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Alaska

Everleigh's POV..

I looked up at the small house with white shingles and a tin roof. I've been to this house many times before, but for some reason I was more nervous than usual.

God what is it? Is Alaska okay? Please lord help me.

Trust in me with all your heart and lean not to your own understandings.

It was like he spoke straight to me. I knew the verse so very well after reading it myself many of times, Proverbs 3:5. I had grown up with the verse on my wall. Waking up everyday with the insight that I should trust God, and so I knew not to worry anymore. Whatever it was, God was going to help me and keep me safe.

I got out of my truck and started up the rotted, wooden steps. I ducked my head to keep the sun out of my eyes, and extended my hand to the door that stood before me, but before I could knock on the door Alaska had threw it open. She was going to say something and then stopped short. She tried walking passed me but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Can we please go?” she said in a quiet voice while looking down.

I could tell she had been crying. Her face was puffy and her eye a bright teal color, the color they always get after.

 “Yes, go to the truck. Let me tell your mother and i’ll come back out and we can talk.” I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“No Everleigh. Why don’t we just go now?”

Right then she looked up at me and I could tell by the look in her eyes and the blue, purple tint that surrounded one of them that she regretted looking at me. I grabbed her chin making her look me straight in the eye, and studied what was laying upon her face.

“A black eye Alaska? Where in the world did you get this?” My face started to get hot and right then she threw her head away from me.

“It doesn't matter, can we please just go?” She grabbed my arm, but I managed to get loose.

“Not until I speak with your mother.” I shot a glance to my truck that sat in the spot I left it in, “Go sit in the truck and i’ll be out there in one second.”

I walked into the house and found Lauren sitting on the couch, beer in her hand, and a dead stare straight to the wall. I stopped and looked right at her and I could feel the heat come to my face, and my hands start to tremble.

“Look at you, you are a mess. I swear Lauren if you don't get your act together for that girl out there, you won't see her at all. Do you hear me?” I snatched the beer out of her hand and looked around the room. Maybe seven or eight more beer cans on the ground. I started to pick them up when I saw it. Cocaine. I grabbed it and held it up, when I did she slowly turned her head to me.

“That ain’t mine.” she said slowly.

 “Oh really, because it's in ​your​ house.” I spat at her, “ When are you going to get it, huh? You’re killing yourself, and you know it. That girl out there tries so hard to keep it together just so she can babysit you. She is sixteen for heaven's sake.” I walked to the kitchen to grab some trash bags “She gets A’s in all her classes, just to get a good education so she can get a good job just to take care of her mother. This is ridiculous, and if you keep it up then i'm gonna have to tell the state. I'm trying my hardest here. I'm trying to help.”

“It's not mine” she said again. I could tell the anger was starting to rise up in her body, “ I told you once. It ain't mine”

“Then who's is it?” I turned and planted my hand on my hip.

“Some guys that stayed here last night. I was only trying to help them I swear.” she got up and stumble to the kitchen, opened the fridge and grabbed the whiskey bottle only to put it to her mouth, but before she could do so, I grabbed the bottle and threw it out the window. Glass flew from the spot that it had broke from. Lauren turned on her heel and slapped me right across the cheek. I felt a sting that flowed straight from my cheek to the rest of my body.

Just before I started to say something we both turned to see Alaska standing in the doorway with tears rolling down her cheeks like a child who lies on their back to role down the very uneven hill.

“Oh honey, you know mamma didn't mean to hit her. You know that I wouldn't hit her”

“STOP. Don't tell me you would never do such a thing. Mother I just watched you do it. I'm tired of this, i'm tired of you sitting on you a** all day long.”

 “Don't you use that foul language young lady” she said as she tried to grab something to steady herself.

“Oh just like the men used you last night, huh? How they used my face for a punching bag just because I was trying to help ​you​” she pointed to her face, stood there for a second, and then turned and ran to her room.

With a steady breathe I knew what I was about to say wouldn’t go down easy. I felt the words poking at my throat yet they would not come up, then when they did. I couldn't stop them.

“I'm taking her Lauren, i'm sorry. We’ll be out of here in thirty minutes.” I gave her a hard look, and reached out to place my hand on her shoulder but I stopped short.

“You will not take my daughter from me you here. I will not allow it.” tears started to well up in her eyes, yet I knew she was trying to be strong.

