Two Weeks Before Her 18th Birthday
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(Photo reference for Jess, image credit goes to Jordan Todosey.)
It was movie night at the home, a mass of about fifteen children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Nikki was the oldest, no more than a couple weeks away from her 18th birthday. Jess, a brunette with short pixie hair that was even scrawnier than she but a few inches taller, was squished into a lounge chair with her. She was a year younger than Nikki, but they'd known each other for four years.
In a knitted sweater that fell past the hem of her pajama shorts, she was curled up against Jess, her legs bent and pulled up, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned her head on her friend's shoulder. She couldn't remember what they were watching, it was some lame kids movie that had come out recently that the home had provided for them. Still, it was something to watch.
Jess' mouth turned closer to her head, enough so that she could feel the heat of her breath and the brush of her lips on her forehead with each whispered word. "They're going to kick you out, you know.."
Blinking rapidly from where she'd almost dozed off, she slowly lifted her head from Jess' shoulder and gave her a dumbfounded look. "What the hell are you talking about?" Her own hiss of a whisper was directed at the girl's ear, her brows furrowed.
The brunette lowered her head, looking apologetic for having said something but she couldn't hold it in. "The others were whispering about it earlier. They said that when a kid hits 18, they get kicked out." Her voice was no more than a hushed murmur, her green eyes unable to look Nikki in the face.
Shaking her head, she almost snorted at the idea. "They can't just do that, Jess. Just.. kick someone out on the streets like that." The home wasn't great, funds were low and frankly the lady running it was a hag but she still didn't think the woman was cold enough to do that.
"They can.." she persisted, her eyes seeming glued to the television screen as she tried to keep her tone low. "Once you're eighteen, they don't have to take care of you anymore. You're an adult. No one's going to adopt an adult." Her head lowered the more she spoke, looking ashamed at the words coming out of her mouth.
"No shit, I already gave up on the idea of being adopted years ago," even to her, she sounded defensive, a wince soon following. "Seriously, though. If they're going to kick me out, you'd think they'd at least give me some notice. What are they gonna do? Kick me out then and there? Oh, happy birthday, get the fuck out!" Her hand clamped over her mouth before she whispered a sorry to someone who hissed at the two to shut up.
Quiet for a moment until attention was turned away from them, Jess continued. "I don't know, Nik. Just.. watch out. Maybe you should figure something out just in case..." Her eyes were still focused forward, heavy on the t.v. screen as she seemed to hug her arms tighter around herself.
She snickered under her breath, shaking her head before letting out a sigh. Her head soon found refuge on Jess' shoulder once more. "Yeah. Right." Her tone was soft, but dead. Figure what out? I don't have anywhere to go, numbskull!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b6/ce/f7/b6cef747e3fb890ba364faeb333f9e1b.jpg
(Photo reference for Jess, image credit goes to Jordan Todosey.)
It was movie night at the home, a mass of about fifteen children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Nikki was the oldest, no more than a couple weeks away from her 18th birthday. Jess, a brunette with short pixie hair that was even scrawnier than she but a few inches taller, was squished into a lounge chair with her. She was a year younger than Nikki, but they'd known each other for four years.
In a knitted sweater that fell past the hem of her pajama shorts, she was curled up against Jess, her legs bent and pulled up, her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned her head on her friend's shoulder. She couldn't remember what they were watching, it was some lame kids movie that had come out recently that the home had provided for them. Still, it was something to watch.
Jess' mouth turned closer to her head, enough so that she could feel the heat of her breath and the brush of her lips on her forehead with each whispered word. "They're going to kick you out, you know.."
Blinking rapidly from where she'd almost dozed off, she slowly lifted her head from Jess' shoulder and gave her a dumbfounded look. "What the hell are you talking about?" Her own hiss of a whisper was directed at the girl's ear, her brows furrowed.
The brunette lowered her head, looking apologetic for having said something but she couldn't hold it in. "The others were whispering about it earlier. They said that when a kid hits 18, they get kicked out." Her voice was no more than a hushed murmur, her green eyes unable to look Nikki in the face.
Shaking her head, she almost snorted at the idea. "They can't just do that, Jess. Just.. kick someone out on the streets like that." The home wasn't great, funds were low and frankly the lady running it was a hag but she still didn't think the woman was cold enough to do that.
"They can.." she persisted, her eyes seeming glued to the television screen as she tried to keep her tone low. "Once you're eighteen, they don't have to take care of you anymore. You're an adult. No one's going to adopt an adult." Her head lowered the more she spoke, looking ashamed at the words coming out of her mouth.
"No shit, I already gave up on the idea of being adopted years ago," even to her, she sounded defensive, a wince soon following. "Seriously, though. If they're going to kick me out, you'd think they'd at least give me some notice. What are they gonna do? Kick me out then and there? Oh, happy birthday, get the fuck out!" Her hand clamped over her mouth before she whispered a sorry to someone who hissed at the two to shut up.
Quiet for a moment until attention was turned away from them, Jess continued. "I don't know, Nik. Just.. watch out. Maybe you should figure something out just in case..." Her eyes were still focused forward, heavy on the t.v. screen as she seemed to hug her arms tighter around herself.
She snickered under her breath, shaking her head before letting out a sigh. Her head soon found refuge on Jess' shoulder once more. "Yeah. Right." Her tone was soft, but dead. Figure what out? I don't have anywhere to go, numbskull!