I wonder if this is the way it has to be… either a load of weird reviews or none at all… Well, well. I'm hoping you like the chapters anyway.
Stowey house: Yes, I know that was the name of the care home in early Tracy- Beaker series, if that's what you're trying to tell me. But if only writing the name like that it's a bit hard to know what you meant with it.
So, in the author's notes. I'll first say that I'm sorry for not updating but I've had a crazy writer's block and for most of my stories I just don't know what'll come next. I'm trying to work on all my stories anyway and I don't want to leave them unfinished because that is so annoying when people do it.
And some commercial- I have written oneshots for the o. c and Jessie. And started two new stories, the oneshot for Jessie was written in memory of Cameron Boyce who died from a seizure- may he rest in peace. And one of the stories is written for Epilepsy/ seizure awareness which is a whole lot of important to me.
And now, with some happier notes- I've been applying to a certain school for three years in a row. But didn't get in because it's such a popular school with only fifteen places. But I guess third time's a charm- I got in! And I got those news on my birthday- happy birthday Linnéa!
Of course I won't know before it starts how much time I'll have for writing. A school in which your do most of the work from home needs a lot of discipline and I really want this. But, not to wear myself out I'm going to make sure to always have the weekends off at least and I'm hoping I'll be able to stick to that. So that maybe I'll still be updating but not quite as regularly as I have before.
Scott looks like Jordan Connor. Leon looks like Skeet Ulrich (if you know the series you should see where I've gotten them from) Ryan looks like Jacob Tremblay- as of Auggie in wonder.
Chloe Reeves
There was a window sill, on the eighth floor in a high building in Newcastle, England. Chloe Reeves sometimes managed to half crawl half push herself into it and sit so she could look out the window. It wouldn't have been a comfortable position to anyone else. Nine-year-old Chloe couldn't feel it- she was paralyzed from the waist down and couldn't feel it.
And when she sat like this she could just let whatever was behind her back behind and not think about it.
"Come on now, Chloe."
Well that was if someone didn't talk to her. Which they usually didn't.
Except for her mum or her boyfriend Scott.
Especially now.
The whole flat was packed with half- filled moving boxes and all of their things. Scott, who had just a couple of years ago moved to Newcastle from Texas, America was about to move back- and Chloe's mum Sarah was coming with him.
It was her mum who had spoken to her. Obviously getting quite tired that Chloe wasn't helping with anything. Of course there was only so much she could do without being able to get up but she could still help packing. Mainly her own things.
"We've only got a couple of more days until we're moving and by then everything needs to be packed so we can get it with us. So can you at least pack your own things before I can give you a ride to… to…"
Sarah was so wrong in what she was doing she couldn't even speak out loud and Chloe finished the sentence for her.
"Leon Berry's care home for disabled children."
Sarah blushed, she nodded at last and didn't stand to look her daughter in the eyes. Chloe herself pushed herself into the corner of the living room where her bed and things had been put as if it was her things.
And Scott still hadn't said a word… His twenty- four year old mind was spinning way too come up with something to say. And, with the only thing he could think of doing, ignored both of the females in the room and packed the dvd player and tv games in one moving box.
He did it carefully, as if he wanted to protect those more than me. I felt a lump in my throat but forced it down and turned towards my bed- a camping bed that Scott had had for a million years.
Packing was quick for Chloe, she had already packed her clothes in one carton along with most of her things. Now she only had to pack a couple of books and a few stuffed animals in her backpack. And she couldn't have done it fast enough- the lasts was when she pulled out the blue and orange butterfly night lamp from the wall and turned.
She just needed to get up in her window sill one last time before she left…
"It's just for a while. Okay?" Sarah came and sat down next to Chloe on the window sill but Chloe looked away. "Scott needs some help with settling properly, he's so young. Then once we have a life with a home, jobs, car and all of that- you can come live with us. I'll come and get you."
Chloe sniveled, she wouldn't have believed in Sarah's words more if she had said she'd move to the north pole and work in Santa's workshop.
"I will. I promise. I just have to sort some things out and I'll come for you… and now… I just need to… I'll get your things downstairs."
"I can take them myself." Chloe mumbled, then lifted herself over to her wheelchair and rolled over to her bed where she had left her backpack. And back into the hallway where she lifted her carton into her lap while Scott came to say his goodbyes as if he cared at all.
"Here you go." He reached some bills to her. "It's not much but it's all cash I have. Go buy yourself something you want with it." He patted her shoulder but his eyes looked cold and callous. "It's been nice knowing you Chloe."
Chloe didn't say anything, she just watched as Scott left the hallway to go back into the living room while she looked sternly up on her mum.
