A Light In The Darkness

Chapter 2

It's been 4 days. I'm finally let out of the shoe closet. I grab a piece of stale toast and head upstairs. I'm not worried about Kevin because he already left for work. Mollie is giving me puppy dog eyes. For seven, she is so small. Probably the lack of nutrition growing up in foster care. I'm able to cover my eye with some of Darbie's leftover makeup. I usually go for a natural look. But my eye is still green so I'm doing a smokey eye today. I throw on a pair of dirty jeans and an old hoodie since Darbie won't take anything to the laundromat. I walk back downstairs and Darbie just gives me a shitty look. She is so skinny. She has blondish yellow box dye colored hair that's curly like ramen noodles. She has dark brown eyes. I walked upstairs and I got Mollie's bag and things together so we could walk to the bus stop.

We walk in silence. She is still sulking like a puppy. Her black hair is covering her eyes. It's not her fault what happened but I don't say anything. I know there's nothing I could say. She has asked me before why we don't get help like on the TV shows. I tell her it's not like that in Indiana. I tried to get help before she came but when cps realized I was in foster care they quit trying to help. We've made it to the bus stop. It's spring so the air is chilly but I love it. It's just me and Mollie, the other kids are too small for school. It makes me upset they have to stay there with Darbie. But there's nothing I could try to do that I haven't tried already.

Finally I hear the bus coming so I grab Mollie's stuff off the sidewalk. I help her put her backpack on. The bus pulls up to the stop sign and we get on. The bus driver has a rule that elementary sits in the front then middle school in the middle and high schoolers in the back. I'm not embarrassed to ride the bus even if I'm almost eighteen and don't have a car.

"Layla, sit by me!" I look up and see Alyssa. As soon as she sees me she looks sad.

"Hey I-"

"What happened to your face?" She asks. I knew she would.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Please don't treat me like im stupid Lay. Was it Kevin?" She already knows. I would trust Alyssa with my life. She truly is my best friend. But she is really nosy and it's annoying.

"No." I say, coldly. She gives me a sad look but respects I don't want to talk about it.

"So, my brother told me you weren't at the library yesterday? She asked. I give her a mean look, not meaning too.

"No, I was just wondering if you would be there today? She asked

"Yes I need the money" I say.

"How much do you have?"

"$746, I had more but Darbie found it over fall break."

"I thought they only took some from each check?"

"They do but when she found it I guess she couldn't help herself."

"Where do you plan on taking Molls anyway?" She whispers to me.

"I don't know," I sigh. " I wish I had a car or something. Or at least an idea of an apartment,I wanted to sneak out with Mollie as soon as I turned 18 but she needs school. I've talked to our case worker, if I want to take Mollie I will have to get Darbie and Kevin to give up their rights. Which they won't.

"Maybe if you just tell Darbie you want to take her but not report it. So they can keep the money from the state but you will keep Molls" She says.

"I've never thought of that. But I still think she will want to keep her just for spite." Our conversation is cut short as we reach the school. I grab my stuff and we start to get off the bus, I walk Mollie to her school then me and Alyssa make our way to the high school. Then I feel someone hug me from being. I flinch and turn around but it's just Mollie.

"I'm sorry Layla,I was scared I didn't mea-" I cut her off.

"Mollie," I squat down to look at her in those big green tear filled eyes.

"None of this is your fault, it's not your job to protect me it's my job to protect you. You and me are a team Molls, all those kids that have come in and out of that house and you are who I bonded with. I love you, please be good for your teachers today and have fun with your friends. If you have art, make me something pretty for my locker and I'll see you after I get home from work." I give her a big hug.

"I have art on Wednesday, today is music class!"

"Well sing big and proud! I'll walk you home Mollie. How does that sound?" Alyssa asks. Mollie has the biggest smile on her face and nods. We both give her one more big hug each and we head to class. I passed some jocks. I see Mark, he barely makes eye contact with me. He is still ignoring me. I think he's just embarrassed. I don't know why. I only told Alyssa we had s*x but never that is was less than a minute. She said she had slept with him too when she was fifteen. I go to my locker and grab what I need for the first three periods. Then I hear a voice behind me. Turn around

"Hey Layla," I turn around and I realize who it is.

