"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to come home."

The house smelled like sweat and alcohol. Crash littered the floor. Glass was shattered everywhere, and buds was everywhere too.

He looked disgusting. Hair crazy, shirt stained. He smelled like feet and had stinky breath.

"You need a shower, you stink. This house stinks." I say holding my nose. He sniffs his pits and gags.

"Yeah, be back. Clean this house." He marches up the stairs.

With an eye roll, I get a trash bag and start to pick up the the trash. I wiped the counters with bleach and washed the dishes. Next, I got a broom and sweep up as much stuff as I can. Especially the glass. After I vacuum the carpet after I let the power carpet cleaner stuff seat for a little.

After three hours the house was spotless and smelled fresh.

As I was clean, I made chicken Alfredo and some garlic bread. I seat his plate on the table with his drink. I went upstairs and knocked on his bedroom door.

"The food is ready."

I quickly went into my room and shut my door. There was no point in locking, actually, it looks like he changed my door knobs to the ones that can't lock.

I pull out my phone and see a text from Kevin that was two minutes ago.

Kevin: Is everything good there?

Me: Yes

Me: Stop worrying to much old man. Don't want to grow more grey hairs.

Kevin: I don't have grey hair

Me: Think what you want to think

Kevin: I don't have grey hair

Me: Yet

Kevin: ...

Me: You gonna pick me up tomorrow for Blake's party?

Kevin: Yeah, I'll be there around ten

Me: ok boss man

"What got you all happy?" I look at the door at Jimmy.

"Nothing, did you eat your food?"

"Don't try to change the subject, who are you talking to?"

"No one, I was playing a game." He yanked me off the bed with my hair. Holding my face towards his.

"Don't lie to me. Who was you with for the past two weeks?"

"A friend." His grip tighten.

"Don't. Lie. To. Me."

"I'm not lie, I was with a friend. Why don't you believe me."

"Cause I saw you with that guy. Who is he?"

"My friend."

"So you kiss your friends?" I didn't think he would be able to see. No, you did think at all.

"We didn't kiss."

"Now I know your lying! Bet he wasn't the only guy you've been kissing, you slut!"

"I'm not a slut! You're just mad that I don't want to kiss you!"

I think that comment set him over the edge next thing I know, I'm falling to the ground. He repeatedly punch and kicked me not even try to miss my face. Luckily he only hit my face three times in the jaw. It was hard to block his shots with just one arm, but some how I managed to block my face. As for my stomach, it feels like he cracked one of my ribs.

"You're noting but an ungrateful bitch! I took you in, gave you a home, and how you repay me?"

"No, you gave me nothing! Nothing but pain!"

"This is discipline!"

"Was braking my arm discipline, fuck you!" All you're doing is making him angrier! I don't care! Well you should, he's beating the crap out of you. Looks like his ready to kill you! He does, he is extremely mad. This went on for what feels like hours. My vision was starting to blur, but I fought to stay awake.

He finally stopped hitting me. I stayed still curl in a ball. He was staring at me, sitting beside me.

He begin to rub my hair smiling at me. This dude is sick. He then grab my none broken arm and pull me on to his lap. My back face him as he hugs me and places his head on my shoulders.

"You take such good care of me. You see how much of a mess I was without you. I need you babe." He kisses my neck. I try to get up, but he hugs me tighter. "Why do you keep trying to run away from me?"

"Cause you keep hurting me."

"This was just discipline."

"Just let me go. I'm tried. I want to go a sleep."

"After we have some fun. I haven't had any in two weeks."

"How about some other day." I slightly beg.

"No."

He leaves my room and I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling. I think of nothing, just lay there. My whole body is in pain. I pick up my phone and call Kevin.

"Are you alright?" He ask once he answers. If I was alright I would've laughed.

"Kevin," I croak out. I hear quick movement on the phone.

"I knew you should've not went back. What did he do? I'm on the way."

"Kevin," it seems like the only word I can say.

"Yes Ness, talk to me. How hurt are you?"

"Bad."

"Can you walk?"

"I think so." I sit up and hiss in pain.

"You don't sound good?" I hear a car start.

"Whatcha mean, my voice is sexy." I say. He chuckles.

"Yes it is, I'll be there in hopefully less than ten."

"Ok." I hang up.

I put some clothes on, grab my phone and keys, and walk downstairs. Jimmy is laying down on the couch asleep. I creep out the front door trying to be as quiet as I can. I get out without waking him and sit on the porch. Kevin pulls up seven minutes later. He gets out the car fast walking to me. I stand up.

"What did he do?"

"Can we just leave." Kevin jaw was set and his eyes was directed to the front door.

"Yeah, in just one second." He marches to the front door. Before he can open it, I grab his hand.

