Declaimers, author's notes and so on are at the end.
Wipe Away the Tears
Chapter 4: This isn't so bad, right?
By: Illyria
6/22/08
The doctors had taken the cast off her leg last week, the bad news; she was still forced to wear an ankle-to-knee brace. Lita's leg hadn't been broken, a minor fracture and very deep muscle bruises had been the main problem. The only good thing about the cumbersome brace was that it didn't itch like her arm; the break had been more severe and therefore still healing in a cast and sling. Lita didn't mind much, the new brace allowed her to walk at least, enforced confinement to bed or a wheelchair had not been fun, and the nurses' station was lonely. Lita had been excited about the moved to a dorm with other girls but it wasn't going as well as she thought, the other girls were giving her a hard time. Ms. Haruna and the other Fosters weren't giving her as many chores, it was causing some bad attitudes toward Lita, which was why Lita had slipped back to the dorm for some pace and quiet while everyone else had been sent out back for lunch. She had been laying in bed trying to ignore the throbbing pain in her arm when three girls raced in talking excitedly. Lita caught bits and pieces of their conversation before they rushed back out, apparently a new girl had shown up today and she was famous or something. Lita wasn't much for gossip; one girl was just the same as the rest but she couldn't suppress a groan over the fact that tonight was going to harder than ever to get to sleep, even with the normal talking, nightmares, fighting and screaming that happened, now they were all going to be up either bugging the new girl, or scaring her.
The big black Iron Gate closed behind them with a resounding clang as the car pulled up the long driveway, ending at a small parking lot. 'Big.' Mina thought. The house was an ancient four story affair, all red brick and white trim, it had been repaired many times over and the effect of the repairs, despite attempts to blend gave the house a patchwork look. Mina wouldn't be surprised if it had once been the scene for a grisly murder, a scrip she'd once read was dredging up all kinds of horror scenes. The sharp sound of clapping hands brought Mina back to earth. "Mina? We're going to be late for our appointment, out of the car please." Mr. Spencer commanded.
Mina unhooked her belt and slid out of the car. "Where are we?"
"This is Holloway Manor, this will be your new home until we find foster placement for you, or you go back home." Mina froze on the top step of the porch, the last thing she wanted to do was go home. Mr. Spencer opened the door and turned to the young girl. "Mina, I know you don't want to be here but until your court date that's how it is. Now quiet stalling, it'll be ok." Mr. Spencer ushered his charge thru the door, completely misreading the girl.
Mina was surprised to find herself not in a big foyer but a small living room, a long counter was set along the back wall, to the left of the counter along the same wall was a thick wooden door with a key pad set above the handle. Mina took a seat as Mr. Spencer moved over to the counter quickly. "Hi my names David Spencer, I have an appointment with Ms. Haruna."
The older woman behind the counter smiled brightly. "I.D. please?...Mr. Spencer her last meeting is running a bit over, just take a set and she'll be with you as soon as possible." Mina tried to settle the butterflies in her stomach as she waited, she didn't fancy the idea of staying in this creepy house but anything was better than home.
"What's in there?" Mina pointed to another thick wooden door on the right wall.
"Hum, oh meeting rooms." Mr. Spencer mumbled absently as he shifted thru his briefcase.
A half-hour later the door opened, a tall woman in a blue suit stepped out followed by an older couple and a redheaded girl, the girl said goodbye to her grandparents and was led through the door with the key pad.
"Mr. Spencer?" the tall woman came back through the door and greeted him with a hand shake. "Hi, I'm Mrs. Haruna thank you for waiting for me." Mina followed the two adults through the key-pad door, and into a wall of noise. Mina found herself in the foyer that was missing from the front of the house, it was a simple open space, stairs were directly in front of her and as they moved left toward Ms. Haruna office Mina could see down a long hallway, kids were everywhere and the smells of lunch drifted thru the air. Mr. Spencer didn't waste time as they gathered in the office. "I was handed Mina Anio's case this morning and told to deliver her here. I will be her caseworker, she has some up and coming court dates, I didn't get the time to properly go over her case but…" Mina let them talk over her and waited while they handed paperwork back-an-forth 'This is so boring.' Mina silently grumbled.
"Well, come on Ms. Anio follow me." Ms. Haruna worked in child services since she graduated college, ten long years later she successfully established Holloway Manor, a temporary home for girls. After saying goodbye to Mr. Spencer she led Mina back thru the security door. "The nurses' office is right next to my office." She turned gesturing to a door that mina hadn't seen, before continuing the tour. The house was long Mina discovered, there was a lunch room complete with industrial sized kitchen. "We have breakfast, lunch and dinner as a grope." Ms. Haruna was explaining. "What are you girls doing here?" Ms. Haruna surprised the three girls who were at one of the book shelves. "You all know the rules, outside impedingly."
"I lost my notebook." one of them complained. "May I get it please? I think it might be under my bed." As the girls scurried out pass Ms. Haruna they gave Mina long stares and giggled as they moved away. "This is the common room, the rules are simple clean up you mess, no food in either of the rooms and it's off limits after 9PM." The common room was huge, the first half seemed more subdued with book shelves, and the second half had a T.V. and board games. they finished the first floor with a gym attached to the back right of the house, off the far common room. Ms. Haruna only paused on the second floor to explain it was mostly classrooms (which Mina would start soon) and a few dorms for the Fosters; who had been explained as women who work or donated their time at the Manor most having more than one job, apparently one of the cooks was a great English teacher.
"Mina, how are doing?" Mina had fallowed Ms. Haruna around the house in a daze it wasn't until she stepped in the third floor dorm that she got worried. The third floor was shaped like a strait seven, there were two large rooms along the top hall one held twenty single beds and the other had ten bunk beds. The bottom hall was just off the stairs the bathroom was to the right Ms. Haruna briefly showed her it held showers, sinks, and toilet stalls, they were now standing in a long room opposite the restroom Ms. Haruna had been explaining that the third floor was ages 6-9 the fourth floor is girls 10-13 as she placed Mina's suitcase on one of the twenty beds ten on the left ten on the right a small three drawer dresser sat in between each bed.
Mina shifted uneasily at her question. "The big fence outside, the locked door, the schools even in the building, is this some kind of kid prison? cause I told and my mother said I'd be in trouble if I told." Ms. Haruna sat on the bed and pulled Mina in front of her.
