Chapter 27
SHELBY
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
We walk to the front door, and Mrs. Abney hits a buzzer to be let in.
A guy in scrubs opens the door for us. I’m hit with floral-smelling bleach. I hate to tell you people, but it still smells like bleach, bleach soaked in your grandmother’s perfume.
It’s worse than the smell of regular bleach, and I have a sneezing fit.
“I’m Mrs. Abney, and I have Shelby Winters,” she says.
The orderly steps aside, letting us in before closing the door. “Yes, this way, please.” He shuffles down a hallway with offices lining both sides.
He stops at one about halfway down. “Mr. June will help you.” He turns and shuffles away.
We step into the office.
An average looking man with brown hair looks up from behind a desk. “Hi, I’m Mr. June. What can I help you with?”
Mrs. Abney fills him in as I look around the room.
Kids drawings cover one wall. I hope they’re from his kids and not from kids in here. I’ve never been in a group home with young kids. I spot a photo behind him on the bookcase. Good, it’s his family.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Shelby.” Mr. June draws my attention back to him.
“Hmm… Thanks.” I run my hand down my jeans.
“Shelby is an old pro at this. This isn’t her first group home,” Mrs. Abney says.
I snort. That’s nothing to be proud of.
“That’s good. Welcome to Milestones Academy. Our rules here might be a bit different from other places. One, we don’t allow outside clothes. Everyone wears the same outfit: khaki pants, a blue top, and white tennis shoes. We believe fighting over clothes won’t happen if everyone dresses the same.”
He turns the page in his manual. “The building has three floors. The offices and cafeteria are on the bottom floor. We have people to cook the food, but the kids serve and clean the kitchen. The first floor also has a TV room with couches and chairs.
“The second floor is for females, and the top floor is for males. Males aren’t permitted on the female floor, and females aren’t allowed on the male floor. You and five others will have a designated time in the morning to shower. If you miss your time, you won’t shower that day.”
He goes on and on, and I zone out, paying enough attention to catch the important details. It’s not like I’ll be here long.
At least, I hope not.
“So, if you follow those rules, everything will be fine.” He smiles. “Do you have any questions?”
He mentioned something about transferring me to the school here. “I took my GED, but I’m still waiting for the results.”
“I’ll investigate your scores. If you give me your phone and any personal items, I’ll put them in this bag and lock them in the safe.”
I try to play it off like I don’t have one, but Mrs. Abney looks at me with a raised eyebrow, her gaze dropping to my chest. I guess she was paying better attention than I realized.
I reach into my shirt and remove my phone. “Can I tell my family I won’t have a phone here? Please, I don’t want them to be worried.”
“They aren’t your family, Shelby,” Mrs. Abney says. “You wanted to stay with them, but they aren’t legally your dad or brother. You don’t have any family, anymore.”
I grind my teeth together. “Yes, I do. I have my uncle and cousin. And those guys might not have the same blood as me, but they’re my family in every way that matters.”
“I’m glad you found people who care about you, but in this case, it doesn’t matter,” she says.
When I turn to Mr. June, sad understanding fills his eyes. “One quick text, then you power it down and hand it over.”
I type a message to everyone in a new group chat, explaining the restrictions for Milestones.
I wait for the message to show it was delivered before powering the phone down and placing it in the bag. I gaze down at the rings the guys gave me, fisting my right hand over my left ring finger.
Tears fill my eyes as I remove their rings. I hesitate to put it in the bag, worrying I won’t see them again.
“I’ll return them to you. I promise.” He jiggles the bag.
“These are the most important things I own, so I better get my engagement rings back.” I drop them into the bag.
He eyes me. “That’s it?”
“I wasn’t allowed to collect anything before we left.” My hands clench into fists. “So yeah, that’s all.”
He smiles before he hits a button. “Julia, to the intake office.” He unclicks the button. “That’s all we need from you, Mrs. Abney.”
Mrs. Abney narrows her eyes at me as she stands. “Behave, Shelby, and I guess this will be the last time we meet. Have a good life.”
“Bye.” What else should I say to a parting comment like that?
She walks out the door without a backward glance.
Good riddance. I’m glad I never have to see her again.
“You called for me, Mr. June,” a cheerful voice says from the doorway behind me.
