NAOMI'S POV:

I stepped out of the shower, making sure to spend a few final moments in cold water to numb the stinging. At least I was given my punishment immediately after school, that way I'll have this evening and all night to heal before I have class in the morning. Tomorrow was Friday, which usually I'd be cheerful, but being grounded meant that this was going to be a very long weekend.

Looking in the mirror, I brushed some stray hairs from the sides of my cheeks and tried to form an opinion of how I looked...but I wasn't sure. My mom always told me how pretty I was, but she's a biased party so her opinion doesn't matter. Nor does Mr. Davis'. Jasper told me I was beautiful, I guess his is the only one I have to go off of. But even still, I feel like there is something off-putting about the way I look. I've never been made fun of for my appearance...well, actually I've never been made fun of period. I was someone who had a few close friends, did extra circulars but focused more on myself rather than trying to make friends with everyone else. I've never cared much about the tribes formed in high school. Why am I even thinking about this now?

Pulling my robe from the hanger, I slipped into it and tied it tightly around my waist, already considering the lightest pair of pajama bottoms I have. If I had been told nine months ago that I'd be subjected to harsh corporal punishments, I would have invested in silk pants rather than the plush, fury ones I owned.

The few wet strands of hair around my face was beginning to bother me, it's as if it were piling on pressure to my already red and overheated skin. That was something I didn't need right now, so I brushed it quickly and tied it in a pony tail, confident that I have no intention of doing it before school tomorrow. My stomach was rumbling loudly, causing an unsettling disturbance that distracted my attention from anything else, so I was eager to get downstairs and see what was for dinner.

Mr. Davis seemed to have settled down, but I know his stern Administrator attitude can awaken at any moment. That's what made him so hard to read.

"Are you hungry?" Mr. Davis asked, the tone in his voice more neutral than it was before.

"Yeah, what's for dinner?" I moved to the kitchen counter, resting my weight against it.

"Chicken salad, you can put your own toppings on it." He said, handing me a plate with a bed of lettuce and some chicken cubes on it.

Everything was spread out on the counter in their own little dishes; olives, peppers, onions, French fries, carrots, cheese, and a variety of dressings. The smell of the garlic chicken on my plate was so mouthwatering that I almost bypassed everything he had spread out.

"Okay, thank you." I said quietly as I began shoveling toppings on my plate so quickly that I wasn't really even sure what I was grabbing.

The minute I sat down, I immediately began stuffing my face with as much as I could fit on my fork. Half of my plate was gone before Mr. Davis even took his seat.

"You were really hungry, huh?" He smiled.

I nodded because I refused to let my mouth go a minute without food.

"I guess I won't ask any questions until you've finished." He mumbled to himself, causing a small muffled laugh from me.

That didn't take long at all, I was finished within a matter of minutes. Mr. Davis offered me seconds, but I fear I ate too quickly that everything was now sitting like a rock in my stomach. If I ate any more, I'm sure I would throw up.

"Are we going back to the Academy anytime soon?" I began since I didn't want to excuse myself from the dinner table.

He nodded, finishing chewing. "Yes, we're going to spend next week or two there, so we'll more than likely leave on Sunday."

I wanted to make plans with Jasper, but the sight of my unfinished lines was a quick reminder of being grounded. There was no way I'd be able to talk Mr. Davis into pulling that back. So, the entire time we'll be at the Academy, the first opportunity I'll have to do something with Jasper since school began, will be spent in isolation. Just my luck.

"Make sure you grab everything you need for school; your uniforms, school books and so forth." He advised.

"I'll make sure I get everything together before Sunday." I assured him. "Can I finish my sentences while you eat since I'm finished?" I asked nicely, grabbing my plate but waiting for his response.

"Go ahead."

Putting my it in the sink, I cleared off a section of the dinner table and grabbed everything I needed from the dining room table. Fortunately, I only had two pages left but with Mr. Davis overseeing there was no way I could do a word at a time. I'd have to write the sentences fully before continuing to the next one.

"I'll get here before you tomorrow," He continued eating, but squeezed that in-between bites. "do you want anything in particular for dinner?"

"Um," I finished writing another sentence. "n-no."

I had a few ideas in my head, but I would hate to overindulge, I'm not comfortable enough to make requests just yet.

"Are you sure? You seemed like you had something in mind." He asked, leaning forward after finishing his plate.

"No sir, thank you." I continued writing, trying to advert his prying expression.

"It's no trouble Naomi, honestly you can tell me. You don't get to make requests at the Academy, so this is the only place I can offer it."

