CHAPTER FIVE: Dinners and Desks

"So she made it through the day?"

"Seems like it, Al."

"And she hasn’t quit from school yet?"

"Nope. Still keeping her ground."

"Wow. That has never happened before."

"I know. She’s a strong one, that Kennard."

"And she kneed Porter in the stomach?"

"Yes."

"Brave."

"Absolutely."

"A little scary too."

"And violent."

"Did you find out anything about her, Shane?"

"Yeah."

"What about?"

"She’s poor."

"Really? But she’s studying in Redwind.."

"Her father basically emptied his life savings to send her to our school."

"Is that why she refuses to be driven out from it?"

"Most probably."

"Interesting."

"I know."

"What else did you find out about her?"

"She’s an only child. Her mom left her dad when she was seven for a farm-hand. They live in a bad neighborhood inside a crummy apartment with no television, no hot water and only one bathroom."

"Ooh.. tragic.."

"Yeah, her father barely has enough money to spend for himself. Everything he earns with his dead-end job goes into food and bills."

Shane and Alice exchanged words about a certain Christina Kennard over dinner at the Makavejev estate. Sam just sat there, idly moving her food around her plate, having no interest to join in on the conversation about Tina.

"So, where’s Bette?" Alice looked at Sam as she stabbed at her salad with her fork.

"At home." Sam shrugged.

"Yeah? What is she doing?"

"Brooding." Sam stated simply, feeling too lazy to elaborate.

"Oh." Alice pursed her lips together as if in deep thought. She surprised her two friends when she uncharacteristically dropped the subject and didn’t push the issue about Bette’s absence any further. "So Sammy.." She said as she eyed Sam staring at the screen of her phone.

"Hmm?" Sam said, her eyes showing signs of disappointment at the empty screen as she quickly snapped her phone shut.

"Have you heard from her yet?" Alice asked slowly, knowing that Sam harbored feelings for the woman in question.

"No." Sam answered plainly.