Page 140 of A Foster Fling
“Where do you think you’re going, nerd,” one of the pretty girls from my class says, and I scoff, shaking my head and tug my arm out of her grip.
“None of your fucking business,” I snap.
“You think you’re so much smarter than the rest of us,” she sneers.
“No, I just think you are so much dumber than the rest of us.”
A chorus of “Ooooooh” ripples through the crowd that’s formed around us.
“I fucking dare you. In front of all these people, I dare you,” I challenge when she raises her hand to slap me.
I stand up straighter. I’ve spent my whole life being trodden on and treated like a punching bag by people worse than her. I’m not scared.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” she replies, attempting to sound authoritative, but there’s an edge of nervousness in her turn.
“You wanted to cause a scene, well here it is. Either slap me, or fuck off,” I hiss, bitterness lacing my tone.
She hesitates, and I shake my head. Turning, I prepare to push my way through the surrounding students. Just as I’m about to get through, I’m yanked backward by my hair. I let out a yelp and barely manage to stay on my feet. I turn into the grip of the bitch who’s got a hold of my hair and I slap her straight across the face.
I don’t care that I’m wearing a dress; I don’t care that my bare legs are exposed when the skirt rides up as I straddle her. A red haze drops across my vision as we scrabble together on the ground, clawing, scratching, and slapping each other.
A large pair of hands hooks me by my armpits and I’m dragged off, still swearing and yelling. It’s Raiden.
“Let’s go, Robyn.”
Scowling, I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder. Wrapping his hand around my upper arm, he leads me away.
“What happened?” Raiden asks when we’re out of earshot.
I roll my eyes at him. “The usual high school shit,” I respond. “Catty girls who don’t have anything better to do.”
The heat from Raiden’s hand is soothing, but I’m still vibrating with anger. Whatever they say about me shouldn’t matter. I had a moment of weakness, and I fought back.
The road is quiet and empty as we walk down it. Surprisingly, Raiden is quiet, leaving me to my thoughts and I listen to the steady sound of our shoes on the concrete beneath our feet.
“What happened to your face, Robyn?” Troy asks when we finally arrive back home and he sees my disheveled state.
I look away from him, but Troy won’t let me hide from him. He pulls me aside once Raiden has disappeared upstairs and leads me into his office.
“Tell me,” he urges, gently turning my face back towards him so he can meet my eyes.
“Nothing happened.”
“Don’t lie to me. I can see you’ve been in some sort of fight.”
“Just a girl at school,” I mutter. “I’m fine.”
Troy gently brushes my messy hair from my face, inspecting my throbbing cheek and looking me over for any other injuries. My heart stutters, and his gentle but serious expression calms me. I look at him, taking in the light lines that crease his forehead and the laughter lines around his mouth. Warmth flows through me, seeming to stem from the tips of his fingers on my face and I let out a small puff of breath that hits his face and makes him blink.
He clears his throat and leans back, looking at me thoughtfully. I give him a quick smile and dart from his office to go clean myself up, get changed, and do my homework. My thoughts are spinning, and my cheek is tingling beneath the throb of pain from my fight.
Chapter Four
Troy
It doesn’t change how I feel, though. Every time we pass in the hallway at home, every simple brush of skin, and every look lasting no longer than a heartbeat. I feel her everywhere. Nothing has happened, and I’ve remained neutral, but nothing changes, either. I’m the one who’s changing. She’s changing me.
I feel both elated and ashamed. I shouldn’t feel this way about Robyn, and I don’t want to upset her or do anything to risk my chances to continue fostering. I’ve only ever promised a safe harbor and a loving home. It’s getting harder to keep my promise, though, when I know how much she needs what my home and family have to offer.