Chapter Text
Livvy strolled down the streets with her foster sister, Maia. It was the darker part of town, the part the privileged people liked to ignore. Once upon a time, Livvy had lived on these streets, homeless and alone.
Now she lived with Diana. She had to admit, life was better, but she couldn’t let her guard down. Not after everything. She knew better than to let her guard down.
“Whoa,” Maia said, stopping in front of a wall of street art, “Take a look at that.”
Livvy stopped for a moment to appreciate the young artist behind it. Street art was common in these parts. It was an outlet for many broken teens like herself.
“They’re going places,” Livvy noted.
She was envious. Having talent was a singular way out of their bleak reality. It was a gateway into the world of the privileged.
“Well, at least there will be some hotshot artist that I won’t be pissed at,” Livvy said, “Come on, I’m going to be late for school.”
She still couldn’t get used to the idea of going to school. Of course, before her whole family died, she went to school, but that was long ago.
Well, it wasn’t that long ago, but it felt so long. Two years out of school was enough to make it… unsettling. It felt too easy compared to the life she was used to.
But above all, she couldn’t get used to going to school without Ty. Being her twin, he was always there, and she was always watching out for him. Making sure he wasn’t overwhelmed, beating up the kids who were mean to him. She was his guardian.
Now she had no one to protect.
“Hey Maia…” Livvy started.
She wanted desperately to ask the older girl about her life, maybe find some connections, but she was too fucked up to say anything. She was too afraid to let her in, but even more, she was afraid to show herself, to bare her soul.
“Nevermind,” Livvy muttered.
The two of them continued the rest of their way to school in silence.
I wish you guys were here, Livvy thought.
__________
“The little poor girl,” Paige sneered, as Livvy walked through the gate.
Livvy clenched her fists, fighting the urge to punch Paige. Ignore her, ignore her, she told herself, You’ve been through worse.
Compared to life on the streets, Paige was nothing.
However, Livvy couldn’t help but to notice the tall guy next to Paige who was standing there looking uncomfortable. Like Paige, he had bright red hair. He was tall and muscular, and unfortunately, Livvy liked that look a little too much.
Livvy shook her head, disgusted with herself. This guy was clearly related to Paige. She couldn’t be getting the hots for someone so awful.
Instead, Livvy held her head high and made her way to her first period. To her surprise the guy came running after her.
“Hey,” he said, “I’m sorry about my sister.”
Your sister, Livvy thought, I knew you were related.
“It’s chill,” she said.
She tried to continue to her class, but the guy blocked her.
“I feel really bad about it,” he said, “Can I do something to apologize?”
Livvy shrugged and tried again to get to her class.
“How about I take you out for coffee?” he asked.
Livvy gawked. “Are you seriously trying to ask me out right now?”
The guy blushed. “No! Of course not! That would be so inappropriate, especially because I’m a speaker here.”
“A speaker?” Livvy repeated.
“Yeah,” the guy said, “I’m speaking for the assembly today.”
Livvy frowned. “How old are you?”
“I’m a sophomore in college,” the guy said.
Same age as Julian, Livvy thought. Or at least, if Julian had lived.
Livvy examined the guy again. Well, he was hot. Why not?
“Sure,” Livvy said.
“Huh?” the guy said.
“Sure, you can take me out for coffee,” Livvy said.
The guy broke into a grin. “Cool. I’m Cameron.” He stuck out his hand for a handshake.
Livvy took it. “I’m Livvy.”
“Nice to meet you, Livvy,” Cameron said. He pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. “Here’s my number.” He glanced at his watch. “I should get ready for the assembly. See you around.”
And with that, he was off. Livvy stared after him, trying to wipe the stupid grin off of her face.
Remember, this is just for fun, Livvy thought, Don’t let your guard down.
Easier said than done.
__________
Remember, Livvy repeated to herself as she made her way to study hall, this is just for fun. Don’t let your guard down.
She still couldn’t keep the stupid grin off her face. A hot older guy had asked her on a date! Her! Livvy Blackthorn!
Livvy wasn’t the type of girl guys usually went after. She was angry and a mess.
Still, he’d asked her. He’d-
Livvy cursed herself as she crashed into some unsuspecting person in the hallway. Don’t let your guard down, she scolded herself.
“Hey, are you okay?” a familiar voice asked.
