Victoria's house was huge and elegant. Three floors, not including the basement. Almost as wide as it is tall. She opened the front door and threw her purse on a table sitting beside it. "I'm home," She called out. "Nathan's with me."

"Oh, welcome Nathan!" A woman, Victoria's mother, said as she walked into the foyer. She was slightly taller than Victoria, and her natural hair was beginning to show at the roots. "How are you, dear? It's been a while since we last saw each other!"

Polite, Nathan thought. You'd never think she was Vic's mom. "I'm good, Mrs. C." He smiled for the first time in, what he thought, forever. "How are you?"

"Fantastic!" She hugged him close.

Her hugs are tighter than Warren's. He thought to himself, bringing another smile to his face.

"You'll be in the guest room if that's alright with you," She took Nathan's hand and began showing him to his room. "It doubles as my office, but I don't have any work in the near future."

"I forgot about that ratty old room, honestly." Victoria said in a near whisper.

"Feel free to stay as long as you want, Nathan, you know your company is always welcome!" She opened the guest room door with her free hand. "Here you are. The bathroom is just down the hall, on the left. Mine and Vicki's dad's room is on the third floor. You'll know which one it is. If you don't need anything, I must get back to preparing dinner."

"I don't. Thank you so much Mrs. Chase." Nathan smiled and Victoria's mom scurried back downstairs. "Vicki?" He laughed after her mom was gone.

"Shut up." She punched his shoulder again. "She's called me that ever since I was little."

"It's cute. I wasn't making fun, I just can't see you as a "Vicki" type of girl." Warren said. "She's more polite now than last time I was here."

"I think she's just glad I have more people from Blackwell I talk to, besides Court and Taylor." Victoria looked at her phone. "Shit, it's late. I have to go. I'll be back later. If you're awake we can hang or something, get high like before. Don't wait up for me."

Nathan looked at the time. "Didn't your mom say she was making dinner? It's really late for that."

"She cooks dinner for the whole week in one day so it's always ready. Weird, I know." She ran down the stairs, waving at Nathan with her phone still in hand. "I'm heading out." She yelled. "Back soon."

Nathan walked into the guest room. There was a smaller bed than he was used to crammed into the corner. Yarn and scraps of paper scattered the room, along with various other crafty items. It looked like Victoria's mom tried to tidy up, but ran out of time. On the opposite side of the room was a desk with a medium-sized computer monitor on it. Above the desk hung a sign that read "Work in progress, disturb at your own risk." Nathan chuckled at that.

He sat on the bed and pulled out his phone. He had a couple missed calls from his sister. He texted her instead of calling.

Nathan: Hey. I'm okay. I assume dad told you everything? I'm with Vic for now.

10:24 PM

He closed out of that conversation and opened Warren's.

Nathan: Got in a few minutes ago. Vic left and went somehwere. Everything's okay.

10:24 PM

Nathan: somewhere*

10:24 PM

Warren: Okay, thanks for letting me know. Get some sleep.

10:24 PM

Nathan: Were you sitting by your phone waiting for me to text?

10:25 PM

Warren: Yes

10:26 PM

Nathan rolled his eyes and giggled a bit. He went back to his sister's conversation.

Kristine: Come home tomorrow. I'm home all day, he won't hurt you if I'm here. I've already talked him down. Bring Warren.

10:24 PM

Nathan: I'll be home tomorrow. I have things in my room I need to get. Warren is NOT coming. He doesn't need to know the hell we've lived in for 18 years first hand.

10:27 PM

Kristine: I can pack you a bag and you can stop by tonight and get it. I still think you should come home tomorrow tho.

10:27 PM

Nathan: DO NOT go in my room. I'm okay with what I have for now. I'll be home tomorrow for a little. We'll settle whatever the fuck is happening then.

10:28 PM

Nathan locked his phone and rolled to his side, falling asleep almost instantly.

When Nathan woke up, the rest of the household was already downstairs eating breakfast. For a moment he forgot where he was, only recognizing that the room he was in was completely foreign to him. After remembering, he rolled out of bed and walked downstairs. He saw Victoria first. She has a bagel lathered in cream cheese in front of her.

"Hello, Nathan! Sorry we didn't wake you for breakfast, dear. Tori told us what happened yesterday and we figured you'd want your rest." Victoria's mom said.

"That's alright Mrs. C. Thank you, I did need it." Nathan smiled and sat at the table. "Did, uh, "Tori" tell you everything that happened?" He mimicked, followed by a kick in the calf from under the table.

"Just what they needed to know. I left out the more interesting details." She almost grimaced.

"Well, this all looks really amazing, but I have to meet Warren." He said, standing from the table he only just sat down at. "Thank you again." He whispered to Victoria as he passed. "I'll call you later."

"Are you sure you don't want breakfast, dear?" Mrs. Chase asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." Nathan hurried towards the door and left. He started walking to Warren's. He didn't live too far away, no one was too far away in Arcadia Bay, and Nathan thought he could use some exercise.