"Good morning, my sweet girl."

  Hazel eyes would flutter open as a male's voice would reach Theodora's ears and lure her out from her slumber...a couple of blinks would help her blurry gaze readjust to a circle of pink and white lights dancing in her vision, and once those eyes settled down, she'd be greeted with a warm smile and another soft bit of encouragement.

  "Time to get up. You've got another wonderful day ahead of you."

  A heavy ping would click in her heart as the picture frame finished its recorded message, but it'd give way to a gentle little smile from the girl as she nuzzled into her pillow.

  "Good morning, Papa."

  Theodora would push herself up from her mattress, her blanket flopping naturally onto her bed as she'd reach over to pick up the picture frame to cradle into her hands. She'd rub some dust from the edges before spending a few moments just staring into it. A shaky smile would remain on her expression as she gazed lovingly into a little slice of the past. When she could sit on her dad's knee like a cowgirl on a saddle and how she looked just like him when she laughed. Granted, she didn't have his wide girth or hefty beard, but it was the way their dimples curved, the way they shut their eyes, and the way they each had a little tear in the corner of their eyes that proved without a shadow of a doubt that the two in this picture were father and daughter.

  "It's my first day of high school..." She wished he could have been there. She'd exhale and hug the frame to her chest, closing her eyes and nuzzling her cheek into it. If she prayed hard enough, maybe she would have felt a hug right back. But for now, this was all she needed. "I love you more than jellybeans..." One soft kiss to the forehead of the man would follow, before propping the frame onto the nightstand.

  Theodora would glance over to a clock on her wall, reading 6:00 AM for a few moments until that last zero would clock out for its ten-minute break and a one would take its place. There seemed to be plenty of time before she needed to be there...and it would be better to be early to school rather than late.

  "Today will be a good day..." Theodora would gently pat down her own cheeks to wake her up a little more. "The first step is the most important..." And a little fist pump. "High school...will be my time to shine..."

  Though of course, that first step couldn't be taken without getting out of her pajamas.

  Theodora had never worn a uniform before, but she did like what she saw so far. The white undershirt was fairly normal, but she found the golden plaid skirt and tie to be rather warm, giving her the feeling that today would be a nice, bright, sunny day. The late August weather would mean that she'd have to leave her dark blazer off until things got a little colder, but it wouldn't take her long to get ready.

  She'd place a scrunchy into her mouth while propping up her hair, an uneasy feat considering it fell to her waist, yet she'd manage to hoist it up, before tying her locks into a high ponytail. Afterwards, she'd glance into the mirror of her room...noticing that her hair was a little frizzy, though she did chuckle a little over how grown up she looked. She'd do a few half-twirls to see how the skirt would float against the air, before getting a little too into it and completing a total rotation, giggling the whole way through.

  Maybe if she just brushed her hair and cleaned it up, she could-

  Her eyes would widen like saucers as the realization hit that she forgot to shower before putting all of this on.

  After a quick, panicked shower, Theodora would nearly trip about three times and actually did fall flat on her face once trying to get everything back on, but at least this time, she could look in the mirror and know that her hair was straightened out. Nice, calm breath. She'd be fine today.

  Though there was one thing missing. Actually three.

  At her nightstand, inside a drawer, she'd pull out a trio of hair clips. Two of them were shaped like pills, and one of a Caduceus. She'd attach all three to one side of her bangs, smoothing out her hair once more with a soft smile on her face.

  And once she picked up her backpack, then she felt ready.

  Though actually leaving her room would bring back that feeling of feeling small and insignificant. Theodora never really liked the hallways of her house. No matter how much taller she got, she always felt like a child walking through the expansive corridors. Grey colored walls as far as the eye could see, with only an occasional door to break the monotony and not a single, solitary family portrait within view. Even the air itself felt a little cold and stagnant. She often wondered if anyone even knew that within all two floors of this house, there was a single bit of color at the end of the foyer...with that single bit of color being her room. Yet instead of feeling like a gift, it often felt like she was trapped in a completely different universe.

  And speaking of rooms, once she reached the center of the household, she'd be greeted by a daunting pair of double doors. Metallic in nature and without a single hint of welcoming to donate to whoever chose to grace its presence.

  Theodora would feel her hand grip to the strap of her backpack a little tighter, her eyes would drop down to the floor as she took a little breath. It should have been the easiest thing for every kid to do before their first day of school...especially in higher education. But the mere prospect of even knocking would make the temperature of the room drop an entire twelve degrees...

  But...it would just be for a few seconds. She promised she wouldn't bug her for a moment more.

  With a tense inhale, Theodora would lift her hand, slowly reaching for those two doors, feeling her muscles tense by the second as she got closer...

  "Shouldn't waste a knock..."

  The sudden presence of an easygoing male voice would make Theodora pause in her efforts and turn around, her eyes catching the swirling motion of a rubber band being spun around in someone's left hand. "Boss already went out to talk to suits...save your knucks some callouses, kay?" Her focus would then settle onto a carefree smile and curly mustache and softer grey eyes, which would instantly give her a moment to exhale a breath she didn't even know she had been holding in.

