Knock, knock.

No answer.

Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.

"What?!" An angry dishevelled middle-aged lady yanked the door open in a rage.

Kate jumped backwards. "Mrs Greene?" Kate said hesitantly. Stay strong, this is for Haley. You're doing this for Haley.

"Oh, you're her friend." Kate didn't like the way she said the word like it was an insult. At the apparent note of revulsion present in her tone, Kate remembered how charming Mrs Greene could be. Haley would kill her if she knew she was here.

"She's not home," the lady spat, reaching to shut the door but Kate put up a hand to stop her. Just Kate's presence seemed to be agitating her.

"I know. I wanted to speak to you," she said braver than she felt.

"Well what it is?" the lady snapped. Kate guessed she wasn't going to be invited in, that may be a good thing. Mrs Greene was just as hostile as she remembered from the chance meeting they had in eighth grade. Haley never took Kate over her house but she needed to retrieve something that day. She told her to wait at the front, but Kate was curious and stepped inside, besides she needed the bathroom. But curiosity killed the cat.

As soon as stepped into the kitchen, the same cranky hostile lady that was standing before her now was aiming a hunting rifle at her head. Haley came to her rescue in a nick of time and nothing came of it, but Kate wondered if she may have been mistaken to go to Haley's mother for help this time around.

She didn't seem like the helpful type, but it wasn't like Kate had any other choice.

"I think Haley's in trouble," Kate spewed out the words in one breath. The weight of them finally leaving her shoulders. The lady snorted with disdain, her reptilian eyes focusing on Kate properly for the first time. Kate saw no resemblance between Haley and Mrs Greene.

"Has she been arrested?"

Kate drew her eyebrows together. "No."

"Is she currently in a life threatening situation?"

"I don't think-"

"Then what would you like me to do?" she challenged. Kate stood rooted to the spot blinking. A moment passed.

"Help?"

The lady blew out a noisy breath. "Haley is a big girl. She can make her own decisions. I'm just the foster carer," the lady spat. Foster carer?

"Haley's adopted?" The lady smiled grew grotesque, her rotting yellow teeth gleamed dangerously.

"Is that all?" she asked reaching for the door handle.

"Well I-"

"Thank you for the visit, but don't come again without a prior notice or old Betty and you will have a nice reunion," the lady said as she shut the door on her face. Kate was speechless.

So that's why Haley never spoke kindly of her mother. And why there wasn't much of a resemblance. Huh, five years and she never knew.

[A/N] Comment, vote?