Chapter One

"Imagine moving in with a Spanish person who doesn't use spices on their food when they cook." Pipe mumbled as he stared at Alan, watching him as he read an unknown book.

"Imagine moving in with a sweet old lady who locks the fridge and wears the key." Alan sighed as he flipped the page. "Good thing they aren't Spanish."

"Low blow dude, she wasn't that bad. She just needs mental help." Pipe smirked as he remarked about his latest foster home.

"I'm thinking you're just jealous that I get to leave and you don't." Ruthless words slipped out of Alan's mouth as his patience became very thin.

"Maybe. But if you put in a good word for me, they might foster me too. Then we can be roommates once more." Pipe hummed as he leaned further into the car seat.

Alan glanced up from his book as he looked at the boy sitting next to him in the car, dropping down the seat like an angry little child. His oversize shirt hung over his thick jeans as his shaggy black hair swayed loosely from the cracked window.

"Is your seatbelt on?" Pipe turned to Alan with his brows pulled together as his hazel eyes gleamed with annoyance.

"Do you see the car moving?" He asked.

"No."

"Do you see Mrs. Hope driving?"

"No."

"Do you have a right to ask that?" Pipe mouthed.

"Yep."

"Shut up." Ticked off, Piper snapped out as he turned back to the window.

"Are you that jealous?" Alan asked honestly, fearing that his only friend might be hurt. The silence that followed Alan's question was a different kind of answer Alan wanted.

"Pipe, please talk to me." The book that Alan was once reading was now laying on his lap as he gripped it in uncertainty. That wasn't the first time Pipe got jealous but Alan had learned quickly why. Being fostered was hard, families that were supposed to take care of you, didn't. Friends that said they would keep in touch with you before you moved into another home, forgot you. It was the circle of life in foster life.

But Pipe, he was different. We kept in touch, we spent half our lives in the same foster homes and the other half nearby. Being split up was odd for them after their social workers realized they would act badly if they weren't together. But now, Alan was with the last foster family that was willing to take him before he was sent to a really bad group home or worse.

"Are you that jealous?" Pipe mimicked as he bobbed his head back and forth in anger. "Yes, I'm angry!" He snapped as he turned to face Alan in his seat. "Of course I'm angry! Years of sticking together and now we gotta split again!" His voice faltered at his last word, but he didn't once show any other kind of emotion.

"I'm sorry, I don't want this to happen." Alan glanced down as he fidgeted with his book. "I don't have a choice. And neither do you."

I know that; it just frustrates me so much." Pipe sighed as he leaned his head back, closing his eyes and slowly relaxing. "The time of us aging out cannot come any sooner than my life as a sloth." He grumbled.

"Excuse me?" Alan said, confused about aging out and sloths.

"Nothin' kid." Pipe gleamed.

"Excuse me?" Alan said louder, raising his brows in almost shock.

"I'm just makin' plans for next year, total freedom." Pipe squawked out in happiness. "Then I will foster you and adopt you as my son."

"That plan has so many flaws and mistakes, it's almost your parents," Alan said as he looked down at his book once more. "Besides, by the time you turn 18, I will be 17. Once you finish paperwork, if they allow you to foster, I'm already gonna be out of it." Silence filled the car, the truth was harsh to hear but was needed anyways.

"Stop being so sad and depressing, and stop bringing up my parents." Pipe sighed, almost in a joking manner.

"It's fine, You know I don't last long in foster homes. That's kind of the problem here." Alan dryly laughed. Pipe laughter was also strained, but that didn't stop his slight smile from showing.

The car door opened as Mrs. Hope climbed into the front seat. Her bright yellow dress glistened in the reflection of the mirror as she placed an equally bright red purse on the empty passenger seat. "How are you dolls doing?" She hummed, glancing into the back seat, her face covered in makeup into the beauty standard of America.

"I'm hungry." Pipe said as he sat up, pulling his seatbelt across his chest before it clicked into the seat.

