I woke up the next morning still cuddled into Josh on the sofa. I slowly moved and saw that he was quietly sat on his mobile. He put it down when he saw I was awake.
"Hey..." He said quietly, giving me a sympathetic smile.
"Hi" I croaked, as my throat with really dry.
"Do you want a drink?" He asked me.
"Yes please" I replied and moved slightly so that he could get up. I wrapped the blanket that was over us around me and sat up properly with my knees to my chest. My heart ached after yesterday.
"Here...dad said to take these as well" Josh says handing me a glass of water and two tablets. I took the tablets and some of the drink before glancing at the clock. As if Josh could read my mind he spoke again.
"Don't worry. Dad phoned Mr Byrne to say that we wouldn't be in today. He said for you to take as much time as you needed." Josh says. I nod my head and lean back onto Josh.
"Do want to change? I probably have something that you can wear?" He says, making me realise that we're both still in our uniforms. I nod my head slightly and Josh leads me upstairs. I sit on his bed as he finds me something to wear. He hands me a pair of jogger and a baggy top.
"I'm going to have a quick shower if that's alright?" I ask cautiously.
"Of course, here" He says, pulling a towel out of the cupboard for me.
"Do you need help with this?" He asks, pointing to my brace. I nod, and he helps me take it off.
"I'll wait in my room" Josh says, before leaving. I shut and lock the bathroom door before jumping into the shower. I use Josh's shampoo and wash my hair before sitting down with my knee's to my chest. Everything to that's happened in the last 24 hours and I let everything out. I let the tears falls for a good 10 minutes before quickly jumping out of the shower. I dry myself and get dressed before walking back to Josh.
"Come here" He says, giving me a hug again, obviously he heard me crying. I sigh as I let myself relax into him as the tears start to fall again. After a few minutes I finally manage to calm down and we walk back downstairs.
"Everything alright?" Tom asks, walking into the living room. I glanced at the clock to see that he was home early as he went for an important staff meeting. I nod my head a little before me and Josh cuddled on the sofa together. Tom slings the blanket over us before sitting down on the other sofa.
"What's going to happen now?" I ask quietly.
"Well social services should be around any time now. I spoke to them today and your new case worker – Elliot will be coming around. It looks like you'll be here tonight and then they'll take you somewhere tomorrow." Tom says, having spoken to them.
"Take me where? A foster home? Group? Family?" I ask, not wanting to go anywhere.
"I don't know JJ..." Tom said sadly, right as the doorbell rang. Tom went to answer it and came back a minute later with a man.
"Hi, I'm Elliot. You must be JJ" He said shaking my hand.
"Hey Elliot" I say.
"So, Tom has probably explained what's going to happen but I'm going to go over everything. You just say if it's too much okay?" Elliot asks kindly. I nod my head and he starts.
"Well, as you know you now have to go into the service. The good news is we already have a family lined up that will take you in. I have to warn you JJ – and take it from me as I've been where you are – it's rough. You may be bounced around a lot but hopefully you'll settle down soon" Elliot says.
"Okay..." I say quietly.
"Well tonight you'll stay here and then I'll be back tomorrow to take you to your foster house. We will have to go back to your house to collect your belongings..." He says, making me sigh. I start to get agitated, but I think Josh sees that as he stands up and walks me outside. We sit on the front steps.
"I'm sorry...it's just-", I start to say but Josh stops me.
"A lot. JJ, I know. I can't imagine what it's like okay, but I'm going to be here with you every step of the way okay?" Josh says, kneeling down in front of me. I nod my head and give him a hug before we walk back inside to join Tom and Elliot.
"You okay kiddo?" Tom asks, as I sit down next to him. I nod my head.
"Right, I'm going to head off but I'll be back tomorrow around 9 am okay?" Elliot says collecting his things.
"Thank you" I say, getting up to walk him out. Once he's gone I join Josh and Tom in the kitchen.
"Whose hungry?" Tom asks, getting both mine and Josh's attention.
"Me!" We say in unison, making us laugh.
"Right, well why don't we order some pizza? Then we can sit down and watch a film?" He asks.
"I'm in" I say, making my way back into the living room. Josh comes in and hands me a drink before sitting down next to me. We sit down to watch Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, before the pizza arrives. When it does arrive, we sit down and tuck in. Before we know it it's already 9pm and we decide to all have an early night as we all have to get up early in the morning. Josh is going back to school whilst Tom comes with me and Elliot to my house before they take me to my foster home.