Chapter 8; Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Everyone laughed and talked while eating, except for Jack who was keeping her eyes on them. Gidget looked to her then got up, they tapped her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Hey can we talk in the basement?" Jack looked at them and nodded, then they disappeared.

Al sat quiet for a few minutes until Sky tapped on his shoulder. "Hey are you gonna eat that?" She pointed at the food on his plate, Al sighed and muttered something. Sky tilted her head some, "What?" He replied again, his voice still in a mumble. Sky still couldnt hear him, "Is that a yes?" Al shoved the plate towards her, "I said you can have it!" Copper slammed his fist down, "Hey! Dont yell, eat YOUR food and then go outside we have work to do. And thats for all of you kids." Copper got up and went outside to get things ready.

Once Gidget and Jack were downstairs, Jack sat down in one of the chairs. Gidget stood til they said, "What's wrong? Your never this-...you know. Why do you keep staring at Sky and her freind?" Jack shrugged, "I dont know what your talking about, I'm only keeping a watch on everyone. For instance, I'm keeping an eye on Al to make sure he doesnt act up again." Gidget sighed, "Your having issues with Destiny staying here arent you? Look, I know your worried but they're kids and I think Destiny is different. Plus you told her, she could stay. You offered her this and she took it, we need to show her that things are different then the rumors up north. Maybe this is our chance to-" Jack interrupted, "Thats enough G, I dont want to hear anymore about this." They looked down, "But-" Jack interrupted again, "Stop it." Gidget looked back up, "No, you stop it! Stop silencing the people you dont want to here and actually listen to the things you dont want to hear! Destiny is good, I can tell and Sky thinks so too!" Jack looked up at them, Gidget had never really yelled at her like this. They got up and headed up the stairs, then Jack grabbed her arm. "Wait...I think your right and I'll try to be....nicer. I'm sorry, please just dont leave...can we talk for a while?" Gidget turned and nodded, they went back down and sat once more.

After everyone got done eating, everyone except Al went outside. He was still sitting there, thinking. Sky popped her head in the door, "Copper's gonna kill you if you keep sitting there doing nothing. I suggest you get out here and work like the rest of us, or are you to 'grown up' to do it?" Al didn't answer, Sky shrugged. "Fine then, be like that. I'll let Copper deal with you, do you want that?" Al shook his head, "No." "Then get up and get outside to do work with us." Al got up and went outside, Sky followed from behind. Copper was teaching Destiny how to hammer a nail into a wooden plank. "So all you gotta do is hit the nail directly in the center." She first tried to hit the nail with the wrong side of the hammer. "No, otherside. You use the flat side to hit and the forked side to pull out the nail." Destiny nodded and hit the nail the wrong way, then it bent. Sky snorted, "Having fun there kitten?" Destiny huffed, "I'm progressing pretty well thank you very much. And yes, I'm enjoying this." Al rolled his eyes and Copper handed him a bag, "Go clean the gutters, then you can wash the dishes if Gidget hasn't gotten to them already." Al sighed and went to grab the ladder from the basement.

Once Al got into the house and opened the door to the stairs, the shovel dropped. Sky went to follow Al to make sure he didn't run off, she stopped when he saw him standing in the door way. "Hey bud, what're you doing in the doorway? Did you see a ghost or some-" She looked, she wasnt as shocked as Al. She just scrunched her face, "Ew, get a room." Jack and Gidget's lips came apart from eachother, Jack got up and stomped up the stairs. "We are in a room, get out." Sky snorted, "Jack...look at Al." Al's eyes were wide and his jaw was dropped. Sky burst laughing and Gidget blushed, Jack picked up his shovel and picked up the ladder. "I suppose your doing work, why don't you get to it." Her eyes looked straight at Sky and Sky rolled her eyes, she took the ladder and shovel from Jack. She then walked Al away and Jack shut the door and groaned. "Ugh, what am I going to do with those kids?" Gidget giggled, "We should go out and help them, shouldn't we?" Jack opened the door and sighed, "We probably should."

Destiny was still trying again and again to hammer the nail into the plank correctly. "Ugh! Why is it so hard, its like it hates me or something!" Sky took the hammer from her and hit the nail correctly, "There you go kitten, there's your example." Destiny's head turned red as she faced Sky, "Why did you do that?! I wanted to do it on my own, I was so close!" Sky snorted, "Yeah, close, sure. Listen kitten, I know its hard for you to use your muscles for once but when you need help, I'll be there." Destiny shoved her, "I use my muscles, I'm not some lazy junkie that sits around all day doing nothing! I work and I dont need the help from you!" Sky put her hands up, "Woah woah, calm down. Theres no need to get feisty kitten." Destiny slapped her forehead, "Stop flirting with me!"

Jack stepped outside and got between the two, "Stop arguing! We could hear you from inside." Destiny grabbed the hammer from her hand and walked back to Copper to learn more. Jack rubbed her eyes, "Stop messing with her." Sky leaned on the outside wall, "What do you mean? I'm not doing anything." She sighed and looked over at Destiny then back at Sky. "Look she's new to the whole work thing, she's new to all of this. So why don't you give her some confidence instead of showing her how thick your muscles are and-" "I did it! I finally did it!" Destiny cried out, jumping around. The nail was finally perfectly stuck in the plank. Sky walked over smiling, "Great, only 3 more to go now." Destiny threw the hammer, it then hit the wall. "WHY IS THE UNIVERSE PUNISHING ME!" Sky couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't worry I bet you can do it." She laughed some more, Destiny stomped off and went to the side of the shed, away from the others. Gidget was there though, they walked around the corner and sat beside Destiny. "Having trouble?" Gidget asked, she nodded and looked at the calluses on her ached hands. "Why don't we go inside so I can bandage those hands of yours?" Destiny nodded again and got up, then they headed inside.

Jack pulled Sky by the ear, "You made it worse! Whats your problem Sky?!" She shrugged but also had trouble keeping still since an angry hawk had her by the ear. "Ow! Let go of me, I was just trying to boost her confidence like you said!" Jack yanked it some more, "That the wrong way to do it! Were going inside and your going to apologize!" She let go and shoved her in the house, she landed on her knees infront of Gidget and Destiny.