It was the following week when Eric received a call from Andie's school.

He was in the middle of an exam with a proctor watching through the lens of his computer, and his phone was off and stored in another room. The call wasn't returned for another two hours and when he listened to the concerning voicemail that stated Andie wasn't participating well in class anymore, he called back immediately.

On the other end, the teacher picked up, and she wasn't as pleasant as he had predicted a school English school teacher should be.

"Yes, Eric..." the woman drawled with an air of disapproval. "I called hours ago."

"I was in an exam, ma'am," Eric explained coolly. "I am in my second year of university, I have classes everyday."

"I see. So, your education is more important than Andie's?"

"No... As I said," Eric sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he wondered what the hell he ever did to deserve such a torturous conversation with such a torturous woman. "I was in an exam. My phone was off."

"Well," the woman sniffed disdainfully. "Did you listen to my voicemail?"

"Yes, ma'am, I did. Can you explain a little more what's going on with Andie?"

"She isn't participating as well as she should be in her classes. Her teachers often find her unusually distracted. She no longer volunteers for projects as she used to, and her work effort isn't as supberb as it once was."

"With all due respect ma'am, did you and your teachers forget that Andie's mother died less than six months ago? I think a change in her overall mood and work effort is expected, don't you think?"

"If you think I've called to berate you on Andie's behavior, you're very mistaken, Eric. She isn't in trouble, we're merely concerned for her. Our counselor has been meeting with Andie for several days now and he's worried that Andie isn't receiving enough from her new home life."

Eric's jaw clenched. "No, I imagine she isn't. Having lost two parents, her homelife would inevitably become lacking, wouldn't you say?"

"Eric," the woman sighed. "There is no need to be difficult about this."

"I'm not being difficult. I'm just wondering where the hell you guys have been if you've only just noticed a change in Andie's behavior."

"Beg your pardon, young man, but at the beginning of this school year, Andie's grades were soaring, her work was done with enthusiasm and she took pride in her participation in class. As of two weeks ago, her mind has become less focused, her work is subpar, and her grades are dropping. The reason I am bringing it up to you, is because I can't help but think that you must be the root of the problem."

Eric nearly lurched from his chair. "Excuse me?"

"You didn't accompany Andie to registration or open house at the beginning of this school year. You haven't been in attendance to the last month's Parent/Teacher conference, and all of her field trip approval slips come back unsigned. This tells me that you are not paying attention to the young girl living under your roof, and if you're not, then who is?"

"I...uh..." Eric had never been so baffled in his life. What was the woman rattling on about? Registration? Conferences? Approval slips? "Ma'am, I apologize for my...forgetfulness..."

"I am not the one you should be apologizing to. Our Counselor has requested a meeting. He wants to share his concerns with you. He feels like Andie is still terribly shocked from her parent's death, and may be suffering from depression due to a neglectful homelife."

"Now hold on just a minute-" Eric leapt from his chair this time. "Andie and I may not know each other very well, and our adjustment to this new life may be slow-moving, but she is not neglected. She's well fed, and she sleeps in a warm bed every night, and I make sure she has clean clothes to wear everyday, and she checks in with me when she's going out somewhere-"

"There was once a study conducted on a newborn baby who was given everything it needed to survive-food, sleep, warmth-but it was denied affection and do you know what happened to that baby? It died. Now-Scott Grahams is available to meet with you tomorrow at noon, but if you're not otherwise occupied, he has the next hour free if you're feeling concerned enough about Andie to discuss her well being today."

The woman's tone was mocking. She thought that Eric was the problem.

Was he?

"Uh...yeah..."

"Today, then?"

"Yes, um-" he cleared his throat. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good. We will see you within the hour."

The sound of a phone hanging up echoed in his ear, and Eric lowered the phone to his side. He stared at the sandy colored paint on the wall as he replayed the conversation in his head.

Andie was keeping everything from him. Her school life was entirely her own, but it wasn't supposed to be. She was supposed to be sharing that burden with someone; him.

So, why didn't she? Had he made himself that unapproachable?

Frowning bitterly at himself, Eric located his car keys and slipped out the front door and into the rain that drizzled down on him. The drive was quick-Andie's school wasn't far-but he was surprised that this was his first time there. He guess he should have been there at least once before...during school registration at least.

He felt a frustration brew inside of him as he exited his car and approached the school.

If Andie had just told him about these things then Eric would have done his part and he wouldn't be going into her school right now looking like the biggest piece of shit guardian the teachers had ever seen.

Up the stairs and inside the massive double doors, Eric located the main office and told the receptionist that he had an appointment with Scott Graham, the school counselor. The receptionist looked at him like she knew that he was Andie's older brother, a mis-fit who neglected his little sister just after her parent's death.

The school nurse was walking past in the back, and she gave him a look as well. So did several other women in the office.

Eric's mood soured and he started to feel as badly as all of the school administration thought of him. Sitting down in one of the available chairs just outside the office, he waited with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped and dangling, and his head low. He prepared for the absolute worst with the counselor; imagining that the more educated and esteemed individual in the school would have the worst impression of Eric.

"Mr. James?"

Eric heard from above and he rose imemdiately and offered his hand to the professor-looking-sort-of-guy who wore a kind smile that Eric hadn't expected.

"Please, call me Eric."

"Eric it is," the counselor shook his hand before standing aside and extending his arm down the corridor. "My office is down this way a ways."

"Sounds good." With his hands in his pockets, Eric followed alongside the counselor. The hallway was busy, and he wondered if he might spot Andie while he was here, but all of his attempt's to find her face amongst the sea of students failed.

Inside the office, the counselor invited Eric to sit down in front of a large brown desk while he shut the door behind them. The bustling activity outside muted as the door shut, leaving them in a comfortably quiet atmosphere.