"Please, lets just go."

"No, he hurts you so I'm going to return the favor."

"Please, it's not worth it. Lets just go."

"It is worth it!"

"No it's not worth you getting in trouble. Lets just go."

"But-"

"No, I'm tired, I don't want to fight anymore. I'm just tired. Please just listen to me." I lay my head on his chest and he hugs me.

"Ok, let's go Ness." We get into his car, and pull off.

We go into his room and I lay on the bed. He lays beside me and hugs me to his chest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" The unshed tears burst out my tear ducks. I sob as he rubs my back. "It's ok Ness, I got you."

"I d-don't want t-to go, go back." I hiccup out.

"And you shouldn't have to. We're going to find a way to get you out of these."

"H-he wa-was mad I wa-was gone. H-he s-saw us k-ki-kiss. I tal-talked b-back. He h-hit m-me. My r-ribs hu-hurt."

"How bad does they hurt?"

"Badly."

"I'ma get you some ice." He runs downstairs to get the ice. He comes back with ice in a baggy. "Where is the pain at?" His eyes zero on my jaw where I know a big bruise is at. I reach my hand out and he gives it to me. He gets back into bed and we cuddle as I fall asleep.

"Ness, wake up." My shoulders was being shaken. I flutter my eyes open to see Kevin standing in front me.

"Why?"

"Cause you need to get ready to go to Blake's. You have one hour."

I groan and get out of bed. Kevin helps me wrap a plastic bag around my cask so I don't get it wet. I get my duffle bag full of my clothes and go into the bathroom.

I take a nice ten minute shower, dry up, and put on a black long sleeved shirt, my black jacket, and some dark blue blue jeans. I brush my teeth and put my hair in a high bun. I take a look at the bruise on my jaw. It is huge. Clearly noticeable. I don't own makeup so I can cover it up. If someone ask about it just tell them to mind there business. No, that's rude. I'll just wave it off and change the subject.

I leave the bathroom and go to Kevin's and put my duffle bag in there. He is laying on his bed playing Subway Surfers.

"Are you ready?" He ask directing his attention to me.

"Yeah, lets go boss man." I say smiling. He chuckles.

"When are you gonna stop calling me that?" He ask getting off the bed.

"Never." I smirk. He kisses my check and we leave the house. We are going early so his parents will be there about and hour after we arrive.

In the car I put the stuff I bought Blake into the gift bag. We arrive and walk through the front door straight to Blake's room.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" Kevin and I shout to him. Blake was laying on his bed on his phone. He was startled and dropped his phone on his face. I laugh at him.

"Hey, that's not funny. I could've broken my noise or something." I roll my eyes.

"Stop being so dramatic." Blake laughs until his eyes land on the bruise on my jaw. His eyes darken.

"You went back there didn't you." I give him a blank stare.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Lets not get into this right now Blake. Lets just figure that out later." Kevin says.

"Why did you let her go back Kevin?" Blake ask.

"She didn't really have a choice. He threaten to call her social worker who would've brought more problems." Blake nodes and gets out of bed. He examines the bruise.

"Did he hurt you anywhere else?" I nod. "Where?"

"Everywhere," I grumble.

"Does anywhere hurt?" I nod again. "Where?" I sigh.

"Everywhere, but I'm fine. Can we forget about me for today, please." I glance back and forth between the both of them. They say ok as the rest of the guys walk in.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They scream as they run in like crazy people.

"Thanks, now since everyone is here, let's head to the back." Blake says.

"Kindness what happened to your face?" Xavier says making Leyon and David turn to me.

"Please drop it for know." I say. Leyon looks ready to argue, but Kevin and Blake gives him a look that makes him stop.

"Come on guys and woman." Blake says. I roll my eyes, but follow him downstairs to the back.

Blake has a beautiful home. His parents are rich, but they didn't want to live in a mansion. They opted for I nice two story home in a upper middle class neighborhood.

His dad is a police officer turnt lawyer and his mom to is a ceo at for a family established she inherited. They aren't suck up people, actually they are super friendly.

They also make sure to spend time with Blake. They also don't try to push him to be a certain thing in the future. They support him in everything he chooses. Luck for them, Blake wants to take over his mom's business.

I wish I had parents like them. Or parents like any of the guys. They all have a nice life. Then there's me. The one whose life is a complete reck.

We walk to the backyard and is greeted by Blake's parents.

"Hey guys, glad y'all finally decided to come out the house. I need someone to move that table over there and others to help me bring the food out." Blake's mom says.

"Dang Heather, let them at least smell the fresh air." Blake's dad says.

"They already knew I was going to put them to work," her eyes laid on me, "Hey, nice to meet you finally. I heard so much about you form them."

"Hopefully good stuff." I say smiling.

