"Where've you been?" Arnold demanded when Seeley dropped me off at my house after the museum, it was after dark and I knew my fosters would freak. I had to say, I had this one coming.
"I was out with a friend." I said as I tried to make my way past him and to my bedroom, but his large body blocked my own small frame.
"A boy?"
I didn't say anything and his large hand came up to strike across my cheek, I winced.
"Answer me!" His hand striking again.
"Yes! Yes a boy!" Hand came up and struck again.
"I told you, you weren't allowed to see boys."
"I'm sorry." I said.
"You're not sorry. Go do your homework."
I ran to my room, pulling out the emptied trash bag I had been using to carry my belongings from my closet, I threw everything I could find into the bag, and tied it closed. I threw it out the window and quickly climbed out. It wasn't the first time I'd done this. I picked up the bag and ran to the bus stop. I didn't know where I was going, but where it was, I had to be able to get there on $5.
The bus station was empty, a few people straggled, and I made my way to one of the service windows. A young blond smiled at me, "Hi." She greeted.
"Hi. How far can I go on $5?"
She laughed, "the other side of town."
"I'll take it." I said pulling my crinkled bill and placing it under the slip in the window.
When the bus pulled up, I loaded my black trash bag on a seat in the back and I sank into the plastic chair.
I was the only one on the bus, I liked it that way. I pulled out my anthropology book and began to read by the light of the moon and the streetlights.
It took about 20 minutes to get to the other side of town, When the bus stopped I was forced to get off, I knew This was where Angela's friend Jack Hodgins lived. We had met a few times before. He was a nice guy. He knew my situation and once told me that he was more than happy to help out in any way he could, but still I hated doing this.
I found his house in 10 minutes and knocked on the door, Jack opened, wearing grey sweat pants and no shirt. He definitely was a looker, "Tempe, whats up?" He asked when he saw my trash bag.
I didn't say anything, I felt so ashamed of myself to be doing this and Jack opened the door, "Come in." He said lifting my bag and carrying it in the house.
"I'm so sorry." I said when he brought me a cup of ice tea.
"What did he do this time?"
I twisted my head to show him the bruise that had set in on my cheek from where my foster had slapped me.
"Ouch. Well, don't worry, you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need to."
"Thank you Jack. I don't want to put you out."
"No, You need a safe place to stay."
"Thank you. Please don't tell Ang I ran away."
"I won't. What about school?"
"I'm not going. I'll teach myself. Besides I'm smarter than most of the teachers at that stupid school."
"You can't miss school, Temperance. They'll hold you back."
"I can't go home."
"You know Angie will take you in. That way you can still go to school."
I shook my head, "Can't. That's the first place the fosters will look. They'll kill me for running away,"
"At least call her. Let her know you're alright."
"No! I can't! No one can know where I am. You can't tell them."
Jack sat next to me, "Alright. Fine. Do you want me to help you settle in?"
I yawned and shook my head, "No. I think I'm just gonna go to bed."
He nodded, "You know where the guest room is."
I pulled my black bag behind me to the guest room at the end of the hallway. Jack's parents were pilots and both were out for the week. Jack's older brother Jordan was 24 and stayed to watch him, so he didn't mind me staying the night.
***
"Where is Temperance?" Booth asked the next morning when he saw Angela sitting alone on the brick wall.
"I haven't seen her this morning. Maybe she's sick I mean she is-" Angela shut her mouth when she realized she'd said too much.
"What? She's what?" Seeley asked.
" Nothing. I'm sure she'll be here. She can't miss biology. It's pretty much her life."
"Well when you see her, can you tell her I wanna talk to her?"
Angela folded her arms across her chest, she wasn't buying Seeley's nice act as much as her best friend, "What's your deal with her?"
"I told you already. I want to be her friend."
"why? Did Chad put you up to it? Are you going to buy her trust, so that she'll let you in and at the worst possible moment you'll make her look and feel like a complete idiot? She's a human being Seeley, I know it's hard to imagine because she doesn't dress like the other girls. But it doesn't matter. Leave her alone. Please? I've seen this girl go through more than one person should ever have to go through. I'm not letting you ruin her any further than she already is. Please, she doesn't deserve this."
Seeley was taken a back by her words, "I have no hidden agenda Angela, I swear. Look, please if you see her, just please tell her, I want to talk to her. Please?"
"Fine. I'll tell her. But if you hurt her, I swear to God, I'll break you. You don't scare me."
"I'm not going to hurt her."
"Alright." He seemed genuine and sincere, Angela had to give him the benefit of the doubt, "If I see her I'll tell her."
"Thanks Ang." And then he walked away. Angela wasn't sure about this, but she trusted her best friend. She kicked her heels to the wall as she watched the students walk by and into the school building, yet no sign of Temperance.
It was 10 am before I woke up. It'd been a long time since I'd woken up in a peaceful sort of manner. I could certainly get used to it. Jack had already left for school, but Jordan was awake, eating captain crunch and watching "Family Feud"
"I love this show. When I was little, my mom and I would watch this and try and guess before the contestants." My happy voice trailed off as the memory sank into my mind and Jordan looked at me.
"You miss her don't you?"
"Terribly. I wish she would come home. I hope every day that my social worker would tell me that my parents have come back."
"I'm so sorry Temperance, It must be so hard not knowing where they are."
I shrugged, "You get used to it. I just wish they would have placed me in a better foster home. 3 more years and I'm out."
Suddenly a hard rumble in my stomach sank in and I knew I was about to throw up, I quickly excused myself and made a mad dash for the bathroom, I'd been throwing up for a week now. I knew I needed to see a doctor about the baby, but that would require parental consent and my fosters would kill me for having a baby at fifteen.
I thoroughly brushed my teeth and rinsed with the new mouth wash and toothbrush Jack had left me before he left for school, since I had to leave mine behind at home.
***
Seeley found Angela at lunch that day, when she saw him coming she shook her head, "She missed biology. She must be absent."
"I really need to talk to her. Maybe I'll stop by her house on the way home, if she's sick I can bring her some soup."
Angela looked up at him, "No you can't. Tempe's parents are a little strict she's not allow to hang out with boys."
"Well I really need to talk to her, maybe I can get her parent's permission."
"No. Seeley. Just tell me what you need to tell her. I'm going over there after school, see what's up."
"No. I need to tell her to her face. I'm sure she'll be back tomorrow."
But tomorrow came and went. Three days had passed and neither Angela or Seeley had seen or heard from Temperance. It wasn't until after school when Angela was on her way home, Tempe's foster dad's car pulled up and his window rolled down.
"Where is she?"
"Tempe? I don't know. I haven't seen her since Monday."
"She's not at your house?"
Angela shook her head, "She's not at home?"
"No one has seen her since Monday either."
Angela looked up, "No." And then she took off to her house. When she got home, she threw her bag on the floor and dashed to her phone, dialing Seeley's number.
"Hello?" Seeley answered.
"She ran away." Angela's voice was in a panick.
"Who? Who ran away?"
"Temperance. Temperance ran away."
"What? Why?"
"It's a long story."
"Alright. I'm coming to get you. We'll find her."