Runaways (Orphans 5)

"To do what?" Butterfly asked, now intrigued.

"To . . ."

"Brooke." Crystal widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows like she did when she was angry.

"Just be patient," I told Butterfly. "It's a surprise."

Crystal shook her head.

"False promises can hurt more, Brooke," she warned.

"This won't be false. You'll see," I said.

"I'm with you," Raven declared, turning her black onyx eyes on Crystal.

"Why is it that I'm not surprised to hear that?" Crystal said with a shake of her head.

We went back to finishing our breakfast.

This was the last week of classes. Most of the time now was being spent in review for final exams. There was the usual excitement in the air anticipating the summer break. The older kids at the foster home could apply and get jobs. Companies, retail stores, even professional offices that needed summer help would send a notice over to the house and Louise would post it on the general bulletin board. Those who were interested filled out applications that Louise then forwarded to the businesses. It was part of the state agency structure to appeal for cooperation from area enterprises. To us it sometimes seemed more like charity. The company usually bragged that they were employing foster children. Crystal, Raven and I had worked last summer and still had a little money in our savings accounts. I had plans for that, but it was going to take something more dramatic to convince Crystal and I knew without her, it would be impossible to include Butterfly. Besides, despite her pessimistic attitude and her lectures, I really loved Crystal. I loved all of them and they all loved me.

That Friday night, the last weekend before finals, Louise came up to our rooms before dinner and barged in on Crystal and Butterfly. Raven and I had just started studying when we heard Louise's shouts.

"You know the rules about cigarettes in this house!" Louise was saying to Crystal and Butterfly. "Gordon gets very upset. This building could go up in flames in minutes."

"We don't have any cigarettes," Crystal said. "Neither of us ever smoke. I know what smoking can do to you."

"Of course she doesn't smoke," I said, practically laughing as I stepped up beside Louise. "She would be the last one to have a cigarette in her room. She's always bawling out everyone else. If you really looked at us and saw us for who we are, you'd know that," I said defensively.

"Mind your own business, Brooke, or I'll give you ten demerits." She turned back to Crystal and Butterfly, who was cowering in her chair. I could see she was beginning to hyperventilate. "This is just as unpleasant for me as it is for you," she continued. "I wish you girls hadn't put me in this position, but I am a parent."

"Why are you doing this, Louise? Who told you Crystal and Butterfly were smoking?" I demanded.

"Never mind," she said. "Just go back to your room. Both of you."

Raven started toward her and I grabbed her arm and shook my head.

"Just wait," I said. "She'll realize how wrong she is in a minute."

Suddenly Louise crossed the room, went to Crystal's makeshift bookcase and began pulling the books off the shelf, finally revealing a pack of cigarettes. She held it up with her thumb and forefinger as if it were diseased.

"And what is this, might I ask?"

Crystal shook her head, her eyes wide.

"I don't know how that got there, Louise."

"Maybe it walked in," Louise said. She glared at Butterfly, who was crimson with fear. "This will be twenty demerits. The two of you are confined to your room for the weekend."

"But I have to go to the library tomorrow to use the computer," Crystal wailed.

"Not tomorrow you don't. You two get your meals and come back here. Your names will be posted and your room is off-limits to everyone else," she emphasized, glaring at Raven and me.

"You know that someone else put those there, Louise. Crystal wouldn't have anything to do with cigarettes, and you can't possibly think Butterfly did," I said.

"Did you put them here, Brooke?" she asked, her eyes small, as if she could see right through us to the truth.

"Of course not. None of us smoke, Louise, you've got to believe us."