Throw Away Teen (36 page)

I dropped my pack and ran to the cage. Fighting the door, I got it open and pulled Guard into my arms. He licked my face. I held him tight.

I heard footsteps. I looked toward the hallway door and saw Jocelyn. “Where’s Liz?” I choked out the words.

“
At the post office. She’ll be back soon.” Jocelyn must’ve seen the look of terror on my face because she got all flustered. “I wanted Chance to stay down for her nap and she kept playing with the puppy. He’s only been in the crate for a little while. He’s fine. They like it.”

“
Sure, he does.” I slowly let him go. “Just like I loved it when the other kids at that crazy lady’s place tied my wrists and ankles and threw me in the closet when she was at the casino.”

“
B.J.” She gasped as if I’d smacked her. “I didn’t know. Look, he’s not hurt.”

“
Like you’d care if he was.” I picked up my backpack and emptied out the books onto the table. I took it to the dryer in the utility room and filled the pack with my clothes. Two pairs of jeans, a sweatshirt, T-shirts, underwear—what I’d need on the streets. Alfie and Fetty were asleep on top of the dirty towels in the open hamper. I tucked them into my pack, leaving the zipper partway open so they could breathe.

“
He didn’t bark or anything,” Jocelyn told me when I went back to the kitchen. “He was quiet.”

“
Yeah, he’s smarter than I was,” I told her. I picked up his harness, put it on Guard, and attached his leash. “I made noise. I yelled, screamed, promised to be good. All it got me was being gagged with dirty pantyhose.”

“
What are you doing?” Jocelyn started toward me. “Where are you going?”

“
What do you care?’” I pulled on my coat and slung the pack onto my shoulder, grateful I kept the money from Ted with me at all times. “You’ve got what you wanted. We’re out of here.”

“
Oh my Gawd. What am I supposed to tell Mom?”

“
That’s your problem.” I called to Guard and he heeled beside me to the door. “Do a little dance. Have a little party. Boogie down, bitch.”

A black and white furball of excitement, Guard bounced along beside me. He loved going for walks on his leash now. Ringo got out of his truck and came to meet me. I looked up at him. “I’m done. Will you take us to Seattle?”

He stared at me, then looked at my puppy and backpack. “What are you talking about?”

“
I’m leaving.” I lifted my chin and met his gaze. “Now, will you help me out or not?”

“
I’ll always help you,” Ringo said. “But first, tell me what’s going on.”

“
I told you. I’m outta here.” I started walking down the drive toward the road. “I’ll go on my own if you won’t give me a ride.”

“
I didn’t say I wouldn’t.” Ringo jogged beside me. “What’s going on with you and Liz?”

“
Nothing. She’s not here.”

“
Whoa. Wait a second.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. “What pissed you off?” He glanced behind me to the B.M.W. “Jocelyn. B.J., if you want to leave Liz and Ted, you have to do it right. You can’t sneak out on them. They’ll be worried sick.”

“
Too bad, too sad. They’re adults. They can deal.”

“
Yeah and you can act like you’re fifteen, not five.” He tightened his hold on me. “Come on. You can use my cell and call Liz. Once you tell her that you’re leaving, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

“
Really?”

When he nodded, I walked back over to the pickup. I stood by the truck while he went through his sports bag. I looked down at Guard. He’d remembered he was supposed to sit down when I stopped, so he did. I didn’t have a treat so I bent over and petted him. He was good with that as a reward. I wondered how I could tell Liz I wanted out. I knew it would hurt her, but I wasn’t going to stick around and let anyone hurt my puppy. And I knew Liz would have to back up Jocelyn.

Right or wrong, Jocelyn was the
real
kid around here. I was the one they’d taken like a stray from the streets. It was time for me to go.

Ringo pulled out his cell phone. “Got it,” he said as he handed it to me. “I’ll hold the leash for you while you call.”

I hesitated, but since it was only for a moment, I handed Guard over. Then, I entered Liz’s number. It went straight to voice mail. “It’s B.J. This isn’t working for me. I’m leaving. Oh and I’m taking Guard and the kittens with me.” I ended the call and handed back the phone. “Okay, I did my part. Let’s go.”

