Chapter 70- Skye and Kendall get Grounded

The next few days Skye and Kendall still tried to make each other jealous, but they picked up their game and started pulling pranks on each other. It started off small when Kendall put toothpaste in the middle of Skye's Oreos and Skye put salt in the sugar bowl (knowing that Kendall was the only one who put sugar in her coffee and tea). Skye would never admit this to Kendall, but the pranks became a good distraction for her because she would break down in tears each night when she got thinking of Rae, but when she started to brainstorm other pranks, it would dry her tears away. Kendall took it to a whole new level, however, when she called Palmer Cortlandt, pretending to be Skye, and asked him out on a date. He showed up Friday evening to pick her up and Myrtle literally kicked him in the behind and threw him out for even considering that was a good idea. She threatened to shoot him if he tried to do that again. Both Skye and Kendall stood there watching Myrtle in awe for several minutes as she went on a rant. The rant was mostly about the pig that was Palmer Cortlandt for treating her granddaughter that way, but she ended it by saying no more pranks.

But still, Skye came up with a way to get Kendall back when she got a hold of Kendall's shampoo bottle in the middle of the night.

Skye woke abruptly the next morning to a scream and a huge smile plastered her face. But that smile quickly dissolved when she heard Myrtle yelling.

"SKYE CHANDLER AND KENDALL HART, BOTH OF YOU COME OUT HERE IMMEDIATELY!"

Skye jumped up and when she and Kendall both peeked out to the hallway, both of their jaws dropped to the floor.

Myrtle came fuming towards them with hot pink hair. Both Skye and Kendall turned to run back into their rooms, but Myrtle grabbed each by the collars of their nightgowns.

"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?"

Skye and Kendall pointed to each other in fear.

Myrtle let go of them and when they started to take off, she put her foot down. "Stay where you are, both of you."

Each of them halted, shaking a little.

"I have never in my life," Myrtle said in a firm voice. "Ever dyed my hair."

Kendall's mouth dropped slightly. "You're saying that's your natural hair colour?"

"Yes," Myrtle said. "Mostly. It's faded a little. It used to be as dark as Skye's. But redheads never go grey, they just fade through the years."

A huge smile spread across Skye's face and leaned towards Kendall. "I believe you have brown hair. You'll have to spend big bucks on hair dye while I stay young forev—"

"SKYE. Be quiet!" Myrtle snapped causing Skye and Kendall to jolt. "I didn't realize until after I rubbed the so-called shampoo into my hair that I used someone else's by mistake. Now after Kendall tried setting you up with pig-headed Cooney, I believe you did this to get back at Kendall, Skye."

Kendall smiled. "Well, now that we settled who the culprit is, I better go make my bed—"

"Freeze! I have had enough of these pranks. Now I'm going to have pink hair for six weeks before I can dye it again! And we can't find mine or Skye's hair in a bottle!"

Skye lowered her gaze in shame. "I'm sorry, Grandma."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. Now, both of you apologize right now and start acting your age!"

Skye and Kendall exchanged a gaping look.

"Skye, you first," Myrtle said.

"Why do I have to go first?"

"Because Kendall is a house guest, and you made my hair pink!"

Skye groaned and avoided eye contact with Kendall. "I'm sarry…"

"For?"

"Fooor… pranking you."

"Kendall?"

Kendall sighed and spoke really fast. "I'm sorry for pranking you."

Myrtle nodded. "That's a start. Now we're going to the hospital and I expect no pranks. And I'm not going to make you cancel your lunch with Bianca because I don't want to disappoint her and also because I don't want any drama in the house while Rae settles back in."

Skye frowned. "Does that mean I can't help you bring her home?"

"No! You may visit her before she's discharged, then John, Erica, and I are bringing her home."

"But that's not fair!"

"After your lunch you may come back to see her. But starting on Monday you're both grounded."

"What?"

"What?"

"If you're going to act like children, then I'm going to treat you both like children. Skye, you are to go to work and come home for two weeks. Alan and Stuart may visit you here. Kendall, you may go out to run errands for me and start some job searching but all other times you are home. Erica and Bianca and if you'd like, your adoptive parents may visit you here. And no television for either of you!"

"But… but… Kendall and I are working on a project."

"You may work on your project here," Myrtle said.

