Five for Fighting
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer - I own nothing!
S.E.V.E.N
Darry said he wouldn't let me go, said he would get a lawyer, a gun, an armed accomplice, anything to keep me there.
His words didn't stop Mr. Adams from returning one hour and fifty six minutes later to pick me up, load my duffel bag into the car, take hold of my arm and usher me away from my rightful family and into his black honda.
His words didn't stop the awkward silence that ensued in the car after Mr. Adams pulled away from the curb and I could no longer see my brothers standing on the porch no matter how hard I strained my eyes.
I had seen the look in their eyes, defeat, their words could not stop what was happening.
I sighed, lying my head back on the seat as Mr. Adams told me about the home in which I would be living in until they could find a "more permanent arrangement"
"You're in luck," he said, "a couple came in the other day, looking to take in a foster child, however most of the children we take in are more…rough around the edges than you. The couple left but told us to contact them if we got someone in more suitable, and I think you might do just fine"
I was going to be sick, more suitable? They might as well be taking in a winter jacket with adjectives like that.
I fought back my nausea and sat silently as he continued to drive to another trashy part of town and pulled up in front of a large brick building a few stories high, a fire escape on the left side of the building.
"Get out and wait for me on the sidewalk, I'm going to park in the garage, can't keep the car out in front, too many hoodlums these days" Mr. Adams said with disgust.
I complied, getting out of the car and taking my bag out of the back. Holding it tightly I waited as he pulled around the building, wondering how far I could get if I started to run.
I could hide at Johnny's, or Two-Bit's, or Dallas… no not Dallas, I didn't have a chance with him now.
"Alright then, let's get you inside and settled," Mr. Adams said taking the bag out of my hands and breaking me from my thoughts.
"I'll carry that," I said taking my bag back, wishing I could take my life back just as easily.
I followed him through a dark hallway and up a pair of stairs in need of polishing, down another long dark hallway, the only light coming from extremely dusty windows streaked with dirt. He showed me into a large room filled with girls.
"You can take the third bed on the right," He said then cleared his throat to get the attention of the other girls.
"This is Amber Curtis," He didn't have much else to say, the girls weren't really listening anyway, I could tell they'd been caught off guard when the door had opened and were hiding something.
Or someone as it turned out to be.
Mr. Adams left and a girl with sandy blonde hair burst into nervous laughter, "that was a close one, come on out Charlie"
A boy with brown hair and scattered freckles crawled out from under the bed clutching a pair of girl's underwear with a wicked grin on his face.
Several girls screamed and the owner, a girl with red hair and blue eyes, snatched them back putting them under her pillow protectively.
Smoke billowed out from behind the curtains where two girls had hidden their cigarettes when Mr. Adams had come in.
I watched all of this sitting down on my new bed, a small rickety twin size that looked like it could hardly hold me, let alone my brothers too. Not at all like my bed at home.
"Hey new kid, what's with the get-up?" A platinum blonde asked looking me up and down.
I followed her gaze, not following her comment until I truly looked at the girls in front of me. Torn clothing, short skirts, tight tops, a lot of make-up. They didn't look like me, or rather, I really didn't look like them.
I shrugged and took off my shoes lying on my bed trying to tune them all out.
"Don't mind Missy, she's a bitch"
I looked up to find another blonde hovering above me, but this one looked natural, still too much makeup, but her clothes seemed to fit her alright.
"I'm Linda" I shook her extended hand and sat up, moving over to make room for her to sit down.
"I don't know what Adams told you, but this is strictly a girls floor, no boys allowed" She informed me.
"I was told." I replied, glancing at Charlie
"Fire escape," she said by means of explaining his presence, "boys are always coming and going from outside. The boys inside, they live next floor up, have rooms on the other side of the building so they can't really get to the fire escape, doesn't matter though they're all duds. We see them at meal times but we eat at different tables, Adams and Peggy say they don't want us having more children that need a place to live so they keep us separated. Don't make a difference though, like I said guys are always coming and going here - Mary over there is four months along"
I stared at awe at a girl who didn't look much older than me.
I laughed at the irony, trying to keep me from being corrupted, the state took me out of a house with a family that would crack the skull of any guy who tried to impregnate me and put me into a home where girls managed to get pregnant on an all girls floor.
Linda looked at me like I was cracked "I guess it was a bit of a stressful day, how'd you get in here anyhow?"
"I don't belong here, I have a family" I said "Three brothers, our parents died awhile back, I had been living with a relative who died, I came back here to find my family, found out my parents were killed but I had brothers, then the State came and said they weren't fit to raise me and here I am." I couldn't believe that had all happened in the last twenty four hours.
"What did you say your name was?" Linda asked.
"Amber"
"Amber what?"
"Curtis"
"So your brother is that gorgeous guy that works at the DX?" She asked "We've been trying to get him up here for over a year"
She stopped and thought a minute "And that kid Ponyboy, goes to the high school, he's your brother too?"
I nodded "My twin brother" God I missed them.
Our conversation had attracted the attention of several of the girls who were now listening with interest.
"He's been real famous at the school lately after what happened" Another girl spoke up looking excited to be talking to the sister of the famous kid.
"What for?" I asked.
They looked at each other "You mean you don't know?" Linda asked.
I shook my head as the door opened and another girl appeared "Dinners almost ready, and you best get Charlie out of here, Adams is on his way up."
"That was Deeana, she's sort of the head girl here, keeps us out of trouble when she can" Linda explained as Charlie said a hasty goodbye to the girls and left.
"Linda, do we go to the same school as my brother?" I asked.
"Yeah, everyone in this area goes to the same school, even the rich snobs lower themselves and go to school with us."
I nodded thoughtfully, I could at least see Ponyboy then, maybe he could help me think of a way out of this.
Mr. Adams re-entered the room and announced dinner, as the girls flooded out he stopped me,
"Amber, I've telephoned your school in Arizona, you'll be going to school tomorrow, 10th grade."
"Sir, I've only just started ninth grade" truthfully I didn't care what grade they put me into, I wanted to be with my brother.
"I know, however your marks were good enough that we feel putting you into the next grade will be fine, you'll be in the same grade as your brother" He turned a slight crimson and I got the feeling that he'd gone a distance to make sure this happened. For the first time all I day I truly felt grateful and I smiled to let him know it.
"Thank you sir"
He nodded "I also telephoned that couple I told you about, you have an interview tomorrow after school."
I nodded and looked at my feet.
Mr. Adams coughed "ok, well get on downstairs for dinner"
I nodded again but left the room with a little more enthusiasm than I had entered it, tomorrow I would see Ponyboy again.