Without Merit

Merit is disappointed that Barnaby hasn’t noticed how much school she has missed. She witnesses Barnaby leaving her mother’s quarter disheveled midday, and Barnaby and Merit are shocked to see each other. Barnaby was undeniably just having sex with Vicky. Barnaby looks at Merit regretfully and leaves without talking to her. Merit rushes to check on Vicky and discovers her zipping up her dress next to an unmade bed. Vicky tells Merit that she is too young to understand what’s happening. Merit accuses Vicky of attempting to break up Barnaby and Victoria’s marriage. Vicky tells Merit that she cannot speak to her mother that way, and Merit exclaims that Vicky hasn’t been her mother for six years.

Later, Luck finds Merit in her room to tell her he found a barista job at Starbucks. Merit considers telling Luck about her father’s sexual relationship with her mother but decides to ask him about sex and self-control. Luck confesses that sex doesn’t mean very much to him, and Merit hopes the same is true for herself. She doesn’t want sex to control her like she believes it controls Barnaby, Vicky, and Victoria. Merit asks Luck to take her virginity so she can get the experience over with quickly.