H.O.P.E

H.O.P.E

Hold on, Pain ends.

But does it?

## Chapter One

Emery tapped her foot on the cobbled pavement, humming a tune. The repetitive motion of the tapping calmed her, and distracted her from the situation at hand. She was humming a song her last family taught her, but her voice caught in her throat. Her foot scraped along the ground and she winced.

"Would you *stop* that?" Emery's social care worker, Bridget, snapped irritably. Emery wished a lot of the time that she would be assigned a new care worker, but that wish was yet to come true. Still, she supposed it could be worse. Probably, anyway. Nevertheless, Emery stilled her feet. Sometimes her ADHD got the better of her. Bridget sighed, her bright pink hair fluttering around her shoulders. Emery shuddered- *pink hair.* The stuff of nightmares. She began fiddling with the cord of her Hogwarts hoodie. Apparently, this annoyed Bridget too, because she shot Emery a glare.

They were waiting outside Emery's new foster home- her ninth so far. Whenever someone heard about how many previous home's she'd had, they always assumed she was a delinquent. Bridget described her as 'challenged' (or 'positively annoying', depending on her mood). But really, it wasn't her fault. The Igsin's household told her she was too quiet; the Boreels said she was too loud; Mr Alver had to move back to India; Ms Waine's cancer got the better of her; the Higgenson's complained she had 'issues'; Dr, Singh went to jail; Belle and Ian White were convinced the house-fire was her fault; the Wynhist family explained she was a bad influence; and Alberta and Gail Fawn pinned her as 'highly annoying'.

So there she was, shivering under a grey sky with Bridget. The house in front of her was a cream-brick place with a grey-tiled roof. It seemed ordinary. But her foster mother and sister were decidedly late, by half an hour. This meant:

a) Bridget was even more mad than usual,

b) Emery was even more jittery than usual,

and c) If Bridget snapped at her again, she might go into a full scale meltdown and that would for sure not impress her new foster family.

So yeah, it sucked.

"These people are mad, leaving us to freeze out here," Bridget growled, giving Emery *a look,* "Go try the doorbell again."

Emery hesitantly pressed in the bell, and a harsh *diiiing* split the air. She waited, but nobody came.

"Oh well," Bridget sighed, "I guess I'll call them."

The pink haired girl fished a black phone from her pocket and lifted it to her ear, muttering obscenities that would've gotten Emery kicked out of any foster home.

"Hello, Ms. Payne," Bridget's voice transformed into a singsong tone, "It's Bridget from FCF! I was just wondering when you would be home, because Emery and I are waiting by your door."

A pause.

"No," Bridget shook her head, "Of course! I'm sure Mrs. Galle informed you over the phone that today was the day. Today at 5pm."

Another tense pause.

"Oh," Bridget bit her lip in annoyance, "Sure. We can wait a bit more, if you'd like. It's just Emery and I are a bit cold out here," she hesitated, "Yes."

"Bridget," Emery whispered, "Are they coming?"

"Shh," The pink-haired carer hushed, "Yes, Ms. Payne, I'm sure the girls will get along fine."

A faint murmuring was heard from the speaker, and then Bridget spoke again, "Right, we'll see you soon! Byyye!"

Bridget shoved her phone in her pocket, "They'll be here soon." she announced.

Emery shivered, "Right."

They waited for barely five more minutes when a blue Toyota came hurtling down the road. It came to a stop under the largest part of the overhang og the house's roof. Emery tensed nervously, her thin arms pressed to her side. A smiling but frazzled-looking lady jumped out of the car, smiling broadly. She had a slightly round middle, with smiling eyes and a yellow shirt on. She quickly hurried towards them.

"Hello, Emery!" Ms. Payne beamed, "I'm Erin! Nice to meet you!"

Emery hesitantly shook her hand, a small smile quirking on her lips.

"Hello," she mumbled shyly.

"Come in, come in!" Ms. Payne sang, her voice lilting.

Emery paused, "I have to get something!" she ran towards Bridget's car, opening the door and hefting a cat carrier.