I immediately dove headfirst into the pile of homework I hadn't been doing as soon as I got back in my room.

I'd been pretty unproductive the past day or so and it was catching up to me. If I didn't start working now, I never would, and would get stuck in an endless loop of just never getting anything done.

First, cell biology. Simple. I just had to read a few chapters and prepare for the next week's quiz. After I finished that, I had a math problem set due, a chemistry reading, and a physics problem set.

Why did I major in biology again? I don't know. And even though I wished I was solely taking biology classes, I knew the rest of my curriculum was necessary if I ever wanted to get into a graduate program.

But I was trying not to think about that just yet. Graduating was still so far away. I had time.

As I was just about to start on one of my problem sets, I heard the door open and close, followed by not one, but two familiar voices. One of them was clearly more distraught than the other.

I didn't want to eavesdrop, but I couldn't help overhearing their conversation.

"Did I do the right thing? I feel stupid." Phoebe Thatcher had clearly been crying, and sniffled loudly.

"Honey, of course. She was a bitch for cheating. It wasn't your fault."

"She kept saying she felt like I wasn't giving her enough attention. That I forced her to do this."

"Do you control her body?"

There was silence, and then a sniffle.

"Do you?"

"No...," Phoebe conceded.

"Then, it's not your fault. She messed up. Feeling unloved is no excuse for cheating. She could have just been honest with you, but she wasn't."

Another bit of silence in which I heard the fridge door open and close. "I'm sorry for putting this on you. I didn't know who else to go to. Everyone else is friends with her."

"Don't apologize. I'm here for you," Cassidy responded. "Want a cup of tea? Some snacks? I have  both."

After that, the living room was silent for a bit longer. I got back into my work, but couldn't help getting distracted. So...that explained the fight from today.

Finally, I really had to use the bathroom and I didn't care about the possible awkwardness of running into Phoebe in the living room. I would just try to avoid eye contact. That would work, right?

Asking her anything or trying to comfort her would just be weird.

I cracked the door, trying to be loud so that Phoebe would at least know someone else was coming into the room. I passed by quietly, noting her hunched over figure as she furiously texted someone. The cup of tea on the side table was nearly empty and Cassidy was nowhere to be found.

Phoebe looked up when she heard me and quickly looked away again.

I went to the bathroom, and then started to make myself a bowl of cereal. My stomach was rumbling and I really didn' t want to have to make another trip out to the living room.

And just when I thought I could get away without an uncomfortable interaction, Phoebe spoke up.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that today," she said quietly, her voice clearly hoarse from crying.

"Oh, it's okay! Don't worry about it," I replied, giving her a tight smile. "I've sort of been going through it, too." Why did I say that? That was stupid. I didn't want to make things about me. Too late.

"Really? Wanna talk about it?" she asked.

My face went red. "It's nothing as bad as what you're dealing with," I replied with a nervous laugh.

She just shrugged. "It's all relative. I kind of want a distraction."

My cereal was definitely already getting soggy, but Phoebe clearly was offering for me to stay and talk.

"I mean, sure," I said. "It's just...it's all to do with this guy. David."

"David Walker?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

"Wait, how do you...?"

"Everyone knows. He's kind of a manwhore, but the bad kind."

"Yup, well. I'm one of his...conquests?" I said, uncertainly.

"Yikes," Phoebe replied, physically wincing.

"And then I dumped my drink on him and now he's ruining my life."

"That's...a lot," Phoebe responded, quietly. "That sucks."

"Yeah. I keep getting calls and stuff from random guys trying to hook up with me."

"Geez. Have you reported him for harassment?" she asked.

"No."

"Hm. It doesn't hurt to," she commented. "At least if you do it anonymously it wouldn't hurt you at all. I can help you with that if you want." She perked up a bit, eager to do something productive.

"Yeah, maybe." I leaned up against the wall by my door. The conversation lulled.

"Are you going to go to the party on Friday?" she asked, suddenly. "Cassidy and I are going but I wasn't sure if she was bringing you, too."

I frowned. "Um..." I hadn't decided yet. Mainly because I was terrified of having to interact with one of these guys who thought they knew me. "Maybe?"

"I'm nervous, too. Eve was supposed to go with me." She let out a hefty sigh. "But not anymore." She tapped a finger nervously on the couch. I noticed she was wearing a shiny silver ring with a small dolphin melded to it. 

"I want to go. I just don't want to deal with all of the men," I explained. "But...I'll keep you updated. And let me know if there's anything I can do," I offered. Even if it wasn't much, it was better than nothing.

"Thanks," she responded. "You too."

I headed into my room, and felt a genuine smile creep onto my face for the first time that day.