Skye woke up slowly as she heard someone yelling her name. No not yelling, just speaking her name softly.
"Skye. Hey Skye come on. Wakey wake. Skye."
She felt warm and comfy and the vestiges of a good dream slowly faded away. She opened her eyes and found herself staring at Melinda. She was still snuggled into her which explained the feeling of warmth and coziness she was feeling. Melinda smiled at her.
"Good you're awake. You have to get up now. School, remember?"
Skye nodded but snuggled in closer and laced her fingers around Melinda's hand, closing her eyes. "Thank you for staying with me. Thank you for not giving up on me.
Melinda returned the hug and stayed quiet for a moment, then she spoke. "We don't give up on people in this family Skye. Phil never gave up on me, neither of us will give up on you ever."
"Hmmm...even when I do stupid things?"
"Especially when you do stupid things. Which by the way, you will do many more of those."
Skye finally opened her eyes and looked at Melinda. "Gee thanks."
Melinda laughed. "You're fourteen Skye. Your brain isn't even fully developed yet. I'm sure Phil and I have a whole lot more of serious dumb decisions by you, and Donnie, headed our way. You aren't perfect, and goodness wouldn't that be boring anyway. But how about we keep those dumb decisions to things that aren't so dangerous."
"So you're giving me permission to make bad choices?" She grinned at Melinda.
Melinda frowned at her. "Don't test me Missy. No bad choices, at least for a little while. Cut us a break, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks for believing in me. I will do better. I promise."
"I know you will. I have faith in you Skye. But we need to get moving. Gotta get back into a regular morning routine. So shake a leg, kiddo." Melinda disengaged herself from Skye and got up, leaving the room to got to hers to take a shower.
Skye laid still for a moment and then got up, moving across the hall to the bathroom to get herself ready for school, something she was both dreading and looking forward to.
Skye was the last one to go downstairs. She entered the boisterous kitchen and just watched for a moment. Phil was at the stove cooking, Melinda was stuffing food into lunch bags, and Thomas and Donnie were engaged in a conversation about baseball as best she could decipher. She smiled. Melinda noticed her and caught her eye.
"Hey Skye, can you pour the drinks please. Phil's nearly got the pancakes finished. Thomas grab that plate of bacon and set it on the table please."
Thomas did as asked, and Skye moved to the counter getting glasses from the cupboard. "What do you all want to drink?"
"Chocolate milk." Was Donnie's short answer and he turned back to speak to Thomas about batting averages. Thomas echoed his answer also wanting chocolate milk. Melinda and Phil opted for orange juice. Skye poured three glasses of chocolate milk and two of orange juice and set them out. Before sitting, Skye moved closer to Phil.
She waited quietly till he looked up and acknowledged her. "Hey Skye. You need something?"
She shook her head and then spoke to him quietly. "I wanted to apologize. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying and deceiving you. And keeping things I shouldn't have secret. For not trusting you with things we – well I – I shouldn't have kept to myself. I'll try to do better."
Phil scooped the last of the pancakes onto the plate and wiped his hands on his apron, and then turned to Skye. "Thank you. I forgive you." He reached over to squeeze her arm and gave her a huge smile. "Now let's eat."
Skye grinned back and then spontaneously hugged him. "Thanks." She pulled away and sat down as Phil brought the platter of chocolate chip pancakes to the table setting it down, he looked at Melinda as they both smiled.
Phil pulled into the high school faculty parking lot after dropping Donnie off at the middle school. They walked into the building and headed for the library. Phil stopped at the library entrance and handed Skye her phone and then handed one to Thomas as well.
"Put you on our plan too Thomas. I know that place took your phone. You both hand them back in when we get in the car to leave. Understood?"
"Yes sir," Thomas answered. Skye nodded.
"Okay then. Miss Navarro is expecting you. You'll come here early every day and stay for first period instead of going to the gym for Phys Ed."
"Forever?" Skye smirked.
"We would be so lucky." Thomas said wistfully.
"Negative. Temporarily." Phil replied giving both stern looks. "Do homework, study, or something constructive. Read. No video games, no youtube, no social media. Clear?"
