Elliot avoided eye contact. She made like it was due to her drawing, and she would keep talking. She just was hoping that she wouldn't give anything away. "I guess she's been trying to step up ever since Xavier left," she answered, "I guess she realized how much more of an adult he was." Her brother had even tried to take her after he got settled. That was the first time Elliot actually saw concern in her mother's eyes. When she and the police showed up to take Elliot back.
She had the feeling that she was only giving JJ more ground for her needing to go ahead and live on campus. She also knew that there were likely only two people in this world who could talk her into at least trying it. One was Xavier, the other was the man talking to her right now. Well... maybe a third.