I walked down the gravel street as the bus pulled away, engine exhaust trailing behind. I knocked on the pale, blue door. My eyes wandered around until they rested on the driveway.

Wait, why are there two cars?

The door opened, and I turned my head. Aunt Shera was there, with an extremely cross expression on her face. “Why are you here right now?” she asked.

“I was supposed to come home early. Didn’t you see the text I sent you earlier?”

Aunt Shera slapped me. Hard. I could still feel the stinging even as she was yelling at me. “DON’T YOU EVER SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT, UNDERSTAND?” she shrieked. “ I OUGHTA-”

“Mrs. Lanewood?”

Both me and Aunt Shera turned our attention to the voice. It was a girl with blond hair and multiple freckles on her milky white face. She was wearing a glittery, pink ribbon, which kept her hair in a neat ponytail. Her dress was a dark purple, with shimmery, silver dots on it. She had a confused expression glued on her face. Her hazelnut eyes turned to face me. She smiled at me. “Who is she?”

Aunt Shera cleared her throat and turned so that she faced the girl completely. “This is Lauren,” she responded as pleasantly as possible. “Lauren, this is Macy. She’s going to be living with us.”

I looked at the girl, and then back at my aunt. Aunt Shera shot me a dirty look, and I looked away. “Macy, will you give us a minute? You can wait for us in the loft.”

“Yes ma’am.” The girl walked up the stairs. Once she was out of earshot, I knew I was in trouble. Aunt Shera looked at me, her eyes glittering, and it was creeping me out.

“Get. Inside. Now.”

“But-”

“NOW.”

I went inside, and Aunt Shera slapped me 8 times, then yelled at me. It was the fiercest I’d ever seen her. “Go upstairs and take Macy to your room. She’s going to be your room mate.”