"What?"
"I want to at least stay with Ryan."
Sarah dropped the box she was holding in surprise- with looking back at Chloe it almost seemed like she started boiling before she stomped over to Chloe and kneeled so she could look her in the eyes.
"Your brother is a cruel person." Chloe had shivers down her spine with the tone Sarah had in her voice. "And I know you know that." She patted the wheel on Chloe's wheelchair. "None of us would be where we are if it wasn't for him and I've told you that multiple times." She stood back up. "Now get yourself useful, pack your things so I can drive you to your new home."
Chloe sniveled and turned her back against her mum. Tears were rising in her eyes and started rolling down her cheeks- was Ryan really as terrible as Sarah wanted to make her believe?
Chloe didn't remember much of him. But she did remember a thatch of soft, light- brown hair, a soft hoodie and how Ryan had wrapped his arms around her when their mum wasn't around.
Chloe didn't say a word after that. Not while they left the flat and in the elevator to the ground floor, not while the taxi driver folded up her wheelchair as much as it could and she and Sarah came into the back of the car and during most of the way to Chloe's new home except for giving the driver instructions of where they were going.
"Do you know which part of America we'll be going to?" Chloe shrugged. "Oh you do know. We've told you multiple times." Without waiting for an answer she answered. "Texas."
Chloe tried to show how interested she was with looking back at her mum but Sarah ignored the look and continued.
"Do you know what is in Texas?"
"No."
Not even with the bored and angry tone in Chloe's voice too Sarah seemed to notice. And with the way she looked back on her daughter Chloe shrugged and gave the only answer who came to her.
"Horses."
"No, silly." Sarah laughed. "Well, yes. But it's a bit more interesting and important. It's warm and summer all year. That will be nice won't it. Never having the need for a winter jacket or snow or that slippery way the road gets when it melts…" Chloe shrugged. "Oh come on Chloe. I'm trying to make this as well as possible as it can. And look here we are." The taxi driver pulled over in front of a big, two- story house. "You wait here. I'll only be a minute."
The same was done again as when they came. The driver went back and unfolded Chloe's wheelchair, Chloe lifted and pulled herself into it. Sarah took the carton but Chloe ripped it out of her hands and put it on her lap. And Chloe didn't even look at Sarah while they made their way into the house, where an adult man came to greet man.
"Hello." He smiled brightly. "You must be Chloe, and Sarah." He shook hands with both Chloe and Sarah but Chloe still acted like Sarah wasn't even there at all. "Well, I'm Leon, and I'm head care worker. A social worker that will take care of your case Chloe was supposed to be here but has unfortunately come down with the flu. And we decided it would be the best if you came here anyway. Would you like some tea? Coffee?"
"No." Chloe answered angrily for both herself and Sarah. "You don't want tea. You don't want coffee. You want to leave and you want to leave now!"
The room was left absolutely silent except for voices from a living room that must be nearby, and footsteps of a boy coming down the hallway and smiled at the new girl.
"You must be Chloe!"
Leon showed the boy to be quiet while Sarah looked helplessly at her daughter who glared back- if glares only could have killed!
"I think Chloe's right." Sarah said shakily at last. "I should just leave." She tried to give her daughter a hug but Chloe backed away. "Well then… I love you."
Chloe didn't answer. And pretended to not feel anything at all when she turned towards the both males ahead of her. Leon she already knew the name of boy but the boy she didn't know at all yet.
"This is Ryan."
Leon patted the back of a kid that stood next to him. This Ryan was short, had blue eyes and a lot of scars around his face. His whole cheeks and chin were covered in them, yet he smiled brightly not knowing how his name only sent an invisible punch into Chloe's brain.
Out of all names that were in the world…
"Usually it's easier to get to know the kids than it is knowing a care worker… Why don't you show Chloe to her room Ry. I'll be in the office, unless there's something you want to talk to me or ask me about." Chloe shook her head at the older man who walked through a door while the younger boy smiled at her.
"My name is Ryan. Ryan Thompson. I live here. You'll have one of the bedrooms downstairs because… well, you know. But I have one of the upstairs' bedrooms because I can walk and everything. I just look like a monster."
"I HEARD THAT RYAN." Came Leon's voice from the office. "YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY ABOUT IT."
"I'M NOT BEING TOO HARD ON MYSELF. WHAT I'M SAYING IS TRUE AND I'VE ACCEPTED IT EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVEN'T. Here…" He led her down a hallway and to the door in the bottom of the hallway, and Chloe read on the plaques on all the doors, the names of those kids who lived there. "And here. You can drop your things in here." Chloe dropped her carton and her backpack on her bed. "Do you want me to show you around?"
