Fostering a New Me

Chapter 3

Monday morning Reese was up and ready before the bus arrived. She had mad a pact with herself to have a good week and control her anger. She even took a few moments to do some yoga before leaving her bedroom per the recommendation of her therapist. It really seemed to help. Reese thought that maybe there was some validity to all the endless conversations she had to endure over the past few years. She had always thought it was a hoax that people used to make money.

As Reese hopped off the bus she began scanning the crowd for Adam. He wasn’t out on the courtyard, but it wasn’t abnormal for him to oversleep and be tardy to his first class. Reese felt like she had extra eyes on her today, but decided to brush it off. She was going to have a great day.

Girls snickered as she walked into her first class. Reese once again ignored it. Most of these kids grew up together, and outsiders were oftentimes treated differently. As a foster kid she was used to people looking at her differently. She couldn’t help why she was in care, but the others didn’t care. They took the opportunity to shame her just the same.

After class, Reese heard her name coming from a squeaking voice bounding down the hall. She knew right away it was Ellie. Reese had managed to make one friend so far, and it happened to be a 5’1” little fireball of a red head named Ellie. She typically was a overly happy little energetic thing that talked 500 miles per hour. She amused Reese, and Reese needed a friend. She was happy to see Ellie’s face; or so she thought.

“Where have you been,” Ellie scolded. “I tried calling you all weekend!”

“Ugh, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you I got grounded from my phone,” Reese replied.

“Again!” Ellie like to tease Reese. “Never mind that, I have go to tell you about Teagan’s party!”

Reese suddenly remembered the event she had so badly wanted to attend. “Oh yeah! How was it? Lots of drunkenness I’m sure.”

Ellie’s face hardened. “So you really don’t know?”

Suddenly Reese stopped in her tracks and a bad feeling formed within her stomach. “What do I need to know, Ellie?”

“I really shouldn’t tell you, because he should have told you himself.” Ellie said with self-turmoil.

Reese could feel like blood beginning to boil within herself. The calming effects of yoga were long gone at this point. “Tell me what happened!” Reese demanded.

Ellie could tell Reese was not going to patiently wait any longer. “Adam kissed Lexi,” Ellie blurted out.

Reese froze. Typically, she would have already hit something or someone, but this was different. It felt…icy. “What do you mean kissed? Like she went over and gave him a peck on the cheek?” Reese said with the slightest sound of false hope.

“No, like they made out all night long in the bed of his truck.” Ellie said with an etch of sorrow in her voice. “I’m so sorry. I know you really liked him, but I thought you should know.”

Reese refused to let anyone see her cry, so she turned and rushed off to the bathroom. Lexi and Reese had the same class second period, and she refused to let her see her in this condition. She spent the entire hour in a bathroom stall running the words through her mind over and over. Why would he do this? Why was she such a fool to think that a popular boy like Adam could ever like a girl like her? Why did she ever have to move to this stupid school anyway! The bell rang and Reese composed herself enough to go to her next class. Adam spotted her in the hallway and approached her as if nothing had happened.

“Hey beautiful,” Adam teased as he gently nudged her shoulder with his. Reese flashed him a look filled with daggers. Adam stiffened knowing that she must know something, but no one saw he and Lexi. He had been careful to make sure that his mistake was not noticed by the others at the party. He figured it must be something else, so he tried to lighten the mood. “Bad weekend?” He said lightheartedly. Reese said nothing, and turned and walked into class.