Harper cast her eyes around the interrogation room that felt too much on the small side. The buzzing fluorescent lights cast a dim light around the windowless room, and the brick walls that had once been painted white were now a muted beige from years of neglect. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she looked straight ahead at the only decoration in the room: a two-way mirror that took up the majority of the wall. She caught her reflection just then, startling herself with how absolutely hollow she looked. How small and disheveled. She brought her hands up to smooth down her hair but the tug of the handcuffs stopped the motion immediately, the metal painfully digging itself into her wrists.
Sighing, she placed her arms back down on the cold metal table and eyed the handcuffs that kept her rooted in place. The reality of what she'd done started to set in now that the adrenaline has worn off. Terrifying thoughts entered her mind, each one worse than the last. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and slowly let it out as she tried to control her rapidly beating heart. The action that had once calmed her did nothing to ease the fear coursing through her.
Harper lifted her eyes across the table to where a police officer sat, a hard expression on his otherwise young face. Possibly a rookie who let the power of the badge feed his ego. A Manila folder rested before him with what most likely contained her entire life. Documents of past mistakes and bad decisions that were documented from everyone's point of view but her own. Nothing but a cruel reminder of her past.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Harper heard herself ask. It felt like she'd been sitting in that room for hours though it easily could've been no more than thirty minutes. Time was nonexistent in a place like this. She had no idea just how much time had passed but, if her spiking anxiety was any indication, it was too long.
The cop quirked an eyebrow. "You got somewhere to be?" He asked with a smirk, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back in his chair.
Harper threw a look his way, biting down the sarcastic remark that would surely get her into more trouble. "I'm just wondering."
He chuckled dryly. "Oh, I doubt you'll be going anywhere anytime soon," he told her, his tone taking on a jovial tone. It was clear that he was enjoying this, taunting her. He opened her file and his smile grew with each turn of the page. "You've got quite an impressive record, don't you? Running away, multiple counts of theft, assault."
Harper wanted to defend herself, explain away everything in that file though it would do no good. Her version of the story didn't matter to them as they were quick to judge her. She was never the victim, always the aggressor.
"And now you just added a couple more things to your rap sheet. Destruction of property, assault with a deadly weapon -"
"It was a golf club," Harper spoke up with a glare, ignoring the voice that told her to be quiet.
The cop smirked again and leaned forward conspiratorially. "Between us? I think you'll be going away for a long time."
Harper swallowed though her throat was desert dry. It was bad, and she was in trouble. She knew it. Of course, she knew it. Despite her efforts of burying the memories, her mind assaulted her with flashes of that afternoon. Of the golf club repeatedly smashing down on the car. Of Ryan yelling at her to stop. Of the absolute hate and heartbreak that consumed her. The entire event had taken no more than a couple of minutes but it had been long enough to rip her life to pieces. And now she was paying the price.
She was staring at her future and watching it slip away.
Before she could fully process everything, the door opened and her attention was brought to a familiar face. A friendly face. She smiled in relief at seeing Shane though it was short-lived. He looked her way, not meeting her eye though his grave expression gave everything away. The weight of the world, her world, was on his shoulders once again. And it was weighing him down.
"Are these really necessary?" Shane asked, gesturing toward the cuffs that fit too snuggly around Harper's wrists.
"She's a danger to herself and others," the cop replied with a shrug.
"She's sixteen," Shane argued but, with one look at the cop, he knew he wasn't going to budge. "Fine. I'd like to talk to her alone."
The cop looked from Shane to Harper before sighing. "You've got a couple of minutes." Standing up, he stalked out of the room.
The silence that engulfed the room was more suffocating than before. Shane clenched his jaw as he sat down in the chair opposite her. His eyes went to the open folder, which he quickly closed and pushed away.
"You're not gonna talk to me?" Harper asked, trying to keep her voice light.
Shane fixed her with a pointed look before pinching the bridge of his nose. "What do you want me to say, Harper? You really screwed up this time. I don't think you need me to tell you how much trouble you're in. I mean, what were you even thinking? You took a baseball bat to a car! You -"
"Actually, it was a golf club," Harper corrected him but he didn't look amused. She slumped down in the chair and sighed, knowing the severity of the situation. "I'm sorry. I just - I was so mad at him and I…. " She trailed off with a half-shrug.
Her thoughts traveled to Ryan's words that cruelly brought to the surface all the emotions that she'd tried to bury. Even though she told herself that she didn't care, Harper couldn't hide the fact of how hurt she'd been by those words. She hated herself for being so naive as to think Ryan would want her in his life. He'd been right here all along and never once reached out. Never once looked for her.
