Kyle leant down and pick up the ball; he passed it to me,'throw it in the net.' I did what he told me and it landed in first time,'nice!' He held out his hand for a high five and I hit it.

'That felt cool...' All the crowd were looking at me and Kyle.' I think I just got noticed.' There were shouts of 'cool' and some like 'Dr Baylin! Can you teach us that?'

He smiled at me and looked back at the game. I saw Mace looking at me again. When they had finished that quarter, one boy answered his phone and then there was a sigh from his team as he told them something.

'That boy, Greg his moms in the hospital he has to go.' Kyle said next to me.

'How do you know?'

'Oh I can lip read.' I saw one of the boys point over to me. Mace nodded and then ran over,' he's going to ask you to play,' Kyle smiled cheekily.

'No he's not.' When Mace reached me he was out of breath slightly but he still smiled.

'Hey... Um... Greg had to go, his mom's gone to the hospital,' I looked at Kyle surprised,' and we were uh... Wondering if you'd play,'

'Um...'

'She'd love to...' Kyle interrupted me,' go on, it'll make you feel better.'

'Great! I'll tell them you'll play,' Mace ran back and I realised I had no choice but to play. I slipped off my bag and jacket and handed them to Kyle. Then I tied my hair up in a band. Kyle gave me some encouragement as I made my way to the court.

'They want me to thank you,' Mace walked up to me and Andes me the ball.

'Why won't they come and tell me themselves?' I asked as I bounced the ball, to get used to it.

'Oh, um...' His cheeks went red,' I... They don't know you very well,'

'Oh and you do?' he laughed and we got to playing.

'Who's this chick?' Said a rough looking guy. He was obviously the captain of the other team.

'She's a sub, Rudy!' Mace replied, it seemed like he was defending me. I suddenly got a rush through my body when we started. I grabbed the ball from the boy named Rudy and dodged past him. I then jumped and shot. There was a silence then a cheer from my team meant the rest of the crowd cheered. I looked over to Kyle who placed his thumbs up and clapped.

When the game had finished we had won by 34 points. The guys of the team smiled at me then asked if I wanted to join them for a drink. But I checked my phone and saw Uncle Tom had sent me a message.

Where are you? Thought you'd be back by now! Uncle T

'Oh I'm sorry but I have to go... Like now!' I grabbed my jacket from Kyle,' I have to go somewhere right now but I'll be at the house by 6,'

He nodded and I rushed to leave the park. That's when I heard Mace's voice from behind me...

'Hey um.. Nicki! Wait up!' He grabbed my shoulder and stopped me,' wait, um... Thanks for today, here's my number..' He handed me a slip of paper,' call me...'

'Um... Sure...' I than ran, I could feel my cheeks warming up as I ran away. Was I blushing? I had not had the pleasure of experiencing this feeling. I wondered why it was happening.

I ran the whole way back to Uncle Tom's place and it didn't even make me feel weak in anyway. I came in and closed the door behind me. When I turned back, there was Uncle Tom looking at me.

'Nicki... I'd hoped you'd have gotten here sooner,' he walked over to me and guided me towards the sofa.

'Why what's wrong?' I was worried now.

'Well, I think I may have found a lead...' He was struggling to say it.

'A lead to what? To a TV? For a dog?'

'To where your mother is...' The shock hit me and desperately wanted to see my mom.

'Where? When? Why?' He ignored my pleads.

'I have to go check it out...'

'You have to let me come with you!' I squeezed his arm in anticipation.

'No! I want you to stay in Seattle with the Tragers...' Just a few minutes ago I was happy you be going back to the Tragers but now knowing that my mom was somewhere. I wanted to help her.

'But...'

'No buts... You'll do as I say... Ok? I'll drop you off at their house.' I admitted defeat so I went into the bathroom and gathered my stuff. When I was ready I looked at Uncle Tom who had packed some gear he said he would need. I looked at him my eyes pleading, but he simply shook his head.

The drive to the Tragers seemed too long, when we arrived my stomach ached every time I took a step towards the front door. I waved then he was gone but he had gone to get my mother back

'Who was that?' I jumped when I heard Kyle speak behind me. How long he had been there I had no idea.

'Oh that's Uncle Tom,' I moved towards the house. If my mom was out there, in trouble, I wanted to help. I heard Kyle follow me,' he's not really my uncle. He's mom's protector. He was yours.'

'Foss?' He held the door open for me and looked at me questionably.

'I think that was his name. Mom said she had always been in danger and Uncle Tom helped her. He cared for us.'

'Did she say what danger?' I shook my head as Kyle offered to take my jacket. My mom kept a lot of secrets. It's not like I didn't know. But one thing I do know is she kept those secrets for a reason.

'Anyway Nicole and Stephen are out for their anniversary dinner, so it's just you and me. I'll show you your room.' He led me down the hall and opened the door to the room I recognised was the one I'd been in already.

'This was Jessi's room.'

'My mom's room?' I loved it. I could feel her presence within everything.

'Yes, nothing's been moved, Nicole was hoping Jessi might come home one day, I miss her,'

I walked over to the bed and ran my hand across the duvet,' I can't sleep here,' he was going to find out sooner or later that I was weird.

'Course you can, even though Jessi's missing, she'll be with you always,' he walked up next to me.

'No, it's not that I think I shouldn't sleep in my mom's room, it's just I can't sleep on a bed,'

'Well, what do you sleep in?' He smiled like he thought I was kidding.

'Please don't laugh at me, it's just I've never been able to sleep on a bed. I've slept in a tub.' I looked at him expecting him to burst out laughing but he was wide eyed.

'Really? No way! That is just weird.' He smiled.

'Yeah, I get that a lot,' I frowned.

'No! Sorry, it's just... Follow me!' He led me out the room and to a door opposite it,' this is my room,' he opened the door and I was shocked. Firstly because there was large tub in the middle just like mine at home but secondly because there was a lady stood in the middle of the tub; and she was hardly covered up.

'Hillary!' Shouted Kyle.

A/N I hope this really gets you thinking! Would love to have any ideas! I'm just getting back in the swing of things so please enjoy!

Thanks xx

PeppyXY