This is where I'm going to get into some kind of serious matter. I hate spoilers, but because this may be triggering for some people (it was for me even while I was writing it), I just want to warn anybody who has been in a situation where they have been hurt, either physically or verbally, by a loved one should read this with caution.
Another thing I have to mention is the formatting of one of the songs. Brynklie sings, and while she sings, there is a flashback. Normally, I italicize flashbacks, but because I also italicize song lyrics, I wrote the flashback in a normal way. Just letting you know :)
The first month was hard, for the whole Lynn family. They had one relative or another visiting almost everyday until now, when they finally had to adjust to life without Diane.
"Hey, I never asked how your first day back at school was," Ryder said as he and Brynklie came into the kitchen after Glee Club. Brynklie had been having a particularly hard time dealing with her mother's death, and hadn't returned to school since the day they told the Glee Club about it.
"Eh," Brynklie shrugged, throwing her backpack onto a chair, "Everybody is being all nice to me. I want people to be scared of me again. I liked that." Ryder went upstairs, laughing at his sister's comment.
"Brynklie," Frank Lynn entered the room and grabbed her arm, "What are you wearing?"
"A shirt and jeans, why?"
"No, the coat. Is that your mother's coat?"
"Yeah, she used to let me borrow it if I was running late. Is there something wrong with that?"
"What if someone stole it?" Frank asked angrily. Brynklie blinked several times.
"We would have one less of mom's many coats. Trust me, there's more where those came from."
"Take. Off. The coat."
"Fine. I'm inside anyway," Brynklie replied. She pulled off the coat and slung it over a chair, not looking back as she walked out of the room. Frank took three deep breaths. Then, the coat slipped off the chair, dropping onto the floor. He spun around at the noise.
"BRYNKLIE," He shouted, letting the anger get to him, "GET IN HERE."
"What?" Brynklie asked, not letting the fear show in her eyes.
"PICK IT UP." Brynklie obeyed, but Frank didn't drop it even after she hung the coat up, "I'M GOING THROUGH SO MUCH RIGHT NOW, AND I DON'T NEED YOU AND YOU'RE CRAP MAKING MESSES THAT I'M GOING TO END UP SPENDING MY FREE TIME CLEANING UP, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T NEED YOU USING ALL OF YOUR MOTHER'S STUFF. IT'S ALL WE HAVE LEFT AND IF YOU RUIN ANY OF IT, SO HELP ME GOD—" But Brynklie had already left.
It went on like this months. Frank continued to berate, insult and exploit his daughter, who in turn, became more isolated, repressed, and untrusting. However, it never became physical, until one day when Brynklie came home late.
"Where the hell were you?" Frank asked, angrily.
"I'm sorry. Dance was let out late and then we had to drop off a bunch of other people," Brynklie replied, trying to hide her now ever-present fear.
"I don't care. You should have been here. You know what? You're quitting dance. It's stupid and time consuming and you're not even good at it. You don't need to be taking expensive classes when you're not even going to be able to do anything with them." Brynklie's eyes widened.
"Dad, no! I have to dance. Mom wanted me to keep dancing."
"I don't care. I'm not paying for them."
"But I'm already accepted into Juilliard. I have to keep dancing until then and then I get into an amazing college and you don't even have to pay for it."
"Well then I guess you aren't going to college," Frank argued. Brynklie was now getting angry.
"I DON'T CARE," She screamed, "I HAVE TO KEEP DANCING. IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ME SANE. WHY DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?" Frank's hands balled into fists, but Brynklie didn't notice, "DANCE IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THESE DAYS. I NEED IT. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO HOLD THAT AGAINST ME." She spun around, beginning to leave the room. Frank followed her, his still-clenched fist swinging around and hitting her in the small of her back. He dropped his hand, and rushed out of the room. Brynklie stood for a few minutes until she fell to her knees on the cold tile floor, not even trying to hide her sobs.
A few months later, the Glee Club met to begin one of their final weeks before Nationals.
"Okay," Finn said, "Does anybody have any requests for themes? Be sure to pick wisely, because one song from each week leading up to Nationals is going to to be part of our set list."
"Could we do a contemporary week?" Harlow asked, "I really just want to do creepy, sad songs."