It was a sign and she'd missed it. All because of some unrealistic notion that she'd be a part of his family again.
"You mean mad at your dad," Shane stated, breaking through her thoughts.
"Yeah," she said softly. Blinking, she processed what he'd said as realization dawned on her. "D-did you know? About my dad?" She searched Shane's face but she already knew the answer long before she asked. "You knew, didn't you?"
Shane nodded once. "Of course, I knew. I'm your social worker, Harper. It's kind of my job to know these things."
The anger bubbled to the surface as she tried to process everything. All the lies and secrets that were kept from her. Like she didn't deserve to know because she was just a foster kid. Less than human. "How…. You should've told me, Shane. All I ever did was think about my dad and where he was. It's literally all I've ever thought about, and you knew this entire time. How could you keep this from me?"
"That's not important right now," he said before gesturing to the room they were in. "This is bad, Harper. Do you get that? And I don't know how to get you out of it. I don't know if I can get you out of it."
His words were a rude awakening to the messed up situation she'd so willingly put herself in. Harper sat up in her seat, staring at him wide-eyed as she waited with bated breath for him to say more. She needed to know what would happen next but, at the same time, she didn't.
Afterall, ignorance was bliss.
"Your lawyer's doing everything she can to help but I -"
"I don't have a lawyer," Harper interrupted. "You know that I can't afford one. And there's no way that I'm asking Olivia and Lucas to pay for one. They probably hate me enough as it is."
"CPS appointed one to you," he explained. "I already spoke with her, and she gave me a general idea of what you're up against. And…."
"And what?" Harper asked but was met with silence. "Just tell me the truth. For once just stop keeping things from me."
Shane nodded and then said, "It's not good, Harper."
Her heart sank at those words but, for once, she remained quiet as she listened to Shane speak.
"All of it depends on what Ryan wants to do. Whether he wants to press charges or not," Shane said slowly, studying her as he spoke. "Worst case scenario is that you're sentenced up to five years. The first two years would be in juvie and you'd finish the rest out in state prison. And best case is that either you pay the restitution for the damages done to the car or you get sentenced to juvie until you're eighteen. Either way, Harper, you're doing time. It just depends on how much."
Harper nodded numbly. His words reverberated around in her head, jumbling into a mess that rivaled her life. As angry as she was at Ryan, she was livid with herself because this was her fault. She sought him out, demanded answers and, because of that, she lost control of her life. She'd done stupid things in the past but all of that had been in self-defense. But this? This was just stupidity. Carelessness.
"Harper? Are you listening to me?" Shane's voice sounded far away but grew louder as he repeated her name.
Her eyes snapped to him, realizing that she'd become lost in her thoughts. Not because she didn't care but because she did. Because she was absolutely terrified of what would happen to her. She'd been in juvie in the past and still carried the scars from the months served. Still remembered how utterly terrifying it'd been.
Shane continued to watch her and she nodded to his question to show that she was listening, not trusting herself to speak.
"I'll do everything I can to help. You know I will but…." He trailed off as the door to the room opened up.
The same cop from before walked in followed by a woman in a crisp suit. A serious expression on her face as her heels clicked against the tiled floor.
"Harper, I'm Cassie Davis. Your lawyer," she said, a smile on her face that was more strained than genuine. Then, turning to Shane, she continued as if Harper wasn't even in the room with them. "So, I just got off with the judge who'll preside over the case. He didn't tell me much but what he did say lines up with what I told you earlier. She'll be serving time."
Shane nodded, a sullen expression on his face as he glanced her way. A look of pity in his eyes that she had to look away from.
"Unfortunately, the case won't be heard until next week or so," Cassie continued as if they were talking about the weather and not her future.
"What does that mean?" Harper asked.
Cassie threw a quick look at her, almost as if having forgotten that she was there. Then, turning to Shane, she said, "I tried to convince him to push her case to the front but -"
"I'm sitting right here," Harper interrupted. "Stop talking about me as if I'm not. As if this doesn't affect me at all."
Cassie raised a perfect eyebrow at her words before she nodded, smoothing down the front of her suit. "He can't take your case now. Like I said, it'll be at least a week before you can go to trial. But since you have a record, he refused to let you out on bail."
"Okay so what does that mean?" Harper asked.
"You'll have to wait out the time in juvie."
"Breakfast is at seven, lights out at nine," the corrections officer stated as she unlocked the metal door, pulling it open. "We don't want any trouble, got it?"
