But Tessa had been so intimidated by Debbie’s displeasure that she had never eaten with the family again, despite Michelle’s insistence. On weekdays she continued to eat breakfast and lunch at school, and would grab a quick snack at the mall during her break from work in the evenings. For the weekends, she’d buy some basic groceries like cereal, peanut butter, and ramen noodles, or occasionally order a pizza or other takeout with Michelle on the nights Debbie went out.

When she was at home, she mostly closeted herself away in the bedroom studying and doing homework, and kept out of Debbie’s way as much as possible, especially on the evenings when Michelle had a date. Michelle had tried more than once to persuade Tessa into going out with her and her current boyfriend, but she always refused gently, not wanting to feel like a third wheel. Besides, while Michelle’s boyfriend – Denny – was nice enough, he made her feel a little uncomfortable at times when he stared at her a bit too long or intently. She’d met a couple of Denny’s friends, too, who had all left her with a very unsettled feeling, and she’d quickly discouraged Michelle from trying to set her up with any of them. Privately, she thought that Michelle could do a lot better than Denny, who was already out of high school and didn’t seem to have much ambition beyond working as a pizza delivery boy.

It did give Tessa cause for concern, however, when Michelle threatened to move out and go live with her father – whom the girls rarely had contact with – or with Denny. Michelle was a year older than she was, and due to graduate high school next June, so if she were in fact to move out at that time Tessa wondered how willing Debbie would be to let her stay. Tessa kept her fingers crossed that nothing would go amiss for another eighteen months or so – until she, too, turned eighteen, graduated from high school, and could legally live on her own.

She’d been obliged to give her future some serious consideration during a required meeting with her junior class guidance counselor last week. The counselor – Ms. Thornton – was young, barely out of college, and like most public school employees, underpaid and overworked. Still, the counselor had been kind to Tessa, and had nodded in understanding when she’d explained why college just wasn’t in her game plan for the foreseeable future.

“I’d have to say, unfortunately, that I agree with you at this point,” Ms. Thornton had acknowledged. “Most of the classes you’ve taken in high school haven’t exactly been college preparatory courses, and you’d probably have a difficult time getting accepted to most schools because of that. In addition, you’ve got virtually no extracurricular activities save for your after school jobs, and colleges really look hard at that stuff, I’m afraid.”

Tessa had given a little shrug. “That sort of thing just wasn’t possible for me. I changed high schools three times before we moved here last spring, and, well, things with my mother made everything difficult.”

“I get it,” Ms. Thornton had assured her gently. Tessa had told her the basics about Gillian’s illness, her tragic death last month, and how Tessa was now living with the Wallace’s. “You’ve had far more important things to deal with than trying out for cheerleader or joining the French Club. It’s just a shame that you didn’t have the same opportunities as other kids your age did. You seem like a very bright girl, Tessa, very hardworking and capable. Under different circumstances you would have easily been accepted into a variety of good colleges. And,” she’d added hastily, “there’s absolutely nothing preventing that from still happening. You could attend community college for a couple of years, get your core classes out of the way, and then transfer to a four year university after that. Lots of students take that path, in fact.”

“Maybe,” Tessa had demurred. “I never really considered that option, always figured that I’d just get a job and look after my mother. But I guess it’s something to consider, provided I could get the funding.”

Ms. Thornton had nodded. “Given your circumstances, it would be the easiest thing in the world to get you a grant or scholarship to pay your fees. We can talk more about it next year when you’re a senior. In the meanwhile, you should look over the course catalog for the local community college, see what sort of classes you’d need to take for an associate degree. Plus, there are lots of other programs they offer if you choose not to get a four year degree – health services, hotel and restaurant management, office administration. You definitely have other options to consider if you don’t want to pursue a bachelors degree.”

She had barely glanced at the catalog and other materials Ms. Thornton had given her, though, having been far too busy recently with school and work to read them over in more detail. It was something she would certainly have to give some serious thought to within the next year, however, along with where she would live when she turned eighteen and aged out of the foster care system.

The bedroom door was flung open and then slammed shut as Michelle burst into the room, her face red with anger and cheeks wet with tears. Her already out of control mop of dark chestnut curls was practically crackling with electricity as she picked up a shoe she’d left lying around and threw it against the closest wall.

“God, I hate her so much!” she hissed. “I seriously wish she would just drop dead one of these days, save me the trouble of killing her myself. Some people should have never had children, and my mother is definitely one of them! Oooh, I cannot wait until I can get the fuck out of this house!”

Tessa suppressed a sigh, having heard this sort of tirade from her friend multiple times already since moving in. “I’m sorry that the two of you don’t seem to get along,” she offered quietly. “But you shouldn’t wish anyone dead, Michelle. And especially not your mother.”

“Oh, God! I’m sorry, Tessa!” declared Michelle, giving her a quick hug. “I didn’t mean to be insensitive, with your own mom gone barely a month. It’s just – my mother drives me insane, you know? It’s been like this all of my life, especially since my dad left. I know she doesn’t really give a shit about me and Kimmie, can’t wait until both of us are old enough to move out and take care of ourselves so she doesn’t have to be responsible for us.”

“How old were you when your dad left?” asked Tessa.

Michelle shrugged. “For good when I was around ten. But he’d probably moved in and out at least five times before that. I can’t remember a time when he and my mother weren’t screaming at each other. I’m guessing he stuck it out because of me and Kimmie and Brittany.”