Emmaline's POV

I was lost into the world of music. Everything around me just disappeared, and I was living it up, as the beats of the pop music, were just such a welcome invitation. "I'm free!" I beamed. "Free at last!"

My musical fantasy came to an abrupt halt, when Julie came into my room. "Emmaline!" she said.

"Don't you ever knock?" I snapped.

"Sorry, I just wanted to see you!" said Julie, cheerfully.

"Well, I don't want to see you!" I said. "Will you go away?"

"I'm sorry for the loss of your parents," said Julie. "My parents were unfit to take care of me, because they drank a lot, and neglected me."

"I didn't ask for your life story, okay?" I snarled, losing my patience. "Beat it!"

"Don't you want to get to know me better?" asked Julie.

"How about I bust your lip?" I threatened.

"Pam, Charles, Emmaline just threatened me!" yelled Julie.

"Emmaline, what were you planning to do to Julie?" demanded Pam.

"I told her, I was gonna bust her lip, if she didn't leave me alone!" I protested.

"We don't threaten anyone here, Emmaline!" said Charles. "Dinner is almost ready!"

"I'm not hungry," I said.

"Emmaline, you need to eat," reasoned Pam. "Pasta is for dinner."

"I rather starve to death," I scoffed.

"You must eat, Emmaline!" said Charles.

"Fine, I'll eat!" I sighed, exasperated.

"Good, let's go to the kitchen," said Pam. I got up from my bed, and took my IPod with me. I sat down at the table, waiting to be served. Pam opened a jar of Prego meat sauce, poured it into the shells, and stirred.

"I can't wait to eat!" said Amanda.

"Me neither!" said Julie.

"There is Kraft parmesan cheese, if you want to sprinkle some on your shells," said Charles.

"I love lots of cheese on my pasta!" said Amanda. "I love the cheesy goodness!"

"Oh, brother," I muttered. Pam served us our dinner, and before we ate, she had us bow our heads, and close our eyes, and said grace.

"Dear Lord, we thank you for this wonderful food, we are about to eat, in Christ's name we pray, Amen."

"Amen," said Charles.

"Amen," said Julie.

"Amen," said Amanda.

"Amen," I said, rolling my eyes. These people were totally religious. I ate some of my shells, and drank some Pepsi.

"How's the pasta, Emmaline?" asked Charles, drinking his Pepsi.

"It's good," I said. "Can I have some parmesan cheese?"

"What's the magic word?" said Pam, reproachfully.

"Please?"

"That's better! Amanda, please pass the parmesan cheese to Emmaline!"

"Sure, here ya go, Emmaline!" beamed Amanda, giving me the parmesan cheese.

"Yeah, thanks," I said. I sprinkled some parmesan cheese on my shells.

"You go to school, yes?" asked Charles.

"Yes, okay?" I snapped.

"What's the name of the school?" asked Pam.

"Myersville Elementary!" I said, almost screaming.

"You need to calm down, Emmaline," said Charles.

"I hate it here!" I said, my voice cracking. "I want to go home!"

"This is your home, now," said Pam. "We love you!"

"We're family!" said Julie.

"Always will be!" said Amanda.

"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"Time to go to the Discipline Room!" said Pam. She grabbed my arm, and I tried to pull back. "Emmaline, this is for your own good!"

"Let me go!" I barked. "I'll bite your hand, if you don't let me go!"

"No, you won't!" grunted Pam, as she had a firm grip on my arm. She put me in the casket, and closed it shut.

"Get me out of here!" I bellowed. "I'm gonna kill you, when I get out of here!"

"I won't let you out, until you calm yourself down!" said Pam. "Just remember, I love you, but you have to treat us with respect!"

"Let me out, I can't breathe!" I pleaded.

"You'll be fine," said Pam. "I'll let you out, as soon as you are calm." She sat down, and read a book.

Twenty minutes flew on by, and she opened the casket. "You can come out, now," said Pam.

"Thanks," I said, stepping out of the casket.

"Have you learned your lesson?" asked Pam.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good, now go take a bath, and get ready for bed. You got school, tomorrow."

I did as I was told, changed into my bath robe, and filled the tub with soap and warm water. I stepped in the tub, and felt the warmth of the soapy water, caressing my body.

"Got enough soap?" asked Pam, from behind the closed door.

"Uh huh!" I said.

"Okay! Don't get the floor all wet, now!"

I scrubbed myself with my cloth, and let the warm water, relax me, after that ordeal during dinner. This wasn't such a bad bathroom. I loved the purple wall, and there was no window.