Harper only nodded numbly as she held the small bundle in her arms. She stepped forward and took in the small, bland room that would be her new home for who knows how long. The room was unimpressive, minuscule. Two bunk beds took up space on opposite sides of the room with a small side table in the middle. Barely big enough to put a lamp or a book. The walls were scratched, dirty and blank. Everything was blank as there were no decorations anywhere.
"Any questions?" The corrections officer asked.
Harper shook her head before the door closed in her face, locking her in. Sighing, she placed the items on the bottom bunk. A small, thin excuse for a blanket and a change of clothes. This was her life, her future. Her reality. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago she'd been in her room at the Hudsons, living a completely normal and happy life. In the blink of an eye and a bad decision later, everything had changed.
"I think we need to get a couple things straight, roomie."
Harper jumped at the voice and then looked up to the top bunk where a girl sat, her legs dangling over the side of the bed. She watched as the girl climbed down and stood before her, her light hair pulled back away from her face.
"You might think that she's in charge," the girl said, nodding towards the closed door where the corrections officer stood just a few moments ago, "but that would be a lie. I'm -"
"Des?" Harper asked.
The girl blinked at her name, and her hard expression was replaced with a wide smile. "No, shit. Harper?"
Harper stared at Des in surprise, happy to see a familiar face on an island of strangers. The two used to be foster siblings a few years back but, like always, they were moved to different homes and lost touch.
"What are you doing here?" Des asked, taking a seat on the bed.
Harper shrugged and sat across from her. "I, uhm, hit a car with a golf club. Violently and repeatedly."
Her eyes grew wide as did her smile. "Seriously? Why?"
Harper played with the corner of the flimsy blanket, wondering how much to tell her. "It was stupid. I got mad at this guy and, the next thing I knew, I was attacking his car."
Despite her short answer, Des' face lit up like a little kids at Christmas time. "I didn't think you had it in you," she said with awe, approval.
"What do you mean by that?" Harper asked, slightly offended.
"Just that you were always so… calm. I don't know, you always took all the bad shit without so much as fighting back. You just let it all happen," Des answered.
Looking back at her life, Harper realized that Des was right. She'd put up with so much stuff because fighting back had always backfired. "I guess I wanted to be in control for once, you know?" She tucked her legs under her, sighing inaudibly. "What about you? How'd you end up in here?"
"I got arrested for possession with the intent to sell. Or some bullshit like that," Des said with an eye roll as if she got caught cheating on a math test. "It was my second… no, wait, third offense. So, they locked me up in paradise, and I've been here for the last eight months. I still have about a year left, I think."
"You're almost there," she said, causing Des to laugh.
Time worked differently in juvie as each day melted into the next. The days passed by slowly yet quickly at the same time, and each day was as unremarkable as the one before it. Harper did her best to keep her head down and avoid trouble. She was the new kid and the other inmates made it their personal mission to let her know where her place was. And what would happen if she mouthed off or angered them.
But with Des by her side, Harper navigated this new life of hers.
That's not to say that it was easy. Or that she was happy, content in her new home. It was simply tolerable. Scary but manageable. However, going day by day, hour by hour in survival mode was exhausting. But it was what Harper needed to do, needed to adjust to if she wanted to make it until the end. Get out of there in one piece.
Shane and Cassie were her only two visitors over the last week. Harper purposely kept her visitor list limited because she didn't want to see anyone. Not her foster family, not her friends. No one. It would break her heart to witness the disappointment, worry, and anger on their faces. She hated herself enough as it was.
Truth be told, Harper doubted anyone would even want to see her. And she wouldn't blame them.
Harper had fucked up on a whole new level.
Even if the Hudsons wanted some sort of contact with her, what would be the point? By the time she served her sentence, she'd be eighteen or over and in no need of a foster family. If by some miracle she got out before that, how would she face them? She repaid their kindness and love by being reckless and stupid.
They were better off without her. Everyone was.
"You've got visitors," the corrections officer stated. She stood before her with her hands on her hips and an impatient look on her tired face.
Harper blinked against the sunlight and shielded her eyes with her hand. She didn't need to ask who it was but she was frustrated that she had to sacrifice her outside time.
"I wonder what they want," Des said, tilting her face toward the sun.
"I really don't know. It can't be anything good, though," Harper said, standing up.
"Think of it this way. We'll be roomies for at least another year," she said.
Harper smiled softly though the comment brought her no joy. Another year stuck in here would be pure hell.
But it was the price to pay for her sheer recklessness.
"Tell me what they say!" Des yelled after her, followed by, "Good luck!"