"No Mina this is not a kid prison your mother was wrong, you're safe here and not in trouble the things you mentioned are for yours and everyone's safety. We have a school in the building because some of the kids here have to go to court or haven't had a chance to be in a regular school so this makes it easier on them but I promise you're not in kid prison. Why don't we get some lunch and I'll answer more of your questions."
Lita crawled out from under her bed at the end of the row. 'Man I thought they'd never leave.' As Lita drifted off to sleep she couldn't help but laugh 'Kid prison.' that kid hit the nail on the head, the staff at Holloway Manor was nice enough as long as you'd followed the rules, it was the other kids you had to watch out for. 'She'll learn soon enough.' Lita thought.
"Hey, look who decided to grace us with her presence." Mina walked into her dorm and tried her best to ignore the girls. It had been like this for two weeks now, a few of the girls had seen Mina in the movies, and had at first, tried in their own way to make friends, wanting Mina to talk about everything movies, fame, and fortune, then her reasons for being at the manor, when Mina had politely refused to talk about her mother and said she was tired of talking about movies, they had turned mean.
"Yea celebrity, you've been avoiding us, are we to good for you?" The first, an older girl, mocked.
"Next thing you know she'll be demanding her own room." The second put in.
"Leave me alone, I just want to go to bed." Mina put her bathroom kit down and tried to ignore them as she folded down her bed sheets.
"Oh now she's demanding us." The three girls surrounded Mina's bed.
"Man just look at this stuff! Most everything in here cost twenty bucks." The girl had snatched Mina's basket off the dresser and were greedily rifling through it.
"Well of course she gets everything around here. She's nothing but a snob!"
Mina turned at the accusation. "Give that back, its mine! And I am not a snob." Dejected Mina tried to grab back the basket, the older girl leapt back into the path between the twenty beds.
"No I think we'll keep it. It's not like you can't buy more." Mina tried to grab her basket but the older girl slapped her hands back. "I said. I'm keeping the basket." She threatened.
"No! Its mi…" Mina was cut off as the girl shoved her hard enough that Mina found herself on her rear between the beds. She looked around for an escape an only found the excited faces of the other girls, so bracing for a fight Mina picked herself off the floor, quickly having to block a swing thrown by the other girl. Mina managed to push the big girl back but this only pissed her off more, she grabbed Mina by her shirt and pulled her fist back. Mina tried to pull away but the girl had her hand so twisted in Minas shirt there was no way she could get free, admitting defeat Mina closed her eyes as the fist came flying.
"Ouch, ow! Let me go, let me go!" Mina had the idle thought that she was somehow talking without moving her lips, when she found herself stumbling backward free from the older girls fist.
"Why should I, you were going to hit her and she smaller then you, Macy. Apologize!"
'Tall.' Was mina's first thought as the new girl jump in front of her, she had Macy's fist twisted behind her back, the new girl was even doing it one handed.
"This is none of your business Lita, you big troll! I don't have to do what you sa…iee! Fine sorry, I'm sorry!"
Mina was shocked that anyone had bothered to stick up for her, let alone proceeded to make the other apologize. Mina waited till Macy had sulked off nursing her hand before thanking her protector. "You didn't have to do that." She started softly.
"Yea well, we all would have ended up in trouble if you had been caught." she muttered walking away.
It was well after lights out but Lita couldn't get to sleep. Bang! "Ow…stupid…" Clatter, thump, clunk. Giving a groan Lita sat up. "What exactly are you doing?" Lita was watching the small blond, she had dropped her bathroom basket and was chasing the shampoo bottle under a previously empty bed next to Lita's, she moved a few more things before collapsing in her new bed. "Well, what are you doing?" she whispered exasperated.
"I figured that it would be easier to just move myself, rather than wait to ask." Mina clarified slowly.
"Okay, but why did you move next to me?" Lita's confused whisper suddenly turned to angry disbelief. "If you think I'm just gonna follow you around like some bodyguard, you're crazy."
Mina blushed. "I didn't think that, this was the furthest bed from her." She snapped.
"Whatever." Lita rolled over to face the wall, listening as the other girl settled into bed.
"What's your name?" Mina whispered after a while.
Lita considered ignoring her but…"Lita, now go to bed."
"I'm Mina… you're the only person that's been nice to me since…I just wanted…thanks." Lita didn't know how to respond so she feigned sleep. "Night." Mina mumbled before snuggling under the covers.
Lita was furiously brushing her teeth and trying not to punch the girl next to her. This morning Lita had woken up to find…Mina waiting for her, of course Mina was trying to make it seem as if that was the last thing she was doing but Lita had seen through it, the girl had followed Lita around all morning in this fashion, she was now brushing her teeth, for the sixth time, as Lita waited for the last girl to leave the bathroom. "Ok, if you don't stop following me, I'm gonna hit you."
'Crud.' Mina thought. "I'm not following you." Mina was shoving her toothbrush in a small bag and trying not to look as guilty as she felt.
"Then why did you just brush your teeth six times? Look Mina, I told you last night, I wasn't your bodyguard." Lita stomped over opening the door to leave.
"Wait! I'm sorry, I just. I'm kinda scared of those girls, and I never had to fight nobody before and you're older and…I thought we could be friends." She finished weakly. The other girl's reaction was not what she expected.
"I'm only seven Mina! And I don't want to be friends just to scare those girls for you."
'Double crud.' Mina chased after the angry girl. "Wait please! I said that wrong, I've never had friends; not really, I don't want to be friends just to scare the other girls. I just was sayin I like you, your nice, id like us to be friends." Lita had stopped and was giving Mina a dubious look. "Whanna have lunch together?" Mina tried as the bell rang. Lita turned away. 'She is nice, I guess.' She sighed. "If you can call what they serve lunch." Lita offered. Mina smiled and took Lita's good hand as they walked into the lunchroom. "Hey I'm seven too. When's your birthday?"
7/17/08
Lita and Mina had been together in Holloway Manor for about a month and both were more than willing to keep it that way. Many girls considered the Manor to be a safe haven it was certainly better than the alternative but it was still a hard reality to deal with everyday. Case-workers, court, counseling sessions, endless meetings and appointments, and not every girl in the manor was social butterfly Mina tended to be. As hard as things could get, it was the small moments that made it better; they had found a friend in each other.
"You cheated!" Mina accused.
"I did not, you did."
"You can't go backward." The offending piece was nudged back to its starting place.
"I can. I'm king'd, member." The piece moved to its original place then proceeded to jump two red checkers. The argument Mina was about to make, with a pillow no less, was interrupted, as the door banged opened and a boy Ran in, shoving a chair under the doorknob, the kid in question was gasping for breath and struggling to hold the door shut as it was raddled.
