Chord felt like he was stripped naked for the world to see. Or, rather, for Scarlett Everett to see. He stood to the side in his room as she took it all in, and had yet to say a word for the past several minutes as she perused.

Along the shelves on the walls were collections of the various Legos models he had done over the years, books about space, video games from Xbox to PS4. Posters lined the wall every so often of various bands and games he favorited.

Chord wasn't sure what was worse. The fact he was waiting for her to immediately debase his likes or the fact she had yet to do it. Possibly both.

"You are a real nerd, Chord," she finally said a smile on her face. "Like, wow. Did you make all of these models?" She stood on her tiptoes to pick up a model of the Starship Enterprise.

He balled his hand into a fist as he replied, "Yeah."

"Sweet. You did a good job with it." She set it back gently, making sure it was secure before backing off. "I like the NCC-1701-D myself."

He stared at her in surprise. "Come again?"

She turned to look at him. "Captain Jean-Luc Picard's ship. Though your Kirk model is friggin' cool." As she looked away, her eyes caught something as they widened. "Oh my god, is that a model of R2D2?" She barely managed to take the twelve-inch tall model in her grasp. "This must've taken you weeks to do."

"It only took like three days." She stared at him with disbelief. "I had chickenpox when I was eight and had nothing else to do." He shrugged.

"Have I told you I love your stuff? I feel like I'm being weird about fangirling, but I couldn't care less." She laughed, setting the helpful companion back where he stood. "Mind if I ask you a question? One in which you're not obligated to answer and you're welcome to tell me off."

"Sure?"

She bit her lip, almost hesitant to ask. "Why do you live with your aunt? Are your parents not around?"

Chord tensed slightly but relaxed a moment later. Even after everything they did, he still loved them. The family was a complicated thing, but he had no desire to have a relationship with them.

"They weren't fit to be parents, unfortunately," he answered after a few moments of awkward silence. "You haven't heard? People at school enjoy bringing it up even nowadays."

She shook her head. "No, I make it a personal mission to stay away from ignorant gossip from prejudiced people. I like deciding if I like someone based on my own experiences. Besides, I'm too book smart to listen to background noise."

"Oh." That was a huge relief though he probably should not be surprised by this. From the beginning, Scarlett had shown she wasn't like the others at school. Yet she somehow still kept surprising him. "They were drug addicts. They spent most of the money they got on it or booze. However, when I was six, I got sick. Really sick and my aunt pounced on them. Got custody of me and I moved here for a better start."

Scarlett gave him a sad smile. Not one of pity that you gave someone you couldn't empathize with, but the one you gave when you knew the struggles that came with parents who cared more about their desires and wants than your own needs.

"That sounds familiar." She turned her back to him, twisting the helix piercing. "Diego and I are in a similar sinking ship."

"What happened to you?"

"Diego lived with his mother. I don't know the exact details, but I do know when he was about four, he walked in on his mother being murdered by her boyfriend," she spoke stiffly, trying to separate herself. "He ran to the neighbors and the cops got called. Found the guy two states over about a month later. He hasn't spoken a word since that incident. I can tell what he wants so I help watch over him with Miss Charlotte."

Jesus, the poor kid. Chord assumed he had it hard since most eight-year-olds never stop talking.

"And you?"

Chord thought he saw her wince when the topic shifted to her, but it was gone before he had a chance to contemplate on it. "My story isn't very interesting, to be honest. That is one way to bore yourself to sleep."

The fact she avoided answering him wasn't lost on him, but he didn't want to pressure her if she did not want to. It was up to her, though the fact she didn't made him wonder what did happen?

She paused at the bookshelf where a stack of notebook sat. "What are these?"

"Don't look at those," he shouted with a panicked hitch in his voice when Scarlett reached to pick one up. She jumped, withdrawing her hands. "Sorry, sorry. It's just. . . I don't like people seeing what I write. They're not very good anyway."

"Oh, you're a writer. Your attractiveness is getting better the more I learn about you. What do you write about?"