Harper followed the corrections officer through the maze-like hallways. Her mind raced with what horrible news Shane and her lawyer would tell her. She tried to prepare for the worst but couldn't bring herself to admit to her fate. Locked in this cement block for the next few years would surely drive her crazy. And once Des left… she didn't want to think that far. Having a friend on the inside was the only thing keeping her going.
The visitors' lobby came into view, and the two of them entered through the double doors that led into a cafeteria-like area. Only no one was eating. A few inmates and their visitors were scattered around the tables. Harper let her eyes fall over the room until they landed on Shane and Cassie.
With a sigh, she allowed herself to be led to the table.
"No funny business," the corrections officer told her before moving to stand at the perimeter of the room.
Harper lowered herself onto the plastic bench. She rested her arms on the table and waited for one of them to talk, too nervous to start a conversation she'd rather never have.
"How are you?" Shane asked, his worried expression taking her in.
"Fine," Harper replied automatically.
"They're treating you okay?" He asked, not satisfied with her answer.
"Yeah, it's fine," Harper said, clearing her throat. She looked towards Cassie who looked just as she had the first time they met. Unimpressed, emotionless, passive. "So, what's up?"
"There's been a change to your case." Cassie opened the folder before her and skimmed through a few pages.
Harper looked at them questionably. "W-what do you mean? What kind of a change?" Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly though her heart continued to pound. Even though she was aware of the best and worst-case scenarios, hearing it said aloud would surely hit differently. It would cement her fate. Her future.
The silence was killing her.
The quiet before the storm.
"Ryan's decided not to press any charges," Cassie said.
Now that she wasn't expecting. "Why? I mean, what does that mean?" She clenched her hands into fists hard enough for her nails to dig into her skin.
"It's good news," Shane told her, a smile appearing on his face.
Despite the smile, Harper refused to get her hopes up. "How long?" She forced herself to ask, though she was met with silence. Tilting her head, she let out an exasperated sigh. "How long will I be in here for?"
"Two, maybe three days," Cassie answered.
Harper started to talk but stopped. Surely she had heard wrong. Surely Cassie had meant years or months. Not days. "What? How is that possible?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Without Ryan wanting to go through with a lawsuit, the judge had no choice but to drop all charges," Cassie explained.
It took everything in her to process the words. "Okay but didn't you say I'd have to pay some kind of fee if…." Harper trailed off, her mind not working in tandem with her mouth.
"The restitution has been paid in full," Cassie said, oblivious to Harper's confusion.
"Who paid it off?" Harper asked.
"We don't know. It was anonymous," Cassie stated. "Of course, you still need to be held accountable for what happened. When I spoke with the judge, he believes that it's only fair for you to be put on probation for six months. We'll discuss the terms and conditions of it later."
Her mind was frozen between relief and confusion. She heard what they said but she refused to believe it. Because her life didn't magically fix itself. Things didn't get better just like that.
"So that means -" Harper started, only for Shane to finish, "you're going home."
Home. Such a simple but complex word.
Harper didn't know where home was because she doubted the Hudsons would want her back. Not after the pain she'd caused them. Not after everything she'd put them through in the short time she'd lived with them. Home most likely meant another foster home. Or perhaps a group home.
But still. She was able to leave. This wouldn't be her permanent residence for the next few years.
Despite not knowing where she'd end up, she knew it was a problem for later.
When Harper entered the dining hall a half hour later, she was still reeling from her conversation with Shane and Cassie. She'd met them with the worst expectations for her future. Never in a million years would she have expected to be told the charges had been dropped. That she was free to leave.
She half wondered if she'd been asleep. If this had just been some sort of a fever dream. But it was real, and she only needed to wait out a couple more days here.
Harper placed her tray down on the metal table and lowered herself into the chair.
"So…," Des started, resting her chin in her hand, "How did it go? Was it as bad as you thought?"
Harper shook her head as a genuine smile crossed her face for the first time that day. "No, it's actually good news," she told her, moving the food around on her plate. "I'm getting out."
Her eyes widened in surprise before a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Are you serious? When?" Des asked, shoveling a bite of food into her mouth.
"In a couple of days." Harper carefully watched Des for a reaction, suddenly feeling guilty that she was getting out. It didn't seem fair that she got off on probation while Des would be in here for at least another year.
"What? That's awesome!" Des said happily, her smile as bright as ever.
"You're not mad?" Harper asked hesitantly.
"Of course not. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," she said with a sigh of relief before taking a small bite of her food.
"So how'd that happen?" Des asked a moment later. "I thought you said you'd be here for a while."
"Yeah, I know. I'm surprised, too." Harper couldn't wrap her mind around it, at how things had worked out for her.. "The charges just got dropped. They're letting me out on probation so I'm not off the hook yet but at least I won't have to serve any time."
