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Update, August/10/2020: This chapters has gone through quite a bit of rewriting in places as I was editing spelling and grammer mistakes. Going through it I realized I didn't like the way some of it sounded and wanted it to try to fix that. So if someone is re-reading this and notices the difference, that is why

Ah, crap, I can't believe I lost track of time like that. Not that I had actually been paying a whole lot attention in the first place. I had been a little too busy crying to do that. Still, I had wanted to fall asleep before the Bakers got home. Usually when I cry myself to sleep I stay asleep, as in I am a pretty deep sleeper. To wake me I'd either have to get water dumped on me, thrown out of bed or have someone yell in my ear. Out of the three I imagine the Bakers would just yell at me. They weren't allowed to cause me actual harm; I'd be relocated with a different family if they did.

Even though I was sleepy, and fazing in and out of focus, I could hear Lisa's voice from downstairs. It was muffled and distant but I didn't need to hear the words she was using to know what she was saying. It was obvious. She was telling my foster parents that Robby had been a sweet little angel while I had been a demon spawn. You know, I actually was starting to regret using force on her earlier. However, I then remembered Lisa was a bitch and do it all over again regardless of the trouble it would get me in.

From what little focus I still had, I listened as the the front door to the house open and then close. Lisa was finally gone. Hopefully the Bakers never hired her again. Or at least wait until I am gone until they do. However, even if Lisa was gone, which was at least one headache taken care of, I knew I was still in trouble. In fact, I could already hear loud thumps on the stairs and then again in the hall. Those thumps belonged to my foster father and I knew he was angry. Thank God I had had the good sense to lock my door. While it was originally to keep my annoying foster brother out, it also worked wonders on angry foster parents.

As the heavy thumping got louder and stopped right outside my door, I watched the handle jingled as my foster father tried to open it. Upon realizing he wasn't going to get in I heard what could only be described as a muffled growl before something heavy, most likely his fist, banged on the wooden surface. "Ashley, you unlock this door right this second!"

"No, I don't have to do anything. Go away." I called back, not moving so much as a finger from my spot on my bed. From outside the room I could imagine the fist my foster father used to knock tightening as he was becoming angrier by the moment.

"Don't you dare deify me, Ashley Baker. Open this door right now!"

Alright, so that woke me up a bit. Oh, how I hated being called a Baker. It spiked my anger so bad I just wanted to jump off my bed, go unlock the door and scream in his face until my throat got bloody. The only things stopping me from doing so was the acknowledgement of the headache it would give me and not wanting to see his face. Screaming I could still handle but, even if I was okay to see Ben Baker's face, if I were to move too quickly it would send searing pain shooting through my head. That was normal for me though, as it's always been that way after I have a crying fit. Or if I lay on my stomach for too long.

"My name is Ashley Parker. NOT Baker! I am not your fucking daughter!" I screamed and soon regretted it. My throat was already sore from sobbing so screaming like that really hurt.

Lifting a hand to tenderly rub at my throat, I stared at my door as I waited for the man behind it to do or say something. Only... he didn't. A few seconds later and still nothing. It was almost as if he weren't even there anymore and I frowned as fading footsteps sounded behind the door. Okay, this was weird. In the short time I've been living with this family, I've come to learn they didn't give up easily. Especially when they became angry and I had just sworn at the father. He should have become more mad at that, not become silent and walk away. So what was he doing?

A few seconds later I got my answer as the footsteps returned and my heart dropped. The door rattled once again only, this time, a small clicking sound came from it. It had been unlocked. Ben had gone to get the key that was used to unlock my room from the outside. Having a door like that was a stipulation of having one that locked in the first place. According to him, it was in case of emergencies but I just suspected they didn't want me to have privacy.

"If you ever make me do that again, young lady, I promise you you won't like the results." Ben, having now opened my door and walked in my room, threatened. Though a part of me wanted to retort back with something mouthy, I bit my tongue and simply glared at the man.

I hate him. I hate his son, I hate his wife and I especially hate him. How this family even got into the business of fostering I'd never know. Or, rather, why they were allowed to foster children in the first place. I don't really know how the whole system works, but there had to be someone that approved who got to take in kids like me. This family... well, I wouldn't be surprised if they were only in it for the money. After all, they weren't exactly the most loving or understanding type. And despite trying to address me as one, they didn't treat me as they would an actual daughter.

If I had to compare the Bakers to anyone, then it probably be the Dursleys from Harry Potter. Of course, they weren't exactly like the fictional characters, but it was the closest comparison that came to mind. Maybe because I watched a few of the movies not too long ago. Mag Griffin from Family Guy also came to mind but, unlike her, I wasn't necessarily abused. I more so was just forced into doing chores neither Ben or Sandy wanted to do themselves. When I refused, they'd often punish me by not letting me eat dinner with them. Which typically didn't bother me as it meant more time I didn't need to see their faces.

Ben and Sandy were also those types of people that held themselves in high regards and talked down others. Only in private or to their closest friends, of course, as I came to learn social life was everything to them. I can't recall all the times I've caught Sandy gossiping on the phone or Ben trying to teach Robby the importance of life. In the most arrogant way. The biggest thing about this family, however, was just how controlling Ben was. It's borderline abusive and on more than one occasion I got the sense that if he knew it wouldn't get him in trouble, he'd raise a hand to me.

