and stay out of trouble. Who knows, maybe you’ll be out of here quicker than you think.”
Ben was a sweet kid. Only eleven with a face full of freckles and blond curly hair. He looked like the type of kid a family might want, and although adoption was rare for kids our age, it could happen.
For kids like Ben, not for me.
I’d given up on that dream a long time ago.
Just as we cleaned away the last of the cutlery, the front door opened and footsteps sounded in the hallway.
“That you, Penny?” Derek’s gruff voice called out from the living room.
“Yes, sir.”
Just hearing her voice improved my mood, and I hurried to wipe the counters.
“Straight upstairs, young lady. It’s almost time for lights out.”
I hovered near the door. Penny would have to walk right past us. I had my hand buried deep in the pocket of my jeans gripping the folded paper. Her footsteps grew louder, and I turned to Ben and said, “Go take out the trash. I’ll wait here.”
I felt bad for getting rid of him, but I wanted to see Penny alone. The kitchen door clicked shut behind Ben just as Penny reached me.
Hi, she mouthed, her lips hooked up in a smile.
Hi. Happy birthday, I mouthed back, sliding out the handmade card and handing it to her.
My heart pounded so hard against my ribcage I thought I might pass out. I knew most girls would think a scrappy hand decorated card was lame, but I hoped Penny would like it. Derek and the foster momster hadn’t even bothered to buy her a card.
Her eyes ran over my handiwork, but her face gave nothing away.
Later? Usual place? I looked down sheepishly, but she nudged me refusing to let me look away. I nodded as if there was anywhere else I’d rather be. As she walked off, her hand brushed mine leaving a million jolts of electricity buzzing through me.
“I thought you weren’t going to make it.” I stood up brushing off my jeans as Penny appeared in the clearing.
Our place.
She rushed over to me and launched herself into my arms. I caught her midair, and she pressed her lips firmly to mine.
Penny was kissing me.
Me.
It wasn’t my first kiss; I’d fooled around with girls at school before behind the bleachers playing dares, but this was different. My hands held her close not wanting to let her go.
Ever.
But as quickly as her lips connected with mine, she was pulling away leaving a hollow pit in my stomach.
“Sorry,” she said breathlessly, dropping her eyes away from me.
I brought a hand from behind her back and tipped her chin up forcing her to look at me. “Never be sorry. Happy birthday, my lucky Penny.” I leaned in to kiss her again.
It was just a quick peck, but it was everything.
Before things got awkward, I grabbed Penny’s hand and yanked her over to the blanket I’d laid out. For the last couple of weeks, I had been stealing everything I needed to make tonight perfect. A blanket from a box in Derek’s garage and cartons of juice and cookies from the cafeteria at school. I’d even managed to swipe a candle and a lighter from one of Marie’s drawers. She must have confiscated it from them one of the other kids because birthdays didn’t happen in the Freeman house. It wasn’t much, but Penny’s wide grin told me it was more than enough.
“I can’t believe you did all of this.”
“You’re only fourteen once.” I offered her a choice of juice. “Birthday girl chooses.”
We sat like that, in No Man’s Land in the middle of the night, until there was nothing left but wrappers and empty cartons.
Over the last year, our adventures had gotten later and later. With no Bennett to cover for us, it was too risky that someone would see us sneaking out, so we had started waiting for everyone to fall to sleep.
“I feel sick,” Penny groaned causing me to snicker.
“You shouldn’t have eaten that last cookie.” We were lying back on the blanket holding hands looking up at the stars. “I’m sorry I couldn’t afford a proper gift.”
Penny gasped
Ben was a sweet kid. Only eleven with a face full of freckles and blond curly hair. He looked like the type of kid a family might want, and although adoption was rare for kids our age, it could happen.
For kids like Ben, not for me.
I’d given up on that dream a long time ago.
Just as we cleaned away the last of the cutlery, the front door opened and footsteps sounded in the hallway.
“That you, Penny?” Derek’s gruff voice called out from the living room.
“Yes, sir.”
Just hearing her voice improved my mood, and I hurried to wipe the counters.
“Straight upstairs, young lady. It’s almost time for lights out.”
I hovered near the door. Penny would have to walk right past us. I had my hand buried deep in the pocket of my jeans gripping the folded paper. Her footsteps grew louder, and I turned to Ben and said, “Go take out the trash. I’ll wait here.”
I felt bad for getting rid of him, but I wanted to see Penny alone. The kitchen door clicked shut behind Ben just as Penny reached me.
Hi, she mouthed, her lips hooked up in a smile.
Hi. Happy birthday, I mouthed back, sliding out the handmade card and handing it to her.
My heart pounded so hard against my ribcage I thought I might pass out. I knew most girls would think a scrappy hand decorated card was lame, but I hoped Penny would like it. Derek and the foster momster hadn’t even bothered to buy her a card.
Her eyes ran over my handiwork, but her face gave nothing away.
Later? Usual place? I looked down sheepishly, but she nudged me refusing to let me look away. I nodded as if there was anywhere else I’d rather be. As she walked off, her hand brushed mine leaving a million jolts of electricity buzzing through me.
“I thought you weren’t going to make it.” I stood up brushing off my jeans as Penny appeared in the clearing.
Our place.
She rushed over to me and launched herself into my arms. I caught her midair, and she pressed her lips firmly to mine.
Penny was kissing me.
Me.
It wasn’t my first kiss; I’d fooled around with girls at school before behind the bleachers playing dares, but this was different. My hands held her close not wanting to let her go.
Ever.
But as quickly as her lips connected with mine, she was pulling away leaving a hollow pit in my stomach.
“Sorry,” she said breathlessly, dropping her eyes away from me.
I brought a hand from behind her back and tipped her chin up forcing her to look at me. “Never be sorry. Happy birthday, my lucky Penny.” I leaned in to kiss her again.
It was just a quick peck, but it was everything.
Before things got awkward, I grabbed Penny’s hand and yanked her over to the blanket I’d laid out. For the last couple of weeks, I had been stealing everything I needed to make tonight perfect. A blanket from a box in Derek’s garage and cartons of juice and cookies from the cafeteria at school. I’d even managed to swipe a candle and a lighter from one of Marie’s drawers. She must have confiscated it from them one of the other kids because birthdays didn’t happen in the Freeman house. It wasn’t much, but Penny’s wide grin told me it was more than enough.
“I can’t believe you did all of this.”
“You’re only fourteen once.” I offered her a choice of juice. “Birthday girl chooses.”
We sat like that, in No Man’s Land in the middle of the night, until there was nothing left but wrappers and empty cartons.
Over the last year, our adventures had gotten later and later. With no Bennett to cover for us, it was too risky that someone would see us sneaking out, so we had started waiting for everyone to fall to sleep.
“I feel sick,” Penny groaned causing me to snicker.
“You shouldn’t have eaten that last cookie.” We were lying back on the blanket holding hands looking up at the stars. “I’m sorry I couldn’t afford a proper gift.”
Penny gasped
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