Des smiled at her through a mouthful of food. "Sucks that I'll be getting a new roomie though."
The next couple of days went by slowly. The hours stretched out, making one minute feel more like an hour. Knowing that she would be getting out made Harper antsy and unable to sit still. It had been a little over a week and a half since she'd gotten locked up but it felt more like a lifetime.
While her stay had been bearable, there was no doubt that it'd been scary. From fights out of nowhere to inmates getting restrained before being carted off to who knows where, juvie was no joke. During her stay, Harper had been forced to stand up for herself but luckily had avoided anything serious than a simple argument. Thanks to Des, she'd avoided the kind of trouble that would end in a physical fight but even she knew her luck would run out one day. That the time would come when she would get jumped, beaten.
It was just past eight in the morning. Breakfast was over and everyone was being led out to the courtyard for an hour of sunlight. Harper had always looked forward to this time but now she counted down the minutes until she'd be released. It wasn't scheduled until eleven, leaving her with just under three hours left. Hours that she hoped would go by fast.
They walked through the narrow hallways, single file. One girl in front of the other. Harper did her best to pay attention as she walked. To not walk too slow or too fast because either could bring trouble. Not just from the correction officers but from the inmates.
A few moments later, they stepped outside. The day was hot, cloudless, and ridiculously sunny. A typical California day. Harper smiled at the sun as it warmed her, knowing that she'd soon have the luxury to be outside whenever she wanted. A content sigh escaped her lips as she walked toward one of the plastic tables.
"Word is that you're getting out today," a girl from behind her said, her voice lowered to just above a whisper.
Harper stiffened but kept one foot in front of the other, choosing not to reply.
"Doesn't seem fair, you know. Most of us have been here for months. Years. And you get to leave after a week," another girl added, appearing on her side.
Again, Harper remained quiet. She knew better than to reply and hoped that they would leave her alone.
"Why are you so quiet? You had no problem mouthing off the other day," The first girl said, blocking her in on the other side. Without waiting for a reply, she shoved her to the side.
Harper stumbled into the girl next to her, who whirled towards her with a curse. As if she has purposely knocked into her. The girl shoved her backward into the girl who'd been taunting her. A struggle ensued almost immediately as Harper was pushed from one girl to the next, unable to regain her balance. Or have a chance to defend herself.
"Knock it off!" Des yelled, pushing between and the girls backed off with a huff.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips at the sight of Des, whose face was twisted into a scowl. With only a few hours left until she got out, Harper didn't want to risk a fight. Afraid that it would take away the freedom that was at her fingertips.
Des watched her, head tilted to the side. "Sorry about this, Harper."
Before Harper could ask what she meant, Des's fist collided with her face. The punch caused her to stumble backward into the two girls who'd been pushing her just a few moments ago. The pain that shot up from the hit was numbed at the shock of events. Her friend, the one person she trusted on the inside, was against her.
"What the hell?" Harper asked angrily but her question was met with a simple shrug.
"It's not fair that you're getting out. But no hard feelings, right?" Des asked, throwing another punch.
As all three girls threw punches at her, Harper lost her balance and fell to the hot concrete. She shielded her face as best she could but the kicks and hits came from all sides.
Shouts erupted in the courtyard as correction officers ran their way, breaking up the fight as quickly as it got started. It lasted only a minute or two but enough damage was done. One of the officers pulled Harper to her feet and led her away from Des and the girls. As Harper limped towards the building, she could hear them arguing, blaming her for all of it.
She was brought into the infirmary where the nurse looked her over, assessing her cuts and bruises. After a couple of silent moments, she confirmed that Harper sustained superficial injuries. Nothing was broken but she'd be bruised and in pain for a while.
"It wasn't smart to get into a fight on your last day," the nurse said, tsking as she applied an antibiotic ointment to the cuts on her face.
Harper moved away from her reach. "I got attacked. It wasn't my fault," she said though knew the nurse likely didn't believe her or care.
She spent the next couple of hours in the infirmary, counting down the minutes until she'd be released. It passed slowly like time did here but she preferred to be away from the other inmates. Des's betrayal hit hard though Harper should've known better than to completely trust her. Everyone looked out for themselves, as she should've done. Instead, she let a familiar face trick her into a false sense of security.
The door to the infirmary squeaked open, its metallic hinges protesting as a corrections officer appeared at the door. "Let's go, Cain."