"That's a great idea," Finn replied, writing "contemporary" on the whiteboard in large black letters, "You guys can do any song you want that is contemporary, and they can be emotional, or they can just be creepy songs. You can do duets, trios, groups, solos, whatever. It's on you. I have one rule, after your performance, you have to explain the message of the song, so make sure there actually is one. We'll do performances on Friday, so you guys can spend this period getting ready if you want."
Three days later, the Glee Club met in the auditorium to begin the performances. Kitty and Bree were the first to get on stage.
Both:
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
Dying on top of the world
Kitty:
I remember the nights
Caught up in dreaming my 'goodbyes'
Watching the door for anything more than an ordinary life
Bree:
I remember the days
New beginnings on an open page
With something to prove and nothing to lose, not a soul to betray
Kitty:
Here I am
Living a dream that I can't hold
Bree:
Here I am on my own
Both
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
I'm dying on top of the world
Bree:
I remember the lies
Caught up in building paradise
The angels were slaves and demons behaved and
Everything was alright
Kitty:
Here I am
Living a dream that I can't hold
Here I am on my own
Both:
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
I'm dying on top of the world
Kitty:
I hear the crowds beneath me
I'm wishing they could reach me
But I'm on top of the world
Up here I'm dying alone
Bree:
Inside the walls of gold, outside of happiness (Kitty: It's all been a show, too late to confess)
No room for heart and soul, no room for innocence, innocence
Both:
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
Kitty:
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
Bree:
On top of the world, on top of it all, trying to feel invincible
I'm dying on top of the world
Kitty:
But I'm dying on top of the world
"That was amazing! What was your message for it?"
"Well," Bree began, hesitating, "It may sound a little self absorbed, but it was about how being, well, popular I guess, is really hard. You have to deal with so many people spreading rumors about you and assuming horrible things about you and you have to make it seem like you don't care. It's really hard and sometimes painful, and this song kind of summed all of the up, so yeah."
"You know, I understand that perspective of it. That was a great song, and I'm sure that was hard for you guys to do," Finn replied. The Glee Club gave them another round of applause before Finn spoke again, "Who's next?" Harlow stood up.
There's a humming in the restless summer air
And we're slipping off the course that we prepared
But in all chaos, there is calculation
Dropping glasses just to hear them break
You've been drinking like the world was gonna end (it didn't)
Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure)
It's clear that someone's gotta go
We mean it, but I promise we're not mean
And the cry goes out (ha)
They lose their minds for us, and how it plays out (ha)
Now we're in the ring and we're coming for blood
(Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But we're the gladiators (Oh! Oh!)
Everyone a rager (oh-oh)
But secretly they're saviors
Glory and gore go hand in hand
That's why we're making headlines (Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But victory's contagious
Delicate in every way but one (the swordplay)
God knows we like archaic kinds of fun (the old way)
Chance is the only game I play with, baby
We let our battles choose us
And the cry goes out (ha oh)
They lose their minds for us and how it plays out (ha oh)
Now we're in the ring and we're coming for blood
(Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But we're the gladiators (Oh! Oh!)
Everyone a rager (oh-oh)
But secretly they're saviors
Glory and gore go hand in hand
That's why we're making headlines (Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But victory's contagious
No-one 'round here's good at keeping their eyes closed
The sun's starting to light up when we're walking home
Tired little laughs, gold lie promises,
We'll always win at this, I don't ever think about death
It's alright if you do, it's fine
We gladiate but I guess we're really fighting ourselves
Roughing up our minds so we're ready when the kill time comes
Wide awake in bed, words in my brain,
"Secretly you love this, do you even wanna go free?"
Let me in the ring, I'll show you what that big word means
(Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But we're the gladiators (Oh! Oh!)
Everyone a rager (oh-oh)
But secretly they're saviors
Glory and gore go hand in hand
That's why we're making headlines (Oh! Oh!)
You could try and take us (oh-oh)
But victory's contagious
"And what was your message behind that?" Finn asked, still applauding Harlow's performance.
"Well, it wasn't really about anything in my life like Kitty and Bree's song. It was more like a general message that people tend to feel unstoppable. They think that they can do anything they want, just because of the term "free" is always thrown at us. But what the song is saying is that with the glory comes with gore, or abuse of power. They forget that our freedom still has boundaries, and that if we let our freedom go to our heads, we do stupid things and people get hurt."
