Palette's POV a few weeks later

"Pardon the interruption please."A voice on the intercom says

My ceramics class goes quiet.

"Yes?"My teacher says

"May Palette Roller please be sent down to the office?"The voice says

"Of course."My teacher says

"Thank you."

I get up, washing my hands and grabbing my bag. My classmates coo and start whispering, teasingly saying that "Someone is in trouble!"

"I don't know what they want but it would be best to get there without delay."My teacher says

I nod and walk down the halls. I see Goth following his gym class outside and he sees me as well.

"Hey, Palette! Where ya heading?"He asks

"The main office for some reason."I reply

"Oh...Okay..."He says, continuing on his way

I go into the main office where the elementary school headmaster stands there waiting.

"You're Radier's cousin, correct?"She asks

I nod.

"Let's go."She says, pulling me by the arm

She puts me in her car and drives me back to the school.

Is something wrong? Is Radier in trouble? Hurt? Why are they taking me out of class to here?

She marches to the entrance with me. I see Mr. Reaper waiting at the entrance, his scythe getting tucked away. His wings fold and he glances at me with a smile. The headmaster let's us in and puts us with a group of other adults. I'm the only kid there.

"What's going on?"I ask

"Radier didn't tell you?"Mr. Reaper says

"Tell me what?"I ask

"About his project that we're about to witness. I was called here for Shino."He says

I see Raven walking down the hall and he spots me as well. His father pulls me closer with a grin, unaware of his second-born coming.

"So, how is your friendship with Goth going? Anyone causing issues?"He asks

"Eh, not really. New classmates are more accepting and friendly. The only issues really are from idiots going after my family."I say, staring Raven down past Mr. Reaper

He caught the hint and bows his head.

"Really? Who'd go after your family?"Mr. Reaper asks

"Gaster keeps trying to get some experiments done until I dealt with him last week. Then there's others who creep along the side of my home with black feathers."I say

"Well I'll have a word with Gaster to make sure he doesn't try anything. But why would anyone have notice to go after your family?"He asks

"I dunno, they just get weirded out by different people. Some think Gaster taking us would be a favor done for them."I say

"Well I can't imagine who would be rude enough to think-"He begins

"HI, Dad."Raven says

Mr. Reaper glances at him.

"Hi, Raven. How are you doing in class?"He says

"G-Good. Hi, P-P-Palette."Raven says

"Hello."I say with a small smile

"Since when we're you as timid as Goth? Wait....Raven, you haven't been bothering Palette and his family, have you? You don't believe that, do you?"He says

"Not anymore...."Raven mumbles

"What do you mean, anymore? You shouldn't have believed that to begin with! We are definitely having a talk when we get home!"He snaps

"I'm sorry Palette."Raven says

"Uh-huh."I say, then follow the other parents into the classroom.

We settle in the back of the classroom and after a few minutes Mr. Reaper is beside me. A bell rings and the kids flood into their seats. The teacher walks to his desk and checks their notepad for something.

"Okay, next up is Raider! Come hang up your project on the board!"He says, pointing to the board beside the desk

At the top it says: What a Role Model Looks Like! And below it were cutout portraits of role models to children, often a parent with adjectives explaining why they are so important. Radier goes up, hanging his project up. It was a drawing.....of me. Two words were made bolder than the rest. Hero and Loving.

"Oooo!"The children coo

"And who is this? Can you explain?"The teacher asks

"O-Okay...Palette is my cousin...He took me out of a bad home into a good one with a happy family! He protects me and shows me how a loving household is...I'm safe with him! I owe him big time!"Radier says

I shake my head as he continues to talk.

"What's wrong? You disagree?"Mr. Reaper asks

"He doesn't owe me anything. He has to stop thinking that. Stupid Uncle drilled toxic ideas into him, like everything to the point of breathing is owed to someone else. He doesn't owe me for caring about him, that's a given."I say

"Well it seems like you've set a good example regardless. You've risen from the ashes of your broken family in a way, taking their mistakes and turning into something positive, better than them. That's certainly an achievement."He says, patting me on the back

"Now could this cousin come forward?"The teacher says

"N-N-No! He can't be here, Sir! He's in class right now! He-!"Radier objects

"Didn't you tell him?"The teacher asks

"Well, I..."Radier says, getting nervous

His tentacles fiddle with each other, showing his uncertainty. Other kids start chatting and Shino turns around in her seat with a bright smile.

"Hi, Dad! Hi, Palette!"She says loudly

I see Radier's eyes shrink in shock hearing that. The class goes quiet. I smile, walking to Radier and the teacher.

"W-What? But I thought you loved Ceramics class! Why'd you miss that?"He begins

I hug him.

"You're more important than a class."I tell him

I turn to the teacher, who smiles at me. Then they have me face the class as Radier sits down again. Some coo and look at me with twinkling, curious eyes.

"Class, say hello."The teacher says

"Hello, Palette!"They all say

I see the flash of a camera as a photo is snapped.

"Leanna! No phones during class! No photos!"The teacher snaps

"Fine..."One of the kids say

"Any questions for Palette?"The teacher asks

Some kids raise their hands.

"Who is your best friend? What are they like?"

"What grade are you in?"

"What do you do outside of school and family?"

"Favorite subject?"

"Do you have any pets? Like a puppy or birdie?"

"Ooo! Ooo! Do you-?"

"Slow down, class!"The teacher says

Shino raises her hand.

"Yes, Shino?"The teacher says

"Just want to ask if he's happy. I know things have been tough."She says

I smile, nodding in response to her question.

"My best friend is Shino's brother Goth. He is really sweet and has my back much like I have his or Radier's. I'm in 9th grade currently. I have some jobs outside of school. Over the summer I worked as an artist and now I work 3 days a week at a diner nearby. My favorite subject is art and we have a bird named Pakeekee living with us but he is more aware and talkative that he'd be considered family more than a pet. Like the Reaperlings of Shino's family."I explain to answer the questions

A phone dings and Leanna raises her hand.

"Are you single?"She asks

"Leanna!"The teacher snaps as the class gasps or giggles

"What? He's not my type but my sibling is curious."She says, causing more laughter from the class

"None of their business!"Shino shouts over the laughter

"Class!"The teacher snaps, trying to get control again

The class goes quiet and looks to me for an answer. My face burns as I awkwardly think of an answer.

"U-Umm, technically I am but I'm not open for that sort of relationship."I say

I answer a few more questions before another student and role model was called up. After a little bit, Mr. Reaper got his turn and probably got the most questions. That's a given of course, being the God of Death in an elementary classroom. The bell rings after a few hours and I walk out with Radier beside me. Gradient soon joins us and I smile as he glances at me in surprise. Then he glances at Radier.

"He found out, huh?"He says

Radier nods.

Gradient smiles, then we hear Raven repeatedly calling out in pain. I see Shino skipping ahead as her father drags Raven away by the wing, his expression unreadable. The Reaperlings follow close behind, shaking their heads.

"Huh, guess he's in trouble."Radier says

"It's kinda funny how tense it is between him and his father appear and then there's Shino skipping ahead without a care. You see the ray of sunshine and joy before the darkness coming home."Gradient comments

"Let's just go home."I say

We walk home and I smile as we talk about our school day's experiences. I hold Radier's hand in mine and smile wider at him.

I'll be happy to be the good example and continue this good life made for and with them. I don't know what I'd do without them, after all....

TBC