"Short stories usually, but like I said," Chord pushed himself off the wall he leaned on, walking forward. Stealing a look at the clock, he added, "I don't suppose you're much into gaming are you?" His eyes shifted to the gaming system under the tv monitor.

"Nope, but I've seen the kids in a few homes I've been in play them. Seemed fun." She hopped on the edge of the bed, legs crossed. "What game do you wanna play?" She smiled with interest. "Just be gentle with me though, " she added mischievously.

After going through what he had, he put Call of Duty: Ghosts in, making sure to explain the basic machinations of the game to her.

He learned three things pretty quickly after a few rounds on the Behemoth map.

One, Scarlett has the worst hand-eye coordination he'd ever seen. Even for a noob.

Two, she was very competitive and stubborn and hated getting killed by zombies.

Three, when a girl ties her hair in a bun while gaming, it means they're going to war.

"Okay, that's it you rotten bastards," she cursed, tying her hair on top of her head in a bun, making sure it was secure with a tug. "This killing me shit you're all pulling is gonna stop right here. Start the map again." Her gaze was laser-focused, eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration.

For a moment as the map loaded up, Chord didn't even pay attention to the game. Watching as she covered doorways to block the entrances and shooting the zombies, Chord couldn't help but admire her.

He wasn't sure what made her decide to start talking to him, and he had yet to ask. But her entire aura was special; that rare kind that everything she did was natural and she wasn't displeased with the idea of being near him.

She bit down on her bottom lip when they got surrounded by too many zombies, but the sounds were too far away.

The sound of his character dying made him jar to attention and he noticed Scarlett eyeing him curiously. "You okay, Chord? You spaced out and I was on my own. You left me to be eaten by rotting corpses. This will never be forgiven." She gave a pout, but she still asked with a hint of concern.

Chord gave a nod. "Yeah, sorry. Let's try that again."

"Good because I have a score to settle with these Walking Dead freaks."

It was a strange feeling, being accepted by someone who wasn't Cinder or his aunt. He liked it and he hoped to continue this. He didn't want that feeling to stop. Not after knowing what it felt like after so long.

But what were the chances of that?

------

"I appreciate your aunt inviting us to dinner. I think I won't have to eat again for the next few days," Scarlett joked, as Chord carried a sleeping Diego in his arms to her car. His head on his shoulder, arms curled around his neck.

Chord couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, she sort of went a little overboard. She lives on having guests around." Scarlett opened the door for him and she fumbled to buckle him. "Though you don't have to so what she said."

"Do what?" she asked, her body halfway in the backseat. She climbed out, shutting the door carefully.

"When she said you should come over again. You don't have to-" He stopped when Scarlett held a hand up, her eyes shining in the evening night.

"Don't start with that again," she replied. "If I didn't want to talk to you, frankly, I wouldn't. I choose who I associate with." She smiled at him that even in the darkness around them seem to shine out. "You'll be hard-pressed to get me to stop at this point, Chord."

"Right. I know. It's just. . . Sorry, I'm not used to talking much."

"Well, if it helps you're doing just fine being yourself. You don't have to put on airs with me. I've got a very good bullshit detector." She tapped the side of her nose good naturally. "Now, I need to get Little Boy Blue home before Miss Charlotte goes nuts. I'll text you later, kay?"

Chord nodded and before he could react, Scarlett hugged him, wrapping her thin arms around his waist. Not used to being hugged, Cinder aside, he could do little but stand there awkwardly, looking down at her in a look between surprise and confusion.

Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Ba-thump. He could feel his heart beating like crazy and he prayed to God she couldn't hear it herself.

After a few moments, she pulled away to get into her car. As she pulled out of the driveway, Scarlett gave Chord a final wave before disappearing into the night.

As Chord retreated inside, he could still feel his heart beating in his ear.

-----

Scarlett carried Diego in, kicking the door shut. As she stepped into the living room, she made a wave to Miss Charlotte as she folded laundry on the couch. Going down the hall, she settled Diego into bed.

"How was it?" Miss Charlotte asked as she sat down on the couch. "You mind helping me fold?"

Sitting back up, Scarlett dragged the second clothes basket to her. Since there were five kids and two adults, there was always a ton of laundry. Especially for all the boys. They went through more clothes than Scarlett had.

