It was supposed to be a fun day.
Ma and Pa were rushing to make sure everyone was ready. We were going to go to our friend's wedding today. I was struggling to zip up the back of my dress when Ma entered my bedroom. Her blue eyes (that every child in the family had) glowed as she walked over to me. "Awh, you look so beautiful my baby." She said, grabbing my face with her hands. She kissed my cheeks a couple of times before I had to stop her. "Mama! You have lipstick on, do you want me to show up to the wedding with my cheeks covered by your lipstick?" I asked in a teasing manner. My Ma laughed, before grabbing a wipe from my desk and cleaning my cheek of her bright red lipstick. "If it keeps those boys away then she can kiss you till her heart's desire." My Pa said walking into my room as well, the twins ran in behind him. While I looked exactly like my Ma, dark skin and black hair, the twins looked exactly like Pa, pale skin and blonde hair. "Sissy is going to have a boyfriend soon!" Ixia said with a smirk as he and Ixora jumped onto my bed. My Pa frowned, "What makes you say that?" He asked. "That's what happens to all high school students. They start growing hormones and kissing all the time." Ixora said as her brother started to wrestle with her on my bed. "Hey, hey! There will be no kissing! And no wrestling until after the ceremony. We don't want to ruin your outfits." My Ma said shooing the twins off my bed. The two grabbed each other's hands and ran out of my room, Ma chasing after them, making sure they didn't ruin their outfits. "Who knew that middle school sexual education classes would leave such an impression on your brother and sister?" My Pa asked with sarcasm, smirking at me as he walked over and zipped the back of my dress for me. "Papa you don't need to worry so much, there are no boys who are interested in me at school anyway." I said shrugging my shoulders. "You are as beautiful as your mother." Pa said twisting me around till I faced the body length mirror in my bedroom. I looked at my reflection and smiled, "You have to say that. You're my Papa." Before my Pa could respond Jasmine ran into my room, her dress in her arms. She looked like a mixture of my Ma and Pa, with blonde hair and dark skin. "Luna! Help me get dressed." She said smiling to me. "Help me get dressed..." I repeated, waiting for the appropriate response. "Pleasssseee." Jasmine said with an eye role that would put every angsty teenager my age to shame. "I rue the day she's a teenager." My Pa said leaning down and kissing her forehead, before leaving us to finish getting ready. I helped Jasmine, who was just entering first grade, get dressed and ready for the wedding, even taking the time to curl the ends of her hair with my curling iron. Even though we were the oldest and youngest siblings we got along really well. Ma and Pa always encouraged all their kids to get along, and never go to bed angry with each other.
"Come on everyone! We're leaving in five minutes!" I heard Ma shout from downstairs. I grabbed my shoes and slipped them on my feet, before following Jasmine to her bedroom and quickly picking a pair of shoes for her as well. We both ran down the steps as the twins ran out the front door with Ma and Pa. I grabbed my purse and Jasmine's hand, locking the front door behind me before walking over to the car where everyone else was already loading in. "Nope, climb in the back Ixia, climb in the back row." I said, seeing my brother sitting in one of the second row seats. "What? No fair! You sat in the second row this morning." He said with a frown. "Yea, and I'm wearing a dress, so I'm not climbing over the second row seats." I said, folding my arms. "Luna is right Ixia, this is where you are a gentleman and volunteer to take the back seat." Pa said from the driver seat. I smirked at Ixia as he rolled his eyes and climbed over the car seats into the back with Jasmine who was already strapped into her car seat. Ma checked to make sure everyone was in the car and doubled checked to make sure we had everything for the wedding before Pa pulled out of the driveway and we were on our way. I watched the houses and trees pass by us in a blur through the window for a few moments before I pulled my phone out and put my headphones in my ears. I could hear my siblings talking to each other over my music, but I didn't mind. I looked up and saw Ma reach over and take Pa's hand that wasn't on the steering wheel and I smiled.
I didn't keep track of the time, I didn't even look up from my phone screen till I heard Ixora scream. I jumped and looked up at her, but she wasn't looking at me, she was looking out my window. I turned, only seeing the front of a truck for a moment before everything went dark.
Everything had happened so fast, but as I felt myself come back to consciousness that moment replayed in my mind. It couldn't have been more than three seconds.
Ixora's scream.
my head was turning.
the crunch of metal that filled my ears.
Ixora's scream.