"For sure, I'm Heather and this is my husband Andrew."

"Nice to meet you." Andrew says holding out his hand and I shake it. The boys had left me to do want Heather told them to do.

"Will your parents be joining us these evening?" Heather ask.

"Umm, no. My foster dad couldn't make it." Always have to point out there's no relation. Cause I don't want people to think there is. They probably wouldn't since your black and his white. They could think I'm mix. Maybe.

"Ok, that's alright, maybe next time." Andrew says.

"Maybe." I notice how they kept glancing at the bruise on my jaw. I'm glad they didn't ask about it. For some reason I didn't want to tell them I got into a fight. I don't want them to think I'm a bad influence. Plus, I think Andrew would be able to see through my lie.

"So how did you and the boys meet?" Heather ask.

"Well, me and Blake meet through detention. He introduced me to the rest."

"What was you in detention for?" Andrew ask. I can see the amusement in his face.

"Well I have this teacher that hates my guts. Every time I step foot in that class she find a reason to kick me out. She was mad that I didn't want to verbally say here." I grumble think back to that day. They laugh.

"Yeah kid I had I teacher like that. His name was Mr. Allgood. I blink the wrong way and I had three days of detention." I laugh.

"Was you a bad student?"

"No, I was the nicest person there."

"Far from it. You make that teachers life a living hell." Heather says with her arms crossed.

"No I didn't. He was just a crazy old hag."

"Mmm hmm, you had that man ready to retire."

"Good, he looked like he should've been retired."

"Dang, now I know how I sound like when I complain to my principal about Ms. Owens." I say chuckling.

"Everything is set, we're going to play some ball, coming Kindness." Blake says I nod.

We go to the basketball hoop. It was David and Xavier against Blake and Kevin. Leyon sat with me to watch.

"I can't wait to get out this stupid cast. I can't do anything." I grumble.

"It'll be off as soon as you know it."

"Mmm hmm. Who do you think is going to win?"

"Blake and Kevin. They're really good at basketball. You?"

"Xavier and Leyon. Xavier was on the team in his previous school, and was captain. Blake is too cocky which we'll be his team's downfall."

"Want to make a bet?"

"Sure."

"I bet you five dollars."

"Deal." We shake on it.

We watch the game shouting at time to pass, shoot, use more defense, etc. we was acting like there coaches, which was pretty fun.

"So, you and Kevin?" Leyon says raising an eyebrow. I blush.

"What about?"

"Y'all seem close."

"We're just friends."

"Tell the true." I sigh.

"Fine, we make have kissed once or twice."

"WHAT!"

"Shhh, boy. I don't know how he feels about it."

"I mean if it happened multiple times I would think he's ok with it."

"I don't know."

"Do you like him?"

"I don't know Leyon. Maybe. I'm not good with understanding my feelings."

"I know, but you two need to talk. I don't want you to end up with a broken heart. I'll fight him if he hurts you."

"Thanks Leyon."

"We won!" Xavier shouts giving David a high five.

"Whatever." Blake grumbles.

"They just salty." David says laughing.

"No we're not." Blake says crossing his arms. Kevin laughs at him.

"Whatever you say birthday boy." Xavier says in a mocking tone.

"Blake, Xavier was a captain of a basketball team." Kevin says. Blake shrug his shoulders.

"Y'all come and eat!" Heather shouts to us.

While we was at the court, all the boys parents and brothers and sisters, and some of Blake's family members showed up. The adult females was making everyone's plate. The adults and us (since we was the oldest) sat together while the kids sat at another table. Everyone was talking until Blake's grandma turnt her focus on me.

"I haven't seen you before, what's your name?" She ask.

"She is the boys friend mom." Heather says.

"I think the young lady can speak for herself Heather." Period. Shut up.

"I'm Kindness." Everyone's attention was on me.

"Where's your parents?" Why do they want to meet him so bad.

"I'm foster dad couldn't make it." I say.

"Why?"

"Mom don't drill her?"

"I'm not, I'm just asking questions. Your a foster kid." I nod.

"Wait, you said your name is Kindness?" A woman, I think is Xavier's mom, ask.

"Yes." She scans me a little.

"When is your birthday?"

"Samantha." A man, I think is Xavier's dad says.

"Just let her answer my question."

"March the seventeenth."

"Hey mines too. What year was you born?" Xavier says.

"2002."

"We was born on the same day." I smile.

"You're my birthday twin." I say giving him a hi five.

"Do you have a birth mark in a shape of a square just below your knee?" She ask. I give her a weird look.

"Yes... how you know."

"What's going on here?" Xavier ask looking at her weirdly too. She looks like she was on the verge of tears.

"John, it's her. She's our daughter. Look at her, she looks just like Xavier." What!

