Caroline was sitting at her desk. Her head in her hands and that signature cheery smile was gone. It wasn't that she was upset. That smile was faked most of the time. There was only one person that knew the difference between her cheery smile and her real one. Her boss, having been the only one in years to see her genuinely happy, was that person.

Her mind was racing to things she's heard around the facility. Being the only female working there was difficult. The stupid men making passes at her. The more intelligent ones trying to impress her with something they made, only to have her show them up that very second by making whatever they did better.

"Boss's assistant? More like boss's toy"

"She's only here for her looks"

The one remark that got to her the most? It was said when she was taking food to Cave. She hadn't eaten all day and decided to take a few fries from his fast food bag. She was told to go get it, and she didn't expect him to notice. That was when she heard it.

"Look at her. Can't even wait to get to her office to stuff her fat face"

Fat

She has been called fat as a child. It lead to some unwanted memories. Once someone loosened the screws on the playground when she was 10. Everyone was in on it. As she went down the slide, it fell. She ended up in the hospital, but the real injury was on her pride. Being laughed at.

"Look at Caroline! She's so fat she broke the slide!"

Of course that lead to more problems. Caroline was never actually overweight. Most of her life, she was actually under the healthy weight. But it was because she was smart. Everyone hated the fact that she was two years ahead and the youngest in all of her classes. They didn't know what else to tease her about. Being a nerd was too obvious for them. And she was a beautiful little child, so ugly was off the table. Oh...yes, and then there's the fact that she has been in an orphanage her entire childhood...They used that a lot too.

"Hey little fatty! Who are ya tryin to impress with your brain? Ya ain't got no parents!"

That did sting. She had been told that she was left at the doorstep of the orphanage. She often got told by the older kids there that they saw her parents run off. The ones she lived with were fine...But it was those kids at school...

There were a few times she got physically bullied as a kid. But whenever she started crying she always heard the same thing.

"Whatcha gonna do about it? Tell your mommy?!"

Caroline remembers hearing of a man who sold shower curtains. But she didn't really listen much until they mentioned he was a scientist. She perked up at that. And being only 12, she assumed she'd never get to meet him. You know children. Sometimes they're a little stupid. even the smartest ones may think that people don't live past 40.

It was in her teen years that she got stonger. Physically and emotionally. She started to go for a run every morning at 3, get back to the orphanage at 5 to get her school things ready, and then when she got back from school, she'd help around the place with things mostly saved for the boys. Everytime she got called fat or a useless orphan, she punched the person that said it. Taking after her idol, of course. He was strong and smart. He convinced her, without even ever seeing her, that she could get through things.

And it was because of that silent encouragement that she graduated at 15. The youngest in her class, and the smartest.

She was forced to hang around the orphanage for a few more years, still being a child. But once she turned 18, she was gone. Out to find herself a job in science.

The search didn't go well. She only found jobs as a tutor or something lame like that. She wanted to contribute to the world of her professional expertise! Instead she ended up working as a waitress. That's when she first got the impression she was...pretty.

Men cat calling her. Women making sure their partners didn't look at her. It was jealousy. She didn't know how to react to all this. So she just ignored it. Just as any woman would.

It was one faithful day, her birthday to be exact, that she found her luck changing. While at work she saw a paper hung up. It said something about science so must people ignored it, but Caroline? She looked at it intently.

Aperture...It sounded familiar in a way...Then it struck her. A chance to meet her hero! Sure, it said 'volunteer to be a test subject' but anything was better than this!

She grabbed the paper and folded it, putting it into her pocket and smiling. A real smile. Of course it faded fast because she had to get back to work.

Only days pass. She finds herself at Aperture and ready to do something to contribute to science. Only to be told 'no women allowed'

Her heart sank. Was there nothing a woman could do in this field?!

"No women my ass! Look at this young lady! Quite a catch if you ask me"

Cave's voice practically boomed as he entered the room. He would not let a free test go that easily.

It was him! Oh how she idolized this man. Her genuine smile returned. Caroline covered her mouth and almost collaped right there. She caught herself with a quick step back though.

"Oh my goodness..."

Caroline snapped out of her memories to hear a voice. That same loud voice she met 3 years ago.

"Caroline? You got those papers ready?"

"Yes sir, Mr. Johnson."