"á´Ę, ÉŞÉ´ á´ÉŞÉ´á´ á´á´ÉŞÉ´á´"
"I kept my eyes on the prize... Who knew it would be you?"
The wheels of the beaver express bus screeched to a halt âLAST STOP OF THE NIGHT. PINE POINTâ the bus intercom announced as the doors swung open âAlright, Kid. Get offâ The driver demanded adjusting the mirror to look at a teenage girl who was the only one other than him on the bus
The girl sighed before getting up and getting off the bus. She could hear the gravel of the road crunching beneath her worn-out boots. She looked at her phone while it buzzed with texts from her social worker
She looked at the text, it was her new homeâs address. So with a tired sigh, She began the walk with nothing but that duffel bag slung across her back as she walked the dirt path that was supposed to lead her to town based off the signs
Then she came across a larger sign that read âWELCOME TO PINE POINT! POPULATION: 1,200â Small town, She took one step into the town lines and was instantly greeted by two older men
âVeronica Gore?â
She tensed up slightly at the use of her full name âRonnieâ She corrected, narrowing her eyes at the two men while the shorter one of the pair rushed over to shake her hand âOh, it is so lovely to meet you! I'm Frankie and this is my husband, Sawyer!â He exclaimed
Ronnie pulled her hand away slightly âUh-huh⌠Nice to meet you tooâ She muttered âWeâve already got you enrolled in school and we cleaned up our storage room for you!â Frankie replied âDarling- Your crowding herâŚâ Sawyer spoke up
He carefully pulled Frankie away from the girl with a sigh âI'm sorry, Ronnie⌠He- we are just excited, It's our first time fosteringâ Sawyer explained âDo either of you know how to even take care of yourselves?â Ronnie scoffed
Sawyer glared at her slightly âWe uh- read your background, So weâll let the attitude slide for the first few days since your adjustingâ Sawyer said âLet's show you around! You start school tomorrow since its currently Spring breakâ Frankie smiled
âYou are going to love it here! Its such a lovely town-â âA town with less people than a newly built graveyardâ Ronnie replied as she stared at the ground and began walking away from the two causing them to speed up their pace to catch up
âSheâll be a handfulâŚâ Sawyer sighed âKids are like plants, right? With enough love and care, Theyâll blossom!â Frankie reassured him
âIm going outâ Ronnie announced as she took an old coat off of the rack then put it on âBe back before ten!â Frankie told her but Ronnie ignored him, She pulled the hood over her head before stepping outside feeling the cold breeze on her face
She sat down on the porch stairs and then took off she shoes, replacing them for an old pair of purple rollerblades with dark pink wheels and tons of stickers all over it. She stumbled up before getting her balance
She bent her knees slightly then pushed off with one foot while using the other to glue through the streets, Soon forming a steady rhythm as She traversed the ancient roads of Pine Point and eventually screeching to a halt in front of a movie theater with the posters looking as if they havent been changed in several years
She slowly took a few small steps, slightly sliding as she entered the theater through its automatic doors âUh- Hello?â She called out looking around âWelcome to the pine point theater. Do you have tickets or want to buy some?â A tired voice asked from the counter
âNeither? You have a hiring sign outsideâ Ronnie replied âOh- I forgot to take that downâ The person behind the counter said reading a magazine with their feet up on the counter before they looked Ronnie up and down
âYou're new. People around here know that the sign there has been up for over four yearsâ
âBut, Lucky for you. I'm firing somebody today since they decided it would be great to-⌠Allow things to happen during moviesâ They added âNames Ace. Before you ask, It isn't my birth name because guess what? Non-binaryâ
Ronnie just looked between Ace and the door âI⌠don't care? I just want a job?â Ronnie mumbled âYou're hired. Manager by the wayâ Ace replied then shooed Ronnie away âHEY GIN! YOUR FIRED!!â Ace shouted
âTHANK FUCKING GOD!â A girl groaned as she came out of one of the empty theater rooms âCAN YOU NOT SWEAR?! WE HAVE FUCKING CUSTOMERS!â Ace yelled as Gin narrowed her eyes at Ronnie
âVeronica?â âGinger?â
Ace blinked âGet the fuck out of here nowâ They demanded looking back down at their magazine while the two girls left âRonnie, God i- what are doing here!?â Gin asked âI could ask you the same thingâŚâ Ronnie shrugged
âWell after Grandad died, We inherited his old house which turned out to be here. Apparently, he worked in those old minesâ Gin explained âYou?â She tilted her head âFoster careâŚâ Ronnie sighed
âAren't you eighteen-â âSeventeen⌠Just gotta wait until these guys are done with me or my birthdayâŚâ Ronnie interrupted âWow-⌠Well, Let's make up for old times! We used to be best friends, right?â Gin grinned
âWha-â âYeah, Câmon! Gin and Ron! You can cheer with me, go on double dates or even have a girls night!â Gin exclaimed âUhm- Id rather not⌠do that, It doesn't really sound⌠Fun to meâ Ronnie admitted
Ginâs smile faltered for a moment as she glared for just a few seconds ââŚâ âGin?â Ronnie asked â⌠It's fine! Dont worry about it, We can do something you'd wanna do!â Gin told her âGin-⌠I'd rather just spend time alone for the first few daysâ Ronnie said
Gin paused âFine, It's coolâŚâ She shrugged âJust- try to keep in touch, or else!â She playfully laughed before the two went their separate ways, Ronnie let out a an anxious breath she didnt even realize that she was holding inâŚ














