“Say it, Izzy.” He then coaxes while a smirk spreads across his lips.
“Brother Bear.” I laugh softly.
“That’s my, Sister Bear.” He replies as he intertwines his fingers with mine again.
We grow quiet as we wait.
After a few moments, a young couple walks into the waiting area and sits down across from us. I glance towards Avery and then lay my head on his shoulder.
“Do you think they’ll be nice?” I ask softly, breaking the silence between Avery, and I.
“I’m sure they will be,” Avery replies.
He knew as well as I did that not every foster home was the best place. Most of them were absolutely terrible.
I sigh as I reach up to finger the necklace that Avery had made me when we had been children. He had made it for me when we met for the first time.
He had a matching necklace around his neck that I had made for him. It was simple, just a string with beads on it and a tiny silver bear pendant.
It was the reason we started calling each other Brother Bear and Sister Bear.
“Avery…?” I whisper.
“Yes, Sister Bear?” Avery replies.
“I’m going to miss you.” I whimper as a few tears escape and fall down my cheeks.
We had parted ways many times over the years, but this was the hardest separation that we had ever faced.
“I’m going to miss you too.” He replies hoarsely, his emotions getting the better of him.
“Are you two brother and sister?” The woman suddenly questions.
I bow my head while Avery answers. “No, Ma’am. We’ve just grown up together.”
“Oh…” The woman whispers softly.
“Are you being separated?” She then asks.
Avery nods. “Yes, Ma’am but we're used to it.”
“That’s so sad.” She replies. “You two seem like really great kids.”
Without warning the office door opens, and Avery and I rush to scoot apart. Any kind of interaction with each other was strictly forbidden.
“Isabelle, what are you doing here? You need to go back to your room where you belong.” Mrs. Reynolds scolds as she points her finger down the hallway.
“Can’t I just say goodbye?” I try.
“No.” She replies simply.
I stand up, and Avery stands with me. Without caring I grab him into an embrace. I wasn’t about to leave him without a final farewell.
“There will be none of that, Isabelle.” Mrs. Reynolds growls out as she grabs my arm roughly to pull me away from Avery.
She yanks me from Avery’s arms before pulling me roughly down the hall.
“Be good, Sister Bear,” Avery calls out.
Within seconds he disappears from view while I’m practically tossed into a room by myself. Mrs. Reynolds shuts me inside before locking the door as she leaves.
I rush to look out the small window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Avery one last time.
Unfortunately, all I see is an empty hallway.
I stand in place for what feels like forever before shadows move down the hallway, coming in my direction.
After a few moments, Avery appears with his bag hung over his shoulder. He was following the young couple that had been sitting in the room with us.
They must have been his new foster family. It surprised me since young couples almost never took anyone our age. They usually went for smaller children.
As Avery walks closer, I pound my hand against the small window to get his attention.
He looks up and stops in his tracks before rushing to the door. His eyes glisten with unshed tears as he places his hand against the glass.
I do the same as my heart literally shatters in two.
‘Be strong, Izzy.’ He mouths.
I nod even though a sob falls from my lips.
The man appears behind Avery. He pulls him away from the window gently before giving me a sad smile.
He then guides Avery away.
They disappear, and I break down before crumbling to the floor in front of the door. I curl into a ball as I cry uncontrollably.
I just knew that that had been the last time we would ever see each other. There was no chance of our plan ever working out.
We had been kidding ourselves all these years.
****
“Isabelle, you need to get up. I will not tolerate this any longer, young lady.” Mrs. Reynolds snaps as she barges into my room.
When I don’t move she sighs roughly.
“You’re never going to get a home if you keep moping around like this.” She tries. “You should be happy for Avery. He found a great home. He doesn’t have to worry about being thrown out on his own when he turns eighteen now.”
I roll over and give her my best glare before returning to my previous position.
“Suit yourself.” She gives up.
A second later the door slams shut before the lock clicks into place.
It was better this way. I couldn’t face any of the other kids in the common room anyway. I couldn’t be the girl they always looked up to.
That girl had left with Avery.
I was a shell of the strong girl I had been. The system had finally beaten me down like it had done to so many children before me.
The world could continue on without me.
Being in this room was all that I cared about at the moment. The silence was a reminder that I was all alone in this now.
My only real friend had left, and in two years I would be tossed out on my own to survive the cruel world outside these walls.
I was doomed to become a statistic.
Chapter 2
The days tick by at a painfully slow pace as I sit in the corner of whatever room I was being placed in at the time.
I had been forced to leave the isolation room, but that didn’t mean I had accepted being back with the others.
“Isabelle, please don’t make Mrs. Reynolds yell at you again.” One of the smallest girls pleads as she tugs on my arm to get me to follow her.
The lunch bell had rung, but I wasn’t moving.
“Please, come with me.” She tries one more time.
“Just go, Sophie.” I sigh.