I gasped, opening my eyes and turning to my head, but the car seat next to me was empty. "Ixora!" I cried out, my voice was weak. Why did everything feel so...odd. "Lunaria! Please look at me." Someone said loudly in my ear. I turned again, seeing that there was someone in an ambulance uniform leaning through the window of our car, (the broken window Luna observed) holding my shoulder against the car seat. "My sister-my family!" I said, looking around the car. But the back seats were all empty, where were my siblings?! "Your brother and sisters are okay! They are outside the car." The person explained to me. I turned to the front seat, I could see my parents. "Ma! Pa!" I cried out, trying to get their attention. Why were they in the car if my siblings weren't? It suddenly became so, so hard to breathe. I could hear people talking, but it sounded like they were under water. All the sounds around me were muffled. "Lunaria, look at me.'' The tone was so demanding that I turned my glance away from the front of the car to the person leaning through the car window. "How do...you know my n'me?" I asked, my words slurring together. Why was it so hard to talk? "Your sister, Jasmine, she told me your name. She's waiting for you outside the car with your other siblings." The person explained. "Then-then I need to g't out." I said, it was like someone flipped a switch inside me and I suddenly felt so much pain. I cried out, feeling someone pressing their hands against my shoulders. "We will get you out, but we have to do that very carefully." The person said, "What-is your n'me?" I asked her. They seemed surprised for a second before taking one of her gloved hands and resting it on my cheek. "My name is Susan. I'm going to get you out of here and to your siblings, they are waiting for you. So you need to do everything I say okay?" I nodded, agreeing with her. "I need to get...my siblings...to them." I said with urgency. "I'm going to explain a few things, no matter what, keep on looking me right in the eye okay?" Susan asked. I agreed. "Alright, there are some firemen here who are going to need to remove the door from the car, because your arm is trapped between the door and your seat." I was tempted to look down at my arm, (why can't I feel it?!) but Susan gently tapped my cheek with her fingers, reminding me that I needed to keep looking her in the eyes. "I'm going to climb in through the window, and then the firemen are going to remove the door. But I will be here the whole time." Susan said as she started climbing into the car. I kept my eyes on her, watching as she got inside the car and awkwardly sat down in front of me. I heard things start to move outside of the car, I could hear people talking. They sounded so serious, panicked. "Hey, eyes on me." I turned back to face Susan. "Sorry-I keep forg'ttin." I said feeling really dizzy all of a sudden. "It's okay, tell me your brother and sisters names." Susan said, in a demanding voice. I closed my eyes for a second.
"Lunaria, what is your brother's name?" Susan asked.
"Uh, Ixia." I said. opening my eyes when Susan tapped my cheek.
"Good. Your sisters?" Susan asked,
"Which one?" I asked.
"Both." Susan demanded.
"Ixora is Ixia's twin. They are both 12. They are going into middle school after this summer."
"The little girl?" Susan asked.
"Jasmine...she's so excited about first grade." I said. I felt a pinch on my shoulder and opened my eyes (when did I close them?) to see Susan inserting a needle into it, pushing liquid into my body.
"Sorry girly, but you are not going to want to be awake for this next part. You've done so good staying awake for me...you can rest now." Susan said. I felt fear pump through my veins, but my body felt so heavy. Susan must have seen how scared I looked because she put her hands on my cheeks. "I promise I'm not leaving you. When you wake up again you will be safe. I promise."
"It was supposed to be a fun day today." I said, with a sigh. Before my head dropped to my chest and I let myself fall into blissful sleep.
-Three Months Later/ Lima Ohio-
"Here we are!" Our case worker said with a happy voice. He was nice enough, considering how hard his job was. Brad, if Luna could remember this guy's name correctly. She had stopped trying to remember all the case workers names after the first month she and her siblings were in Foster Care. "Wow, that was quite the drive!" Brad said as he got out of the car. He had pulled into the driveway of a three story house. There were toys scattered across the front yard, and a white picket fence. "It looks nice enough." Ixia said as he and Ixora climbed out of the car, looking over the house. Luna was in the front passenger seat, climbing out and walking to the back of the car, gently picking up Jasmine out of her car seat as she slept. The car ride had lasted five hours, and they were running late (because Jasmine had a terrible tantrum about getting into the car) so it was dark already. Well past dinner time, and past Jasmine's bedtime. "Are you sure you can carry her?" Ixora asked with a whispered voice as she and Ixia pulled our bags from the back of Brad's car. Luna smiled, "Yea, my therapy worked wonders. My arm is almost back to being normal." Luna whispered, hoping that Jasmine would stay asleep in her arms.
The car wreck had not only killed their parents on impact, but also broke Luna's arm and gave Ixia a concussion. It was no surprise seeing as Ixia and Luna were sitting in the side of the car that the truck hit. Luna could remember the relief that had flooded her when she woke up in the hospital months ago, her arm in a cast. Her brother, sleeping in the hospital bed next to her and her sisters greet her with only a few cuts and bruises from the wreck. Susan had come to check on them a few times, and Luna couldn't thank the woman enough for what she had done.
Luna wishes she could forget thy sympathetic smile Susan gave her, every time a social worker walked into their hospital room as she and her brother healed.
She wishes she could forget Jasmine crying every time someone told her that her parents weren't coming back.
She wishes she could forget the broken hearted, but silent tears Ixia shed when he woke up to a new world without his parents.