"That's really philosophical. Good job Harlow. Jake, did you want to go next?"
"Uh, yeah," He replied.
Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now
Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same
When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down
'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name
While he sang, he looked directly at Marley as he sang.
It all just sounds like oooooh…
Mmm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should've bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should've gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man
My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways
Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life
Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, ohh…
And it haunts me every time I close my eyes
It all just sounds like oooooh…
Mmm, too young, too dumb to realize
That I should've bought you flowers
And held your hand
Should've gave you all my hours
When I had the chance
Take you to every party
'Cause all you wanted to do was dance
Now my baby's dancing
But she's dancing with another man
Although it hurts
I'll be the first to say that I was wrong
Oh, I know I'm probably much too late
To try and apologize for my mistakes
But I just want you to know
I hope he buys you flowers
I hope he holds your hand
Give you all his hours
When he has the chance
Marley glanced at Ryder - who was indeed holding her hand - and smiled.
Take you to every party
'Cause I remember how much you loved to dance
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your man
Do all the things I should have done
When I was your man
"I picked this song because I can connect to it. I know that I've a lot of really stupid stuff that I can't pretend didn't happen, but I can apologize for them. I know it probably won't really help, but it makes me feel better, if anyone."
"Good job Jake," Finn said, nodding, "It's nice to hear that and I can tell that you've grown since I first met you."
"Could we go?" Charlie asked, standing up with Mackenzie
"Of course Charlie," Finn said, "What are you guys going to sing?"
"Little Game."
"Well, you can go whenever you're ready." Mackenzie and Charlie stood side by side onstage. Mackenzie was wearing all blue and Charlie was wearing all pink.
Both:
Play us like pawns and relentlessly confine,
Into living up to gender roles and having absent minds
Don't you think it's funny how they tell us how to live?
Don't you think it's funny how we're all delinquent kids?
Like, hush now, don't say, don't say
Charlie:
Hush boy, oh hush boy, don't say a word
Throw on a jersey and no one gets hurt
Mackenzie:
Hush girl, oh hush girl, just bat your eyes
Both:
Play our little game, play our little game
Bounded all thoughts and corrected common sense
You're raising suicidals with your predetermined titles
Like "a mess, distressed, I am unimpressed, you're excess
A dress is all you'll ever be."
Gender roles impose control and deceive progressive time
Welcome to the land of the broken mind
Mackenzie:
Hush boy, oh hush boy, don't say a word
Throw on a jersey and no one gets hurt
Charlie:
Hush girl, oh hush girl, just bat your eyes
Mackenzie:
Play our little game, play our little game
Charlie:
Hush boy, oh hush boy, don't say a word
Throw on a jersey and no one gets hurt
Mackenzie:
Hush girl, oh hush girl, just bat your eyes
Both:
Play our little game, play our little game
Charlie:
We feign opulence just to get by
Mackenzie:
Put on a false confidence just to feel alive
Both:
They can't hurt me anymore
Mackenzie:
There's nothing left to break of me
Nothing left to take from me
Charlie:
'Cause, baby, it's easy to fake a smile
When you've been doing it for a while
Mackenzie:
Baby, it's easy to fake a smile
When you've been doing it for a while
Charlie:
Hush boy, oh hush boy, don't say a word
Throw on a jersey and no one gets hurt
Mackenzie:
Hush girl, oh hush girl, just bat your eyes
Charlie:
Play our little game, play our little game
Mackenzie:
Hush boy, oh hush boy, don't say a word
Throw on a jersey and no one gets hurt
Charlie:
Hush girl, oh hush girl, just bat your eyes
Both:
Play our little game, play our little game
Mackenzie:
Hush boy, oh hush boy,
Charlie:
Hush girl, oh hush girl,
Both:
Play our little game, play our little game
Charlie:
Play our little game
Play our little game
Play our little game
Won't you play with me?
"I know we haven't really gotten to hear either of you sing by yourselves much this year, but you've got amazing voices and it's great to have you with us. What was your message behind that."
"The whole song was about how enforcing gender stereotypes is ruining our society. We should let people embrace who they are, instead of who we think they have to be," Charlie explained, while Mackenzie nodded in agreement.
"That's a really great message. I think everybody really needs to understand that. Great job," Finn replied. Another round of applause followed before he spoke again, "I think we have time for one more performance. Does anyone want to go?" Brynklie stood up.
