”It’s just we are too busy at work lately, mom. Be patient, okay?” Steven finished for his girlfriend, giving his mother a sure smile.

”You are together for how long?” Karen asked, sipping her orange juice. ”Three, four years?”

”Three and a half, next month is the anniversary actually” Lindsey replied, exchanging sweet glances with Steven.

”Great. So, mom, you see, they will have enough time to get bored with each other in their marriage, be patient” Karen pointed out, to which everyone chuckled, once again astonished with teenagers’s verbal stunts.

”Oh, honey, it’s not a necessity that marriage can cause people to get bored with each other” Amy implied softly.

Karen shrugged. ”I dunno, I think marriages kill all the fun. You know, obligations and constraints… I think it’s just a finish line in most of cases”

Everyone stared at the teenager in confusion, except Bette, whose eyes were fixed on her piece of a chicken pot pie, which she was busy eating quietly.

”What?” Karen raised her eyebrows at the stares. ”It’s my opinion. It’s not a necessity that Steve and Linds would go through it that way, right?”

Amy nodded slowly, Albert narrowed his eyes a bit before turning his attention to occupied Bette.

”What do you think, Bette?” He asked her with a feigning nonchalant attidude.

Bette lifted her head, noticing that all the eyes were on her at the table. She looked at Albert. ”About?”

”About marriages”

The nervous brunette swallowed, feeling Tina’s comforting hand on her thigh. ”Um…well” She began, not knowing how to answer more discreetly. Clearing her throat, she continued with a slight smile. ”I actually agree with Karen. Relationships are beyond marriage”

”Yeah! You see people! Even Bette thinks like me, that means I have a real point here! Gimme five, girl!” Karen half-rose from her chair excitedly, leaning over and smacking Bette’s timidly outstretched hand, whilst Albert glared at them.

Tina watched the exchange too, grinning incredulously. She snorted, reminding herself to talk the topic of marriage over with her girlfriend later.

The wine glasses were refilled and Bette took a sip.

”How’s your studies coming along by the way?” Steven asked Tina.

”Oh, it’s great. The exams start in late November, so, I have enough time to prepare”