Jade gets into school the next morning, and she lingers at the door for just a little too long waiting for a certain someone to come along. After a little while she sighed and went to class, where her little face lit up at the sight of him – her first proper friend. Not that he knew that yet, of course.

"Hi, none of your business," Beck said, smiling at her. "How are you today?" He gestured to an empty seat next to him and Jade sits.

"I'm okay," she says softly, surprised to hear him say that. She doesn't know what to say next, so she awkwardly sits on her chair, fiddling with her split ends. She glances over at him, peeking out from her hair, and sees him playing with his hands. She smiles a little. Miss starts speaking and Jade retreats to inside her head, where lands of happiness and purple skies awaited her.

Jade colours the house slowly and carefully, making sure to not go out of the lines. She's still inside her head, but concentrated enough to do something. Sometimes Jade loses herself in a flashback; a horrible, gloomy time where Jade curls up on her bed and waits for it all to end. It's usually over within half an hour. She tries to loose herself in books, but it's hard when you don't have many. She realizes she's lost once again and snaps out of it. Jade looks down. She sighs sadly at all the colours out of the lines.

"Are you okay?" Beck says. "It's only colouring, don't worry." Jade wants to snap at him, to tell him that he should mind his own business but then she remembers how nice he was yesterday.

"Why wouldn't I be fine?" She says her voice all high and wobbly. "I'm fine." Beck nods.

"Okay. I was only asking," Jade nods this time, resting her head on her hand. Miss comes over and compliments her lovely drawing. Jade looks up with a disbelieving look on her face. She points at it and folds her arms.

"But I've gone out of the lines!" She protests. "It's very bad." She puts her head down. Miss Rodowsky pats her back encouragingly.

"No, no," she says quickly, "your art is very good Jade." Jade mumbled a quick thank you and then turned away. Beck raises his eyebrows at her.

"What?" She snaps. Beck looks at her and shakes his head.

"You may not think you're a very good artist, but you're a very good snapper." He says it cautiously, holding his breath for her reaction. He breathes out when she smirks.

"Yes, I did know that." She giggles.

It was soon break and Jade strolled out of the door, blowing air up to her fringe to get it out of her eyes. Beck looked over at her and tried the same thing, but he just fluffed up his. Jade burst out in giggles. She's never laughed this hard. It's strange, but she loves it.

"Tell me did you sail across the sun
Did you make it to the milky way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?"

Jade sang, belting out her favourite lyrics across the whole playground. Her voice was young and high, but it was amazing even so. She skipped along, smiling and kicking up dirt. Beck smiled over at her, enjoying the music.

When it was time to go home, Jade gave a sad glance at the door and waited for Bridget to come and pick her up. Beck waited with her.

"Does you mommy pick you up?" Beck asked. Jade shakes her head. "Who does?" He smiles kindly. Jade shuffles her feet uncomfortably.

"My…babysitter," she decides on quickly. "She's new." Beck nods, hauling his bag over his back from his shoulder.

"Cool! My mom says she doesn't like to leave me with babysitters." Jade rolls her eyes.

"I wish mine didn't either," she mutters. She composes herself again. "Do you spend a lot of time with your mom?"

"No," he says slowly. "She's more into business than me." Jade nods, and the Beck asks, "You?"

"Not exactly," Jade says. "She doesn't really like me." Beck frowns.

"I don't know why." He smiles and then leaves, saying that he really has to go. She waves and waits. Soon Bridget gets here too. She rides home happily, thinking about the morning already.

Cat's tired now and she's fed up of being in this strange house. She gets up and looks around, before peeking her little head round the door. When she sees that no one is around in the hall, she opens the front door. She groans when she sees Mrs Sera out there.

"Cat, dear? Oh good. I was just about to come and get you," she says. "These people are the police."

"I know," Cat mumbles. She fiddles with the flower in her matted hair. "Where's my mommy?" The police lady smiles at her and tries to pick her up. Cat squeals and squirms, kicking and screaming.

"Cat! Cat, you're fine, I promise." Mrs Sera says. She goes and picks her up. Cat struggles for a moment but Mrs Sera pats her back and smooth's her hair and she feels okay. Not good, but okay. Mrs Sera hands her over and Cat rests on the lady's shoulder. She puts her arms round Cat's legs and under her butt to stop her falling. Cat froze. Her mother carried her like this. She remembers it so well.

"Come on, Kitty Cat," her mother called softly. She scoops her up and jiggles her on her hip until she's quiet and her snuffles have died out. Then she swings Cat to her front and puts her arms round her. "Now stop that silly sniffing. You're a big brave girl and you know daddy has to go. He doesn't want to leave you darling. He can't just quit his job though. And it's very important too," Cat's mother fixed Cat's hair. "He's protecting our country. You must be very proud of daddy. He's trying to leave. He only wants to be with you, sweetie."

"Yes mommy I know. I miss him already." Cat's mother smothers her with kisses and buries her head in Cat's shoulder.

"Yes, I do too, baby." Cat's mother sighs and squeezes Cat hard. "I love you so much. Please don't leave me," Cat didn't quite catch the last bit, but she heard the desperation in her mother's voice.

"I love you too mommy. You won't leave like daddy?"

"Baby I'd never leave." Cat looks up at her, wet eyes and innocent smiles, and puts her arms round her mother's neck.

Cat shakes her head. She's in a car now, but still in the lady's lap. "I want to see mommy." This time the lady shakes her head.

"Not yet, sweetie."

"Well why not?"

"Just because."

"That's not an answer," Cat says quickly. She struggles to get off of her lap, pushing her arms into her stomach. The lady simply bats her away and sits her on her own seat, strapping her down tightly.

Cat narrows her eyes and screams. She's figured out that screaming and kicking gets her, usually, her own way. She screams until she's hoarse and she cries until she's sick. It doesn't get her anywhere this time, unless you count a trip to A&E to get sedated.

When she wakes she's still in the hospital, lying on a cold bed. She hears her mother's voice.

"Tell me where my baby is!" Cat's mother screams. Cat tries to sit up but is unable to lift her heavy head.

"Mommy," Cat cries, her voice still hoarse. She's not heard. Cat grabs the glass from the side and drops it over the side. When there's silence, she cries again. This time, her mother comes running, scooping her up.

"How dare you do this to her! Who do you think you are?" She cradles Cat, rocking her slowly.

"Mrs Valentine, I strongly recommend you put the child down, step back, and let the child be taken."

"No way. My baby is the only one I've got left. My mother hates me and my husband – a army soldier – is dead. Dead and buried. How is this justice?"

"For the child, it's her best interest."

"You said you'd never leave mommy…"

"So did you, baby," Cat's mom sobbed, clutching her red and irritated chest. She kissed Cat on the cheek and Cat cried out. "Don't worry, darling. I'll see you very, very soon."

A/N:

Hopefully you liked this. It's a bit longer and a bit quicker than usual. I'll UD soon.. (: