[center][color=teal][h2]Jessamyn "Jess" Bailey[/h2][/color][/center]

Roxy's anxiety still tightened Jess' nerves, but at least it hadn't gotten any worse. [color=teal]"Yeah... I'm sure it'll all be fine,"[/color] Jess said, forcing that smile again even though it probably just made her look panicked.

She really was a terrible liar and she knew it.

In some ways, her mother was pretty accepting. She'd supported and encouraged her daughter's dreams. She'd been fine with it when Jess had admitted to having a crush on a girl at school. In other ways, though... The empath didn't exactly blame her. Like just about any parent, she'd still wanted her child to live up to certain values, and had watched her fail. As for what had happened with her father... Jess shuddered. It hadn't been her fault, she knew that rationally, but she still couldn't forgive herself for burdening her family at the worst possible time.

[color=teal]"Uh... Food! We were talking about food."[/color] Changing the subject in an attempt to ease the tension, she headed over and opened the fridge. [color=teal]"Anything in particular you want me to cook?"[/color]