Harper jumped off the bed and followed the officer out into the hall. Her time at juvie was officially over, which made her unreasonably anxious. As happy as she was to be getting out, to not have to serve the next few years of her life behind bars, there was something nerve-wracking about it. Possibly because she didn't know where she would go from here or what was waiting for her on the other side of the gate.
Once again, her future was undetermined. In the hands of someone other than her.
Twenty minutes later, Harper was dressed in her street clothes and felt like a human again. She squinted against the bright sun as she was led outside. A wave of relief washed over the anxiety that lingered just below the surface. With a look over her shoulder, she said good riddance to the foreboding building and all the dangers that lurked inside.
"There she is!" Shane's voice directed her attention to him as the chain link fence was opened. His bright smile disappeared, turning to a look of concern at the fresh bruises on her face. "I heard what happened. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just glad to be out," Harper said.
Shane nodded understandingly. "I'm sure that you're excited to finally go home."
But where home was for her, Harper didn't know. She started to ask but froze at the sight of the familiar car in the parking lot. Beside it stood Olivia and Lucas. Her heartbeat quickened and made her question why they were here. Did they really come all this way to yell at her for all the shit she'd put them through? Or did they come to say goodbye?
"Why are they here?" Harper asked, glancing over at Shane who furrowed his brow at her question.
But Shane didn't get to answer.
Olivia and Lucas crossed the distance between them, their expressions unreadable as they stopped before her.
Harper thought she should say something. Anything. But the only words that left her lips were, "I'm sorry."
She expected them to chew her out. To tell her what a disappointment she'd been, what a mistake it'd been to take her in. What she didn't expect was for Olivia to pull her in for a hug.
"We were so worried," Olivia said, her hold on Harper tightening. "I didn't think…. We're so happy that you're okay. That you're out."
Tears blurred her vision as Harper returned the hug. It seemed almost unreal that they weren't mad. That they forgave her for one of the biggest mistakes of her life. It had been a long time since anyone had been genuinely worried about her.
"I'm so sorry," Harper said again, hoping that they knew just how much she regretted everything. From meeting Ryan to picking up that golf club.
"Let her breathe, Liv," Lucas said with a laugh as he forced Olivia to step back. He stared down at her kindly before pulling her in for a hug. "Don't ever do something like that again, okay?"
Harper nodded, making that promise to both herself and them. She wiped at the tears, instantly hating how weak it made her. How much their kindness and worry affected her. All her life, she'd never depended on anyone but herself as she'd been let down and hurt by the people who were supposed to care for her. But to seriously screw up and still have people that cared for her not only warmed her heart but terrified her. It wasn't something Harper was used to and, as much as she wanted to cling to that compassion, her worries of abandonment pushed to the surface.
"What did they do to you in there?" Olivia asked, taking in the injuries that were displayed on her face.
"Some kids got jealous that I was leaving," Harper said with a shrug, still feeling the sting of Des's betrayal. "But I'm okay."
Olivia nodded though her own eyes shined with unshed tears. "We'll talk more later but I'm sure that you're more than ready to get out of here," she said, putting her arm around Harper. "Let's get you home. Cole's excited to see you."
Harper looked up at them in surprise; first looking from them then to Shane to see if she understood right. "I get to go back with you?"
While Olivia nodded, it was Lucas who spoke. "We're not giving up on you, Harper. Please don't give up on yourself."
The first time Harper stepped through that door, she'd been riddled with anxiety. An unease as she waited for her foster parents to reveal their true colors. To be the same type of monsters she'd met over the years. Different homes, same abusive behavior. This time, she walked in with a sense of calmness, knowing that this was home. A place where she was safe. A place unlike any other where people genuinely cared for her well-being, and treated her fairly. Not like some poor foster kid who'd been handed a bad deal since she turned seven.
She looked around at all that she'd missed. At what could've been ripped from her life if things had worked out differently. Harper couldn't believe she'd been so stupid to let herself risk everything for someone who'd chosen not to be a part of her life. It still stung that Ryan signed away his parental rights but she had a family. People who cared for her. Right here.
And she nearly threw all of that away.
Let her anger blind her.
Shaking her head, she tried to push that day two weeks ago out of her mind. As far as she was concerned, Ryan Cain died the night he'd left her and her mom. She didn't want him, and she sure as hell didn't need him.
Or at least, that's the lie she told herself.
Because all that she wanted was a relationship with her dad. For him to want to get to know her, be proud of her, love her.
But that's not what she got. Instead, she pushed down this fantasy of Ryan being the perfect dad and focused on what she did have.
Olivia gave her arm a gentle squeeze, smiling down at her. "We're glad you're home."
