Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing

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Skye got out of Happy's vehicle the next morning at school. She grabbed her bag. "Thanks, Happy."

She went inside and went and found the twins.

"Hey," Skye said.

"Hi!" Ivy said.

"How are you doing?" Lily asked.

"I'm okay, sorry. I never did call you two yesterday. A lot was going on," Skye said.

"Yeah, Anna texted us what Carly did," Ivy said.

Skye nodded and let out a breath.

"What are you going to do?" Lily asked.

"Nothing, just ignore Carly," Skye said. "Because if I confront her, I might actually punch her."

Lily and Ivy nodded.

"We will run interference if we need to," Lily said.

"Thank you," Skye said. "Did you two know she lived with Carly's family for a couple of weeks?"

"We did, but we knew they weren't friends," Ivy said.

Skye nodded.

"Carly is just trying everything to cause drama for you and to hurt you," Lily said.

"I know," Skye said.

Anna came over and joined them when she got to school. "Hey."

"Hi!" the three girls said.

Just then they saw Carly walking down the hall with her friends.

Carly locked eyes with Skye.

Skye glared eyes at her, causing Carly to look away from her quickly. Skye took a breath trying to calm the anger that was rising in her.

"She is not worth it," Ivy said.

Skye nodded and closed her eyes and just focused on her breathing calming herself down before opening her eyes.

"You okay?" Anna asked.

"Yes," Skye said.

They all went to their lockers.

Skye opened her locker. She put away her coat and bag before grabbing what she needed for her first class.

She sat in her normal seat next to Lily and tried to focus on class but was having a really hard time. When the bell rang she kind of jumped in surprise and realized she had been zoned out most of the class. She looked down at her notes and realized she hadn't taken many.

Lily took her own notes out of her binder and put them in front of her. "Just get them back to me after you copied them," she said with a smile.

Skye smiled at her friend. "Thanks," she packed up her stuff and went to her next class. Her focus was better for her next classes. At lunch, she went to her locker, put her books away, and grabbed her lunch before she headed to the cafeteria where she sat with her friends at their regular table.

"How was the rest of your morning?" Lily asked.

"Better," Skye said. "I will have your notes back to you tomorrow."

"Okay," Lily said with a smile.

Skye's phone went off with a text, and she looked at it and smiled.

"Tucker?" Ivy asked with a smirk.

"Is it that obvious?" Skye asked.

"Yes," Ivy, Lily, and Anna all said in unison.

Skye chuckled. "Yes. He just is saying hi."

"Did you tell him what his cousin did?" Anna asked.

"Not yet, I do plan to. though," Skye said.

"You two hang out recently?" Lily asked.

"No, we have both been pretty busy. He is joining my family for Thanksgiving though," Skye said.

"You two aren't dating yet?" Ivy asked.

"No, I'm not allowed to date until sixteen," Skye said.

"It would only be a problem if you got caught," Ivy said.

"There are almost a dozen adults who, it feels like, are always watching me. I'd get caught," Skye said.

Her friends chuckled.

"Yeah, that would make it difficult," Anna said.

"Yeah, but I would not change a thing because I'm in a home where I'm actually happy," Skye said.

"You've never really said. Your foster care experience?" Ivy said.

"I don't think there is a word to describe how awful it was ninety-nine percent of the time," Skye said. "And that's all I will say about it."

Ivy nodded.

"Anna, are you going home for Thanksgiving?" Skye asked.

"No, Thanksgiving is a North American thing. I'm staying and celebrating with my host family like I do every year. I go home around Christmas," Anna said.

"That's cool," Skye said with a smile.

They kept talking and eating until the bell rang. They all packed up their stuff and went to their lockers. Skye got to her first afternoon class and sat down. Ivy came in a few minutes later and sat next to her. The rest of the day went well.

Skye left her last class, which was music, carrying her violin case. She had signed it out. She needed to work on it for the Christmas concert next month. She went to her locker and grabbed the rest of her stuff before heading outside and looking for Happy's car.

Before she could find it Carly got in front of her and glared at her.

"What?" Skye asked

"Problem with me standing here?" Carly asked.

