Chapter 13: Plans

Once we were back at home, Caitlin worked out an arrangement with Aunty Lin.

"So, we've agreed she can spend the next few Saturday afternoons with us at S.T.A.R. Labs until she's confident she can control her powers?" Caitlin confirmed.

"Yes, that sounds fine to me," Aunty Lin said with a small smile, "I'm so glad she found some people who can help her. I had no idea she was going through this."

I was eavesdropping from the top of the stairs, hands squeezing the bars beneath the banisters.

"Before this, she was so closed off and quiet," Aunty admitted, "I didn't know what to do to help her get out of her shell. She was behind in school and her teachers said they didn't think she had any friends. I figured it was her past experiences in her previous family, but even after the small amount of time you've spent with her, she's seemed to open up so much more. Thank you."

I cringed, remembering the saying 'eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves'. I hope Aunty Lin doesn't say anything else about me. Everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs is so smart and talented; I just didn't want them thinking I was stupid because I hadn't been doing well at school. Or that I was anything like my dad.

I figured I had two options: intervening and cutting off that topic of conversation or going back into my room and hoping she wouldn't bring it up again.

A few days ago, I would probably have chosen to go to my room.

It was too much effort to withstand their mental onslaught and try and derail the topic of conversation. Better to just leave it be. Easier to just sit and hope.

Today, I decided I would choose something new. I wanted to be a part of my life?

I should go and do it.

I didn't have my lack of control holding me back, so why not?

I descended the stairs.

"You finished interrogating Caitlin, Aunty?" I said with a smile. It was easier to smile when you weren't worried all the time. It made me feel younger, or lighter maybe, like before I had my powers.

"Yes, she'll give me regular updates about what's going on, and you can go to S.T.A.R. Labs on Saturday afternoons." Aunty Lin looked stern, but kind, and a bit tired. The last few days of craziness had probably taken a bit of a toll on her.

"Thanks Aunty Lin," I smiled, and gave her a quick hug.

We said goodbye to Caitlin, and I wandered back up the stairs to my bedroom. I used to share with my foster-sister Cara, but she had wanted her own space and I was in no position to object at the time. Getting to sleep with someone else's thoughts in your head is not easy, let me tell you.

Cara slammed the door to her room, looking annoyed, and stalked towards the stairs with her phone in her hand. While I spent my limited pocket money on music, Cara had a job, and a smart phone.

"Move, freak." She frowned at me and waved her hands in a shooing motion, then she paused, "Wait, weren't you missing? Aunty Lin was really worried about you. You shouldn't do that."

Cara was really complicated. And I mean really. One minute, she called you freak and practically ignored you. The next, she was going out of her way to make sure you, or someone else was okay. I don't think I'll ever understand her.

"I didn't mean to worry her," I apologised in a small voice. Don't ask me why she makes me feel small, but she does. Not even my new control and confidence could change that.

"Yeah, well, she really cares about us, right? Like really. You shouldn't ever waste that." Then she stalked past me, already switching her glare to the phone in her hands.

"I know," I said, but she was already gone.

The boy's room was a little further down the hallway and I heard the sounds of a nerf war in progress. Air pressured 'pops' sounded from inside, as well as some overly dramatic war cries. Smiling, I walked past and to the end of the hall. I dumped my ipod on my small desk and thought, I didn't need to use it at all today.

Smiling a little wider, I flopped onto my bed.

Author's Note:

Firstly, thanks for all the reviews! I can't reply to them for the most part because their all guest reviews, but I guess I can thank you here :) Maybe I should reply to them as part of the author's note? I always find it complicated when I have to read a lot before the start of the chapter though - it interrupts the flow, but maybe I can tag them onto this little end bit? Tell me what you guys think :)
Secondly, what do you guys think of Cara?

Trix