Mermaid shorties: 108/0/12036246/il_570xN.1011592895_

-xx-

There were three things of which she was absolutely sure.

One: it was about to become the hottest summer of which she was yet to experience. Even in the mermaid shorties and black tank top she had put on this morning, it was deceivingly melt-worthy weather. With it only being the middle of May, she was more than surprised that nothing but heat had yet to fill her days. Today was no exception. She had figured that as it wasn't even the beginning of summer yet, it would become cooler; the temperature was still at ninety seven degrees. Trusty ol' New York - nice and painfully hot for the child who preferred the cooler weather.

Two: Manhattan, New York, was going to be a completely lame town. It was nowhere near as small as Queens and definitely not as quiet. She just knew that life here was going to be boring, and desperately wished she was elsewhere.

And three…she absolutely, positively, hated anything that had to do with family. In being shoved in and out of foster homes for practically her entire life, she couldn't even remember what the concept of family was, what it meant. All she knew was that it wasn't worth her time. Family was, at least in her mind, a mere illusion of happiness that adults told foster kids in order to give them hope that one day they would get the chance to be a part of one. She definitely wasn't one of those kids that believed that, though. Nope, she was smarter than that. She was the type that knew family didn't exist…that happiness and love would never come from an adult. Perhaps there was once a time in her life where she did have hope, but those days were long gone. Continuous rejection and endless placements took that hope from her at an early age.

And now I am going to be stuck in yet another placement…great.

She was not looking forward to this. Not at all. Nicky was perfectly happy residing at the group home that she had been dumped at just a few months prior, after her last failed attempt at happiness, and despised the fact that she was going to be staying with just another faulse attempt at family. Why couldn't life simply leave her alone for once?

"Nicky?"

The ten year old snapped from her thoughts at the sudden sound of a voice, but made no reply to it. Instead, she kept her chocolate brown eyes locked onto the passing scenery; her dark brown hair occasionally getting in the way as the wind hit her face.

"We're almost there - should be arriving in another few minutes or so."

Nicky still said nothing, ignoring the woman completely. Most adults would find this to be rude, but not Susan Fischer. Oh no. The auburn haired woman had been the girl's social worker for the last six years and was all too used to this kind of treatment. It never bothered her, though. She would just simply ignore it.

"She seems really nice, you know. She was really taken by you that day and is really excited to have you stay with her. I think you're going to like it there."

"You say that about every placement you throw me in," the girl replied, finally speaking. She had been an orphan for most of her life, and, according to Susan, she was apparently supposed to like the last three families that she had been placed into. Did she? No. So why would this one be any different?

Well, she did catch your eye when you first met her…

Nicky silently cursed at the little voice in the back of her mind. As much as she hated to admit it, there was something about the woman she interviewed with two weeks back; she was trying her hardest to forget about it.

"Nicky, don't be like this…"

"I can be however I want. You know it's true. I've never liked any of the placements I've been in."

Susan let out a sigh.

"I know life has been tough for you, and I know you haven't had much luck with foster families either, but you can't go into every new placement thinking it is going to end badly."

"Why not? They always do."

"Because not every adult is the same. Not every adult is out there to hurt you. You have a family out there somewhere just for you, and I'm not going to stop looking until I find them. Who knows, maybe this one is it."

Nicky just sighed and shook her head. Due to her lack of sleep the night before, and due to the ridiculous heat, she was tired and not in the mood to argue. She hated the whole "you'll find a family" speech and had simply chosen to ignore it. Mostly because it was a bunch of bullshit.

"And if you want to get technical, you are the one who agreed to be placed there. So that kind of tells me that you will like it."

Now this pulled Nicky from her quiet mood.

"I did not! That woman tricked me!"

Susan burst out into laughter, which only angered the child more.

"Stop laughing! It was her fault! She was crazy!"

"If you say so," the woman replied teasingly. "I saw the look on your face that day. She got to you."

"Shut up! She did not! I had no look!"

Susan just laughed again, shaking her head.

"I think that woman was brilliant if you ask me."

"I think she's brilliant if you ask me." The girl mocked in a high pitched tone before crossing her arms over her chest and looking back out of the window. It wasn't so much the teasing that had ticked her off, but more the fact that Susan was actually right. How she even ended up being here was a little brilliant on her new placement's part.

She really was crazy. It's not like I actually meant to agree to this move…

The moment that had previously started all of this had been playing over, on a loop, in her head for days.

It had been visiting day for those who were looking to foster and, before she had a chance to run and hide, she had been dragged into Susan's office for an interview. As she had walked in, she'd found a red haired female sitting in a chair. Nicky actually thought her to be pretty, but she would never admit this out loud.

"Here she is!"

Susan took a seat at her desk while Nicky grumpily sat down in a chair next to the woman, arms crossed over her chest as she plopped onto it.

"Oh my gosh…"

The girl let out a strong sigh. She was so not in the mood for this.

