"Ariel? Ariel!"

Ariel snapped out of a trance and looked at Dylan. He looked at her, his eyes laced with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Ariel replied.

The dinner ended soon without Kira even making an appearance. Nothing significant was discussed at the dinner, so it quickly ended, and they left for home.

As Ariel and Dylan drove home that night, Ariel thought about all that transpired at the dinner. She had expected to be rejected and mocked by the family, and though it happened, it was not as bad as she imagined it to be.

"Ariel?"

Ariel looked at Dylan, who had an apologetic look on...