“Yes, Julia, this is Shelby.” He waves a hand at me. “Can you show her around? She’ll be in two-thirteen and needs some clothes.”
“Sure, I’ll be glad to help her.” She smiles, then looks at me. “This way.”
She takes me down the hallway and opens the door to a large storage room with shelves lined with supplies and clothes.
She leans against the door frame. “Find your size and grab some soap, a towel, and anything else you need.”
“How many are we allowed?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Didn’t you pay attention to what Mr. June said?”
“A lot went down today.” This tour won’t end well. “I didn’t pay as much attention as I should have.”
She huffs, then tells me four. I grab the items I need and follow her to the second floor. She points to the door for room two-thirteen, and I open it.
I take a step in, and she slams the door behind her.
Julia knocks my items out of my hand and pushes me up against the wall, her arm across my throat. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m in charge here. If you want an easy time, you’ll follow my instructions.”
She tries to sound like a boss bitch, but she comes across as a plain bitch.
“I don’t want to steal your reign here.” I shove her off me, and she stumbles back, surprised I pushed back. “I have three weeks until I turn eighteen, then I’ll be out of here. At the same time, I won’t be pushed around. This isn’t my first rodeo. This place is plush compared to some I’ve been in.”
Julia’s eyes roam my body, a bit of uneasiness showing before she sniffs and straightens her clothes. “Fine, just so we understand each other and how things work around here. Change. I’ll be back for your clothes.”
She opens the door and shuts it behind her.
What a way to start this adventure.
I scan the room. Two bunk beds sit on opposite walls with an end table between them. At the end of the beds are two, six-shelve, open storage cube units.
I pick up my items, refold three uniforms and underclothes, and put them on one of the shelves. I change into the last uniform.
Julia returns, takes my clothes, and leaves, not saying anything to me. Like my other items, I doubt I’ll ever see those clothes again.
Since folded sheets sit on top of the bunk on the left, I climb up and make my bed. Once done, I decide to check out the place, since Julia failed to give me the rest of the tour.
I walk down the hall, and the open doors reveal rooms identical to mine. I find the bathrooms, which are just what I expected. Ten toilet stalls stand to the left of a double-sided row of sinks with mirrors and a single long shelf mounted over them. The five curtained-off showers are on the right side of the sinks.
I take the stairs to the first floor and look for the common room.
An older, large-screen TV hangs from one wall. In front of it sits a large sectional, and bean bags are scattered around the space.
These kids have no idea how nice they have it.
Some kids mill around. Shouldn’t they be in school?
When I walk into the room, some guys call out, “Fresh meat.”
I roll my eyes at the comment.
Spotting a phone on the wall, I walk over to it. The sign above the phone says, Input your account PIN or choose to call collect.
pick it up and make a collect call to Cam to hear his calming voice. I hope he picks up since he won’t recognize this number, and it’s late.
“Hello?” he answers.
“It’s me,” I whisper.
“Thank God. We received your text saying you wouldn’t have your phone and that Nick didn’t need to bring you anything. When you didn’t reply to our texts and the phone went to voicemail, we figured they took it from you and turned it off. We’ve been trying to figure out how we would contact you.” He sighs. “I understand the phone, but why couldn’t Nick bring you some of your stuff?”
“We’re required to wear uniforms.” My bottom lip wobbles as I try not to cry. “They took the rings you gave me.”
“What? Why?” his voice raises.
“Like with our clothes, we aren’t allowed any personal items.” My hand tightens on the phone. “I’m worried they won’t return them.”
“We won’t let that happen, Shelby. Dom and Mav will retrieve your stuff. You know they can, right?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I take a deep breath.
“Since you don’t have your phone, how will we contact you?” Cam asks.
“I’m not sure. Give me a minute.” I turn toward the couch behind me and ask the guy sitting on it, “Hey, can people call us here?”
He turns and looks at me. “You can give them that number, but the likelihood of someone finding you if someone calls is slim.”
“Then, how do you receive calls?” I ask.
He chuckles and shakes his head. “You don’t, new girl.”
I turn around. “It doesn’t sound like you can call me.”
“Is it bad?” he asks, concerned.
“No, it’s different with the uniforms, but as far as the appearance and most amenities are concerned, it’s posh compared to Ashland and some of the other group homes I’ve been in,” I say.
“Hey, new girl! You’re not allowed to use the phone unless you want to pay the toll,” some guy behind me says.
