Hannah's POV

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"Hannah, get your ass up now or you're gonna be late!"

I quickly sit up when I hear my foster mom scream from down the hall. Of course I had to sleep in on today of all days. Olivia is gonna kill me. I quickly get up and take a cold shower. A hot one would be nice, but Tammy and Bill's three little boys get priority over me.

I never understood why people who don't want more kids foster. I understand they're literally getting paid to keep me, but what's the point? They don't want another mouth to feed, they don't want to actually love me, they don't even realize I'm there unless my chores aren't done. I mean, I don't think the money is even that great.

I quickly throw on some ripped jeans and navy hoodie, my usual. I don't bother with any makeup other than mascara, which is all I even have. Normally I'd do something with my hair to try to look slightly decent, but I don't have time.

"Hannah, why the hell did you not get up earlier?" Bill asks from the table as I walk into the kitchen. "Tammy had to get the kids ready because you didn't. You know what that means?"

"More chores?" I ask, even though we both already know the answer to that.

"Yup."

"Great..."

I walk out the door and run to the end of the driveway where the bus is already waiting. Ms. Daisy gives me a small smile as I get on and my head immediately starts pounding from all of the rowdy people. I sit in a seat towards the front and immediately stick my earbuds in.

A lot of people think foster care sucks, which it does, but it's not completely horrible as long as you follow the rules. I've had some families that were really nice and some not so much, like Tammy and Bill. They pretty much just make me do all of the housework and watch their kids, but it's not that bad. I've been in the system since I was eight so I'm pretty close with my social worker, Anne.

Anne always tries to get me the best homes but it's harder for teens, especially when you're no longer a minor. I turned nineteen last month, but I'm still in high school because the moving around made me fall behind. When you age out of foster care, you have the option to stay in it until your twenty-one and can leave any time. Trust me, I want out, but I don't have the money to live on my own.

When I was a freshman, I was put with a nice couple and stayed with them till my junior year. They thought they couldn't get pregnant, but they did and decided it best if I find a new home. I met my best friend, Olivia, freshman year and we had been friends ever since. I asked Anne to keep me here, so I could have my senior year with Olivia. Tammy and Bill, to put it lightly, suck but at least I have Olivia. She is the only person I really trust and knows everything about me and my past.

When I was eight, my house burned down with my parents in it. No one, including myself, knows how I got out. My parents weren't close with my extended family, who didn't even know I existed, so I went into the California Department of Social Services. I don't remember much about my parents but I do remember they were kind and how much I loved them.

The bus stopped and I immediately shot forward, almost falling in the floor. I sighed, getting off and walking straight to Olivia's locker. When I got to her locker she was looking at the mirror inside and adjusting her tiara that read 'birthday girl'. She was applying her lip gloss till she saw me out of the corner of her eye and immediately slammed her locker, causing me to jump.

"Where the hell were you?!" She asked. "I waited outside for thirty minutes."

"Sorry, I may or may not have over slept..." Since it was her birthday, Olivia was going to pick me up before school so we could go get breakfast.

"I'll live I suppose." She sighs before we start walking towards our first period together.

I love Olivia, she's my best friend, my soulmate, my family. We are absolutely nothing alike though. I'm quiet and shy, always making sure I just follow the rules and Olivia is confident and outgoing, always drawing attention to herself. Even now, I'm wearing converse and this bitch is wearing three inch heels.

We walk to science, our first period, and sit at our lab table as we wait for class to start. I'm smart, but I'm not a genius or full out nerd. Olivia is smart in all aspects but school. Science, though, we both suck. With the two of us as partners it's the blind leading the blind, but our teacher hasn't switched us yet.

"So, since you ditched me for breakfast...I know how you can make it up to me." She says as she inspects her freshly painted nails.

"Oh no..." If Olivia wants something, you better do it, or else her next request will always be ten times worse. I've learned that lesson too many times.

"I wanna go to a club in Los Angeles tonight."

"No." I tell her before she can even try to convince me. "I have chores tonight and you have to be twenty one to get into clubs anyways."

"Please." She begs. "It's my birthday."

"I know it's your birthday but you know I don't like breaking rules, or laws, which are two things you're asking me to do. I would rather get you a Ferrari than get in trouble."

"Can you get me a Ferrari?" She perks up. I look at her with a blank stare. I think we both know the answer to that question.

"Well, get your heels ready because we're going dancing!" She cheers.

"I can't even dance!" I yell at her as she walks to another table to talk to people. I expect no less from my annoying little social butterfly.

Olivia and I struggled through science before we had to leave each other for our next two classes. Science could suck a butt for all I care, but history and math were relatively easy. It was now our lunch break and I took my lunch to the stairwell because I wasn't really in the mood for socializing.

"Hannah?" I heard someone say. I looked up to see Jake, the captain of the football team.

"Hey, Jake, what's up?" I put my phone down and try to act cool, or at least normal. I've been crushing on the dude since freshman year, but he only even knows who I am because of Olivia.

"Not much, just skipping." He says, sitting down next to me.

"Why?" He shrugged his shoulder as he took the apple from my tray and started eating it.

"Math is boring."

"Aren't you worried you'll get in trouble?"

"No, I don't care. Don't tell me you're one of those goody two shoes whose all about following the rules." He laughs. I know he meant it as a joke, but I was close to losing my shit.

"God, what is so wrong with following the rules?!" He gives me a confused look. "Liv is grilling me about going to L.A. tonight and going clubbing, but I know my parents won't let me go, and it's illegal. Is it so bad to follow the rules and not have to worry about getting in trouble?"

"No." He laughs at my rant. "It's just no way to live, Hannah. Don't you wanna have fun?"

"I have fun by following the rules." I say, crossing my arms.

"Sure." He rolls his eyes. "But you're not having the same type of fun. There's nothing like the feeling of doing something wild and free. It can be so fun you won't give a fuck about the repercussions."

"I don't know..."

"How about this. Sneak out and go to the club with Olivia for her birthday. Me and a few others are going and if you don't have fun then I, myself, will take you home. You're only young once you know."

I do know because Olivia has given me that same line a gazillion times. I just don't want to break the rules. If theres one thing I've learned from being in the system, its that following the rules and keeping your head down is the best thing.

I just don't get why everyone else can't understand that. I'm also just not the outgoing fun person my best friend is. I never go to parties or skip class or do anything crazy. Maybe if I break the rules, just this one time, Jake can quickly take me home because I won't have any fun, and then everyone will leave me alone.

"Ok..."

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First chapter!! Comment and Vote!