"Abigail, its morning, up up up." I woke up to Kevin nudging me. I groaned a bit, then pushed myself up.

"Hi." I frowned.

"Aw, A's sad, why is A sad?" He asked.

"I'm not going to school today." I decided, sliding back into bed.

"Yeah you are, I'm sorry honey, you have to go to school, get up get up get up." Kevin shook me, and I hid even further under the blankets. "Okay. Be that way." He huffed a little, and stood up.

"Now I'm cold, and sad, look what you did to me." I whined a little, from under the blankets.

"Hey, you wouldn't get up." Kevin noted, and I heard him leave the room.

"Abigail," I heard Mrs. Alvarez' voice in the room, "do you want pancakes? I know you don't want to go to school, or go home, I'll make pancakes, and a special lunch." She lightly shook me, and I tossed the blankets off of me. "There you are." She smiled, and ruffled my hair. "Why don't you get ready for the day?"

"Kay." I said.

"Mmkay." She gave me a smile, then left the room.

I pulled on the clothes I had been wearing for the week, and braided my long brown hair to the side. After a little while, I had realized this was the best I could look without makeup or a change of clothes.

"I'm done." I sighed, sitting by Kevin at the counter.

"Mmkay." She smiled, and pushed a plate of pancakes in front of me. "Kevin, pass me the juice." She requested.

"Oh, I don't, I don't need juice." I mumbled as the boy next to me poured it.

"Don't you dare try and be polite now." Kevin laughed, and pecked my cheek. I blushed madly, as he pulled away. I saw his mom smiling to herself, "you've lived with us for a week, you're family."

"Kay." I mumbled and drank a little.

"Good morning." Mr. Alvarez said, coming into the room. "I have to run, sweetheart." He sighed a little, then kissed his wife. "Have a good day Mijo." He kissed Kevin's head, then pulled me into a little hug. "I'll miss you, sweetie, you're welcome here anytime." He pulled away, and grabbed his bag, leaving the apartment.

"Alright Kiddos, here are lunches, off to school now." She smiled, and handed us paper bags.

"Bye Mom." Kevin smiled, and stood up, "c'mon A." He grabbed my hand, and pulled me up.

"Bye Mrs. Alvarez." I gave her a smile, "thank you so much." I said, then Kevin pulled me out of the apartment.

•••

That day, at lunch, I slipped down into a corner and pulled out the paper bag I used for my lunch. I checked inside to see what Mrs. Alvarez had packed. I smiled a bit seeing goldfish, a sandwich, a bag of skittles, and a folded over piece of paper. I grabbed the piece of paper, and pulled it open.

Abigail,
We really did enjoy having you stay over for the week. You're a little sweetheart, and Kevin does like spending time with you. I don't know much about your current home situation, and I have a question. Should I call Child Protective Services? I mean, they kicked you out onto the streets, you're a teenage girl, and this is NYC. I mean, obviously they aren't stellar parents, and I don't know, it just seems really bad overall. I'm sorry if I'm overstepping my boundaries. Anyways, I won't call the cops if you don't want me to, just, try and stay safe, sweetheart. A lot of people really care about you, stay safe.
Much Love,
Amanda Alvarez

I smiled a little, and set it aside. I had my lunch, and thought about the CPS thing. If CPS found out, I would get transferred to another family. Yeah, the Walters would go to jail for domestic abuse, but, I wanted emancipation,

If I got transferred, the judge might turn down the emancipation request. Emancipation was only granted if the situation was dire enough to demand complete removal.

I couldn't leave the Walter family. I knew how they worked, I'm working 25 hours a week. I don't spend any time with them, I can do this, and I want to be in court as little as possible between now and my 18th birthday.

•••

At 7:00 that night, my shift finally ended, and I sighed, unhappily.

"Sweetheart, it's alright, text me okay?" Kevin requested.

"Mmhm." I nodded.

"Okay, okay, now, I'll walk you out." He took my hand, and smiled, "cheer up." He chuckled.

"No." I sighed, as we stepped outside.

"Come on, it's gonna be okay." He groaned a little, and stopped me, holding my shoulders.

"What did I do?" I asked, "why is this happening to me? It was fifteen years before anyone gave a crap about me, why? What did I do wrong?" I asked, looking up at Kevin, who seemed upset as well.

"Nothing, okay? You didn't do anything wrong, you're just, I don't know, I like you?" He tried, and failed to explain.

"Thanks." I sighed, and looked down at the ground.

"I'm sorry." Kevin whispered, and I looked up at him, a little confused as to why he said that.

"Huh?" I breathed, then he pressed his lips against mine, wrapping an arm around the small of my back, and trying to pull me up to him.

I was a little shocked, and gently kissed back, unsure of what to do in this situation. I felt him smile a little, then move to kiss my cheek, and jaw. I smiled, happy this was finally happening.

"Kev," I breathed a little, as he continued to try and pull me, somehow, closer to him. "Kev." I laughed, excited and surprised. He lightly kissed my neck, then pulled back.