"Yeah, it was great. Diego seemed to really enjoy hanging out with Cinder. It was really cute," she answered, holding up a shirt. "Is this Slater's or Astin's?"

Miss Charlotte paused. "That's Erza's."

"Oh, right." Folding it, she started a spot for his clothes. "How do you tell?"

"I'm a Mom. It's my superpower."

There were seven people living in the home: Miss Charlotte and her wife and the five kids. Scarlett was the oldest currently, though the newest addition to the Roland home, at seventeen. Erza, at fifteen, was next, then Astin who was fourteen, Slater at ten, and then Diego. All but Slater were adopted and brought in. Their personalities definitely clashed - especially Erza and Astin - but Charlotte and Derrian loved children.

Her partner - Derrian - was working late again, since she was a lawyer, so it was hard to catch her sometimes.

"Oh, Shondra - she said to call her that, I swear! - loved the cake you made."

"Oh, good! I was afraid it wouldn't be enough. You wouldn't let me send the other stuff."

"You were trying to send a cake and two tins of cookies and brownies each. We don't need to give them diabetes." She laughed.

"Did Diego say anything?" Scarlett heard the concern and, sadly, shook her head. "I was thinking of getting him to see a new therapist to help him, but. . ."

"I think Cinder is gonna be a big help. He was really shy, but when I watched him play with her he really was enjoying himself. Maybe he just needs time."

"I know but. . . " She frowned at a pair of Diego's socks. "What if we're not doing enough? He won't talk with me or Derr. He won't even talk with you."

She leaned to the side to lay her head in her shoulder. "You are doing your best. He doesn't say it, but Diego is happy to be here. Remember how you told me he used to sleep under the bed the first couple weeks after you guys brought him home? He's doing better."

Miss Charlotte ran a hand through Scarlett's hair, kssing her forehead. "That's true."

"Why don't you wait a little longer? Cinder really likes him and sometimes making a friend can work miracles. Give it a month and then you and Mom can talk about it together?" She sat back up finish the basket of clothes.

"And how about you?"

"Hmm?"

Scarlett felt her head turn as Miss Charlotte held her chin. "You're doing good, right? You've only been here for a month. Any issues?"

Scarlett nodded. "I'm doing-"

"Don't say you're doing good if you aren't." She arched a brow.

"I am though!" She felt her fist tighten, while still showing off a smile despite feeling the scrutiny of Miss Charlotte's gaze. "Most people wouldn't adopt a seventeen year old. So, I'm really happy being here."

"So school is okay? You're making friends?"

Xander popped up in her head and Scarlett immediately shoved that poisonous thought aside. She didn't want to bother her with someone irrelevant.

"Yeah! Actually, you remember the friend I told you about? Chord? He's Cinder's cousin. I hung out with him while Diego was with Cinder. They're all really nice."

"Really now?" Humor danced in her eyes. "Well, I'm glad you have a friend. You definitely deserve it."

Scarlett felt a pang hit her chest at those words. A mixture of emotions started filling up inside her. Anger, fear, hate. It all coalesced into a foul creature wanting to take a spot on her shoulder. Like a parasite, sucking all good from her.

"Is it okay if I head to bed?" she whispered, "I'm suddenly feeling pretty tired."

Though Scarlett felt the eyes on her back, she went to her room without a word; a shadow hanging over her. Closing her door, she stripped off her shirt and pants, tossing them into the hamper.

Turning the light on over the sink, she frowned at the burn scar spreading from her left shoulder to her wrist. Running her fingers down her arm, she grimaced at the rough texture. She winced as the memories flashed, filled with pain, fire, and devil eyes.

"A nuisance like you doesn't have the right to act better than someone. . ."

"You shouldn't even exist. I wish you had never been born. You fucking bitch."

Putting an old shirt on, she climbed into bed on the her right side. "What the hell am I doing?"

"Seeing you every day, is like reliving my hell all over again. Since I lived it, it's only fair you feel my pain as well. So let us burn together."

"Burn in hell, Aaliyah."