"Mark?" I'm confused. Why is he talking to me?

"Yeah, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry." He says shyly. Sorry? Why is he sorry?

"S-sorry for what?" I stutter. What?

"I'm sorry for taking advantage of you and ignoring you for the past five years.

"Six years," I blurt out.

"Yeah, uh, six years." He smiles. And I can't help but smile back. He may be an ass but he is pretty hot.

"Soo.. Is there something you want Mark or you just wanted to apologize?"

"Yeah actually, I hope this is okay. I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

"I'm sure I can, what do you need help with?"

"Well, I wanted to ask Alyssa to prom but sh-"

"You want to ask Alyssa to prom?" I stop him. What is this?

"Yes and you guys are friends so I thought you could help me bec-"

"I need to get to class Mark, I don't have time for this." I push past him and make my way to the first period. I'm not jealous. Alyssa is pretty with blonde hair and she has curves. And the prettiest blue eyes. Where I am homely with long brown hair and green eyes I'm also skinny and have no ass and small boobs. I can't believe him. I sit down in the back of the class. I'm smart but I act like I'm not so I don't draw attention to myself. Alyssa walks on and sits beside me.

"Hey girl," she says

"Hey, you're never going to believe what Mark said to me today!" I say

"Mark Renolds or Peters?"

"Renolds"

"Oh, so now he speaks to you," she laughs." And what did he have to say?"

"He apologized for us having s*x six years ago. Then he asked me to help him ask you to pr-"

"Alright class, everyone be quiet!" Miss Johnson says. That ruined my chance to talk to Alyssa so I decided to wait. Although she keeps raising her eyebrow at me. Finally the bell rings.

"Okay spill!" She practically yells.

"He wants to ask you to prom." I say. She nods then gets quiet. Alyssa being quiet is not something I'm used to.

"Hey, Lyss, are you okay" I ask. She fakes a smile.

"Yes, just thinking." I don't want to pry but I don't know if it was my fault.

"Are you sure?" She looks like she is going to cry. "No I'm not, let's go to the bathroom." I nod. We get to the bathroom and the bell rings. I'm not worried about it. I check under the stalls to make sure no one can eavesdrop.

"How dare him! He thinks he's so charming and has been flirting with me for months then asks the girl who took his virginity with help to ask me to prom! No offense." I'm not offended. I know they have been texting for a while. She is just mad. And I understand.

"I don't like him Alyssa and I haven't talked to him in six years. Maybe he did just want my help. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. You never need to apologize to me Lay. You go through so much already, my petty drama is nothing compared to your life." I feel bad. Not because she feels bad. But because she is making me out to be a victim.

"No, Alyssa. I am fine. You deserve to be respected. If you and Mark want to be a couple or go to prom together that doesn't bother me at all. Plus, you can tell me your dream proposal and I can relay it to Mark." We laugh. Alyssa is fixing her makeup. She gives me a hug then we head to class.

"Layla Jackson, why are you late!" Mr. Wilkins asks.

"Period stuff" someone laughs and Mr. Wilkins just nods at me. I smile shyly. That always works with the male teachers. After class it's finally lunch time. Which sucks because Darbie won't put money on my tab so I usually eat off Alyssa's plate. She really is my best friend. I feel like if we lived in a bigger town she would be in would be in one of those popular girl groups. But we live in Rollins, Indiana. Which is so small it's ridiculous. Some years there's not even enough boys for the football team.

I get to the cafeteria and I see Alyssa. We do little waves across the room. I point to the corner table and she gives me a thumb up. I sit at our table. Then I wait for her to go through the line, I usually walk through the line with her. But I'm just ready to sit down. My back still hurts. Sometimes her mom puts extra money on her food account and Alyssa gets me a tray. Her parents aren't wealthy by any means. Her mom works in the courthouse and her dad works at the plastic factory two towns over. Then someone taps my shoulder

"Hey Layla," I instantly know the voice and turn around. Mark.