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Alright, that's one parent down. Next.

"Hey, Beck?" I asked as he picked up, not even giving him a chance to say hi.

"Uh… Yeah, what's up?"

"I need you to help me babysit tonight."

"That girl you had with you?" he questioned.

I looked over at Skyla again. I was really nervous about letting her out of my sight. "Uh-huh."

"Why do you need my help?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I threw back.

"I see. Jade's gonna be there."

"Yup," I said. I had no intention of keeping that from him.

Another moment of silence. "I'll be there."

And then he hung up without another word. Yeah… He was much easier to talk to than momma.

"Cat! Are you here?" I heard 'dad' yell from downstairs.

Shoot. I motioned for Skyla to come into the bathroom, which she obliged immediately. "I'll be right there!" I yelled back. "Stay here and don't open that door for anyone but me, you got it?" I whispered to Skyla.

She nodded, unfazed. Well alright then.

I ran down the stairs and saw Matt leaning against a counter in the kitchen. "Hey."

"Hey," he greeted. "Do you have somewhere to be tonight?"

"No, why?"

"Your mother and I are having a little business meeting here tonight. I'd hate for you to be stuck in your room the whole time," he explained.

"What about him?" I asked, referring to my brother.

"He's at Oswald's."

Oswald was my brother's friend. Only friend, I think.

Going out would make my job of not getting caught with Skyla a whole lot easier. "Yeah, I can go somewhere."

He smiled. "Great. I'ma go pick up your mother," he started walking towards the door with his keys.

"When is your meeting gonna be over?" I asked.

"Uh… Around eleven."

"On a Monday?" I stared at him.

"Yup, gotta go."

And then he was gone.

I watched his stupid car round the corner and disappear before I went to get Skyla. I knocked on the bathroom door. "It's me!"

"Me who?"

"Cat!"

"Okay!" she unlocked the door and opened it.

She had managed to take her thick hair out of her ponytail. It looked like it was attacked by a chimpanzee.

"Oh my…" I tried to stifle my laughter.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"Are you gonna let me brush your hair?" I laughed.

She grabbed her head. "NO!"

"Skyla, you can't go out unless you brush your hair."

"Then I'm not going out!" was her rebuttal.

"Just let me do it," I sighed, grabbing my hairbrush.

"No!" she shook her head.

"Skyla! I've been a girl for almost eighteen years, I think I can handle brushing your hair!" I yelled.

"You think!"

"SKYLA… Is your last name Shapiro?" I was interrupted by my thoughts.

She stopped whining long enough to nod her head.

"SKYLA SHAPIRO, IF YOU DON'T LET ME BRUSH YOUR HAIR, I WILL CHOP IT ALL OFF!"

That always worked when momma tried to brush mine.

She dropped her hands to her sides. "Fine…"

I smiled. Another score for Cat. Eighteen-million screams later, I had somewhat tamed her mane. I've come to the conclusion that it was just like Robbie's afro, except longer. "Alright, you're good."

"Am not," she complained, clutching her head like it was clawed to death.

I looked at the mess of hair on her head. Now it was 100% frizz. I obviously had no idea how to handle her type of hair. I took a ponytail out of the drawer and brushed all of her to the top of her head, securing it with the elastic. I wrapped it around the base and held it down the pins. "Better."

She looked in the mirror. "I look like a ballerina," she grunted as she reached up to take out the pins.

"Stop right there!" I pulled her arm back down to her side. "Leave it."

She stared at me. "But I look like you."

She obviously has a certain someone's wit. "That… Was uncalled for."

She shrugged and walked into my bedroom. I followed after her. "Do you have a jacket or something?" I asked.

"Am I wearing a jacket?" she spread out her arms.

"No…"

"Then no," she snapped.

"Well," I replied. I'm starting to think she has multiple personality disorder. "We'll just have to go buy you one."

"Yeah. Like I'm gonna let you buy me a jacket," she said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I shrieked.

"Have you seen your room lately? It looks like a unicorn threw up. I'm not letting you pick out a jacket that I will be judged by," she stated.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You're a highly opinionated little girl, aren't you?"

She shrugged. "If only I knew what that meant."

I smirked. "Relax. I know someone who'd be happy to pick stuff out for you." I dialed momma's number in my phone. I bet she'd appreciate this job. "Hey Jade? Yeah, can you meet us a little early at the mall? Yeah," I waited as she ranted about how strip malls were a corporate business that were destroying our minds. "So you'll be there?" I asked when she was done. "Great. Kay kay, bye." I slipped my phone in my pocket and looked at Skyla, who was now bored. "All right, let's go," I headed down the stairs with her following after me.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"That was Jade," I replied, not wanting to confuse her with the 'She's your grandma, but never ever call her that'.

"Oh."

I walked out the front door and locked it behind me.

Saying that the only car was gone, we were walking. I would not, under any circumstances, bring a little girl onto the public bus. Especially one that was my daughter in another life. My life is screwed up.

So have you guys seen Skyla yet? ! ? ! Go see my profile. But first… Ya know, you could always review if you really wanna.