Chapter 1

Suspended

Unlocking the door, I took a peak inside. No sign of them. I stepped in further and locked the door behind me. Glancing at the living room on my way to the stares.

"We got a call from the Principle." I stopped dead in my tracks. One hand on the rail, one foot raised in the air. Caleb walked out of the living room. Something tinkling with his every step. Glass of Scotch probably.

Releasing the rail I gave him my full attention.

"He said you are suspended for fighting." He took a sip. "School started two weeks ago. Is this a new record for you?"

My shoulders slumped.

I tried, I really did.

Sitting my bag on the step I joined it with my elbows propped up on my knees. Running my fingers through my ponytail, thinking.

"Do you remember what we discussed the last time you were suspended? Foster Care told us if you got suspended again you would be sent to another foster home."

Three strikes.

Another transfer.

A new city.

A new family.

"Raven? You listening?" I nodded. My eyes were burning. I could feel the tears squeezing my heart and there was nothing holding them back anymore. Making eye contact with Caleb, untangling my fingers from my hair.

"I no want to go." I signed, tears flowing.

"And Debby and I want you to stay. But you keep -"

"Not my fault! No send me-"

He held up his hand.

"I can't undersand you when you're upset like this." With a grumble I dug out the dry erase board and marker from my bag.

Where do I even start?

He wouldn't understand.

Lie about it?

Didn't work last time.

Truth didn't work before that either.

It can't end like this! I am happy here! I finally unpacks!

Scribbling as fast I could, I held it up for Caleb to read.

"No choice. Girl hurting me."

Caleb shook his head but I was already erasing and writing more.

"Her parents called the school board and complained you sicked a dog on her."

"She hurt me. I ask help. Jeffrey came."

"Who's Jeffrey?"

Here it comes.

"The dog."

"The dog?" I did not answer. "Will the owner say 'Jeffrey' was trying to help you?"

"No Owner."

"Then how did you know his name was Jeffrey?"

"Jeff told me."

"...What?" My eyes napped to him.

"I know. Crazy. Don't know how." I put my hand out as if to calm him while I wrote more.

"Janet on me. I scream. Kids laugh. Jeff came." I was not sure what was on Calebs face. First it was shock, then disbelief, then anger.

"I do not appreciate you lying to me, Raven."

My mouth fell open.

"Go to your room." He sighed, turning away from me to walk back into the living room. I sighed in defeat. Making my way upstairs, sobbing.

What is wrong with me?

Throwing myself on the bed and letting the tears flow.

-{-}-

"Honey! Raven! I'm home!" Debby walked into the kitchen to drop a few nonperisables on the on the island before making her way to the grid. Debby put away the milk and a few other odds and ends for dinners this week before looking around the silent house She tried again.

"Honey? Raven?" Caleb came in sipping his Scotch.

"Hey hon." He gave Debby a little peck before sliding onto an island stool. Debby glanced at Caleb as she put away the pasta.

"What is wrong?" Eyeing his scotch. He sighed, rubbing his face.

"Raven got into another fight today." Debby stopped what she was doing. Eyes resting on the pictures stuck to the frig.

"Did she get suspended?"

"Yah." Debby sighed, tossing the loaf of bread into the pantry. Not really caring where it landed. Debby sat herself heavily on another stool and took Caleb's hand.

"What happened?" He rubbed the back of her hand thoughtfully with his thumb. Ice clincking in his glace with another sip.

"Does it matter? She says it was self defense, they say she jumped the girl then sicked a dog on her when she won. Either way she is going to be moved to another Foster Home." Caleb left his glass on the counter and rubbed his eyes.

"You should have seen her face. It looked almost like it did when she first came. Sad and lost. I could just see her crawling back inside herself again." He propped his head up with a hand against the island.

"A dog?" Debby whispered. Caleb's eyes wrinkled with confusion.

"Yah. Raven says she did not sick the dog on her. She said she was 'screaming'," doing air quotes with his finger, "for help and Jeffrey came to her rescue."

"Jeffrey?"

"The dog. And, get this, Raven said he told her his name." Debby tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"Last time she got in a fight, the boy was scratched up by a cat." Debby mumbled.

"Yes… And?"

"I need to make a phone call." Debby left a bewildered Caleb in the kitchen.

-{-}-

I laid there and watched my alarm clock tick away. I had no reason to get up. Saturday's were usually like that. But this Saturday I did have something to do.

Pack.

In my sixteen years I had nineteen foster homes. Caleb and Debby were my twentieth. They were suppose to be my last. At least I had hoped to stay here until I turned eighteen, which was in about a year, and could go out on my own. I even thought, maybe, I could stay here while I went to college. If they would let me. I mean, it was one in a million finding foster parents who could sign much less ones who actually cared and were not just doing it for the monthly check.

