Pure

3

-Caterina

It's all just one big guessing game. I mean, what in the name of whatever you believe in is going on? I really can't tell you. Cause I really don't fucking know.
But I have to somewhat keep my cool.

I don't know how Demi does it, honestly. She's adjusted so well so fast. Or at least she's pretending to. But it can't possibly be that easy for her, can it? Either way, whether she's acting or not, I have to at least pretend to be on the same level, or close to the same level. Cause otherwise I'll just look like a chicken and that is not an option.
She is nice though, I'll give her that. Doesn't mean I'm nice too, but at least she is. And she doesn't seem to take it to heart when I ignore her, or irritate her, or insult her, or any of the other many not so nice things that I do to her. Which I do have to give her credit for. She's definitely a hard nut to crack. I'm just waiting for her to finally burst and see what she's actually gotten herself into. But she's already lasting longer then I thought she would. My prediction radar has been pretty off whenever she's involved, I've realized. And it's quite disappointing. Back at home, I was always able to tell exactly when and what someone was gonna do. I was 'the predictor'. I always guessed right when it came to deciding how long someone was gonna hold out, or how someone would react, or what they would do. My sister and I turned it into a game, trying it even on strangers. Obviously that didn't work as well as it did with my family or friends, but I wasn't too bad if I may say so myself. I miss it. It honestly hasn't even been that long since the last time we've done it, but I miss it and I miss her. I miss my whole family really. But that's a feeling I have to push down and pretend is not there, cause it's too late now anyway.

And Demi is really trying. She's been incredibly nice and caring and going out of her way to do things she doesn't have to do, things she technically had no business doing. I mean, the woman doesn't even know me! She has no idea who I am and why I ended up in the situation that landed me here. But it doesn't seem to concern her at all. All that she's focused on is making sure that I'm comfortable and cared for. I'm trying not to appreciate it, or at least not to show my appreciation, but that proves to be a little bit hard. I was raised to recognize the efforts people put into me and to acknowledge that. I was raised to be polite and nice and respect everyone, even people that don't always deserve it. So it's very unnatural for me to pretend like all of her care doesn't mean something to me. It does touch me. And I do value it. I just can't show it. I'm not even allowed to feel it, I try so hard not to. Cause even the smallest thing will send me running back. And I have to prevent that from happening.
She's making it very hard, though. She's making it practically impossible. Which only means I have to work harder and be meaner. And I don't really wanna be, but she's leaving me no choice. I do have to ease into it and give it some time though, cause otherwise it will be like a one-day-play instead of a turned-new-lifestlye kinda thing.

"Cara?" Demi yells from the living room.
Her friend Maggie is here too. It's not the first time she's here since I came, but it's the first time I've actually seen her. She seems nice enough- not too fond of me though. But that's okay. I'm not looking to make friends anyway. Especially not with Demi's friends. "Come look at a few options I've pulled up for you and let me know what you think."
I slowly step back into the living room and make my way over to Demi's computer, which is sitting on the coffee table in front of her. "All the tabs are different schools," she shows me. "I've found seven that are within this district. Five public and two private. So just look it over and let me know if anything looks interesting. If you don't like any of them we'll have to figure something out, but first just see what you think, okay?" She gives me one of her sweet smiles, which I obviously don't return as I just nod and start reading while she turns back to her friend and their conversation.

I don't really pay attention to them, but tune in just in time to hear an excited squeal coming from Demi. "No fucking way!"

"Yes fucking way," Maggie replies. "So, you totally need to come with me because I don't wanna go by myself."