What felt like hours, was only as long as an hour of playfully fighting with each other. The new friends already knew that there weren't any words needed, since their bonds were growing just by acting younger than their actual age. None of them seemed to notice, or to care if their pillows were starting to fall apart or not. They were having too much fun to notice anything else surrounding them. That is, until there was a sudden knock on the door.

The teenagers froze like a deer caught in the headlights. Their heads immediately turned to the door, then to each other, wondering who would be the one chosen to answer the calling. Without anything spoken, they turned towards John. He gave them a nod of approval, and the girls nodded in return as he cautiously walked to the door, slowly moving his hand to the door knob, as another knock repeated its action.

When John finally pulled the door open, he noticed that his father was the one behind the door, and he once again froze, knowing what he would see when the door was fully open. He smiled at his father regardless though, "Oh, hey dad! What's up?" He was acting as if everything was normal, when it really wasn't.

Dr. Peterson smiled at his son, "I just came to see how you all are holding up. Are you all doing alright?"

Everyone nodded with a smile, and Katie blushed from their father seeing them in a kid acting state. Though everyone else was fine with it, Katie felt herself flushing by the minute, hoping this awkward moment would end soon.

He smiled at Katie, "I can see that you are getting along with my children. That's always a good sign," he then looked around at the messy room. "I see you all have been having fun too."

Kara rubbed the back of her neck, trying to smile innocently and apologetically, "Yeah... Sorry about the mess, dad... We'll clean it up, don't worry."

He chuckled, "Don't worry. I know you kids will. You both are responsible enough to know what you need to do, and what not to do. I trust you guys. Alright, if you all don't need anything, I'll let you spend as much time as you want with Katie. Also, your mom wanted me to tell you to stay out of trouble."

"We will!" they called back in unison, and Katie had no idea if she too should answer back with their reply. She just decided to stay silent for better or for worse.

Dr. Peterson smiled as he nodded, "Alright. Sounds good. I'll see you guys when my shift is over. See you later."

Once again, it was as if the siblings minds were linked somehow to each other, "Alright! By, dad!"

Just like that, the door closed like a soft whisper that was heard in a short amount of distance. Once it was over, both siblings turned back to face Katie, giving her their full undivided attention.

Katie didn't know what to say or feel, but it felt as if everything around her was crowding around her, and she didn't know what to do.

Kara looked at Katie worried, "Are you alright, Katie? You seem... very pale. Are you sick at all? Do you need one of the nurses to come and check up on you? Or even our dad?"

Katie waved her hand in the air, as if ushering Kara to leave, "No, it's alright. I'll be fine. I promise."

You're not fine. You're anything but fine.

Katie tried her best to block the voice from attacking her any longer, which drained more energy than it should. She hugged herself, looking down at the ground.

Don't think that you will ever escape us. That you will be safe and protected by those you believe that you can trust. You are only our tool, nothing more.

"S-Stop it!" Katie cried automatically. Little did she know that she was worrying about her new friends. It doesn't matter anymore anyways. Everyone I ever meet will just abandoned me in my times of need. They're right... I'm nothing more than a tool. That's all I was created for... and that is all I will ever be...

John was unsure of how to help Katie. He sighed softly, "Are you alright, Katie? What's wrong?"

Katie couldn't face her new friends, "I-It's nothing. I just thought I saw something. That's all..."

"What did you think you saw?" Kara was the one to pitch in this time.

Katie shook her head, "N-Nothing important. It's really not that important. I-I guess it was just like a distant memory... It felt like that anyway... Though it's honestly nothing. It's stupid," she was trying to think of good excuses to evade her accidental outburst. She forced a smile, "Let's talk about something else. I want to get to know you better. Tell me a little bit about yourselves."

Both Kara and John looked at each other as Kara looked up at her brother innocently, "Who should go first?"

John grinned teasingly, "Ladies first."

"Alright then," Kara stood up straight. "What would you like to know, Katie?"

"I guess first of, we need to know the important information about all of us first. Like, how old we are and such."

Kara nodded and smiled, "Sounds simple enough! I'll be sixteen next month in September.

"I'm seventeen," John replied simply.

"Hey, me too!" Katie's mood changed from a turtle to Sonic in seconds. "Also, happy early birthday, Kara!" Why am I acting so excited about all of this when I barely know these people? Am I acting someone that I want to be, or who I programmed myself to be.

