"Cinder, you better have your room cleaned up for when your friend gets here!" Shondra's voice traveled upstairs from where she stood at the foot of the stairs.

Chord heard Cinder walk extra hard on the flooring as she stood at the top of the stairs. "Why does my room being clean matter? We're not even using my room!"

"You heard what I said, little lady. Your friend and his sister are coming by and I want it to seem like you've had some sort of raisin'."

Cinder stomped back to her room and Chord chuckled humorously. After explaining things to her mom, Shondra was very understanding with Cinder. Though she believed fighting should be a last resort, she didn't believe Cinder needed to be punished for defending a classmate. When the boy's parents called to thank her, it ended up with them agreeing to let him come over. So Shondra has had Cinder and Chord help with the cleaning for the company.

"My room is done!" Cinder yelled as she ran down the stairs, her eyes sparkling.

"Did you clean it or just slide the stuff under the bed or in the closet?" Chord asked from where he was watching Supernatural on the couch.

Cinder scrunched her nose up, looking like a mini version of her mom. "I did that one time. Shut up. And why aren't you helping clean? You've been on your butt all morning."

"I did my stuff already according to the rulebook we go by in this house. What I do once I'm done is my business." He stuck his tongue out. "Also, are you really going to wear that when he gets here?"

"Huh?" She looked down and she let out a squeal at her pajamas. "Ah! I forgot to change!" She ran back upstairs faster than before.

"Why is Cinder screaming this time?" Shondra came out of the kitchen.

"She forgot to change her clothes."

"That girl would lose her head if it wasn't attached," she said with affection. Walking to the end of the stairs, she called, "You need help, sweetie?"

"No! I am— Ah!" A scream, followed by a bang froze us for a moment. "I'm okay! There was a bug! But it's dead! Oh, crap, where are my pants? Wait, wrong drawer. . . Moooooommmaaaa!"

"I think you may need to help," Chord stated, looking at the ceiling. "At this rate, she'll put her pants over her head and shoes on her hands."

Ding dong!

"Answer that for me while I go salvage whatever Cinder is causing." As his aunt disappeared upstairs, Chord paused his show to answer the door.

When he opened the door, he was about to greet whoever it was but the words died on his tongue.

Scarlett stood before him in jeans and a loose-fitting hoodie, her hair down in curly torrents like the princess in Brave. A boy a bit shorter and a complexion several shades darker stood behind her, looking at Chord sheepishly.

"What are you doing here?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth. Probably not the smartest thing to say, but the shock of seeing her at his house was to blame. "Wait, that came out wrong."

Her eyes lit up in recognition. "Well, hello to you too. Is it so bad to see me again?"

Ba-bump, ba-bump. What the hell was his heart doing beating erratic right now? Am I having a heart attack?

Chord stared at her for a few moments in shocked silence feeling like a complete idiot when he felt something bump into him.

"Hey, Diego!" Cinder gave him a friendly wave, not affected by the situation. Cinder— now dressed in something not her pajamas — looked up at Scarlett curiously. "Who are you?"

"I'm Diego's sister. We live in the same home. You must be Cinder," Scarlett said, smiling, "Diego has talked a lot about you. I'm very thankful you helped him out. You must be super brave to stand up to two boys like that."

Cinder held her hands on her hips, proud of what she did. "Thank you. I try. What's your name?"

"Scarlett."

Chord mentally cursed as he saw the recognition flash in Cinder's eyes. As she opened her mouth to say something — definitely — incriminating, he wrapped a hand over her mouth, pulling her to him.

"Why don't you guys come in?" he offered, keeping his hand over her mouth even as she bit it, closing the door behind them.

Diego held a hand to Scarlett's jacket as she and Diego removed their shoes. He looked down at Cinder. "You say a thing and I'll tell your mom about how you stay up late watching anime when you're supposed to be asleep. What happens in casa de Garrett, stays here."

Sticking her tongue out, she followed the two into the living room, as did Chord, coming to Scarlett talking to Shondra.

"Oh, it's no bother at all, my dear," she said, beaming at Scarlett. "Any friend of Cinder's is more than welcome here."

"I also brought this," Scarlett dug into her bag and pulled out a large plastic container. "Miss Charlotte wanted to thank Cinder so she made a Devil's food cake for you guys. I had to convince her not to send a dozen other things. As well as the whole kitchen." She chuckled, tucking hair behind her ear. He noticed she had an orbital and helix piercing on one ear.

"Oh, looks delicious. Thank you so much. I didn't catch your name."

"Scarlett Everett."

Shondra's eyebrows rose and Chord wished the earth would just swallow him up then and there. "That's a beautiful name. Are you in Chord's class?" Scarlett may be unaware of the scheming look in his aunt's eyes, but he was all too knowledgeable in it.

You know damn well she isn't. Why do you hate me? Why are you like this?

"No, but we have talked a bit at school. We kind of ran into each other on my first day. I moved here last week when Diego's parents took me in," she answered, "I guess you can say he's made the move all the easier." Diego tugged on Scarlett's sleeve, making tapping motions with his thumbs. "Oh, right." She pulled out a blue and green Nintendo switch, handing it over.

