Emily POV

We were in the group home for a month and a half. Katie insisted that because we lived there for more than a week, we had to write it on the coat.

Katie and Sam were waiting for there new Foster parents to come pick them up. I was pacing, anxious to meet their new family. I had heard that this family had never had any complaints against them, had successfully raised ten foster children, and three of their own. They could only take two more children at this time though. I insisted Katie and Sam be placed into that home. They didn't need to move around more. They needed a nice, stable family. They needed something I couldn't provide. I continued pacing then had an idea. I knelt next to Katie and Sam, my arm around the both of them. "Guys, I'm going to come visit you as often as I can okay? And if you're new parents allow it, I might even stay overnight every once in a while. Once I get enough money, I'll buy the two of you a cell phone. That way you can call me whenever you want."

Katie sniffled, she had tears in her eyes, "But how are we going to add this place to the list if you don't live there?"

I took the jacket off, then drew two lines off of the list of name. "How's that? One line for you and Sam, the other line for me? Any time you go to a new place, not that you'll have to, you can add it on. Then I'll add any place I go to it. Then when I turn 18, I'll know where to find you guys."

Katie jumped into my arms and clung to my neck, "Don't leave. I promise I'll be good."

I hugged her as hard I could. I didn't know how often I'd get to do this, "Bug, it's not your fault. It's my fault. I've been too bad at school, so I have to stay in the group home for awhile." Their new parents walked up.

"Hello. We'll be Katelyn's and Samuel's new parents."

I stood up and looked at them. "It's Kate and Sam. They haven't been called their full names since they were babies."

We talked for a few more minutes. It mostly involved me telling the two of them all the important information they would need about Sam and Katie. I gave the each of them one more hug before they left, and tried not to let them see me crying.

I waved good bye, then turned to my social worker, "You let me know each home they go to. I never want to be in a home that's more than twenty minutes away from them. I'll stay in as many group homes as you want, but those are my conditions. Got it?" She nodded her head, then drove me back to the group home. I was transferred out of there a week later.

The next house lasted longer than the rest. The man beat me, and the wife wouldn't feed me, but it didn't matter. I was a five minute jog from Sam and Katie. I would go over to their pace at least twice a week. Occasionally at night I would sneak out and go sleep in Katie's room.

This was the first time I had actually made a friend in school, Jason. Whenever my foster parents were really bad, he'd let me stay at his place. His mother knew, but didn't mind. She even gave me extra food to take home with me.

Katie and Sam were moved at the same time I was. Katie and Sam were moved twenty minutes away, and I just across the school district. I could only go see the two of them about once a week now. This home just wouldn't feed me. But I added all the homes to our list.

I left the next place when the father tried to make me undress in front of him. I ran away. I found an abandoned warehouse close to where Sam and Katie lived, but still within the school district. I would take the bus each morning, and got enrolled on the free lunch list. When Jason found out, he made me come live with him. He would sneak me into his bedroom after his parents fell asleep. He was my best friend. He was my first kiss.

I had gotten a different social worker by this time, and she never seemed to notice. When she finally did, I had been living on the streets for three months. She pulled me into her office, and shut the door, "What the hell were you thinking?"

I glared at her, "It was your fault you put me in that crappy place in the first place!"

"If you didn't get into so much trouble at school then I could get a better home for you." I snorted at that word, home. When was the last time I had had one?

"Maybe you should check in on your charges more often. Then you would've noticed at the place before that I had bruises nearly every day!"

"You are the only child I know who seems to get abused at every home!"

"I am not making this up!"

"Then prove it!"

I stormed out of her office. "Fine. If you want me out of the system so bad, I opt out. In three months I turn seventeen anyways!" She pulled me back into her office, and I flinched at the contact. "You haven't even been able to keep my siblings in a good home for very long. They've been in nearly as many home as I have."

She sat down and sighed, "It's very hard to take care of two foster children at a time, let alone two victims of abuse."

I nodded, "I know. That's why I said don't worry about me. I was doing just fine."

She shook her head, "I have to transfer you to a home upstate. It's very near the border."

I sighed. I had been seeing my siblings less and less lately. The last time I got to see them was a month ago. They were calling less frequent. They were answering less of my calls. "Ok." Within a week I was transferred upstate. Little be known, this would be the worst place I had ever lived in.