I was eventually done, and drained the water from the tub. I dried myself off, using my yellow towel, put my bath robe, back on, and left the bathroom.

When I got in my room, I put on my red nightgown, with flowers on it, and my red socks. All of a sudden, I heard a thud, from the bathroom, upstairs, that I just came out of.

"Oh, my knee!" moaned Charles.

"Honey, you okay?" asked Pam, her voice laced with concern.

"I slipped on this watery floor, and hurt my knee!" said Charlie, still wincing in pain. "This really smarts!"

"I simply told Emmaline not to get this floor all wet!" snapped Pam. "I am gonna have a word with her, right now!" She stormed downstairs, and marched right into my room. "You got the floor all wet, Emmaline!"

"So, what?!" I shot back.

"Charles slipped on the wet floor, and sprained his knee! Go clean up the mess you made!"

"Why can't you do it yourself? Hire a maid!"

"Listen here, young lady!" Pam growled, pulling my ear. "I had just enough of your back talk! I told you to clean up the mess you made! I don't like your attitude! Do what I say, or you can go back to the Discipline Room! Your choice!"

"Sorry, I'll clean it up!" I pleaded. "Just let go of my ear, it hurts!"

"Go get a mop, and clean it up!" demanded Pam. "When you're done, brush your teeth, and go straight to bed! And, don't forget to say your prayers!"

"Yes, Ma'am," I nodded. I cleaned the floor up, let it dried for a few minutes, brushed my teeth, using Colgate Fresh Mint toothpaste, and rinsed out, using Scope peppermint mouthwash. I got in my room, said my prayers, turned off the light, and got in my bed. Who does Pam think she is? I never went to church, and she's telling me to say my prayers? I hate her so much.

"Can I come in?" asked Pam, knocking on my door.

"Go ahead," I said.

Pam entered my room, and shut the door. "Listen, I just want to provide what's best for you," she said, sitting on the foot of my bed. "And Charles does, too. I know it has been tough since your parents died."

"You never knew them!" I barked. "How can you say that?"

"I'm just trying to offer you support, dear," said Pam, softly. "I'm sorry, that I yelled at you, and pulled your ear. I was just angry. I was just worried about my husband, that's all. You're not mad at me, are you?"

"No, I was scared," I said. "I thought you were gonna do something awful to me."

"Baby, I would never harm you, in any way. Again, I am so sorry. Will you forgive me?"

"I guess so."

"Thank you so much, honey."

"It's all good, I guess. Is Charles okay? Does he have to go the hospital?"

"Yes, he's fine, and no, he doesn't have to go to the hospital."

"Phew, that's good."

"Please, Emmaline! Help us, help you!"

"I don't know. I just want my mom and dad back."

"Sweetie, please understand. They're never coming back. You just have to accept that, and move on."

"I can't move on! Can't you see how difficult this is for me?! You obviously can't, because you're too blind to understand, what it's like to lose someone you loved!" Tears started welling up in my eyes. "I want my mom and dad back! I want them back!"

"Honey, please stop crying!" said Pam, hugging me. "You must understand, that they're with God now. He's taking good care of them. I'm sure, he's looking down on you right now, and knows that you are in the hands of a new family, that will provide love and support to you. You got to put your trust in Him."

"So then, why did he let my parents die?" I sobbed.

"God didn't let your parents die, baby," said Pam, drying my tears with Kleenex. "It was a man, that was a reckless driver. He is the one that killed your parents. And, your parents got called to Heaven, so they won't be in anymore pain. God called them home. He doesn't make mistakes, darling."

"Okay," I said.

"How about I get you some water, before you go to sleep?" suggested Pam.

"Sure, okay," I nodded.

"Alright, hang tight, sweetie," said Pam. She quickly went in the kitchen, poured some water into a glass, then came back to my room with my water. "Here, sweetie! Drink up!"

"Thank you, Pam," I said. I drank my water, and I felt a little better.

"Alright, go to sleep, angel!" said Pam. She kissed me on the forehead, and tucked me in. "Good night, sweetie! I love you!"

"Love you, too," I said. She shut off my light, and closed my door. The blue light, from my nightlight, illuminated the entire room. I closed my eyes, and drifted off to sleep, uncertain what tomorrow would bring.

A/N Hey, guys! What did you think of all that happened in this chapter? Do you feel sorry for Emmaline? Will she grow to accept her foster family? Don't be a silent reader. Tell me your thoughts, by voting, leaving feedback, and sharing this book! Oh, and sorry the long hiatus! I was feeling uninspired, but now I decided to give this book another chance! Love you all! ❤❤❤❤❤❤😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