Livvy slowly looked up and her eyes landed on a familiar blue jacket with a fuzzy collar. Shoot, she thought.
Kit looked different since the last time she’d seen him. He was older for one, his features more defined, no longer a boy. He’d also gained some muscle, but he wasn’t quite Cameron level.
Livvy knew the exact moment Kit recognized her. His blue eyes went wide and his shoulders tensed. “Livvy?”
“Hey…” she said, cringing at herself.
She could still remember him at her family’s funeral. Unlike everyone else who was sobbing, his eyes had been dry like her own.
She and Kit Rook had a complicated relationship. Like her, he was also an orphan, except they’d met when she wasn’t an orphan, when she still had a family.
He was the guy who crash landed into her life and both Ty and herself had been intrigued by him.
She admitted that kissing him wasn’t the best idea. Especially now, she could tell that the kiss had been more for him than just experimenting, like it’d been for her. Probably because she’d done plenty of such things herself at this point.
When she and Ty had their worst fight ever, Kit had been pulled in between. He’d chosen Ty. It’d hurt Livvy so bad back then, but part of her was relieved that Ty finally had more.
Until Kit and Ty had a huge falling out. Livvy still didn’t quite know what it was about, even after she and Ty made up. A month later, her whole family was dead.
She felt bad for Kit in that way. At least she’d made up with Ty before he died.
“You go to this school?” Kit asked.
“I could ask you the same question,” she said.
“I’ve been here since… I moved in with Jem and Tessa,” he said.
Livvy felt a pang of jealousy. Of course, he deserved adoptive parents who love him, but… Livvy couldn’t help but to think, why not me?
“I just transferred here a few weeks ago,” Livvy said, “New foster family.”
Kit grimaced, the face of someone who knew the drill. “How is it?”
“Could be worse,” Livvy admitted.
The two of them looked up as the bell rang.
“Shoot,” they muttered simultaneously.
Kit gave Livvy a small grin. “I should get to class. It was nice to see you again though.”
Livvy stared after him, reminded of a time in the past. A time when she could just kiss a boy and not worry about getting hurt. Except… back then, he’d been where she was now.
Funny how the world worked.
__________
Maia walked in as Livvy was getting ready for her date. Well, more like she was just brushing her hair. She didn’t really know how to get ready for dates, but a coffee shop wasn’t too fancy right?
“No way,” Maia said, “You’re doing your hair? What’s the occasion?”
Livvy frowned was she really that obvious that someone she’d only known for a few weeks could tell.
“I have a date,” she admitted.
Maia’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Livvy nodded, focusing on her hair.
Maia grabbed the brush. “Here, let me help you.”
Livvy shot a glance at Maia’s clearly curly hair.
“Oh come on,” Maia said, “Don’t look at me like that. I’ve helped plenty white girls with their hair. Other foster sisters.”
Livvy frowned. “How many people have gone through here?”
“Don’t say it like that,” Maia said, working through Livvy’s plain brown hair.
“Like what?” Livvy asked.
“Like they go somewhere bad again after this,” Maia said, “Most of us get adopted by other families. Except me.” Diana had adopted Maia herself.
Livvy stared at Maia skeptically. “How many families want to adopt angsty teenagers?” Of course, she knew several examples, like Kit and Maia, but she also knew that not everyone was that lucky.
“You’d be surprised,” Maia said.
Livvy shrugged. “I’ll be eighteen soon. There’s no shot.”
She was just lucky that her last foster family was a good one.
Maia sighed. “I know it can be hard to allow yourself to hope after all you’ve been through, but… it’s not a fun way to live. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
Livvy tensed.
“I don’t know what your motives are for this date,” Maia continued, “but do yourself a favor, and actually try to build a relationship.”
For some stupid reason, Livvy agreed. Her brain was screaming at her not to, but…
She knew deep down that she wanted this.
Oh gosh, Livvy thought, I’m in trouble now.
Was it too late to back out? She stood up from her chair just as the doorbell rang.
“Livvy!” Diana called from downstairs.
Crap, Livvy thought. Well, she could make it, right? She could survive a date with a hot guy.
She made her way down the stairs, determined to pull this off, until she saw Cameron. He was wearing a tight white shirt, giving her a nice view of his muscles. His red hair was neatly combed to the side, but it somehow didn’t look business-man-like.
Livvy’s heart skipped.
Fuck.