"Yes, you're in my way," Skye said.

"You can go around me," Carly said.

"I could, but you're the one who stood in front of me and is glaring at me. So move," Skye said.

"Or what?" Carly said.

Skye took a breath. "Or I will make you," her anger was rising, and she was well on her way to losing control.

"Do it, I dare you," Carly said.

"You went out of your way to come to my home. Was it just to try and piss me off more?" Skye asked as her fist clenched. "Or was any of it true?"

Carly smirked and shrugged. "I guess you'll never know."

Happy had gotten to the school a few minutes later than usual. He got out and looked for Skye. He saw her talking to Carly, and she looked angry.

Happy went over. "Hey, Skye, you ready?" he asked.

Skye took a breath when she heard Happy's voice and tried to calm her emotions while she unclenched her fist.

"Yes," she said, looking up at him.

Happy took her violin case from her. "Let's go."

Skye went with him and got into the back of his car. She took the violin when he handed it to her.

Happy got in and started for the compound.

"Are you okay?" Happy asked.

"I-" she started, not sure what to say.

"I need you to tell me that you're not hurt," Happy said.

"I'm not hurt," Skye said.

"What happened? I thought things got discussed when she came to the compound yesterday," Happy said.

"I think she just did that to end up pissing me off more," Skye said.

"I didn't see the start of what was happening just now. Did you get in her face, or did she get in yours?" Happy asked.

"She got in mine," Skye said. "And I was pissed."

"You try to walk away?" Happy asked.

"She got in my way, not the other way around," Skye said.

"And you couldn't have walked around her?" Happy asked.

"I shouldn't have had to. I'm not just going to back down from a bully," Skye said.

"There is a difference between not backing down and taking a verbal alteration and turning it into a physical altercation," Happy said.

"Who said I was going to," Skye asked.

"Your closed fist did," he said.

Skye sighed.

"If I hadn't stepped in, would you have punched her?" Happy asked.

"Probably," Skye mumbled.

Happy shook his head.

Skye leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes, hoping to keep the tears from falling.

Happy saw her in the rearview mirror but didn't say anything.

Happy pulled into the compound. "You're planning on telling your dad what happened?"

"I wasn't, no," Skye said.

"You're going to, or I will," Happy said.

"So much for you not telling him things," she mumbled as she got out of the vehicle and grabbed her bag and violin case. She went inside and to her room closing the door a little harder than necessary.

Steve looked up at Happy as he came into the kitchen. "What happened?"

"She is upset with things that happened at school, and with me as well," Happy said.

"Should I have gotten a call from the school?" Steve asked.

"No, it happened after school. I stepped in before it got past a verbal altercation," Happy said.

"Carly Nelson?" Steve asked.

"Yes," Happy said. "I think Skye should be the one to tell you the details."

Steve nodded. "But why is she upset with you?"

"I told her one of the first times I drove her back to the group home that she could confide in me and, as long as she wasn't at risk, I wouldn't tell anyone," Happy said. "She doesn't think I needed to tell you this."

"I appreciate you telling me," Steve said as he got up.

Happy nodded. "Of course."

Steve went and knocked on Skye's bedroom door.

"Yeah?" She said softly.

Steve went in and sat at the end of her bed facing her. "What happened?"

"I was standing looking around for Happy after school. Carly came and stood in front of me and refused to move. I'm just so done with her, so I didn't want to let her win by having to walk around her," Skye said.

"I understand not wanting to back down from bullies," Steve said. "There were many times Bucky had to save me from bullies because I refused to back down."

Skye let out a huffed chuckle.

"But you need to pick your battles, Skye. I know it's not fair. But at school you can't get into a physical fight," Steve said.

Skye nodded. "I know. I just was getting so angry. I just wanted to punch her in her fake nose."

Steve tilted his head. "Are you saying you think she had plastic surgery on her nose?"

Skye chuckled. "Yes."

Steve shook his head. "Well, If she did that is not your business."

Skye nodded.

"So, here are your options for this situation. You two need another mediation. Tell your guidance counselor or Dean Fields. Or I will," Steve said.

