I arrived home early, jogging to my front step, out of breath and sweaty from my last encounter. My jacket was still hanging around my shoulders. Taking it off wasn't an option.

I take out my keys and stick them in the lock, pushing it open with a light shove and entering the house I call home. The Luther household was quite the medium sized house in the neighborhood. Thanks to my grandpa, he lent the house to us, making sure to decorate it to our likings. Mom and Dad were very thankful for their inheritances.

"Someone's home!" I hear my littlest sister screech, running right out of the living room with a sharp Barbie doll in hand as she crashed right into me. Versace looked up at me, a big grin on her dimpled cheeks and her grey eyes shining.

"Hello to you," I smile back at her, dropping my things on the ground and scooping her up in a hug. Versace was light and small for a seven year-old. When the boys and I were little, we weighed like rocks—even if we were so skinny now. "Where's mom?"

"Mommy's cooking in the kitchen!" Versace giggles, planting a kiss on my cheek before hopping out of my arms and running to pick up her toys before the house dog can chew on it.

I only watch her for a little bit before remembering what I was here for. I had a meet up with Kaia in an hour.

Once I enter the kitchen, I was hit in the face by a nice smell of roasted chicken. My mom was an aspiring chef when she was younger, making all of her food five star restaurant quality. Whenever she cooks, the whole house smells so good to the point your mouth is spilling with saliva. It sounds gross, but it's true.

She was busy chopping some green vegetables, humming to whatever toon. Mom looked over her shoulder, a bright smile on her face when I approach her. It was weird to say your mom was pretty, but she really is. She doesn't have the whole Luther sibling looks, but she's just as amazing with her ginger hair and dark truffle eyes.

"Hey Callum," she greeted, sliding her greens into a separate bowl, "How's school?"

"Fine, but I have a question." I was leaning against the counter, then found myself peeling a potato for her in a matter of seconds and orders.

"Yeah?" She stopped what she was doing, setting the knife down and turned to glance at me. Her chocolate eyes searched me, the feeling of her looking at me for so long still leaves me in discomfort.

"I'm m-meeting this girl. . . I'm meeting c-camp girl tonight." I stutter, heat rushed to my cheeks. It took a little while for Mom to understand what I was saying. Talking about a girl to my mom was the least topic any of the Luther boys would dare to open their mouth about. She was pretty uptight with the topic of conversation and you'll never know what she'll say.

Finally, after sitting in thought for a good three minutes, she finally said something. "Sure. Be sure to come home at seven for dinner and you know the rules."

Oh. The rules.

"Thanks Mom," I give her a quick kiss on her cheek, "I'll be back before you know it." She rolled her eyes, a teasing smile on her face.

I was already bolting up the stairs, avoiding the toys left by Versace on the steps. Apparently I was so loud because one of my brothers came out of their room, eyes narrowed and ready to flip a bird if they need to.

"Can you walk any louder?" Theodore glared at me, clad in only his boxers and bed head. He probably was sleeping after hockey practice, upset that I destroyed his beauty sleep. I can't take him seriously when he looks like that though.

"I'm sorry Theo, girl emergency." I hiss, letting my time get delayed by my little angry brother.

"Wait, is it a real girl emergency or you've gotten your period? I still don't know how that works." His silver eyes looked completely astonished that I succeeded with a period that I totally don't have.

"It's a real one idiot. Only girls get periods." I frown, crossing my arms. Theo's eyes widened, taking in the new information delighted. That boy has a brain that'll process anything knowledgeable.

"You do act like a whiny girl going through the menstruation." Theo disappeared into his room, slamming the door in my face while he still babbled on and on about how guys should have things similar to periods.

I hurry over to my room and close the door shut, not forgetting to lock it. I instantly take off my jacket, relieved that my body can breathe from the drastic heat.

I wipe the sweat off my forehead, collapsing on my bed after removing my shirt. I was a hot, sticky mess by the end of the day every single time. I lie there, letting the air conditioning cool me.

It felt weird to not be wearing any long sleeves or jackets. I was so used to the material hanging onto my arms and once I removed it, I was exposed to the air and anyone, even though I only removed my shirts privately.

Instantly I shot back up, uncomfortable with my exposure, and taking whatever shirt was sitting on the messy side of my bedroom.

I think I went through about ten before I gave up, the thought of acting like a girl irritated me. Anything Theodore said irritates my actually.

Looking at the clock above my desk, I only had about twenty minutes before I could go ahead and meet Kaia to catch up. Twenty minutes seemed like eons as I sat there, scanning the AppStore to find something to play while I waited.

I must have been zoning out because when I looked back the clock it was five after.

I sprint down the stairs, car keys in hand as I rush towards the car, past the confused faces of my family. Downtown was near my neighborhood and I somehow found a way to be late.