"I... uh... I... I'm so sorry."

"No!" I rushed to say, "don't be sorry, please don't feel bad."

"I mean, we lived together for a week, and, I just, I... I..." he trailed off, and I slipped into his arms. "Hi." He smiled, and lightly rubbed my back. "Uh, so, are we good?" Kevin asked,

"Mmhm." I nodded, smiling, my head nuzzled into his sweatshirt.

"Are we, uh, how do I, uh, can we ma-" I cut him off, mid word to kiss him. "Okay." He smiled, "now, you have to go home, remember, text me, and if anything happens, you're always welcome at my apartment." He disconnected me from him, and kissed my head.

"Okay, bye." I smiled, and waved a bit.

"Bye."

•••

I yanked the Walters front door open, and then slammed it. I wasn't happy to be home, and I wanted them to know that.

"Oh, apparently she's alive." Mrs. Walter sighed, laughing a little.

"I'm showering, then I'm going to bed." I announced, "don't talk to me."

I don't know if they said something or not, I just rushed upstairs and locked the bathroom door.

I showered for a while, and was relieved to finally shampoo my hair. I finally got out of the hot water, and wrapped myself in a fluffy yellow towel I stole from Mrs. Walters bathroom.

Once safe in my room, with the my desk shoved against the door, I changed into a pair of clean clothes. I towel dried my wet hair best I could then pulled the desk away from the door. I carefully crept into the hallway with the towel, I quietly opened Mr. and Mrs. Walters door, and stowed the towel back under the sink.

"Abigail." I froze, hearing Mrs. Walters voice. "Come here." She sighed, and I walked over.

"What?"

"You okay Sweetheart?" She asked, pulling me into a hug.

"Get off of me." I grumbled, weaseling out of the embrace.

"Okay, uh, your social worker is coming over tomorrow. From 11-1."

"Why?" I asked.

"She's just checking in. Go to bed." She grabbed my wrist and yanked me, then shoved me towards the door.

"Fine." I grumbled, and stalked off to my room. I pulled my blankets over me, and snuggled into the bed, falling asleep.

•••

The next day, I was sitting on the couch, waiting for my social worker, pretending to be entertained by my phone.

"Abi?" My eyes flirted up to see Becca, my social care worker, in the room.

"Hi." I sighed.

"So, you doing alright?" She asked, sitting by me.

"I'm fine." I mumbled, clicking my phone off.

"Okay, well, how have you been lately? What's happened recently?"

"I got a job. I dumped my boyfriend. I have a new one." I explained.

"Oh. Wow. So soon, are you sure that was the right choice honey? Do your parents know?"

"Foster parents." I snapped, "and no, they don't need to."

"Okay." She said slowly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." I repeated. "I'm not great, but I'm fine, I mean it's not like I'm happy."

"Why not?" She asked, smiling, "remember, sweetheart, happiness isn't circumstantial, it's a choice."

"Not all the time." I spat, "not after you've been taken away from the only people who had ever loved you."

"Abigail, I know being placed after adoption is hard, but, it was for your own good." She explained.

"That's not your decision, it should be my decision." I argued, "I know what makes me happy, it's not being here. It's being with my mom and dad, and playing with my brother, and family dinner, and singing with my dad, and my mom and I watching Gilmore Girls, and my dad tucking me into bed, and that's where I should be!" I sobbed out.

"You're a kid. What makes you happy isn't always good for you."

"I don't care. I'm old enough to decided where the hell I want to be!"

•••

"Abigail," Mr. Walter knocked on my bedroom door, "come here for a second." I groaned and stood up from bed, and swung my door open.

"What?"

"May I have your most recent paycheck?" He asked.

"No. I payed everything off last week." I crossed my arms angry.

"No, I still need the payment for the, uh, shall we say four bottles of scotch." He smiled.

"There wasn't any." I noted, "I checked all the empty and broken bottles, there wasn't any scotch."

"Should I make it five?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No." I sighed, and went over to my desk, I pulled the check out of the otherwise empty drawer, and handed it to him, sadly.

"Atta girl." He smiled, and shoved it in his pocket, "now go to bed." He shoved my head a little, and slammed my door.

I grumbled a little going back to my bed. I slipped under the blankets, and buried my head in the pillow. Eventually, I pulled my phone out, I was done.

Abigail:
Can you come over tomorrow?
Please?

(212) - 822 - 0825
Of course. See you at 10:00?

Abigail:
Mmhm. Thanks.

I smiled, happy he was coming over, then clicked my phone off and fell asleep.

•••

I heard Kevin knock on my door the next day, and I rushed over and pulled it open.

"Hi." I smiled, happily.

"Hi honey." He smiled back, and kissed my forehead, "was that okay?" He asked, unsure.

"Yeah." I laughed a bit. "Come inside!" I moved away from the door, "my foster family is out." I shrugged.

"Oh, where?" He asked, as I dragged him into the living room.

"Church."

"What?" He laughed a little, "I didn't think they went to church."