"It's Macy." Lita complained, getting off the bed. The kid at the door jumped at hearing voices in the room but didn't surrender her hold on the door. Lita was surprised to see the kid at the door was a girl her hair was cut so short it was practically bald.
"Don't let them in!" The girl snarled scowling as Lita moved the chair.
"Don't worry." Mina soothed moving next to her. "That's Lita. She won't the Bz pick on anyone smaller than them." At the girls questioning look Mina explained. "There called the Bz case they bug everyone." The girl merely raised her eyebrows scathingly, before she could respond Lita swung the door open, the queen bee herself nearly fell into the room.
The girl moved further from Mina as Macy peered around Lita. "Are you hiding that baldheaded freak in here? They put her in the wrong place; she should be with the boys."
"Give me back my hat." she insisted.
"What? This?" Macy mocked waving the beanie. "I've heard about freaks like you. You like to be a boy."
Lita snatch the beanie from Macy. "Get out of here you jerk!" Then shoved her back slamming the door in her face.
"That's ok!" Macy yelled thru the door. "I'll just get him tonight." Lita hit the door in response and turned back to the room the girl was eyeing them suspiciously.
"Here's your hat." The girl took a wary step forward quickly taking the hat, as if Lita was going to cruelly snatch it back.
"Thank you, for helping me." She stated coolly.
"That's ok. That Macy's a bully, it's not right to pick on someone smaller then you." Lita had raised her fist with a fierce look on her face. Mina seeing the girl's wary look gave Lita a poke in her side.
"Don't mind Lita, she's a big softy. I'm Mina, what's your name? How long have you been here? How'd the Bz get on your case? Did you cut your own hair?"
"Chill out Mina, you're gonna smother her with questions." Lita moved back to the bed pulling Mina with her. "You want to play checkers." She tossed over her shoulder.
Mina bounced up on the bed and giggled. "We smuggled it up here, you're really not saposta but it quieter up here."
Rei looked at the girls on the bed then the door, choosing the lesser of two evils she moved toward the bed. "My names Rei…I'm not a boy." she tried to say the last with some force but it came out a whisper.
"I like your beanie." Mina said into the silence; it was all black with a skateboarding flame that had a cute face.
"Ms. Haruna let me pick something out from the donation clothes." She shrugged.
"Yeah Ms. H is pretty nice, that's where most of my clothes are from. Whanna sit up here with us? There's room." Lita smiled and patted the bed.
"So how long have you been here?" Mina asked. "I don't think I've seen you."
"I don't know a couple days; I try to stay out of the way but that girl." Rei frowned.
"The Bz? Macy?" Lita supplied.
"Yeah her, she keeps taking my beanie and picking on me." Rei's hands clenched into fists. "I'm not afraid of her. I could fight her; she just always has those girls with her."
Mina nodded in agreement. "Yeah there attached like tweedle-de and tweedle-dum." Mina and Lita laughed until they noticed Rei's expression.
"Who's that?"
"Alice and Wonderland?…Disney?" Rei just shook her head. "Don't worry we'll show you, just wait till movie night, Mrs. Lee takes suggestions."
"Macy likes to hit but once she gets hit she cries like a big baby." Lita laughed at the memory.
"Yea, when I first got here she wouldn't leave me alone, so one day I just turned around and pow!" Mina punched her palm. "It was the funniest thing, but I got in trouble big time. She doesn't really bother me anymore."
"I've never been around kids before."
"Haven't you ever been to school?" Lita asked.
"No, I wasn't aloud." Rei looked away from the girls, her hand unconsciously moved to her hair. "It's not that bad, it'll grow out. Did you do it yourself?" Mina asked.
"Mina!" Lita hissed.
"It's ok, I know it's so ugly, my mom did it, she was mad at me. They tried to fix it when I came here but." Rei trailed off. "Hey should I tell on…the Bz she said she would get me tonight, her friends are in my dorm."
"No don't tell it'll only make her bug you more." Lita offered. "Hey, Mina! Where you going?"
Mina bounced off the bed and out the door. "You guys stay here. I got an idea."
Lita just surged her shoulders and turned back to Rei. "Do you know how to play checkers?"
"So when all your pieces are gone does that mean I win?" Mina heard Rei ask as she walked into the room.
"Are you serious Rei? Did Lita actually lose and I missed it."
"Beginners luck." Lita grumbled. "And you only lose cause you don't plan."
Mina scrunched up her face. "What's to plan, its checkers? Sides I just like to move, think as I go." Mina twirled the rest of the way to the bed.
"Where'd you go?" Rei asked curious.
"Oh good news, I asked Chloe to switch beds with Rei but she said she'll only switch beds if she can have the one next to her friend Lilly but Stef, who's next to Lilly wont switch unless Meg switches with Missy, so I asked them they said yes." Lita and Rei just stared as Mina caught her breath. "Ugg, you guys! That means Rei can move in here. She can have the last bed at the end, across from us."
"Wow, you did all that for me." Rei was stunned.
"Why not?" Mina settled back on the bed. "Were best friends now." She said matter of factually.
"We just met." Rei protested. She looked to Lita for help but she only offered a sad smile.
"Don't you want to be friends?"
Rei looked at both girls bewildered. She didn't need friends, she's been alone all this time, no one wanted her. They would just be mean to her later; she didn't need friends…"Yeah I want to be friends."
"Best friends?" Mina confirmed.
Rei smiled. "Best friends." She corrected.
8/08/08
"No. Stop. No! Aahhahhh." A ragged scream rip through the night.
Rei bolted up in bed forgetting where she was for a moment. The over head lights flickered on and all but a few of the girls who slept like the dead groaned.
"Shut the lights."
"Yea make her sleep outside."
"It's the middle of the night."
Mrs. Dawson, the night caretaker stopped in the middle of the room. "That's enough out of all of you. I can name a few of you that have had the same problem when you first got here." No one argued back. Rei settle back under the covers as Mrs. Dawson moved to the bed next to her. The girl in question was sitting up in bed clutching the covers under her chin. 'Amy.' Rei remembered, had been here for about two weeks now and had nightmares every night. It took Mrs. Dawson a minute to convince Amy to release the sheets from her death grip. Rei couldn't help but be a little envious as Mrs. Dawson cuddled Amy, trying to get her calmed down. Lita Mina and Rei had tried to make friends with the quiet girl but she had been reluctant, she kept close to the adults refusing to leave there sides, she didn't play with the other kids and was even afraid to eat in the lunchroom. "Come on Amy back under the covers."
