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

Jess gritted her teeth against the secondhand anger and shame bubbling up. She knew her mother meant well, but such intrusive questions weren't going to help, especially when Roxy was nowhere near ready to give the answers. It was like picking a scab off of a wound that hadn't yet healed.

To her, Roxy's answers weren't a surprise. She'd figured there had to be more to her past than Reginald made it seem. Her mother, on the other hand, tried to remain neutral and professional, but Jess caught the slight raising of her eyebrows - and the spiking worry. 

[color=aqua]"Roxy,"[/color] her mother called, standing and heading to the doorway. [color=aqua]"If you don't mind saying, what exactly happened? Because this doesn't match what he said. Remember, my job isn't to judge, or tell anyone..."[/color]

Instead of responding, Roxy stormed down the hallway and disappeared into her room, slamming the door. Jess flinched as the full force of her mother's shock began to seep in, along with random traces of emotion from neighbours. [color=teal]"I'm sorry,"[/color] she murmured, hurrying past her mom, along the hallway. It wasn't her fault, she knew that rationally, but she couldn't help feeling in part responsible.

The tumult of moods faded as she neared the spare room, but that familiar seething still emanated from it. She hesitated, unsure what to say, before knocking on the door. [color=teal]"Hey... I knew there had to be a reason for all of it,"[/color] she said softly. [color=teal]"So much for a pleasant weekend though, huh?"[/color]