My Anchor (Trio Series Book 1) by Joy Blood

walls are a little thin and well, your room is next to mine.” She states matter-of-factly.
    “Oh, well, in that case, yes I did. He tried to keep me quiet but you know me I like to…”
    She throws up her hands to cover her ears. “Stop! Please!” Then she closes her eyes and starts singing ‘lalalala can’t hear you’ out loud. I ball up a paper towel and throw it at her head, this makes her stop her singing and we laugh at each other.
    “When is Shane getting back?” I ask a while later. We are both in the living room using some form of technology for our homework. Really what would the world be like without smartphones and tablets? Ha!
    “Not sure haven't heard from her,” Cristal says barely taking her eyes off of her tablet. The phone rings and I'm closest so I answer it looking at the caller ID before I do. Yes, we have a land line, it comes with the Wi-Fi so might as well have it hooked up right? The caller ID reads MOM and I answer it immediately.
    “And how is my favorite mother?”
    “Linn, how are you, my sweet girl? Been staying out of trouble I hope?”
    “You know me, mom, not at all.” We both laugh.
    “My baby there? I need a little Sweet Pea time.”
    “She sure is, I’ll hand the phone over to her. Love you mom.”
    “Love you too sweet girl.”
    I hand the phone over to Cristal. With a smile, she grabs it from me answering with a hello and heading to her room. Must be going to talk about the bad date. Brinn, Cristal’s mom, is like a mother to all of us. Always was there for us when our actual mothers weren’t, not that mine could be helped but Shana’s sure could have but still was a flake of a parent. Always leaving for weekends and extended weekends to shack up with some rich man. I'm really not sure how she met these men being in a small town and all. Probably online dating or something who knows? After Shana’s dad left her mom they moved in with her grandma who took care of her most of the time while Rita was out having her fun.
    When Cristal came into the picture I had already met Shana and we quickly became a trio always with each other and often spending most of our time at Cristal's house with her mom. Whenever one of us would get into trouble at school or need something she was always there for us. I remember one time when I got busted for shoplifting I sat at the police station for hours waiting for my dad to come and pick me up, only he never did. So I sat there and waited, they couldn't release me because I was a minor. I think it was probably ten O'Clock at night and I heard Brinn come storming into the station demanding they release me to her.
    “Sorry ma’am but we couldn't release her because she is a minor. She was caught stealing, the store has been lenient and has decided to not press charges unless it happens again.”
    “Have you called her father?” Brinn asks and I strain to hear what they say.
    “Yes, ma’am we did.”
    “And?” She says impatiently waiting for an answer.
    “He said she could rot here ma’am. Then hung up the phone.” Really thought he would have said more.
    “Well I am here to take her home.” The officer went to interject but Brinn shut him up real quick. “Get her out here now, she is thirteen years old and the store isn't pressing charges you said. She can go home.” She stated in a stern tone I would only hear if I was being a shit. The officer came and got me, releasing me into her care, as they said. The walk to the car was quiet but when we got in that’s when the silence was broken.
    “If you ever get into trouble like that again I will take a switch to your ass myself you hear me?”
    “Yes.” I barely whisper to her.
    “And you call me if you need help or have someone call me. I know you have shit for a parent and I am sorry for that but you have me now and I expect to be called.”
    “Okay,” I whisper again.
    “Now what was it you were trying to steal?”
    Embarrassment floods my face I look at the floor