That night, at the Miller house, the four Millers were sitting at the dinner table, eating, having breakfast for dinner, and it was so silent given the drama the Millers had been through, the tension palpable.

Georgia broke the silence. "You guys love breakfast for dinner."

"I'm not hungry," Austin said.

"Me either," Ginny said.

"How was the big birthday in school?" Georgia asked. "Anybody do anything fun?"

Ginny sighed. "Not really."

Carolina raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah, not for me at least, though for you, you're only saying that to try and get even with Mom. Hunter tap dancing to happy birthday at school for you was definitely not fun for me, but you loved it."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "It was for you too."

Carolina shook her head. "No, no, it wasn't. He barely acknowledged me, and I dreaded every moment of that. Your boyfriend is the definition of 'stay positive and keep smiling'. If live love laugh was a person. But saying that he did that for me too? It's complete bullshit."

The dinner fell into silence once again. Georgia took a loud bite of her waffle.

"Mom!" Austin exclaimed. "You know I hate it when you chew loudly!"

Austin stood, storming off to his room.

"Austin!" Georgia called. They heard Austin's bedroom door slam shut. Carolina frowned in concern. "He's nervous for school Monday. It's his first day back since the incident."

"By incident, do you mean when he violently stabbed another student?" Ginny asked coldly.

Carolina took a drink. "Stop acting like he's a villain or gonna become a serial killer. Overreacting much?"

Georgia put on a smile to try and change the subject. "Are you excited for tomorrow? Big birthday surprise."

"You know what?" Ginny asked. "Why? Why can't you have a single real conversation? You act like nothing happened. You know what I want for my birthday? I want you to treat me like an adult."

Carolina sighed, tilting her head back. "Ginny, you claim you want to be treated like an adult, but when things don't go your way, you cry and throw temper tantrums. You come for Mom, day after day, and she just sits there and takes it, so why are you so surprised when she doesn't tell you anything? Why are you so surprised that I don't talk to you about anything anymore after the way you've been lashing out at Mom, and at me, telling your friends something you had no right to tell them about? If this is how you act when you don't know the truth, just imagine how you would act if you ever found out."

Ginny stood, storming off, slamming her door to her room.

Carolina sighed, looking at Georgia.

Georgia shrugged, taking a bite. "You tried, Caro." Carolina exhaled in a big gust. "When did I stop being cool?"

"You are cool, Mom," Carolina told her. "Ginny's just being a bitch, and Austin's just freaking out about school."

Georgia sighed. "I know you're still struggling, buttercup. But you've been doing so much better than you have been this past year. And I don't know how that is honestly considering all the fighting with your sister started after we moved to this town, and then all the drama, and we talked about... everything." Carolina nodded, looking down. "Plus I've been working and not able to spend as much time with family, and..."

"Mom..." Carolina trailed off. "It's okay."

"And Ginny's thriving here," Georgia said. "She has friends. She never had friends before. She's got this adorable little boyfriend. She's happy, and I want her to be happy. And you, you even have a couple friends yourself, even given your restrictions. You're happier than I've seen you in a long time, and I want you to be happy too. That's all I want, is for you kids to be happy. Am I a terrible mother if I'm jealous that you two are leaving me? Oh, it sounds so gross saying it out loud."

"You're not a terrible mother, Mom," Carolina told her. "And I'm not leaving you." Georgia smiled. "It shows that you care. And honestly... after we talked about everything, it does feel like it's a little bit of a weight lifted off. It feels a little easier. Even if it is a crushing weight still."

Georgia nodded knowingly. "I know, buttercup." She looked at her curiously. "Max and Ginny said that at school, your panic and anxiety attack..." Carolina knew where this was going, sighing, tilting her head back. "Marcus was the one that helped you."

"Yeah," Carolina agreed. "I know you said you didn't want me to be with him, so I'm not. But he is a friend, Mom. A pretty good one." Georgia narrowed her eyes at her. Carolina tilted her head. "What? You knew that I was getting weed and some drinks from him this entire time. I told you that and I never lied to you about that. Hell, the first time I got weed from him, you're the one that got it."

Georgia chuckled. "That's true."

"Plus with Max hanging out all the time with Ginny, and getting to hang out with me sometimes, even if it's her initiating it all the time..." Carolina trailed off. "Kinda hard not to see Marcus."

