Florine
I went through the entire attic. I found so much information about my parents.
Both of them are painters, and they have a museum in Norway.
They wrote in one of the letters that the drawings are inspired by me and the feelings they felt when grandma took me away from them.
I have my mom's number. I'm so afraid to call it.
what if she changed her number?
I'm so nervous. It's a big deal to have been told that my parents abandoned me when really, they've always cared about me.
It's hard to think about this by myself.
I called Jodi. The only person I trust, at this point.
-"Hey, what's up?" They said happily.
-"Can we talk somewhere? I really need to talk to someone about something I found"
-"I'm glad you chose me," Jodi said and I laughed.
I texted them the location and we met up in a library.
-"what do you want to show me?" Jodi asked.
I gave them the letter with my Mom's phone number.
-"that's her number, you thought of calling it?" They asked and I shrugged lightly.
-"I don't know. How will it go? That's what I've been thinking about every day"
-"look, she's your mom. She probably thinks about you, every day. She has been waiting for your call for a long time, surprise her" Jodi said which made me think.
I don't know what her voice sounds like, I want to see what she has experienced in life, I want her to tell me advice.
-"I will call her" I finally decided.
Russ
I was getting my knee checked one more time.
My knee was fractured, thanks to Dominick and his dumb jealousy.
The thing is that the team ended up winning, Dominick got to pursue his wishes as a quarterback, and I got a fractured knee.
It's like everything's against me.
I want to play, but I have to heal. Don't wanna end up my career only because of my stupid decisions.
Seeing Dominick's face at school made me want to take my knee brace off and beat him with it.
-"your knee is great. Over a month, your knee will alright"
The doctor said.
That's good news, at least.
I walked with my dad out of the hospital.
-"son, it upsets me how you haven't reported that boy for fracturing you" dad said as he opened the car door.
-"I want to, but, who will believe me? He's incredibly popular at school, and he's very good at lying" I said and dad shook his head.
-"It just makes me mad, how he gets to be the innocent one when someone got hurt," he said and I understood.
I understand what he means. Dominick is right now walking on school grounds gloating about his victory as captain. Who the hell will believe me?
I don't want to worry my dad. I hate seeing him worry. He's got a lot on his plate, at the moment.
Florine
Jodi went to my place and they looked weirded out as they entered the house of secrets and chaos.
-"This is where everything happened?" Jodi asked and I nodded.
-"I was so scared" I responded and Jodi hugged me.
They give such comfortable hugs. It made me feel so safe and warm.
I was going to call mom on the house phone. Because she'll recognize the number.
I dialed the number as Jodi had their hand on my shoulder.
I called the number and it had a line.
Which means she's available.
I took a deep breath and I heard a voice answer the call.
-"Why are you calling me?" She said.
-"Astrid?" I asked.
-"who's this?" She asked confused.
-"it's me, Florine!" I said and I heard a gasp through the phone.
-"my baby!" She said and I started to break.
-"where's grandma, honey?" She asked.
-"she got violent once I learned that you didn't... abandon me while I was a baby" I was trying my best to speak.
I'm talking to my mom, for god sakes.
I love her accent. It's similar to mine but more mature.
-"oh my god, where are you?" She asked
-"I'm still at her house, she was taken to the police and someone else is taking care of me"
-"can you send me the address of her house? I would love to meet you?"
Does she want to meet? This is so unbelievable.
I told her the address.
-"can I come Saturday?" She asked and Jodi tapped my shoulder.
-"show!" They mouthed and they started to air guitar.
-"I am performing a show that day"
I said and Jodi took a breath of relief.
-"a show? You're an artist?" Mom asked and I said yes.
-"I'm on a band, we are playing on a bar"
-"then send me the location of the bar, I'll see you perform," she said and I hung up after talking to her for so long.
-"Jodi, oh my god!" I hugged them and they laughed.
-"you are going to meet your mom!" Jodi said and I was so happy. Meeting the person who gave birth to me.
Russ
I am currently in class and I'm taking notes as quickly I can.
I learn these things so quickly.
-"excuse me, guys. I have to talk to someone outside. Stay quiet," the teacher said and left the classroom.
-"hey, Russ" I heard a voice.
It was Dominick, he sat with his friends.
-"how's your knee? Sorry, you couldn't play with us. I feel sorry for you" He said jokingly.
I closed my notebook hard and I threw it directly at his face.
Everyone in the classroom gasped.
-"Mr. Wade!" The teacher yelled and I cursed under my breath.
-"office, now!" She said and I went to the office.
This was the first time I ever got in trouble. See what he's done to me?
The principal Stevenson looked at me surprised.
-"Russ Wade, first time seeing you here"
He said and I rubbed my forehead not in the mood to be lectured.
-"Why did you attack Dominick?" He asked. There had to be a reason. I wasn't gonna lie. I had to tell him the truth.
-"he was the one responsible for my knee fracture" I suddenly said.
-"that's a serious accusation, Mr. Wade. There's no proof" He said and my phone suddenly went off various times.
What's going on there? I grabbed my phone and found that someone tagged me in a video on Twitter.
-"excuse me, Mr. Reed. I'm talking to you" He said as I opened the video.
It was a video of Dominick talking to his girlfriend Nicole.
-"I'm so glad you won," she said as she hugged him.
-"my plan worked, I injured Russ and they gave me the quarterback spot. He deserves all of it"
He laughed with her and the video ended.
That's weird, how did someone find this and sent it to me. It was an unknown page, I don't know who sent me this.
This is the perfect proof.
-"what about this?" I gave the principal my phone and he saw the video.
His eyes widened and he sent a message to bring Dominick in.
Florine
I got ready for the performance with my band. I couldn't see Mom anywhere.
Is she late? Did she get lost?
Jodi was fixing their hair. I walked to them.
-"she's not here yet," I said worryingly.
-"ok, calm down. We have a long setlist. Maybe she'll come a little late"
Jodi really knows how to make me feel better.
-"let's go, guys. We're starting now!" Christian said and I went to get ready.
We entered the stage and we got in positions.
I saw a woman that looked like me enter the building.
That's Astrid.
I smiled and she looked happy when she saw me.
We started performing and we did amazing.
Our songs are so good. We're such a great team.
While I performed, mom grabbed her phone and looked upset while reading something.
What did she read?
We finished the set and I came to her.
-"it's so amazing to see you in person after all this time," I said and she still looked upset.
-"Is this you?" She showed me a video of someone who looked identical to me beating an elderly lady.
-"n...no! Who would post this!" I said and she still looked at the video.
I looked back, Jodi and Christian were looking at their phones worriedly.
-"I don't know who did that?" I said and Mom looked like she didn't believe me.
Who posted that