Hue

one - silk

"The scariest thing about her was how normal she was when her guard was up."

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"Why can't you just fit in somewhere?" My mother exclaimed, frustrated.

I blinked, not really understanding the question. "I do fit in somewhere," I countered. "I fit in my bed, underneath the blankets and sheets. I also fit into these clothes. They aren't the most comfortable, but you told me I wasn—" I stopped myself abruptly as realization hit me. "I see. You're revising the no sweats to school rule. Good. I'll go get changed back into them."

As I turned to head back up to my room, a hand grabbed my arm. I froze, hating it when people touch me.

"Silk, that rule still stands," My mother informed me firmly. "No, I am talking about you. We are highly disappointed in your performance and lack of progress. Right, Bruce?"

"Yes, dear," My father told her, tapping away at his phone, busy as usual. At her glare, he sheepishly grinned at her and tucked it back into his pocket.

Rolling her eyes and hiding a smile, my mother turned her attention back toward me. "Silk, we sent you to a public school so you could learn and grow the same way we did. Start with humble beginnings and all that."

"Yes, so humble," I said flatly, looking pointedly at the crystal chandelier above the lavishly decorated mahogany dining table, the diamond earrings dangling from my mother's ears, and the platinum watch under the cuff of my father's expensive, hand-tailored suit.

"Regardless," My mother continued sharply, her voice changing colors with the change in her tone. "You haven't made any progress. Your principal tells me you have no friends—"

"I have friends," I said, cutting her off. I tilted my head in confusion, staring at her emotionlessly.

"No, you have followers. There's a difference," My father corrected, chiming in.

Shaking my head, I sighed. Human social endeavors and terms are still a mystery to me, despite the time I have spent studying them.

"Precisely," My mother agreed. "And this is only one of the things you agreed to work on. Which is why I am moving you to a different school."

Not caring either way, I merely stared at her blankly. She stared back at me with that wrinkle in between her eyes that she gets when she is trying to figure me. I decided to appease her with a reaction.

"Is it a public school still?" I questioned. "Or are you sending me to a private school now?"

It didn't really matter to me. Both will be easy and I'll probably just sleep through all my classes, I figured.

"It'll be another public school," My mother answered, but I can see that she is holding something back. I stared at her, knowing that she will want to fill the silence. I've found that humans hate silence and will continue to talk if you just stare at them. As I expected, she mumbled, "But it really isn't a good school, Silk."

I blinked. Was the last school a good one?

"I've heard that one of the gangs from the Shadow Syndicate is there," My mother added.

My father reminded her, "Yes, but Silk can handle herself. Remember how she—"

"Yes, I remember," She said, forcefully cutting him off and giving him a meaningful look. "Silk may be able to handle herself, but I, as her mom, don't exactly feel comfortable making her go to a school with a known gang is in it."