Tiffany strolled into her room with her textbook hugged closely to her chest. Caroline sat on her bed, filing her nails. Her boyfriend had broken up with her over Christmas break, leaving her in a bad mood that made rooming with her intolerable.

“You’re not high,” remarked Tiffany. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, had just meant to think it, but the sigh of her not smoking had caught her off guard.

Caroline stopped filing her nails to glare at her. “Why do you sound so shocked? You know, you think pot is this evil thing, but it’s really not. I wonder how Cyrus ever tolerated your condescension.”

Tiffany bit back a retort. She didn’t think it was evil; it was more fear of being found guilty by association. Despite her excellent grades and promising reviews from the school counselor, she was still on thin ice with her parents.

“I’m sorry,” she said finally, setting her stuff beside her bed. “It’s just ever since you and Richard broke up, it feels like you’re always smoking instead of casually smoking.”

“Hmm, whatever.” She looked way before snapping her fingers. “Oh, before I forget, Ryan came looking for you.”

“He did?”

“Yeah, he wanted to talk to you. He didn’t sound too happy.” Caroline gave her a tight smirk that Tiffany didn’t quite like. But she wasn’t about to let her know that.

“I’ll find him later,” she said, brushing it away. “I have two papers I should work on; they’re due next week.”

“Hmm. What’s the topic? Is it how to juggle two guys at once? Or maybe something like ‘the ethical slut’? Oh wait, that’s already a book.”

Tiffany shot her a look, one laced with heat and venom. “I am not cheating on anyone.”

“Oh? Does that mean you finally broke up with Cyrus? Considering you lied to him, I can’t believe this guy is still dating you. How’d you manage to swing that in your favor?”

It hadn’t been easy, but she had changed the narrative to fit her. It also helped that Cyrus had been pissed at Luci for lying about it in the first place and not believing in him.

“My relationship with Cyrus is none of your business.”

Caroline let out a short laugh. “Wow. You know, keep this up, and Ryan is going to leave you for someone else.” She winked at her.

“Ryan loves me.”

“Seriously? He’s a grade above you. Eventually, he’s going to get sick of this drama and shit.”

“For your information, he is the one who came on to me despite my many attempts to tell him to back off. So he’s just going to have to be patient.”

“Uh-huh. Well, you better hope Cyrus doesn’t find out about Ryan.”

Tiffany yanked out her desk chair, turning her back to her. “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean you get to judge me.”

She heard Caroline get off her bed, heard her feet stick to the wood, and brush against the rug in the middle of the room. She leaned over her, arms crossed, a smirk on her face.

“You know something, when I first met you, I thought you would be this wicked cool chick. Then you saw Cyrus and revealed your dastardly evil plan. And you know, I thought, okay, whatever, this girl has a beef. But I’ve gotten to know you, Tiffany, in these long months of rooming with you, and I’ve discovered that you are shallow and superficial. It’s no wonder Cyrus always talked about Lucita. From what I can tell, that girl has depth. It’s too bad he’s too stupid to realize how much he likes her. Let’s face it, compared to her, you’re nothing.”

Tiffany sat there shaking, refusing to look at her. She listened to Caroline leave the room empty-handed, and once she was gone, Tiffany let out the breath she had been holding onto.

She was not nothing. Cyrus wanted her, was choosing her. For once in their relationship, he was putting her first. And it made her feel good. She had lied to him, and he had still chosen her over Lucita.

Tiffany had everything she wanted, good grades, two wonderful boyfriends, and the rift between Cyrus and Lucita she had been trying for months to achieve.

She was not nothing.

But Ryan…she could tell that he was starting to pull away. Tiffany finally had what she wanted; she couldn’t understand why Ryan could just let it go. It’s not like she was making out with Cyrus or holding hands with him. She skyped with him every few days and sent him sweet texts. It was nothing.

