It’s now been a whole month since Simone’s moving out of her parents’ house. The whole time away was really tough on her, getting use to the overcrowded dorms and her roommate, Sarah a spoiled Daddy’s girl who continually wined because she really wanted a room to herself the whole semester. Besides that Simone had to deal with missing her mother’s cooking and having her own space even though she had to admit her old room was as small as the dorms. One thing that Simone continually began doing during the weeks at school was dodging Whitney on campus grounds which wasn’t that hard to do because she took classes on certain days because of tennis practices with TC and all.

During her month away, Simone had time to focus on herself and rely on herself to do things instead of her parents all the time. But as time passed she grew bitterer about her situation with her sister. She still couldn’t believe how everything had unraveled in her life. Everything was perfect in her eyes before, everything. Now, it wasn’t just the fact that she was so deceived by her sister that bother her it was the fact that if her sister was going to have a relationship with Chad why do it behind her back an lie to her for a whole year. Continually, betraying her when she would ask if anything was going on between them. She felt burned, by Whitney’s not being able to come to her like a real sister would do. She thought that they were closer than that, and loved one another more to be honest and truthful with each other.

Now, Simone had to admit her faults as well just like Whitney’s spineless ways of not being able to stand up for herself or to others because she has this great need to be perfect in their eyes. Simone needed a big dose of reality thrown her way too. She needed to realize that some of her actions weren’t diplomatic either such as the time she guilted Whitney into thinking that she would overdose on headache pills over Chad or her drugging her own sister before a big tennis match. Yet, in the present day Simone still was affected by what was happening now.

Still getting use to everything that’s been going on in her life with her family and moving out to the dorms Simone still had a lot of time on her hands. So, she occupied her time doing work at the youth center, hanging out with her friends or working on school projects. Yet, she still had a lot of time on her hands. And Jessica seeing how troubled she still was invited her to one of her favorite stress relievers taking yoga classes. Simone shocked looked at her funny when she suggested that she go to help her deal with her issues with Whitney and everything. But Jessica ensured her that it does help, and told her that it’s the only thing that’s help her stay sane living with Kay all these years. So, Simone decided to give it a try and actually enjoyed the classes. Soon, she was yoga crazed like everyone else.

One day, after a huge test in her Literature class Simone could be found hanging out with Jessica sipping on iced coffees at the mall. Jessica, was going on and on about how brilliant her “snuggle bunny” Reese was, or darting back and forth to how great Charity and Miguel were doing finally back to together even through Kay’s schemes to break them up especially with the latest and her sleeping with Miguel. As Jessica raved on and on, Simone halfway listening glanced around at the stores and shops. She stopped at a new store called New York Fashions and saw a wanted ad for a part time position available. Looking around, at the store she really was into the clothes they sold and deciding that she always could use some extra cash in her pocket being a college student. She decided to apply for the job, after getting the great job she was told as an extra perk she would receive a 40% discount at the store. Simone was ecstatic; this would really give her something to do in her spare time and if she saved up some of her earnings maybe she would be able to afford a car by the end of the year. She really wanted to do some traveling and get out of Harmony for a chance and see the sights outside of New England for a change.

*********************************************

Now, with her finals over a new more independent Simone faced the expectations of the summer. She wasn’t quite ready to give up this taste of freedom just yet. She liked not having to face curfews or her parents’ fawning over Whitney and her problems. So, now she headed home with a plan in mind for how to keep her freedom and continue having fun during the summer months. A plan that Kay had helped her cook up!

As soon as she arrived home, Simone with her bags in her hands searched around for her parents. She found them both in the kitchen, they both welcomed she home and after the hugs and kisses were done Simone began she long speech about how great it was to be in the dorms and how she had learned so much from being away even if it was for only a month. She then explained her need for freedom and told them of her plans for the summer. “An apartment?” TC stated.
“What!” “Simone absolutely not!” “We are not going to allow you to get a apartment alone at your age!” Eve shouted in disbelief at her daughter’s plans.
“Mom, I’m eighteen!” Simone replied. “And I wouldn’t be alone at the apartment!”
“Oh, really and who would be living with you?” Eve asked with her arms crossed intrigued.
“Kay, she would be with me!” Simone replied.
“No, no Simone were not going for it!” “ You and Kay are both so young and two young girls shouldn’t be getting a place together even if it’s only for the summer!” Eve told her.
“Sorry, sugar bear but I have to agree with your Mother on this one!” TC said.

“But, why not?” Simone asks. “I’m an adult, I can handle myself I did at school!”
“Look, Simone one month away at school doesn’t count for a lifetime of responsibility, you’re just too young!” Eve replied.
“Daddy, please make Mom see that I’m a adult now!” Simone said turning to her father begging.
“No, sweetie your mother’s right!” “You’re just too young for a place of your own!” TC told her
“Well, I’m sorry but I can’t stay here all summer long!” Simone says putting her foot down.
“And why not?” TC asks.
(Just then Whitney comes in the house and approaches the kitchen door.)
“Yes, Simone why do you have this sudden need not to stay here with your family?” Eve asked.

