even with Beth and Andy the bed there wasn't as comfy as this one. She was so wrapped up in the moment she forgot to take of her shoes. the stains on the bed took her right out of her happy place. She froze at the sight.
"Dinners almost ready," Arizona yelled.
Charlie begin to panic. She knew Becky was long gone and that layer of protection was gone to. Charlie panicked think of what to do. She took off her shoes the culprit behind the crime and set them to the side before she stripped the bed. It was difficult taking all of those sheet of especially in the panicked state Charlie was in. She stooded by the door holding her sheets. She couldn't run as fast as she used to but she could still run
"Please let those year of track play of," charlie said sending a little pray to whatever is in the sky.
Just as she opened the door she saw Callie standing behind it. She pulled it back closed and hid. Used she began receiving beating on her 2nd or 3rd never the first. She braved herself for whatever Callie threw at her.
"Charlie," Callie said slightly worried.
"Geez where could she even hide,"Callie said looking in the closet.
Charlie was a good hidder from all those year of hiding from foster parents. She learned to never hid in the closet they always check there first.
"Charlie are you ok," Callie asked once she found her under the bed.
No response. She was physically fine from what Callie saw. She was still breathing. Callie reached her arm out to try and touch her. But that only caused her to back away. Callie wasn't skinny enough to get under the bed with her.
"How about you come from under the bed and we can take about this," Callie tried to coax her out.
But it didn't work cuz she wouldn't budge.
"I can lie down next to you to keep you company," Callie said lying on the cold hard wood floor.
"My favorite color is blue it used to be red then I meet Arizona and it changed to blue," Callie said trying to make conversation.
"What's your favorite color," Callie asked?
"Purple," Charlie whispered.
"That's nice my daughters favorite color is green," Callie adds.
Callie phone ding pulling them out of the comfortable peace they had.
"You know I think the food might be getting cold and Sofia just got here and she really wants to meet her new sister," Callie said offering a hand.
Charlie said a silent prayer and took the hand. Closing her eyes as tight as she could. But the her surprise the hand didn't beat her or push her or throw something at her but it helped her up. Maybe she was wrong about them maybe they wouldn't be so bad.
"Come on," Callie said leading Charlie not letting go of her hand.
"This is Sofia she our daughter," Callie said introducing her.
"Hey I'm sof I hope my parents haven't embarrassed me," the young brunette teased.
"Who us we would never,"the blonde played along.
"We are the coolest parents alive," Callie joined in.
"Corny," Sofia joked.
"But you love it," the taller man stepped forward picking up Sofia.
"Put me down," sofia laughed.
"Nope," the man held her.
"Please," the girl begged thrrough her laughed
"Ok," the man complied
"Im a teenager you can't just pick me up like that," sofia complained.
"Oh yes i can," the man argued.
"Oh im mark Sloan sofias dad and Callie's best friend," the man introduced himself.
"We'll tell you the story later," Arizona said putting her hand on her shoulder.
It was all to much it was like a scene out of a fairytale they were all so nice. It was the worst Charlie was just waiting for the other shoe to drop because it always did.
"How about we get cleaned up and then we can eat dinner," Callie said breaking the silence.
"Sofia come on help set the table," Arizona said.
"Ok," she complied.
She went to the bathroom it was white with silver decor. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as she begin to cry. It was all to much they where to happy. She was beginning to feel happy. She couldn't let herself get attached again. She refused to let herself get attached again.
"You're a big kid pull your self together," Charlie said wiping her eyes. She got herself to get her and exited the bathroom as if she hadn't almost broke down.
"Mom made spaghetti it's the best it's my nanas recipe. It's not Italian but it's the best," Sofia told her hyping up the food.
Charlie just nodded she was unsure of what she should say. She new Sofias statements couldn't be true because her dad made the best spaghetti. And she didn't want to get in trouble so she just nodded.
"Have a seat," Callie said pointing to the seat next to her.
"I thought Becky left," Charlie whispered.
"She didn't you can still sit down," Callie said with a weird look on her face.
Charlie sat down with an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
They ate but while charlie played with the spaghetti on her fork. charlie couldn't eat she felt sick. They interacted like the families on tv. She couldn't just sit there and have them stringer her along in some sick and twisted game.
"When are you gonna hit me," Charlie asked?
They were all stunned.
"Huh," Callie said.
"What I'm mean you're super nice to me you're patient with me. You probably think it's funny or something you think I won't expect it if your nice," Charlie said.
"What," Arizona asked.
"Normally I start getting punished on my second or third day but they're never this nice to me. This is a sick game," Charlie said with anger in her voice.
"What do you mean," Callie asked?
"Stop playing dumbing and just hit me already," Charlie yelled.
"I like to know when I'm going to get hit so punished I don't like to play little games I don't wanna play house just get it over already," Charlie said they look at like she was a chicken with her head cut off.
"Or are you gonna wait till he leave if so give me a sign or something like a look or a kick under the table," Charlie said calming down realizing the scene she just made. She tried the melt into the self closing her eyes tight anticipating the hit.
"Oh sweetheart we would never hit you,"Callie said.
She opened one eye in a comical way had it not been the circumstance mark would've laughed.
"I messed up your sheets," Charlie said before shut her eyes again.
"Thankfully we have a wash and dryer and a linen closet full of sheets," Arizona said trying to calm the girl down.
"This isn't the best spaghetti ever," Charlie said just to be sure the wouldn't hit her.
"Come on you haven't even given it a try,"sofia whined.
"Sofia," Callie said
"Sorry," Sofia said.
"We are all titled to our own opinions," Arizona said.
Charlie sat up straight realizing she had just embarrassed her she tried to keep a poker face.
"May I please be excuse," Charlie asked?
"Sure sweetheart," Arizona said.
A/N: I don't have a strict schedule when uploading for this book I know I don't have one for my other books but this one will be even more sporadic.