“So, how old are you?” Temperance sits across from her. “Almost sixteen!” Ashley’s excitement is fake. “Do you have a dog?” Temperance points to her shirt. “No, my mom hates dogs.” Ash sighs. “I heard about your sister’s audition. Were you there?” Temperance slowly crosses her legs making Ash gulp. “No, I was busy. But I’ve seen her act before, it’s no big deal.” Jealousy creeps into her voice. “My sister used to get all the attention. I lived on the back burner. Is it like that with you and her?” Temperance nods and the sun catches her hair, she glows. “Maybe, I don’t know. I try not to think about it.” Ash mumbles and looks down at her hands. “What do you try not to think about?” Temperance leans toward her. “Stuff…” “Like how she does with boys and school compared to you?” Temperance prompts. Ashley just nods almost imperceptibly. “Your dad told me you were having problems at your old school. Want to tell me about that?” Temperance emphasizes Dad. “That douche is not my dad!” Ashley glares at her. “Well, he said he’s about to be your stepdad.” “He said what?” Ashley half yells. “He told me the wedding’s scheduled for June.”  “Ugh, crap! I should’ve seen this coming.” Ashley is fuming.  “What do you mean?”  “Nothing”  “Please talk to me. I want to help.”  “Look, I don’t want to be here anymore than you do.”  “I do want to be here. You seem like a great girl. You’re pretty, nice, smart. Whatever you’re going through is only holding you back. I’m here to help you get through it.” Temperance tilts her head.

“That’s all anyone ever says! Pretty this, pretty that. I’m fed up! I don’t give a crap about being pretty. Nobody ever thinks maybe I want them to see something else!” Ashley exclaims. Temperance looks at the angry, flushed teen across from her and her heart aches a bit. Ashley reminds her of her younger self, when she was discovering her own sexuality. “Well, what do you want them to see?” She asks. “I don’t know. Something that’s not on the outside.” Ashley looks up at her from under a furrowed brow and tries not to check her out. “Like what?” Temperance runs her fingers through her hair. The scent of coconut fills the air. Ashley takes a breath and holds it in, for as long as she can. “Stuff…” Ashley wheezes. “Stuff as in what?” Ashley looks around trying to decide whether to confide in her. “How old are you?” Will she understand? “Twenty-five. Finishing my last year of grad school.” Ashley notes the 10 year difference. “How long have you worked here?”  “Today’s my first day, well, trial day. You’re my first student, which I’m happy to say.” Ashley’s heart pounds. “Do you think I could ask you something off the books?” Ashley chooses her words carefully. “Sure.”  “What’s a good way to avoid conflict with a roommate over uh… personality differences?” “I’d say talk it out. Make up some boundaries. Bur make sure the door is neutral. One time in college my roommate locked me in our dorm for a whole day.” Temperance flashes back. “Thanks. You know, maybe we should just talk like this next time, instead of you trying to shrink me.” Ash suggests. Temperance leads her to the door. They shake, Ashley blushes and smiles to herself all the way to her room. All of Madison’s things are gone.