"I guess I'll go," She said. Finn furrowed his eyebrows. Brynklie was never like this. She normally would have been up onstage before he could even ask if anyone wanted to perform.
And another one bites the dust
Oh why can I not conquer love?
As she sang, she began to think about what made her pick this song.
And I might have thought that we were one
Wanted to fight this war without weapons
And I wanted, and I wanted it bad
But there were so many red flags
Now another one bites the dust
Yeah, let's be clear, I'll trust no one
She had been in her dance room, rehearsing with her headphones in. She didn't hear him calling her.
You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace
The door was pulled open and then slammed shut as he thundered downstairs. Her phone was yanked away from her and thrown across the room, where it hit a wall and fell to the floor.
Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
I may snap and I move fast
He roughly grabbed her by her arm and her neck and dragged her upstairs. She grabbed anything in her reach, attempting to break out of her father's clutches. Frustrated, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
He carried her like this up another flight of stairs. Reaching her room, he threw her inside. Her back hit the footboard and she fell to the ground as he left, slamming the door behind him.
I've got an elastic heart
Yeah, I've got an elastic heart
She got up, rubbing her back and went to the door. Her father had locked it from the outside. She pulled and tugged at it, but nothing happened.
And I will stay up through the night
Let's be clear, won't close my eyes
And I know that I can survive
I'll walk through fire to save my life
She heard a car start and ran to the window, just in time to see her father drive away.
And I want it, I want my life so bad
I'm doing everything I can
Then another one bites the dust
It's hard to lose a chosen one
You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace
Four hours passed and she was still trapped in her room. She heard yet another car pull into the driveway, this one being Ryder's. She pounded on the windows and doors, desperate to get out.
Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
I may snap and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
He tore upstairs and unlocked the door. She practically fell out of the room in her haste to get to her brother.
Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
I may snap and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
He held her as tight as he could while she sobbed uncontrollably into his shirt.
Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
I may snap and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart
The song slowed down, and Brynklie's voice became smaller as her eyes filled with tears.
I've got an elastic heart
For a while, nobody clapped. She had sung with so much emotion and put so much of herself into that song that nobody knew whether to clap or otherwise.
"Um," Finn began, hesitating, "What was your message behind that song Brynklie?"
"Could I not talk about it. It's kind of personal."
"Sure. If you don't want to talk about it, you don't."
"What," Bree stood up, annoyed, "Do you know how long it took Kitty and I to find a song that actually had a message? She should have to talk about it!"
"Bree," Finn replied patiently, "A big part about being here is letting everybody feel comfortable. If she doesn't feel comfortable telling us yet, or ever, that's okay. It's all about respecting each other's privacy." Bree sat down, still frustrated, "Anyway, if that's everybody, do you want to choose a performance?"
"I know I'm kind of biased," Ryder spoke up, "And I know that the solo is supposed to go to the older people, but I really think that Brynklie should do it."
"I think so too," Marley added, "It's not our last year anyway, at least it isn't if we win this, I think that if Brynklie can sing it at Nationals like she just did, it could really help us win." The other's nodded, including Bree, even though she looked a little disappointed. Brynklie managed a smile.
"Uh, thanks," she replied. Finn frowned, concerned for his student.
"Hey Brynke," Ryder called, "Do you need me to bring you to dance?"
"Yeah," Brynklie replied, "If you don't mind. I just have to get dressed." She went into the bathroom. Lifting up her shirt, she saw the many bruises and cuts left by her father over the past few weeks. Normally, she would have worn a dance bra top and shorts, but those wouldn't be near enough to cover up these. She opted for a plain black, long-sleeved leotard, with black leggings, but even that didn't hide everything. She threw on a heavy sweatshirt and grabbed her bag, thinking of ways to explain the remaining marks on her skin.
"You know you have to tell someone, right," Ryder said after they left. Brynklie didn't reply, "You can't let him keep doing this to you."
"He's not all bad," Brynklie protested, "Yesterday he took me to the mall and let me get anything I want."
"But he's doing that to buy your silence."
"But who would I tell anyway. You're the first person I would have gone to."
"Tell Finn," Ryder suggested. Brynklie remain silent, pondering what Ryder had said.
