You either tuck your tail and go about your day without being seen or heard, they allow that, or you’re in the middle of it all and your every move is measured. Step outside the unit and you’re treated like the trash they already see.”
“Sounds like a nightmare.”
She pops a shoulder. “It can be. Ran by some real gems.”
“Ran by?”
“You think they’d let us all walk on their marble floors without having a leg up on us?” She shakes her head. “They’re smarter than that. They offer us something we don’t have back home, we stay in line. Tit for tat all the way.”
“And people buy into that shit?”
This time her eyes skim my unhealthily thin frame from head to toe. “You’ll understand soon enough.” And then she’s gone.
“Ookay.” I frown, and turn to my things, making quick work of tossing my clothes into the dresser labeled with my name and walk back out front.
I toss my social worker – who popped out of fucking nowhere - her bag and she frowns.
“I told you to keep this.”
“I don’t want your pity shit.”
“I have no pity.”
“Then I don’t want your shit.”
“Get in the car, Raven,” she tells me with an exasperated sigh.
Maybell walks toward me with a smile. “Ms. Vega was nice enough to send over everything I needed yesterday, so I was able to pre-register you. Go straight to the office when you get there, it’s the first door on the left when you walk in. They’ll give you your schedule.”
With a nod, I walk away, but Maybell calls out again before I step into the car.
“There’ll be a group of kids walking this way after school. A good lot are headed here if you’d like to join ‘em. It’s a little over a mile down the road, city bus works just fine too if you can pay for it. Stops right here.” She points to the stop sitting at the edge of the sidewalk just in front of what she pointed out as the boys’ home.
I don’t respond and slam the door behind me.
Ms. Vega gets behind the wheel with a huff. “Look, Raven—”
“It’s Rae.”
“You need to make this work. I’ve talked to a few girls here. Maybell lets them do what they want if they follow the rules. At least here, you can still pretty much do as you please, be your bitchy little self and get away with it.” She half laughs as she says it and my eyes cut her way. “You might think I’m just the lady to deposit you, but I’d like to think it will be better for you here. I don’t expect you to be happy, but maybe you can move past the anger your mom left you in.”
“What, do you double as a shrink or something?”
She grins and pulls away from the curb, driving the several blocks down to the high school. “No, but someone helped me once, and I’d like to help you the same.”
“Don’t waste your time, focus on the little ones that don’t understand the lives they’re living.” I turn to look out the windshield. “I’m already ruined.”
“Hey!” she snaps and I turn to glare at her. “You’re not ruined. Believe it or not, it only takes one person to make you see that. Give it time, you’ll heal.”
“Not interested. All I want is a life away from anyone who has ever heard my name, fucked my mom, or read my file.” With that, I exit the car and I stare at my new reality – a giant brick building with a cement sign dead in the center.
With a shake of my head, I make my way up the steps, stopping when Ms. Vega shouts from behind me.
“This place isn’t like most high schools, Raven. Things are a bit different here then they are where you come from.”
Tension lines my stomach. “What are you trying to say?”
She eyes me a moment. “Girls like you aren’t exactly welcomed at a place like this, so ... keep your head down and look the other way.”
A chuckle bubbles out of me. “Have you met me?”
“I’m serious,” she stresses, unease lining her forehead.
“So am I.”
“Do you want me to come in with you?”
“Goodbye, Ms. Vega.”
With her eyes on the building behind me, she nods, gets back in her car and drives away.
I pause where I stand for a moment.
I could just take off now, but it’ll do no good. I can’t get a job on my own unless I follow in my