"Do I have to sleep here?" she pleaded.
"Yes Amy, we talked about this."
Amy was so quiet Rei held her breath, straining to hear her. "Can the light stay on?"
"That wouldn't be fair to the other girls would it? …Rei?"
Rei let the breath she was holding go and blushed at being caught ease dropping. "Yes Mrs. Dawson?"
"Rei would you mind a nightlight if I got one for Amy, it would be between your beds."
"Ok, I won't mind." Rei tried a smiled at Amy.
It had been at least three hours since Ms. Dawson left. The soft glow from the night light surrounded Rei keeping her awake. 'It's brighter than I thought it would be.' She mused, Rei turned over in bed and yawned a sigh, Amy was tossing and turning again. Rei slipped out of bed, moved over to Amy and slowly shook her shoulder. "Wake up, your having another nightmare."
Amy snapped her teary eyes open and pushed away from Rei. "No. please." she was breathing heavy.
"It's only me." Rei stepped back to her bed and fiddled with the beanie she kept under her pillow. "Want me to get Mrs. Dawson again." She asked after a silent minute.
Amy slowed her breathing and wiped her eyes. "No I'm ok." Amy laid down pulling the covers up over her head as proof.
Rei tried to get back to sleep but she could hear the sound of muffled crying. 'I should just let her cry. She doesn't even want to be friends.' Rei huffed and pulled the pillow over her head. 'I didn't want friends; I was too scared till Mina…' Rei pulled her head out from the pillow. Amy's muffled cries floated over, and with a determined sigh, Rei once again slipped out of bed, walked over and pulled Amy's blanket down a bit. Amy was face down crying into her pillows.
Rei poked her shoulder. "Hey, are you sure you don't want me to get Mrs. Dawson?" Amy shook her head and mumbled into her pillow. Rei guessed it was no. "Amy…if you want I could stay with you, if you're scared." Amy didn't respond. Rei was turning back to her bed, a bit hurt at being rebuffed, when a hand grabbed hers.
"You would stay with me?" Amy asked softly.
"Well yea, were friends." Rei climbed into bed and pulled the covers up as Amy shifted to her side to look at Rei.
"Why? Why do you want to be my friend?" she whispered. Rei blinked slowly and yawned she held one of Amy hands.
"Just cause, I like you." As Rei's eyes fluttered closed, Amy wiped her eyes and shifted closer to her new friend she smiled, for the first time in a long time, as she fell asleep.
"Yes! Score is 2:3, I win, I win." she danced. "Cause I'm the best, and I rock, oh yea, I wi…"
"Mina, don't be so big headed." Rei stamped her foot and crossed her arms.
"Oh Rei, don't be mad. I'm sorry." Rei turn away from a repentant Mina and spotted Amy sitting against the wall reading.
"Amy, come play." She called.
"I'll get dirty." Amy didn't even look up from her book.
"It's only tetherball." Rei defended. "You won't get dirty."
Mina skipped closer to Rei. "Let's get her." She whispered.
"Not like last time." Rei said seriously.
Mina thru up her hands in defense. "Hey I didn't know she would freak-out we just tickled her."
"I'm just saying." The two girls made their way towards Amy, trying for innocence.
"No." Amy said right as their shadows fell over her book.
"Ahh! Come on Amy, come play. Mina's no fun."
Mina's smile dropped like a stone. "Hey, I am so fun." She protested.
"I want to finish my book." Amy tried weakly. The two girls were standing right over her looking expectant, well at least one of them was.
"Ameeee, come play or I'll, I'll….I'll have Mina get our snacks." Amy paled; Mina was known to mess up snacks. She had once decided the simple veggies, crackers, and dip needed spicing up literally, and snuck into the kitchen. From the ruckus that followed, Mina somehow flooded the kitchen and mixed every possible spice into, Mina's Wonderful Fabulous Dip, or so she called it, and it had accidently got sent to the cafeteria line, kids were sick everywhere. Amy sighed and put a book mark in place before getting up.
"Yeah!" Rei bounced off as Amy followed her.
"Don't pout Mina." Amy scolded softy as she grabbed her hand and pulled her along. "You can be on my team."
8/27/08
The day was turning out to be hot. "Amy quit pulling on um, or you'll just pull um right off altogether." Rei lightly slapped at her hand.
"Maybe I should go put on some pants." Amy said getting up.
"Don't do that Amy, you'll get all hot." Mina reasoned, grabbing her hand and pulling her back down on the grass.
"I've never had shorts before." Amy pulled on the bright yellow shorts and looked around anxiously. "Someone might see me." Even though she whispered, Rei and Mina could hear the fear in her voice. Both girls moved closer and hugged their friend.
"Amy don't worry it's ok to wear shorts, or whatever. No one will get you, we won't let them…Hey where's Lita?" Mina changed the subject before Amy could get to sad.
"I think she's doing more of her court stuff, I think." Rei supplied. All three girls shivered despite the heat. Lita's caseworker had started taking her off to court a few weeks back. The mere thought of facing their abusers was scary, it didn't help that Lita and now recently Mina always came home crying.
"Hey guys!" Lita ran up. "Look what I found." Lita pulled a girl forward and pushed her front and center. She was wearing bright pink shorts and a white shirt with a rainbow of bunnies that said, Happy Easter, her hair was pulled into two sloppy buns. She smiled nervously at the group. "It's not Easter." Rei snapped.
"Don't mind Rei." Mina smiled, tossed a red jellybean in her mouth and rolled her eyes. "She's like that with everyone." Rei leaned over, snatched the bag from mina and pulled out a handful.
Lita pulled the girl down and closed off the circle. "This is Serena. But anyway, I got back from court early and was helping in the kitchen."
"You're always in the kitchen. You never play anymore." Mina wined, while simultaneously wrestling the bag back from Rei.
"That's Mina." Lita pointed. "And I'm not always in the kitchen. I came out yesterday, anyway we all heard this big crash, and Serena here was getting into the chocolate cake for tonight's desert." Mina passed the bag to Amy, who politely took six.
"You're going to get in trouble, you shouldn't have done that." Amy eyes got big and she looked around, as if trouble was a thing that was about to pounce.
"That's Amy." Lita snagged the bag as it passed to Rei. "Anyway the good news is she didn't drop the cake, she spilled the pan of stemmed veggies." All the girls couldn't help but give a cheer at the demise of stemmed veggies.