  "Mr. Meraki..." Theodora's entire posture would lessen as she'd take a step towards the tanned-skinned man, who in turn would halt his rubber band spin and give her his full attention, despite not putting a stop to his leaning against the banister. "Did...Mom not need you?"

  "Does Mytikas' most controversial lady need every suit at her side?" He'd reach up with that same left hand to take off the white Panama hat that covered his shorter, slicked back black locks, wiping off the shoulder of his ebony business jacket. "I didn't get asked, but I can guess Boss already knew where my priorities lie." His placid smile would remain present as he'd place that hat back on. "Meetings happen every day. But escortin' an angel like you to her first day of school? Now that's somethin' I'm not planning on missin'"

  Theodora's eyes would turn into stars immediately. "Th-That's great!" Before she would try to compose herself by putting her hands to her heart to steady it. "I-I mean...thank you so much."

  "It's the least I could do. Save the formalities for suit and gown events." He'd turn his body down the direction of the stairs but wouldn't move until Theodora would start her own walk. "Look at you...getting ready for train to be a grown up. What happened to the little gremlin that kept trying to grab my hat?"

  Theodora would press a hand to her cheek in a failed attempt to hide how red her face would get. "You know I don't do that anymore...and your hat's still too big for me..." Plus, it wasn't like she was too much taller. She might not have been a baby anymore, but she was still a whole head shorter than her bodyguard.

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  She'd adjust her backpack to rest a little more evenly against her shoulders before cupping her hands together and pausing for thought as she got to the bottom of the stairs. "But I really am glad you're taking me...I'll be honest...it's a little nerve wracking."

  "You're worried? Try being your bodyguard. I'm runnin' on two hours of sleep and a double tequila shot."

  Despite the joking, Meraki seemed to understand the worries of his ward, as he'd let out a sigh and start rubbing the back of his neck. "Normally this would be where I go "You'll be fine. You've been through worse. High school is just middle school with extra steps." It was at least enough to get a little chortle out of Theodora, albeit one where she'd cover her mouth. "But you're going to Apollo High. Odds are it's going to be a little competitive."

  Theodora would pause for a moment as she'd lower her glance to the floor. Of course, the thought always did cross her mind. It'd take her a few seconds before she felt comfortable enough to look up towards her confidant. "I...don't mind stepping out of people's ways...I just have to focus on doing my best."

  "You sure about that? A lot of people are aiming to be doctor's to."

  She'd actually perk up at the statement. "Then that's a good thing." This time it'd be Meraki who'd have to pause, with a little bit of bewilderment in his expression. "The more doctors there are, the more people can be helped." And she'd follow up with a bright grin. "So, I hope that there's a lot of future doctors in my class."

  Meraki would cover his own chortle with a closed fist, though it wouldn't be a laugh brought out of malice as that same hand would be reaching over to pat down those chestnut locks, a breach of protocol if either of them cared for such a thing. "Well in that case, I hope there's about a thousand doctors in your class. But you better be the best out of all of em..."

  Another chuckle would ring out as Theodora would push away his hand and return to brushing down her hair. "It's not a contest."

  "Is it bad I still want you to win? I want you to thank all the little guys like me when you win whatever the medical equivalent of an Oscar is."

  "I don't need an award..."

  "I'd settle for a casual mention in an interview then."

  The casual banter between the two would be interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared. Theodora would, at first, glance up to Meraki to see if he had something stuck in his throat, but one casual shrug from his would have her pause and glance to the side. "Hello?"

  "Miss Paré." Straight and to the point. This time, Theodora wasn't sure how to react to someone not as familiar. A woman around her height and she didn't seem that much older than her, but through posture alone, she seemed to dwarf the teenager. She wore the same suit as Meraki, but the only other similarity would be a similar skin tone, as her expression was a little more stern, though not stoic. And her eyes already had her shrinking back a little.

  Something that the lady in question hadn't quite picked up on. "Your ride to school is ready. Have you eaten breakfast?" Before Theodora even had the chance to answer, she'd already switch her attention to her cell phone. "We've mapped out the safest and most efficient route, took note of the weather. We're bound for calm and clear weather."

  "Um..."

  The lady would place a hand to her chin, turning her head as her saffron ponytail would gently pat her own shoulder. "But there is a 73% chance of higher temperatures later. You should bring an extra water bottle. Maybe some ice and some cooling gel as well."

  "I..."

  Another swift turn, this time causing Theodora to shrink back a little more, pressing the tips of her fingers together. "If by chance you haven't prepared a water bottle, then I can make an adjustment to stop by the market. It'll add an additional five minutes to the time, but if you give me a couple of seconds then I can calculate a new route..."

  The next sound would be a throat clear, this time actually curtesy of the lone male in this triangle. At first the new face would look towards Meraki with offense, until her gaze settled upon the client and her demeanor would change instantly. "Oh...I don't mean to rush you. We do still have about One hour and twenty-eight minutes to go before the first bell rings, so-"

  "If I may..." Meraki would instantly butt in, taking over the conversation for the youngest of the trio. "First of all, punctuation? Very important. Notes? I like. Two thumbs up from me, makes my life about ten times easier." It'd earn him a confused look. "But I think we're putting the cart before the horse..." Before a small one-armed shrug and a point to his head. "She ain't Boss so your name's not on record yet."

