“Tariana?” Erika said after school.
Tariana looked up at the girl. “Yes?”
“Would you like to come over to my house?” Erika asked. “I mean, if your parents will let you.”
“My…parents wouldn’t mind.” Tariana shook her head.
“Okay, then,” Erika said. “I’ll lead the way. Zoey’s coming too.” She nodded at Zoey.
“Alright.” Tariana nodded.
“Hey, I’m home,” Erika called into the almost empty house.
Lizzy was in the kitchen. She walked to the front of the house, crossed her arms, and looked at her sister. “You’re late,” she said. Then she saw Tariana. “Who’s this?”
“Tariana. Tariana, this is Lizzy. Lizzy, this is Tariana.”
Lizzy looked at Tariana and her eyes slightly widened, but she shook it off. She shook her head. “N-nice to meet you, Tariana. May I call you Tari?”
Tariana nodded. She looked at the little girl.
“Let’s go to the living room,” Erika said. Tariana, Lizzy, and Zoey followed her.
“So, Tari,” Lizzy started, “where are you from?”
“I’m from Texas,” Tariana said nervously.+
“Why’d you come here? Not to be rude or anything, but why here?”
Tariana tried to think of an excuse. She looked around quickly, then back to Lizzy, immediately coming up with something. “I’m here because I had to change foster parents.”
Lizzy looked sympathetic. “What happened to your real parents?”
“They died in a crash,” Tariana said sadly, keeping her eyes down.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Tariana nodded, then she looked around the living room. The room wasn’t big, it was a medium size. Near the entrance of the room, there was a couch that was green in color. Pictures of Lizzy and Erika’s family hung around the room.
Erika sat on the green couch, and Zoey sat on her right. “Sit down,” Erika said to Tariana.
Tariana sat on Erika’s left, looking around, not sure of what to do.
“So how was your first day here?” Erika asked.
“It was alright,” Tariana said, nodding.
“That’s good,” Zoey said.
“Are you hungry or thirsty?” Erika asked. “I could get you something.”
“I would like consumable, yes, if that’s alright with you,” Tariana replied, looking at Erika.
“Do you want apple juice? Milk?”
“Some juice, please.”
Erika stood up and walked to the kitchen. Lizzy followed her.
“She’s different,” Lizzy told her sister when they were in the kitchen.
“She’s new,” Erika replied firmly.
“Yeah, she’s new, but she’s different too.” Lizzy tilted her head.
“I don’t see how.” Erika thought back to break, remembering asking herself if she was losing her sanity.
“Her eyes are a glowing light green, and her hair is blue,” Lizzy said.