Both nodded. Then Skye added. "Is it okay if I do work for tonight's meeting. I was gonna consolidate the information and take notes, kind of highlighting everything, putting stuff in order – making sure I don't forget anything. Maybe writing out some of the things that happened in the past to get everything – I don't know – like – better in my head to talk about, you know?"
Phil looked at her, obviously thinking about her request. After a bit, he answered her. "Probably be a good idea to have a sequential order written out that we can see. That's actually a great idea."
"Me too. I can write out and outline stuff in my family. What happened to me, not just when they took me to Four Winds, but before that. With my parents, Grant and even Christian." Thomas added.
"Okay. Just make sure your schoolwork is all caught up, and sure – you can both go ahead. Skye, we have the thumb drive of your St. Agnes records, and Melinda said you have pics and info on another thumb drive about the Enlightenment center."
"Yeah. And a few printed pics, and some other printed stuff at home."
"Whatever notes you write out today and all that and you can hand it all over and we adults will look over everything. If we have questions – we'll ask you. Clint, Akela Amador, Jessica Jones, Izzy and Vic, Bobbi and Hunter will all be at our house later tonight."
"Okay."
"Skye, phones are only to contact me or Melinda, or in an emergency. You want to text anyone else or call anyone else – you have to get permission first. You too Thomas. Clear?"
They both nodded and turned and walked into the library. Phil watched a moment and then turned and strode down the hall toward his classroom.
Skye entered the classroom hesitantly. It was her advanced computer class and Damian Malick would be there. She made her way to her trying to not draw any attention, when Trip let out a cheer and spoke loudly, "Hey girl. So glad to see you." He got up and engulfed her in a bear hug. Skye couldn't help but grin back at him.
"I missed you too Trip." She noticed he was in a suit and tie. "So wedding or funeral?"
"Ha! Debate team meet again. Semi Finals. Come on girl – you know I look good." He flashed her a huge smile.
She laughed back. "Yeah, well that goes without saying."
"Oh you can say it. I like hearing it." He laughed. "I am really glad you guys are back. It's been lonely at lunch."
"Lincoln and others have been back for over a week Trip."
"But not you girl. And Lincoln's been kind of mopey without you around. It's not a good look for him."
The class had filled up, and Mr. Malick cleared his throat. "Alright everyone, settle down. Take a seat and seal the lips. We have a lot of work to cover today."
Skye quickly sat down in her seat next to Trip and opened her computer ducking behind the screen, hoping that Malick did not zero in on her. She checked, and he seemed to not have noticed she'd returned to his class after a long absence. Good. She didn't need his dull condescension today.
Trip grinned at her and whispered. "Spying again? I hear you and your gang of cohorts are good at that. I'm gonna need that full story at lunch."
"Hush." She gave him a stern look and then broke into a grin.
The morning went by rather quickly, Skye found out even though she had been doing all the work that the teachers had sent home, she was still behind some, because of her not being in actual classes had her missing a lot of details. She figured she'd catch up soon enough though what with being grounded and all. Soon it was lunchtime and she headed to the cafeteria.
She made her way to their table, trying to ignore all the stares and whispers. Of course, she'd been enduring that all morning, but not on the scale it was in the cafeteria. She quickly got to the table and sat down between Lincoln and Thomas, her normal seat. Trip was on Lincoln's other side and Jemma and Leo across from her along with Ace, Kate and Piper.
"Hey you." Lincoln smiled brightly at her.
She returned the smile. "I'm glad to see you. Sorry about getting you involved and making your mom angry. A little surprised that she let you eat lunch with me. Melinda said she was not very happy."
"Yeah. But I made my own choices and take full responsibility. She's far angrier at me than you. Says I should have been the one, as the oldest, to set you guys straight."
Thomas laughed. "Sorry Linc but no one is setting me straight. Family already tried remember?"
Jemma giggled, while Skye rolled her eyes. Skye bumped Thomas in the shoulder. "Dude." She turned back to Lincoln. Just cause you're a couple years older doesn't mean..."
"Yeah it does. Looking back, in retrospect, it was pretty dangerous Skye. We were pretty much acting like dumbasses. It could have gone pretty bad in only a few seconds. We could ..."