"No…"
Ryan nodded and left her, and with another smile he turned and left the room. Chloe was left alone and looked around the room that held a wardrobe, a bed, a dresser and a window with a window sill way too thin to sit in.
Chloe sighed, turned and closed the door after her before she wheeled down the hallway and followed the sound of voices from the living room, where she found several children and Leon. The only one that Chloe wanted and needed to talk to.
"Leon?"
"Yes?"
"I'd like to get in contact with my brother. His name is Ryan Reeves."
Leon looked to Ryan Thompson who sat in the sofa next to them and watched TV. He smiled half- heartedly but it didn't last when he looked into Chloe's eyes.
"He's in care too. And he's been in care for a long time."
"I'm sorry kiddo." Leon said and shook his head. "I can't do that. Both you and Ryan are protected by the social services' laws and if I let you see him just like that it would get me fired."
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR JOB."
Leon showed her to be quiet and Chloe noticed several of the others went quiet and turned towards her.
She didn't notice, but a lump had rose in her throat too fast for her to slow it down. She grabbed the wheels by her chair and wheeled away. Away from the room and from the other stupid care kids. Away from everything and her whole life…
Or so she would have liked. In fact she only wheeled into her new room. And at the sight of her carton and bag the sobs took over and wrenching her body she cried, feeling her heart breaking. She reached for her favorite stuffed animal- a pink, stuffed pig she'd gotten when she fell out that window and let the tears stream down her face into its soft fabric- fur.
This wasn't the first time Piggy was her comfort.
She barely even heard when there was a careful knock towards her bedroom door, and it opened and Leon came in and then closed the door after him before he came over to Chloe that had at first sat with her back against him.
"Oh sweetheart."
Kneeling down to be closer to the young girl's own height Leon wrapped Chloe tightly in his arms. Chloe let Piggy fall into her lap and leaned into his shirt, crying so loud it must have been heard over the whole house.
"It's okay." Leon stroke her hair. "It's gonna be okay. Just breathe."
But not without her brother…
"I want my brother." Chloe sobbed at last. "I just want my brother and you won't help me."
Chloe wanted to get up from leaning against Leon but couldn't find the way to move and was left crying even more. But silently now, and a million tears running down her cheeks and into his shirt.
Leon stroke her hair and down towards her back and didn't say more. At least not until the tears had run out, Chloe was left heartbroken and at last sat up and wiped her tears and snot with her sleeves. In this Leon took her hands and sternly but kindly looked into her eyes.
"Chloe, I really wish I could help you. Believe me, I do. But there are rules, and there are laws and they're all there to keep you safe. And to keep your brother safe. Do you understand that?" Chloe nodded. "And when your social worker comes here I'll sort out papers and I'll ask her and I can try to sort things out. You might be able to see your brother after that, but I can't promise you anything. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Chloe nodded- yet she wasn't so sure she did.
"Do you want me to stay? Or do you want to be alone?"
Chloe thought for a second, she kind of wanted to give the opposite but she knew she should give one.
"I want to be alone but… if I wrote a letter for my brother would it… could he get it? If you can take him to it without me having to know the address?"
"I…" Leon hesitated. "I can arrange that… Would you want to do that?" Chloe nodded. "Okay." He stood up and patted her shoulder softly. "I'll get a paper and pen for you…"
"I have… it's okay." Chloe opened her backpack and held up a notebook. "But if you… when I… maybe you have an envelope and then I can give the letter to you."
"I'll have to read it to make sure you aren't giving information as he shouldn't know." Chloe wanted to say something and interrupt. "It's just a safety precaution… You can come to me or any of the others if or whenever you want to." He backed towards the door. "Dinner's in an hour."
Dinner? Was it really just another regular day with such normal things such as dinner?
Chloe had a feeling it shouldn't be. Her brain knew it was but her body didn't want to believe it.
At last Chloe leaned down over her notebook slightly and drew a heart in the corner.
Whatever it would take to show her brother she wanted to be with him.
And with a childish hand-writing she slowly figured what to write.
Dear Ryan
I'm in care now too. Mum moved to America with her boyfriend and they couldn't take me with them.
I wish I could be in the same care home as you. Maybe there are some things that you could teach me about this that nobody else could.
Maybe we could at least be together. We are supposed to be since you're my brother and I'm your sister.
Mum kept telling me you pushed me. But that doesn't make any sense with what I can remember…
Random fact
I'm not sure it would be possible with that window sill. But I kept on having a picture in my head of her sitting in the window sill looking out over the city.
