(^^Rae up above.)

Aricka walked into the school, death-gripping Thomas's hand. "We're going to Mr. Tomlinson's room," he says, and they walk into a classroom decorated with posters of sports, cats, and other things to do with school. Beanbags and spinning chairs were intermixed at evey desk, and a girl with blonde hair was coloring at a table. "I have to go now, okay?" he tells her.

"Okay." she turns and hugs him. "You'll come back, right?"

"Of course-3:00, just like I told you." she nods, and walks over to the girl coloring.

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"H-hi, my name's A-aricka," she stammers, sitting next to the girl. 

"Hey, I'm Rae! I like your shirt," the girl-Rae-replies. Aricka grabs a coloring page, smiles, and begins coloring. 

"My dad's Thomas Sanders," she says without thinking, then she quickly adds, "M-my foster dad, I mean."

"That's cool. You're a foster kid? What's that mean?" Rae asks, not looking up from her picture. Aricka hesitates, then replies, 

"It means that my mom died when I was two, and m-my stepdad abused me, so they put him and jail, and me in the foster care system." Rae looks up, and puts down her crayon, walking over to hug her.

"I'm sorry." Aricka hugs back.

"It's okay-you didn't do anything!"

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Rae and Aricka were inseprable the whole day-they went on the swings together, partnered for buddy-reading time, and even switched numbers so they could talk to each other. 

All too soon, the day ended, and Thomas came to get her. "Thomas, this is Rae-my best friend!" turning to Rae, they hug. "Dad will let you come over sometime," Aricka whispers, but Thomas heard.

"Ready Aricka?" he asks, hoping she'll say it again. She turns, and pales.

"Y-yeah, Thomas."