I heard Gerard breathing heavily over the phone, and I also heard police sirens in the background. I started freaking out, something was definitely wrong.

"W-why are there sirens going off?" I asked.

"George called 911. Look, I'll explain later." Gerard said. "Bye Vi-" I cut him off and said, "Can you at least give me an explanation before you hang up on me?"

"Listen, I'm not sure how Penelope Rafferty got into the theater, but if I don't hang up now, she's gonna find me. I love you." Gerard said.

"I'M SORRY, WHAT?" I said. I was cut off by the sound of the line disconnecting.

"What's going on?" Reed asked, fixing up her hair in the bathroom mirror.

"Yeah, Penelope found the place where my parents work." I snapped. Reed gasped and said, "Hide out here for as long as you need."

"Reed, she's not coming for me. She's coming for my family." I said. I started to slip into my horrible American accent out of habit. "If she succeeds, I'll be back in her care. And that's the last thing I want."

"Listen. Val, that is not gonna happen, not in a million years. If all else fails, we'll take you in." Reed said. "Wait, didn't you tell me that Penelope doesn't have a foster license anymore?"

I had totally forgot about that. At least Penelope couldn't take me back.

But if something happened to George or Will or anyone...I don't know what I'd do.

"So what's going on?" Reed asked, concerned. "How long do you need to stay here?"

"I have no clue." I said. "I really don't have the slightest inkling about what's going on." I sighed. Now that Gerard's life was in danger, I wanted to go home more than ever.

"There's a chance my uncle's life could be at risk here. I'm scared, Reed. I'm scared." I said, panicking. Reed took my hands and said, "Do you think that I'd let you get hurt, Val?"

"No...but...I'm lucky I'm safe. Gerard isn't, at least not now." I said. Reed sighed and grabbed her phone off of a nightstand. 

Then it suddenly hit me. Were George and Will okay? George is probably the first person Penelope wants to get revenge on, besides me. 

"Hey, my dads are ordering burgers. Want one?" Reed asked. I nodded and started crying into my knees the minute Reed left the room. I sighed and flopped on Reed's bed, looking around.

I was still processing the fact that Reed was my girlfriend. I liked girls, and I was dating a girl. And this all happened in a year. Less than three months, actually. 

Reed's dad bounced in the room, Reed right behind him. "Cheeseburger for Valerie with extra cheese, and extra pickles for Rebekah!" 

"James, don't call me by my full name, I hate it." Reed said. I couldn't contain my giggles anymore. 

I was sitting on the floor of Reed's bedroom, picking the pickles off of my burger and laughing.

"Oh, Val, I have something for you." Reed said. She pulled a box off of her bed and handed it to me.

I opened it and gasped. 

Reed had given me my first pride flag. I squealed happily and hugged my girlfriend tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, I love you!" 

"I love you too V-" Reed said. She was cut off by my phone ringing. 

"Hey, sorry, my phone's going off." I said. I picked it up and saw Gerard's name lighting up. "It's my uncle...Hello?"

"V-Vi-Via?" Gerard said, stumbling over his words. Something was obviously wrong. I just didn't know what.

"What's going on?" I asked. "I'm at Reed's."

"Yeah, stay there for a while. Via, I'm so sorry, but...Penelope found George. Penelope's trying to get you out of his care." Gerard said. 

"How did Penelope even know that I was in George's care?" I asked. Why didn't I think of that before? 

"Because of me." I heard a girl say on the other line. I knew that voice, but I didn't know who it was or how I knew it.

Then it hit me.

Luna. 

That was Luna. Who I thought was my best friend. And I told her everything. She was adopted just like me and came from an abusive foster home too, why would she betray me? And how?

"Valerie, Valerie, Valerie. You're so gullible sometimes, you know that? I wasn't adopted. Penelope's my aunt. She enrolled me in Eisenhower so I could keep track of you and figure out where you ran to." Luna said. Then she cackled manically.

Thank God Luna didn't know I had a girlfriend. But she did know I was pan. 

"Give the phone back to my uncle." I said coldly. Luna scoffed and then Gerard picked up the phone.

"Stay at Reed's. The cops are coming, we'll figure this out." Gerard said.

AN: I'm so satisfied with myself right now. This is one of the most evil plans ever. And it will continue, most definitely. Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!