Tatum leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed tightly like she was trying to hold herself together. The house felt way too quiet after everything that happened at the school, and she hated it. She kept glancing toward the hallway where her mom had disappeared earlier, like she expected something else to go wrong any second. When she looked back at you, her eyes narrowed a little, suspicious but also curious.

“You were talking to my mom like you’ve known her forever,” she said, tilting her head slightly. “Most people around here only know her from… you know… all the stuff that’s happened. And she doesn’t exactly trust strangers, so the fact she didn’t kick you out immediately is kinda weird.” She picked at the sleeve of her shirt, clearly thinking about something she wasn’t saying out loud.

She let out a small breath and finally looked straight at you again, her voice softer but more serious this time. “I’ve lived with her my whole life, and even I don’t know half the people from her past… so how do you know my mom?”