Nina's POV

*Diana's House*

"Nina, Come on in.", Diana says with a monotone look on her face. Ironically, it reminds me of how excited she used to get when dad used to drop me off at her place a few years ago. She wears pink pajama shorts and a white t-shirt that says, "NOPE" on the front.

"Hey, Are you okay? You didn't seem well on the phone.", I manage to ask her, ignoring the urge to start yelling about my problems.

"Oh yeah, It's just my allergies"

"Oh.", I say

"Yeah, but I'm fine now", she hastily adds.

"Oh Okay, that's great.", I say, looking around the house. 

A lot has changed since the last time I was here. The huge pictures of Diana at ballet recitals are gone, replaced by quotes from the Bible. 

"Nice.. frames..", I murmur.

At this, Diana turns around to face me and asks all of a sudden, "Honestly Nina, Why are you here?"

"Um.." I fumble with the shoebox in my hand, deciding what to say.

"Tell me! It couldn't be magic that got you to remember me, right?"

I sigh and narrate what had happened with dad and Rachel. Besides, I was too exhausted to ignore her.

"I'm sorry for what happened, Nina, but you have to understand Rachel meant well, and your dad has to talk to you to understand your- situation", she says as she gestured towards my trembling knee as I sat on the couch. 

'Never show your nervousness by shaking your knee.', I remember Dad telling me, when I was younger. 

"I know, But I can't go back to my place today. I have to give him some time alone and I'll be back tomorrow.", I say, pushing back the thought.

"At least text him."

"Yeah", I say taking my phone out once again.

***

Messages

I'll be back tmrw dad, i'm at Diana's k?

Come back Nina. We have to talk

I know, we'll talk tomorrow

ok, take care

***

As I put my phone back into my pocket, my stomach rumbles.

We both laugh.

"What was that? A blue whale's call?", Diana giggles.

"Well, I guess me and my blue whale are hungry. Let's make something?", I say, smiling.

" Sure, just a heads up, I'm vegan now.", she says.

"WHAT? you love steak and peperoni and KFC!!! Don't tell me that has changed too.", I say. 

"Haha, I got you there! Let's order Peperoni Pizza?", she jokes.

"Sure! I'll pay you back later okay?", I reply, realising I only brought a pair of church shoes to her house. 

" No problemo, I'll call the pizza place", Diana takes her phone and moves into a different room.

The doorbell rings.

"So fast?", she says

"I'll see who it is", I say and I open the door.

"Nina! Hi! what a surprise to see you here" It's Rachel. 

I look behind Rachel's shoulder to see Naomi.

"Hi" , I say awkwardly. Naomi and I get along just fine, but It's weird to see her not decked up in the usual skirt-and-crop-top look.

"Before you say anything, I can explain", She laughs, although I can hear pain in her voice.

"Nina, Let's put this fight to the side and focus on the situation okay?", Rachel whispers to me.

I don't know what that means but I try to keep calm and say, "Sure. What's wrong?" 

Rachel narrates Naomi's story to Diana and me. It's heart breaking. It reminds me of my father, he would be slightly angry but I'm grateful he would never go to this extent. We all comfort Naomi. 

She says," Thank you guys for understanding, but all I can do now is make Rachel's place my temporary home."

"Come to think of it", she continues. "I never really felt like my stepdad's huge house was ever home for me anyways."

I nod silently. This quiet little meeting on Diana's couch is turning out to be quite the unusual Home but that's exactly what it feels like. Us four awkward acquaintances against the world!