“Because of Whitney, Daddy!” “I still can’t be around here!” Simone states.
“Alright, now that is enough Simone you’re going to have to forgive your sister sometime!” Eve told her.
“ No, I don’t!” Simone replies rising her voice.
“ Come on, Sugar bear!” “You and Whitney are sisters and now that that punk Chad is gone to LA, you two won’t have anything to come between you two again!” TC told her.
“Daddy, it’s not that simple!” “Look, Whitney betrayal me and I’ll never forgive her!”
Overhearing, every word a very hurt Whitney enters the kitchen, as she try’s to play off what’s been said.
“ Um, hey everybody!” she says. “Hey, Simone.” Whitney says seeing her sister. “I see, you’re coming back home. .Do you need any help unpacking?” she asked.
“No, because I’m not staying.” Simone replied
“Enough, Simone you’re staying here with your family this summer and that’s it!” Eve said.

“No, I’m not I’ll go and stay with Kay!” Simone replies
“Grace’s house is already full enough Simone!” Eve told her.
“Well, there’s got to be somewhere I can go!” “I just need my space, my freedom!” Simone shouted.
“Come on, Simone stop this nonsense now!” TC said.
Whitney grabs a glass and some juice from the fridge listening to everything. She takes a sip, and then suggests “Well, what about the garage apartment nobody’s been up there since Aunt Ruby left!”

“That’s a great idea Whit!” “Yeah, Simone can stay up there for the summer the problem’s solved!” TC states approving of his daughter’s suggestion.
“What?!” Eve says.
“Oh, honey it’s perfect Simone will have her space but she’ll be under our roof at the same time!” TC explains. “It’s a win, win situation!”
“Daddy, you’re so right!” “It is perfect!” Simone says with a smile.
“So, is it alright Mom?” she asks.
Eve thinks it over for a minute and then says “Okay!” giving up the fight.
“Simone, can move into the garage apartment only for the summer!”
“But you’re going to have to follow some rules young lady and I won’t stand for any objections!” Eve told her.
“As always, no boys, no loud music after eleven p.m. and no parties!” Eve continues.

So, the plan was made Simone would be allowed to stay in the garage apartment for the summer and allowed some of her freedom she experienced at the dorms . . .

Later on that night, Whitney sitting up in her room listening to the mixed cd that Chad had given her. Reflects on her life, listening to the lyrics Chad wrote she was overcome with emotion. Soon, the gentle sweetness of her memories of the two of them together is overshadowed by her feelings for her sister. She remembered Simone’s words from earlier today, “She betrayal me”. . “I still can’t forgive her!” Getting really upset she calls up Theresa. “Hello?” Theresa says answering the phone.
“Hey, Theresa!” Whitney says.
“Oh, hi Whit!” “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, I just really needed someone to talk to.” Whitney replies.
“Really, what’s wrong?”
“Well, for starters Chad’s gone off to LA and it’s killing me to be apart from him!” “And Simone still hates me!”
“Oh, Whit don’t be so down everything’s going to be okay.” Theresa says
“How, Theresa?” Whitney asks.
“I mean, you should have seen Simone today.” “She just returned home and still doesn’t want to even live under the same roof as me.” Whitney told her.

“Theresa, you should have overheard her today with my Mom and Dad saying that she hates me and will never forgive me for betraying her trust!” “Not that I blame her!” Whitney says.
“Oh, Whit don’t get down on yourself!” “You shouldn’t feel bad for finally going after what you want life and having a relationship with Chad.” “ You two are meant to be, and Simone will see the light soon enough, you’ll see she’ll forgive you!” Theresa states.
“I know, I know I just need to give her some time.” “And I shouldn’t have thought that over a month’s time she going to change her mind but I . .”
“You just wanted things to be like they were.” Theresa said.
“Yeah, and she won’t even try to understand my view of things.” Whitney said.

“Yeah, but Whit understand that Simone just needs time to heal!”
“I really do get that, Theresa but I still really feel guilty!” “So, much that today I actually suggested to my parents into letting her stay in the garage apartment.” Whitney says.
“ See you’re still sticking up for her!” Theresa said.
“ Yeah, but instead of saying thank you, she acted like it was my Dad’s idea.”
“Just give her time, okay Whitney!” Theresa told her. “She’ll come around, I know it.”
“ Yeah, I hope so.”
“Well, I’m sorry Whitney but I have to go little Ethan’s crying.”
“Okay, yeah go and tend to him and thanks Theresa for the chat.” “ I do feel a little better, and I’m going to give Simone sometime.”
“Anytime Whit!” Theresa said. “Bye”
“Bye” Click!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Over the summer, when Simone wasn’t taking a yoga class, helping plan events at the youth center or working at her new part time job. She could be found blasting loud music at five in the morning to wake Whitney out of her quiet slumbers. It was an on going joke that she and Kay plotted like a welcoming home to Whitney. Either, she was involved in these things or in a new love of her life. Yes, Simone had found a new passion in life to be obsessing about it was a passion for dancing.

She had taken a class during the summer on a whim and found that she really enjoyed the class and was getting pretty good at it. The dance class was a mixture of ballet, jazz, hip hop and other dances combined into one. As Simone began the class she became more graceful in her steps and movements, she was a natural dancer at heart some would say in her class. She loved the way it felt to be so free and uninhabited in the dance floor. Everything around her seemed to disappear when she began dancing. All of her problems from the past and present seemed to vanish from her heart and mind. Her new favorite outlet had now bloomed into something much more it was a symbol of her of freedom and liberation from everyone and so this is what she valued during her summer vacation, life.