"I just have one thing to say." Trip interrupted him. "Next time please invite me. I felt so left out."
They burst into laughter. Ace spoke up as the laughter died down. "Dude, the only reason Skye brought in him," he pointed emphatically at Lincoln, 'is cause he can legally drive."
"Well, so can I." Trip responded quickly.
"Yeah but you're not kissing face with Skye and you're smart enough to say no to a pretty face." Kate grinned at him.
"Hey. That's not why...I wanted to help... and protect...and..."
"Dude. We all get it. Skye's hot." Ace just shrugged.
"Definitely." Piper agreed.
"Hey." Kate smacked her arm.
"Oh shit. Did I say that out loud?"
"You did." But yes, you're not wrong." Jemma said. "She's very hot." All heads at the table nodded in agreement.
Skye looked around the table, clearly embarrassed as her cheeks tinted pink. "So – um – yeah- anyway – I – uh – I typed this out this morning." She turned her now opened computer. "It's about – uh – about stuff. Like about my past and things and Donnie. And the rest is stuff about me and all you guys since I got here to this school. I kind of wanted a couple people to read over it. Maybe even type in your own notes about the things you were involved in. Like gym class and me getting hurt. And the other stuff. Thomas already added to it and he also wrote his own story of his past down."
"Yeah. I thought maybe Leo and Jemma and Ryan and you too Ace – those who know about you know – me and Grant and stuff he did to me. Add in any details you remember or stuff I didn't see or whatever. Skye thought it would be a good idea to have as many details, and stuff to give them tonight."
"Yeah I'll send the document via e-mail to you all. I just need a couple more email addresses."
"Yeah I need a couple too."
They proceeded to get all the email addresses, even those not at the table and sent the documents.
"Oh hey guys. Um – my past – well it kinda sucked mostly. But the story there about the Hamilton's is – it was probably the suckiest - it wasn't easy to write down. I'd appreciate it if no one else knows. Just the ones I send it to. Lincoln and Jemma already know the full story."
"Sure Skye." Ace nodded.
"You got it." Trip added. The others nodded or agreed with an affirmative comment.
"Thanks."
Thomas spoke softly next. "Yeah. That goes for me too." Everyone nodded as Skye patted his shoulder in understanding.
The rest of the day went by quickly as Skye went to Geometry, Biology and Spanish classes. She'd sent the document she had typed – including her notes about her past with the Hamilton's, St. Agnes, other foster homes, her missing files and all her investigative hacking information as well as a synopsis of their spy event – to everyone and asked them to write notes and send them back to her after school. At the bell that ended the last class of the day, she got up and started heading out the door, when the Spanish teacher, Miss Vazquez called to her. She turned around and approached the teacher.
"Skye, I'm concerned with how much time you've missed in class."
"Yeah, me too. I've realized how important in class attendance is to many of my classes. I did do all the work you sent home though."
"Yes. You may need a tutor to catch up though."
"My – uh Melin – my – my foster mother said she could help me. With Spanish. She said she speaks fluently."
"Well that's good, But speaking the language and understanding the grammar rules are not the same."
"Oh. Okay. But I think she still could help some."
"Yes. But here. I have a program that may also help. It's online." She moved to a shelf and retrieved a box. "Here. Use this for grammar and structure. I'm sure Mrs. Coulson can help with pronunciation and translation. I take it you don't want a tutor."
"Well I kind of think I need a math and science one, so I only have so much time. I think I can get this one on track without one. I'll certainly use this and ask Melinda for help."
"Good."
"I got to get to Mr C's classroom. See ya tomorrow." She smiled as the teacher nodded at her, then turned and left the room.
Outside the classroom Skye put the Spanish Language CD in her backpack along with her Spanish book and then headed down the hallway to the stairs. She went into the stairway and finally realized how quiet it was, with no other kids around. She picked up her steps nearly running down the stairs and got out her phone to text Phil she was on her way. She stepped out the stairwell into the hallway and made her way quickly to her locker. She needed to pick up her copy of 'Lord of the Flies', the current book the class was reading for English Lit and her history book.
