It seemed Sophie and Martin had done their job well, because throughout the day students Rae had never met were coming up to her for a book in return for a wad of paper bills.

Asha, on the other hand, had the unfortunate talent of getting the attention of the most loquacious (A.N: Thank you thesaurus.com) girls. This worried Rae because they always seemed to be chatting right outside of classrooms, and she got a pang in her heart every time she thought of what Mrs. Terracotta had heard.

"What part of being discreet you not be understanding?", Rae said to Asha after she nearly spilled the beans in front of Riley.

"Sorry, but you do be wanting to get the message out, do you not?". She started unlocking her locker, with Rae following behind her.

"You'd make a terrible spy."

"I be having many other skills.", she said as she unloaded her backpack.

"Like?"

"Like hacking into computers."

"Oh yes," Rae shook her head, "and that be very useful. And totally legal."

"It not be like what your doing now is very legal either."

Rae gave a long sigh. "I suppose not."

Nonetheless, by the end of the day, Rae's backpack was empty with books and her pocket filled with money. She thanked Sophie and helped Martin track the 'sales growth' and decided to pay Lin—her house a visit to 'restock on the inventory'.

But first, Rae rushed home to go count her money. As dangerous as it was, Rae felt sort of excited about all of it. Yet when she reached home, the view was more than surprising.

Immediatly after opening the creaking door she realized something was wrong. What she had originally thought were a pile of clothes was her mother, curled up into a ball on the wet hardwood, her back against the wall. It was strange enough seeing her mother like this, but it was stranger that she came so early from work, as she was never home much anymore. When she heard Rae come through, her head poked out of it's hiding spot. Her eyes were rimmed with red.

"Hello Rae. I be seeing you got a job.", her voice sounded strangely croaky.

"How did you— I mean—"

She just took one shaky finger and pointed it at the lump protruding out of Rae's jean pocket. Rae was half amused and half scared when she remembered that her mother could always tell when she was lying. "Er, yes. I did." If selling books illegally counts as a job, she added in her head.

"Good. Do they be paying you well?"

"Yes... they be." Rea paused to cock her head, "Mom? Everything be alright?"

At this, her mothers eyes pooled with tears, scaring Rae. "I didn't want to tell you like this... but today your father be-be fired from work. I just be recieving his call."

"WHAT? Why?", Rae said furiously, stomping her feet like a child. The door gave a lurch at the sudden impact.

"You be remembering the accident with the self destructing worker? Well, your father couldn't pay it and-and," tears started flowing more rapidly now, "I'm so sorry Rae. It just be, with the child taxes now— but it be okay, your father be looking for a job right now..."

"It be okay, mom. The new job I have should pay for the taxes—"

"But now that we not be getting discount on the pills—"

"Lin had some pills in her—my house."

"Thanks Rae. But I could never be taking a dead woman's property. It not be right.", she wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to keep warm, "I just be feeling like a terrible parent. I should be taking care of you, not being the other way around."

"Mom, you be the best parent. Please, stop crying." And even though she hated hugs, Rae too, dropped to the ground to give her mother one.

Mrs. Casey tried smiling but it came out more like a grimace, "I don't what we'd be doing without you, honey. I... I should probably start dinner. Can you be going to check on Ethan? I not be telling him any of this..."

Rae nodded and dashed up the stairs, leaving her mother still in the dark corridor. But she did not check on Ethan. His door was closed anyways— and that was a sure sign that he did not want to be bothered. Instead, she headed to her room to lay out the money on her bed.

It really did look nice to see it displayed out like that. Like each 0f the books she had lent away. Like each of the nights that students would be hiding under the covers to read them.

She whispered under her breath as she counted, trying to ignore her mothers muffled sobs from below. About $1oo, not bad. More than her family made in a week, anyways. She would definitely have saved enough to pay for the taxes by the end of the month.

Rae knew she was doing this to help her family.

She knew she was doing the right thing.

So... why did it feel so wrong?
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A.N: Thank you for reading!

I hope ya liked it :) Make sure to vote and comment if you did. But only if you did, you know.

What do you think is going to happen to Rae's family? I'd lovvvee to hear your theories!