Hello! Got another chapter for you! It might be the weekend but there's no rest for the wicked! Again, thank you for the kind words. I'm glad people seem to like how the story is building. I hope you enjoy this one!


Skye walked up to the door of the Garrett's house, before realizing she didn't have a key. Shit. Hopefully Kathy hasn't left yet. Skye walked up to the door, knocking gently. She was just about to start looking for a different way to get in when she heard the door creak open behind her.

"Oh, Skye, Finally." Mrs. Garrett walked out the door, furrowing her eyebrows at her phone. "I have to get to my meeting. There's stuff for a chicken roast in the fridge. Thank's, Doll."

Without giving a chance for Skye to respond, she practically sprinted to the car parked in the driveway. Skye didn't bother watching her drive away before walking into the house, shutting the door behind her.

She set her backpack on the dining room table before figuring she should start on dinner. *Am I supposed to just know how to make a roast? Who just knows how to make a roast?* She walked upstairs, heading for her laptop which she had previously hidden in one of the drawers of her dresser, just in case.

She brought the laptop back downstairs, plugging it into one of the kitchen outlets, then looked up instructions for a roast. She was a bit worried about it, since she had never made it before, but when she pulled the chicken out of the oven she was proud of it.

She unplugged her laptop and put it in her school bag just in time, as moments later Mr. Garrett walked through the front door, followed shortly by Mrs. Garrett.

"Hello, doll," Mrs. Garrett's high-pitch voice cooed. "How was school?"

"It was fine. Computer science was really fun, though. We got to do this projec-"

"That's nice, Skye," Mr. Garrett interrupted. "As long as you're keeping your grades up."

Skye bit her tongue, turning her face away. Stupid. Why would they care? Seen and not heard, Skye, she thought bitterly. *Nobody wants an obnoxious foster kid.*

"Mary, Darling," Mrs Garrett interrupted her, sounding a bit tense. "I believe I asked you to cook the salmon in the fridge."

Crap. Did I mishear her? Salmon sounds nothing like roast chicken, though. "Are you sure? I thought you asked me to roast the chicken?" Is she gonna get mad? The cynical side of Skye bit back internally with She's already mad, idiot.

"No, I distinctly remember asking you to bake the salmon." She sighed, looking back at the roast. "This will do, I suppose."

Skye kept herself from rolling her eyes. I swear she said- ugh. whatever. Drop it. You have to keep them happy. She took a deep breath before moving her backpack to the floor by her chair and sitting at the dinner table.

The silence at dinner was, once again, deafening. Skye didn't know if she could keep doing silent dinners like this. Just being in this house felt like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Dinner concluded and Skye got up to put her dishes in the sink, but just as she was about to grab her backpack and walk upstairs, she heard Mr Garrett call after her.

"Oh, Skye, before you go upstairs," Skye noted the fact they had been using Skye and Mary interchangeably. No. They use Mary when they're mad. At least, I think? "Kathy and I got you something as a little first day of school gift. Kathy, could you grab it, please?"

Skye turned around. gift? Maybe I was being too cynical.

She saw Mrs. Garrett grab a little bag next to her purse and walk over to Mr. Garrett. "Come on, Skye," He gave a small smile. "We don't bite, you know."

Skye took a few steps towards them, feeling a smile tug at her lips. Mr. Garrett silently handed her the bag with a look of anticipation. She pulled out the item inside, but the flame of excitement she had been kindling extinguished upon seeing what it was.

"Oh, pastel makeup. Thanks.." She tried to smile, but worried it came out a bit more like a grimace. *Do they think I'm ugly? and pastels? She kept herself from rolling her eyes. Do I look like I want to play dress up as a pretty, pretty princess?*

"Oh, no need to thank us, doll!" Mrs. Garrett seemed not to notice her muted reaction, thankfully. She felt a pang of guilt at the negativity of her response. She didn't know. She was just trying to be nice. Besides, you're in no place to feel entitled, especially since you just screwed up dinner. She mentally reprimanded herself. "I hope you'll make good use of it," Mrs. Garrett continued, "We spent quite a lot on it, you know."

Skye looked up to Mrs. Garrett's face, noting the gentle smile but expectant eyes. "I will," Skye found the promise slip out. crap. Now you have to, she internally grumbled. She said she spent a lot on it. It's the polite thing to do, the other side of her mind bit back. "Thank you again." She smiled a bit more convincingly this time before heading back upstairs to her room.

She placed the makeup on the dresser, catching a view of herself in the mirror. Her eyes glanced over her outfit, then her gloves, then landed on her face, prompting her hand to touch her cheek. Do they think I need that? Do I need it? Is that what I'm expected to look like? Why would they expect you to look a certain way if that isn't the way you're supposed to look? she found herself bitterly wondering if they just wanted a porcelain doll they could dress and fit to their whims, but found herself shoving those thoughts down. No, they took you in. They gave you a comfortable bed and nice clothes. Don't you at least owe them the benefit of the doubt?

She took her eyes off the mirror, focusing instead on her backpack. She set to work on her homework for the following day, pressing out the nagging doubts about her self worth.


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