Skye groaned. "Dad, no."

"I will not let this get any further because Happy says if he hadn't stepped in you would have hit her," Steve said. "Was he wrong?"

"No," Skye said softly.

"You can not let it get to that point," Steve said.

Skye sighed. "I'll talk to someone tomorrow."

"And I know you confide things in Happy that he doesn't tell me, which is fine. I trust that he will tell me if it's necessary. And he did need to tell me this," Steve said.

Skye sighed again and nodded. "I will apologize for giving him a hard time."

"Good," Steve said.

"Are we done? I need to call Tucker. I don't want him caught in the middle with no idea what happened," Skye said.

"Yes, make sure you get started on your homework soon," Steve said getting up.

"I will," Skye said.

Steve left the room. and Skye called Tucker.

"Hey, Skye," Tucker said.

"Hey, how was your weekend?" Skye asked.

"Busy, worked both days and so much homework," Tucker said. "Yours?"

"Eventful," Skye said.

"Oh?" Tucker asked.

Skye explained everything that had happened with his cousin since Friday.

"She doesn't fucking give up," Tucker was annoyed.

"Apparently not," Skye said.

"I know you have said you don't want me to get involved. Has that changed?" Tucker asked.

"I don't think it could get worse at this point. But I don't want you in the middle. I'm only telling you so if she tries anything you know my side," Skye said.

"I don't like that she is hurting you, and I can talk to her, talk to her parents. I find it hard to believe that they would be okay with her treating anyone the way she is treating you," Tucker said.

"They don't like me. They don't want you hanging out with me. They think I am going to lead you down the wrong path," Skye said.

"Skye, neither of us have any interest in the things we used to do to get in trouble," Tucker said.

"Well, sometimes I wouldn't pass up on smoking pot," Skye said.

Tucker chuckled. "Okay, but would you hang out with the idiots we used to?"

"No," Skye said.

"Would you go out of your way to get into trouble?" Tucker asked.

"No," Skye said.

"You are not the same person you were. Lots of teens smoke pot. It doesn't make you a bad person, and it doesn't mean I would do it with you," Tucker said. "In fact, I'd probably encourage you to not if I was with you."

Skye chuckled. "You have changed far more than I have."

"In some respects maybe, but I don't have superpowers. I'm not preparing to save the world," Tucker said.

Skye laughed. "Yeah, that's not all fun and games. Sometimes. . . I hate these abilities."

"But having them connected you with your dad and got you out of care," Tucker said.

"Yes, and that's about the only good thing that has come from it," Skye said. "I have people coming after me. I almost let loose at my school dance because I can't control them. I lost one of my best friends, Kate, to the bad side. I have caused issues between you and your family because I have to interact with your cousin on an almost daily basis."

"Hey, the issues I have with my family have nothing to do with you," Tucker said. "My cousin has always been the way she is. You are caught in the middle of my family drama because of me."

Skye sighed. "If you say so."

"And Kate might come around after time in jail," Tucker said.

"She was planning on luring me to people who would have hurt me. I won't forgive that," Skye said.

"Yeah, that wouldn't be an easy thing to come back from," Tucker said.

"I want to be able to control them to be able to help the world. But sometimes I just wish I could turn them off for a few days," Skye said.

"Well, you will learn to control them, and then you won't have to use them when you don't want to," Tucker said.

"Yeah, I don't know. It didn't take me that long to learn to control the stuff I get from my dad. This everything connected to my emotions thing is much harder. Because I can't control how I feel sometimes. I get angry, I get frustrated. And I can't stop that from happening," Skye said.

Tucker let out a breath. "I wish I knew what to say to help you, but I don't."

"It's okay. You are doing enough just letting me vent about it," Skye said.

"Always willing to listen," Tucker said.

"Thanks, Tuck," Skye said.

"So, unless you are definitively against it, I do want to talk to my cousin about how she has been treating you, and possibly my uncle and aunt," Tucker said.

Skye let out a breath. "Tuck, I don't know."

"Let me, please," Tucker said.

"Okay," Skye said, conceding.

The two ended the conversation shortly after, and Skye got started on her homework.