Chapter 119: Nicole

"Sharon, come down here real quick," her guardian called out.

She was in her room in the attic, a space she had cleared out when the other kids in the house declined to share their room when she first arrived to the house.

Descending the stairs, Sharon met Nicole, the new addition.

"This is Nicole, she's joining us. Nicole, meet Sharon. You've already met everyone else."

With a vacancy left by an older kid, her guardian had room to foster another.

"Hiya," Nicole greeted, giving Sharon a wink.

"Hi," Sharon calmly responded.

The moment Sharon laid eyes on Nicole, an immediate tension settled in the air. Sharon, reserved and conservative, sensed trouble in the rebellious and enigmatic aura that surrounded Nicole.

Nicole exuded an aura of untamed spirit, her appearance was equal to her individuality.

Her torn t-shirt and ripped jeans reflected a carefree and edgy attitude, a fashion statement of defiance; complemented by dark makeup that accentuated her piercing gaze.

Restlessness and mischief flickered in Nicole's eyes, hinting at a personality that clashed with Sharon's more reserved nature.

Sharon couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, an intuition that Nicole was trouble personified. Nicole's emo and dark appearance was unappealing to Sharon.

As the girls processed their unexpected encounter, Sharon's mind raced. She knew that they would be living as foster siblings, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to distance herself from Nicole.

There was something in Nicole's eyes, a restless spark of mischief that sent shivers down Sharon's spine.

Nicole, on the other hand, regarded Sharon with curiosity and indifference. She had heard whispers about the reserved girl who was to become her new sister, but she harbored no expectations.

Her focus remained solely on herself, her mind already conjuring up plans for adventure and rebellion.

The stark contrast between the two girls was evident from the moment they were introduced.

Sharon, with her neat appearance and cautious demeanor, stood in direct opposition to Nicole's emo and rebellious persona.

Nicole settled in, and the day unfolded without much excitement until evening, when she ventured up to Sharon's room uninvited.

"Hey, what's up?" Nicole inquired, intruding as she stood beside Sharon's study table, where homework was in progress.

"Just working on a book report," Sharon replied.

"School stuff?" Nicole questioned.

Sharon responded with an obvious expression, silently conveying that, indeed, it was for school. Why else would she be immersed in a book report?

Hoping for solitude, Sharon remained silent, expecting Nicole to leave.

"Got it," Nicole acknowledged, attempting to recover. "So, what's the book about?"

"The life and times of Thomas Jefferson," Sharon responded in a hushed tone.

"The actor? They assign book reports on old actors now? Nice," Nicole remarked.

Suppressing laughter, Sharon shook her head, dispelling Nicole's misconception about the subject.

"If you don't mind, I have a ton of work," Sharon hinted. "We can hang out some other time."

Or never.

If only that was possible.

"Sure," Nicole responded. "By the way, your necklace is cool, very retro. Mind if I have it as a welcome gift?" Nicole, opting for honesty over theft, suggested.

Without hesitation, Sharon removed her necklace and handed it to Nicole. Giving out that necklace was not an issue for her, as she made it; she can craft many more with even more impressive designs.

"Thanks," Nicole said, collecting the forced gift.

"You're welcome. Bye," Sharon said.

"Oh, by the way, I'm enrolled in your school," Nicole revealed as she stood by the door.

"Great," Sharon forced a positive response, concealing her displeasure from her countenance.

'That's just perfect. The day keeps getting worse,' Sharon thought, attempting to mask her frustration.

***

Sharon grappled with the turmoil of the unexpected arrival of a new foster sister. In her new situation, Sharon struggled to avoid Nicole, both at home and school.

Despite Sharon's efforts to establish boundaries, Nicole consistently invaded her personal space by casually entering her room and initiating conversations at any given moment or location.

Sharon was a loner by nature, content with her solitary routine of school, books, and the occasional solitary walk in the nearby park. Her life was a predictable pattern of routine and habit.

Sharon tried to maintain her distance, to keep her walls high and impenetrable. She avoided Nicole at home, retreating to her room whenever her new foster sister entered a shared space.

At school, she ate lunch alone in the library, her nose buried in a book, hoping to escape Nicole's relentless attempts at conversation.

But Nicole was persistent, like a determined puppy that refused to be deterred.

She would appear at Sharon's bedroom door, a mischievous glint in her eyes, coaxing her out with promises of adventure and secrets that were uncalled-for.

At school, she would plop down beside Sharon in the library, undeterred by the girl's frosty demeanor.

Sharon tried to dodge these situations, hoping for a break from Nicole's constant intrusion, which was making her life more difficult.