Missing

Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: This chapter is in Victoria's perspective for a reason that should be obvious to you when you start reading. We haven't seen much of what she's dealing with, her emotions and everything else, so this chapter will sort of explore that as well.

And allow me to alleviate some questions, yes Haley was genuine in the last chapter-it's a tad too late in the story for anyone to have any hidden motives.

Chapter 36 (First Day of School)

Victoria walked behind Kyle and Amanda, clutching the shoulder straps of a bright and new pink backpack. Behind her was her mother, Jesse, Aunt Tori and Jade. "I like this neighborhood." Her mother was talking to Tori about living arrangements, but her mom didn't want to live by herself just yet.

Her aunt was carrying on about how safe the neighborhood was, but Victoria sensed some fear in her mother. She understood how her mom had been stolen from the streets of her own home. "Crimes are more likely to be caused by someone you know," Tori pointed out, "While strangers do commit crimes, it's often actions such as mugging or theft."

Jade pat Trina's shoulder and mustered up a warm smile. "My kids walk to school every day. Of course, being just around the corner from where we live, it's no hassle. Beck tends to drive around and make sure they get there."

"We'll all walk together until you think you're ready." They were here today because Trina was a nervous wreck. It was the first real time they had to willingly be separate. "The school year's started up, so it's better that we get Victoria in now rather than wait for the trial-we don't know how long a trial is going to last."

Victoria bit her lip and picked up the pace, stepping closer to Kyle. They had already taken her to this school once so the principal and teachers could gauge the grade level she should be at. Since Andre, Cat and Robbie made sure to teach her a number of things, she felt like she did well.

Kyle had his eighth birthday already and was starting the third grade while Amanda was in Kindergarten. To Victoria's relief, she'd been placed in the third grade classroom with Kyle. "I've never been to school before. I've never been without mommy either."

"Your mom looks like my mom when I first started kindergarten. You'll like the school-the teacher's nice." A plus, but she still wasn't sure how to trust someone she didn't know. "She won't hurt you."

"Mommy used to talk about school and said she had many different classes. Do we only have one class together?" Kyle raised an eyebrow and pulled his backpack up.

"Elementary school doesn't break apart like the big kids at the middle and high schools. Mom calls them 'periods', but elementary doesn't have that. We'll have a primary teacher, Mrs. Putnam. The primary class is where we learn reading, writing, math, and so on. During the day we go to P.E."

She jerked her head back and her jaw dropped. "Go to pee?" Amanda laughed and Kyle shook his head, then explained carefully.

"P.E. Physical education. We get to exercise there and play sport games. Like dodgeball, baseball, and then we go run around the track field outside."

"Stick with big brother," Amanda urged, "You don't talk a lot, but don't be afraid of other people. Not everyone there will keep trying to be your friend if you don't talk to them."

Kyle rubbed his sister's hair and she grabbed her head, screaming about her pigtails being messed up. "She's right. Mom and Dad kept bringing us over so we would be your friend. The teachers at Bedford Heights urge us to play with each other and make friends because it 'will be better in the long run', whatever that means. They say it's important that we know how to 'socialize'." He put air quotes around the last word, making Victoria laugh.

According to her aunt, the education system toned down over the last decade. She didn't know what that meant exactly, but overheard Tori saying that they no longer make young children take all the difficult test and overemphasize education at early ages, they try to maintain an equal balance between education and interaction.

"Aunt Tori says teachers want us to interact. I think she said it was because friendships were important?"

"I personally like having my friends help me study, and being able to play outside of class." He snapped his fingers and turned to her. "Which reminds me! I didn't have Mrs. Putnam much last year, but I got to see what she does because I had friends in her class. For the first thirty minutes of class she lets everyone talk to each other, then she begins the lesson. We have a thirty minute recess at 10:00, lunch at 12:30, and P.E. at 1:00. Then we go back to Mrs. Putnam until we go home at 3:00."

"Everyone goes to lunch at 12:30?"

"No. Elementary has kindergarten through six grade. At least our school is set up like that." Victoria nodded slowly and tucked in the corner of her lip. She looked down at the hem of her long pink dress and smiled at her pink shoes. Kyle scratched the back of his neck and took a deep breath. "Kindergarten and first grade go to lunch at 11:45, second and third graders-that's us-and fourth graders all go to lunch at 12:30, then fifth and sixth grade kids go at 1:15."

She looked up and slowly counted on her fingers, trying to remember what Andre used to teach her about math. "Thirty minutes for lunch?" She was counting by five, but she wasn't sure. Kyle clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"No, forty-five. You're close though. I think we're going to learn multiplication in third grade, so be prepared for that. Mom says it's impressive that you can add and subtract, and even read and write."

"I can't spell well. Mister Andre and Miss Cat helped teach me a lot of what they said were basic education."

"That's good. I'd say you're lucky too, because if you didn't know all that stuff, they might have to put you in a special education class." Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a circle.

"I don't know what that is."

Amanda glanced over and turned around to walk backwards. "Brother says special education classes are where kids with problems have to go to."

"Dad says they're underdeveloped. Whether they can function when they talk, or if they can't move, or if they have learning problems. It'll be your first day, so try to remember to interact and do your best, because mom says all the teachers are going to be watching you for the first week."

"I'll try. I'm starting a little after you, right?"