"Me, too," Harper said, looking around the home she'd grown to love and almost lost. "Where's Cole?"
"With his friends," Lucas answered.
"Oh," Harper said, slightly disappointed that he wasn't here.
"We weren't sure what time we'd be home, so we told him it was okay if he went to hang out with his friends. But he'll be back before dinner," Lucas explained.
Just twelve hours ago, she'd been locked in a tiny cell with Des. It was crazy to think how quickly it all changed, how her luck turned around.
"Do you want a snack? Dinner will be in a couple hours but I can make you something," Olivia offered. "Or maybe something to drink? If you're thirsty."
"I'm okay, but thanks," Harper said. "Is it okay if I just take a shower first?"
"Of course. You're home now. Go relax," Lucas said while Olivia nodded.
Harper sat on her bed, her eyes taking in her room. Everything was just like she'd left it. It was comforting that nothing had changed, that her room was simply waiting for her to return. A content sigh escapes her lips as she couldn't believe that she was truly home. She no longer had to be fearful of what the next day would bring.
Opting for a shower, she entered the spacious bathroom and set her clothes on the counter. It was her first real shower of the past two weeks, one that wasn't timed or the water barely lukewarm. It was a luxury she'd never take for granted again.
Making sure the door was properly locked, she turned the water on to let it warm up and undressed. As she pulled her shirt over her head, her reflection called to her. The bruises from the beating were starting to appear, turning an angry purple color. She winced as her fingers brushed against the bruises on her stomach and sides. Her face looked no better with a split lip, dried blood caked around it, and a large bruise on her left cheek and above her brow bone.
It could've been worse. I've had worse, she reminded herself before turning away from the mirror.
An hour later, Harper sat in her room. Showered and dressed, she felt like a human again and not like some caged animal who was told what to do and when to do it. It was amazing what a hot shower and a clean pair of clothes could do. Again, it was the simple things that made all of the difference in the world. While she'd always appreciated them, somewhere along the way, she'd taken them for granted. Gotten used to having everything when before she had nothing.
But never again.
Harper had a new appreciation for the little things as she knew that everything could be taken from her in the blink of an eye.
Sitting in her room, Harper took everything in again and noticed how nothing had changed since she'd been gone. A smile tugged at her lips, at the comfort it brought her. At how good it felt to be home. She still marveled at the fact that the Hudsons had taken her back despite all that she'd put them through. Harper had thought she'd lost it all but they hadn't given up on her even when she'd given them every reason to.
After a few minutes, Harper left her room and made her way down the stairs and toward the kitchen. The sound of voices and laughter called to her, and she leaned against the wall with a smile on her face as she watched Lucas and Olivia prepare dinner. They noticed her after a couple of minutes and smiled at her, gesturing for her to come in.
"Are you feeling better?" Lucas asked, leaning against the counter.
"Yeah, I am," Harper said with a nod. "And I'm sorry again. For everything that I…." She trailed off and looked down at the floor, ashamed at repaying their kindness by getting herself into all sorts of trouble.
"We know you are," Olivia said. "You don't have to -"
"But I want to explain," Harper interrupted, determined to get this off her chest. "You guys have done so much for me. And you were so supportive of me seeing my dad, and I just screwed it up. I really wanted to talk to my dad, you know? Find out why he was absent for most of my life, that it had to be some mistake but then," she paused, frustrated at her voice catching on all the emotions that bubbled just below the surface. Taking a breath, she continued. "He didn't want me. Ryan signed away his parental rights before my mom even died. And I don't care, I really don't, but I got so mad. And I snapped and did something really, really stupid."
Olivia walked around the counter and pulled Harper into her arms. "I'm so sorry you had to find that out," she said gently, smoothing down her hair.
"It's okay. I'm okay," Harper said after a moment. "I just wanted to explain. I know Shane probably told you everything but I wanted you to hear it from me, too."
"Yeah, he called us as soon as everything happened," Lucas said. "We tried to visit you but they wouldn't let us in."
Harper looked down at the ground once more, twirling the bracelet around her wrist. "Yeah, I-I know. I didn't want anyone to see me."
"Why?" Olivia asked with concern in her eyes. As if this was something she'd been thinking about.
Harper shrugged. "I was embarrassed about everything. And I guess I didn't think anyone would've wanted to see me after I screwed up. So I just told them that I didn't want any visitors." She risked a look at them, seeing the confusion and worry cloud their features. Before processing her thoughts, she said, "I just figured that since my own dad didn't want me then why would my foster family even care?"
"We care, Harper," Lucas said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "You're not expendable."