"Also true," Georgia agreed.

"But I can honestly tell you that I'm not with him," Carolina told her. "Promise."

Georgia nodded. "I believe you."

Carolina chuckled a bit, a little more at ease since Georgia was aware of some of it, though her guilt and self-punishment was still a force in her mind roadblocking her from fully accepting the truth of all that happened and what she felt for Marcus. She knew if she said it out loud, or told anyone, it would make it more real and she'd have to truly accept it, and she didn't know if she was ready for that. Still in denial to some extent.

Carolina took a deep breath. "I'm gonna go crash."

"Good idea," Georgia agreed. "You'll need energy for tomorrow."

Carolina tilted her head. "Not sure if I like the sound of that..."

Georgia smiled, kissing her on the head. "Goodnight, buttercup."

Carolina gave Georgia a kiss on the head in return. "Night, Mom." When Carolina walked out of the dining room, and up to her room, she closed the door, and walked toward the piano. She considered what to do for a moment, sitting down, playing Zion's lullaby to Caro and Ginny, singing softly. "And I can see my face." When she heard the window open, she looked over, making sure it was Marcus, smirking when she saw him climb in through the window. "Howdy."

Marcus chuckled, walking closer. "Howdy, neighbor." He was curious by the piano, walking closer. "You got a piano?"

Marcus leaned over Carolina's shoulder, playing a one handed jazz riff.

Impressed, Carolina smiled and looked up at him, waiting for him to finish before speaking. "I didn't know you played piano."

Marcus shrugged. "Just a little."

Carolina nodded. "Hmm. That's the same thing you said about when I asked if you painted at sophomore sleepover. When you found out I painted."

Marcus smiled a bit at the irony of her bringing that up, pulling out a roll of painting paper. "Um, speaking of..." He held it toward her. "Happy birthday."

Carolina reached for it. "You didn't have to get me any..." Marcus was teasing her by waving it around. "Thing." Each time Caro reached for it, he would move it and wave it around. "Okay. No?"

Carolina chuckled a light laugh. Mission accomplished, Marcus handed it over. Carolina, knowing he did that just to get her to laugh, smiled, taking the paper, taking the rubber band off of it, unrolling the paper to see that it was a painting of her, which was very good.

Marcus watched for her reaction. "I painted it."

Carolina was touched, in awe. "You..." She looked at Marcus skeptically, quoting his words. "'Just a little'?" Marcus smirked, shrugging. "Marcus, this is amazing." Carolina stood. "Thank you. I love it." They embraced, wrapping their arms around each other. Carolina leaned her head on his shoulder just to relax for a moment, closing her eyes. It was one of the few times she felt safe and content in a very long time, and she knew that she was still conflicted, but her fight against her feelings for him were waning thin. Marcus clearly cared for her a lot, and was protective of her, though knowing her past and her issues didn't try anything more than friendship before. In each other's arms, it was more difficult for both of them to fight what they felt, pulling away, looking at each other intensely, and drawn in. Carolina, realizing, and overwhelmed for a split second, turned her head. "Uh... I'm sorry. I..."

Marcus shook his head, backing away. "No, I'm sorry, Carolina. I know... with everything..."

"Yeah," Carolina whispered. "I'm sorry. I just... it still feels..."

"I know," Marcus assured.

Carolina nodded, relieved he did understand, sighing heavily. "Besides, you and Padma..."

Marcus shook his head. "I don't care about Padma."

"Maybe you'd like to tell her that," Carolina pointed out. "I know it was just a friends with benefits thing for both of you. If you're not into it anymore, maybe you could let her know." Marcus let out a deep breath like he had already been thinking about that, looking away, somewhat awkward, but knowing she was right, and having already planned on doing so when he had the chance. Carolina felt bad, sighing. "I'm totally overstepping. I'm sorry."

Marcus shook his head. "No. You're right." Carolina bit her lip. Marcus gave a small smile. "Happy birthday, Caro."

"Thanks," Carolina told him. "Night." Marcus nodded, turning around, climbing out of the window. Carolina sighed, holding her head in her hands, walking toward her bed, laying down. "Why the fuck does it have to be so damn complicated?"