Diego handed it over to Cinder who gasped, "Is this the game you were talking about?" When he nodded, she took his hand in hers. "Let's go hook it up and play it." She dragged him up the stairs so quickly, he nearly stumbled trying to keep up.

"Keep the door open, Cin!"

"Okay!"

"You know, Miss Charlotte was really grateful when she found out Diego had made a friend. Being mute makes it hard for him to socialize."

"Well, if anyone can be his friend, Cinder can. My daughter can befriend a wild boar if she set her mind to it." Shondra teased. "Are you going to be staying here?" she asked.

"If you don't mind. Diego isn't too good with strangers so I offered to stay with him. I'm the only one at the house he's really comfortable with aside from our mom."

"Make yourself at home. Chord, would you mind helping me in the kitchen for a moment?" When Chord followed her, Shondra turned on him, flicking him in the forehead. "I should hurt you, you know that right?"

"I believe you just did." He reeled back when she flicked his ear. "Why are you abusing me?"

"Scarlett is cute. Why did you neglect to tell me this?"

"Why are you interrogating me?" Chord hissed softly, covering his ears. "We're not even dating. And I did not say anything because you'd react like this."

"Well, excuse me princess for being excited my favorite nephew has a girlfriend. Am I not allowed to be happy?"

"She is not my girlfriend. And I am your ONLY nephew."

"Get the hell out of my kitchen and go talk with her. Give her a tour or something. She clearly likes you so be nice."

Chord left the kitchen as she threatened to box both his ears. Scarlett was still in the living room looking at the photo frames placed around the room. He stood there for a moment, watching her twist one of her piercing almost out of habit.

"Question," she looked up as she spoke, pushing her hair out of her face with one hand as it fell, "is this cute kid you?" She pointed to one of the pictures. "Because you were quite literally the cutest kid. And I've seen plenty of cute kids."

Chord cleared his throat. "Um, yeah it is."

"Am I making you nervous again by being here?"

"What? No. Well, maybe. To be honest, you're the f-first person I know who's come over." As he said it, Chord immediately wanted to take them back. "N-Not that I'm blaming you! It's more of a me thing."

Great way to sound pathetic, isn't it?

"Really? That makes me feel special," she said this with such ease, it would be hard not to believe her. "Aren't I lucky?"

"What does?"

"Me sort of being of being your first," she answered, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. Chord's entire face went red and Scarlett bit her bottom lip when she saw it. "Your first guest over. I'm quite curious to see what Chord is like outside of school."

"I think that's a splendid idea." Chord jumped when his aunt stuck her head out of the kitchen. "You should show her around, Chord. It's rude to just stand there with your tail between your legs." She turned to Scarlett. "Will you and Diego be staying for dinner?"

"Oh, we wouldn't want to inconvenience you. We can get something on the way back."

Chord shook his head at Scarlett, making a cutting motion with his hand but it was too late.

"I'll have none of it, dear. You can consider it as thanks for the cake. Besides, I'm sure my nephew would be very happy to have you stick around," she remarked, "Isn't that right?"

I swear, one of these days she is going to kill me.

"Then we'd love to," she answered, "We just have to be back before Diego's curfew at nine."

"You know, a tour sounds like a great idea. Let's get on that, shall we?" Chord perked up, ignoring the amused look his aunt gave him. "Let's start on the opposite side of the house. Much more fun stuff there."

And where there is not an aunt asking me to die of sheer embarrassment.

"So, where's your room?" Scarlett asked as they climbed the stairs.

"Huh?"

Scarlett gave him an appraising look. "I've seen enough movies and stuff to recognize when family members tease and embarrass. You don't have to show me the house like she suggested if you're upset at the idea. We both know that was her way of teasing you."

"Yeah, she tends to do that. Every day. All day. It is her mission in life to make me wish I could hide away." He ran a hand through his hair. "Please ignore everything and all that she said just now."

"I won't hold it against you." She crossed her heart, spinning on her heels. "You know, now that I've seen you both, I can see how you and Cinder are related."

"Oh? How?" Chord and Cinder didn't look much alike, since he took after his mom side of the family rather than his aunt and dad.

"You're both really cute," she admitted, looking at the frames hung along the walls. "You know I love this line up." She made a gesture to the walls. "It's like those retro demo reels of your life."

Chord's feet froze on the spot, her words echoing in his head. Cute? Did she just say I was. . .cute? Again? Is she flirting with him? How can she be so honest and say stuff like that? The very thought of it made him—

No. She definitely didn't mean it like that. She definitely said cute, but puppies were cute. Babies were cute. She couldn't have meant it in like a flirtation fashion. Don't be ridiculous.

But what if she did? She had made it obvious she liked being around him, right? Though that didn't mean she liked him in that way. She could've —

"Chord?" Her voice shook him out of his mental spiral, seeing her standing near a couple doors at the end of the hall. "You okay?"

"Yes?" He cleared his throat. "Yes! Sorry, did you ask me something?"

"Which room is yours?" He blinked, pointing to the door on her left. "Awesome! You coming?"

"Uh, yeah." As he followed her, he felt his heart sink.

There was no way someone like her would ever like someone like him. He shouldn't delude himself into something like that.

Though they got along now, once graduation came, she would go her way like he would go his. Best thing for him to do was enjoy the time he had with her.

Friends. I can do friends.