"Shocking. Isn't it? They won't bring me." I shrugged again.

"Well." He sighed a little, standing in the kitchen that adjoined the living room. "Uh, so, uh... you doing okay?"

"I'm fine." I sighed, "can we, uh, can we uh, I, I have a television?"

"Mmkay." He smiled, and surprised me, scooping me into his arms.

"Hi." I giggled, and wrapped my arms around his neck. He carried me over to the couch, and pulled a blanket over our laps.

"Hi." He laughed, and wrapped his arms around me, "movie? Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Mmkay." I smiled, and handed him the Netflix remote. "You may choose, my dear Kev."

"May I again suggest we watch The Shining?" He joked, flipping through the comedies.

"I'm dumping you." I sighed.

"How about, 50 Shades of Grey?" He smiled a little.

"You disgust me, Kevin Alvarez."

"Good." He kissed my cheek. "We're watching Mean Girls by the way." He started the movie, and tossed the remote away from us.

"Yay." I smiled. "I'm no longer dumping you." I added, and nuzzled back into my boyfriends arms, then kissed him.

•••

"We should totally just stab Caesar!" Gretchen yelled, and I weaseled out of my boyfriends arms, and grabbed the remote, pausing the movie.

"What are you doing?" He asked, as I snuggled back into his hug.

"This is actually very similar to Julius Caesar. I pointed out, "you know, Shakespeare's play?  See, if Janis is Cassius, and Cady is Brutus, and Regina is Caesar, like, uh, Janis manipulates Cady into overthrowing Regina, or Caesar, see!"

"You're a nerd." Kevin laughed.

"And the burn book is the list of Senators Mark Antony wanted to kill." I added, "the candy canes are the forged letters, and you know at the end, how Brutus does the assisted suicide? When Ca-" Kevin clamped his hand over my mouth.

"Shh." He laughed more, "stop comparing Mean Girls to modern literature." I looked up at him, blinking my eyes trying to guilt him. "Sweetheart, you need to stop that." I frowned a little, and opened my eyes a little wider. "C'mon, you, ugh." He took his hand off of my mouth, then kissed me.

"I'm done now, you may continue with your movie."

"What a cute little literature nerd, okay," he laughed, and resumed the movie.

A few minutes later, I heard the door swing open, and I snuggled closer into Kevin's arms, kinda scared. I nuzzled my head into his neck, and shut my eyes.

"Hey? You okay? Sweet pea?" He moved a little bit, trying to see me, and I just clung tighter to him.

"Uh, who are you? Abigail?" I heard Mr. Walter, and I squeezed my eyes tighter.

"Oh, uh, my name's Kevin, I'm dating your foster daughter." He smiled a little.

"Abigail, may I speak to you? My room?" He asked, and I bit my lip, scared.

"You can do it here." Kevin shrugged.

"Abigail. Now." His voice grew sharper, and my foster dad gripped my waist, and yanked me up, harshly. Once he got me up, he grabbed my arm and dragged me upstairs.

"Please don't do this right now, wait till he leaves." I begged, and felt myself shoved against the dresser.

"Shirt off." He ignored my plea, and I heard him pull his belt off. I slowly pulled the shirt off, and set it on the dresser. The belt made contact with my back, and before I could make any sound, I felt Mr. Walters hand cover my mouth. "Turn around." He requested, and forcefully spun me around. He clamped his hand over my mouth again, and hit me a second time.

"Am I done?" I asked, tears spilling over my eyes, but not trying to cry.

"Sure." He shrugged, then leaned forward and kissed my neck.

"Get off of me now." I shoved him, and grabbed my shirt from the dresser, pulling it on.

"Why?" He laughed a little, "come here." He grabbed my waist, and I winced. I struggled, angrily, pushing against him. He kissed my clavicle, and sucked a little.

"KEVIN!" I screamed, "KEVIN HELP!" Mr. Walter slammed his hand over my mouth, then picked me up, slamming me down on the bed.

"Keep your mouth shut." He clenched his teeth, then rushed over to the door, he was about to lock it when I saw Kevin come into the room, terrified.

"Get out of my house!" Mr. Walter yelled, "I'm serious, out! Right now!" Kevin rushed over to the bed, and scooped me up.

"We're leaving." He announced, and rushed downstairs, grabbed his bag, then left the house, me still in his arms.

"Kev, Kev, you can put me down now." I whimpered, as he waved down a taxi.

"Nope." He shook his head, then a car stopped for us.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." I started to cry a little, Kevin gave his address to the driver, and set me in the car.

"Don't be sorry, don't be sorry." He sighed, climbing in, and shutting the door. "How much does the emancipation request cost?"

"800." I bit my lip.

"Okay, I'll pay, in the meantime, you're moving in."

•••

IM SO FREAKING SORRY THIS IS SO FREAKING LATE IM SO SORRY IM SICK AGAIN KILL ME.

I'm going camping tomorrow!!

Love you guys.

Thanks for reading.

- Abi