Slamming her laptop shut, she crawled into bed, fully clothed, and hugged her pillow. She just wanted to go home. She missed her parents, her bedroom, and her life back home. Tiffany had only done one stupid thing, one stupid thing to one stupid insignificant girl. And it had gotten her sent away.

She was not a problem child. So what if she had gotten into a few fights in middle school. Everyone got into fights. And yeah, there had been that one time she had snuck into the guidance office to change the grades of some of her friends. It was not the end of the world.

Tiffany took a deep breath and dialed her father. She didn’t want to be here anymore. Tiffany knew her father might listen, but her mother? She had worn her patience thin.

Her heart raced as the phone rang, and she hoped her mother wasn’t around.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Daddy!”

“Hey you! How’s my girl?”

“I’m good.” Tears almost welled up in her eyes. It was so nice to hear her father’s voice. He always gave her chance after chance and had reservations about sending her off to some private school. If she played her cards right, maybe, just maybe, she could come home.

“How’s school?”

“Good, everything’s going really good.”

“I bet. Your mom showed me your last report card. We were both so proud of you.”

She beamed. That meant her mom was proud of her, too.

“Thank you. I mean, I am working really hard here—”

“I bet,” he said, cutting her off. “We’re in contact with the school guidance counselor. She gives us weekly reports on your progress, you know.” Her heart seized. No, she did not know that. She knew they were kept informed, but she hadn’t known they were that well informed.

“Oh.”

“She says your behavior is outstanding.”

Tiffany let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding.

“I’m glad. Like I said, I’m working really hard. Um, was that all the counselor said?”

She heard something in the background, some dings and scrapes of metal. He must be working on some new tech. That was her father, somewhat absentminded, always playing with the tech that was supposed to stay at work. But he liked to pretend to be an inventor. It warmed her heart.

“Damn. Sorry sweetie. Anyway, that’s something you’ll have to discuss with your mother. She’s the one Mrs. Thomas talks to more than me.”

Her heart seized up again. Of course, thought Tiffany, bending down to pick at the cuticles around her toenails. “Oh, okay. Well, I mean, since I’m doing so well here, I was wondering if I could come home next year. And for the summer too. I miss you.”

He let out a heavy sigh over the phone. “I know, sweetie. Let’s just—oh, your mom just walked through the door. I’ll talk to her right now.”

No, not her mom. Sometimes, it felt like her mom was a lawyer instead of a paralegal. Tiffany thought she would make a great one.

“No, Dad, it’s—”

“Hello?”

“Hey mom.” Tiffany crawled back under the covers.

“Tiffany! How are you?” Her mom sounded warm, but Tiffany could hear the undercurrent of tension. Could hear the “What did you do now?” remark hidden between the fake smile she imagined was plastered on her face.

“I’m fine. Um, I was just talking to dad about coming home for the summer—”

“No.” Her mother’s tone shifted immediately. She could hear her father in the background asking why not on her behalf.

“Enough, Harold.” Her mom let out a sigh. Tiffany could just imagine it, her eyes pinched shut, her hand pinching the bridge of her nose. “Tiffany, I know you want to come home. I understand that. But I will make you a promise. You can come home for spring break.”

“But mom, why?”

“Tiffany, your grades are wonderful, and I understand you are trying, but I do not want you to fall back into being the rotten spoiled brat you are when you’re home. I think being there is good for you. The kids here…you let them get under your skin. And your counselor says you spend a lot of time venting about them, especially that girl Lucita. She says you blame her for your ‘banishment.’” She listened to her mother let out a sigh. “Spring Break, we will try it. I want you to grow up more before we have this discussion again. I need you to understand I’m not punishing you; I’m trying to do what is best for you. I love you, honey. Please remember that.”

Tiffany bit back the tears. So much for a safe space. “Yeah, okay.”

“Alright. I’m sorry, honey, but your attitude has to change. I’m going to hang up now, okay. Love you, honey.” “Love you too, mom.” She let her mother hang up, letting the click fill the silence. She had so little chances to prove her mother wrong. Hanging up the phone, she cried into the pillow.