"You look so sad," Brian said sitting down next to Rebecca. "You know how much I want to do this. Please be happy for me."
"I am," Rebecca replied.
"The only thing I don't like is leaving you here alone."
"Brian," Rebecca said warningly, "you know I can take care of myself. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."
"I know, but I'll never stop worrying," Brian replied.
"Brian, it's time to go," Kevin said. Brian stood up pulling Rebecca with him.
"I guess this is it," he said. "Goo-"
"Don't say goodbye," Rebecca said softly. "I hate that word. It sounds like we'll never see each other again."
"Okay," Brian said, nodding. "See you later then." He hugged Rebecca tightly before walking to the car. He waved as he got in. Rebecca watched the car drive down the road until it was out of view.
"You okay?" Brian's mom, Jackie, asked softly from behind Rebecca.
"I think so," Rebecca replied. "I'll be okay. He can't be gone forever, right?"
"Right." Jackie smiled and hugged Rebecca.
"I better get home," Rebecca said. She started down the sidewalk towards her house and everything that waited there.
As Rebecca neared her house she saw flashing lights. Police cars. Rebecca ran towards the house to see to police officers leading her handcuffed mother towards one of the cars. "Do you live here?" another officer asked walking up to Rebecca.
"Yeah...What's going on?" Rebecca asked. Her eyes darted around as she tried to take in everything that was going on.
"How old are you?"
"...Almost sixteen."
"Come with me." The officer led Rebecca to a car and opened the passenger side door.
"What? What's going on?" Rebecca asked desperately. "Where are you going to take me?"
"Somewhere where you can be taken care of," the officer replied. "Now get in." Rebecca was about to get into the car when she realized something.
"Brian," she breathed. He wouldn't know. No one would know. "I can't go!" Rebecca cried. "I want to stay here! Please!"
"You don't really have a choice."
Everything became a blur and the next thing Rebecca knew, she was in a group home sitting on her new bed in her new room. It looked like a prison. "Hi," a tentative voice said from the doorway. Rebecca looked up to see a dark-haired girl peeking into the room. "Can I come in?" she asked. Rebecca nodded and the girl walked into the room. "You're new, aren't you," she said. Rebecca nodded again. "Why'd they bring you here?"
"My mom was a drug dealer," Rebecca replied. "They busted her and sent me here. I guess I always knew it was going to happen. I just didn't think it would be so soon. Or so suddenly."
"Tough."
"Yeah. What about you?"
"My dad killed my mom."
"Oh. I'm sorry," Rebecca said softly.
"It's okay," the girl replied. "It was six years ago. I don't even really remember them. Oh, by the way, my names Cassie. What's yours?"
"Rebecca."
"Well Rebecca, it's not so bad here. You'll see." Rebecca closed her eyes. Wouldn't be so bad? How could it not be. She was alone.
Over the next three months, Rebecca and Cassie became pretty good friends. Cassie had a computer and she taught Rebecca how to use it. Cassie was the one that unknowingly helped Rebecca get over some of the pain of losing Brian. She was a good friend. Then suddenly, Rebecca was being ripped away from another friend. This time she was being moved to a permanant house. She had been adopted. The day she was leaving, she and Cassie were packing her bags.
"I can't believe I got adopted before you," Rebecca said quietly. "I don't understand why they'd want me."
"You're quiet and you look younger than you are. You're so tiny. They like that," Cassie replied. When she saw the look on Rebecca's face she smiled. "Don't worry. In two years I'll be eighteen. Out of here and into college. Becoming a photographer."
"Well, we have to write each other so I know where you're going to college. Then we can go together," Rebecca said.
"Okay," Cassie agreed. "It was fun having you here. You're a good friend."
"So are you," smiled Rebecca.
"Rebecca? It's time to go," one of the workers said as she looked into the room.
"Okay." Rebecca and Cassie hugged tightly, then Rebecca left for her new life in a new home.