"Morning, Mom," I said, going into the kitchen to see her sitting at the table.

She didn't look at me, while she stayed staring at her cup of coffee. "You still got that dog with you?"

"I would watch that tone of voice, if I were you," Cody growled, his ears flattening against his head.

She looked at Cody, narrowing her eyes at him. "Don't growl at me, Mutt," she warned.

"Seriously, Cody?" I asked, looking at him. Was he really trying to get kicked outside of the house? I mean, that was what Mom was going to do, if he kept growling at her.

"What'd I do?"

I went down onto one knee and looked him in the eye. "Mom can kick you out of this house, and you know that you-know-who wants you to stay close to me," I mumbled, staring into his big, brown eyes. I placed my hand on his head and scratched behind his ear, knowing that he loved it when I did that.

He groaned and sighed. He leaned into my touch, his tail hitting the floor, again. "Fine."

I smiled at him, before looking at my mother. "Yes, I do."

She snorted. "If he makes a mess in my house, then you will have to clean it up."

I sighed and looked down. I all ready knew this. However, I could talk to him, so I can tell when he was needing to use the restrooms or not. "I know," I mumbled.

"What did you name it?"

"His name is Cody," I said going to the pantry, which was bare. I frowned, my stomach grumbling. "And, when does the truck come?"

"Next week, why?"

I swore under my breath, went to the fridge, and found some leftover rabbit meat. However, there was only one piece left, and I knew that the cabinet would be bare, except for a jar of probably old Spam that hadn't been eaten.

"Don't swear like that. It is not lady-like."

"Mom, I'm going to have to get some more meat," I said, getting a pan out and started to cook it. "This is the last piece."

"Don't bother. You got school and homework."

"Which, I do at school."

"You're grounded, remember?"

I sighed and started to season the piece of meat. My hand was shaking, because I knew that we were going to have this argument again. However, I didn't care. I needed to eat also. "Mom, this is the last piece of meat. We need more food."

"Then, don't eat."

I gritted my teeth a little, trying to ignore the grumbling of my stomach. I looked at it and sighed, knowing that I would be giving it to my mother. "He'll have to hunt for his food."

"Awwww, don't you got any food for me?" Cody complained, pouting.

"I told you that we don't need a dog."

The oven dinged, meaning that the meat was cooked. "You might not want a dog, but I do. I only got one friend, and that's Luke." She doesn't understand. She never understood me. She doesn't get what's it like to be a loner.

Mom... had been in the "it" crowd during her high school years. She was popular and even looked like it. Unlike me, she wasn't... different. She didn't have to go through the things that I'm going to have to go through and what I went through, when I was at school.

And, now that I was actually aware of the magic abilities that I possessed, I wonder if I was actually more like my father, than my mother. I bit back a groan, guessing that I was actually in his life. I hadn't covered up my mark, but I knew that Mom wasn't going to ask about it.

"So, you don't need one."

I took the pan off the stove, grabbed a plate, and placed the food in front of her. "Here." I didn't say anything about Cody, because I knew that she wasn't going to change her mind. However, I wasn't going to change my mind either.

"That could've been for you," Cody said, watching her eat the met. "Or, it could've been for me."

She grabbed the plate and started to eat meat. Her eyes closed, as if she loved how it tasted. There was a small hmm coming back from her, because she did love it.

I looked longingly at the meat, but I didn't say anything about it. My stomach grumbled a little, but not loud enough for her to hear. However, I knew that it would be starting to grumble after a couple of days or so.

"Get the mail," she said not looking at me.

I looked down and went to the back door. I opened it and spotted a large box on the doorstep. I picked it up and saw that it had food, toiletries, and clothing. I frowned slightly as I started to walk back into the house with the box. "Mom? Are you sure that the truck's supposed to come next week?"

"Yes, why?" she asked not looking up.

"Because, of this." I placed the box on the kitchen table, making her look it up.

"Is there food for dogs in there?" Cody begged, his ears perking.

"Cody, don't beg."

Cody huffed and laid back down, flattening his ears against his head. "Well, I was just wondering."

Mom looked up at me and then at the box. "Give the box back to whomever sent it."

"But why? We need the stuff." I looked in the box and pulled out a note that was in it. I frowned, seeing that someone had actually cared enough to give us these items.

Don't return these items to me. You'll be doing me and my husband a huge favor. There is money in there also, so that you can pay off those bills.

Sincerly,

Shannon Li

"What does it say?"

"It says not to send the stuff back," I said, not telling who had sent it. I frowned, wondering how she had even gotten my address.

"You will give the stuff back to whomever it is."

"No, Mom. We need the food and the money, until I get a decent job. Say all you want but I-" A note fell, cutting me off. I quickly caught it and stuffed it in my pocket, hoping that she didn't see it.

"What was that?"

"A fly flew close to my face, and I stuffed it into my pocket," I lied quickly.

She looked at me, and I stared back, not blinking. "You're lying."

If only you were a Seer, I thought bitterly, then I could tell you.

"Joes," she warned.

"I have to go. I got to ride my bike to school." I grabbed my bag and started to walk to the door.

"If you go out that door, then you're grounded," Mom said, shoving her chair back so it almost broke.

I opened the door and looked at Cody. He walked out with his head down. Grief filled my system as I looked at her. "I'm already grounded," I said, my voice breaking. "What does two more weeks have to do?" I turned and walked out of the door, closing it behind me.