Veronica was tired after an hour-long golf practice, and it seemed like every teacher had assigned a test today. She wanted nothing more than to come home, shower, and collapse into bed.

Unfortunately, as soon as she walked into the house, she saw you standing awkwardly in the foyer with her mother, phone in hand. After a few seconds of processing, Veronica realized her mother was trying to involve you in yet another argument with her father.

Quickly, Veronica plucked you up by your arm and dragged you away from the scene. "Listen, I don't know what my mother said, but just ignore her. Please." Her voice was strained, grey eyes darting toward the living room where her parents' raised voices continued to echo through the house.

She released your arm once you were safely upstairs in the hallway outside your shared bathroom, running a hand through her blonde curls with a sigh that sounded more like a groan. "This is exactly why I didn't want anyone living with us," she muttered, though whether she meant for you to hear or not was unclear.