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Polkie2: Thank you for the reviews! They are so encouraging! You have been such a loyal reader for all my stories and I can not thank you enough for that! Hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Gracie Paige Hatter: Thank you Gracie for your kind words (and for your suggestions)! I saw your last comment right after I was done writing this chapter, but I do promise that Killian's point of view is coming soon (Maybe even next chapter). Stay tuned!

TLWriter4721: Thank you so much!

Chapter 4: New Day Dawning

Emma could have slept all day if it were not for the soft knocking at her door. The knocking grew louder with each pound. She slowly peeled herself from the bed, padding her way to open the door, finding Killian on the other side.

"I'm assuming the last home didn't care when you got up?" His smirk apparent, even in the early hours of the morning.

"Didn't care if I got up. Period." Emma muttered, leaning against the door.

"Well, you don't want to be late for your first day." He explained. She raised her eyebrow at him. "Of school." Killian told her. "Do you even know what day it is?"

"Last foster home didn't have a calendar. We are lucky I know what month it is." She said. It was meant to be sarcastic, but she was to tired to try.

"Come on, Swan." He ignored her last comment. "You don't want Mrs. Abernathy coming up here after you-she's a feisty one."

"I think I can manage." She told him before closing the door. School was always an interesting experience. No one ever wanted to get to know the new kids. Not that she minded though. She would be gone within a few weeks-not enough time to actually make real friends.

Emma dressed quickly, putting on a simple pair of skinny jeans and a long sleeved gray tee shirt. She was not one for dressing fancy and she also did not have the means to do so. She was lucky she had a few pairs of pants with no holes in them. She had no idea how to do her long hair since she had had no mother to teach her. An older girl in one of her foster homes showed her how to do a braid or two, but they got separated before Emma could perfect them.

She walked downstairs in a daze, finding no one there. There was fruit and toast on the table, but she doubted it was meant for her, so she did not touch it. Emma sat down, awkwardly playing with her hands until Killian walked through the kitchen.

"You're aloud to eat, you know." He mentioned as he grabbed a sack from the fridge. Instead of verbally responding, Emma just nodded and picked up a piece of toast. She started nibbling on it until he left, then she grabbed an apple and another piece of toast. Her brain told her to slow down and pace herself, but her stomach told her that food was a rarity and to act on impulse. Her stomach won out.

Mrs. Abernathy rushed into the kitchen, slowing down only when she saw Emma sitting at the table. "Good morning, dear. You'll have to forgive me for the breakfest. I will make something more fitting for a welcome this weekend. I have something for you though."

Emma smiled at the older woman who rambled on nervously. It was nice how concerned she was about Emma's wellbeing. Someone actually caring about her was new-it was something she could get used to. Mrs. Abernathy hesitantly handed a thick, white wool knitted scarf.

"I know how cold it gets here." Mrs. Abernathy explained. "I always make scarves when they tell me I am going to get a girl. I made a hat for Killian, but he refuses to wear it. Says it will mess up his hair."

Emma gave her a small smile and whispered thank you, not knowing what else to say. She quickly put it on, hoping the woman would understand that she was better with actions than she was words. Words did not come naturally to someone who never had someone to talk to. Mrs. Abernathy seemed content with the motion, grinning ear to ear.

Killian walked in, dressed in black jeans and a leather jacket. She would think he was the typical bad boy if she had not already seen his soft side. She figured his friends did not know about that Killian though.

"Come, on Swan. Let's get going." He motioned, handing her a brown bag that she assumed was her lunch. She eyed the bag curiously before taking it, thanking him with a nod.

"Oh, have a good day you two." Mrs. Abernathy said, sounding like a stereotypical proud old lady. Emma hoped there would be no cheek pinching involved with the send off. She was surprised when the woman did not step forward and hug Killian. She most likely knew that Emma was unready for any type of physical affection, so in order to not make her feel uncomfortable, she treated her foster son the same. Killian seemed to understand.

Killian led her to the bus stop in silence. Other teenagers were there, chatting and gossipping. Emma leaned over to him. "What grade are you?" She knew he was sixteen, but what not sure about what grade he fell into.

"Junior." He told whispered back. He must turn seventeen later in the year she rationalized.

They went back to silence, but when the boarded the bus, he grabbed her hand and pulled her gently with him, leading her to sit by with him so she would not be alone. Emma was thankful for that, even if they would spend the ride in silence. Silence with someone else was better than a quiet loneliness.

The rest of the day was a haze, every memory replaying in Emma's mind in slow motion. She convinced herself it had all been a dream. She would wake up any moment and be in that dirty home with her previous foster father. The day she just had had been fake, nothing more than a manifestation of her hopes and desires.

School was not bad. For the first time in a long time, she had not hated school from the get go. Killian showed her to all of her classes and even invited her to sit with him and his friends at lunch. They were all older, but nice enough. He had a small group of friend-Will, who appeared to be a class clown; Tink (Emma was not sure if that was her real name of a nickname, but she did not dare ask); and there was Jefferson, who seemed to be a bit, well, mad.

Not many of the kids in her grade took much interest in her. One girl, Ashley, in her social studies class introduced herself and even sat with her. In biology, she was placed with two girls, Aurora and Mulan, as lab partners, and they seemed nice enough. Aurora had a very sweet personality and let Emma copy all the notes from that unit.

In Math, there was an empty seat in the back by one of the shy kids. Emma did not actually remember his name. Tony, maybe? He was a bit larger, so many of the other kids made fun of him. He was also in her English, so the two mentally agreed to sit in the back alone again.. He even said bye to her when they left English. That was a start.

Emma rode the bus alone after school since Killian had swim practice. She had never imagined him being a swimmer when she first met him. Mrs. Abernathy doted on her since she was the only child at home. Killian came home around dinner time and they had another real family dinner. The rest of the night went by without a hitch.

That night when Emma went to bed, she said a prayer for the first time in years. She prayed nothing would change and she could stay where she was. She knew that the hope was in vain, but she could let herself fall asleep imagining that she could stay here forever before the realities that came with tomorrow fell upon her when she would wake.

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