Chapter Text
Thomas Pinley was one of the many children who were deemed a 'problem child' by the fucked up system of foster care, of course he wasn't originally a problem child, his foster family made him one and he stuck to that role because it was easier to bounce from house to house until he was eighteen and on his own then get attached then eventually get hurt.
Right now he was in the car with his social worker - Clara - on the way to his group house because he has fucked up once again, well he didn't mean to aggravate his foster father but look at him now, beaten black and blue with a pounding headache, all he did was try and take his jumper back from his foster sister - Emily, she's five and a the spawn of Satan - a lot of family's he's been in if they had bio kids it was worse because they were always the golden child. 'Thomas, please - can you look at me?' Clara said seeming desperate, I looked at her begrudgingly and gave her a death stare 'Thank you, please can you try and not cause anymore trouble, this is your seventh house in 2 months' she looked at me with a small smile, I nodded slightly and faced the window; it was dark and raining, usually the rain hurt my ears but right now all I could focus on was my pounding headache.
We pulled into the driveway of the group house at sat in silence for a while, I honestly didn't mind, it was less noise which helped my headache - though the car was getting cold without the heater on. Cara sighed and took her hand off the steering wheel, she was stressed I could tell, 'I tried this time, you know? I really tried, it's just they-' I began but was cut off by Cara speaking 'I know Toms, - god I'd normally hate her for using that nickname but right now I didn't want to make things worse - I know a- and this system is so fucked and I- I'm trying as well but it's hard and soon you're going to be an adult and I just want you to have a family to rely on,' she turned to me 'I know you are independent but you need to have someone, humans we are, well, we are social creatures and I want you to be safe because I won't always be here to protect you and- and' she stopped and let out a small sob, '... - I had no idea what to say, she was right I couldn't keep fucking up or else I'll be alone, shit - I- I'll try harder, I promise' I turned fully to look at her, she has shoulder length white hair, though she was only 23 and it was dyed, I'm sure some of those were real because of her stressful job - she often wore overalls when in casual wear but right now she was in a dress shirt and some flares with a pair of sandals. She smiled at me then took the keys fully out of the car and unbuckled her seatbelt, 'come on, it's dark, grab your stuff, let's go inside' she said while opening her car door - I grabbed my broken and ruined red and white, though honestly grey by now, backpack and slung it across my shoulder while opening the car door and hopping out, we walked inside and as soon as I got to my room I fell asleep.
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knock... knock..... knock
'Tommy wake up!'
knock knock.... knock
'I'll feed your breakfast to Charlotte or Lonnie!'
'mhm...mm rrhhh' I grumble while pulling the blanket off myself 'I'm coming, just wait a second'
Fuck I think that was one of the worst nights I've ever had, it was just a cycle of nightmares, waking up, being too tired to stay up, falling back asleep, nightmares, repeat. I put some pyjama pants over my shorts and walk to the breakfast table, everything was chaos, children screaming and arguing, the tv was on too loud, the light was right in my eyes and pissing me off - fuck - Clara puts down a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me with a glass of water and a few painkillers - thank the heavens she actually cares - I smile at her and give her a silent 'thank you' before chowing down on my food as fast as I can, as much as this place is nice it's first come first serve around here. After I finish my breakfast I go straight to the bathroom and lock the door, I need to find something to help heal these bruises, and of course like usual there's nothing in the shared bathroom in case of drug addicts, fuck. I hear the phone ring but don't think anything of it, no one rings but if they do they usually want to see one of the younger children, no use in getting my hopes up only for them to plummet down - I end up deciding on just wrapping some bandage around my chest and hope that works.
The rest of the day went smoothly until around about 2pm, it wasn't bad per se it was just interesting...
'Thomas! Come here I need to talk to you!' Clara shouted from somewhere in the house,
'Yeah, yeah I'm coming jesus christ' I say - though mumbling the last part - it's around 2pm which is good because the house is nearly empty with all the other younger kids going to school, and yeah I do go to school, sometimes, I got out of going this week because of the last house.
I annoyingly walk to where I assume Clara is to see her looking at me seriously - oh fuck, am I getting kicked out, I'm not even eighteen (18) yet - I start spirally into thought but before it gets too bad I hear a sharp 'Thomas' fuck ok focus Tommy, I sit down facing Clara while internally freaking out. 'Look Tommy, I know you just got out of a house last night but-' shit here it comes '- I just got a call for a father with two sons looking to foster someone and you fit the description best, yes this is really close to your last home but they seem lovely and I know I say that every time but his sons are both fosters who got adopted so I have hope' I was semi short-circuiting, fuck I really don't want to get beat if they do end up being bad but at the same time I can't afford to not go to another house, shit 'yeah ok, I'll go and stay there for a bit or some shit' I could see Clara exhale internally, just don't fuck it up Thomas, I said to myself.
