The woes of June

 "You can't stay mad at Rico," Ali winced with a sigh. She'd listened to Liv practically all night. She'd tossed and turned during their sleepover. 

"Look, I'm just glad Sammie didn't leave, after all." Ali didn't understand why Liv was so livid. "Maybe he's just what she needs."

"Who?" Liv looked at her as if she could only think of Rico.

"Both of them," Ali gave her look that Liv needed to just calm down. "She could be living with you. You two could be sharing a room, but no. She's with who she wants to be with. Gabe."

Ali said Diago was fine with it. Even his mom said maybe this was all for the best.

Liv sucked in a breath as she hugged herself hard.

"I was hoping Rico and me.... could have..."

"What?" Ali practically laughed. "You want to live with Rico all on your own. Are you serious?" Ali should have known it would be this way. After all, she knew she had dreams like that too, but knew, in the end, they were not really ready for something like that.

Oh, Mona was in a bad way. "What are we going to do?" Delia looked to Tristan. After all, Nic was the one who left him in charge. He told Tristan on the way to the airport that he and Delia could have his room.

Only now, it didn't look like Mona would ever leave it. She didn't even say goodbye.

Tristan only sighed. "Let's just leave her alone for now." He wouldn't rush it. "She's.. she's-"

"Hurting?" Delia knew he wouldn't say it. He only shrugged back as if this was all Mona's fault. No one else.

"I just don't understand Nic," Delia was baffled. Of course, she was baffled about a lot of things right now. Just when she thought she knew Dora best she obviously didn't. It was true, Dora wasn't thinking about her at all and suddenly she felt as if they were cut off from each other, but they'd had such a long friendship. Didn't that mean something? "I just thought.. you know, Nic was like her anchor.. or something."

"Oh her ship has sailed," Tristan practically chuckled but he asked her if she wanted a spam sandwich. "Mona might smell them and come out. Remember, you get in that room and lock yourself in." There was the importance of having your own bathroom. 

He went to get the Spam and opened it. Before Delia knew it the Spam was sizzling in the pan, but no Mona. Delia went to the door. She knew Mona was crying. She went back to the kitchen. "What if she's like this the whole summer? Should I call her mother?"

"We'll do that tonight," he nodded. 

Soon enough, Weezer and Nonnie appeared and he had the fries on in the airfryer. It was as if he'd mastered all of Nic's thrifty skills. But Mona didn't come out of Nic's room. It was as if she was going to be there for a while.

"OK, just. . a heads up..  Nic has left me in charge," Tristan nodded after everyone settled down to the food. "I don't think we will have any new roommates this summer."

"I like that idea," Weezer nodded as he munched on a fry.

"As soon as we get Mona.. out of here.. then.. then Dale and I will get Nic's room. Nic said he wanted it that way," Tristan told him Nic gave him a notebook about what to keep track of with the bills and such.

"What if Mona won't leave?" Nonnie looked at him as if this was going to be weird.

"Well. she can stay. I guess. But not in that room." Tristan gave them a serious eye.

Delia looked at him as if this might take some secret maneuvers on everyone's part. After all, Mona was in a very sad way.