“
I thought you were going to talk to her not just leave a message.” Ringo picked up Guard and put him in the cab. He slipped the backpack strap off my shoulder. “A deal’s a deal. Get in.”

I took the pack from him and put it on the floor by my feet. Alfie stuck his gray head out and gave a meow. I petted him then adjusted the zipper so I could help him get back inside with his fluffy sister.

Ringo shut my door and walked around the front of the truck. His long blond hair was tied back in a pony-tail. The white Academy shirt did great things for his broad shoulders. He was such a hunk. I was going to miss him big-time.

He slid in behind the wheel and started the engine, but he didn’t shift the truck into gear. Instead, he just sat, watching me. It reminded me of Alfie and a piece of string. The gray monster always pounced on Liz’s balls of yarn like they were toys and then I had to rewind them so she could knit.

’
Finally, he moved toward me, caught my shoulders. “What?” I asked.

“
This.” He bent and kissed me, gentle and sweet. “I’m sorry.”

“
Why?”

He lifted his head and I glanced through the windshield and saw Liz’s car. “You rotten sneak.” He’d deliberately stalled for time. “I hate you.”

“
Yeah, but you’re still here.” He laughed and kissed me again. “Don’t make me come after you, B.J. You’ve never seen me mad and you won’t like it.”

“
Like I’m scared of you.” I glared at him as he shut off the truck and pocketed the keys.

Before I could do or say anything else, he was out of the rig and walking toward Liz. The decision was mine. I could sit here and wait like a little kid or I could go tell her in person that I was leaving. Even if Ringo wasn’t willing to take me, I still had legs. I could damn well walk to the bus stop.

I got out of the truck, grabbed my backpack. I put the strap over my shoulder and helped Guard down. Then, I stomped toward Liz. “I’m through.”

“
Oh, you haven’t seen through yet, young lady.” Liz gripped my shoulder and pushed me up the path to the house. Guard yipped in excitement and followed. She shot a deadly glance at Ringo. “Get over here. Now!”

He hurried to join us. “Liz, I...”

“
Shut up! If I want to hear teen angst, I’ll ask for it.”

He fell silent and followed us to the house.

The dogs barked from the back yard, but when Liz looked at them, instant silence. She threw the back door open and it banged against the wall.

Chance stared at the three of us from the kitchen table, a glass of juice in front of her. “Grandma’s mad.”

Relief crept across Jocelyn’s face when she saw us. “Mom, I...”

Liz pointed to an empty chair. “Sit down and shut up.”

Jocelyn obeyed just as if she was the same age as her daughter.

Then, Liz saw the crate. She flicked a quick glance over her shoulder at Ringo. “Put that in the box in the pantry. Tape it up. It doesn’t get used till B.J. wants it.”

“
Mom, I—”

“
Jocelyn, I told you to shut up.” Liz gripped both my shoulders, holding me so I had to meet her gaze. “I’ll deal with you later. Right now, you take your menagerie and go to your room. Unpack your stuff. You’re not going anywhere.”

Tears bubbled up in my throat. I swallowed hard. “Why should I? You don’t want me now. I yelled at your real daughter.”

“
Honey, I haven’t even started yelling yet.” Liz gave me a little push in the direction of the stairs. “Go. Chance, you help B.J. I want to talk to your mom. Ringo, don’t you have that crate broken down yet?”

“
I’m doing it, Liz.” He came back from the utility room with the empty box. “I’m going to the tool-room to get tape.”

With Guard and Chance following me, I headed upstairs. Behind me, I heard Liz cut loose. She didn’t cuss, but she didn’t have to swear, not with a tone that sounded like a cop.

“
One hour. I’m gone less than one hour to mail a package to your cousin and you raise hell and put props under it, Jocelyn. What were you thinking? Oh, I forgot. You don’t think. You just do whatever suits you.”

Chance tucked her hand into mine as we climbed the stairs. “When Grandma’s not happy, nobody is. Don’t be sad, B.J. She just yells. She never hits. She told my mommy and daddy that I only get timed out and never spanked.”

“
Good to know,” I said. I still wondered what Liz would do to me later, but it was a relief to know hitting wasn’t on the agenda. “I bet I get a major time-out.”

“
So will Mommy,” Chance said, obviously trying to comfort me. “Where’s the kitties? I couldn’t find ‘em after my nap.”

