Nine year old Mica Gibbs ran her hands through her shoulder length red hair. Her dad was away on business and she was staying with his girlfriend Abby Borin and her half-sister Kristen. She missed her dad even though he had only been gone a day and a half and would be back in two more. Any time he went away she worried that he would never come back. Even though he always did but last year he almost didn't come back. Her brother Tony had died just over a year before and her dad had gone into a deep depression in the weeks following his death. She was eternally grateful to her grandpa Ducky for finding him and saving his life. Because she didn't think that she could have survived the past year without him. Tony died in a school shooting of which her and Kristen were the targets. She survived with only a scar on her arm but Kristen was left paralyzed from the hips down and the past year had been tough on her.
Mica's year had not been near as rough as Kristen's but it was still a year of change. For starters her dad had started dating again. For the first time since her mother died when she was four. She had always wished that her dad would date again and give her a step-mom but was glad that he had waited for the right woman. She just prayed that nothing bad would happen to Abby Borin. Her mom had died but so had her dad's first wife Shannon along with her older sister Kelly. Her dad wasn't the only one dating though. Because shortly after she got back to DC. Her friend Shane asked her to be his girlfriend. She happily agreed but her dad insisted that they were just friends.
"Hey Mica" Kristen greeted rolling into her room.
"Hi Kristen how was therapy?" Mica asked.
"It was good but tiring." Kristen replied.
"My dad called while you were gone." Mica replied.
"Oh how is he?" Kristen asked.
"Really good, he is going to be home on Wednesday." Mica replied.
"Just in time for Thanksgiving." Kristen smiled.
"Your favorite holiday." Mica replied smiling.
"Well yeah I mean we get all kinds of great foods and mom is going to teach me how to make her famous pumpkin pie." Kristen smiled.
"That was so good. I wish that my dad wasn't allergic." Mica replied.
"Pumpkin is a really weird allergy are you sure he just doesn't like it?" Kristen asked.
"He had to go to the hospital." Mica replied.
"Oh well that sucks." Kristen replied.
"Kristen Kelly Borin do not use the word sucks." Abby Borin warned.
"Sorry mom" Kristen apologized.
"Just don't let it happen again. Oh Mica I got the stuff to make that chocolate pie your dad likes so much." Abby Borin explained.
"He gave you my grandma's recipe?" Mica gasped.
"No I found it in his box down in your basement." Abby Borin replied.
"Nice" Mica replied.
Erica cheered as her brother made his way towards the net. He had recently been selected to join the travel soccer league. She wasn't happy about him being gone almost every weekend and having extra practices at dinner time but she was proud of him for making such an amazing accomplishment. He had, had a rough time since their mom had died the year before and really needed a boost. Especially since their dad had started dating Abby Scuito from his work. Kayla and her loved Abby but Jared wasn't so sure about her.
"Oh My Gosh! Erica Vance!" Lucile Lawson (one of the most popular girls in school) cried.
"Oh hi Lucile" Erica replied.
"Who do you know on the Lightning Bolts?" Lucile asked.
"My brother Jared." Erica replied.
"OMG! My brother and sister both play for them! That is so amazing!" Lucile cried.
"That's cool" Erica replied.
"We should totally hang out sometime!" Lucile cried.
"Yeah we should." Erica replied completely shocked that a popular kid wanted to hangout with her
.
Olivia Palmer pulled her younger brother's hand away from the steaming hot plate. Her adoptive parents Jimmy and Breena were laughing at some inside joke. A couple came in and sat down at the table next to theirs carrying a baby who was about three or four months old. She noticed Breena get a sad look on her face and Jimmy quickly said something to distract her. Just over a year ago Breena had announced her pregnancy but shortly after it was revealed to be a false positive. Everybody was devastated and only took solace in Olivia and her younger brother Cody whom they had adopted the year before. Olivia was thrilled with her new life. Especially since they had found her younger brother alive. She wanted a new baby as she missed having a big family but was happy just to have her baby brother.
"Livy! Want nuggets!" Cody cried.
"They have to cool, Cody." Olivia explained.
"OK" Cody sighed.
"Here try some celery." Olivia replied handing Cody a peeled celery stick.
"OK" Cody sighed.
Shane rolled over on the couch. He was so bored and wished that Tara would get sick of watching Glee on Netflix already and let him pick something to watch. They were both home sick and Tara had been watching it all day.
"Can we please watch something else?!" Shane pleaded as the final credits rolled.
"No! The Quarterback is up next." Tara replied.
"Ugh! I hate that one." Shane groaned.
"Have some respect Shane. Corey died in real life. How could you be so cold?" Tara asked.
"Because you get so annoying and weepy!" Shane replied.
"You are rude Shane. R.U.D.E!" Tara snapped.
"Fine but after that I am watching Archer." Shane replied.
"No you are not! That show is not appropriate!" Debbie warned coming into the living room.
"Fine! I am going to bed." Shane sighed.
"It's eight thirty" Debbie reminded.
"I know" Shane scoffed.
A/N: How will the group take on their new challenges? New chapter will be up soon. Please review and thanks for reading.