"I didn't do it on purpose." Serena blushed.
"Is this your first day here?" Rei took the bag and offered it to Serena.
"Yeah, the adults just kept talking and talking and I was so hungry, I couldn't help myself when we passed the kitchen." The girls giggles were interrupted as a very angry Ms. Haruna followed by the head chef stalked across the yard.
"Serena Tsukino! You come over this instant." Serena scrambled up and rushed over. "You too Lita."
"Lita, what did you do?" Amy whispered, as Lita got up to follow.
"Well, when Serena made the mess, I just grabbed her and ran."
"What'd you do a stupid thing like that for?" Rei hissed.
"Now Lita." Ms. Haruna stalked over and grabbed Lita's hand leading her back into the building; she led the girls into her office and placed them in opposite corners. "Ms. Gee, why don't you tell me what happened."
"Well Lita was in the kitchen, she a good little helper and the staff doesn't mind if she helps out once in a while."
"How long has she been helping?" Ms. Haruna asked surprised.
"A few weeks now, she seems so stressed by the time I seat her up on a small project she's much better."
"Ok so Lita was helping you and…"
"I heard a crash and came around the corner this one, she pointed to Serena's back, had a fork full of tonight's cake and helping herself, with steamed vegetables all over the floor, next thing I know Lita's running by me and pulling the girl out the back door. I was shocked. I never thought she would scam me just to get cake."
"Lita come forward. What do you have to say?" Lita started off shaky, she was afraid of what the punishment may-be but she didn't want to lie.
"I wasn't trying to get cake, I promise. I just met Serena today, I seen her in your office when I came back from court but I didn't talk to her, I just went to the kitchen and when I seen her with the cake…" Lita stopped and bit her lip.
"Go on." Mrs. Haruna prompted.
"Well, it was just so funny and I don't know, I didn't want her to get in trouble on her first day here I…I just didn't think really." she finished, scratching the back of her head.
"Serena, come here." As Serena turned everyone was surprised to see her crying, the top of her shirt was soaked, and she was very close to becoming hysterical.
Lita moved automatically and hugged the smaller girl. "Don't cry Serena. It's ok."
"P...please d…d…don't s…spank …me…" Serena hiccupped.
Ms. Haruna pulled Serena into her lap and wiped her eyes with a tissue. "Serena look at me, I'm not going to spank you. I just want to know what happened." After Serena had some water and was sure she wasn't going to be spanked she relaxed.
"I was just hungry and the food smelled good and I didn't see anyone around to ask I didn't mean to make a mess." She pleaded.
"Ok Serena, for punishment you and Lita will help Ms. Gee clean up before and after dinner and neither of you will get desert tonight. Do you agree?"
As the girls were led from the office Lita stopped. "Ms. Haruna, can Serena be in our dorm?" "Lita, you have better things to worry about right now, don't you think?" Ms. Haruna tried for stern but couldn't help but smile as Lita sighed and took Serena's hand to follow Ms. Gee.
A few hours later Ms. Haruna was lugging Serena's suitcase upstairs; she smiled as she passed Mina and Rei running down. "Girls don't run."
"Kay Ms. H!" they coursed.
She turned and found Amy walking and paused. "How are you Amy?"
"I'm good ma'am."
"I see you've made some friends." Amy blushed and looked down. "It's ok to have friends Amy... Do you like them?"
"Yes I like them, Lita's tuff but nice and Mina's so bouncy, she doesn't even care if she gets dirty! Rei tries to be mean but she's really kind." Amy had been smiling and had even giggled, but when she met Ms. Haruna's eyes a guilty look started to form.
"Amy" Ms. Haruna pulled her into a light hug so the girl wouldn't feel trapped. "I'm glad you've made such good friends, don't be so hard on yourself. It's ok to be happy."
"Ms. Haruna?" Amy asked nervously. "Can I get a haircut?"
"Why? You have such beautiful long hair."
"I know but it's just…He liked it long." Amy trailed off sadly.
"Amy, why don't we talk more about this tomorrow?" As Amy continued to dinner, Ms. Haruna decided to grant Lita's request. These four girls were doing wonders for each other. 'The more the merrier.' She mused.
10/02/08
Serena was in heaven, not only was she eating lunch but she had eaten breakfast, and was going to get dinner. Rei eyed Mina's fish-stick house across the table, she shook her head and made the mistake to turn away. Rei gave a disgusted snort and tossed a napkin at Serena. "You're making a mess. What are you so happy about anyway?"
Serena wiped the cheese sauce off her chin. "This place is great! We get to eat every day and different stuff too." The four girls went silent. They had all confided in each other somewhat, but Serena avoided mentioning her past at all cost.
"Didn't your mom feed you? Ouch!" Mina had been kicked under the table, she glared at Lita and Rei across from her she couldn't tell who the culprit was. Amy was her usual silent self next to Mina. Amy never had a mom and she was curious about what the other girls had to say although from what Mina and Rei said, moms weren't any better than dads, but she quietly listened anyway.
"She died." Serena said slowly. "When I was born, daddy said it was my fault he was too busy to cook he had to pay all the bills, cause mommy was gone. I had to wait."
"It wasn't your fault." Lita said quickly hugging Serena, for she had pushed her tray back and gotten a sad look on her face. Neither of the four girls knew quite how to reassure Serena, having never been reassured themselves. But it didn't stop Mina from trying.
"He was wrong. It can't be your fault Serena, cause you were just a baby and babies are good." Serena only frowned at Mina's logic she'd been told the opposite to many time and it was a hard concept to get her head around.
"My mommy didn't feed me either." Serena turned to Rei her expression shifted atomically to concern for her friend. "I think this is great too." Rei took a spoonful of Mac and Cheese; not minding when some sauce dripped down her chin, and smiled around the food in her mouth. Serena brightened and pulled her try back to finish her lunch.
"I can't do it, it's too hard!" Serena pushed her chair back from the table and folded her arms. Amy who was sitting between Rei and Serena leaned over.
"You're doing really well Serena, just remember to go right to left when you add and subtract." "It's easy for you guys, you're smart." Serena pouted. Rei grunted an agreement but didn't look up from her own paper.
"That's not true." Lita stated. "We've just been in school longer."
"That's right. The teacher even said you's were getting better." Mina chirped.
"Hey, Amy didn't go to school." Rei protested, forgetting her own work to join the conversation.
