Page 6 (1/2)

Her cheeks were bright pink and she kept her hands clasped in front of her “Yup”

It ard as hell with her uncle standing inone of us off the steps

I glanced back at Juliet once before jogging down the street and turning the corner

Chapter Seven

Roman

One of the counselors roup home

I still wasn’t used to the place The constant noise The way it smelled Institutional like all the others but still unique Discount Lysol instead of the real thing maybe

“How did your first day go?” he asked “Stay out of trouble?”

“More or less”

He tilted his head, not liking ured out this dude yet, so I wasn’t sure if honesty would keep et me sent to a new facility

From the moment I landed in the foster care systeame I’d never win

“It’s always hard for the kids fro syet any calls fro”

Thanks to Juliet If she hadn’t vouched foron the front porch right about now

“Go on up and do your homework Dinner prep starts at five-thirty”

“Thanks”

And that was the extent offor the day Suitedwith sympathetic and unsympathetic counselors, therapists, social workers, teachers, and other appointed do-gooders, I was all talked out Any feelings had long ago been stuffed down deep in my rotted soul in order to survive

I’d worked my way to “level two” in the house, which meant I didn’t need the constant supervision of the housethe door open every tiot tedious And it was really hard to jerk off in the shohen you had so every five seconds

“Hey, Pip,” I greeted my roommate and tossed my frayed backpack on the bed