"How's it going with the beauty pageant?" Jared asked as he sat in the living room across from Mia. There was worry in his soft voice.
Mia sighed and rubbed the edge of her dress with her hands. She said, "It's been tough." There was a moment of silence. "I mean, I thank God for how far I've come, but Eve is making everything harder," she said. "She always acts like I don't belong here or that I'm not good enough."
Jared made a face. "Eve? "What has she been up to?"
"She constantly puts me down," Mia said, anger creeping into her voice. "It’s like she goes out of her way to remind me that she’s better, that she’s going to win no matter what."
Jared shook his head. "That’s not true. You’ve worked hard, Mia. You deserve to be in this race just as much as anyone else."
Mia looked at him,
