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

Jess glanced over at Roxy, picking up on a pang of something. Emptiness. Loneliness. She wanted to include the anchor - she'd tried to, by introducing her - but it was clear the other woman would continue to keep her distance, especially after what had happened earlier.

The empath knew all too well how much Roxy's attitude also worried her mother, but for a different reason. Still, her mom kept up that positive front, aiming to be as strong and level-headed as possible even in the toughest of situations. The way Jess wished she could be.

[color=aqua]"Your dad would be so happy."[/color] As bright and cheery as her mom tried to sound, there was a hint of a tremble to her voice.

A lump formed in Jess' throat, probably partly due to feelings she took on as well as her own. [color=teal]"Y-Yeah,"[/color] she said, having to speak up over the sounds of kicking and punching. [color=teal]"He would be."[/color]

If her family knew the truth... This wasn't the kind of situation anyone would be happy with.