After talking about the new family for a while I found out that my foster father was named 'Phil' and his two sons who were apparently twins or really close in age were called 'Wilbur' and 'Techno' - what the fuck type of name is Techno? - anyway I wasn't paying much attention but I heard they had a cat which is sweet, I'm supposed to see them on Thursday so I will count my days until the inevitable.
It's Thursday morning and I'm up early, I can't really sleep the night before I meet new fosters so I've been up since 5am. Clara's supposed to drive me to the centre at 10am and it's already 9:50, we leave soon, shit. I hear Clara shout something but I'm too far spaced out to understand, I slightly process that the sound is getting louder but don't fully until there's a hand waving in my face 'Thomas, I've been shouting for you for the past five minutes, do you have everything?' I snap out of my mind to see a slightly pissed off Clara looking at me awaiting an answer, an answer oh shit 'Uh yeah, I do' I say while rocking on my heels slightly 'Alright let's go, I don't want them to be waiting too long' Clara says while checking her wristwatch, we walk to the car and I dread the ride there. The car ride is bumpy and the radio barely works, but at least Clara looks a little happier than last night, the ride to the centre isn't long but fuck does it feel like it, I've been down this route a lot I've almost memorised it. The car stops and here we are, this feels like de ja vu, fuck I hope this house won't be as bad, I slightly wince as the seatbelt brushes against my ribs as I go to unbuckle it, I grab my stuff and walk to the front door with Clara, she leads me to a room with a desk and a few chairs, I sit down in one of the seats while she sits down at the desk and we wait.
It didn't take long for my new foster family to come but when they did holy shit did they all give off completely different auras, Phil actually seemed like a father but could also be the type of person to have a hero complex because he adopted a few children, Techno seems intimidating and scary but also like a nerd at the same time, and Wilbur looks fucking psychotic, he looks like he would snap my arm on moment then go seduce someone else the next, fucking bastard. They sit in the chairs facing me and I feel like they are interrogating me, this part always sucked, I usually space off but the two sons keep staring at me and its fucking freaking me out, I hear Clara talking about my files to Phil - 'Yes, he can be a flight risk but he hasn't been like that for a couple houses, no he usually doesn't go far and mainly comes back before dark' I tune her out in favour of counting the cracks on the floor and before I know it there's this random old dude in my face 'Hi, I'm Phil, nice to meet you, do you have everything?' Fuck he's being nice, I hate this type, they are nice but when they see you actually suck then they turn abusive and fucking suck 'Tommy.' I say while not looking him in the eye, he still smiles anyway - bastard - 'Well, Tommy wanna grab your stuff so we can get going?' I nod and grab my shitty backpack, the three share a look of 'is that really all?' before walking out the door I presume to their car - fucking pricks - we get to the car and I hear someone call shotgun, I assume it was Wilbur because I see him jumping into the front seat before Techno goes to open the back car door, I join him and sit behind Wilbur's seat looking out the window before spacing out.
I assume we are at their house because I hear the car engine sputter and stop, I regain my senses and fully look around, we are in an actually nice neighbourhood which would seem like a blessing but they are probably sick rich fucks or somethings. I grab my bag and hop out of the car instantly realising how cold it is, how long were we driving for? Eh, I'll be fine, I follow them inside and it's so much warmer than outside, thank god for heating. 'So, welcome to our house, or well it's your house now mate' 'Phil' says while we all awkwardly stand in the kitchen 'so do you want a tour or just want to go to your room?' fuck options uh, 'um can I just go to my room?' Phil flashes me a smile before quietly saying 'follow me' I nervously follow along up the stairs until we reach 'my' room and he opens the door 'I know it's not much because I didn't know what you like but we can go shopping soon to decorate, yeah?' I silently nod while walking in, the room's pretty simple, a desk with some pens, an empty photo frame with a stick note saying -If you have any pictures you can put them in here, a trash can under the bin, a bed with maroon sheets, a black duvet, and a whiteish grey fluffy blanket, and an empty bookshelf. I place my bag beside the bed and lie on the bed 'thanks' I quietly mumble, I keep my eyes open until I hear the door shut and quickly get up to see if the door has a lock, yes, thank the fucking lord, I lock it and instantly pass out after I hit the bed.
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extra little bit :]
I close the door after I see him flop onto his bed, I hope he feels safe. I wait at the door for a bit and then hear a shuffle, and then the click of a lock - I think this kid will fit in great with my small little family. :)