The girls had hid out in the streets of Washington D.C for two days, eating the last three oranges that Emily had hidden and sleeping against the garbage cans with the blanket wrapped around them before the police had found them. Ms. Higgins had called the police department three hours after the girls had run off, telling them that she had taken another roll call just before dinner and didn't hear their voices respond when she called their names.

The redheaded woman had punished them the moment they stepped in the door and the officers left the building. She had made the girls strip down before she spanked them, making sure it would hurt like hell for both of them if they tried to sit down.

The girls were then sent to the isolation room in the orphanage, which was basically the cellar. No beds, no heater and a lot of bugs and rats. They were forced to spend two weeks down there with no contact from the other orphans, no matter how much they wanted it. They had even heard Ashton banging in the early morning the first day down there, but that was quickly silenced.

Emily had made her own little bed near the food shelves, using a bag of sugar for a pillow and an old potato sack for a blanket. She had been quiet, not talking to her blond friend unless they needed to take a bathroom break, using the broken down sink as a toilet. She was upset that they had to go back; ashamed that she couldn't save Jennifer from what had haunted her dreams every night.

The blond nine year old frowned at her friend from her spot on the creaky staircase, watching as she unwove the threads that held together her makeshift blanket. "Emily?" She huffed as the brunette continued to stare towards the floor. "Why won't you talk to me?"

Emily looked up and gave a shrug.

Jennifer let her crystal eyes narrow on the older girl. "Talk to me!"

The brunette finally let her gaze go up and land on the other orphan. "If you yell, Ms. Higgins will get mad."

Jennifer quickly stomped over to her friend and knelt before her, pushing at her shoulders as tears entered her eyes. "I don't care! You won't talk to me or look at me or sleep with me anymore!" She sniffled at the bewildered look on the other girl's face. "Why Emily? You said you would sleep with me. I promised I would make Dennis go away but you won't let me."

The ten year old watched as her friend's pouting lips quivered. "Jenny..."

"I miss you."

Emily felt tears sting her eyes as she slowly nodded her head, getting on her knees and taking her friend into a big hug. "I miss you too."

Jennifer hugged the older girl back just as tight, peppering kisses to the ivory skin of her friend's cheek. "Why wouldn't you talk to me?"

"'Cause I couldn't get you away. I tried really hard, I promise! But it didn't work, Jenny. It didn't." Emily's chin trembled as she hid her face in the younger girl's neck. "It was a lot harder than I thought. Ms. Higgins must like you more."

The nine year old frowned, pulling back to look at her friend. "What do you mean?"

Emily's eyes closed gently as the blond softly kissed away all her tears. "Last time I ran away, it took her three whole days to notice I wasn't here!"

Jennifer's gaze saddened, taking her friend back into her arms. "Please stop crying, Emily."

"She didn't even care!"

The blond looked sharply into the older girl's eyes, her hands cupping the ten year old's Charlie Brown cheeks warmly. "Ashton cares, and you know I care too. You know that?"

Emily let out a watery smile, feeling another kiss be pressed to her lips by the younger girl. "I know." Her eyes immediately lit up, her smile widening as she looked to her friend. "So does Penelope!"

"Who?"

Emily laughed before sitting them down near her bed, her hands grasping the blonde's. "I met her outside a couple weeks ago. She's real nice and has a really big smile!"

Jennifer smiled to the older girl. "Cool!"

"You could meet her!"

The blond quickly nodded her head. "Really?"

Emily scooted closer to her friend, her fingers intertwining with Jennifer's. "I promise."