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I rolled my eyes.

“I told you, since Derek and Colleen started hanging out more, we ended up getting closer.” I explained, shrugging. I wouldn't go into detail with them about that. Kendra still needed time and I would respect that.

“That's it?” Troian insisted

“What else would it be?”

“Nothing, I don't know. I just heard a lot of movement in the room yesterday.” She was acting cynical and I knew it.

“Movement?” Emily slipped into the middle of the conversation, a little curious.

“Oh, me and Kendra moving? You and Becker were more scandalous than ever!” I complained, trying to avoid that topic, making Troian stick out his tongue at me like a five-year-old child.

Emily laughed and went to the door, opening it.

“Come on, you’re just stalling me!”

“Uh, someone wants to see Logan soon...” Troian mocked, making me laugh, but Emily didn't seem to like it very much. Which seemed strange, because Emily usually reacted by getting more shy; sometimes, though, she would laugh along with us too. This time, though, her expression darkened and she looked irritated.

“What happened, Em?” I questioned her, touching her shoulder.

“Nothing, it's just… today is not a good day, I just want to be able to focus.”

“The day has barely started, Emily.” Troian pointed out. “Why wouldn't it be a good day?”

She shook her head and just continued walking. Troian and I exchanged complicit glances, there was something, it was obvious that there was, but Emily seemed to have built a wall to avoid conversations.

The three of us left the dorm and started walking with the wind starting to hit us.

“Hey, Em… You can talk to us, you know that.”

Her look was sad and painful.

“Family matters, it's hard to deal with sometimes...”

“Is there anything we can do?” Troian wanted to be helpful, and so did I, even though we knew almost nothing about the situation.

“No… no one can. But let's go, who knows, maybe I'll get better after training.” We both agreed with her, however, it was visible that Emily was lacking her usual brightness.

Practice had drained me of all possible energy. I was exhausted, but eager to finally have a few minutes alone with Veronica. Unfortunately, my plans were ruined by Colleen, who seemed a bit down and wanted to have lunch with me. I saw Torres from afar, saying goodbye to the others and waving in my direction before leaving with Emily.

Colleen unlocked the car and we got in. We would have lunch somewhere as I listened to her complaints, as always happened between the two of us.

“What's the big problem in our family this time?”

“Ivy and Conrad fought again. My dear mother managed to be low enough to call me and ask me to talk my father out of his stupid ideas.” Colleen gripped the steering wheel tightly as she spilled all the details. “I'm tired, Ken! They never understandanything, it's all about they, about how they are, about how they act. It's annoying! And... fuck, it's cruel too.”

“What was my uncle's stupid idea now?” I asked, worried.

“He and your father fought, so he joined the hospital board to try to remove your dad from his position.” I looked at her, appalled.

“What?” I almost laughed when she nodded. “Not even my mom, who's divorcing him, wants that—why the hell would your dad?”

Colleen shrugged.

“I have no idea, but our family is just chaos. Sometimes I wish I had been born somewhere else. My mother is the most difficult person I've ever had the displeasure of living with, but I never imagined all this could happen, Ken.”

“Well, let that be their problem.” I declared, getting very pissed.