Chapter 3

I glanced up at the door after repeatedly ringing the doorbell it was easily deciphered that this family that I was supposed to stay with wasn't home. I stuffed the book back in the bag, locking the front gate with the hopes that would do the best for being in a city, and pressed my back towards the corner next to the front door. Curling a blanket around me I hid my stuffed animal below the blanket arms curling around it.

The truth be told there was an important reason why a stuffed animal was so important to me, a teenager. I had wanted this stuffed animal for over a year. I was so used to being told 'do you have money?' or 'buy it yourself if you want it', but my parents got it for me out of a pure whim. It was the last thing that other than school clothes and birthday presents that I didn't have to buy myself. In my mind it was full of love plush I was able to curl my arms around it in the middle of the big city that made it hard to breath. It's presence was one thing familiar in a chaotic place I had never been to before. "Still a child." I whispered to myself not caring because I was alone waiting for my new foster 'parents' to come home and be responsible.

I flipped open my phone wondering if my older brother would bother to call, text, or anything. It was almost laughable that we were in debt but yet we each had phones. I laughed a fake laugh and then slammed the phone back into my stuff despising it as if it was what had caused my family's debt. I closed my eyes for a moment drifting off to sleep, a flower carefully placed in between my fingers.

I blinked my eyes open to notice a dark figure leaning over me glancing at me as if I had been something that spotted their interest earlier in the day. "No way is this pathetic human worth his time, why did he wait so long to join us over this?" the figure muttered to itself as if he was there for purely curiosity.

"Whatcha' want?" I asked back pulling my blanket further around myself hiding my stuffed animal.

"Either you feel extremely safe here or you're stupid." the shadow muttered towards me as I glared at it. It quickly disappeared as I glanced around again. My 'foster' family still wasn't around to unlock the stupid door.

"Oh, my oh my!" A man said unlocking the gate and running up as I brushed water out of my hair.
"What?" I asked obviously the gate wasn't enough to keep either trespasser out. I thanked my lucky stars the person that came first was only curious even though he had an ominous present that felt malignant and malicious.

The second seemed to be a rather plump vacationer with a Hawaii designed shirt, cargo shorts, and flip flops.

I shook my head concerning myself with the second trespasser. "What do ya want?" I asked pulling myself up, it was easier to breathe now but the air was still heavy as if I was hit with several pounds upon my shoulders.

"You must be the child that was sent over here from her parents...ah um...they deeply apologize!" the man rambled as I sighed back it would've been easier to just follow the red haired teen to his home.

"What do you mean?" I asked carefully putting my stuff back into the bag hopefully so this man wouldn't see my treasure.

"Your foster-parent was in a terrible car crash and don't expect to be out of the hospital for a while...they were terribly worried over you." The man explained as I jumped down the steps.

"I've been struggling to get around the city all day and the door isn't even unlocked when I found my way here! I've been resenting them all day why couldn't someone saved me from my guilt and actually showed up to tell me sooner?" I asked as the man shook his head.

"Come with me. I'll bring you to the hospital." the man sighed. Within moments we were at the hospital and I was shown to the people who would be watching over me for the first time in my life.

"Hey..." The woman who would be watching over me sat up in her own bed glancing at me her smiled fading from her face at my soaked hand, my shaking posture, and my shoes making puddles around the hospital room.

"My gosh, didn't they send anyone for you?" the woman asked towards me as I set my single bag of stuff down sitting down in a chair.

"No...I did get help from a stranger though...kind boy said we'd be going to the same school...anyway how are you?" I asked my shoes surrounded by water as the woman sighed at me.

"I'm just fine, I can walk run and everything but they just won't let me leave." The woman rolled her eyes as my hand tightened around the flower that the stranger had left me with. "Here's a spare key for when you go home." the woman laughed as I nodded. "I'll be home tomorrow." she promised as I nodded unsure of what I would be eating tonight.

I stood outside the Hawaii-man had dropped me back off at the house almost as quickly as they let me visit that woman. I sighed still not knowing anyone's name as I attempted to let myself in the house sounds of chaos echoing through the streets towards me as I glanced back towards the city streets my nervous hands trying to fiddle with door my brain screaming that it could be anything at all. It didn't have to be a gang fight, it could be anything from rowdy teenagers to an animal fight. My hands shook as I jammed the key I had received from Mrs. Blitztag at the hospital into the door swinging it open.

"Kurama! Hurry up he's getting away!" A voice shouted. "I know I've got this!" A familiar voice echoed throughout the streets. I glanced back out towards the darkened streets, matted with rain, deciding it was best that I go inside.

I scrutinized house. "Oh..." a voice sighed as I looked up to see a blonde girl standing in the first hallway coloring her lips in shorts that were so short they were probably pajamas and a skimpy top while her blonde hair was legitimately yellow and extended past the shorts which believe me probably wasn't a great feat for that hair of her's. I glanced at her. I never had a sister. Annoyance filled my chest as I took a deep breath unsure if I'd be able to speak from the city air to the emotions that were swirling within my chest.

"So where are those parents of mine? Did they drop you off and go out partying or something?" The blonde muttered her tone immediately made me feel repulsed against this girl.

