Maria looked up as another knock came. "Kevin, I'll get that. You be nice to this person, ya hear me?"

"Yes, Mother," he replied sarcastically. She turned to walk to the front hall, giving him the finger behind her back. He just laughed.

~

Kristin glanced around nervously, her ice blue eyes taking everything in. She shook away any negative thoughts she had as the door opened.

"Hey," Maria greeted her gently and cheerfully. "Nice to meet ya, I'm Maria. I'll be livin with you," she winked.

"Likewise," Kristin smiled, "And I'm Kristin. You'll get to deal with me," she said, letting out a little laugh.

"Oh I'm sure it won't be that hard," Maria smiled. Kristin shrugged. "Well, anyways, common in." Maria gestured into the house. Kristin smiled and walked in, excited and scared at the same time.

~

Kevin "Got to work" rather quickly: as soon as Kristin entered the room, he immediately started observing her, checking her out, judging her. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, twirling her incredibly pale blonde hair in her tense fingers. He gave her a little smile before turning to talk to Maria. Kristin sighed. God, this is gonna be hell, she thought sadly, just like high school, pure hell and beyond. I guess what goes up must really come down- even sometimes, emotional stuff.... like self esteem, like mental health, all of that "fun" stuff.

"I'm gonna go find this stuff a home," she said after a short pause, slowly picking up her few bags full of clothes and trinkets and the like. Maria nodded absently. Kristin sighed softly and trudged up the stairs, plopping down in the room next to Ashleighs and she promptly cried herself to sleep.

**Chapter Four**