"See!" Serena nodded, while pointing to Rei, then Amy.
"I did Rei. I went to school in my house." At Serena's confused look she clarified. "Umm a principle sends school work to your house and your parents help you, and then send it back to get graded basically. Come on Serena I'll help you then we can go play…hey I like to play!" Amy objected in mock anger as the group exploded in laugher.
The swings squeaked from the hundreds of kids that have used them. It was getting colder but Lita didn't mind, most of the kids were indoors which meant there wasn't a line for the swings. "I'm glad were friends." She got agreements from the four girls around her.
Mina swung a little harder then launched herself into the air; she stumbled a bit on the landing, and then turned to the girls. "Let's make a pack." She suggested happily.
"What's that?" Serena asked, slowing to a stop with Amy, they weren't s daring as Mina. Rei however was not to be outdone and flew from the swing at the same time as Lita, both stumbled but cleared Mina's distance.
Once everyone had gathered around Mina she continued, after she had stuck her tong at her two friends. "It's were we promise to be best friends forever, then we pick are fingers."
"What for?" Amy was confused.
"For the blood of course." Mina placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes.
"Are you crazy! I'm not picking my finger." Rei yelled. Both Serena and Amy had gone pale at the mention of blood.
"That sounds dangerous, what about germs?" Amy stuck her hands in her pockets.
"Isn't there anything else we can do?" Lita suggested. The five girls concentrated.
"We can spit then shake hands."
"Gross Lita."
"I saw the boys do it at my old school." She shrugged.
"We are not doing that." Rei threatened as Serena examined her hand.
"What if we cut our hair?" Rei's hands shot up and covered her head and ever present beanie, her hair and had grown out but it was still a touchy subject for her. "Not a lot." Amy amended. "Just a little."
"I can do that." Lita agreed.
Mina's excitement came back. "Yeah we can tie it all together then…"
"Burn it, like we did for smore's."
"No Rei, we can't play with fire it's dangerous." Amy scolded.
"How bout bury it under the tree, the one where I meet all of you." Serena put in.
"Ok! We need scissors and a piece of string and a shovel." Mina took command. "You guys go find that while me and Serena go pick a good spot to dig." Five minutes later found the girls grouped around the tree.
"We think here, cause you can see the whole yard and the manor." Serena waved her arms out.
"I only found a plastic shovel from the sand box." Lita held out the small blue shovel.
"I got scissors; I snuck them out of the art room." Rei beamed and ignored Amy's shocked gasp. "Did you find string Amy?" Mina asked.
"I took it from a doll in the common room." Amy held up a rainbow colored ribbon.
"Oh it's pretty." Serena cooed.
As they all patted the dirt down Amy smiled. "Friends."
"Family." Lita put in.
"Sisters even." Serena added.
"Yeah a team." Rei grinned
"The best forever." Mina concluded. The five gathered in a group hug. Mina pulled back and turned to Rei "I can jump further then you."
"Can not!" Rei shouted after Mina and chased her to the swings.
11/29/08
Bang! She let the door swing violently on its hinges, Ms. Haruna was having a very bad week she put her head in her hands and gave a heavy sigh, she wasn't even going to chase the small girl she likely knew where she was headed. After months of court appearances Lita had been made ward of the state. Her parents convicted and sent to jail, and well Lita understood about her parents she couldn't or wouldn't grasp the fact that she would soon be moved to a foster home and out of Holloway manor, but Lita was an easy situation to deal with. Mina however was a certifiable can of worms. Tina Anio had taken her high priced lawyers into court and argued that because of her problems with drinking and drugs she had gravely made the mistake to pay off her daughter's molester, that the man had taken advantage of both Anio's. The woman had won and took the mandatory parenting classes, along with having a stint in rehab. the courts having no just cause to deny her since she's complied with the law, granted probationary custody of Mina to her mother; this meant weekly if not daily visits to the home made by a CPS Agent. Ms. Haruna had explained this to Mina in terms she would understand but hearing that she would be taken home day after tomorrow; Mina had bolted from the room. Ms. Haruna didn't miss the fear that was on the little girls face as she fled.
"Mina, we need to get back to bed. We'll be in so much trouble." Amy hissed and tugged on Mina's arm.
"Mina this is crazy. What are we doing again?" Rei asked.
"Sshhh." Mina whipped around to face the four girls who had followed her. "I told you's to stay in bed." 'I'm doing this cause I am not going home to her' she thought. Mina continued to move slowly down the hall past the common room.
"Mina." Serena whispered hopefully. "Maybe you won't have to go tomorrow." There was an audible snort from the leader of this nighttime adventure.
They moved closer to the front door passing Mrs. Haruna's office. "Mina! You better not even think of running away." Lita cautioned. She breathed a sigh when mina ignored the security door. Lita had been prepared to scream if she so much as touched it.
"Lita come here I need help." Lita moved up the line. "Gimmy a boost up."
Lita looked up at the big back letters on the glass, "Nurses Office" it read. "What are we doing here?"
"Just gimmiy a boost." Mina growled out. It took Lita and Rei to get Mina high enough to reach the top of the door-jam she had been shooting for. "Got it, let me down slowly." Mina turned the newly acquired key and opened the door, all the girls slipped in before it was shut. "Don't touch anything." she glared at each of them before moving to the nurses' desk. The four girls watched in shock as Mina riffled through the desk, found a pair of keys and proceeded to open a locked cabinet behind said desk. Mina replaced everything and shuffled everyone out the room locking the door behind her.
"What about the key?"
"What did you take?"
The questions were shot at her. "Hush, the keys too much trouble I just left it in the desk and I got a Band-Aid."
"You did not, I seen you take something else." Lita accused.
Mina puffed out her chest and pulled out a Band-Aid "I did not, let's go to bed." Mina stalked away as quietly as she could, ignoring her friends complaints.
"You could have asked Ms. Dawson."
"I don't even see a cut."
"We're so in trouble."
Mr. Spencer sat across from Ms. Haruna as the final paperwork was signed. "How is she?"
"Not good, she spent the better part of yesterday in her room; she didn't even eat breakfast this morning."
"What about her consoling sessions? They didn't help with this." He waved his hands searching for a word. "Outcome."
"I'm not her primary consoler her mother suggested a neutral party." Mr. Spencer only scoffed
"I hate when things turn out this way. If you had been it the courtroom, that woman, the promises she made they won't last." Both adults could only sigh. They had witnessed to many cases where the child was returned home, only to be back in CPS worse off than when they first arrived. Neither one wanted to think of the failed cases, where smaller then should be allowed body bags were wheeled out of a home.