“
In my bag,” I said. “We’ll let them out in my room.”

CHAPTER 25

Alfie was happy to be out of the backpack, but his sister had snuggled down in my T-shirts for a nap. I lifted her out and let her sleep on my bed while I put away my clothes. Guard and Alfie had a good time playing with Chance for the next half-hour till her mom came to get her.

I lay on the bed, cuddling Fetty while Jocelyn waited in the doorway. She looked around the room. I saw her freeze when her eyes fell on the missing closet door. She eyed me cautiously. “Did Dad take off the...”

I met her gaze for a long moment before I answered. “Yeah,” I said. “The first day I got here. He and Liz are cool. They’re the first foster parents I’ve had who don’t make me feel like a throw-away.”

Chance stopped dragging a string around the room for Alfie. “What’s a throw-away, B.J.?”

“
It’s what people like me are called. We’re thrown away because nobody wants us.”

Chance carefully put her string on the nightstand and climbed up to hug me. “I want you. You’re not throwed away to me. So don’t be sad anymore.”

“
I’ll try.” I hugged the kid back. “Now, you better get going. Your mom’s waiting.”

“
Okay. See you later.” Chance got down. “Can we paint more pictures next time?”

“
If I’m still here, sure we will.”

“
You’ll be here,” Jocelyn said. “I’m sorry I upset you, B.J. I didn’t mean to.” She scooped up Chance, snuggling her kid the way I did my puppy. “How old were you?”

“
What?” I asked. When she pointed to the closet, I understood. “It started when I was four and a half. I didn’t get moved until two weeks after my fifth birthday.”

A tear trickled down Jocelyn’s cheek. “I’m sorry,” she said again.

I shrugged, put Fetty down, and rolled off the bed to my feet. I didn’t believe a word she said or the crocodile tears for that matter. “Whatever. Just don’t lock my dog in jail again. You can go now.”

I closed the door behind her and Chance.

All of the drama wore me out. I knew I should put the escape ladder out the window and leave, but I wasn’t sure if I could climb down it with Guard and the kittens. And I wasn’t leaving without them. I went back to my bed.

Alfie had curled up with his sister and I cuddled both of the fluff balls. Guard came over and tried to jump up. He could get his front paws on the bed, but he still needed a boost. So, I helped him. Once everybody was settled, I pulled up the afghan and covered all of us. And we crashed.

***

I woke up when I heard a knock on the door. Guard stood over me and yipped, little baby barks.

Liz came in, carrying a tray. “You missed supper so I brought it up.”

Tears burned my eyes and I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “You don’t have to be so nice to me. I know you called Carol and she’s coming to get me.”

“
No, I didn’t call her. And no, she’s not coming to get you. I’m nice to you because I want to be. I want to take care of you.” Liz brought the tray over to me. “Sit up, honey. I think you need more people to be nice to you. Now, is it okay if Ted takes Guard out to go to the bathroom? You know the rules. If your puppy makes a mess...”

“
I have to clean it up.” I managed a pathetic smile. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

Guard left with Ted and the kittens followed, obviously on the hunt for their kitten food and sand-box. I nibbled nervously at the grilled cheese sandwich but soon hunger took over and I devoured the rest of it.

Around bites, I said, “I’m sorry I lost it, Liz. I had a total meltdown.”

She smiled and leaned over to kiss the top of my head. “You’re allowed to be human, B.J. Now, you know for sure that I’m not perfect either and I get mad, too.”

I put down the sandwich and picked up the mug of chicken noodle soup. “I’m glad you didn’t let me go.”

“
And I’m glad you stayed.” She sat beside me on the bed and put an arm around my shoulders. “You know I’m going to punish you for blowing your end of our deal, don’t you?”

“
I figured. So, what am I gonna get?”

“
Three days,” Liz said. “You had provocation, but you’re not an elevator, B.J. Just because somebody pushes your buttons doesn’t mean you give them a free ride to the penthouse.”

I sipped my soup. “What was I supposed to do? Let Jocelyn mess with my puppy?”

“
You could’ve just taken Guard out of the crate and waited for me. Now, you’re grounded for three days. Was all the drama worth the price of admission?”

I stared into my soup for a moment. “It was worth you yelling at Jocelyn. You stood up for me.”