The morning started unusually quiet in the house.

Soft sunlight came through the windows.

Brooke hurried around her room getting ready for college.

She tried to stay focused despite feeling a little nervous.

Brooke put on her college uniform.

She fixed her hair and checked her backpack.

She made sure she had everything she needed.

She knew Larry was waiting downstairs.

A few minutes later, Brooke walked out of her room.

Her backpack rested over one shoulder.

“Dad, I’m ready,” she said.

Larry looked up and nodded.

“Alright, Brooke. Let’s get going.”

“We need to leave before we get stuck in traffic.”

Brooke followed him toward the front door.

Neither noticed Bethany nearby at first.

Larry reached for the doorknob.

But before he could open the door, Bethany stepped forward.

She stood directly in front of them.

Brooke suddenly froze behind her father.

Bethany crossed her arms.

Her expression was filled with anger.

Larry immediately stopped.

Both Larry and Brooke looked at her in confusion.

“Bethany… what’s wrong?” Larry asked.

Bethany stared at them for a moment.

She slowly shook her head.

“What’s wrong?” she repeated angrily.

“You really have to ask me that?” Bethany said.

Brooke looked at her father.

She was clearly uncomfortable.

“Mom, I have college. We’re already running late.”

Bethany’s expression became even more serious.

“College?” she said.

“You’re worried about college right now?”

Larry frowned at her reaction.

“Bethany, whatever this is, we can talk about it later.”

“Brooke needs to get to school,” Larry said.

“No,” Bethany replied firmly.

“We’re talking about it right now.”

Bethany remained directly in front of the door.

She made it clear that nobody was leaving yet.

Brooke lowered her eyes.

Larry sighed and asked what had happened.

Bethany looked directly at Brooke.

“First of all, we have already been embarrassed enough because of you.”

Brooke’s eyes widened.

“Mom?” she quietly asked.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Bethany continued.

“You still haven’t thought about your actions.”

“You haven’t thought about how they affect this family.”

Larry immediately became concerned.

“Bethany, slow down.”

But Bethany wasn’t interested in stopping.

“Our reputation has already taken a hit.”

“And you keep creating more problems.”

Brooke stood completely still.

She looked shocked by the way her mother spoke to her.

“Mom, I didn’t—” Brooke began.

Bethany raised her hand and stopped her.

“Let me finish,” Bethany said.

Larry stepped slightly toward her.

“Whatever happened between Brooke and Cameron…”

“…we can handle it as a family.”

“Yelling at her first thing in the morning won’t fix anything.”

Bethany looked at Larry.

“This isn’t just about some little argument.”

She turned back toward Brooke.

“You stayed with Cameron last night.”

The room suddenly became silent.

Brooke’s face changed immediately.

Larry looked from Brooke back to Bethany.

For a moment, Larry didn’t know what to say.

Brooke finally spoke quietly.

“Mom, it wasn’t like—”

“I don’t want excuses,” Bethany interrupted.

Brooke looked down at the floor.

Larry’s expression became more serious.

“Bethany, you need to be careful with what you’re saying.”

“I am being careful,” Bethany replied.

“That’s exactly why I’m saying it now.”

Bethany took a breath.

“I’ve already had enough stress because of all of this.”

“I don’t want another problem coming into this house.”

Brooke tightened her grip around her backpack.

“Mom, I understand you’re angry.”

“But I still have to go to college.”

Bethany stepped closer to the doorway.

“That’s exactly the problem,” Bethany replied.

“Everyone keeps acting like nothing happened.”

Larry looked between them.

“Bethany, move away from the door.”

“We can discuss this when I get back,” Larry said.

“No,” Bethany replied.

Larry stared at her.

“No?”

“I said no,” Bethany repeated.

“I’m not pretending everything is fine anymore.”

Brooke looked increasingly uncomfortable.

“Dad…”

Larry turned toward Brooke.

“It’s okay.”

Bethany pointed toward Brooke’s backpack.

“You’re really going to walk out of this house like everything is normal?”

Brooke swallowed and looked at her mother.

“I don’t know what you want me to do.”

“That,” Bethany replied,

“is exactly what I want you to figure out.”

Larry rubbed his forehead.

He was clearly frustrated by the situation.

“Bethany, Brooke has class.”

“We can talk about this without keeping her from college.”

Bethany didn’t move.

Instead, she looked directly at Larry.

“And what happens when she goes to college…”

“…and the same thing happens again?”

Larry became silent.

Brooke looked at both of her parents.

She felt caught between them.

The tension inside the house continued to rise.

The clock continued ticking in the background.

Outside, a car passed by the house.

Brooke glanced toward the door.

Then she looked back at her mother.

“Mom…” Brooke said.

“Are you seriously stopping me from leaving?”

Bethany stared at her.

“I haven’t decided what I’m doing yet.”

Larry’s eyes widened slightly.

“Bethany…”

Bethany reached for the doorknob.

Larry and Brooke watched her carefully.

Bethany’s hand moved toward the door.

Brooke stood quietly behind Larry.

Larry wasn’t sure what Bethany was about to do.

The tension became almost unbearable.

Bethany looked directly at Brooke.

“Before you go anywhere…”

“We’re going to have a serious conversation…”

“…about last night.”

Brooke opened her mouth to respond.

But before she could say anything, everyone suddenly heard a sound.

Someone was standing outside.

Someone had just knocked on the front door.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Everyone froze.

Brooke looked at Larry.

Larry looked at Bethany.

Bethany slowly turned toward the door.

Nobody knew who was standing outside.

The argument suddenly stopped.

The house became completely silent.

Brooke tightened her grip on her backpack.

Larry slowly stepped toward the door.

Bethany remained close to the doorway.

Larry reached toward the handle.

Brooke watched nervously.

Then another knock echoed through the house…