She watches me for a moment, her eyes studying me, before rushing off to catch up with the other kids. Like the rest of us, she had grown up faster than she appeared.
Sophie was six, but she had witnessed more horror than most adults in her lifetime.
Her life nearly resembled my own which is why she always seemed to cling to me. We had both lost our parents to tragedy. My parents had been killed in front of me.
To this day I could still remember the smell of burnt gunpowder, and how their blood drying on my fingers had felt.
Luckily for Sophie, she hadn’t been a witness, but she had found her parents dead, which was traumatic on its own.
One day she would be able to put it all behind her and move on. She was cute enough that a family would snatch her up any day.
“Get up now, Isabelle. You have a family interested in you.” Mrs. Reynolds suddenly announces as she joins me in the common room.
I don’t move.
“Do you really want to ruin this too? You could have a permanent home here, Isabelle.” She pushes.
When I remain silent, she grabs hold of my arm and yanks me up to my feet. She then pushes me out into the hallway and to my room.
“Get cleaned up and fix your hair.” She demands before releasing her hold on me.
I reluctantly follow her orders. I change my clothes and then pull my dark hair into a ponytail before gathering my boots.
Once I’m ready, I shove my belongings into my bag and then toss it over my shoulder. I wanted to be prepared for anything because when a family came, they didn’t waste time to take us away.
I walk to the waiting area and sit down on my usual worn out orange chair.
A young woman in her mid-twenties walks in with a friendly smile. She sits down acro
ss from me. I watch her as she fixes her blonde hair before smoothing her hands over her white dress.
She was completely the opposite of me in my black shirt, jeans, boots and black hair.
Closing my eyes, I reach up to finger the bear around my neck.
I reopen my eyes when the door to Mrs. Reynolds office opens, and she greets the girl with an overly friendly smile.
“You must be Amber.” She states.
“Yes, Ma’am, I am.” The girl replies as she stands up to shake Mrs. Reynolds hand.
“And where is Dorian?” Mrs. Reynolds asks curiously.
“He’s coming. There weren’t any free parking spots outside, but he wanted someone here to greet you.” Amber replies.
“That’s common around here I’m afraid.” Mrs. Reynolds laughs.
“Anyway would you like to come inside my office so we can get started on the paperwork and information that you need?” Mrs. Reynolds then questions.
Amber nods and they disappear into the office.
The minutes once again tick by slowly as I sit in my seat waiting for the family that would probably never show their faces.
When a young man around the same age as the girl suddenly rushes into the room, I raise my brow curiously when he sits down next to me.
An awkward silence surrounds us as he stares straight ahead.
I glance at him a few times before speaking. “If you’re waiting for a girl she’s inside the office with Mrs. Reynolds.”
He nods and then waves at the door absently. “Amber’s got this.”
I nod and then close my eyes again as I fiddle with my necklace nervously.
After a moment I turn my attention back to the man sitting next to me. “Are you adopting one of the kids from here, because I know this one little girl who’s the sweetest and she needs a good home? Her name is Sophie.”
He smirks as he looks at me in amusement. “How old do I look?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Old enough, I guess.”
He barks out in laughter as he nods his head. “I guess I am, but I’m here for my adopted parents. Apparently, they found someone they couldn’t leave behind.”
I nod and then sigh. “Whoever it is they’re lucky.”
“Yeah, you could say that.” He agrees.
“Why didn’t they come themselves?” I ask curiously.
“They’re working.” He answers simply.
He stands suddenly when the door to the office opens, and Amber walks out with a huff.
“Dorian...” She breathes out.
“What’s wrong?” He asks.
“They won’t let her leave with us.” She exclaims.
“Well, why not?” Dorian questions with a low growl.
“I don’t know. You’re going to have to call your dad so he can figure it all out.” Amber replies as she throws her hands up into the air.
Dorian pulls out his phone, and they walk down the hallway.
Mrs. Reynolds steps out from her office with a sigh. “You can leave, Isabelle. They aren’t coming for you.”
With that she walks back into her office, shutting the door behind her.
Her words slam into me like a brick wall. I don’t know why but I had gotten my hopes up. I wanted a family to take me away from this place.
Tears fill my eyes as I pull my legs up on the seat before placing my head against my knees.
I cry silently as despair consumes me.
When a warm hand touches my arm, I jump before glancing up into Dorian’s soft blue eyes.
“Hey, are you alright?” He asks softly while Amber watches me from over his shoulder.
I nod and wipe my face. “I’ll be fine. You’d think I’d be used to families rejecting me by now.” I laugh sadly.
“Not all of them will.” He insists.
“You can say that because you’re one of the lucky ones,” I reply.
Without another word I stand and then grab my bag before walking away with it dragging on the floor behind me. I didn’t want to talk anymore.
The last thing I wanted to do was cause a scene. Mrs. Reynolds wouldn’t let me get away without a harsh punishment if she found out.
As I turn the corner, I stop to listen as Amber and Dorian talk loudly.