"We'll help you catch up, there's really not much you have to worry about." She was more worried about people knowing her situation and what happened with her mother. She didn't want special treatment from anybody, what she wanted was what her mom and her aunt were hoping for, a normal childhood.

"I hope nobody talks about me. I don't want people to know much."

Kyle frowned at her and shook his head. "For a while people are going to know. Mom and dad say it'll fade away eventually and people will forget about it, but it's all over the news."

"Aunt Tori's trying to keep people from putting me up there…"

"Yeah."

She was present for that discussion, though she understood little of it. Apparently the news people didn't have a picture of her, nor even a name. All anybody knew was that she was 'Katrina Vega's daughter'. She wouldn't even have to appear in court like her mom was going to, she'd given her statement to the police and to the prosecutor, and that was all that was needed.

According to Tori, they were ensuring that she at least had a chance to have a normal childhood.

"We're here!" Amanda cried out. She shook away her thoughts and froze as Kyle and Amanda walked ahead of her.

The brown school seemed to stretch and wrap around her, it was shaped like a rectangle and had a single row of windows stretching out to the end. Amanda pointed out the extended side on the left, where there was a glass wall that overlooked the rest of the school.

This was where the kindergarteners would be.

The main doors were right beside this extension, and to the left of the long wing. To the right of the building was an expansive field of grass and sand, and a playground for kids to play on.

"It looks so big!" Kyle and Amanda stopped and turned around. She didn't think about how giant the building was, nor did she consider that Amanda would be in a completely separate area of the school. They weren't even going to see Amanda until the very end of the school day!

Her heart began racing and her trembling fingers gripped her shoulder straps as though they were the only things keeping her alive.

A pair of familiar arms wrapped around her and she turned to look into her mother's eyes. She mustered a smile as her mom lovingly brushed back her hair and gazed at her with tender eyes. "Momma, you're not scared anymore?"

"Oh I am," Trina whispered, "but I have to be strong and let you have your first day of school. Are you afraid?"

Victoria's eyebrows curled up in the middle and her lower lip pouted as the warmth of her mother's smile filled her heart. She straightened her back and shook her head. "No!" If her mom could be strong, then so could she. "I don't want to leave you, momma…"

"I'll be right here when you get out, sweetheart."

"No doubt about that," Tori laughed, "I expect your mom to be watching the clock all day."

"Hey." Jesse's voice drew her and she looked up to him with admiration. He knelt beside her and looked at her with a smile of encouragement. "You'll be alright, kiddo." She smiled back at him and her heart skipped when she saw him hand her a stuffed Gingham Dog. "Your mom and Aunt wanted to give this to you." She took it in her hands and stared at it curiously.

"That's Snowflake," Trina said. She looked up and raised her eyebrows. "I didn't know Tori kept it all these years, but that was my favorite thing when I was your age. She comforted me growing up, and every time something scared me or hurt me, I'd hold onto her and she would make me feel better. She's yours now, so I want you to take care of her and she'll take care of you. Okay?"

"Okay mommy." She clutched the dog close to her chest and closed her eyes. Courage washed over her and she felt like she could be brave, so long as she stayed close to Kyle when she could.

Still sensing her mom's own nervousness, she extended the dog to her, taking her mother by surprise. "I want you to have her for now." Trina put her hand to her chest and smiled. "Because I think I'll be okay, you need Snowflake more than I do today…"

Trina closed her eyes and chuckled once before carefully taking the dog from her. "Okay sweetheart." Victoria threw her arms around Trina, hugging her close.

"I'll be brave if you be brave?"

"I will be. I love you."

"Love you too mommy." She broke apart from Trina and hurried to hug Jesse as well. "You too!" Jesse sputtered out in surprise and the women smirked. After a few seconds, he returned the hug.

"Hang in there and stay close to your friends, all right?"

"I will Jesse. You're going to be here after school with mommy?"

"I'll try to be. I might have to be at work, but if they'll let me off early, I'll be here."

"Okay."

"Now. Go on and have a great day."

Victoria nodded and looked back at Kyle and Amanda, both were still waiting for her. At the front doors, a man had stepped outside. He had a neatly trimmed grey beard and white hair that formed a horseshoe around his bald head. His hands were behind his back and he was watching the group with a subtle smile. A long scarf hung from his neck and over his brown suit.

She recognized him as the school principal, and a man who was very happy to see Trina. Although she'd forgotten his name because it was a hard one to remember.

"Classes are almost in session," The principal stated, "You don't want to be late on your first day, Miss Vega. I'm sure Mr. and Miss Oliver will show you around."

"Yes Mr. Sikowitz," Kyle muttered, "She's a little nervous." Victoria hopped in place and flashed a bright smile.

"I'm ready." She kissed her mom on the cheek, then ran up alongside Kyle and Amanda. "When is P.E. again? I'm really looking forward to that class, for some reason."

"Not surprised," Mr. Sikowitz added. "Your mother was quite the athlete in her day. Now come along, let me show you to your classroom. Mrs. Putnam is looking forward to having you in her class this year."

She followed them excitedly and stopped just before the front doors so she could turn and wave at the adults. Trina's face was wet with tears, but her warm smile continued to encourage her.

Now it seemed she had a new thing to survive. Grade school.

Well, what did you think of the chapter? All the way to the nice little end of the chapter.