When they entered the kitchen, Mrs. Fields turned from doing the dishes, taking in their expressions as they took their chairs. She fixed them a plate then turned back to her dishes, so she missed Owen taking two of her French toast sticks, leaving her with only one.

She slowly ate the small amount of food left for her without speaking up and telling on the much older teen. And, not wanting to ride to school with Kate, she ignored the kicks under the table for her to hurry up and gripped her fork tighter at the sudden blare of a car horn from outside.

“Let’s go, Alanna.” Kate stood up from the table expectantly.

Mrs. Fields turned from the sink. “Go ahead, Kate.” Moving to the stove, her foster mother carried a platter of French toast to the table to place three more on Alanna’s plate. “I’m sure Owen wouldn’t mind a ride to school; it’ll save him from being late again.”

Unfazed by the heated glare Owen turned on her, Mrs. Fields gave him a stony glance, showing him she was unmoved by his bullying behavior. “Unless you get your diploma, you won’t qualify for the transition housing your caseworker found for you.”

Alanna could see Owen biting back what he wanted to say. Instead, he jerked himself to his feet and carried his dirty dishes to the sink.

Kate jumped to her feet at the sound of the dishes crashing inside the sink.

Scarfing down the food once Kate and Owen had left, Alanna started to rise from the table with her empty plate in hand.

“There’s no need to rush.” Mrs. Fields gave her a gentle smile. “Your caseworker is coming by for a visit. She wants to have a chat with you.”

Feeling the color drain from her cheeks, she shakily sat back down. “You’re sending me back to the group home?”

Mrs. Fields covered her trembling hand with hers. “Only for a few days, until Kate and Owen leave.”

“I don’t understand.” Alanna stared at the older woman in confusion.

“I’ve been taking care of children in my home long enough to know when something isn’t right. I can see you becoming more terrified of Kate and Owen every day, so I think it’s best if you move to a group home until they are moved into their new housing.”