Chapter 7: New Friends and Danger

Kori was with her class, and Jesse was back. Marie didn't seem to happy about that. Kori kept an eye on them. She tired not to pay to much attention to them, but it was hard. Jesse was starting to become a distraction. Kori dismissed her class for recess, and Marie stayed back to talk to her.

"Miss Anders can I sit somewhere else Jesse is being mean to me," Marie said.

"What is he doing?" Kori asked even though she knew what he had been doing. She had eatched him tap her shoulder or whisper to her almost all morning. She had given him several warning and told him to pay attention.

"He keeps whispering to me and putting stuff in my hair," Marie said.

"Of course you can move and if he keeps bugging you just talk to me," Kori said.

"OK," Marie went outside to the playground. Jesse seemed to be waiting for her. "Jesse just leave me alone," she said.

"Look Marie I was trying to tell you earlier that I was sorry for what I said, but you wouldn't listen to me." Jesse said.

"You were?" Marie asked shocked. She hadn't realized that was what he was trying to do. She thought he was just trying to be mean to her again.

"Yes, I'm sorry" Jesse said.

"Oh well, I forgive you I guess," Marie said smiling at him.

"So can we be friends?" Jesse asked hopefully.

"Sure," Marie said.

"So now what?" Jesse asked.

"I don't know," Marie asked.

"Wanna play a game?" Jesse asked.

"Sure," Marie said.

Kori watched Marie and Jesse play. She smiled this was a big step for them. For as long as she had known them all they had done was fight. She remembered last year she had to pull Marie off Jesse because he ws teasing her and she lost it. That was the only actual fight she had seen them get into. Today was different. They were laughing and playing togeher. It was like nothing bad had ever happened between them. 'At least their getting along,' she thought as she returned to her papers. Several minutes lkater the class came back in Marie walked up to Kori.

"You don't need to move me anymore," Marie said.

"Alright just let me know if he gives you any trouble," Kori said smiling. Marie nodded and returned to her seat. Kori loved how Kids could be fighting one second and be best friends the next. SHe sometimes wished adukts could be like that.

And when she says to me that she'll always be there
To watch and protect me, I don't have to be scared

The day ended and Marie stayed back. Kori was babysitting her again.

"Dad said I have to stay with you today," Marie said.

"Yes, just let me get some stuff and we can go," Kori said as she gathered some things from her desk. Marie nodded. Kori pulled a stack of papers out of her desk and stuck them in her bag, and she grabbed a bok and put in her bag. She did not mind having to watch Marie. She had realized that the other night when she had left her date. Watching Marie was a delight and small girl ceased to amaze her with what she could do. "Ok we can go," Kori said. They walked out to Kori's car and got in.

"Are we going to my house?" Marie asked.

"No we're going to my house," Kori said, "You know change things up a bit," she said.

"Ok," Marie said. Kori started the car and drove to her house. It was a small yellow house. THe front dor was white and in the fron it had two windows on the lower level and one on the second.

"You live here?" Marie asked.

"Yes," Kori two got out of the car and walked up to the house. Kori opened the door, and walked inside and saw her house was a mess. There were clothes, papers, and dishes scattered everywhere.

"I thought my house was messy," Marie said looking around.

"I didn't leave it like this," Kori said slowly.

"What do you mean?" Marie asked confused.

Kori walked inside and looked around, "Marie stay close to me," Kori said as she walked upstairs.

"Miss Anders what's wrong?" Marie asked scared.

"Just stay close," Kori said.

"Ok," Marie said. Kori walked into her bedroom and saw a man going through her stuff. The man had black hair, and hazel eyes. She recongized him instantly. SHe had no idea why he was here. He had no right to be here anymore.

"Who's that," Marie asked scared.

"Ah Kori, you're home at last," the man said, he noticed the Marie, "Is she yours?"