The next Adoption Day came faster than anyone thought it would.

Holly had woken up that morning and enjoyed breakfast like any other day. The new caregiver - Miss Keane - had made a light meal so that they didn't feel too full before helping them all get ready.

Her treatment with them had been more gentle, like a real mother would with their children. She could brush their hair, slip them into their outfits, adjust anything that looked off, all with graceful movement and praises. This was way better than Ima on Adoption Day.

Speaking of her, Mr. Morbucks told her to run Adoption Day while he was out. He also told Princess to watch over the orphans and make sure they didn't do anything reckless. Not that they would.

And so, the day started. The six remaining kids stood in a spaced out line from the entrance to the office, like usual. Princess and Miss Keane then made their way downstairs and looked at them. The redhead eyed each one of the orphans up and down while the woman grinned.

"You all look so good." she then added, walking to the kitchen. "Call for me when you kids want a break, okay?"

They all nodded.

Keane then stopped at the entryway and smiled. She then turned to Princess with a firm look. "Don't try anything Princess. Your father wants you on your best behavior."

"Tell me something I don't know…" she muttered, glaring at the floor.

"What was that?"

"Okay~!" she chimed, batting her eyelashes.

Miss Keane nodded before walking into the kitchen, out of sight.

Princess rolled her eyes before looking at Holly. The blonde stepped back a little, trying to make herself look smaller. She held Octi close to her chest as the redhead approached her. The rich girl eyed the orphan up and down like all of the other kids before asking.

"Why do you always carry that raggedy thing around?"

Holly didn't answer, squeezing her toy tighter. She shook where she stood and squeezed her eyes tight, doing her best not to cry.

Princess started to look even more annoyed. "I asked you a question…"

"Can't you see she doesn't wanna talk to you?!" Jaiden barked. "Get out of her face!"

"Stay out of this Jaiden! No one's talking to you!"

"She's right though." Robin stated, gesturing to Holly. The blonde had tears in her eyes. "You're scaring her!"

Holly was scared of Princess. After Ashley left, the rich girl would always pick on her. Taking Octi from her, pulling her hair at meals when no one was looking, throwing her clothes in mud puddles. Princess was the worst to her and even though Miss Keane and Robin did their best to stop her, she just kept doing it. Her father gave her no repercussions. No punishments. It upset Holly greatly.

Why couldn't Princess just get in trouble already?

Princess scoffed. "Oh please, I'm not scary. I just asked her a question."

"Didn't we tell you to leave her alone?!" Jaiden yelled, fire appearing in her jade eyes. "If you wanna mess with anyone, it's me!"

"I'm just telling her that that stupid piece of junk she's carrying around doesn't match her outfit. And it can be fixed if you hand the thing ov-"

"No…"

Princess blinked before growling. "What?"

Holly squeaked in fright but then realized that she couldn't just shy away from her forever. She took a deep breath and stood tall. She then said firmly. "I said no."

"Oh? And why not?"

"Because Octi's my friend a-and you're very mean to me." the blonde was started to stutter as Princess' angry eyes looked more like a glare. "I...I would like it if you would...stop picking on me. A-and maybe we can become friends…"

Jaiden shook her head and muttered. "Unbelievable…"

Princess suddenly started to look sympathetic. It kind took Holly aback for a second. "You know what Holly? You're right. I haven't been the nicest to you. At all. I'm so so sorry and I hope you can forgive me…"

The blonde blinked, feeling as though she was on a crossroad. She could forgive Princess and they could be the best of friends or not and she'll probably hate her forever. The possibility of the redhead lying and manipulating her could also be something that she would do. She had pretended to be nice before but ended up having evil intentions. But what if she was being genuine?

There was so many things that could happen that it was making her head hurt.

"I'll...think about it." Holly mumbled.

Princess' expression didn't change. She just nodded and walked away. The rest of the kids watched her go before looking at Holly.

"Do...do you think she's gonna pull anymore tricks?" A boy with curly blonde hair and thick glasses - Elmer - asked.

The twins beside him, wearing matching buttoned down shirts and slacks - Floyd and Lloyd - shrugged in unison.

"Probably…" Jaiden huffed. "I mean, this is Princess we're talking about."

"Hello children~!"

The six kids turned to the door to see a tall man with sunglasses, a pink tank top, black leggings and flip flops. He placed the glasses above his head and his green eyes sparkled happily towards the children. He was all too familiar to them.

It was the same man that took Ashley and the others.

The only difference about his appearance now and when he was there months before was that the shorter man he was with wasn't present today. Holly wondered where he was.

"Hello." Robin smiled with the other kids waving.

"Are you six the only ones left? There was a lot more of you when I was last here."

"They all got adopted sir." Holly stated with a nod.

The man beamed. "That's good, that's good. Now," he bent down so that he was about the six year old's heights. "How would you all like to get adopted today?"

All of the kids' eyes lit up. "Really?"

He nodded. "Of course. I don't see why not."

The kids whooped and hollered as he headed down the hallway towards Mr. Morbucks' office. While they waited, the kids started talking happily to one another, happy that they were all going to the same house and excited to see their friends that they thought they would never see again.

As the others conversed, Holly suddenly felt a pit form in her stomach. She was happy that they were going to be adopted and glad that she was going to see Ashley and the others again. But at the same time, she felt like this was wrong.

That something about that man wasn't right.

She ignored this feeling as all the kids headed upstairs to pack their bags.