Naia's POV

"I don't think homework should be a thing," Nate complained as we walked out of school Monday. "I think it was made to torture us."

I sighed, "Yeah, it's pretty bad."

"Pretty bad is an understatement," Nate looked at me and I chuckled.

"Okay, I'll promote it to bad then," I joked.

"I'll take it," Nate chuckled as we approached Gabby and Matt.

"How was school?" Matt asked us.

I shrugged, "It was good besides the homework."

"Says the person who only gave it a promotion to bad," Nate sniggered, making me shoot a scowl his way. "Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow!"

I waved as he started walking away before turning around so that we could start our walk home.

"What was the homework's position before its promotion?" Gabby asked me, making me chuckle.

"Pretty bad," I responded.

Matt was surprised, "That's it? I thought you disliked homework more than pretty bad."

"I don't enjoy doing it and I'm not sure why we get so much of it but I think it does have its pros," I shrugged as we continued walking.

"How old are you again?" Matt asked.

I looked at him, confused why he was asking me that question.

"Twelve, you know that."

Matt chuckled, "You don't act like one sometimes."

"What's that supposed to mean?" A frown formed on my face as I wondered what Matt meant by 'you don't act like one'.

"What do you feel like having for dinner?" Gabby asked me, changing the subject.

I shrugged, "Whatever I guess. It doesn't really matter to me."

"I was thinking that maybe we should invite Shay and Kelly over for dinner," Gabby said and Matt nodded.

"I'm good with that."

I smiled, "That sounds like fun."

"Alright then, I call them when we get home," Gabby patted my head.

When we did get home, Gabby did just as she said she would do and picked up the phone, presumably dialling Shay. Pouting, I made my way to the living room and pulled out all my homework for tonight.

"What are three things you use every day in your life?" I asked, organizing my homework by subject like I always did.

Matt sat down on the couch, across from where I was sitting on the ground. I stacked all the textbooks I had in one pile on the coffee table which was also where my homework had been laid out.

"Uh, my toothbrush, food, and toilet paper, I don't know. Why?" Matt peered down at my homework.

I picked up my history textbook, "Notice how history wasn't listed."

Matt burst into laughter, "That was a good one Naia."

"It's true," I shrugged, placing the textbook back down on the pile.

"I'm sure history has its benefits," Matt consoled me but I just glared at him, not in the mood to be comforted. Matt picked up on the sign and just nodded at me. I nodded back and started, reluctantly I may add, my homework.

"You're still doing homework?" Shay looked over my shoulder where I was completing a math worksheet.

I nodded, "Yeah but this is the last of it."

"Good, we'll put on a movie afterwards," Shay looked over at everyone else who nodded in agreement.

Once I had finished up the last few questions, I shoved everything back into my backpack and snuggled on the couch in between Gabby and Shay.

"What should we watch?" Matt asked, flicking through the channels while Kelly went through the DVDs.

"You guys have The Hunger Games," Kelly said, holding up the DVD.

Gabby was hesitant, "It's kind of gory."

"It's not too bad," Kelly retorted and Shay rolled her eyes.

"Kelly, the movie is about kids killing each other," She smacked him in the shoulder.

I raised an eyebrow, "I take it that there's a lot of dying then."

Everyone nodded and mumbled their agreements.

"You guys have Jumanji as well," Kelly said as he kept flipping through the DVDs. "That's less gory than The Hunger Games."

I looked up to see Shay and Gabby exchange looks before Gabby nodded.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

As Matt prepared the DVD, I thought about why they were so reluctant to let me watch The Hunger Games. I had read the book before, I knew what it was about. I knew what happened.

But I've also seen it.

The blood, the cruelty. I had seen that happen right in front of me.

Sighing contentedly, I snuggled closer into Gabby's side and she wrapped an arm around me.

"Oh I see how it is," Shay whispered quietly so only I could hear and I smiled up at her. Slowly, I reached out my arm so I could grab Shay's hand. When I took it, she gave my hand a gentle squeeze and I suppressed a yawn before turning my attention back to the movie playing.

"Should we wake her?" Gabby's voice was soft. Realizing I had fallen asleep, I wanted to get up but the sleep in my body was too powerful and I ended up just laying there, my eyes closed.

"No, I'll just carry her to her room," Matt replied and moments later, I felt my body being picked up and I heard the footsteps as Matt walked down the hall to my bedroom. Gabby must have already pulled the covers back because when he set me down, someone pulled the covers over my body, tucking me in.

"Good-night Munchkin," Matt whispered quietly before kissing me on the forehead.

Gabby caressed my face before planting a kiss on my head, "Sweet dreams."

I then heard footsteps as they both left my room and the little click as someone turned off the light. Then I heard the creaking as the door closed. Sleepily, I opened one eye and saw how dark it was in my bedroom. Swallowing hard, I pulled the covers closer around my body and closed my eye.