Zhen, Cho Hee and Mallory all slowly made their way down the stairs, back to where Mr. Kim and Dae Hyun were standing, waiting for them. Dae Hyun smiled. “I see you’ve showed her the office, my love.”

Cho Hee nodded. “Of course,” She said, walking to his side. He wrapped one arm around her waist and she placed one arm across his chest, holding his opposite shoulder. “She deserved to see what she was getting into before she decided if she wanted to stay with us.”

“Decide?” Zhen asked, and Cho Hee nodded again. “I don’t know if you know how this works, but I don’t get a say.”

Cho Hee and Dae Hyun exchanged looks. “Zhen Ai, we wouldn’t foster you if you didn’t absolutely want us to.” He said in a serious, stoney voice. “You see, my wife and I would like it better if you were here on your own terms, not forced terms. We don’t expect you to make a decision right now, but maybe one day after staying with us for a bit, you might want to.”

Zhen looked to Mr. Kim. “I’ve already arranged it. You can come and stay in the fostering house until you make the decision-”

“She can stay with me.” Mallory interjected. “I can drive, so I can take her to school. I have an income, so I can provide for her. She’ll be in good care until she makes her decision.” Zhen looked to her, thankfully. There was no way she was going back to Mr. Kim’s foster house. It was full of emotionally unstable, absolutely psychotic, murderous girls and she didn’t want to be in that environment again. “I promise, I’ll take good care of her.”

Mr. Kim sighed. “Well, the deal is that Zhen will be given a month to decide whether or not she will be staying with the Shins. If not, we’ll have to send her back to her original fostering system.” In China. She would have to leave the country. “Until then, I suppose it will be alright if Zhen stays with you.”

Mallory and Zhen nodded, and both of the Shins looked unbothered by the decision. “We hope you’ll accept our offer, Zhen.” Zhen nodded.

Mr. Kim continued. “Even though you will not be staying with the Shins, you will be enrolled in the school,” Zhen’s jaw dropped. Why couldn’t she just stay in her online school, where she was happily passing? “The enrollment process will take place next week. Your first day will be next week.” He turned to the Shins. “Thank you for allowing me in your home. I will leave the four of you to it.” With that, he turned and started towards the door.

Everything was silent until he left. “Zhen Ai, my husband and I have the day off tomorrow, so we can take you to your enrollment. If you give us the address for your friends house, we could come pick you up and take you to the school.” Cho Hee offered.

Zhen still partially hid behind Mallory, who spoke immediately. “I have a car, Mrs. Shin. I can take her to meet the two of you at the school.” Cho Hee looked confused, and a little hurt, but she nodded her head in understanding. “If you give me your number, I’ll call you when we’re on our way, so you won’t be stuck waiting for us.”

“They really do seem nice though, Zhen.” Mallory said, widening her eyes as she her mascara through her eyelashes. Zhen was sitting on the bathroom counter beside her, swinging her legs back and forth beneath the counter that hovered above the floor. Mallory sighed, shoving the wand back into the container of mascara. “I’m serious. They seem nicer than the rest of the foster houses you’ve been in.”

Zhen nodded. “But did you notice how very formal Cho Hee was? She was all about non-conjunctions and pronunciation. I don’t know if she realizes that I’m in advanced classes for third years.”

Mallory laughed. “I understand, Zhen, that you’re still hurt about everything that has happened in the past, but you really need to give these people a chance.”

Zhen frowned. “I’m trying.”

“I know.” Mallory said, dropping the mascara into her makeup container and started towards the door. The dogs leapt and yipped at them as they left, and they were quick to move out of the door, not wanting either to escape. They were fast to get down to the garage and climb into Mallory’s car.

She took off without a second’s hesitation. “Are you nervous?”

“About school?” Zhen asked with a small laugh. “Not really. I mean, I’m so used to jumping from school to school that it’s kind of nothing now.”

Mallory nodded and pulled out towards the street, but a white car sped by, cutting her off. “Are you kidding me?” She asked, slamming her hand on the horn. The guy in the car that had cut her off turned and looked back at her. She scoffed and rolled down the window, sticking her head out and throwing a very rude finger in his direction. “Oui, c'était pour vous, vous blithering idiot!” She shook her head, pulling herself back inside of the car. “God people are idiots.”

Zhen was in the middle of laughing as she choked out “I don’t think that was necessary.”

“Necessary? Was it necessary to cut me off back there? I don’t think so.” Mallory hissed, not bothering to roll up the window. “Remember earlier how you said karma would catch up to me?” Zhen nodded. “I hate you. This is your fault.”

“That that guy is a terrible driver?” Zhen asked, sitting up straighter in the seat.

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