"Really, I'm fine." I said without turning to him, which resulted in him reaching across and taking my pencil from my hand.

When I looked up, his eyebrows were raised and he had a inquisitive smirk on his face. "Do you really not have any ideas?"

I hesitated, I could think of many foods that I wanted to eat since I came to the Academy, especially foods from home, but it didn't feel right asking. Anything he makes for me would be satisfactory since it's out of generosity. He's already went through a lot to make this house more hospitable for me, anything more than what he's already done would just be exploitation. But maybe, just maybe, there is something I could ask for that gives me a chance to bond him with. Outside of our book club, which has come to a standstill since school's started, we don't do much activities together.

"My mom and I used to make," I stopped to look down, afraid of his reaction. "chicken noodle soup on weekends, and I miss that."

I glanced up, but saw no reaction, only a small nod as he pondered.

"Is that something you would like to try to do together?" He asked sincerely.

"D-do you mind?"

"Not at all." He returned my pencil and pulled out his phone, typing something on it. "I'll have everything ready for when you get ho...here tomorrow."

I nodded, giving him a smile at his understanding. I know this will give him some solace, and I figured I owed him at least that much, but hopefully it'll be something I'll enjoy as well.

_____________________________________________

Mr. Davis and I spent most of last night in silence last night after our dinner conversation, even the warming embrace we shared afterwards couldn't overshadow the physical pain left from the switch. That and the fact that I still had to finish my lines for the principle. I dropped those off in the office this morning with an apology Mr. Davis had me write. He seemed to appreciate that even though I'm sure he could have guessed I didn't write it on my own accord.

"Hey, are you doing anything this weekend?" Haylee pushed herself against the locker next to mine.

She was my lab partner for Biology, and we sometimes were sent to take pictures of the football team for Journalism, we both were tasked with writing the Homecoming article. Given that we spend a lot of time together, she was becoming a close friend of mine rather quick. I found myself confiding in her pretty heavily, especially due to the rapid spread of my adoption circulating in the school.

"Would you want to get together and work on a few articles this weekend?" She continued since I hadn't answered.

Mr. Davis grounded me, but of course I didn't want to tell her that. "I have this thing I have to go to with my guardian."

"Oh, okay no worries. Mr. Abraham said the first articles aren't due for a few weeks anyway so maybe another time." She said hopefully.

"Definitely!" I tried to sound sincere, I would love to hang out with her, mostly to talk to someone outside of the Academy. "Can I have your number?" I opened my phone, pulling up my contacts and preparing a slot for her.

Adhering to the new rule set by Mr. Davis, I kept my phone in my locker the entire day. Consciously making sure I didn't take it out for anything, but the last period ended. All I have to do now is catch the bus.

"Sure," She took it from my hands and entered her information. "I'll text you sometime."

"I may not answer this weekend because we're, um we're going camping, and I may not have a good signal." I tried to speak cohesively.

I know lying is wrong, and I wouldn't want to start a friendship with her based on a lie, but I don't want to expose the types of discipline I'm subjected to as someone adopted by an Administrator at the Academy. Yes, I know a lot of kids get grounded, but it still made me embarrassed to admit that I, a student at the Academy for nine-months, was still so defected that I have to receive remedial punishments.

"Okay, I'll see you later."

I sent her a quick text so she would have my number before shoving it deep inside my pocket and gathering everything I would need to keep me busy this weekend, I can imagine it's going to be very boring. Exiting through the side entrance, I quickly identified my bus and got on.

We've now entered September; the air was becoming cooler as the skies turned grayer each passing day. Strange how quick Pennsylvania weather can change, it's almost as if you should keep your shorts and pants in the same drawer year-round. Luckily though, I'm not someone whose mood is heavily influenced by the weather, it only affects how I choose to spend my leisure time. I was never bothered by the cold, but I absolutely hated the snow...I once fell off my brother's four-wheeler and had ice-burns from scraping against the thick layer of snow on the ground.

Soon it'll be too cold for students at Braxton to go outside, which means they'll be subjected to closer monitorization of the Administrators. It'll even be too cold for me to sit on the porch swing at Mr. Davis' house and read. Not that I was allowed to do that right now anyway, since I'm grounded, I've been restricted to the walls of the house.

I guess being grounded has some quirks to it; I was able to get my notes two-weeks ahead for three classes, Honors to Biology, Intro. to Geometry, and even Honors World Cultures. But every so often, I must break from my concentration and then remind myself of where I am. I must do that every morning I wake up at the Academy, even nine months later, that feeling never goes away. It's even more strange here, I know I'm supposed to make this house my 'home', but strangely enough I feel more comfortable at the Academy. At least the Academy has an impersonal feel to it.