"Oh, you're so funny, Piper." Pipe physically cringed as his full name was used, horror crossing his face once more. "We might be able to get food before I drop you off if you promise to be good this time." Even though Alan was going to a new foster home, so was Pipe but the only difference was that Alan was on a thin line of chance with his life.

"Don't call me that, please." Pipe's voice had an odd tone as he sagged once more into his chair. "And for your information, I met this family before and they already like me." His sass once more showed through his words as he rolled his eyes.

"Mrs. Hope made a tsking with her voice as she too clicked her seatbelt. "How long has the car been on?" She asked when she realized.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe two minutes, maybe 2 seconds. Not long though, I promise." Pipe's accent peaked out as he lied swiftly, almost giving himself away.

"Shall we get going then?" Alan jumped in.

"Cheers to that." Pipe slightly giggled showing his hidden dimples that only appear when he's happy.

Mrs. Hope sighed, annoyed from them already as she pulled the car into drive.

Alan watched as they drove out of the parking lot from the small group home they had stayed in for over a year. He had watched so many kids go in and out of that place and now he was just another traveler passing through that home like the rest of them. Nameless, faceless, kids.

Minutes later, buildings turned into shops that turned into a highway filled with cars backed up. Alan watched in silence as the feeling of unknown washed over both of the boys in the backseat. Leaving a home that wasn't that bad was scary, but leaving your friend to go into a home that might be worse than before was even worse. Alan sucked in a breath he was holding, squeezing the book he was no longer reading tighter and tighter before breathing out.

"Mate," Pipe was looking over at Alan now, his face forming into a concerned expression as he placed his hand on Alan's arm. "You alright?" He didn't pull his hand away, only squeezed Alan's arm tighter than before.

"Yeah," Alan mumbled. "A bit of anxiety. I didn't get to meet them beforehand." It was harder to become more relaxed with a new foster family if they never visited the foster kid first. Most do, but some don't for two reasons. One, because they are too far away and two, because they don't care.

"Oh," Pipe hummed, realizing the fear Alan was feeling. "You can always make their life miserable, Mate. And if you want me to do it, I'll be one call away." He whispered once more as he leaned closer to Alan.

Alan slightly smiled as he laid his head back on the seat, fully knowing that Pipe would come and make anyone's lives miserable if Alan asked him to.

"Of course, if they're trash you will be the first phone call I make," Alan responded.

"I kind of hope they are so I can, the people I'm staying with are nicer than most. They will probably ignore me and take the money the state sends each month and use it for cigs." He sighed as he moved away and back to his side of the minivan. "Speaking of which," He rolled his eyes before clearing his throat. "Mrs. Hope, who are you droppin' off first? I would prefer to be last, but I know how much you favor Alan here." Pipe grinned at Alan as Mrs. Hope smiled in the rearview mirror.

"You know I don't pick favorites." She laughed. "Alan will be dropped off because he's closer on the way to your foster family." She turned a corner as the light turned green.

"Oh." Pipe mumbled.

"That's fine."

"How?"

"You will get more food before getting dropped off."

"You serious, mate?"

"Yeah."

"Aight, that's not a bad deal." Pipe joked as he thought of food.

"I know, that's why I said it." Alan hummed. "You live to eat, I think that's why you were born."

"Probably, I don't see any other reason." Pipe brushed his hands through his hair once more as he re-adjusted his long sleeves and re-positioned his legs. "Imagine having a purpose other than to eat." He said in fake shock, placing his hand on his chest."

"What about love," Mrs. Hope said, listening into the conversation. "I think the point in life is to love and maybe eat."

"Nah, love is for losers," Pipe popped up, "The only purpose in life is to love food. That's all." Pipe explained.

"Sure," Alan said. "And what is the purpose of death?"

"Well-" He paused, unsure of what he should say. "It's for people who didn't live their life to the fullest and people who hate spicy things. Like you Alan," He pointed out. "You're gonna die young because you hate spice; the masterpiece of food."

"Maybe it's the opposite." Alan fired back. "Maybe we all die because we love to eat and then we become obese and our body stops functioning and then we kill over. And the only reason why young people die is that diabetes runs in the family."

