Storm's POV

I had never been so concerned about my hearing until that moment. Did I hear correctly? Did Josh just say that him and Stella are both in foster care? Then, it all started to come together.

Flashback

"Why did you move to Minehead?" I question.

"I...uh have relatives here," she stutters.

"Oh, really! Tell me their names. This town is so small, that we basically know everyone," I gabble, intrigued.

"Ask me another question," Stella orders sharply.

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The sharp tone she used was only the first sign of her weird behaviour.

Flashback

"What are your parents' nationalities?" I ask cautiously.

Suddenly, Stella stands up from her seat.

"What's the matter?" I question, confused.

It's as if she doesn't hear me because I'm left in my bedroom, puzzled while the front door slams.

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I realise why she didn't answer that question.

Flashback

I try calling Stella a thousand times; it goes straight to voicemail. I leave millions of voicemails and texts.

"Hi, Stella. Can you phone me back when you get this?"

No call.

Me: Tell me if I did something wrong.

No text back.

"I'm worried, Stella. Call me! Please!"

No call.

Me: Or text me if u feel more comfortable.

No text back.

"I'm sorry..."

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Now, I know why Stella never answered my calls or texts!

Flashback

"So...when am I coming to your house?" I question, trying to make this quick so that I can go back to Emma and Sophie.

Stella's face is now full of confusion.

"You know, that deal we made. When you come to my house for the project, I get to ask you questions about you. When I come to your house for the project, you get to ask me questions about myself," I remind a puzzled Stella.

"Oh. Look, soz but can I still ask you questions about you at your house? My house is usually so hectic because my relatives always come over. We wouldn't get any work done," Stella gabbles anxiously.

"If you're sure..."

"I'm sure."

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Our strange conversation at the party now makes sense too.

Flashback

"Are things still hectic at home?" I question as Stella packs her belongings.

"Huh?" Stella questions.

"At the party, you said that we couldn't do the project at your house because things were hectic. Is it still the same?"

"Yes but no. I got to go!"

"But-" I start whilst my back is turned.

The door banging interrupts me. Stella's hiding something and I'm going to find out what it is...

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Today, was the last straw.

I look up to see Stella with her head down and I know that I did hear correctly. She's in foster care! Before I can say anything, Kate and Harry return to the room with my plate of rice.

"I hope you enjoy!" Kate chuckles as she watches my mouth water.

"Kate, can Storm and I be excused?" Stella masters all the courage to look up but she doesn't give me a second glance.

"But, I just served Storm a portion," Kate sounds down hearted, that I immediately feel guilty.

I lift up my fork and hastily spoon a forkful of rice into my mouth. I savour the feeling of the herbs and spices tingling on my tongue and I give Kate a truthful thumbs up.

"This is too good! I can't eat anymore otherwise I'll end up eating the rest of the leftovers!" I flatter with a sweet smile.

Unfortunately, Kate doesn't believe my act.

"I hope that you're not saying this because of Stella," she says.

The woman is crazy! I don't do as Stella(or in fact, anyone) says if I don't want to!

"What? I'm a very independent girl and I never do as anyone says if I don't want to!" I laugh awkwardly," But, of course I do as my parents say!"

The last part makes Kate and Harry burst into peals of laughter; I laugh along drily.

"OK. You two can go hang out upstairs! But, don't be too long! I certainly don't want to worry Storm's parents!" Kate surrenders, then adds," They do know you're here, right?"

Um....I might have told Mum and Dad that I was going round Emma's.

"I would never worry my parents by not telling them where I am," I lie.

Harry chuckles.

"If only every teenager are like you and Stella!" he comments.

"If every teenager was like Storm, it would be hell!" Stella whispers under her breath before returning to her normal volume," Let's go upstairs, Storm!"

Everybody else doesn't hear her false cheerfulness or the edge to her voice...

"So, what's up?" I say as Stella shuts her bedroom door behind us.

"WHAT'S UP? Is that all you have to say after spying on me, barging your way into my home and putting on a fake innocent act?" Stella spits.

