"So how was the mall?" Stef asked Mariana as she walked in the door. Stef and Lena had continued to look for the girl right up until they left but hadn't found her anywhere.
"Oh we didn't go there." Mariana answered. "The other dance girls were hanging out there so we decided to head to the pier instead."
Mariana had come into the kitchen to let them know that she had come back and Stef and Lena decided that now was the perfect time to talk to her. Jude was the only one home and he was still busy admiring his present so he would be occupied for a while.
"Why did you have to leave?" Lena stopped tossing a salad and sat down at the table to give her daughter her full attention.
"We didn't have to I guess." Mariana said. "We just didn't wanna hang out with them."
"Honey are you really enjoying this whole dance thing?" Stef asked. "Sometimes you sound more like you aren't."
"I do." Mariana quickly said. "At least I like the dancing part of it."
"Just not the girls." Lena observed.
"Do they mistreat you?" Stef asked concerned.
"Not really." Mariana said.
Both moms waited for her to continue so Mariana decided to just tell them the truth, she headed towards the table to sit down as well and waited for Stef to do the same.
"They didn't really want me on the team." Mariana admitted once everyone was seated.
"What do you mean?" Lena asked.
"Well when I tried out for the team you were running for principal and they picked me because they thought that having your daughter on the team would help to keep it from being cut." She said, avoiding her moms' gazes.
"How do you know this?" Lena asked.
"Hayley told me." Mariana answered. "First I thought it was because I was Latino but she told me the truth. She's the only one who's ever honest with me. It was her and Tia that helped me be a better dancer so that they wouldn't kick me off the team."
"That's why you dyed your hair blond?" Lena asked, though she already figured out the answer.
"Sweetheart are you sure you want to be a part of this?" Stef asked, not really liking the things she was hearing.
"I like dancing mom." Mariana defended. "I know I'm not exactly the best but I like it and as long as they're willing to have me I want to continue. Besides, they aren't exactly mean or anything they just do their own thing outside of dance. And Hayley and I hang out all the time."
"She doesn't treat you different?" Stef asked, remembering the things Jesus had said about the girl.
"She's the only one who's nice to me." Mariana said. "She's not like the others. I don't know why she acts so weird with Jesus but she's not always like that."
"Well then maybe you can help her as well." Stef said. "Help her figure out what's going on that makes her so insecure with Jesus. Maybe she needs a friend just as much as you do."
"It'd be nice to have a best friend again." Mariana admitted. "Ever since the whole Kelsey and the pills thing the kids at school barely talk to me and then Lexi left and I had no one. I know it's not fair to blame Jesus but I kinda do because if he hadn't gotten together with her then her parents would never have moved her two thousand miles away."
"Honey, it's not Jesus' fault." Lena said. "They made a mistake but they're teenagers. You made some mistakes too, we don't hold a grudge against anyone in this house."
"I know." Mariana said. "I just miss having friends."
Soon the other kids were home and the kitchen was full of noise.
"What's for dinner? I'm starved." Jesus said, coming in with his skateboard in one hand, sweaty and covered in dirt.
"We were thinking we'd order out." Lena said.
"Really?" The kids asked in unison, big smiles on all their faces.
"Well mama and I took Jude out for a while so we haven't had time to cook so what'll it be?" Stef asked.
"Pizza." Jesus said quickly.
"No that's too fattening. Chinese." Mariana said.
"We never have burgers." Brandon added.
"Oh yeah, burgers." Jude added.
Callie just shrugged as usual, having no opinion and ready to go along with whatever the other's decided.
"Burgers it is." Stef said as she grabbed the phone to place the order.
Stef guessed she'd been asleep more than a couple of hours when she felt Lena's arm wrap around her and her head bury into her back.
"What's wrong love?" Stef asked as she turned around to face Lena, kissing her cheek and finding it damp. "Baby?" She asked, more concerned.
"I just can't stop thinking about the attack." Lena said, her voice small. "I like to believe that I'm over it but sometimes it still scares me."
"It'll take a while babe." Stef said, holding Lena close and rubbing a hand up and down her back. "But you're safe. I'm right here with you."
"I know." Lena said. "I shouldn't have woken you, I just didn't want to be alone."
"It's fine love." Stef assured her. "I'd rather you wake me up then keep thinking about it."
"It's not all the time." Lena said, not wanting Stef to think she was still that scared. "I just couldn't sleep and it was dark and so quiet..."
"I get it." Stef said. "Whenever it does come back just find me, I'm here for you."
"I love you." Lena said, relaxing in her wife's embrace.
"I love you too babe, so much." Stef said as they closed their eyes and fell asleep in each other's arms.