"Aww, look at you. You're so adorable!"

There was sincerity in her voice, but the child merely rolled her eyes at the comment.

She is the suck up kind of foster parent. I can already tell.

"No, really. Look at those eyes, you have those big ol' chocolatey browns. I love them!"

Yeah, no. Definitely not in the mood.

"Whatever. What am I? Some side show freak? Quit staring at me!"

The female was a little taken aback by the remark but dismissed it, smiling nonetheless.

"I'm sorry. I just really thought you looked beautiful, that's all."

Nicky, whose eyes had been on the floor, brought them up and locked them with the other. As she did, her thoughts came to a standstill, the softness the other pair had been harbouring had taken her completely off guard. It was not something that she had become used to seeing. She had done a ton of interviews in the past, yes, but this one…this woman carried a warmth in her gaze that no previous adult she'd met had.

It's almost like she actually means what she says. Her eyes…they're soft, and they tell me that she means it…but… No. No, no, no. Definitely not.

She had never been one to be softened up by a few compliments, and she never would be. It was not her thing and, in the end, she was aware that the words were nothing but constant lies. So, despite her heart's ever so minor flutter, she paid no mind to whatever was coming from the woman's mouth.

"I said stop staring…" she had finally told her, proceeding to look away as a bit of heat clustered to her cheeks. Weird thing to say as she was the one who had started the whole staring thing in the first place.

"Nicky…" Cassidy started. "This is Galina Reznikov. Galina, this is Nicole Nichols."

"Hello, Nicole." Galina greeted, holding out her hand to shake. "That's a really pretty name. I like it. It's nice to meet you."

Nicky simply looked at the offered hand and yawned, leaning back further into her chair. Susan had given her the "be polite" look, but she had just shrugged it off, choosing instead to look down and fiddle with the strings of her mermaid shorties.

"Ms. Reznikov here is looking to foster a girl." Susan told her. "I thought you were a perfect candidate. I told her all about you and she wanted to meet you."

Nicky snickered at this, tucking some of her wild, curly, locks behind her ears.

"You told her I was the perfect candidate? And here I thought you knew me…"

"Well, I really am glad to meet you."

"OK…"

"Mhm, really glad. I love kids and I look forward to taking one in."

"Right…"

Sitting back in her chair, Galina crossed one leg over the other; her gaze choosing to stay on the stubborn ten year old. Whilst most adults were turned off by this attitude, she was not. What she was, was incredibly intrigued. In fact, she had received a warning about the girl before they had even started. Prior to this meeting, Susan had pulled her aside and briefed her on how she would most likely act. Choosing to inform the other woman of the possible attitude and sarcasm, Susan had explained that the girl had a few hard knocks early on and wasn't nice to any adult she had met previously. She had also explained that, despite being hard to get through to, she really did want a family.

Susan had known the girl long enough for her to become aware of this fact. Nicky wanted what every other kid did, but her trust level was so low that she would never let herself have it. No family has been able to get through to her, the girl therefore never getting the chance at adoption. It was a heart breaking thing for the Russian to hear. No child deserved to be shoved off to the side. She would make sure, at least for this girl, that it would not happen again.

"Well then, I take it you're not interested in staying with me?" Galina suddenly asked, all eyes returning to the child.

"Not really."

"Well, that's a shame. I would really love having you."

"Such a shame." Nicky replied sarcastically.

"Not a family person, huh?"

"No way."

"Just not your thing?"

"Nope."

"Ok, I understand that. I mean families can be such a pain, right? Always nagging, always in your business…"

Nicky's brows furrowed as she listened to the redhead. This wasn't the normal conversation she had become used to with perspective parents during an interview, at least not so causally.

"Very much so…I just don't need a family, OK? I can take care of myself, so this meeting is a waste of time."

"Oh, there's no doubt in the fact that you can care for yourself. You seem like you can. Well, it's too bad you're not interested. I know I'd be able to change your mind."

"Change my mind?"

"Yeah, about the whole family thing. Staying with me? I think you'll learn that family is not all so bad."

Nicky couldn't help but scoff at this. She couldn't even begin to believe what this woman, this stranger, was implying.

"No way. You couldn't get me to believe that crap."

"No?"

"No! Anyways, you would get tired of me so quickly that you wouldn't even have the time to make me believe."

"Oh really?"

"Yep."

"Wanna make a bet?"

Up until now, Susan had no idea what was going on, choosing instead to watch the exchange with confused eyes. At that very moment, however, she had began to catch on. Knowing how Nicky loved to play into challenges, she couldn't help but become amused.

"A bet?"

"Yes. I bet that I could get you to love the whole idea of family. I bet I could change your mind about it all and that I wouldn't get tired of you."

Nicky smirked. Was this woman that stupid?

"And I bet that within three months you would get so sick of me you'd send me back. I bet you wouldn't be able to change my mind about anything."