"Samantha you can't just jump to conclusions like that." I nod agreeing with him. I don't need any false hope.

"What you mean about daughter ma? Me and Kindness are the same age and have the same birthdays. If that was the case, that means she'll have to be my twin." Xavier says.

"You do have a twin." Xavier's mom says.

"Samantha, this isn't the time or place for this." Xavier's dad says.

"I don't care, if she is my child I want to know. We've been looking for her for years, I need to know John."

"Maybe y'all can get a DNA test done. All you'll need is her parents consent. And hers of course." Heather says try to help calm her down.

"I can help get that done for you if you want." Andrew says.

"Kindness, well you be willing to take the test?" John ask. I shrug. I wiped all emotion from my face. I look at him with a bored look. Kevin gives me the look and I sigh.

"Ok." I say.

"Well your foster dad be find with it?" Heather ask. I shrug.

"I don't know. Y'all can ask him." My anger was raising by the second. I kept my eyes off to the distance.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." John says.

"No it's cool, if it will give her a peace of mind. Plus Xavier is my friend and I don't want to cause his mom pain." My body was starting to shake with anger. If they are my parents then I hate them. They left me to live a life of hell. Pain and misery is all I know and it is because of them.

"Ness-" I cut Kevin off.

"I'm going to the bathroom." I get up and march into the house and into Blake's bathroom, the one connected to his room. I lock myself in and stare at myself in the mirror.

I don't need this right know. I already have too many problems on my plate. I don't need anymore. If they are my parent why did they put me in the system and keep Xavier. I mean I'm glad they didn't give him up. I don't think he'll make it if he was in my shoes. I'm kind of glad they didn't do that to him, but mad they did it to me. What was wrong with me? What is wrong with me? You was just meant to live this life. But I wish I had a better one. I wish I could have two or at least one loving parent.

"Kindness, are you ok?" Kevin as at the door.

"No."

"Open the door."

"No."

"Why?"

"You somehow is able to brake down my walls. When that happens I can't hold back my tears."

"It's fine to cry. Don't be ashamed of it."

"I just don't want to cry here."

"Please just open the door." I do and he hugs me. I laugh.

"You just love hugging me don't you?" He chuckles.

"You enjoy my hugs."

"I do."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not right now. I kind of ready to call it a day. I knew I should've not gotten out of bed."

"Just hold on for a little longer ok."

"Ok."

We go back outside with everyone. I make sure to void my face of emotion. I sit back down next to Xavier. He gives me a worried glance, but I give him a smile.

"You know, I wouldn't mind being related to you." I say. He smiles.

"Me neither. If I need a guard dog then I can call for you." I hit his shoulder.

"Shut up. I'm not a dog."

"Could've fooled me." David mummers. I glare at him.

I feel my phone vibrate and tense up. I really don't want to see what the message is. But you have to. I know. I pull out my phone and open the text.

Jimmy: You thought I was bluffing

I called her now the police is looking for you and who ever your with will be charged with kidnapping  

I stare at my phone in shock. He can't be serious. He's not serious right? He's serious. I guess I was staring at it too long cause I felt it being snatched from my hand.

"Hey!" I say to Kevin trying to get it back. It's too late he already read it and pasted it to the others to read.

"The fu-fudge." Xavier says catching himself since the adults are still around.

"He can't be serious." David says.

"Can they do that?" Blake says.

"What are we going to do?" Xavier says.

"We are going to do nothing. I'm just going to go." I say shrugging even though I'm scared to dead.

"You can't be serious." Kevin says.

"As serious as a heart attack." I say snatching my phone back and putting it in my pocket.

"No you're not Kindness. That's stupid." Blake says. I notice that the adults are listening to the conversation.

"Your not the boss of me Blake, none of y'all are." I say with venom, glaring at them. I stand up, but Xavier pulls me back down.

"Get mad all you want, your not going." Xavier says glaring back at me. I can feel the steam leave my ears.

"Yes. I. Am. I have no time for this, I have to go. I'm not trying to get sent away. I'm on my last strike. His going to be the reason why I have to that stupid behavior camp thing."

"What do you mean by last strike?" David ask. I sigh.

"Since I'm labeled as a quote on quote troubled kid they told me that I well be sent to a behavior correction faculty if I keep messing up. I already got two strikes, now I have one. I got to go. See y'all at school."

"Aren't you going with us tomorrow?" Blake ask.

"I don't know. I'll text you."

"I can take you there." Kevin says.

"No! You read it, I have to go myself."

"You can't be walking around by yourself." David says.

"I don't see the problem. I've been walking around town myself since I was seven. I think I can manage. By everyone and nice meeting you all. " I get up and leave Blake's house.

Gosh someone stop me.