After what seemed like a long journey up the staircase, Tina came to the second level of the castle-like home. It was well-furnished, but as she explored the third floor next, she immediately wanted one simple room. It was big, empty, and set with heavy grey brick walls. There was a bay window – the only window to be seen – and a gigantic bed. That was it. Tina smiled and put her things down by the door as she sat herself on the soft seat in the bay window, looking out at the beautiful forest surrounding the place.

Tina felt it was suitable to be placed in such a room, feeling as though she lived in a dungeon, because she couldn’t really leave or go. She felt locked inside. And since she knew she would have to stay until the situation with her father blew over, her feelings were all the more relevant.

She had arranged with her high school teachers to e-mail her work in instead, so she slowly got to work after leaving her brown suitcase and laptop on the bed. The bay window was like her home away from home, and she enjoyed the comfort it brought as she started writing with pen and paper; it was how she thought best.

With a small lapse in her focus, Tina’s eyes wandered out the window once more, actually feeling at peace with the bare room, and wondering so much about the young woman who had taken her in, even if the place did feel like a dungeon. Who was Callie?

“Tina?”

The blond turned to the voice from down the short, wide hall. “In here.”

“It’s … dinner.”

Turning to the door, Tina was confused. It was Callie’s voice, but she couldn’t see her face. And then she realized she hadn’t had a good look before either. She looked a little closer.

“Downstairs.”

Trying not to pry, Tina smiled and slipped off the bed to follow the mystery woman down the stairs to the table.

“So, since you’re both so awful at being a proper hostess,” Molly emphasized, staring at Bette and then at Shane. “I’ll do the introductions.” She held her hand out to Tina with a big, welcoming smile. “I’m Molly.”