As it is, he can't. Neither he nor Sandy can lift a finger to me. Not if they want to continue cashing the check I'm guessing they were getting for taking me in. This didn't stop me from threatening to tell the cops the first time I saw Ben get as angry as he was tonight. In all honesty, I don't know why I didn't. Even if my family hadn't been found yet, any other foster family probably would be better than this one. At least, aside from a few obvious examples, I couldn't see it becoming worse than it already was.

"Now, you've got some explaining to do, missy. Care to explain what happened tonight?" Ben, his face red in anger, demanded; puffing out his chest and crossing his arms over it. My left eye twitched at that and, though I tried to continue to hold my tongue, felt my anger once again spike.

"Fine, you want to know what happened? Robby stole my book and gave it to Lisa. She refused to give it back so I made her." I admitted uncaringly, not bothering to hide the anger from my tone, or go into too much detail on how I made Lisa do it. Chances were she already told him. Or at least I thought she would have, but the look my foster father gave me said otherwise.

"Do you think you're being smart with me? What made you believe I'd believe such lies? Lisa told us what really happened and she has never once lied to us. You, on the other hand, do."

"With what?! What have I ever lied to you about?" I snapped before I could stop myself, my heart tightening painfully inside of me.

Lie? I've never lied to them. Sure, I may not be the most respectful teenager in the world right now but, hell, I've been trying so hard not to so much as swear in front of Robby let alone start lying. I barely even speak to the people unless I absolutely had to. If anything, it was Robby that was the liar, but of course they'd believe him over me. As mentioned before, in his parents' eyes, he can do no wrong so, if he said I did something and I said I didn't, I must be a liar. Damn it, why couldn't I have just been with people who would be more sympathetic to my situation?

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't you dare take that attitude with me, Ashley Barker." Ben snapped back, returning my hateful glare with what seemed to be one of his own. At that I felt myself reach my breaking point and balled my hands so tight that, if they were longer, my nails likely would have cut through my palms.

"Stop calling me a fucking Baker. I am a Parker, and I will always be a Parker. If I ever have to change my name it will be to Lee." I growled through grated teeth, my entire body shaking to the point that it was starting to give me a headache. Along with still feeling kind of tired, it wasn't a pleasant feeling and I just wished he'd leave already.

To my surprise, Ben marched right up to me, his arm stretched out. I knew exactly what he wanted to do and for a moment I felt a tightness form in my stomach as I stared at him with wide eyes. Though he stopped himself mid swing, this was the first time in the three weeks I had been here he's actually made to hit me. And, as much as it scared me, I kind of wish he would. At least with a visible mark to show the world, I'd have proof these people were rotten and could be taken from them. On the other hand, with the current emotional state I was in, I don't know how I'd handle being slapped.

"Watch your language, young lady. I will not tolerate that type of mouth in my home." Ben threatened as he took a step away and lowered his arm back to his side. I opted to simply glare at him again, unsure exactly how to respond as I slowly felt the tightness inside me loosen as I attempted to calm myself down.

"Now, who is Lee?"

'Oh wow, so out of everything I've said, that's what he decides to focus on?' I thought as I was questioned about the name. Suddenly feeling a lot more tired, I sighed and unclenched my fists so I could rub my left eye as I stared at Ben Baker tiredly.

"It's the surname of one my aunt." I grumbled and failed to bite back a yawn. Perhaps it was because of my new found sleepiness, or maybe I just no longer cared, but I then sat a little straighter and gave him the hardest stare I could muster.

"In fact, I've been thinking of moving in with her. It'd be a lot better than living in this dump."

To my surprise, a cruel smile quickly spread across my foster father's face and he began to laugh. I mean, I guess it had been a rather weak threat, given my aunt doesn't even know where I am, but I meant what I said. I really did want to move in with her. As for calling this place a dump... I suppose I could have said worse but was that still something to laugh over? More over, in a way that sounded so menacingly.

"And why would she want a bratty teenager like you? Besides, for all your family knows, you died in the car crash along with your parents and sister. It'd be a waste of time to even try contacting anyone."

Shock jolted me from my sleepiness and for a moment I could do nothing but stare in utter disbelief at the man who continued to laugh. My family thinks I'm dead? But... that can't be true! Why would the cops do that to me? Or whoever the hell it was in charge of placing me in the foster care system. No, this can't be truth. He was lying. He had to be lying. My family didn't think I was dead. They didn't! I don't care how broken I've heard the system could be. This level of corruption only happened in TV shows and movies. But, then why did I still feel so scared, and why did my heart hurt so much?

"You're lying! It's not legal to do that kind of thing. My family will find me and I will be taken from here!" I shouted, lowering my hand back to my lap as fastened into even tighter fists than before. My heart jumped as Ben looked at me, laughter dying but his smile as cruel as before and, for the first time since living here, I felt truly afraid of him.

"Oh, isn't it? And exactly what are you going to do about it, and with what proof? What you say doesn't matter because, until the Child Care Services say otherwise, you're stuck with us. And there is nothing you can do about it."