“Oh, that Gina. She’s uh one of Tristan’s roommates.”

“How come she’s calling you then?”

“I dunno.”

“Annie.”

“What?”

‘Why is Tristan’s roommate calling?”

“You heard. She said she wanted to say goodbye.”

“Yeah but why? She barely knows you. Why would you be mad if she wasn’t there when you left?”

“What’s going on?” Bette asked coming into the kitchen.

“One of Tristan’s roommates called and left a message for our daughter.” Tina played back the message.

“It doesn’t mean anything.” Bette brushed it off.

“Bette, if you just met someone would it matter to you if it bothered them that you weren’t there to say goodbye?”

“Well no, not really. Unless,” Bette looked at me. “Ohhh.”

“I don’t want her calling here. In fact I’ll tell her myself.” Tina said picking up the phone.

“Mom what are you doing?” I grabbed the phone from her.

“You’re sixteen, she’s in college you’re too young.”

“Tristan’s in college and you don’t see anything wrong with him and Renee going out?”

“That’s different. I know Tristan.”

I turned to Bette for support, “Mom please tell her she can’t do that?”

“T don’t get hasty. It’s probably nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. We like each other.”

Just the phone the phone rang, unfortunately I was not saved by the bell, because Tina answered the phone and Gina was on the other end.

“Hello.”

“Um, goodnight is Annie there?”

Mom recognised her voice from the message. “Is this Gina?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Why are you calling my daughter?”

“I just wanted to talk to her. To explain why I couldn’t make it back in time.”

“Mom. give me the phone.” I snatched the phone before she could protest. “Hi Gina.”

“Hi, is your mad that I called?”

“A little.” I started to walk to my room. “But I’m glad you did.”

“I’m really sorry I wasn’t there when you left. When I got back Tris told me you left like five minutes before.”

“It’s ok.”

“Is it weird to say that you’re gone only a few hours and I miss you already?”

“No, because I miss you too.”

There was a moment of comfortable silence, then Gina said, “Anyway I wont keep you long. I don’t want your mom getting angrier.”

“Ok. Well goodnight then.”

“Can I call you tomorrow?”

“I’ll email you and tell you when.”

“Ok cool.”

“So tomorrow then.”

“Yeah, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”