I've never seen her so angry and that's what's scary! However, Storm Jackson never shows fear and she's not starting now!

"Maybe I wouldn't have done any of those things if you didn't feed me lies!" I argue back.

For a second, Stella's face has a look of shame written all over it but it quickly returns to it being scrunched up with fury.

"Are you happy now?" she asks furiously yet she doesn't wait for a response," You've been waiting for this all along, huh? For me to show a crack! Well, congrats! You got what you wanted!"

I didn't want this! Why does everyone always think the worst of me?

"I didn't want this!" I exclaim.

"Do you think I'm seriously gonna fall for your lies, Storm!" Stella scoffs," Since I started your school, you've been making my life hell when I haven't done anything to you! And now, after you tell everyone I'm in foster care, they're gonna have that disgusted look in their eyes."

Suddenly, every rude remark I've made since Stella started at Minehead Academy replays in my mind. My body turns cold as I watch my classmates' reaction at every insult I hurl: they're always laughing but not with Stella but at her. She's right! I have made Stella's life hell!

"I'm sorry," I whisper and after a gulp I continue,"...for everything."

Her eyes have nothing but surprise in them. At one point, forgiveness flashes across Stella's face but it's soon replaced with disbelief.

"You're sorry! Please! You're never sorry, Storm! This is probably a prank! I'm sure that you will tell everyone at school tomorrow that I'm in foster care and that I believed the prank you played on me about being sorry!" she scoffs," Now can you go!"

"Fine, then! But you'll see tomorrow that nobody else at school will know about you in foster care and that my apology wasn't a PRANK!" I say before making a dramatic exit out of her bedroom.

I slam her door and jog down the stairs.

"Is there something wrong?"

At the sound of Kate's voice, I almost jump out of my skin.

"No! We were..."

My mind goes blank as I try to search for an excuse.

"Just rehearsing a drama piece for school."

To my rescue, Stella lies while she has discreetly climbed down the stairs. Straight after that, she smiles warmly at me and I don't think she's pretending so I return the grin.

"And now I'm going home," I finish off," Bye, Kate. Say bye to Harry and Josh for me."

"Bye, Storm. Come by anytime!" Kate says.

"Bye, Stella!"

"Bye, Storm!"
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"Where have you been?" River greets me gruffly as I walk through the door.

"I was at Sophie's," I lie.

"I thought you said that you went round Emma's."

Oh no! My older sister has caught me out.

"Yeah. Obviously I was testing you!" I fib.

"Of course!" River agrees, although her tone and facial expression suggests otherwise.

I fake a yawn.

"I'm kinda tired. Gonna have an early night," I excuse myself to get out of this awkward situation," Good night!"

"Ok. But, Storm..."

"Yeah..."

"If you did have something on your mind, I would be the first person you'd tell, right?"

"Of course, sis!"

Guilt fills the pit of my stomach; I have to stop myself from spilling Stella's secret to River. I've never lied to my elder sister and it's not that I don't trust her with confidential information.

Stella's secret will be safer if you're the only person who knows apart from her foster family. If River knows, she could start behaving weirdly in front of people from school, who could pick it up and ask what's going on.

After I enter my room, I shut the door behind me firmly. I take a deep breath and open my bottom drawer. Underneath all my folded pyjamas, I feel the smooth shape of a book hidden. Glancing one last time to check that nobody's tactfully crept in, I open my journal that I titled it with:

My Secrets, Dreams and Goals

I scribble in:

Today, I found out that Stella's in foster care. I must keep it a secret!

For some reason, writing down secrets, dreams and goals just clears my head. I tuck my journal back into my hiding place(I would hate it if anyone discovered it and read anything I've written down!) and close my bottom drawer. If anyone took a quick peep at this drawer, they would only find my pyjamas.

The only way I can gain Stella's trust is if I keep this important secret. Then, another thought runs through me:

What if Stella's hiding another secret more important than this one?

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Author's Note

What do you think? Is Stella hiding another secret more important than this one?