October 18

10:32 A.M.

Charlize scribbled furiously into her debate notebook as she browsed the news headlines of the day. As a debater, it was vital that she stayed up to date with current events, since the topics at competitions could be rather random; she could go from arguing about farm animal rights in one round to discussing international trade sanctions in the next. She loved the unpredictability of it all.

Her eyes skimmed over pages and pages of text, with her laser-sharp focus never weakening. And that was why, when the door to her room was suddenly thrown open and a middle-aged woman pranced in, Charlize let out a yelp and jumped about a foot off her chair.

"Oh sorry! Didn't mean to scare you there, darling!" said the familiar face, tapping a perfectly manicured finger to her crimson lips. As she walked around the room, her blonde curls bounced effortlessly and her floor-length maxi dress billowed behind her, giving the impression that she had just stepped off a red carpet, although it was only Saturday morning. But of course, one would expect nothing less of celebrity stylist Diana Pritchett, who also happened to be Ariana's mother. "Have you seen Ariana?" she asked, gesturing to the empty bed on the other side of the room.

"She's at morning swim practice. If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here, Mrs .Pritchett? Charlize responded.

"It's family weekend, sweetheart. Everyone's parents are visiting for the weekend. Did you forget?"

Charlize nodded in response. Family weekend. She had totally forgotten, not that it was of any importance, since her parents would probably not be making an appearance.

"I assume your parents aren't coming then?"

"Nope." Charlize tersely responded.

"Well, then you're welcome to join Ariana and I for dinner, if you'd like. We're going to a sushi restaurant downtown."

"Oh, no, don't worry, Mrs. Pritchett. I wouldn't want to impose."

"Nonsense!" the lady responded, tossing her blonde curls theatrically. "I'm sure Ariana wouldn't mind at all. She constantly tells me how great of a friend you are."

"Really? Um...well, if it's okay with Ariana and you don't mind..."

"Perfect! I'll send a car around six this evening. Don't be late!"

As the lady walked out of her room in search of her daughter, Charlize couldn't help but smile. She had only met Diana Pritchett once before, and that was on move-in day, where they had only exchanged a few words. That day, as Ariana had decorated her side of the room with posters from Italy and Charlize had hung up a poster purchased from the Dollar Store at the end of the street, it couldn't be more apparent to Charlize how different her world was from that of Ariana.

That day, Charlize had thought she had Ariana all figured out as a shallow, self-obsessed heiress, but Charlize realized now that she couldn't have been more wrong. After all, even the most predictable of people can become unpredictable, for better or for worse.