Zhen stared past Jungkook, her eyes brows pulled together and her lips pursed. Oh, she was pissed. And he continued to try and calm her down, to talk about it. “Who did this to you?” He asked, tilting her hand so it caught the light better.

She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms so her hands were under her elbows and he couldn’t see them. “Nothing, and no one.” She said, shaking her head.

Now Jungkook held her waist and pulled her from where she sat on one of his legs to in front of him. “You can’t keep bottling things up, Zhen Ai,” He said, shaking his head. “Tell me what happened.” He said, prying her hands away from herself and holding them in his hands. She made a face. “Look, you could have kicked me through the window already, but the fact that you haven’t shows something. I think it shows that you know you need to tell someone what happened.”

Zhen scowled. “Fine,” She spat, glaring at him. “I don’t know how many foster homes ago it was, and I don’t even remember their damn faces, but I came home later than they wanted me to. I had this… thing and I told them I was going to be gone for a few hours, probably until late. When I didn’t come home at six thirty for dinner, they were livid. And when I did make it home at ten, they were making popcorn. One of them, I think it was the dad, threw the pot he was cooking the oil in at me, and to keep it from hitting my face, I used my hands and caught it, but the oil spilled all over the place, especially on my hands and feet.” Her brows pulled tighter, if that was possible, and she continued. “Lucky for me, shoes and socks cover my feet, but I had to wear gloves to keep my hands covered.” She pulled her hands from his. “And I hate telling people because they always react the same way, giving me the look you’re giving me right now.”

Jungkook looked surprised, and quickly changed his expression to try and look nonchalant. “Why does it matter though? I’m sure if you didn’t wear the gloves, no one would really question you.”

“I’ve tried it before, Jungkook. Do you think I just like wearing gloves during the freaking summer?” She asked, moving to stand, but Jungkook grabbed her ungloved hand and pulled her back down. “What? What now?”

He leaned forward and kissed her. “Nothing,” He said, holding her hand in his. “Just that I’m sorry.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Suga asked, following Mallory as she strode towards her room.

She shrugged and gestured for him to follow, like it seemed he always did. “I don’t think you’ll want to come.” She said, coming into the closet.

“Would I offer if I didn’t?” He asked, sitting on the end of her bed and clasping his hands in front of him. He leaned forward, with his elbows in his knees. “I mean, how bad can a butcher be?”

Mallory threw a few articles of clothing on the floor beside the closet, only her arms showing as she did so. “I’m sure Zhen’s already told the lot of you that I only eat unprocessed, hormone free foods. This butcher isn’t like the kind on the corner of a street. First off, he’s going to kill the animal in front of us, so I am sure that he hasn’t had the meat sitting for a long period of time. He will then test the blood and other bodily fluids for traces of drugs used to enhance the animals, and then I choose the pieces of the body I want.”

“Zhen?”

Mallory peered out of the closet, looking confused, and then shrugged. “Jin Ae.” She corrected.

Suga winced. “That sounds like a lot of effort.”

“And then,” She continued, appearing in front of him in a pair of dirty wash jeans, a fleece flannel, and a pair of black rain boots. Her flannel was opened, showing the black tank top she wore underneath. She began buttoning as she continued to speak. “We have to go down to the farmers’ market for vegetables, fruits, and honey. After that, I need to run to the bakery for fresh breads, muffins, flour and sugar, a few cream cakes, loads of Madeleines, and a cake for my brother’s birthday.”

Suga frowned. “That’s a lot in one day, Mallory.”

“Well,” She sighed. “Jaspar gets here early tomorrow morning, and I don’t have time on any other days once he’s here. Also, I have to make a brilliant impression.”

“Why? He’s your brother.”

She nodded. “Precisely. He’s my brother.”

Zhen hurried down the stairs into the kitchen, grabbing the box of microwave popcorn Dae Hyun had brought home a few days before, and tore it opened. “There are movies in the cabinet beneath the television.” Zhen called, watching as Jungkook wandered around, unsure of where to go.

“Uhm,” He said starting towards the television. “Any preferences?”

She nodded. “Scary? Horror?”

He laughed. “Awesome.”

Just as he sat on his knees and began pulling movies out of the cupboard, the door slid open and Cho Hee let out a loud sigh. “Zhen Ai,” She said, shuffling into the room after having put on her slippers. She was staring down at her tablet and shaking her head. “What have you done today?”

Zhen looked to Jungkook and, holding two glasses of Sprite, made her way towards her foster mother. “Nothing too far from the normal.” She said, walking past her towards the coffee table, where she placed the cups. “Why? What’s up?”

“A