Chapter 16

The softer side of Tiffany and Howard's relationship continues to grow as they perhaps reach a new level of mutual understanding. Also, a new character is introduced that may just complicate things for everyone, but of course not for one particular person.
Tiffany, while walking home from Professor winfield house, calls her grandfather. He explains that he thought she'd only be gone for a little while, not for months, and asks for her to come back. But Tiffany wants to know the truth and asks her grandfather if he's been lying to her. He admits that he had to hide some things, but Tiffany is upset by that answer and hangs up crying.
Back at the dorm Laurence notices how polite Tiffany is being regarding Professor winfield but Tiffany insists that she's a good person. Laurence is confused but asks if Tiffany wants to hang out since it's her day off the next day. Tiffany can't because she has plans with a mysterious person who Laurence guesses is Howard, since they looked like a real couple during their kiss.
Tiffany manages to deflect the subject and turns the tables to ask about what's going on between Laurence and kengsington. Laurence seems a little nervous at the mention of him and denies her liking him, she says that she thinks that he's pretending about being the bad guy which makes her curious. Tiffany jokes around saying that one of them in the room is in love. But Laurence is curious abouts Tiffany and Howard, since their act seemed so real on stage. Tiffany tries to explain that she looks down on him, he surrenders to her, and that there's already so much hatred between them that they can't like each other. That's when Laurence throws out her knowledge quoting an author who said that love resembles hatred more than it does friendship.
Tiffany is not a believer but she does want to know how she would know if she were in love with someone. Laurence says that she read that it's when you can be yourself completely around someone. Tiffany wonders what would happen if she were actually changed into entirely different person and Laurence tells her that maybe she's not different but instead discovered her true self.
The two continue to have their girl talk and on the roof at night, Jeff and Howard are having the same thing as they look up at the moon and stars. Jeff asks if Howard can help him pick out some gifts for his grandmother, an act that Howard does every year. When asked why he always asks him, Jeff explains that it's just to signal another year's passing of him without a girlfriend.
H
oward is sure that he'll be able to get one since he's a good guy and Jeff says that he knows the entire school is questioning his sexual orientation. Howard says that it makes sense, since he's warm, honest, and has good hygiene and wonders who they partner him up with. The two glance at each other and Jeff doesn't say anything. Howard jokes around asking if Jeff really likes him and Jeff gets a jab back listing Tiffany's qualities as things he doesn't have, therefore he can't attract his attention. Howard, in an honest voice, tells Jeff that he has Tiffany but Jeff brushes her off saying that he gave up because she never responded to him. Jeff also pretends he doesn't know the reason why when Howard asks him and their love talk ends there.
It's a new day and it turns out that Tiffany was meeting Professor winfield to hear more about her parents. She's actually in her original Tiffany's form. They spend some of the afternoon talking but when Professor winfield leaves, it doesn't take long before Howard and Jeff enter the same café. They immediately notice her and Howard suggests that they go over and join her. They exchange their greetings and the two sit down. Howard tries to be a good wingman for his buddy, asking Tiffany if she has some time, but she says she doesn't, cutting that conversation short. Knowing that it's actually Tiffany, and possibly trying to give up about her, Jeff excuses himself and tells Tiffany that Howard is going through a love-hate relationship with a girl on campus, so he's not behaving like himself.
That leaves Tiffany and Howard at the table alone. Tiffany is curious and tells Howard that he doesn't seem as cold as what his nickname suggests. She also brings up the love-hate relationship asking who it is. Howard says that it's a crazy friend of his and admits that he's found he can be himself in front of her, more comfortably than before. That makes Tiffany think about what Laurence previously said about falling in love. She tries to pry some more saying that it seems like she's more than just a friend and Howard readily admits that but says that she's her best friend. It seemed like Tiffany was waiting for him to say something else. He then suggests that the two meet each other so Jessica can teach Tiffany how to be more ladylike. He does mention their small similarities, that he finds strange, and passes it with an awkward laughter. Not knowing what else to do, Tiffany excuses herself by saying that she has something else to do.
As she redoes her makeup in the bathroom, she thinks to herself about how awkward it is to be in her original form nowadays and how she gets nervous whenever she sees Howard, not knowing what to say to him. She's confused, though, knowing that Jessica is her true self and just calls it a split personality.
She's walking through the outlets when she actually runs into Howard and Jeff, who have bought their gifts. She ponders what to do and tries to walk by unnoticed, but immediately noticed. She wonders why they're there since they were just having coffee and Howard wonders how she knows that but she makes up the excuse that she had some coffee on her face.
They exchange a simple conversation, with Tiffany telling them that she went there to try to find a part time job and Howard asking if he doesn't pay her enough as his assistant that she has to find one. He does suggest that they give her a ride back to help her save on transportation.
While in Jeff's south car, he brings up the fact that she's from South yorks town and says they should go out more often. Upon hearing that Tiffany is always busy, he suggests that she come to his grandmother's birthday party and Laurence is even invited. Howard even offers to buy her an evening dress, which Tiffany rejects but tells him that he'll freak out if she ever wore one.
At the party, it's time for Jeff to give his grandmother his and his mother's gift, a piece of necklace. She doesn't seem to have any bad feelings towards them but lindsay, the guy that was seen before with Jeff, seems to as he takes the opportunity to try to upstage him. His grandmother tries to appease both, saying that any gift given by them would make her happy and Jeff and his mother take their leave.
T
hey go over to get a drink but lindsay comes over telling him that he doesn't have the lesile family blood. Howard sees the conversation from afar and calls him out letting him know that Jeff is the one taking care of his gambling debt and if not for him, he would be beaten to death. He also brings up that lindsay should be grateful he's not shaming his family.
Lindsay gets angry at him telling him to mind his own business and wonders what right he has to meddle in their affairs. Jeff tries to ease the tension and lindsay leaves.
Tiffany and Laurence arrive at the party and she tells Laurence just to follow her lead. Bernice sees them and wonders what they're doing there, wondering if she's there about her errands service. Tiffany doesn't let that get her down and tells Bernice that she still owes her money. Bernice gets a little quieter but says that she'll get it sooner or later. Tiffany continues, saying that every dirty trick Bernice has ever played on her has only made her stronger.
Howard comes by and notices the two. He says that she looks great in the dress and Bernice automatically thinks it's about her. But he's not talking about her, he's talking about Tiffany as he follows up his compliment with a friendly jab, saying that it looks better than the kid clothes she wears. Tiffany laughs to herself and gives a false compliment to Bernice, knowing that she mistook Howard's compliment. Howard then essentially gives her a throw away compliment.
It's then that an older woman enters, a woman named madam susanne. It's clear that they're all familiar with her and it's revealed that she came back from abroad. Jeff gives the introductions and she seems a little surprised to hear that the two are his good friends. She studies Tiffany up and down and Jeff explains that she was their childhood friend and is two years older than they are. As they're giving their pleasantries, Bernice notices that madam susanne and Tiffany are wearing the same dress. Susanne says that them wearing the same clothes is nothing, since she won't wear it next time, but warns that the other person should be careful. Tiffany seems not to like that.
Later on Tiffany and Laurence are at the dessert table where they discuss with madam susanne for a little bit. Laurence warns Tiffany that she should be careful but Tiffany isn't afraid of anything, only herself.