Curtains billowed in the soft breeze letting a small amount of light into a darkened room, slightly stirring only one of the two sleeping forms laying in bed. A small purple, hairless cat was curled up next to her person as her ears twitched towards the flapping fabric, more as a reflex than interest keeping her eyes closed. That quickly changed when a loud 'p-ting' came from her person's phone, nearly scaring her out of her skin.

An irritated groan rumbled from underneath the blanket and a face popped out looking all but pleased. She blinked a few times angrily to focus her blurry, tired eyes and rolled her head toward her nightstand where her phone was charging to see who messaged her. Unintentionally looking at her alarm clock first, she let out a panicked yell, flinging her blanket, and her cat, off her bed while rolling out of it. Nearly tripping over her now frantic feline, she ran to her en suite bathroom to get ready as fast as humanly possible while apologizing profusely.

"Sorry Cleo," she mumbled, her mouth full of toothpaste. "If I'm late one more time, I'm gonna get another detention..."

As if the small animal understood, she mewed in forgiveness and rubbed up against the girl's leg. Fumbling through her closet, she was able to get her clothes together, found her dark yellow and green shoes, found her famous sleeveless red hoodie to go over her long sleeved, gray and dark gray striped shirt, her backpack..."Dammit!" she snapped, flinging articles of clothing off the floor as she searched for the most important thing she needed before leaving. "Where IS it?!"

"Mew-" Cleo purred standing over the item the girl had been looking for.

"Yes! Thanks Cleo." she laughed and gave the purple cat a pet on the head before grabbing her mp3 player and ran out the door.

Down in the kitchen, an older woman stood at the stove tending to pancakes as she shook her head fondly to herself listening to her daughter destroy her bedroom. "Are you almost ready, Tuntun?" she smiled, plopping two pancakes onto a plate. "You should have something-" she chirped happily, turning to give the girl her breakfast but before she could get the rest of her sentence out, the pancakes were stuffed into the girl's mouth as she flung her backpack over her shoulder.

"Sorry, Mama, gotta go!" Tuntun mumbled with a mouthful of pancake. "Love you!"

"Be sure to be home on time, your brother and sister have a soccer game!" Tuntun's mother said quickly just as her daughter was out the door.

"Late again, huh?" a deep voice chuckled from behind the older woman. "She'll learn eventually." he added, wrapping his strong arms around her.

"I know." she sighed and turned to her husband with a smile. "I can't believe she's in high school already. Feels like it was just yesterday she was brought into our lives."

"Indeed it does." he smiled, hugging her close. "I guess no matter where they're from, they all grow up fast."

"She's going to be okay, right?" Tuntun's mother said softly with worry.

His smile faded as he contemplated the question. "Why do you ask?" he wondered.

"She went seven years without talking, I can't imagine what she must've gone through. I just hope she isn't suffering in silence because she thinks we won't understand..." she stated, hugging her husband. "I know she's happy here and she knows we love her no matter what, but I can't help worrying about her."

He hugged her close and rested his head on hers. "Worrying about your kids is normal, Em, she'll be fine. If she chooses to open up, she will when she's ready, and if she doesn't, all we can do is just be there for her."

Em looked up at her significantly taller husband lovingly and got on her tippy toes to give him a kiss. "As usual, you're right." she laughed and started cleaning up the table earning a chuckle from her husband who joined her.

Out of breath, Tuntun ran up the steps of her school and booked it down the hallway to her homeroom. Two minutes! She thought with determination as she skidded around a corner and slid into the classroom just as her teacher was about to close the door.

"Nailed it." Tuntun smirked in victory, straightening up and strutting to her seat but not before tripping over a backpack.

"Graceful as always, Miss Tuntun." her teacher frowned as the class snickered and laughed.

Tuntun jumped to her feet without missing a beat and sat down next to her friend who was just shaking his head at her. "Cutting it a little close, shortstack." he joked with a wink, using a nickname he had given her years ago due to their height difference. He was six foot five and she was only four foot eleven.

"Eh, keeps life interesting." Tuntun smirked, catching her breath while pulling out her books from her backpack.

Her classmate leaned over to her to speak quietly as the teacher started doing roll call. "Did you get my text?" he asked.

"Oh crap!" Tuntun gasped and grabbed her phone. "I'm so sorry, Cypress, I was in a rush and completely forgot."

"Hey, it's not a big deal." Cypress chuckled, "I just asked if you were coming to practice after school."

"Man," Tuntun groaned. "I can't, my brother and sister are playing tonight." she frowned, looking over at him apologetically. "Gotta help the parents."

"How 'bout after?" he asked. "You busy?"

She smiled affectionately at him and shook her head. "I'm all yours."