ZARA

Slowly, as if is still struggling to find the will to sit up, Zara raises herself off her bed and launches an attack on her first suitcase, trying to get her unpacking done as quick as possible.

Laura is lying on her bed, her side of the room already set. Her beautiful blond hair is fanned out on the pillow. A smile plays on her face as she watches Zara struggle.

"So who was he?" She asks Zara.

"Who was who?" Comes the outright retort.

"The guy who brought your suitcase here​ with you. Who is he?" Laura presses.

"I don't know, Jay Matthews, or something like that." Zara unpacks her book quotes poster. "Why?"

"He's kind of hot, isn't he?" Laura hints to Zara.

"Oh shut up, for God's sake, will you? You're freaking engaged."

"I wasn't saying it for me."

"Nice save, touche."

"Fine, be a grump." Laura rolls over and faces the wall. Zara smiles and continues to unpack.

Just then, her phone rings. It's her mom. "Hi," she greets lifelessly.

"Hi," her brother, Malcolm, answers.

"Hey, what's up?" Leaving her belongings on the floor, Zara hoists herself up onto her still unmade bed.

"They're at it again," Malcolm replies in a depressed tone.

Zara takes a deep breath. "What happened?"

"The usual. Mom gambled dad's cash, dad got drunk, mom got drunk, now they're going crazy." He explained. "They actually chipped the side of the TV today. If you were here they would have chipped your teeth."

"Stupid idiots," Zara mutters. "Why don't you go over to Gilbert's for the night?" Gilbert is Malcolm's best friend.

"Mom locked the doors and hid the keys." Comes the dejected reply.

"Check in my desk's third drawer. I hid a spare." Zara suggests.

"You have saved my life sister," Malcolm answers.

"Now go save yourself brother," she replies, still troubled, and they both hang up.

She gets up to see Laura watching her expectantly.