"It must be strange being back in the halls of your old high school," the counselor made small talk as he took a seat in the cushioned swivel chair on the opposite end of the desk from Eric.

"Oh, no, Mr. Grahams, I actually went to school in the old building; this is the first time I'm seeing the new construction."

"Ah, yes. I forgot; it's been a couple of years for you. I must have had you pegged for nineteen. And please, call me Scott."

"Sure," Eric nodded.

"So, we're here about Andie," Scott got right into it. "I know things haven't been too well for her as of late..."

"Yes, her parents died half a year ago."

"Well, that's certainly destined to change a person."

"Yes, sir."

"Have you noticed any strange behavior in her recently?"

"Um... No, I can't say I have... Things have been a little dull around the house since the car accident. Andie and I are still getting to know each other."

"Yes... I understand you weren't home often due to university so you didn't really get to know Andie very well before the accident."

"No, sir."

"Would you say get along well?"

Did they, Eric wondered as he recalled the night he raised his voice at her for coming home so late?

"We do OK, yeah."

"Would you say you are close?"

Nope.

"Uh... Honestly, no... But like I said, we're still getting to know each other..."

"Of course," Scott smiled and leaned back in his chair. He crossed one ankle over his other leg and pulled the pad he had been scribbling on down onto his lap. "Andie's a sweet girl," he started again without looking up at Eric. "She talks very highly of you."

"She does?" Eric asked, more than a little surprised.

"Oh, yes. She says that you're very smart and you're very dedicated to your school. What is it you are studying?"

"Political science."

The counselor whistled. "That's a doozy of a major, Eric. I applaud your bravery."

Eric chuckled and offered a lazy shrug. "It's just a lot of reading and writing of essays. Anyone could do it."

"Not me. I tried it in my first year thinking it would be a decent segue into Human Resources, and man-it kicked my butt."

They both chuckled this time.

"But," Scott continued with a deep breath. "It worked out in the end because I ended up changing majors and now I'm here."

"Maybe I'll do the same," Eric replied politely.

"Now, why would you do that?"

"Ah, well..." He rubbed the back of his neck, unable to provide much of an explanation because his reply was meant to be one of those filler lines between topics. "I guess if I studied something with a lesser work-load, I would have a little more time for Andie." He pulled the answer out of his ass, but as he said it, he realized it wasn't exactly a false statement.

"Is your time limited now?"

"Yeah, most definitely. Andie and I see very little of each other."

"Hm... And who does she see if she isn't seeing you?"

"Well, she had a friend, Morgan, whose older brother is a friend of mine as well. So...We spend some time with them together, and that's actually been good for us..." he replied lamely as he recalled the one time they went over for dinner last week.

"Good for you how?"

"Well... It's just really quiet at home. It feels less...stuffy... with friends, in a happier, more family-like setting. It's comfortable for us I guess. We're more on the same level in that environment."

"I see. Now, I could see this being a problem; if the only times you're both happy are if you're away from your own home. How can we improve Andie's own home to become as much of a happy place for her as her friend's house?"

"I don't know if we can, sir. It's the home where her parents died. Pieces of them are everywhere, standing as a constant reminder of what Andie once had and lost."

"You keep saying 'Andie's parents.' Wasn't one of them yours...?"

"Uh, yes..." Eric cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. "Yes, sir. My father."

"I think it's important to lay that down on the table as we discuss this. Because Andie wasn't the only person who lost family that day. You can't discount your own losses and your own grief."

Eric was quiet for a moment. "...I'm older, though... Andie's just a kid who...who should have had more time with her mom."

"Please," Scott chuckled. "You're just a kid yourself. You're in school-albeit college-but school nonetheless. And you're only twenty. That's not a far cry from Andie's sixteen years."

"Yeah, I guess so," Eric replied, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Feels like it sometimes, though."

"I'm sure it does... You're dealing with a teenager who probably isn't overly open to you helping her. Hence why we haven't been seeing much of you this school year..."

Eric blinked at the counselor. "She hasn't told me about anything... I honestly didn't know that I was meant to join her at registration, and I didn't know about the conferences or the field trips."

"I know," Scott reassured. "She told me."

"She did?" Eric relaxed a little. "Then...why?"

"Well, let's just say she doesn't find you very approachable," Scott chuckled before soberly adding: "She doesn't think you like her very much."

"That's not true, I just-"

"-don't know her very well," Scott finished for Eric, smiling patiently. "Listen, I don't have much time left, but I think we should talk more, just you and me, and then maybe a third time with Andie."

"Yeah, sure," Eric nodded.

"I'll leave you with this bit today," Scott said, leaning his elbows onto his desk. "Andie's missing something at home, and I genuinely believe that you can help her. Right now, she needs a little...strength...in her life. Someone stronger than her to make her feel safe; usually that's what parents are for, but since she no longer has those..." he smiled again, a sad one this time. "You're doing a very good thing, here. You're taking on a responsibility that you're too young to bear alone, and yet you're giving it your best try."

Eric didn't respond. He just nodded and smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

He didn't feel like he was doing a good thing, or trying his best. He was doing a lousy-ass job, and he thought that was pretty evident.

"Oh, one more thing." Scott leaned back and opened a drawer, producing a set of papers which he extended towards Eric. "I hate to be a nark, but these are Andie's overall weekly scores. You'll find that her's aren't doing so hot. One exam she nearly failed, and she admitted that she hadn't studied for it. This is the behavior that caught the teacher's attention and pushed her to suggest that Andie meet with me, because she's normally very dedicated to her studies. It's a bit odd, but she's just expressed very little interest in school lately."

Eric frowned as he read over the list of scores, as well as the graph that provided a visual on Andie's plummeting progress-which was terribly lacking.

What happened to the good girl who behaved and got good grades, he wondered?