"Well." Mr. Spencer said getting up. 'I guess we should go get her."
"It's a small blessing that this is a weekend, most everyone will be outside or in the gym. The less of a crowd the better." With a heavy heart, Ms. Haruna led the way to the third floor.
Ms. Haruna was surprised to find the door hadn't been blocked. In the past butter knives were shoved in the door jam, or beds were pushed against the door by girls desperate to stay in the one place they had found refuge, instead the door swung easily open. Ms. Haruna held back the chuckle that wanted to escape, did she really think Mina would be alone, the five little girls didn't acknowledge her presents. Rei was sitting on the window seat, a look of anger and annoyance plastered on her face. Ms. Haruna didn't miss the glint of tears on her cheeks, anger for the situation, annoyance for letting herself cry. Amy and Serena were sitting on Serena's bed crying, holding each other as if the world was coming undone, and to them it was. Ms. Haruna blinked away the tears that threatened to fall and took action, moving to grab up Mina's suitcase, which had been another hard battle this morning.
"It's time to go sweetheart." Mina chose to ignore her, continuing to cry into Lita's shoulder the other girl giving a teary glare at the adults. Ms. Haruna passed the suitcase to Mr. Spencer and knelt down gently turning Mina from Lita arms.
"Mina, I know it's hard to leave your friends but your all going to leave someday, this isn't a permanent home." She ignored Amy and Serena as their crying increased. Mina was crying so hard she was shaking
"I don't want to go, I'm not! I'm staying here; this is my room, my bed. I'm not going! I'm not! I'm not!" Mina had moved around Ms. Haruna, stuttering and hiccupping as she flung herself face down on the bed. She continued her mumbled protest Ms. Haruna stood up and braced herself for a fight.
"Mina Anio, are you going to get out of that bed and come with me?" When she got a muffled no Ms. Haruna moved forward. "Ok Mina, you give me no choice." She picked up Mina around the middle and started for the door as every girl erupted in tears and protest, they didn't however reach Mina's level. The little girl kicked, screamed, and all but bit, although she did try the last. Ms. Haruna didn't acknowledge her behavior, simply walked toward the door but she was stopped short, she turned expecting to see one or more of the girls coming to Mina's aid, instead Mina had grabbed the rails of a passing bed. A small tug-of-war ensued until Mr. Spencer tried to help.
"Mina don't you want to go home, have your own room again?" Mina had a death grip on the bed but she stilled and Ms. Haruna placed her on her feet. "That's a good girl." He praised. "You get to go home and see your mom, work things out, it'll be ok." Mina's tears stopped and a calm came over the girl. She slowly released the bed and turned to face Mr. Spencer and Ms. Haruna, but the eyes and voice were not that of a little girl, both spoke of things this child should never have known at so young an age, loneliness, depression, anger, hatred, and fear, she spoke evenly.
"That person, she is not my family, their my family." She jerked her head back to the group of girls, "I won't live with her ever again! You might be bigger than me, but you can't make me do what you want."
"Mina." Ms. Haruna sighed and tried to explain that Ms. Anio was getting help and she wanted to work things out with her daughter, but Mina only put her hands on her ears and shook her head. "I'm not going!" She screamed suddenly and ran through the two adults and out the door, Lita close behind.
"Should we give chase?" Mr. Spencer asked his voice sounding as if he just witnessed world war III.
"Yes, if we let up now it'll only make it worse." As they stepped out of the dorm Lita flung the bathroom door open so violently the knob broke through the wall.
"Help! Mina's in trouble." The fear and urgency in her voice had Ms. Haruna running into the bathroom.
"What happened?" Mr. Spencer asked as her followed Lita. Mina was calmly sitting in a corner and avoiding Ms. Haruna's questions.
"Last night, we all sneaked down stairs. Mina got something from the nurses' office, she said it was a Band-Aid but she lied." Lita broke down crying. Mr. Spencer looked over in time to see Mina throw an empty orange pill bottle at Ms. Haruna.
"You can't make me." She said evenly, a smug smile on her face. Mr. Spencer's stomach dropped, he had his cell phone out and was dialing 911 even as Ms. Haruna picked up the little girl and ran down stairs.
Mina was in the hospital feeling like crap her stomach had been pumped the day before. Mina hadn't fully grasped what she had done. When Mrs. Haruna had told her she was going to be sent home Mina had been so scared, she didn't want to go home she didn't want to go back to her mother but she didn't have a choice she was told. Mina hadn't been able to sleep that night, desperately thinking of ways to stay, from running away, to locking herself in the bathroom until the judge changed his mind, she'd been so silent that night the girls stopped talking to her after a while. When she finally did get to sleep she'd got her idea or more specifically her nightmare gave her an idea.
Tina was having one of her parties. The day had not gone well for her, Tina was rejected for a part she had tried out for and the interviewers were in no way gentle when they pointed out her many faults, on top of all that a man she was particularly interested in had decided to break it off with her. His marriage of eighteen years wasn't worth an emotionally unstable alcoholic and a kid that wasn't even his. Tina had been distraught all day and took it out on Mina, sending her to her room only to call her down again and force her to practice script lines or the piano. Mina was on edge all day, Tina had sent the staff away and she was alone with her mother, Mina would be sent away again and again until her mother thought of something for her to do. It wouldn't have been so bad if Tina hadn't sent her out of sight it only seemed to make it worse, the little girl didn't know when the next act would start. So when she'd finally been sent to bed and more than an hour had passed, she still couldn't get to sleep the fear and tension her mother had created all day wouldn't pass, Mina found herself awake and listing to the racket her mother's party was making.
Mina found herself snapping awake she hadn't realized she was falling asleep in the first place and she wondered what had woken her. A crash outside her door caught her attention and as she slowly walked over, she could hear voices in the hall.
"Tina get a grip on yourself."
"No please! Don't do this, I love you." The man pulled his arm out of Tina's grip
"Tina I've made my decision. I want to work on my marriage. I love my wife."
"Is it her? It's her isn't it? You don't have to worry about that baby; she won't be any trouble I'll send the little brat away. There's a boarding school in Russia!"
"Damit Tina! Get it through your head. I. don't. love. You. It meant nothing to me; you meant nothing to me but a good fuck!" Tina had collapsed to her knees when he released her crying and begging he had spotted Mina staring from her doorway and cursed. "Tina fuck! Get off the dam floor your kids watching you. You look like an idiot."