"They were in a car crash, they're at the hospital...it was long before they had to go get me." I suppressed the urge to glare at this girl. Her parents were in the hospital and she wasn't

showing a sign of remorse or worry.

"Oh no wonder I've been alone all day...some idiot kept ringing the doorbell, I didn't order any packages today." The girl rubbed her lips not even a moment to glance away from her reflection on that stairwell.

I glared at this girl. She left me out to suffer over a couple more minutes of sleep. "Where am I sleeping?" I grinded my teeth as the girl turned around wide-eyed.

"Most people farm out there, right? I'm surprised my mom even let you into the house." She paused switching lipsticks as if either of the brilliant firetruck-colored lipsticks would help her complexion, "You get the living room. The couch, don't put your feet on the table." She muttered storming upstairs complaining about how I was the worst thing to happen to her, how the people of school would laugh at her for having such a filthy looking person living in her house, and how I probably have no manners.

I glanced down at the floor my hands curling around my single suitcase. It wasn't my fault I was looking like this it was her's. I wiped off the stupid mascara it always made my lashes feel heavy but my mother was insistent on making a good impression and that make-up means that you're taking care of yourself. I shook my head heading into the bathroom to wipe it all off. "I hate make-up so much." I whispered to myself rubbing it off till I felt better but the feeling of it remained on my face, ringing out and brushing my hair. Make-up made me feel as if I were hiding behind a mask of shame and I could masquerade out as anyone else. But that was tiring and it felt much better to just be myself.

I headed back into the living room where my cousin was sitting on the couch throwing my only treasure up and down in the air, my stuff spilled across the living room causing my heart to lurch and fill up with aggravation. "I thought I was the one sleeping on the couch." I walked over keeping my cool as the blonde stretched herself out on the couch. "Well, your clothes at least aren't those of a hobo, and I should probably do your makeup and hair so that you don't embarrass me in front of my friends at my school..." she paused glancing in my favorite and only treasure's eyes my disgust in her growing by the minute as my mind came up with thousands of things that she was probably planning on doing to it grinding my teeth she wasn't leaving the room with it no matter what.

"First let's start with my rules the most basic one when you go to my school you'll stay away from a certain red head, he belongs to my group...You'll know when you get there...Or I'll behead your precious treasure." the evil cousin smiled towards me patting the polar bear on the head as if teasing me for still being like a child even though I was already a teenager. Than my cousin without even introducing herself immediately went back to pilling demands upon me. "I'd rather not disgrace his beautiful name by letting your ears hear it, but if you don't you'll never know to go around his magnificent presence. His name is Shuichi Minamino." She sighed as I continued listening half-assed as I plotted my revenge.

No way was she keeping my special treasure nor was I begin intercepted into a group of teenage girls only about their boyfriends and gossip. I wasn't going to be the background character for the rest of my life because of this girl that I didn't even know her name.

"This is your school uniform." She sighed as I glanced at it. A uniform? I had never worn one how would they have my size? I glanced at my stuff a crossed the living room. If there was a uniform than what was the point of emptying all of my clothing on a so-called 'cool' check to make sure my clothing was in style enough for her.

"If I stay in your presence anymore I think I'll puke." The blonde got up dropping my treasure to the floor and stopping at the door.

"What's your name?" I asked back at her she wouldn't see the anger on my face, not a drop, she wouldn't get to see me in a vulnerable state no matter what I hadn't shown sadness or anger to my parents in years no matter how much they lost it. A stranger would not get a rise out of me. Not for a second.

"What's your name?" I hate you so much. I glanced at her waiting for her name.

"Elizabeth." She smiled as if it meant she had some kind of power over me then walking away not bothering to ask the same question.

I rolled my eyes packing my stuff away once again trying to not be a rude house guest for when my aunt came home tomorrow. "I can suffer one school day." I whispered to myself glancing around waiting for the best idea of a hiding spot to come to mind knowing I would have to suffer with this cousin Elizabeth tomorrow through school. Either she'll make me the social outcast at school or she would keep me so close that I wouldn't be able to do anything out of her sight. "See what childish mannerisms get you?" I glanced at my precious treasure. Everyone had that one thing they kept even as an adult. Being an adult didn't mean getting rid of everything did it? I wasn't too keen on what people meant when they said 'grow up' it seemed like an awfully boring process. Also I had too many childish habits. The bear, cupcakes, and sweets were also issues. I thought of being back home. The social outcast. It didn't seem too bad I was a social outcast but I found those people, the ones most people don't think existed, those people that will stick with you no matter what.

I smiled briefly but that dropped quickly for fear that Elizabeth might find the truth of what kept me here.

The memories of the high school resurfaced. It was gone now. I glanced back at the empty room. It was empty like my heart now. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault. Played over and over in my head as if I was trying to convince myself. Another reason my aunt thought it'd be safer here with my torturous cousin who was already holding threats against me. It wasn't my fault. I wanted to scream it to myself hold onto my head till it stopped hurting with that guilty feeling that screamed in the back of my head.

It wasn't my fault my school burned down.