Aunt Callista glared at her when she walked in the door. She had still beat Jalissa home so she shouldn't be mad. Scotty had gotten done with his homework faster than he said he normally did so they managed to beat the streetlights.
"Vanessa, I'm not going to have none of your mess!" Vanessa stared at her blankly. Her bark no longer caused her to flinch. She was just a mean, bitter woman.
"Aunt Callista," she said barely shielding her dislike. "As long as I'm here I promise never to cause you any trouble … as long as you don't cause me any."
"Wh-?"
"Because you're my only auntie and I love you," she interrupted sweetly. "Just like you're my mother's only sister and she loves you."
Callista's brow went up. She opened her mouth as if she would say something, but in the end she went upstairs grumbling.
Vanessa turned on the television but barely saw the images as she relived every word that Scotty had said today.
II