Another month went by. Each time Brynklie went to tell someone, her father would do something to convince her that it wasn't necessary. She continued to attend school as she normally did, but Finn still noticed many differences in the once so headstrong girl.
"Two more weeks until Nationals," He said, addressing the Glee Club, "What do you guys want to do," There was a long silence, "Think of it this way. If we lose, what would be the one thing you would regret not doing."
"Disney," Mackenzie spoke up. Many of the kids smiled.
"Disney," Finn repeated, "That's a great idea," He paused, "Okay, here's how this is going to work. We're going to take today and assign each of us a Disney character that has a personality that reflects your own, then you pick a song from that movie and sing it." They pulled thirteen chairs into a circle and began to brainstorm.
"Ooh, I know who Unique is," Marley said, getting excited, "Tinkerbell." Everyone nodded in agreement
"Mackenzie should be Merida," Harlow added.
"Then Harlow's Hades," Mackenzie said. Harlow's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Oh come on. He's sarcastic and persuasive and hot-tempered and so are you." The others nodded emphatically.
"Carson's Gaston," Macy said
"I've got to agree with that one," Carson said, attempting to make peace with her, but Macy just rolled her eyes.
"Do you know who Gaston is," Macy shot back. He shrugged
"Macy's Alice," Mackenzie suggested, directing the conversation back towards Disney, "And Jake should be the Beast."
"What?" Jake asked, confused.
"It's not a bad thing," Mackenzie explained, "The Beast was really just insecure, so he shut everyone out."
"Sound familiar?" Kitty asked and Jake shot a look at her.
"He ended up being really caring and trustworthy," Mackenzie continued, "And Kitty's Elsa."
Now it was Kitty's turn to let out a confused, "What?"
"Yeah," Harlow agreed, excitedly, "She was elegant and regal, but was still fierce and powerful and she ended up being really caring. That's perfect!"
"Then Marley is Rapunzel," Kitty replied.
"I can work with that," Marley replied, nodding.
"What about Bree," Harlow asked, "Cruella Deville?"
"Maybe a few months ago I would have agreed with that, but not now," Kitty replied, "What about Ursula. Yeah, she was the villain but she was funny and sarcastic and manipulative and that's Bree."
Bree shrugged, "I can live with it. Who should Charlie and Ryder be?"
"Ryder's Hercules, and Charlie's Tiana," Harlow said.
"What," Charlie replied.
"Yeah. Think about it," Mackenzie added.
"Woah, guys, we forgot someone," Finn said, getting up and walking around the circle of chairs, "Who should Brynklie be." Brynklie flinched as he rested his hands on the back of her chair.
"Ooh," Harlow said, "Ariel!"
"That's so perfect," Mackenzie exclaimed.
"I guess," Brynklie said, attempting to smile. The bell rang, signaling the end of the period.
"Alright, we can start the performances tomorrow if you guys are ready," Finn said as everybody got up, "Hey Ryder, do you mind staying and helping me put the chairs back." Ryder nodded, bidding goodbye to Jake before doubling back, "Is Brynklie feeling okay?"
"Yeah," he lied, not looking at him.
"She's just seemed a little off this past month."
"Yeah," Ryder repeated, avoiding Finn's eyes, "It's been hard, but she'll be okay."
Finn waited a long time to ask his next question, "Is everything all right at home?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Good," Finn replied, even though he didn't believe him, "Because if something was wrong, you can come to me. I'm always here for you. You know that right?"
"Yeah," Ryder said for the fourth time.
"Is everything okay at home?" Finn asked again. He waited for five minutes while Ryder thought over what he was supposed to do.
"Not exactly," Ryder replied, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I think something weird happened to my dad after my mom died," He stopped, sitting down and waiting a full minute before he spoke again, "He was acting kind of stressed and all of a sudden he started to, kind of, well, I guess hurt Brynklie. He's completely left me alone, but he was first just insulting her and all of a sudden it got physical, and he's been completely, um, abusing her for at least three weeks, and I wanted to tell someone, but she was scared, and I was scared that she was going to get even more hurt if I told." His words had sped up as he spoke, and when he finished, he was almost gasping for air.
"You did the right thing. I'm going to talk to the guidance counselor. She'll call child services and they'll get this taken care of. You guys are going to be okay."