Harper smiled softly and nodded, trying to reign in her emotions. Trying to not show just how much their affection for her meant. She wanted to seem grateful but not desperate. Because even though they spoke those words didn't mean that she'd be here forever. Eventually, she'd move into another home. Eventually, this would end.
Nothing in her life was ever forever.
"Lucas is right. No matter how hard life gets or what you're going through, you're not disposable. You're not worthless."
Harper nodded though believing it was a different story. It was hard for her not to think of herself as worthless when all of her life that's how people treated her. Soon, that thought had ingrained itself into her mind until it was the only way she saw herself.
Later that night, after the table was set for dinner and all the food was brought out, Harper sat down in the chair. Everything smelled delicious, causing her stomach to growl at the different scents that wrapped around her. After eating prison food for the better part of two weeks, she was excited for a home cooked meal.
Something else that she would never take for granted again.
Lucas stared down at his watch, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "Does that kid even know how to tell time?"
"He'll be here," Olivia said patiently though she checked the time as well. She shook her head lightly before taking her seat. "Let's give him a few more minutes."
"He's already twenty minutes late, Liv," Lucas grumbled. Picking up his phone, he tapped a few buttons but, just as he did, the front door slammed shut.
The sound of footsteps grew louder as Cole slid into the room. His eyes lit up at the dinner that was laid out before falling onto Harper. Eyes wide, he smiled in her direction. "You're back!"
Harper nodded. "I'm back."
Cole smiled widely before he stepped forward and hugged her. The hug ended as quickly as it happened, and he stood back with an almost embarrassed look on his face. "Welcome back."
"Thanks."
Cole sat down but before he could load up his plate, Lucas stopped him. "Please go wash your hands first."
"But," he started before sighing loudly. Pushing his chair back, he walked towards the hall but turned to look in her direction. "Wait… how long have you been back for?"
"A couple hours," Harper replied.
"What?! Why didn't you call me? I would've come home sooner," Cole said.
"We tried but you're a hard kid to get a hold of," Olivia told him.
"No, you didn't." Cole shook his head but with one look at his phone, a sheepish look crossed his face. "Oh, I guess you did. Sorry. I was playing this really cool game and -"
"Cole, come on. Dinners getting cold. We can talk when you get back," Lucas sighed.
Rolling his eyes dramatically, Cole raced out of the room.
"I swear, that kid will be the death of me," Lucas said with a chuckle.
A few minutes later, Cole rushed into the room and toward his chair, nearly rolling over. "Woah, that was close," he said with a laugh, ignoring the look of disapproval from his parents. He loaded his plate up with food and shoved it into his mouth. "So," he started while chewing, "did you really hit a car with a golf club?"
The direct question caught her by surprise. Cole was known to be inquisitive and often asked questions that should remain unasked. But his directness was one of the things Harper liked about him. Lowering her fork, she nodded though it wasn't a topic she was eager to go into. She wanted to leave that in the past. Lock it away forever. But instead she said, "It wasn't my finest moment but yeah, I did."
Cole's smile grew tenfold. "That's so badass! Everyone's talking about it. Like, a lot," he said, rambling on about all the rumors people were spreading.
Harper's stomach knotted up, her appetite all but gone. People were bound to talk, she knew that, but she didn't realize her breakdown would be so infamous.
"My friends think you're pretty awesome, though," Cole added with a proud nod.
"That's great," she said quietly, moving the food around on her plate.
"How about we talk about something else?" Olivia suggested.
"Yeah, okay," Cole said and shrugged as he chewed thoughtfully. "Oh, I know! What was juvie like? Did everyone fight all the time? We're there jailbreaks and…. What happened to your face? How did I not notice that? Did you get jumped?" Cole rambled off question after question, his eyes widening with each one that left his mouth.
Harper opened her mouth to answer but he didn't give her a chance to reply.
Taking a deep breath, Cole fueled himself up for more rapid-fire questions. "Were there -"
"That's enough, Cole. Give her a break. She just got home and I doubt this is something she wants to talk about. Be a little more considerate, okay?" Lucas said, shaking his head at his son's incessant questioning.
"You know, Harper might not want to talk about this," Olivia added, sternly looking at him.
Cole crossed his arms before rolling his eyes. "Fine," he said, drawing the word out. A few silent seconds went by before Cole lifted his eyes to hers. "Maybe we can play some video games later," he suggested.
"That sounds fun," Harper agreed, happy that the interrogation was over. And happy that things were slowly getting back to normal. It'd been a while since Cole suggested they play games and she missed the easy pastime.
"This way, you can tell me everything!" He said, his eyes lighting up with all that he could learn.