Kara grinned, "Thanks! I'm honestly excited! I'm planning on getting my license soon too! I can't wait!" she bounced on repeat like Tiger.

Katie giggled, "That's awesome. I actually recently got my license finally, and I'm happy about it. Don't worry if you don't get it as soon as you would have hoped. There's no race to the finish line of who out of you and your friends on who will get it first. If you end up being one of the few people that don't have it, don't fret. Like I said, I just barely received mine and passed the test."

Kara smiled as she sighed slightly in relief, "Even though I don't usually worry about being first all of the time, it's good to know this in case I ever get down on myself in the future. Thanks!"

Katie grinned as she placed a soft hand on Kara. I can't believe that I'm doing this. I normally wouldn't do anything that involves touch. She giggled, "Any time," Katie grinned more. "Since we're on the topic of getting our license, tell us when you had received yours, John."

Kara rolled her eyes playfully as she folded her arms. This is my chance to get him back. "Yeah, John. Tell us. We all would like to know."

John chuckled softly as he rolled his eyes as well, unable to prevent himself from not doing so, "Well... You see... I actually...' he paused, allowing the suspense fill their veins.

When Katie noticed that he wasn't speaking, she felt uncomfortable, "And...?"

"And... " he paused once more, but continued with a flow. "I actually got my licence at the age of sixteen. I was a sophomore at the time I believe..." he shrugged. "It's confusing to remember. One of the years I actually was supposed to be held back for some unknown reason. Then our parents fought for keeping me in the grade that I currently am right now."

"Did they win?"

"They didn't. Though, I don't really care because I'm happy with I am right now. I've met amazing friends as I've gotten older, and it's been a blast all the way through."

Katie smiled, "I'm glad that at least you're happy regardless of the decision they made for you," she laughed softly. "I haven't seen many people who are laid back and relaxed about decisions like that," she admitted to John and Kara.

Kara was hooked on the story, "Really? What do people usually do?"

Katie shrugged casually, "I don't know. What I've heard though is that they make a huge fuss, and act like little brats. There was a point where one time, I heard this kid screaming across the hallways of school. I felt terrible for their parents. They were probably embarrassed in them, and who knows, maybe even disappointed."

Kara felt as if she were on her tiptoes, "Do you remember if it was a boy or girl?"

Katie shook her head, "Sadly, I don't remember. I want to say a boy, but it could have been a girl. I don't know. Whoever it was, they sounded selfish and childish."

"Were they a kid at the time?"

Katie looked at Kara in an exaggerated tone, "Oh, no. Heck no. This actually happened during middle school."

Kara's eyes and mouth dropped, "Really?!"

"Really."

"That's unbelievable. I know he probably should have known better. Unless if he was a special needs kid. Sometimes they can't help it. It can be their way of communicating. I don't think we should judge them too harshly."

Katie sighed, "You're right. Though, in all honesty. During that time, I was more frustrated during that day anyway, so my mood was pretty low."

"So you were basically on the verge of breaking?" Kara felt like a total genius.

Katie giggled and nodded, "Yes, basically. I'm honestly glad that I didn't, or else it would have been one heck of a whirlwind."

Kara giggled, "I can relate to you on a personal level. When doesn't anyone feel that way at least, like, once in their lives? I know that I have."

John smiled, hearing the girls talk. He didn't mind being the silent one. He figured that Katie would feel more comfortable talking with another girl that was not as close in age as both John and Katie were, but it was close enough.

******************************************************************************

"Hey, darling pumpkin."

"Hello, handsome. How did everything go for ya?"

"Great as always. The plan is in session. We are green."

"You do know that you don't have to talk to me like that. Mostly because I don't understand what that means."

The person on the other line sighed, "It means that we are ready."

"Why didn't you, like, say that before?"

"I wanted to make it sound cooler, dearest."

"Well, sounds like making it "cooler" didn't, like, work out for you, didn't it?"

"Yeah, well... No one's perfect."

Laughter came from the receiver, "Maybe not the rest of humanity, but I am."

"Always and forever, my dear. Always and forever perfect, just like this plan and our future together."

(Also, who do you guys think are talking towards the end?)