She knew she shouldn't have asked him to help her with homework. She knew what it would lead to, but he had been so nice this past week, and she was really stuck on one problem. It was late, past midnight, but her dad was smart, and knew that school was important. Maybe he would be reasonable.
She was wrong.
"Dad, stop," Brynklie shrieked a few minutes later, as a textbook was hurled at her, barely missing her face, "What did I do. I'm so sorry."
"You think anyone would want you? Without me you would be dead in a gutter," Frank spat, hurling the words at her like it was nothing, "You shouldn't be asking me for anymore than I already give you. You're spoiled and don't deserve anything. You should be grateful for this. You're learning." He lunged for her, but she ran. She tore out of the room, trying to close the door to slow him down, but it didn't work.
"RYDER," she screamed, "RYDER HELP!" He pinned her arms behind her back and roughly slapped his hand over her mouth. Brynklie struggled against his grasp, trying to free herself, but only managed to trip over her own feet. Ryder tore downstairs, just as the front door was kicked open.
"Put her down," a male voice bellowed over the commotion, as Brynklie's faint whimpers became sobs. Two police officers entered the house. Frank dropped Brynklie and ran in the opposite direction in an attempt at escape. The cops followed him, leaving two men still standing in the doorway. One was short and skinny, the other was tall and dark.
"You guys are going to be okay," The latter said, smiling. There was a loud crash upstairs, presumably made by the police officers tackling Frank.
"Let's go," the other said. The two social workers lead the siblings outside. While they waited, they introduced themselves as Mark and Owen.
"So here's what's going to happen. I know you guys are older, so I'm not going to sugarcoat it. They're taking you're father away, to prison. After they get him out of the house, you guys are going back in to collect some stuff you might need. Then you're off to foster care," Mark explained.
Twenty five minutes later, Frank was taken away in handcuffs and Brynklie and Ryder had each filled a trash bag with necessities.
"Ok," Owen said, clapping his hands together, "Brynklie, you're coming with me, and Ryder, you're going with Mark." Both siblings eyes widened.
"What," Ryder said as Brynklie started to sob again.
"I'm sorry guys, but Brynklie has to go to a family specifying in children who suffer from similar situations as her's. Ryder, you weren't ever abused, so you have to go to a normal one." Neither Brynklie nor Ryder said anything, they just held each other, while the social workers looked on sadly.
It took an hour, but the social workers finally managed to pull Brynklie away from Ryder. She cried the whole way to her new foster family. They were nice people, but Brynklie didn't want anything to do with them. She cried herself to sleep that night.
When she woke up the next morning, she had a horrible realization. Her new foster family was two towns away from Lima. She couldn't go to school.
Brynklie had hoped that she could prove to her social worker that she was mentally stable enough to be with her brother, but it was harder than she thought. During the day she suffered from panic attacks. During the night she had nightmares that were so horrible that she would wake up shaking. She became violent and reserved, pushing anybody who tried to help her away. She was moved to another family in three days.
Ryder was lucky enough to be with a family in Lima. He liked the couple. They let him do pretty much whatever he wanted, but the one thing he wanted was the one thing he wasn't allowed to have: his sister.
People noticed her absence at school.
"Hey," Harlow said, coming up to him during one Glee Club practice, "Where's Brynklie. She hasn't been here for a while, and she wasn't at dance either." Fortunately, Finn heard her.
"Harlow, sit down, we have to get started."
It continued like that for days.
Brynklie's new foster family was a childless couple in their mid-forties. Almost immediately, Brynklie got the vibe that they didn't like her. She went outside as often as she could. They kept an extensive garden and now that it was warmer, it became an escape for Brynklie. It didn't always work. She was caught eating a piece of fruit off of a tree and was scolded for almost forty minutes. She retaliated by dumping their entire decorative china collection into the large lake in the backyard. She lasted a day and a half there.
It didn't look like she'd ever be reunited with her brother.
Before you guys send me messages and stuff about this being unrealistic, I (loosely) based some of this off of stuff that has happened in my own life. I've been having a really hard time just getting through life lately, and writing this has kind of become a refuge, so I don't want to come on here and be told that my personal experiences are unrealistic. Sorry for the rant. Continue.
Top of the World by Greek Fire
Glory and Gore by Lorde
When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars
Little Game by Benny
Elastic Heart by Sia