Arriving in front of her locker she opened it and got out the two books while returning her computer and algebra books, she hoisted her backpack up and slammed the locker shut and turned around.
"Hello Skye." Raina flashed her a smirk.
Skye took in a deep breathe. Raina was standing a few feet in front of her with Alicia to her right, and on her left two guys Raina hung around with, friends of Miles and Seth. "You are not supposed to be near me Raina. That was a condition of you being allowed to stay in school."
"Hmm...the way I understood it was I was not to harass you in any way. I'm not doing that. I just want to talk to you."
"Well I don't want to talk to you." Skye stepped toward her right to head down the hallway to Phil's classroom.
The two guys moved to stand in her way. One spoke. "She said she wants to talk to you. So you will do just that."
"Or what? You goons gonna stop me? You touch me you will be gone from this school."
"No one will believe you. Besides we are already somewhere else not here. Our friends will vouch we were with them." Alicia moved closer to Skye. "So unless you want to end up like Will, or one of your other geek buddies, you just stand there and talk to her."
"No. I won't. Move please. I need to get to Mr. C's classroom. He's expecting me. In fact, I'm already late." She moved to go by them, but they forced her back into the lockers.
"Skye, just talk to me. I have messages from JJ and Grant. For you and for Thomas and Ryan. You'd be smart to listen."
"My phone is on. Recording this. I'm going to play it for the authorities."
"That would be a stupid thing to do Skye. But JJ says you're not very bright." She turned to the guys. "Get it."
Skye simply took the phone out of her pocket. "Here. A boy snatched it from her. Skye recognized him as Gary Gruber from her Spanish class.
"Good luck with that. Victoria Hand equipped all our phones with enhanced GPS. As soon as I tell them it was taken from me – they can track it."
"Break it," Raina ordered.
"Go ahead. You know breaking a phone doesn't erase the memory, right? A professional can retrieve the info. Hell, I can retrieve the info." Skye smiled at her. "Oops. Guess you lost this one, eh?"
"She's lying." Alicia gazed venomously at Skye. "Break it, Gary."
"You gonna want to break mine too? I'm recording you all."
"So am I."
"Yeah me too."
Raina turned quickly to see Thomas, Ace, and Piper with their phones up.
"Hey guys." Skye grinned. "Thanks for getting here quickly."
"I texted Mr. C too. He and security should be here soon." Piper nodded at Skye.
Skye nodded back and looked down the hall to see Mr. C and security coming toward them. She laughed. "Oops. I guess you lost Raina."
"You don't get it Skye. You may have won this battle. But you won't win the war. I was simply trying to warn you. There is no way you will win. You have no idea what you've started."
Later after Raina and her buddies were escorted to the Principal's office, Skye was back in Mr. C's classroom with Thomas. Piper and Ace had returned to their afterschool Photography club, after everyone gave statements to security and the videos were sent to Ms. Price's phone.
"You sure you're okay Skye?" Mr. C hovered near her, all worried.
"I'm fine."
"Next time a teacher has you stay after class, have them walk you to your next one. You shouldn't be alone in the hallways or anyway in this school."
"Well that kind of sucks doesn't it?"
"It does Thomas. But until this is all figured out and we know for sure no one is in danger, that is the smartest thing to do."
"Yeah I know. Me and the others already did that. Not just in the school either. It helped a little. But they aren't intimidated easily."
"I am asking Ms. Price to suspend all four, especially Raina. She had her chance and blew it. We don't need her back here."
"Yeah keep suspending them all and soon the school will be safe." Skye nodded.
"Except for the numbers they have."
"Yeah I guess. I didn't even know Gary was part of that crowd. He even was nice to me before in class."
"He used to be my friend. Back in elementary school. Seems that sometime in the beginning of middle school everyone moves into specific cliques. Even those not fully sports guys or whatever – so many are afraid of going against the school hierarchy. Many just lay low bidding their time till they can get the hell out of here."
"Like Ryan. Like he used to be."