When we met the first time, I did not know they could sign. I brought my white board and marker with me, expecting them to start talking like I was deaf, and I just about cried when Debby started to sign from her seat in the front. Carrying on a full conversation with me while we drove to their favorite burger place. Joking it was a deal breaker if I did not like their favorite place, but it was amazing. Best day I had in years.

I remember waiting, hoping, over the weekend I would be placed with them. And then, after only a month of living with them, I wanted to ask them to adopt me. But that was too much to hope for. And now...now... after only four months I was leaving.

The longest I have stayed in one place was six months. I guess it was too much to hope.

I sighed.

It was about noon now and Foster Care usually came around four. So I dragged myself out of bed to the bathroom. My eyes were still red from crying. Though the golden specs were more pronounced in their hazel surroundings. I decided to shower in an attempt to control the auburn mess on my head. Taking my time scrubbing, shampooing, and conditioning. I toweled myself dry and settled on a pair of denim knee length shorts and a Star Wars graphic tee with a color cordinated plaid button up shirt tied around my waist. I decided to braid my hair, no point in straitening my hair and trying to look nice. I would not even bother with makeup.

Taking one last glance around the bathroom, I gathered my few things and closed the door behind me. Dumping the makeup bag and various bottles in my suitcase on the bed.

I heard a scuffling at my door. Then a knock.

"Raven? Raven, honey are you up?"

Tapping on the headboard three times with a knuckle, I let her know it was open. She slowly opened the door. Dressed in jeans and a cute teal top that accented her red hair nicely, her bright green eyes took in the mess of clothes on my bed.

"What are you doing?"

Packing. I jabbed. Stomping over to the chester draws to pull more out.

"Why?"

You know. I went over and started taking stuff from the top of my dresser and tossing them in a bag.

"It has not been decided."

Caleb. Very clear last night. Throwing from the other side of the room.

"Yes but-um- there is something we need to talk to you about first."

Her tone caught my attention. She had a little smile tugging at her lips.

"How about you come get some Brunch and then we will talk." Failing to come up with a good excuse I sighed.

One minute. Promise. Debby smiled slightly, nodding her head.

"I put the left over Bacon in the frig encase you want to make a BL sandwich."

Tomatoes? I asked hopefully.

"Sorry, out of Tomatoes. Can only have a BL. Or a BLA, we have avacado." I could not help but smile. Debby was such a sweetheart. She was a wonderful Foster Mom. Really a contradiction to all you hear about bad tempered redheads with short fuses. Debby had more patience than a Saint.

Thank you Debby.

"Anytime." She smiled back. "Do not be too long." She left, closing the door behind her. I sat there for a moment. Looking at my suitcase. Eyes gliding across each patch littering its front. One from each foster home I was in. I had just got the most resent one last week. Usually I got a small onre, but this time I got a big one because this was going to be the last one. This was going to be my home.

My stomach growled bringing me back to the present. I skipped out on dinner last night so a sandwhich was sounding pretty good right now.

Reluctantly, not because I did not want to eat or that I wanted to pack, I made my way down stairs.

I could hear Debby bustling around in the living room but no sign of Caleb. He was probably doing stuff in his garage while Debby went around cleaning the house. I went to the frig and sure enough there was bacon, wrapped in plastic wrap, lettuce, avacado but no tomatoes. I took all I needed, including mayo and apple juice, to the island and went to work. Took me a minute to find the bread because someone randomly tossed it in the pantry.

Debby still busy cleaning every nook and cranny.

I was on my second sandwich when I heard the door leading to the garage open.

"-to see you too, Caleb." A strange woman's' voice echoed in the hallway.

"Debby! Tessa is here!" I glanced in the living room to see Caleb and a strange woman, Tessa I guess, meet Debby. Debby took the woman into a huge hug, both screaming like little girls.

"Too long Little Debby."

"Tes!" They busted out giggling. "Thanks for coming."

The name Tessa sounded familiar. I got up from the island to cross my arms over my chest and lean against the door frame. Sipping at my apple juice. This Tessa was a little thinner and taller than Debby. Her hair was also red, a lot similar to Debby's, let louse in flowing ringlets which complamented her flowing sunbeam yellow cotton dress to her knees with an equally long chunky dark green sweater on top. Equipped with a brown woven belt, dark leggings, and grey ankle boots.

Debby turned to the kitchen.

"Raven! Tessa, I would like for you to meet Raven." I walked over and Debby put her arm around me. A huge small on her face. "She is the foster child that is staying with Caleb and me. Raven this is my sister Tessa."

If any of y'all are familiar with the Foster Care/Adoption please give me pointers on how things work. I'm just going off what little I've heard and could really use some help.

Also, I am a bit rusty on my sign language (over four years rusty) so please help a girl out in getting it right.

Thanks! Hope you enjoyed it so far.