Taylor froze. "What happened?" she whispered. "I...I don't know." she began to pull her hair in front of her face to try and hide the cut. The two women sat patiently for several moments and finally she began to tell them, she went straight into the story.
"Hey moms we're ho...oh hi." Mariana said as waltzing in through the door. Her moms were sitting on the floor in front of the girl who arrived last night. "Hi kids! How was your day?" Stef tried and keep from crying after what Taylor had just told both her and Lena. "Hi, I'm Brandon. This is my brother Jesus and my sister Mariana. And you are." Taylor paused for a moment and looked at Lena who still had tears in her eyes but smiled, "Taylor. I'm Taylor." They all said their nice to meet you and welcome's and went upstairs. Taylor sat watching the two women sitting in front of her, one already had tears in her eyes and the other looked as if she had rage in her eyes. "Why though?" Lena whispered. "It was my fault I did something to make them angry." Taylor said. She began to feel horrible for walking into someones house and dumping her story onto them. "Don't be sorry honey it's alright." Lena regained composure.
"Taylor, I know this may seem like a lot to ask you and please feel free to say no, but would you mind talk to Brandon, Jesus and Mariana? They'd feel better after listening to you and I don't think it's our place to tell." Stef asked. It was a lot to ask of such a young girl with such a story but the kids needed to know everything before trying and make everything normal. "Stef, no." Lena warned. It was too much for the poor girl."No it's fine. I understand. I wouldn't have let someone come into my home with a story. Can I still ask questions?" Taylor timidly asked. Stef laughed. "Of course you can." "Anything." Both women answered her. "The two boys? They're safe right?" Stef and Lena's heart broke a little at this. "Everyone in this house will make you safe. Promise." Lena said.
The whole family, including the newest addition Taylor, sat together at the table. It was a rather quiet dinner at the Foster house. "Hey guys, we're gonna do dishes tonight but before you go upstairs we're all going to go into the living room and Taylor's going to talk to the whole family." Lena said looking around the table. "Hey, you don't have to explain yourself to us." Jesus said looking at Taylor. "Yeah, we get it. Jesus and I were in the foster system until we landed here. We didn't want to have to explain everything by our second night here." Mariana chipped in. "No it's alright. I think I owe your family this, the whole story this time." Taylor looked up long enough to see the look in Stef and Lena's eyes. She couldn't quite tell what it was but had a feeling it was pity now knowing there was even more of a story.
"Okay sweetie whenever you're ready." Lena took a small breath preparing herself. Stef reached for Lenas hand. Taylor looked around the room of waiting faces, Stef and Lena hands intertwined, Jesus had a arm slung protectively over his sister and Brandon sitting close to his two younger siblings.
"Okay." Taylor took a breath. "I showed up on your step to hide from the rain last night. I didn't realize I had let out any noise. I had been out on the streets for a day or so after running away from home. I... I ran away because well... because of this." She pulled hair back into a ponytail revealing bruises in the shape of handprints around her neck and a large cut across her left cheek. "My parents... well they... they...they beat me. Two days ago my father... he tried to um... strangle me after hitting me didn't make me cower. It was my fault...I should have coward and apologized." Taylor paused for a moment and wiped away a tear. "No. You shouldn't have." Brandon smiled at Taylor. Stef and Lena kept nodding in encouragement and Mariana had moved next to Taylor and reached for her hand. Jesus had rage in his eyes but kept under control for the sake of Taylor.
"It's been going on for a few months. After their first plan didn't work. The cut is from a kitchen knife. I grabbed it when they tried to strangle me. They grabbed my wrist and twisted enough to make me drop it. They picked it up. I tried to punch them and they slashed my face." The family paused looking at her wrist not realizing that this was an injury before but it was fairly obvious to anyone looking. "Can I ask a question?" Mariana was looking at her moms. Lena gave her a look that said no but Taylor spoke up and replied "an answer is the least I owe you all." Mariana seemed to be stunned. "What was the first plan?" She couldn't fathom what could have lead to this. "Where are these freaks so I can go beat them once or twice?!" Jesus rage had finally boiled over. "Jesus!' Both of his mothers snapped at the same time, but they felt some pride towards all three of their children for acting as if Taylor was their sister, or rather just acting on the fact that no one should have to be treated like this.
"Oh the first plan. That's the part I left out..." Taylor paused. "Go ahead sweetie. We won't get mad no matter what you say." Stef smiled at her. "I'm... I'm a...I'm... gay." Taylor whispered. Taylor didn't dare look up. She began talking quickly to get out the rest of the story and hoped that hadn't heard that part. "The sent me to some minster to tell me how wrong it was and how it was a sin. How god would hate me know and I would go to hell. The expected me to just be normal then. They were upset when I was continuing to "choose to be gay." and that's when everything started." Taylor abruptly stopped her rambling. "I shouldn't have said that all. I'm sorry. Can I just leave?" "No. You're staying for now." Stef was clear this wasn't going to change. Taylor could see it in Stef's eyes. Something hit a nerve. Lena wasn't sure what to say and just stood to give Taylor a hug. The three children were shocked. "Thank you. For not sending me back." Taylor whispered a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Author's note:
I hope you all enjoyed Taylor's backstory! Thanks for the reviews and follows, please keep them coming. Callie and Jude will come into the story in about two chapters I think. I might have one more chapter about Taylor adjusting to the family before Callie comes. Thanks everyone!