Dinner with the family.

Tiffany enters the dining room finding her mom and Sophia already sitting at the round table. She decides to sit across from her mother. Tiff would probably die of embarrassment if she had to look at Sophia for most of dinner. Right behind her Emelia arrives appearing to still be angry. She sits in the last empty seat.

“What’s the matter, sweetie? You don’t look so happy,” Candice asks Emelia.

“I’m fine. It’s just that bitch Kathrine is trying to get me fired again!” Emelia says bluntly. “I caught her messing with my report for Professor Brown. We went at it right there in the professor’s office. The professor came to stop us and then she told us to go home. I’ve had a headache ever since.”

“Sorry to hear that, Emi. I’d really wish they would do something about her,” says Candice.

“Maybe it’s time to ask for a transfer?” Sophia chimes in.

“No way! I’m not gonna let her win after all the shit she’s pulled!” exclaims Emelia.

So far so good. Tiffany’s nerves are starting to settle. Sophia doesn’t seem to be acting out of the ordinary.

Candice directs her attention to Sophia. “So how was your day, Sophie?”

“Oh, it was a really amazing day!” she says. Tiffany’s stomach suddenly flips.

“Doctor Long gave me a glowing evaluation today! She told me my future looks very bright,” Sophia seems to be her usual cheery self. She continues to talk about her day as if nothing extremely weird happened. Tiffany goes back to eating her peas.

“Also, I might have met someone today~” says Sophia. Tiff stops breathing.

“Oh! How wonderful! Is he one of those handsome doctors I’ve seen around the hospital?” Candice asks.

“I don’t want to say too much yet. We’re gonna meet tonight and I’m pretty excited!” Sophia replies. Tiffany starts **** on her food.

“Tiffany dear, please chew your food,” says Candice. “So what did you get up to today Tiff?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” says Tiffany jittering from anxiety, and from having lost her breath.

“You know, even if you haven’t started school yet you should still be up and about,” Candice lectures. “Don’t you get tired of being in the house all the time? There's probably something productive you'd like to do, right? Why don’t you get out more while you have the time and hang out with your friends? Maybe meet some new people, or maybe even a someone special. You should get a leg up on the social side of college before classes start demanding your full attention.”

“Yeah yeah Mom,” Tiff mumbles. “I’ll go out tomorrow or something…”

After dinner, Tiffany goes back to her room and considers what to do next. Suddenly she hears the shower running. Tiff’s room and Sophia’s room sandwich the bathroom. Then Candice’s room is next to Tiff’s and Emelia’s room is next to Sophia’s. Tiffany exits her room to see what's up. Sophia’s door is open and she’s not in her room! And there’s even an outfit laid out on her bed! She sneaks over to her mom’s and then to Emilia’s room. She can hear voices and music meaning that they’re probably in bed watching their programs.

Questions start racing through Tiffany’s mind as she stands next to the bathroom door. Why is Sophia taking a shower now? Is she actually going out? Is there really a guy? Should Tiff do something? What should she do now?