But maybe one call wouldn't be bad...

His lips sat pursed on his mouth, clenched between his front teeth. He bounced in place as the phone rang. Soon, a deep voice answered.

<Greetings. This is Archie.>

James almost held his breath. Why was he so nervous? "H-hello. This is uh... James."

Silence.

More silence.

Why isn't there any- <James!>

The familiar voice rang through and brought a smile to his face. "Aurora!" Every question he had fell away. He only had one thing he could think of to say. "It's good to hear your voice..."

<You too.>

"Is...everything alright?"

<Yes. There's...some things you should know. About what happened...>

"If it's about the house you were assigned to, Sally told me...she figured you'd have wanted to, and wouldn't get the chance."

A grim chuckle came out like a clicking noise. <Of course she did... I wish... I wish we could see each other again.>

"Me too...maybe if I ask nice, huh?"

<I doubt it...>

He stared at the floor. "Me too..."

He heard Archie in the background, too muddled to make it out. Aurora's voice came back. <I have to go...they need me to tell them what happened myself. The police say they have the three involved in...what happened.>

"Oh...okay. Try to call me later?"

<Definitely...and James?>

"Yeah?"

<Thank you...>

"...you too."

She hung up. James stuffed his phone in his pocket, and turned around. His mother stood in her living room, a sad smile on her face. She had tears she tried not to let fall, and put some papers on the table before hurrying away.

Sad as he was, James was too curious not to look. Several pages staples together, filled out with his information started up at him. All that it lacked was a signature. The top read in bold letters: Novaxan Placement Program: Foster Clearance Application.

Really...that woman. What were the chances he'd even be approved? Let alone miraculously be assigned the one and only Novaxan he wanted to have around.