Mina had frozen she was sure she was going to get it this time but her mother didn't even acknowledge her, she instead reached with a lighting strike move and slapped the man, turned and stumbled back to her room screaming. "I'll do it! I swear I'll do it!" the man never looked at Mina as he followed her mother. Despite better judgment Mina snuck down the hall after him, when she peeked around the door her mother was on the floor the man was wrestling with her trying to take something from her hands.
"Stop Tina. Stop! Don't be stupid."
"What do you care, just let me die. If I can't have you, I want to die!"
"Shit Tina what about the kid?"
"I don't care! I want you, only you."
"Don't do this Tina. I'll stay. I'll give you whatever you want." When the orange bottle had rolled right to Mina's toes she jump away from it like it would bite her, she had gone back to her room quietly after that, the man had stayed through the weekend.
Now as the doctor and hospital psychiatrist stood over Mina lecturing, she was getting a better understanding. The doctor paused and turned as Mr. Spencer, Ms. Haruna and three others came into the room, one a grandmotherly type was Mina's counselor, Ms. Summers and two men, one in a grey suit the other in a dark brown were introduced as lawyers. Mina was ignored as they talked with each other; she wasn't interested in the conversation until one of the lawyers asked when she would be released to go home. Mina pushed herself up to a sitting position she tried to talk and found her voice rough she cleared her throat.
"I said shut up." Every adult turned as one. "I want to go back to Hollowly Manor. I want to be with my sisters." She demanded. Mina closed her eyes as various adults tried to talk at once. "SHUT UP!" Taking a deep breath she continued. "If you make me go home to her, I'll do it again." She said. As her counselor came forward Mina moved back. "Just get out. Get out; all of you leave me alone. Get out!" She screamed into the stunned silence. The doctor ushered everyone out of the room and called for a nurse to sit with the patient.
The seven adults moved down the hall and into a small waiting room, introductions were made. "Hi, my names Mrs. Stephens, I'm the hospitals psychiatrist, but I specialize in children."
"What do we do?" Ms. Haruna asked.
"Does she even understand what she said; she's only a little girl." Mr. Spencer was pacing disbelief coated his words.
"She knows exactly what she's doing. I've only been talking to Mina for a short time but she's very afraid to go home."
"She was attacked at home by a dance instructor." Ms. Summers offered.
"No it's more than that she fears her mother. From what I heard it sounds like it's more of a physiological abuse. I've no doubt that if she was returned home she would follow thru with her threat. As she sees it; once she's home all hope is gone, she would see this as her only escape. Are her sisters returning home as well?" She asked.
"No the girls are only friends." Ms. Haruna explained. "They all showed up at different times, and as different as they all are there very attached to each other. Is their relationship with each other a bad thing?" Ms. Haruna asked.
"No nothing like that, when Mina speaks about her friends she's very happy, content even, this friendship is not the reason for her suicide attempt that is entirely her fear of going home. Like I said I don't know her entire history but I'd say her friendship is the only good thing in her life, as she sees it."
In the next week that followed emergency court dates were set up. Mina was hustled between them and counseling sessions all the while asking to see her friends. Mina was in a foster home for about three days until her foster mother found her in the bathroom rifling through the cabinets, thankfully Mina didn't get the chance to take anything; she was now spending her time in a hospital, being watched. When Ms. Stephens and Ms. Haruna walked into the bare white room Mina didn't even stir, she was on her back staring straight up.
"Mina I'd like to talk to you." Ms. Stephens sat on the edge of her bed. "Today in court your mother relinquished custody of you. Do you know what that means?"
Mina started slowly. "That I'm like Lita." she licked her lips. "I don't remember how it's called." "A ward of the state." Ms. Haruna confirmed. Mina sat up and sucked her teeth
"I don't have to go with her, ever?" Ms. Haruna could practically see the weight lifting off the little girl's shoulders. "I can go back to the Manor?" She asked hopefully.
"No sweetheart." Ms. Stephens had to grab Mina to keep her from lying back down.
"Do you know why you're here Mina?" The girl only looked away. "You're here because you wanted to hurt yourself. That's a very serious thing." When Mina looked up tears were gathering in her eyes.
"I didn't want to go home. I can't, I wanted my friends but nobody cared what I wanted, just what…mother wanted." Mina cried openly and Ms. Haruna gathered her into her arms, her heart breaking for this little girl. When Mina's tears had slowed she continued.
"Mina you won't have to go home anymore but you can't go back to Holloway Manor."
"Why?" Mina chocked out.
"Mina, what are you going to do to when Serena, Rei, any of the girls leave, hurt yourself again?" she questioned. "No one can stay there forever. What if Lita wants to be adopted but she doesn't go because she's afraid you'll hurt yourself? Does that sound fair, to them, to you?"
"No." Mina sobbed.
"You have a chance Mina to be happy but if you constantly want to hurt yourself because thing don't go your way it's not going to happen."
"I don't want to hurt myself, but I love them. I want them as my family." Ms. Haruna held Mina as she cried it, was a start at least.
Mina's situation caused an abrupt halt in the remaining four girls' cases no one wanted a repeat. The amount of attention generated was astounding, some wanted the four separated imminently and others stated it would only hurt not help if done too fast. Amy and Rei still had to deal with court dates facing their abusers; they were for now staying in Holloway Manor. Serena and Lita had been made wards of the state and the presser to move the two into separate foster homes quickly was being hindered by their counselors, saying it would hurt the girls at this stage. All four girls were having nightmares, it didn't help that since Mina had been rushed out in an ambulance the four girls never left each other's sides, they even shared two beds afraid they would be taken at a moment's notice and it was a battle to get them away from each other once counseling or court dates resumed. Mina never returned to Holloway Manor.
Okay, standard disclaimers come first. I own nothing …except the story itself. Unless you want to buy it for say, $1,000,000. It's a good deal; you won't find it anywhere else.
Thanks to me again. I like to think I'm doing well, considering this is my first story.
Author's notes: Ok I'm not entirely sure of this chapter I'm not sure, what exactly, it is but something. Anyhoo this is pretty much the middle of the story, I'm cutting the chapters so they're not so long, so we (as in me) are almost I don't know I don't have much to say for this chapter, if you read my last author's note you can see I more animated at night :)so just review let me know someone is reading this, if you like it or not.
Side note: I added a sixth chapter to clear up any questions.
Illyria