-''So, are we done?'' a perky Tori asks.

-''Yeah, i guess'' Andre yawns, looking at his watch.

It's evening. The two besties realize they've spent hours in the Hollywood Arts' hall with the instruments,

rehearsing a forthcoming performance of theirs.

-''Then, let's leave''

The two teens stand up and pack their things. Tori notices that a photo has fallen off Andre's pocket or

wallet. She knows she should ask first, but she can't resist. So, without telling him, she picks it up and

examines it. It's an old photo (seemingly from before the era photos started being taken by cell phones)

that portrays a beautiful, black woman.

-''DON'T LOOK AT IT'' Andre yells when he realizes Tori picked up his photo.

He somewhat abruptly grabs it back.

-''I'm... i'm sorry...'' an embarassed Tori apologizes.

-''No, i'm sorry'' Andre sighs. ''You couldn't know what this piece of paper means to me''.

-''Err, is it something you'd like to discuss'' the latina tests the waters.

Andre ponders it. He finally answers:

-''I don't think so''

Awkward silence.

-''Oh, err... okay, shall we get going?'' Tori finally smiles.

The black boy presses himself to smile and nod. The duo starts walking outside of the hall. Tori speaks

about some irrelevant stuff as they exit Hollywood Arts foundation, while Andre just walks, not seeming

to pay attention to her; the incident from before has spoiled his mood. Tori notices she's been talking to

deaf ears for quite a while.

-''Hey, Andre'' she tries to get his attention.

The boy abruptly stops. He looks at the baffled Tori with a very serious expression.

-''She's my mother'' he confesses.

-''Huh?''

-''The woman in the photo... is my mother. Amanda Harris!''

-''Ohhh'' Tori awkwardly comments.

Nevertheless, Andre bringing this up gave her the courage needed to further investigate:

-''You know, i never asked you about your parents, i was afraid i might touch a nerve''.

-''I don't know about my father, but my mom is dead'' Andre answers.

Tori regrets asking. Luckily for her, she won't need to apologize, for Andre is now really into telling a

sad story:

-''She died when i was too young to clearly remember her. My grandma took custody of me. One time,

when i was 9, a while before she lost her mind, she told me some stuff about my dad. He abandoned

my mom while she was still pregnant to me, because he didn't feel ready to become a father'' (during

the last ten words, Andre made quotation marks with his hands and seemed to be getting angrier)

-''So, you have no idea who he is or what happened of him?'' Tori asks in surprise.

-''Precisely'' Andre snorts.

The duo keeps walking in awkward silence for a while, but Andre's deep breaths indicate he's still

angry after having remembered this story. Anxious to break the awkwardness she feels, Tori asks

one more question she wouldn't have asked on second thought:

-''Err, just out of curiosity, what would you do if you ever met him?''

-''Dunno, maybe i'd punch him'' Andre answers and punches a wall, freaking out Tori and ignoring

the pain in his knuckles.

-''Have you ever looked for him?''

-''Nah, i'm a teen, i have been busy with Hollywood Arts. And, before this school, i was practically a

child, so i was too young to search for him. But, even if i wanted to, how can i find that asshole?''

-''Is there not the slightest evidence you could use for a start?'' Tori tries.

Andre thinks.

-''Now that you mention it'' he suddenly cries, making Tori jump back. ''When he dumped my mother,

the house they'd been living as a couple was left to her. Grandma told me my mom kept living there

for a while before she died''.

-''So, what happened of that house?'' Tori curiously asks.

-''Its property passed to my grandma after my mother's death'' the black lad explains. ''But, we never

went there. About two years ago, someone was interested in buying it. My grandma had lost her mind

by then, so i took care of the deal''.

-''Ohh, so you can no longer go there'' Tori figures.

-''Actually, i can'' Andre smiles. ''In the contract i signed with the lady who bought it, there was a term

stating i can visit the house for one week once a year. But i never used this right of mine. Up to now!''

-''You're thinking of going?'' Tori asks.

-''Yes. Maybe, there, i can discover something about my mother's past. Something that will lead me to

my old man. It's a slim hope, but still...''

Andre sighs. He turns to Tori and grabs her shoulders.

-''Wanna come with me?'' he asks. ''The semester break is close. I want a friend by my side''.

-''But, does the term in the contract say you can bring friends?'' the latina asks in surprise.

-''I'm pretty sure the lady will show some understanding'' Andre laughs. ''I remember her. She was

weird, slightly nuts i dare say, but she was definitely a good lady. The house is big, there will be

room for all of us''.

-''Where is this house?'' Tori gulps.

-''In New Orleans'' Andre answers. ''And, if i recall correctly, the woman who bought it was called

Michelle Hathaway, a single mother''.