By the time I park near Berry, I could spot Kaia inside on her phone, sipping what looks like to be three smoothies at a time. With a raised eyebrow, I walk inside, ringing the annoying bell above me. All eyes of the customers stare at me as I sat down at the table Kaia was at, not going away until I ran a hand through my hair and sighed loudly.

"You're late." Kaia's eyebrows furrow while she sips her three multicolored drinks.

"I lost track of time. . ." I stare down at her odd assortment, this time it was my turn to furrow my brows.

She followed my line of sight and realized she was drinking three smoothies at once. Kaia pressed a smile on her lips, clearly amused that I found it incredibly weird.

"I love the flavors of banana, strawberry, and raspberry. However, I hate when you mix them because you can't get enough of each one." She shrugged, taking another sip. I noted the different color straws and the brightly colored smoothies, soon wondering where was mine.

"Oh, sorry. Here's yours." She pushes forward a pale yellow colored smoothie, smelling strongly of banana.

"I'm allergic." I wave it away, scrunching my nose so I wouldn't blow up into a red mess of hives. Kaia chuckled apologetically, muttering "sorry" before setting it on the tray of the nearest waiter, who gave her a dirty look as he scuttles away.

"I forgot. I remember that time in camp where you ate banana pudding. My lord did you turn into a red balloon." The corner of her lip lifted in an attempt to lighten the mood. I couldn't help but smile, appreciated with the effort.

"So, cutting to the chase, how come you didn't follow your pledge?" I fold my hands on the table, eyeing her. Kaia seemed to shrink once the straws fell out of her mouth, leaving her mouth in the shape of an 'o'.

"Um. . ." Her eyes darted around the room, anywhere but me, "It was freshman year and it wasn't so serious. How can I follow it?" She finally met my eye, a half frown, half smile on her lips.

"I followed it, and took it seriously," I gestured to myself, "I'm a new person with a new reputation."

"Explains why I never see you at detention and when I ask the monitors, they laugh." She whispered, not noticing that I heard her.

She asked for me? For how long? Didn't she know I actually took it seriously and followed the path to being good so I could avoid going back to my period of hell?

"Kaia, don't you ever want to be on Stein's good side?" I ask, watching her weird lip gesture fall to a permanent frown.

"As long as I avoid her, I'm good." Kaia murmured, monotonously.

"You're breaking all the dress code rules, K. Look at what you're wearing. Stein would notice you from a mile away." I point out, seeing Kaia's scowl from my peripheral vision. I wasn't kidding. Stein would snap in half if she sees skin and plenty of it.

"I don't care if Stein hates what I wear. I'll just get a suspension anyways. Nobody wants to monitor me." She said 'suspension' as if it wasn't anything bad. Oh god, she doesn't know a thing.

"Pleasing Stein makes school go easier. You get perks, you're popular with people, and Stein will trust you." My eyebrows narrow, complementing her uninterested glare.

"I just want to be there when I can." Kaia mutters through clenched teeth, flashing a bit of dark wine lipstick on her monthly dental-cared-for teeth.

"You have to be at school everyday. That's not how it works Kaia." I hiss, clutching my hands tightly until they turned white. I really didn't know why I was mad in the first place. How was I going to help her redeem herself to the whole school so she wouldn't be punished?

"You took camp seriously and strived like supposed to. I didn't take it seriously and ended up following the same bad routine. Okay, I get suspended for periods of time and I don't mind. Maybe I do get in trouble, but I'm used to it. I'm fine with how I'm doing." Kaia squeezed her drink, her eyebrows scrunched together. I watched her bend the plastic and let the contents spill onto her hands.

"Will you be fine that once Stein gets word of your vandalizing act she will expel you. Everyone will hate you that you were the girl who tore apart the school. You won't be able to step on the school grounds, not even your children." I watched her spill the drink on her hands, her eyes wide in horror.

We sat in silence as Kaia vigorously cleans the mess with napkins, leaving it in a damp mush at the edge of the table.

"She's going to expel me?" Her voice was barely audible in the chatter of the shoppe that I almost had to ask her to say it again.

"Yeah, she will, unless we convince her that's the past. I can help you get your act together and get Stein to accept you as one of her children." She leans forward, listening to what I had to say intently. Her face was completely blank, missing of any trace of hard core thinking.

"After I help you redeem yourself and be the new queen of Stein Scholars, I got your back when you want to disappear for periods of time." I wait, watching her carefully. Kaia stared back at me, her brown eyes darkening, a smile playing on her lips.

"Fine, I'll be the 'queen' or whatever. No promises what I'll do after I avoid expulsion." Kaia sighs, slumping her shoulders and slapping a lazy smirk on her face.

That was easy. "Well then, here's the plan." I grin wickedly back at her, ready to embark on this crazy redemption.