"Well, I guess we shall see."

"I guess we shall."

After her little ploy, Galina had stood up and looked at Susan with a victorious smile.

"Well, now that we are all in agreement, is taking her in two weeks good?"

"It's perfect!" Susan replied.

"Wait, what?" Nicky asked, suddenly confused. "All in agreement? I never agreed to -"

"You said that you bet I couldn't get you into the whole family thing, and that I would get tired of you, did you not?"

"Well, y-yes, I -"

"And I bet that I could get you to believe and that I wouldn't get tired of you."

"I know, but -"

"So in order to see who wins that bet, you would have to come stay with me. Correct?"

Nicky sat there dumbfounded, only now beginning to take in what had really just unfolded. Susan, who had picked up on what was going on, was trying hard not to laugh. She was right. With Nicky's stubborn and competitive nature, she knew she would fall right for it. Poor Nicky was the only one who didn't catch on, but now…

"You…You tricked me!"

Susan lost it at this point, bursting out into laughter.

"Tricked you? Not at all. I'd never do that to you. Anyways, I can't wait to have you stay with me. I really think you'll have fun."

"But…I…"

"I think she will, too." Susan chimed in. "I can get the paperwork started right away. You said two weeks?"

"But -"

"Yep! I will have everything ready by then."

"Stop!"

Nicky stood up from her seat, a series of gawking noises and squeaks escaping her system.

"S-Susie!" she shouted, still in shock from all of this happening so quickly. "You seriously can't be considering…this!"

Susan threw her hands into the air.

"I'm not considering. It's already decided. She wants to take you in, Nicky, and I am not going to say no."

"But -"

"Hey now…"

Before the girl had even been given a chance to react - Galina was right in front of her, hand under her chin. After gently lifting it, their eyes had locked; the soft words that followed not even enough to make the stubborn Nicky act up.

"Hey, it's ok. You don't have to worry, I promise. Nothing bad is going to happen there. I'll take good care of you during your stay, and I mean that. I think you'll like it there. Well, at least I really hope you do."

You have a lovely way about you, Nicky." She had said, all in a motherly tone. "I look forward to taking you in."

It was in that moment that something strange happened…something Nicky had never experienced before. It was like…an exchange of emotion took place…as if a sudden pull could be felt between them, and only they alone could feel it. If Galina felt it, she didn't show it - but Nicky's worried gaze and inability to answer had proved that she had felt something happen…it proved that she had felt some form of warmth for the other party. That motherly tone had hit her hard, and while she tried to fight everything she was feeling…a part of her couldn't shake it off…a small part of her couldn't forget.

"We're here!"

Nicky snapped back from her thoughts once more as the car's horn went off, nearly groaning after she had realized that they were pulling into a drive way.

"Do I really have to do this?"

"Yes, you do."

"But this whole thing is going to suck."

"Nicky, really?"

Turning off the car, Susan leaned back into her seat and sighed.

"You really need to stop thinking like that. This isn't going to suck."

Nicky said nothing in return, choosing instead to simply sigh and look back out of the car's window.

"You know, I really think this is going to be great for you. Now you can sit there and think, "you say that every time," all you wish, but it's true. Let me ask you something: out of all of the families that you have interviewed with, how many wanted to take you in after seeing that attitude of yours?"

Nicky's heart clenched a little, her big chocolate eyes falling to the floor.

"You have been into seven different foster homes since you were three; four of them being my choosing with no previous interviews between you and the guardians. The amount of actual interviews you have had is much higher than that, and I know because I have been to every one of them from the moment I took you on. I also know that in each one, you give attitude and push them back just like you did two weeks ago; out of every single one, who still wanted you after the interviews were over?"

Crossing her arms over her chest, the girl brought her gaze back up and out of the passenger side window.

"This one…"

"Exactly. She sees so much love and true goodness in you, just like I do, and she wants to give you a chance. You should give her a chance, too. Now come on."

With that, Susan got out of the car. Nicky was left unmoving at the passenger side as she was still stuck on the woman's words. She was right. She had gone through many interviews in the past; during every one she had purposely caused trouble, continuously leaving her untaken in the end. Her attitude with Galina was no different, however, and unlike all of the previous families, she still wanted to take her in, regardless of how the girl had acted.

Even though I still think she tricked me…I just don't get it, though. It worked on everyone else, why didn't it work on her?

She didn't understand it.

Well I don't care what she says. This stay is going to suck and it won't last, I know it.

But then why, despite thinking this, did she constantly hope that she was wrong?

"I'll take good care of you during your stay…"

Galina's gaze and warm voice had suddenly made its way back into Nicky's mind, her heart momentarily freezing as she remembered the calm and loving words. It had caused her heart to flicker in a way that she hadn't felt in a very long time…and that feeling…that connection-like feeling…what was that? Could this finally be her break? Could she really find a family in Galina?