I looked at her and walked away. She yelled for me but I kept walking. When I reached Alaska's door I knocked on the wood that was inches from my head. It sounded throughout the hallway, causing waves of an echo. I peaked my head in the door, and saw her sitting on her unmade bed.

“Pack your things. Were leaving.” I was stern, but deep down I was falling apart.

“Wait what? I can't just leave my mom here like this. I know what she did wasn't right, but I can't just leave her no matter how mad I get at her. I won’t.” her voice began to rise, and she got up from where she once sat.

“You don't have a choice Alaska. it's the law, and its my job. I have to take you. You can stay with me.”

 “No. You will not take me. You can't do that. Things are bad, yeah, I get it but E’ you can't take me from her when she needs me.” tears started streaming down her face, but she wiped them away angrily.

I looked away and took a deep breathe. I knew this wasn't easy, and I knew she was probably gonna hate me, but it had to happen. It has too.

“You have thirty minutes to pack all your essentials, and if you refuse I will call the someone else and you will live in a foster home till further notice.” and with that I turned on my heel and left. tears started to come up in my eyes, but i shut it down all to fast. I couldn't show my emotions. Not now.

“Don't do this to me, Everleigh!” she screamed at me, tears streaming down her sweet face.

I walked down the hallway, right past Lauren, out the door, and jumped in my truck. My head fell to my hands, and I began to weep. I knew I was causing so much pain for the people I love, so I called out to god, screaming.

“Why are you doing this to me? Am I not worthy enough for your help. I've called upon you, and you give me no hope. God i'm stuck, and i'm hurting the people I love. Please lord. Help me. Im begging you, help me.” I looked up towards the heavens.

Daughter I hear your thoughts, I hear your troubles, trust in me.

I felt some relief, I always do when he talked to me, but the hurt laid at the bottom of my stomach.

Twenty-five minutes passed and I heard the door open. I lifted my head from my hands and I looked to my left to see bags in her hands and mother by her side. She kissed her mother's cheek and with one big breath she stepped away. Lauren put her hand to her mouth. I felt like my heart was crying out to her. She will be okay, or at least I hope so. I jumped out trying to helped Alaska with her bags, but she threw her hand up before me.

“Quit, you've already done enough.” she threw things in the back and went to the other side of the truck and climbed in with one swift movement.

I grabbed the cool handle to 1999 Chevy Silverado, opened it and slipped inside to the worn out seat that waited for me. my mind suddenly went to all the times I spend with him in this exact seat. I snatched my hand bag from the floor and rummaged through it to find my keys, and when I did, I put them in the ignition, and my truck went to life with one big roar. I threw it into drive and sped off.

After about ten miles in I reached over to turn on the radio when Alaska finally spoke up.

“I don’t want it on.” she said in mono tone.

“Look I get that you are mad at me, but i’m doing this to protect you, and besides I have to keep an eye on your mom so that way you will know that she is okay.” I glanced at her with the corner of my eye.

“ I understand that you are trying to protect me, I don’t want to be protected. I don’t want to be put in foster home. I just want to be at home with my mom. Please Everleigh, just take me back.” She gave me a pleading look, but I bypassed the look she gave me, and stared straight ahead.

“You know you are just like me when I was your age. Stubborn, and really hard headed. I didn't ever listen to the people around me because I thought I could do my own thing. I didn't think I needed to be helped from the people who loved me most.” my voice

 cracked but I kept talking, “I wanted to do me, and I did for awhile, but guess what? It didn’t work.' I said turning to look at her, "I knew I needed their help but I was too selfish, and too prideful to ask.” She didn’t say anything. She just hung her head to keep me from seeing the pain in her eyes because she knew I was right.

“Alaska look at me.” I said softly

She slowly began to raise her head.

“You won’t be going to a foster home...well actually you will.” Alaska begin to say something but I cut her off.

“I talked it over with some people in the court while you were getting your stuff. I will be your foster parent for the time being, at least until things get cleared.”

“Really? I'm staying with you?” she turned her face to me and I did the same.

Tears gathered in her eyes and I could tell that things were going in the right direction. “If that is want you want Alaska then yes...” turning to look back at the road in front of me.

“I would love that very much. Thank you.” she hesitated but her head fell to my shoulder and her eyes shut.

I took a deep breath and thanked God for what he was doing and what he was about to do in this young girl’s heart.