  That seemed to clue her in right away. Her own cheeks reddening as she'd take a hold of one of her bangs and glance away, speaking under her breath. "Wasn't sure the name was important." She'd reach down to adjust her tie before looking towards Theodora once more. "Forgive me, Miss Paré. It's my first day on the job."

  That'd cause the newly minted high schooler to hold both hands up and wave frantically. "D-Don't worry! I-I get it!"

  The red-haired woman would nod in understanding, resetting and holding out her hand. "Nadine Aquino. I've been assigned to keep a look out for you."

  The gesture would surprise her, but Theodora would at least return the gesture, feeling a little flushed while doing so. "I-It's nice to meet you to..." Though she still found it a little difficult to look her directly in the eyes while doing so, something else that seemed to get picked up on by the new recruit.

  "If you're worried about my qualifications, I can assure you I've done all the needed courses."

  Theodora would feel a soft pat to her shoulder, making her glance up towards Meraki's kind eyes once more, he'd simply nod and take over once again. "Don't take it the wrong way." Nadine would raise an eyebrow before he'd elaborate further. "Just a mix of being a stranger and your extreme heterochromia."

  She would just appear a bit more confused. Hands on her hips until the realization hit all at once. "Oh...that." Her left eye was simple shade of brown. Her right eye must have been the one in question. A normal eye would usually have a dark pupil, an iris that could be a few different colors, and eyes that were white.

  Her case was a little different.

  Her pupil would be a crimson color, with a matching red around the iris, but it would be what should have been white around that iris that matched a midnight sky without the stars. "It's not an infection, I can promise." She'd even lean in and press the skin around her eye open. "It's just an aiming optic."

  "Y-You're all good!" But despite that, eye contact still wasn't quite on point. Theodora would at least be accommodating, however. "Why don't you join us for breakfast? We still have time..." While a part of her was excited to start the school year, some of that excitement did come in the form of nerves...

  Breakfast would always be a fun time whenever Mr. Meraki was at the kitchen. He always seemed to go out of his way to make whatever Theodora was eating wasn't just healthy, but also fun to look at as well. A simple plate of scrambled eggs and sausage would be transformed into a silly picture, with the eggs shaped into a bus, with ketchup for wheels and tips of the sausage taking the role of students on the bus. She even loved the detail that each sausage had a little face hand carved into it, a process that no doubt took time, but she loved it, nonetheless. Miss Aquino seemed a little less enthused about her own meal...

  It wouldn't just be the food that Theodora would appreciate, however. She also liked how easy talking was for Mr. Meraki. He spoke as naturally as people breathed, whereas when it came to strangers, Theodora pretty much chocked on her breath. She was grateful for the small talk because it helped her get to learn a few more things about Miss Aquino as well. She'd speak about her academy training, about how she was initially thinking of entering the police force until she was recruited by the Paré Institute for guard training. It did make Theodora feel bad because she couldn't help but feel like a downgrade. While she still struggled to even look her new bodyguard in the eye, she did find herself trusting her. She just seemed a little nervous about her first day on the job, an aspect that Theodora found all too relatable.

  It was also moments like this that she both felt grateful for Mr. Meraki for taking the lead, but also guilty. Ever since she was little, he'd always been a presence within their household. Usually someone who was always in some way attached to her dad's side. But with her dad gone and her mother not even having the curtesy to see her off for the first day of high school, she couldn't help but feel another pang of guilt, like she was an anchor keeping him from bigger and better things. He was already pushing 50 last time she checked...she didn't want him to feel like her had to stay here because she couldn't handle the pressure, though she had a feeling it was the last thing he would say himself.

  Breakfast wouldn't last forever, and eventually, it'd be time to get driving. And with her mom taking the company car, that meant they'd get to take Mr. Meraki's, a black coupe SUV. It was a car that had, as he put it, a lot of love. Love in this instance being plenty of bumps that had dotted the car. He claimed he used to buff them out until he figured it gave the vehicle some character, though Miss Aquino was a little less impressed by the way she'd visibly wince from the sight of it.

  She'd prove to be a little more impressed by the inside. Like most cars built in the year 2525, they tended to operate the way a plane might. Two steering wheels in the front seat, with one designated to the main driver on the left and one stationed on the right for a "co-pilot" should anything occur to the main driver to "incapacitate" them. She'd certainly compliment the tinted windows, asking if they were bullet proof. He'd confirm her curiosity before joking that he couldn't quite test it out right now unless she got annoyed. Theodora giggled. Miss Aquino didn't.

  Granted, it wasn't as far along as other cars were. Some cars had an auto-pilot function. Mr. Meraki tended to want control over the vehicle himself in case of a hack, and Theodora trusted him explicitly.

  She just needed to trust that she could make it through an entire day on her own.