[well, she'd had her share of family trauma. most of it was stuff she hadn't even come to terms with yet because she was so nervous about bringing it out into the open. it was why she'd hated pot, the one time she tried it. instead of chilling her out, it loosened her control of her mind to, for her, an alarming amount. all of the bad thoughts came rushing in and she couldn't shove them back in the "closet."

closet. seriously. she wasn't even out at home yet.

another thing she didn't like about herself. for the most part, she really didn't consider it anyone else's business. if they assumed she was totally straight, that was their problem. but there were so many more things on the list she didn't like.

they were. and she'll get her head on straight. hopefully?]

Yeah. Mom will drink at least two bottles of good wine a night. That's like, forty dollars we can't afford to lose in her stomach. But she won't listen to reason. And she won't go to AA, we tried back when dad still had his head together.

[she hoped that it would be a long time. she didn't want to lose Luz]

Yeah, really! [she giggled] It was a little weird at first, but it makes sense that they'd evolve to make their bites as pleasant as possible. It makes us even more willing to take care of them and let them bite us.

[and Lexi grinned broadly]

Works for me!