Juan Carlos, her mother, Scotty's mother and Tino; these were all images that fueled her nightmares, and thankfully they were forgotten as soon as she awakened the next morning, although she would wear the evidence of her sleepless night in the dark circles beneath her eyes.
Leelah went down the hill to pick up Jalissa while Vanessa ate cereal, still in pajamas despite the fact that she should be in class right now.
When she returned with the unusually quiet girl Vanessa didn't comment on Jalissa's black eye or the scratches that ran down her face. When she took off her coat Vanessa saw a fresh bite mark on her arm and anger welled up in her.
Silently Vanessa got up and retrieved a bowl and spoon and then got the milk out of the refrigerator. She put it in front of Jalissa who poured Sugar Corn Puffs into her bowl along with a large amount of milk. The younger girl always used too much milk because she said what was left in the bowl was dessert.