AMANDA sat in her bedroom, looking down at the old pictures of her and Cara. She didn't know why, she just picked a picture up and started looking at it.

"Amanda! Are you almost done?" Her mom, Joann, called from down stairs.
She was referencing when she asked Amanda to clean her room for Sophia and Cara - an hour ago.
"Almost!" Amanda called back, already feeling the rush as she noticed that she hadn't gotten anything done.

Amanda quickly moved the scattered shoes and dirty jeans out of the way, but she put her jeans in her clothes basket. She made her bed, fixing the big comforter that was all messed up.

"Amanda-" Joann walked in, seeing her daughter finish cleaning a few seconds after she walked in. "What happened to being almost done?"
"I got distracted."
"Oh god, Amanda Steven, you need to get yourself together. Your father and I have a business meeting in two hours in town, and you're coming with us to showcase our happy family. Now, get ready or we'll be late."

Amanda nodded, dreading the time she would have to waste with her parents. But, she couldn't argue. If she did, she didn't know what would happen next.

But if Amanda knew what was going to happen the next day, she would've argued to save her friend.
To save herself.

I WALKED INSIDE with my parents, a tight white dress clinging to my body. If I wasn't in a restaurant filled with old people, girls and guys would be staring at me like a meal. And, sadly, some old men did stare at me that way.

"Pedophiles," I scoffed.

"Greetings, would you like to reserve a table?" The waiter said as my dad walked up to the front counter.
"We have a table reserved. With the Jackett family."

The waiter's face immediately went still, knowing what family he was talking to, and what family they wanted to sit with.

"Oh! Sorry for the inconvenience Mr. Steven, let me lead you to your table," the waiter said, getting shaky hands as he grabbed the menus and almost tripped when we were walking to our table. "This way, Sir."

"H-here is y-your t-t-table. Y-your waiter will be with you shortly," the waiter directed, rushing his words at the end. When he walked away, he almost tripped once again.

God, what my family can do to people, I thought as my eyes left the flustered waiter.

"Hello, we're so glad you could make it," The Jackett's said as they directed us to sit across from them. I sat at the end while my mom sat next to me, and then my dad.

"Shall we discuss business?" Mr. Jackett asked as he folded his hands, looking across at my parents.
"Of course!"

So dinner went on, hearing each side of parents talking about money and what's best for businesses, it made me tired. When our food finally came, I ate a lot. It was the only way to block out the noise of my parents and the Jackett's. By chewing for the longest time and thinking about nonsense that always took over my thoughts.

"It was nice working everything out. Our businesses will be good partners, I can just tell," my mom said as she shook hands with Mrs. Jackett.

"Bye!"