Brad knocked on the front door of the house and a few moments passed before the door opened, a middle aged man smiling at the kids before turning to the man and shaking his hand. "Your ?" Brad asked. "Yes, but you can call me Stephen. This must be the Johnson's clan." said, looking at the kids. "Yes, my name is Bryan. I'm so sorry for running late." The case worker said. 'Bryan, huh...close enough.' Luna thought to herself, shifting Jasmine in her arms. Although her physical therapy had helped, her arm still wasn't back to normal strength yet. "Oh, look at her. Sweetheart." said looking at the sleeping girl in Luna's arms. "Here, I can show you to your rooms. Let you all get settled while I do all the boring paperwork with Bryan." said gesturing for everyone to come inside the home. quickly showed the kids upstairs. "You will be staying in this room with the other boys. They know your coming so you can go on it." said gesturing to an opened door with a few bunk beds in it Ixia and Ixora shared a quick hug, kissed Jasmine on the forehead without waking her, and allowed Luna to kiss his cheek, before Ixia took his suitcase and entered the boys room. Ixora frowned and held onto my jacket with her hand. It was always hard for the twins to be separated, but it seemed that every foster home they had stayed in had strict rules about boys and girls not entering each other's rooms. "And your room is right here, your only sharing with two other girls at the moment, so that's good news!" said knocking on the door, only waiting a few seconds before he opened the door. The two girls in the room didn't even look up from the book they were sharing on one of the bunk beds as the group entered. "You guys can all go ahead and unpack, get antiquated, and you two can come down and get some snacks before Bryan leaves sense you missed dinner. But you're not allowed in the kitchen without my permission besides that. We will go over all the rules in the morning...but for now I will let you all get settled." said before walking over to the door. "Oh, and Luna. You are officially the oldest in the house besides me. So I'm relying on you to set a good example." He said, before leaving the room. Luna sighed, more than used to the foster care people thinking she was going to be rebellious at this point. But she wouldn't dare do anything that might risk her being separated from her siblings. Luna went ahead and tucked Jasmine into one of the beds while Ixora tried to introduce herself to the other girls. "Look...no offense, but our mom is going to be back to get us next week. We're not stuck here. So we're not trying to make any friends." The older girl said when Ixora said hello. The girl frowned and Luna walked over to join her sister before she could say anything Luna walked over and took her hand. "Let's go downstairs and get some snacks Ixora." Luna said tugging her sister out of the room, she wasn't worried about the two girls doing anything to Jasmine, if they weren't lying and their mom was coming to get them, then they were going to try and keep their heads as low as possible and cause the least amount of trouble. Luna stopped by her brother's new room and knocked on the door, doing their 'siblings special knock sequence' Knock, knick knick, knock knock A few moments passed before Ixia opened the door and stepped out, following his siblings downstairs.
"There you are! Feel free to help yourselves to anything in the bottom two drawers in the pantry, but don't eat too much. We don't want to spoil your breakfast!" said looking up from the papers that Bryan had sitting out on the kitchen table. Luna thanked the man for them before the twins walked into the pantry to see what they could find. Luna followed her siblings into the pantry, but listened to the adults as they talked in lower voices, as if that change would stop the kids from hearing inside the pantry.
"The twins will start seventh grade on a normal schedule it looks like, most of my kids right now are in middle school. But only two of the other kids will be going to elementary school with...Jaz-mine?"
"Jasmine." Bryan corrected.
"Jasmine, got it...and Lunaria will be the only high school student I have. She will probably attend McKinley High School."
Luna sighed, not liking the idea of starting high school in a new state, with no one she knew. She had spent the summer recovering from the wreck and being bounced from foster home, to foster home, with her siblings. This was the last place that could take all four of them together. Luna was determined to keep them all together, they were all they had left. Most of her friends from school had stopped messaging her by now. Only a few send her pictures and notes. But she knew that it was hard for them, (it was hard for her too) after the wreck her and her siblings had been carted off into foster care. Only taking one day to pack what they needed from their house, the rest being put into storage or sold by the government. Luna would have to wait till she was 18 to obtain her parents money that had been left for them in their will. But the girl had a plan. She would graduate high school, turn 18, then get parental rights over her siblings and use the money her parents had left for them to rent a cheap place. Maybe an apartment. Then they would live together and Luna would work until her siblings all graduated. Ma and Pa weren't here to take care of them anymore, Luna knew this. She had to be strong for her family. She had to take care of Ixia, Ixora, and Jasmine now. She would do whatever it took to keep them safe and give them a good life, it would be what her Ma and Pa wanted for them. They gave up so much for them to be a family, and loved them so much. Luna wouldn't let their hard work be for nothing.
"Luna? Coming?" Ixia asked. Luna blinked and looked up, seeing that the twins had all the snacks they would need. Luna nodded, before turning the light off in the pantry and shutting the door.
McKinley High, sounded like any other generic high school to Luna. But what could you expect in Lima Ohio? Luna wasn't about to get her hopes up for anything. She had one goal, to make it through without bringing any attention to herself.