??? ????? ?? ???? ????? - tsotb + tdg

By the following day, Kemi had properly familiarised herself with the foster home building and its many, many rooms, as well as the beautiful field of a garden the place had been blessed with. All that was left was meeting the other residents.

After all, it was unlikely Jenny would allow her to stay in her room for the remainder of the day, and scary as it felt, Kemi would have to get it over with, or she'd never be able to live comfortably here.

"Hi, I'm Justine! How old are you? You look my age. I'm 12," a pretty but sharp-faced brunette grinned, holding her hand out to Kemi. Kemi winced at her yelling but shook the girl's hand nervously and returned the smile.

"And I'm Louise. Your hair looks so pretty! What's your name?"

The pleasant-looking blonde popped up beside Justine, obliviously shoving her out of the way as she sprung her hand for Kemi to shake. Unbeknownst to Louise, Justine shot her a vicious scowl.

Now came two boys; one was a giant who towered over Kemi so much she felt like shrinking away in a corner to hide, and the other didn't appear nearly as frightening but was all the more an overwhelming presence. They both grinned mischievously, as if to reject the fearful reputation they'd received.

"That's Bouncer, and I'm Lol," the smaller of the boys (who Kemi now knew as Lol) introduced. "We got here a few days ago, so I guess we're new too."

He didn't shake Kemi's hand like Justine and Louise, but instead fistbumped it. Justine rolled her eyes at the interaction and muttered, "Boys," under her breath.

The final child to introduce herself was an adorable little girl half Kemi's height, with her hair done in Bantu knots. She beamed in delight and hugged Kemi's arm, saying, "I'm Dolly! You're very pretty. Do you want to be my friend?"

Although all these kind introductions were quite pleasing and well appreciated, the crowd was now awaiting Kemi's response, and she felt pretty like Shuvuuia getting cornered by a Velociraptor. It was far from pleasant, and she wished she could wear her headphones and hide somewhere.

"Um..." Kemi faltered as she tried to remember who everyone was and what they'd all asked her. "I'm Kemi, and I'm 11, and thank you, and...and okay!"

Kemi smiled at everyone but already felt disorientated by their eager stares. Her hands bristled with the need to clutch something, but there was nothing to hold. She resorted to staring everywhere in the room but everyone's eyes so she wouldn't feel so overwhelmed.

"What sorts of things do you like?" Louise asked, prying Dolly's little tanned fingers from Kemi's hand so she could hold it instead. "I can show you my room if you want. I've got lots of nice outfits we can dress up in. Ooh! And you could let me try some of yours too. That would be fun!"

"What if she's hungry? 'Ever thought of that, Louise? What if she doesn't like dressing up? You're always hogging the new girls. I want to show Kami around!"

Bouncer and Lol looked at Kemi curiously to see how she'd respond to Justine mispronouncing her name, but Kemi's blank expression didn't change. She didn't even quirk an eyebrow一How weird!

Justine took Kemi's free hand and began to drag her out of the living room while Louise pouted behind them. She took the girl to hers and Louise's bedroom, which was currently a mess of clothes, makeup and dolls. Justine sat Kemi on her bed and pointed at a small box on the desk.

"My dad got me this. Look at the necklaces. Aren't they nice? My dad always gets me things. Were the people who dropped you off yesterday your mum and dad?" Justine said casually, after she revealed the pieces of faux gold jewellery.

"Yes, but I didn't want to be dropped off," Kemi replied. "My parents don't have enough money to look after me  anymore."

"Oh...I'm sorry. Everyone here has some soppy story to tell, so you're not the only one. Don't worry," Justine said, smiling kindly.

Kemi smiled back, but her insides still twisted and turned whenever she thought of her parents, and her heart felt like the insides had been carved out with a low-quality knife. They'd spent 11 years without ever being apart - 11 years, always following the same Aroje routine. And now it was all different. New home. New room. New friends. New smells. New sights. Everything here was new!

That wasn't to say she hated new. In fact, Kemi did enjoy relishing in new experiences like the first time she ever swam, a moment she'd never forget. The only problem now was she had no control over it. It was like being forced on a roller coaster without knowing all its twists, turns and loop-de-loops. Sometimes scary. Sometimes fun!

"Justine, who's Tracy Beaker? Jenny said I'd share a room with her," Kemi suddenly asked, lying back on the bed so she could stare at the ceiling.

"...What?"

Justine's sweet expression contorted into a look so grotesque, Kemi felt like Dr Lanyon witnessing Dr Jekyll's transformation from the troglodytic Mr Hyde. Tracy Beaker and Justine. They must hate each other...

"Tracy Beaker is a lying worm. Don't believe any of the rubbish she says about her mum - it's all fibs! She's a right piece of work, that Beaker."

"Do you hate her?' Kemi asked, her eyes wide at the colourful anger that Justine spat.

Justine paused to consider the question. Then, with a dramatic huff, she rolled her eyes and sat on the bed beside Kemi. The bed moved like waves in the ocean, making the pair bounce and Kemi giggle.

"Just stick with me and Louise. Or just me; everyone else is a nutter, especially Beaker and her toilet-scrubber hair. I can't believe you've got to share a room with her. Poor you!" Justine sighed.

She looked over at Kemi, and as she saw the girl staring at the ceiling, she realised that they hadn't looked each other in the eyes for the entire conversation. And just like before, her expression was utterly blank - an empty canvas painted in white. Justine's eyes trailed further down to Kemi's hands. The girl's fingers were twitching and waggling like a dog's tail.

"Let's go get some food, yeah? I can show you where the kitchen is," Justine said, still watching Kemi's fidgeting hands and absent expression with a confused frown.

"I already know where it is," Kemi dismissed, finally shifting her expression with a small smile.

Kemi hopped off the bed and left the room, expecting Justine to be behind her. Justine, however, lurked further back, for her mind was ablaze with gossip to share with Louise about the new girl. The new girl casually disregarding her was not on her to-do list.

She sure was something.