1 x 1 with Shea

[Boomer]

Maria sat down and looked to Shelby. "How are you feeling?" she asked. Alessa stayed where she was, as she kept her eyes shut. "All that's left is the blood draw." murmured Mary, "As so long that looks good, Shelby can go home."

[LilacSky]

Shelby said, "W-where will I go? If Mommy's in jail..."

[Boomer]

"I spoke with the officers and we'll be taking you in." answered Mary, "But we need to have a talk about your behavior. I won't stand for any rudeness or bullying." Alessa was shocked to hear that news; she had never expected Shelby to end up living with them. What would her friends think? Alessa wanted to go home and talk to them on the phone. While she was in her thoughts, a nurse came and prepared Shelby for the blood draw.

[LilacSky]

Shelby cringed away, but they took her blood sample and Shelby slumped. "Of course, ma'am. I'm done bullying," she said. The girls were only in second grade.

[Boomer]

Mary was satisfied with Shelby's answer. Some time passed and the blood work showed that Shelby was okay. As the girl was discharged, Maria helped get everyone out to the car. As they got home, Maria went next door to get the pups. Mary showed Shelby the room she'd be staying in. Alessa went to her room, grabbed the cordless phone, then called Clementine first. She had hoped if she could answer, they could four-way call Francine and Norman.

[LilacSky]

"Hey, Alessa! I've been so worried about you! Where are you? Where's Shelby?" Clementine sneered when she said Shelby.

[Boomer]

Alessa had her French doors shut as she laid on her daybed. "Hang on, I gotta call Francine." she said, switching over and dialing Francine's number. She then switched back to Clementine, hoping that Francine will pick up. "I'll explain everyone once she and Norman answer." said Alessa, almost a little panicky.

[LilacSky]

Norman and Francine had been waiting by their phones and picked up almost instantly. They both started talking at once, and Clementine told them to shut up. "Tell us what happened, Alessa!" Clementine demanded urgently. Norman said he wanted to talk about his injuries, but the girls wanted to hear Alessa.

[Boomer]

"I guess Shelby's mother put one of those shock collars on her and it was really bad." she said quietly, "She has marks on her neck. So her mother came and Mary got the collar off, then the police arrested her. It's illegal to put those on kids. We ended up going to the hospital and they figured out that she's okay. I'm glad that she doesn't have a bad infection... but because her mother is in jail, she's staying with us." Alessa expected her friends to freak out, and rightfully so. "Mary told her that she had to be nice and I really do think she'll be nice." she added. Alessa wanted to like Shelby; she didn't want to be bullied in her own home.

[LilacSky]

The three were silent. "Oh my God..." Francine spoke.
"She was mean for a reason! Wow!" Norman was aghast. Even though they had fought earlier, he was compassionate towards the girl.
"Well Alessa had a bad past and she's nice," Clementine argued. "But dang. That sucks."