“This is a mess, Dorian.” Amber nearly yells. “Can’t your dad do anything?”
“He’s trying to talk to her right now. We just need to give him a little bit. These places always make it difficult for the kids.” Dorian replies. “Just look at what they did to that poor girl.”
“I couldn’t imagine what she’s been through.” Amber sighs.
No, she couldn’t.
Without listening to another word, I walk away. After a few moments, I find myself sitting in the corner of the common room next to the window that overlooked the street below.
I stare out absently at the small tree standing alone surrounded by concrete.
Kids come and go as I remain in my spot.
“Are you going home?” Sophie asks as she sits down next to me.
“Not today,” I whisper as I look at her sadly.
She nods and then wipes away the few remaining tears away from my cheek with her little hand. “Someone’s going to take you home and keep you forever someday.”
“Maybe…” I sigh as I force myself to smile.
Mrs. Reynolds suddenly appears in the doorway, and I sigh as I motion for Sophie to leave. She didn’t need to come between me and her wrath.
Dorian appears a moment later. He scans the room until his eyes stop on me.
I look away quickly.
“She’s over there.” Mrs. Reynolds states. “She can be a bit unruly. Would you like me to get her for you?”
“I’ve got this, thank you,” Dorian replies loudly.
From the corner of my eye, I watch as Mrs. Reynolds leaves. I try and fail to ignore Dorian as he continues to watch me.
After a moment he begins walking in my direction.
He stops next to me before kneeling down. I look at him with a raised brow as he holds out his hand towards me.
“I’m Dorian.” He announces.
My brow rises even more as I glance down at his hand.
He sighs and then retracts his hand before scrubbing it over his face.
A moment later he speaks again. “I’m Dorian, your older brother.”
For a moment his words don’t quite register.
When they do, I burst out into hysterical laughter. “You have to be kidding me. There’s no way I’m the one you’re here for.”
“I am.” He replies seriously.
My laughter instantly dies as I gaze into his eyes. “Seriously…?”
He nods as he grins. “Yes, seriously… Isabelle. I’m here for you. We’re taking you home.”
My world spins as I stare at this brown haired blue eyed boy. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening.
“Is she alright?” Amber asks softly as she joins us.
“I think she’s in shock,” Dorian replies as he glances back at her.
My chest constricts as I pant for my next breath. Without warning my world fades, and my body hits the floor with a solid thud.
Chapter 3
“Do you think that we should take her to the hospital or something, Dorian?” Amber questions as I begin to wake up.
I find myself with my head lying on her shoulder while sitting between them in the front of a truck.
“Everything will be fine as soon as we get her home,” Dorian replies. “Dad will look her over once she wakes back up.”
Amber sighs. “That little girl nearly broke my heart.”
“I know what you mean,” Dorian replies softly. “The system is pretty harsh, but I’m sure she’ll find a loving family soon.”
“I hope so,” Amber replies sincerely.
Only the hum of the truck’s engine fills the small space as I slowly become more alert. I don’t remove my head from Amber’s shoulder as I stare out a
t the road ahead.
Trees pass by as we travel down an old country road.
“Are you alright, Sweetie?” Amber asks softly as she places her hand on my forehead for a moment.
I nod but remain quiet.
“You’re going to like it here.” Dorian insists. “Our house sits on one-hundred and fifty-two acres. We have every type of farm animal you can imagine.”
“I’ve never seen a horse,” I whisper. “I’ve always wanted to pet one.”
“Well, we’ve got five, and you can pet them all you want. I’ll teach you how to ride if you want me to.” Dorian replies happily.
I smile as he slows and then turns onto a paved driveway. We stop for a moment as a gate at the end opens for us.
“Are they rich or something?” I blurt as I sit up straight to take it all in as we drive forward.
“I guess you could say that,” Dorian answers with a chuckle. “Charlotte and August have money, but they don’t act like they’re better than anyone else.”
“That’s their names?” I whisper.
“Yes, but you can call them Mom and Dad. They like it when we call them that.” Dorian replies.
“Do you live here too?” I ask Amber.
“No, Sweetie, I’m Dorian’s fiancé.” She laughs lightly. “I’ll be moving in once we’re married though.”
“You’re actually the first girl that Charlotte and August have adopted, Isabelle,” Dorian states gently. “Normally they only take on boys that have reached the end of the line in the foster care system.”
“Oh…” I breathe out. “Why did they want me then?”
He shrugs. “I guess you tugged at the right heartstring.”
I nod and then lean forward as their house comes into view. It was a massive brick house with windows and balconies.
“Please, tell me this isn’t all just some cruel dream,” I whisper.
“It’s all real.” Dorian snorts before pulling the truck in front of the house. “Welcome home, Isabelle.”
Amber and Dorian exit the truck but I remain frozen in my seat.
“She’s not going to pass out again, is she?” Amber asks as she glances through the truck towards Dorian on the other side.
“I hope not.” He sighs as he watches me.
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