"But we can't do it all from here," Kendall said.

"No more buts! Now, go get dressed, I want to get going."

FargateFargateFargate

Skye nor Kendall uttered a word on the way to the hospital. Myrtle seemed to have flipped a switch though, since she got her anger out at home. She told them how excited she was for them to be going out for lunch with Bianca. And even more, that she was relieved to be bringing Rae home at last.

When they arrived, John and Erica were waiting for them, and Bianca was sitting on a bench reading a magazine. John and Erica gaped at Myrtle, but she told them not to speak a word about her hair or she'd be taking Rae home herself.

Myrtle told Skye to go in and see Rae while the rest of them talk to the doctor, then they could take Bianca out for their lunch.

Kendall said she wanted to see Rae too, Skye was about to argue but opted not to since Myrtle was still standing there, and she was best to keep on her good side for the time being.

But Skye chewed hard on her fingernails when Kendall walked over and kissed Rae's cheek.

"I'm so happy you get to come home," Kendall said and squeezed Rae's hand. "You should see how excited Myrtle is. She's sending me and Skye out for lunch with Bianca though. She thinks we'll be in the way. I'm looking forward to getting to know you more. You'll have to play cards with me and Myrtle."

Rae looked over at Skye. "Kendall, thank you for your kindness, but I'd like a moment alone with Skye."

"Oh." Kendall frowned. "Okay. Well, I'll see you at home then." She smiled again and walked out.

"Skye?" Rae asked. "Are you okay?"

Skye's eyes welled with tears and she sat in the chair beside her bed. "Oh, Mom, I'm trying. I really am. But I'm going put you back in the hospital at this rate!"

Rae laughed a little. "What are you talking about?"

"I made a deal with God, but I can't keep my end of the bargain."

"What kind of deal?"

"I said I'd be nice to John and not lose my temper on you. And that I'd stop being jealous and insecure. In return God had to save you."

Rae sighed. "Skye, I might not follow God as much as Myrtle, though looking at her makes me think I should more… but I do know that God knows you're working on these things and it won't happen overnight. I'm not saying to stop working on them, but you're going to make mistakes along the way. And just because you do it's not going to magically put me back in the hospital. That's too much of a burden for anyone to carry. And honestly, if I were in your shoes, I'd be pretty ticked with Kendall."

Skye looked up at her. "You would?"

"Yes. Even I can notice that she's purposely trying to make you jealous, and probably Erica a bit too. It's a little over the top showing so much affection to me, a woman she barely knows, so suddenly. She's acting kind of ridiculous if you ask me."

Skye laughed. "She is and she's doing the same with Grandma too!"

"Well, that might be a little different because she's known her longer… but Skye, you have nothing to worry about. She's not replacing you. No one's replacing you. And I will keep repeating that until it's engraved in your head and your heart."

Skye started to tear up again.

"But I want you to be careful. Don't try to get Kendall back. Just flat out tell her to knock it off. In fact, I can say something to her. It's just I know she's your friend and I don't want to scare her off."

"She was my friend," Skye said. "Or at least I thought she was."

"Well, I hope you girls can work it out. I know how excited you were to be friends with her and start up your new company."

"Grandma is making me go out for lunch with her and Bianca. But I wanted to help take you home! I know she thinks I'm just going to get in the way and make everything about me, but I really won't. I'll focus on you, I will!"

Rae smiled and wiped away Skye's tears with her thumb. "I think lunch is a great idea. It's going to be very boring, and you don't need to watch me on a feeding tube. You've been through a lot this year. You should go have fun with Kendall and Bianca."

"But I want to be with you."

"We're going to have lots of time to spend together. We will when you get back, and we even have some time before I'm discharged." Rae moved over a bit and winced, but she patted the spot beside her.

"But it'll hurt you."

"Nonsense," Rae said. "It'll make me feel better."

"Well, okay… if you insist." Skye climbed on beside her and Rae wrapped an arm around her. Instead of wrapping her arms around Rae's waist, she held her hand and interlaced their fingers. "Let me know if it hurts."

"It doesn't hurt." Rae kissed the back of Skye's hand, then rested her head against hers.

A/N Do you agree with Myrtle? Should Skye get to help bring Rae home or would she just bring her drama into the homecoming?