"What the h-" Pipe cut himself off as he stared at Alan in pure shock. He stared as he watched his belief crash and burn at what Alan said.

"We are here," Mrs. Hope cut in as she pulled the van into a two-car driveway.

The house was a two-story but not hugely large to make it seem rich. The house was a light baby blue with a white theme for design. All sorts of different flowers were planted in front of the small porch next to the door. The large front door had a window with designs on it that obstructs the view inside but enough to make it pretty. The house altogether was cute.

"Who did you say was fostering you, mate?" Pipe glanced away from the window as he looked at Alan. "Did you say, grandma? Because this is one cute house."

"No," Alan neglected to laugh at the slight joke Pipe made. "It's supposed to be a man and his brother."

"Wow," Pipe hummed. "That's some family loyalty."

"Indeed." Alan hummed in agreement, staring at the rock walkway leading to the door.

"Are you ready, dear?" Mrs. Hope asked as she unbuckled and grabbed her large purse once more.

"Yep." Alan lied, grabbing his backpack that held his whole life and shoving the book in before zipping it up and unbuckling himself.

"Piper, dear." Mrs. Hope said as she turned to look at him. "This will only take a few minutes so I will roll down the windows but I'm taking the keys before I lose my job." She smiled, the honesty dripping from her words.

"Of course," He said. Knowing full well she didn't want to lose her job because of a 17-year-old boy.

As Alan opened the door, a group of kids down the roading playing basketball caught his eyesight. He paused as he stared, watching as the people switched back and forth from different positions as they played intensely. Before looking away, Alan made eye contact with someone who seemed to be watching.

She didn't look away. Instead, she just tilted her head and smiled slightly before waving. A wave of shock rushed down Alan's body as a rosy blush rose to his cheeks. He pulled his hand out of the pocket and waved shyly before turning away to face Pipe that was already staring at him with his eyes raised.

"You okay, mate?" He asked like he didn't just watch Alan get flustered at being waved at. "You look a little sick, almost lovesick to be exact." He smirked.

"This might not be a bad place after all," Alan whispered. Before closing the door to follow Mrs. Hope to the front door, he looked at his friend before smiling at him for the last time. "See you on the other side."

"Indeed you will."

Alan closed the car door before swinging his backpack over his shoulder, racing to stand near Mrs. Hope as she knocked on the white door.

"They're lovely, so be good. This is your last hope." She whispered as they heard locks clicking before the door opened.

On the other side, a large man appeared, his large figure blocking the rest of the house as Alan tried to peek through the cracks. His tan frame was ripped, Alan couldn't think of any way else to say it. Even in the normal shirt that the man wore it was clear he worked hard to get the muscles that peaked from his shirt. His smile was very peculiar. It was bright and genuine for someone who was getting a problem child. His crystal blue eyes matched his smile as they twinkled with life.

"You must be Mrs. Hope, " Excitement was heard clearly in his voice but all Alan could hear was how deep it was, reminding him of pure black coffee. "I'm Charlie's, I'm so glad we could finally meet!" He reached his hand out before shaking hands. "Come in, come in."

"I would love to, but I have another kid to drop off." She sighed before grabbing a file from her large purse. "These are the last papers that you need, everything else is all good." She said as gave him the papers and sidestepped, leaving Alan in view. "Alan, I need to go but remember what I said, okay." She didn't say it aloud, but then again. The guy was staring at us as he held the papers.

"Okay," Alan mumbled in fear, his stomach dropping as he realized the part where he was left with a strange man was near.

"I'll see you in a month for a check-up, dear." Mrs. Hope hugged him tightly before stepping away and leaving. Alan watched as she got in the car, gripping the backpack tightly as she pulled out of the driveway with his only friend in the car. When she was gone, he glanced at the man who was already staring at him; his smile still large but enough not to be scary.

"Are you hungry?" He asked after a second of eye contact. "I just made burgers."

Alan stared, no words could explain what he felt as he stood in the doorway of a very large man's house. The next few hours would be the learning how's, and they would tell him how he would spend his life with these people. But Alan didn't want to learn, so instead. He just stared, and he didn't stop.