~Next Week~

It had been a long day, and rather frustrating. I ran faster, running from school and liars and frustrating projects due next week. I ran and ran, both my earbuds in, Teenagers pounding in my ears. I had run about two miles by the time I'd run my frustration out. I slowed to a jog, surprised that I was already nearing the house with the little girls and boy I'd met last week.

I saw them again, playing in the yard. They waved at me, and I slowed to a stop to say hi, pulling out my earbuds. "Hiya Kat! And Scot and Angel." I tapped them each on the nose lightly with my fingertip as I greeted them. "Hi Lucy!" Kat and Scot chorused. Angel just smiled shyly at me. "Will you come play with us?" Kat begged. I glanced at my black watch. I had run so fast that I had 20 extra minutes before I was due home. "Sure girlie!" I grinned. "Whatddya want to do?" "Let's play tag!" Scot yelled. I laughed and set my backpack and purse on the grass. "Sounds great." I tagged the little boy on the shoulder and darted around him. "I'm coming for you!" He squealed.

I sat on the grass, out of breath but laughing. Angel was It, but I couldn't run anymore. "I have to breathe!" I managed to get out. I didn't know how these kids had so much energy! "Are you okay?" Angel asked quietly. I could feel her breath on my ear and it tickled. "I'm fine, just tired." I flopped backwards on the grass with a laugh. I glanced at my watch, shocked to see it had only been 17 minutes since I'd agreed to play. But that meant I only had three minutes! I rolled over and pushed myself up to grab my purse. I texted my dad, 'Sorry, I'll be a little late. See you soon!' Then flopped onto my back and stared at the clouds.

Not even ten minutes later, Kat, Angel and Scot were laying in the grass next to me, looking up at the clouds and dozing off. "Oh look.." Angel said with a yawn, turning her head. "My brother's home." I followed her gaze to where a yellow school bus was rumbling down the road. 'Oh no.' I thought. 'Their brother doesn't know me. I don't want him to think anything bad is going on.' I quietly rolled away from the sleepy children and whispered "Goodbye!" I picked up my backpack and purse and started jogging home.

~Brenden's POV~

It was almost my stop. I looked up from the manga I was reading to see Kat, Angel, and Scot laying in the grass, cuddled up together, sleeping. I smiled, they were so cute. I love my siblings. I grabbed my backpack and put a bookmark in Black Butler and walked down the bus aisle.

As I got off the bus, I saw a girl jogging down the road. I saw her red hair swinging and her gray backpack bouncing a bit as she got farther and farther away. Red hair... Didn't Kat say that she'd met a girl named Lucy who had red hair? "Hey!" I called out to the girl jogging away. But she was too far away to hear, I guess, because she didn't turn around or slow down. Kat walked up to me, rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Hi Brenden!" She yawned. "Hi, my little hurricane." I replied as I scooped her up in my arms. "Did you see Lucy again today?" I asked her, giving her side a poke. "We did.. We asked her to play with us. We played tag until she got tired then we all laid in the grass and looked at the clouds. I guess we fell asleep.. And when I woke up, she was gone and you were yelling." She told me. 

"C'mon everyone." I gently shook them awake and led everyone inside for afternoon snack. 'I think it's time I met this Lucy..' I thought to myself. 'She seems to be spending lots of time with Scot, Angel and Kat. She doesn't seem dangerous, and the kids like her, but I'd like to make sure..'