Last week, on Trust Me...

"Mom?" said a voice from the Boys' group.

"Honey, what are you doing here?" the Captain asked as the boy stepped up.

"Mom?!" I said staring at him incredulously.

----

"Yes, mom. Problem?" Jackson said.

"Chill. I just didn't expect that."

"Oh, you're one of Jasmine's friends, Jackson?" the Captain asked. He nodded.

The doctor arrived and said that I was free to go. He handed a few bottles of pills and creams to the Captain for my injuries.

"What happened?" Lucas asked.

"And why's Mom here?" Jackson added.

The Captain started to speak, but I interrupted her.

Eventually, the boys would find out about what my father did to me. The trial was in a few weeks, and I'm sure they'd insist on coming for "moral support". But with everything happening, I needed some sense of normalcy in my life. The Boys would be able to give me a little of that, but only if they weren't looking at me with pity, or being super careful around me, or just mad that I didn't tell them. For right now, it was best for them not to know.

"My dad was arrested, and while I was being taken to the station, I fell."

"You fell. And you had to be taken to the hospital."

I shrugged. "There was a lot of gravel and I have sensitive skin. Wouldn't want to get an infection! Hehe..."

It wasn't a very convincing excuse, and I noticed the suspicion in their eyes, but they let it go.

"What was he accused of?" Josh questioned softly.

"Illegal drug dealing and trafficking."

The boys rushed in to hug me (even Jax).

"I'm so sorry, Flower," Noah whispered.

"It's fine."

"How are you so chill about this?" Jax asked.

"We weren't exactly close."

"Hey, why don't you boys head to the cafeteria?" Captain Aferman suggested. "I just have a few questions to ask Jasmine, but we'll be down in a few."

As soon as the boys left, she turned to me with a questioning look.

"I just don't want them to know yet," I explained.

She sighed.

"Alright. As you wish. By the way, Mrs. Ferdan, Josh's mother, said that you're welcome to stay with her until we can find someone for you to stay with permanently."

I smiled.

But her statement reminded me that I had no one. With no relatives to stay with, I'd be shipped off to an orphanage or a foster home in a new town. Shipped away from my only friends.

"Now, why don't you slip on some clothes and grab a snack in the cafeteria."

----------------Happy Birthday--------------

After I are some granola in the cafeteria, the officers drove me back to the station.

Captain Aferman, who insisted I call her Lydia, and I were seated in her office when another officer dropped some files on her desk and scurried away. She flipped through them. Her facial expression was confusing. She seemed equal parts happy and confused.

"What's going on?" I finally asked.

Lydia looked up.

"According to these files, you have a relative you could potentially stay with."

"What? That's not possible!" My grandparents had died, and my parents had no siblings. And I'd never heard of either of them having cousins.

"Your father, it seems, has a sister. You have an aunt."

This revelation changed things.

"She's 27, and she currently lives in Maryland," Lydia elaborated.

"But he never mentioned having any siblings," I said.

"Perhaps they don't have a good relationship."

I snorted at that. "Does anyone have a good relationship with him?"

-------------HeLLooOo------------

Mrs. Ferdan was very welcoming and sympathetic of my plight.

"Your room is right next to Da-Josh's," she said, her smile faltering at the error.

Her mistake reminded me that I still hadn't been told why the family had changed their name. They all became the Ferdans instead of the Lockes, but only Daniel's first name had changed.

She led me up to the room I'd temporarily stay in.

"The officers collected your things from your house. They're all in that suitcase," Mrs. Ferdan explained.

"Thanks, Mrs. Ferdan."

"Call me Olivia, honey!"

Why are adults like that? Kids better call me Mrs. whatever-my-last-name-is. It's a sign of respect. Bow down to me, children.

---------HAHAHAHA--------

For dinner, Olivia made us Fettuccine Alfredo, my favorite. It's been a while since I had a nice, home cooked meal.

Chris, Josh's dad, made small talk, but for the most part, it was quiet.

Until my phone rang.

I glanced at the caller ID.

Jackson.

"Hullo?"

"Hey."

"I'm busy."

"Doing what?"

"Eating."

"My bad. How dare I bother you at such an important time. Call ya later."

He hung up.

That dude totally understands me and my love for food.

---------Yum, Italian food---------

A while later, as I was getting ready for bed, he called again.

"What do ya need?"

"I was going to ask you that."

"I'm fine. Really."

"That's what you say. But why should you be?"

"..."

"You know you can tell me anything."

"Yup."

"*sigh* You really don't want to talk about this?"

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Fine... I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight Jax."

"Night Pumpkin."

-----Dark, White, or Milk Chocolate-----

The next day, Josh and I headed to school together. His house was much closer to that hell hole then mine.

Jax, Luc, and Noah met us outside, and the five of us walked in together.

Comparing my first day of Senior year to today is like comparing the lives of two completely different people.

A bullied, abused girl with absolutely no friends vs. a woman that is cared for, with very popular, very hot friends.

Really puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

-----SUPERAWESOMEMEGAFOXYHOT-----

First period was with Mr. Brown and all 4 of the boys.

He made us read the chapter in the textbook. I speed read through, because I already knew everything in it.

What? Chapter 14 is Greek Mythology and I'm a huge Percy Jackson fan!

I looked around. Jackson was staring out the window, Noah was tapping his pencil on his lap, Lucas was starring at the first page of the Chapter intensely, and Josh was reading like a normal person. Everyone else in the room was staring off into space.

Ha, good luck in college. You know, if you actually get in!

...

I'm a good person, I'm a good person, I'm a good person, I'm a g-

"Mr. Browwwn," Noah said, waving his arm in the air.

Brown groaned. "Yes, Noah?"

"Can I go to the bathroom?"

"Why?" the teacher asked.

Are you dumb?

"To slay a dragon, why else?" Noah replied with a straight face.

Mr. Brown just gave the ceiling an I'm-so-done-with-this-shit look and told him to go.

Your fault for wanting to teach kids.

"Jasmine? Can you go take this to main office?" Mr. Brown asked. Well, more like ordered. It's not like I have a flipping choice.

When I was walking down the hallway to do his bidding, I heard the clickity clack of heels.

Cassie appeared in front of me.

First of all, heels? Really? Are you dumb? It's winter. And we're in BOSTON.

Also, why now? She and Mason have thankfully been ignoring me since the boys became associated with me.

"Hi, Jasmine!" she chirped with mock enthusiasm. "What a surprise seeing you here!"

"How is it a surprise? We're in school."

"Salty, aren't we," she drawled.

"Better then being rotten like you."

"Rotten? Me? Oh, I'm an angel! I'm sorry if I came off... harsh to you," she smiled an evil Cheshire cat smile.

"I'm not a cactus expert, honey, but I know a prick when I see one."

She glared at me, dropping the Glinda the Good Witch facade and showing her true color: green.

"Listen here bi-"

"Love to stay and chat, but I've got a note to deliver! Ta-ta," I waved, ending the conversation.

Talking with people like her takes a lot of self control on my part. And self control takes effort. And putting effort into things in gross.