“Yes. I’ve got some studying to do tonight, and a paper to finish writing.”

Tessa didn’t add that she’d be doing her homework at the 24-hour Starbucks located two blocks from here. She spent most of her evenings there, nursing a single cup of tea and hoping that no one would ask her to leave before she finished her studies. Thankfully it was a very popular and crowded establishment, and the staff was usually kept far too busy to notice how long any of the patrons hung around.

It had been two difficult and stressful months since she’d been on her own, since that awful night when Debbie had all but kicked her out of the house. Michelle had called her within an hour after she’d left, alternately sympathizing with Tessa and cursing Debbie, Brittany, and Sean for the parts they’d played in the disastrous series of events.

“This is all my sister’s fault, you know,” Michelle had ranted. “Brit’s had it in for you from the day they moved back in. She’s let herself go so bad since she had those brats that she’s jealous of anyone who looks better than she does. And since you’re drop-dead gorgeous – well, you can figure it out for yourself. Look, I’m heading home now, Denny’s not feeling so hot so we’re cutting our evening short. I’ll talk to my mom when I get there, try to make her see reason. I mean, where the hell does she think you’re going to live – in your car?”

“That’s sort of what I figured would happen,” Tessa had admitted quietly. “I’m staying at a motel for tonight, just so I can take a few hours and think everything out. But after that I’m not sure what my other options are, Michelle. I can’t afford to keep paying for motel rooms, and I need to save some more money before I can look into renting an apartment or a room somewhere.”

“Tessa, for Christ’s sake, you can’t live in your car!” Michelle had exclaimed. “I mean, I know you’ve done it before with your mom, but you also said that was just for a couple of months at a time. How long do you honestly think you could live that way? I mean, where are you going to take a shower or study or do your laundry? Come on, let me talk to my mom, okay? She was probably just in a bad mood earlier, little wonder if she was around Brit and both of the kids for a few hours.”

“No, Michelle.” Tessa’s voice had been gentle but firm. “I haven’t said anything to you before now, didn’t want to sound ungrateful for everything you’ve done. But I’ve been thinking for a few weeks now about moving out, even if it meant living in my car for awhile. It’s – I haven’t been happy there, especially since your sister and her family moved in. I’m not sleeping well, don’t feel welcome. Not by you, of course,” she’d assured hastily. “But it’s pretty obvious that your sister and mom don’t want me there any longer, and things have been really uncomfortable for me. So maybe this is all for the best.”

Michelle had sighed. “I know how hard it’s been for you. And I guess sleeping in your car can’t be much worse that sleeping on the floor. But – geez – it just sounds so awful, so – desperate, I guess. Isn’t there anyone else you can crash with for awhile, someone you know at school?”

Tessa had thought briefly of Logan – handsome, charming Logan who still said hello to her frequently. But a guy as popular as he was hadn’t been willing to wait around for Tessa to get her life in order, and Logan had begun dating other girls months ago. Several different girls, if the gossip was accurate. Would things have been different if she’d agreed to go on a date with him last October? Would they still be seeing each other, maybe be in a real relationship now? Would Logan have offered to take care of her, to ask his parents to take her in and offer her a home?

But she’d dismissed those thoughts as quickly as they’d come to mind. It was far, far too late now to think of what might have been, to wish that someone like Logan would swoop in and rescue her, to be her knight in shining armor. Hadn’t she learned a long, long time ago that knights didn’t exist, and that real life bore no resemblance whatsoever to those fairy tales Gillian had once read to her?

“There isn’t anyone, no,” was all she had told Michelle in response. “But I don’t want you to worry about me, okay? You need to look out for yourself. Both you and Kimmie. Sean is – scary. Not to mention all of his creepy friends who hang out there. Kimmie told me about the money that went missing.”

“Not the first time,” Michelle had replied scornfully. “But of course when I confronted Brit and Sean about it, they denied it all. And then my mom jumped to their defense, accused me of trying to cause trouble. Believe me, I’m going to ditch that place just as soon as I turn eighteen and graduate. Denny and I are talking about moving to San Diego and living with his older brother for a few months until we can get a place of our own.”

They had talked for a few minutes longer, with Tessa assuring Michelle that she’d find a way to cope. The two girls still saw each other every weekend at work, but otherwise didn’t keep in touch much during the week. Tessa sensed that Michelle felt guilty for what had happened, felt responsible in some way or other, and was keeping something of a distance between them as a result.

Tessa pushed those thoughts from her mind now as she and Peter began their nightly trek out to the parking lot. She was definitely glad to see this particular day end, as it had been a difficult one from beginning to end. She’d overslept, not hearing her phone alarm, and had barely arrived in time for her first class. She had missed breakfast as a result, and had nearly fainted in P.E. class on an empty stomach. The teacher had been instantly concerned, insisting that Tessa go visit the school nurse, until Tessa had convinced her that she’d been doing some stupid crash diet and just needed to eat something. The teacher had looked at Tessa’s admittedly too-slender frame and shaken her head, telling her that a diet was the very last thing she needed to be thinking about.

The rest of the school day had been thankfully uneventful, but it had been so hectic at work that she’d skipped her break and now hadn’t eaten since lunchtime. As if on cue, her tummy rumbled rather loudly, causing her cheeks to flush in embarrassment, and Peter to give her a knowing grin.

“Past your dinnertime, huh?”

She gave him a sheepish look. “Guess so. It was so busy that I felt guilty taking a break. I’ll, um, grab something in a few minutes.”