"Yeah. But he was pressured by JJ too. By his whole family. I mean I'd say they are part of some sinister pro nationalist group but some of them don't fit that, you know? I mean don't get me wrong – my parents embrace that crowd. So do the Brody's and the Malick's and Garrett and a majority of the football team. I guess you might call them 'conservative' values." He did the quotes with his fingers. "You don't have to be white as long as you are inline with other more conservative values. Although there is some blatant racism here too."
"Yeah I noticed."
"But mostly it's just they want you to know your role. The boundaries. And when anyone crosses them or dares to fight back – they close circles. Like they are doing now. All those things we've accused people of, yeah, they will have alibis. And evidence, statements – they just disappear."
"Like my records and files. Like Donnie's."
"Yeah. It's a real mess." He shook his head. "Until you came along, we endured it. Even though it has gotten so much worse the last couple years. I think about my older brother. Christian was the real golden boy. You know, football and basketball captain. Straight A's. All the awards, and all the accolades. When my dad needed to present his family at political events and businesses – Christian was front and center. Then the rape charges happened."
"You wrote this all down, right? On your paper about your family and events to hand in?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think your brother is capable of rape?"
"Christian? Yeah. Definitely. I'm positive he not only raped that girl who accused him but many others who never pressed charges. They got away with everything – never had to answer for anything. Once I went to my dad about Christian beating me up. He told me to suck it up and fight back. Said a real man would fight back." Thomas shook his head. "I was seven. Grant was eleven and Christian was sixteen then. Rose was in college then. Before that, she used to protect me. She went to college when I was five and she never looked back. What I plan to do."
"Ryan and you want to graduate early. He said that you both could after junior year cause you'd have enough credits."
"Yeah but two and half more years of this just – just can't do it anymore. I can't pretend to be someone I'm not or walk around afraid. I'm never going back to them. I don't care what happens legally – I'm not. Not ever."
"Yeah. I don't blame you. It's kind of funny."
He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Not anything you said. It's just you can't wait to leave, and I so want to stay. I never had any sort of real family before. I finally found mine."
"Yeah."
"It could be yours too. Melinda and Phil are amazing. They are both so patient and caring and super nice."
Thomas grinned as he looked beyond Skye. She turned and saw Phil was standing behind her.
"Sorry. I just came to tell you guys that I'm done, and we can leave." He gave Skye a big smile.
"Cool." Thomas said as he stood up gathering his things. Skye did the same and turned to look at Phil and gave him a wry grin knowing he had heard her praise of himself and Melinda. The three walked out the door and headed home.
Skye had turned her phone over to Phil in the car, as had Thomas. She didn't quite know what to do without it. Like all teens it had become a necessity and something she depended on. She missed it. "Yeah, I miss my phone,' she said aloud in her room. "A lot." No one was there to hear her declaration. She sighed and grabbed all the information she'd printed and the thumb drives. She also pulled her backpack on and headed downstairs.
Phil was in the kitchen. She stopped at the counter and put her backpack on one of the stools then sat down in another. Phil looked over at her.
"You need something?"
"Melinda said I can't be on any computer without an adult around. I need to do a little homework, then I wanted to put all this info and stuff together."
"Right. Carry on then."
"Anyway, any decent programmer can pull up all my info. I kind of promised I wouldn't do any more hacking, so there's that too. I could hide stuff, but I promised I wouldn't."
"Good to know."
Skye opened her computer but then looked around it at Phil. "Whatcha making?"
"A couple desserts for tonight."
"What kind?"
"Cannolis, and caramel apple tarts."
Skye's mouth watered. "Sounds delicious."
"No worries. You can have some."
She gave him a bright smile.
"But after dinner. You should probably get that work done. Mel will be home in an hour or so, and after that Bobbi and Hunter should get here with the pizzas."
"And everyone else will get her too."
"Yes."
"Are Ryan and Jemma still coming along?"
"As far as I know. Izzy didn't say different when I talked to her a little while ago. Mike Peterson will be joining us too."
"That's gonna be a pretty full house."
"Yeah, it will."
"So anyway, I'm doing this Spanish program Miss Vazquez gave me, so I'm gonna use headphones, okay?"
"Sure." He watched her set up and put headphones on and then went back to making his desserts.