"Naomi, come here for a minute." Mr. Davis called from the dining room as I closed the front door behind me.

I hung my coat and removed my shoes before throwing my bookbag over my shoulder and approaching to answer his call. "Yes?"

When I entered the kitchen, I saw a giant bundle of ingredients spread out over the island. There were so many things here that there was almost no counter-space left.

"Wow, you got a lot of stuff." I said plainly, just now remembering we made plans to make chicken noodle soup.

"I wasn't sure what you take in yours, I know there a lot of different versions." He smiled uncomfortably. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Switching subjects, he looked down over the island.

"Plans?" I'm fourteen, what makes you think I make plans on my own? In any case, I'm grounded.

"Do you have homework you need to do this weekend, is what I meant." He corrected, setting a pan of lasagna on the table.

"Oh," I stopped to think, school this morning was so long ago. "No, not really. I basically did everything during the week and even got somewhat ahead."

There were still a few things I could get ahead on, but my academic schedule isn't as challenging as I expected it to be. Somehow, I've been able to do the readings and take my notes during the week without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.

"Good, good," He poured his coffee. "Sarah called me this morning and was wondering if you'd like to go shopping with her tomorrow."

"Shopping with Sarah?"

"Remember she mentioned she would have to take you shopping some time? Are you up for it?"

"But I'm, I'm grounded." I definitely was, I'm not hallucinating.

"You are," He took a deep breath. "but I think it would be nice for you to have some bonding time with Sarah...and I know she really wants to take you. So, you can go if you want."

As fun as it sounds, I hated the idea of having someone else spend money on me...and for no apparent reason either. Was she doing this to get close to me? Was she doing it out of pity? She's probably trying to be nice, but I'm not entirely sure what her intentions are here. The idea of it made me feel very uncomfortable.

Growing up with a lawyer in the house, my mother and father were especially keen on hospitality. Mother was always cooking and cleaning while dad made sure everything was having a care-free, happy time. Even my brother and I had to chip in and help when necessary, so being on the receiving end made me feel unbalanced. It's a weird split, being appreciative but carrying a vague, nagging sense of negativity.

"I still have some money my parents left me, I could use that...." I had like fifty dollars my parents gave me when they brought me to the Academy, they thought I would need it in case of an emergency.

"No, that won't be allowed." He let out a small smile. "Save that money. This is not something you need to pay for."

"B-but I don't want to spend Sarah's money..."

I didn't want to sound rude in denying, especially since it was such a generous offer but shopping a few weeks ago with Mr. Davis was hard enough, I can't imagine asking his sister to do the same.

"If it bothers you that much, then just be conscious of what you're buying. Check the price tags and don't buy anything too expensive."

"What's too expensive?" I asked earnestly.

His eyes widened as he turned to the side, "For the places Sarah shops at?" He smirked. "No less than forty-dollars a piece."

"Forty dollars?"

He nodded, "But don't worry, Sarah wouldn't bring you to those places if she had no intention of expecting that much to spend." He tried to comfort my thoughts, though it did very little. "She would really like to take you."

"Okay." I said quietly. "Okay it'll be fun." I gave a pure smile, showing quiet appreciation to avoid seeming negative.

"Great, I'll let her know to be here tomorrow at eleven." He nodded, puling out his phone, I assume to send a text message. "So," Picking up a carving knife, he sharped it. "are you ready to begin this soup?"

It took my brain a moment to switch topics, but eventually I surrendered a more sincere smile this time. Rolling up my sleeves, I grabbed a towel and threw it over my shoulder.

"I can give you an apron." He went to the pantry.

I haven't seen him wear one yet, in fact he's never had more than a hand towel that he shoved into the back of his pocket.

Pulling out a dark lavender one from the side hook, he spread it open and brought it toward me. It clearly was one that belonged to his late wife.

"Oh no, Mr. Davis. I couldn't..."

"You can and you should." He interrupted. "I know she would be happy to pass it on to you if she were here." He held his position, still offering it to me.

"A-are you sure?"

I was so graciously being welcomed into his home, his family, and yet I was somehow not as ready to accept as he is as ready to offer. You would think it would be easier for me than for him, but oddly enough I wasn't.

"Absolutely." His smile flickered across his face like a hologram. "Honestly, please."

I took it in my hands and carefully slipped the hole over my head, folding the strings behind my back and then back front to my waist since it was larger than my size. He stared at it for a moment, making me feel like I was intruding, but then snapped out of it.

"Okay, let's start with the chicken."