Felix - Life's a messy place

BUSK AND I WALK home from school, I see a nice yellow house with a for-sell sign on it. I wonder who's going to live in that house?

"Hey Busk, how long are you and your brother staying at my gramma's house"

"Uh, for a couple more weeks. I need to print adoption papers for Ty. Then, we're going to a shelter not far from here.

"Okay. I'm calling Alaska to help you move your things along with your brother," I state as I sneak him and his little brother up to my room.

"Thank you so much," he says as he gets his brother a soda from the minifridge in my room.

"Don't mention it. Alaska's coming over in a little bit so just stay here and make yourselves at home while I go get the stuff from her."

"Did you two hook up, yet?"

"Yeah, last night. We did it at her house."

"You had-"

"Shh," I cut him off before anyone else knows. I run downstairs to get the clothes from her.

"Are your grandparents here?"

"No, they're at work."

"Whare's your brothers?"

"Uh, they're gonna come home soon. They usually get here around 4 or 5. So, pretty late."

"I had fun last night. Can we go again?"

"Eh, I have a lot of stuff to do."

"Come on. Anyway, here." She gives me a huge bag of old clothes and shoes.

"Thanks." I kiss her.

She leaves just in the nick of time because that's when the boys are home.

"Where's Gei?" Donnie asks out of breath.

"I dunno," I say getting up from the couch to help Busk and his brother with adoption papers.

"I saw her at Maria's last night."

I stop on the first step of the stairs, "Doing what?"

"Just drinking and the girls were there with Ade."

"What? Why weren't we there?"

"Because she found drugs in her room without anyone knowing. They were police cars. Someone framed her! Someone framed her, and she's going to a trial next week."

"Really?! I-I'll drive you there! This was at her house?"

"Last night," he states.

I rush him into the car in the garage, "Stay here, I'll get...dressed."

"Okay," he says dropping his backpack on the floor in the living room as he runs in to open the garage door. I throw him my keys.

"Here." I gave them the bags.

"Thanks," they almost say in unison.

"I need to go," I say as I lead them into my closet. "I'll be back."

"Okay."

"Okay but--"

" Don't worry about us, I got food from the RV we stole. You've already done so much."

"Okay, okay," I say as I rush out of the room and grab my coat.

Life is a messy place. I go to the police station to check up on her. Adrian and I run to the detective sitting at her desk, "Excuse us, we're here for Maria," I say out of breath.

And with a sharp stone, she says, "Right this way."

She leads us to a little room with just abed and a toilet. Maria's cold and wet and sitting on the bed like she's been here for months. I hug her.

She shivers. "H-h-h-h-hi g-guys."

Adrian hugs her, "Who gave you the drugs?"

"No one, Ade. Don't worry. I'll be out soon. I promise."

A guard calls out, "Maria Edward?"

She stands up, bravely. "Here."

"Visiting hours are over. You can come back tomorrow."

"Bye, Maria," Adrian calls out as we walk to the front room. I drive us home.

I get back and I notice Busk and Ty asleep in my closet. I slowly cover them up with my blanket as I slowly close the closet door.

I hope she gets out. I hope.