Page 6 of Echoes of Us

“Okay, princess. Why don’t you go on back inside and do…whatever it is you do in there. You wouldn’t want that creepy pastor wondering why you skipped out on the service.” She takes another long drag of her cigarette and blows it toward me.

“Don’t call me that,” I snap, my voice cold and firm. I glare at her, fists clenched tightly at my sides. Her smile widens, eyes glinting with satisfaction. My blood boils. I can feel the heat rising to my face, but I refuse to let her see how much she’s gotten to me. “I tried to bring you back inside, but stay out here and enjoy your death stick.”

I turn to walk away, only glancing back as I open the door. She is giving me the finger. “Bye, bye princess. Hope to see you never!” I slam the door shut.

What a piece of work. How can any of our parents consider letting that girl anywhere near their kids? Why does she need to stay with someone anyway? She is probably a high school dropout. What would she even do all day at someone’s house? Sleep, watch TV, steal, and pawn things off? Why can’t she find a group home to live in? Thank God my parents would never agree to this. This is the most important year of my life so far. I know they would never do something to ruin it for me.

I quietly open the doors at the back of the youth group chapel. I spot my friends sitting in the front row and make my way down the aisle to join them. I find Devan’s hand while the band continues to play. Mills leans over and asks me, “Where did that girl go?”

I smile. “Out by the dumpster, where trash belongs,” I reply. They all start to laugh until someone behind us goes “ssshhhh”. Gabe turns around and gives them a look. We all go back to singing along with the band before the youth pastor takes the stage to give his sermon. His sermon is about loving thy neighbor, especially people who are different than you. I am going to choose to ignore that. That girl was rude to me first, so I don’t see why she deserves my kindness.

After service, I check my phone to see I have a text from my dad.

DAD 8:04 PM

The meeting with Pastor James continued after service. Can you grab EJ and meet us outside his office? Thank you, Honey Bun.

EM 8:16 PM

Sure thing! See you soon!

After I find EJ in the event room, we start walking toward Pastor James’s office. We run down the hall racing to see who can make it there first. As we come around the corner, I see our parents and Pastor James talking outside of his office. Before they see us, I overhear Pastor James saying, “Thank you both so much for taking on this huge responsibility. Teagan really is a smart, nice girl. She just needs guidance to show her the right path.” Pastor James hugs my mother, and when she meets my eyes, the guilt and regret in her gaze is unmistakable. In that moment, it hits me like a punch to the gut. My parents chose to take her in.

You have got to be kidding me.

Chapter 7

Teagan

I know I am going to get an ear full when I get home. Ditching my aunt at the church and ignoring her texts is definitely going to bring the wrath of Colin.

I had Sean pick me up, so I didn’t have to face whoever they chose for me to live with. We drive around for a few hours, laughing about the couple that I scared away and how I got under the skin of the girl I met.

“How funny would it be if she is who ya end up living with?” Sean says between fits of laughter.

“There is no way. She mentioned I’d be stuck living with another family at the church, so I assume her parents already told the pastor hell no.” Thank whoever above for that. The thought had crossed my mind earlier, but she made it clear I was someone else’s problem. How miserable it would be to find out I had to live with that princess for over seven months.

We finally get to my aunt’s house, sitting in the driveway for a few minutes as I prepare for what’s inside. I give him a quick ‘here goes nothing’ shrug.

“Thanks for the ride,” I say and exit. I wait until Sean pulls out of the driveway before I turn to the door. Knowing Sean, if he sees Colin yelling at me before he drives off, he’ll come back and intervene. That’s one of the things I love about him. Despite growing up in a loveless home, he’s the most caring person I know. It’s a miracle he turned out so amazing given who he grew up living with. Still, I can’t handle another fight tonight. The one with the princess and the one I am about to have with Colin will meet quota for the day.

As soon as I insert my key in the door, it flies open. Colin stands there, towering over me, his face red and murderous.

He grabs me by the front of my shirt, pulling me through the doorway. “GET INSIDE NOW!” He slams the door, throwing me into the hallway toward the kitchen. He shoves me from behind, causing me to lose my balance and fall to the floor. “Your aunt has been beside herself thinking your worthless ass ran away.” He bends down and grabs my arm, pulling me up.

Once in the kitchen, I find my aunt at the table with swollen, tear-filled eyes. She looks up at me. I almost feel bad for a second. Not because I ditched her, but because I scared her. She probably thought I ran away to avoid moving in with those people. That isn’t a bad idea to be honest.

“I was worried sick, Teagan. I know you are… upset with me, but I hope you would never run away from me. Regardless of how you see me or what you think of us, I love you very much and this is killing me to have to leave you here,” Aunt Beth states in a hushed voice.

“Yeah, you guys seem really sad while you pack the house and talk about how exciting Japan is going to be,” I retort.

“Look kid. Your aunt found you a family, so either listen to her and let her give you the details or wait until Saturday when they show up to take you,” Colin says, narrowing his eyes.

“Colin, please give us some privacy,” Aunt Beth pleads. He rolls his eyes and heads toward their room.

“The Briggs family is going to pick you up on Saturday, so please have everything packed that you want to take with you. They have a daughter around your age and a seven-year-old son. Also…please, Teagan, have an open mind...” she sighs deeply, “…they are going to enroll you in the school their children attend in Princeton. It is a very prestigious private school, and they want to pay for you to finish your senior year there.”

“You’ve got to be joking! Who do you think you are? It wasn’t enough to abandon me. Now you are taking me out of my…” I start, but she holds her hand up. I pause.

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