“What did he say?” Cam snarls.
“Nothing, Cam.”
He growls again.
“Don’t worry, I can handle this. Tell the guys I love them, and I’ll try to call as soon as I can.”
“Hang in there, beautiful. We’ll get you out,” he says.
I go to tell him bye when someone brushes against me. The phone is taken out of my hand and hung up.
“I told you no phone unless you pay the toll.” The guy blows warm, damp air on the back of my neck.
Repressing a shudder, I turn and look him over. He’s a bit taller than me and muscular.
“Let me guess. The toll is either fucking you or giving you a blow job.” I almost laugh.
I don’t have to tip my head up to meet his eyes like I do with my guys. I won’t back down here. That is one thing I learned in my time at group homes. Don’t let them see your fear and don’t back down, or they’ll run all over you.
“You’re a smart one. Since you used my phone, you owe me a blow job.” He pumps his fist in front of his mouth and sticks his tongue against his cheek.
“You got one thing right. I’m smart. So back the fuck off.” Despite not wanting to touch him, I place my hand on his swear-damp shirt—gross—and push him away, creating space.
“Not going to happen. You owe me.” He pushes my arm to the side and chest bumps me back into the wall.
I’m not in the mood for this today. “Oh, I owe you? Okay. Here’s my payment.”
I grab his balls through his khakis, squeeze, and twist them.
“Aaaaah, you fucking bitch!” His hand wraps around my forearm, trying to rip my hand off his unimpressive package.
“That’s right.” I squeeze again, harder, and he falls to his knees.
Tears run down his face. Now, I hold the position of power, standing over his kneeling form.
“Remember this the next time you try to get me to pay one of your tolls.” I twist his balls one more time before letting go.
He swears up a storm about how I’ll be sorry. A couple of assholes live at every group home.
A skinny guy, a year or so younger than me, comes running up behind me. “Did you really stay at Ashland?”
“Yes, for a couple of years.” I leave out the part where I ran away.
“Wow, I’ve heard horror stories about that place. My cousin went there. Maybe you knew him? Franco White.” When I shake my head, he holds out his hand. “I’m Ed White.”
“Shelby.” I shake his hand. “Why aren’t you guys in school?”
“In service day.”
I make an O with my mouth. “Makes sense. So, I met Julia, the head bitch, and I guess that tool is the main guy.”
“Pretty much. His name is Pablo. I guess Julia didn’t show you much of this place.” He smiles.
I shake my head. “No, she didn’t, and I didn’t pay attention to what Mr. June explained when he told me the ins and outs.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll answer your questions.” Ed shows me around the place, which is nothing like any of the group homes I’ve been in.
One of the rooms he shows me is the library. We’re allowed to take one book at a time if we want, so I grab a book.
He shows me the roster for serving and cleaning duty in the cafeteria and tells me my name won’t be added until the day after tomorrow.
“Hey, guys, this is Shelby. Shelby, this is Zayn, Van, Laurie, and Holly.” Ed sits down, and I follow him.
I stare down at my tray. “How’s the food here?”
It doesn’t look that bad. I’ve had a lot worse.
Zayn shrugs. “Depends on who’s working.”
Ed begins talking about some assignments, and the rest join in.
Honestly, I’m not really in the mood for chit-chat, and after only a few bites, I just push my food around.
Ed elbows me and points at the roll on my plate. “You going to eat that?”
I shake my head.
His eyes go wide like the roll is a piece of gold. “Can I have it?”
“Go for it.” I push my plate toward him.
Holly leans closer eagerly. “Can I have your Jell-O?”
“Sure.” I glance at the others. “Anyone else want something?”
Laurie keeps her head lowered as she shakes it.
“I’m good.” Zayn laughs at Ed’s reaction.
After dinner, I go to the room they assigned me and meet the rest of my roommates.
Laurie’s on my bottom bunk. She doesn’t say much, like at dinner. She sits on her bed, doing her homework. The other two didn’t talk to me, either. They looked me over, then returned to talking to each other.
I’m okay with that.
I pick up the book I grabbed from the library and start reading.
By eleven, I can’t keep my eyes open, which is strange. I’ve always been a night person. But a lot happened today.
I yawn, my eyes closing yet again.
Right before I crash, someone says, “Lights out.”