Aneesa talks on the phone to her mom about her father. In an interview, Aneesa says that her mother told Aneesa's father that Aneesa was "going through a little phase," and hasn't really told Aneesa's father that Aneesa is gay. Aneesa asks her mother to tell Aneesa's father to call Aneesa. Does Aneesa not have her father's phone number? I'm assuming her parents are no longer together. In an interview, Aneesa says that she needs to talk to her father so that he can find out that she's gay before everyone else (read: the world) does. Well, that's nice, but maybe she could have thought about that before she went on the show. Aneesa's mother doesn't agree with this plan. And that's putting it mildly. Aneesa's mom doesn't think it's appropriate for Aneesa to tell her father over the phone. They end up hanging up on each other and Aneesa stomps down the hall. In an interview, Aneesa says that her mom despises her gayness, and Aneesa wishes that she would get accustomed to it.
Chris asks Aneesa if he can talk about his own experiences coming out to his parents. Chris's mom told him to talk to the family priest, and given the scandals among the priesthood today, that advice seems more than a little ironic. Now, Chris's mom loves him unconditionally. In an interview, Chris says he was trying to let Aneesa know that things do get better. Chris asks Aneesa if she's ever tried to have anyone intervene in her conversations with her mother. Aneesa says that if they went to therapy, they would just yell, and Aneesa would leave the room. The weird thing about Chris is that he shows no emotion in his voice when he speaks. Chris asks Aneesa what she's scared of, and whether she's scared of moving out on her own. Aneesa whispers that she doesn't know what she's scared of, and starts crying. Chris is kind of creepy.
Tonya sorts through her medical bills. In an interview, Tonya says that most people her age have credit card debt because they shop too much, but she has "endless medical debt," and feels like it's not her fault. Except that she doesn't bother getting a job that might provide health insurance, or making sure that, as someone with a chronic health condition, she will be covered by her current insurance while she's in Chicago. Tonya calls the hospital's financial services to discuss the Patient Assistance Program. In an interview, Tonya explains that the program either makes your minimum payments lower, or pays off your bills entirely. Tonya tells the customer-service worker that she called to ask for an application for the program, but hasn't received it yet, and the woman promises to mail it. Tonya checks the balance on her account, and it turns out that she currently owes over $13,000 total. ["What percentage of that debt does her rack represent, I wonder?" -- Wing Chun] I want to sympathize with her plight. I really do. But I just can't help wondering about the necessity of an emergency room visit, which is always going to be more expensive than just going to the doctor. In an interview, Tonya cries some more about how hard her life is and boo hoo hoooooo! And did you know she's a foster child?
Aneesa and her girlfriend Danielle walk down the street. Aneesa says that she's been with Danielle two and a half months (she has?), and that it's nice to be with someone steady. In an interview, Aneesa says that her communication with Danielle sucks. Aneesa gets dressed, and Danielle yells at her about what she's wearing. In an interview, Aneesa says that Danielle is bossy, and that Aneesa hates being ordered around. So tell her? Aneesa says that it makes her feel stupid and really young. So dump her. I don't have much sympathy for Aneesa, either. At Danielle's apartment, Danielle picks up a video camera and orders Aneesa to touch herself and show her panties. Aneesa resists and Danielle orders her around some more. Dude, that's just fucking creepy. And surreal, when you consider that there are video cameras taping Danielle taping Aneesa with a video camera. Also? Danielle is not that pretty. I think Aneesa could do much better. In an interview, Aneesa says that Danielle "has attitude and style and she's very sexy." She does? And she is? Aneesa and Danielle make out. In an interview, Aneesa says that she doesn't know why she stays with Danielle, and she thinks she's the most scared of losing Danielle.
Aneesa calls some chick named LaTonia on the phone and speaks Spanish to her. In an interview, Aneesa says that she and LaTonia are friends, and she thinks LaTonia gives her everything that Danielle does not. On the phone, Aneesa asks LaTonia to pick up her shoes. Heh. I thought it was going to be a sex thing or something, but really, LaTonia runs errands for Aneesa. In an interview, Aneesa says that LaTonia knows about Danielle.
Aneesa talks to CJP and Keri, who are lying in bed. Wait, I thought CJP and Keri hated each other. Haven't they seen last week's episode? They shouldn't be hanging out together. Aneesa says that she and Danielle don't look in each other's eyes when they fuck. Probably because Danielle has seen Aneesa on the toilet and she can't look her in the face anymore. In an interview, CJP says that she's trying to get Aneesa to understand that Danielle isn't that great. Aneesa complains that Danielle just tells her to get naked instead of being romantic. CJP nods like she totally knows what Aneesa is talking about. Keri just looks puzzled. In an interview, Keri says that Aneesa goes out with Danielle, who is "bossy and forceful," because Aneesa's mom is the same way. Aneesa says that she admires Danielle's style, and wants to steal all of Danielle's clothes and shoes out of her closet. Maybe it's because I've never been in a relationship with another woman, but that seems a little less loving and a little more Single White Female. CJP asks what Aneesa admires about Danielle other than her clothes. Aneesa can't come up with anything. In an interview, Aneesa says that no one wants to admit that she has been dating the wrong person for the last two and a half months. Maybe so, but she should cut her losses before it turns into two and a half years, because then it will be even more difficult. I think Aneesa needs to write into the Vine and have Sars tell her what's what.
The roommates stand outside the tent where they will perform their skit. Aneesa is accompanied by LaTonia. Oh, dear. It's not that LaTonia's ugly, really. If she did something with her hair, or wore a little makeup, or...I don't know. I hate to be all Beauty Myth about it. Aneesa calls Kyle over and introduces him to LaTonia. In an interview, Kyle says that when he met LaTonia, he didn't really care because he figured he would just be meeting someone else in a few weeks. In case you didn't get the point, the song on the soundtrack says, "She's just the flavor of the week!" The roommates get into costume for their performance. Kyle asks Aneesa if LaTonia's presence means that things are over with Danielle. Aneesa says that she doesn't know how to end things. In an interview, Aneesa says that she doesn't know why she can't let Danielle go, and for some reason, the bad girl keeps her interested.
In an interview, Theo says that the whole incident was partly his fault. What incident? Oh, they're going to explain. Apparently, Danielle came to the door, and Theo told her that Aneesa was across the street at the coffee shop. What Theo didn't know was that LaTonia was there as well. Theo meets up with Aneesa on the street and apologizes, but Aneesa doesn't seem all that concerned, which makes me think that Aneesa probably knew Danielle would be coming by and set the whole thing up. In an interview, Theo says that Aneesa isn't very good at the whole player thing. Or maybe she is! Aneesa tells Theo that she didn't know Danielle was going to show up. Theo asks if Aneesa will be really upset if she's not in a relationship right now. Aneesa says that she's never been alone. In an interview, Theo says that Aneesa needs someone to love her and hug her, because she never had a father. So, are her problems due to her mother, or her father? Because different roommates have proposed each one, and I'm a little confused. Could it just be that Aneesa is immature?
Aneesa gets into a car with LaTonia; she says she knows that the whole situation was messed up, and that she felt like a player whose two girls met accidentally. LaTonia is silent. Aneesa says that she doesn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings, but she seems only to be able to have extreme relationships right now. Either she hooks up with someone who is too nice to her, or someone who is not nice at all. Of course, she's saying all of this to LaTonia, who should just tell Aneesa to fuck right off. Remember earlier when I said that Aneesa should write to the Vine? Screw that. LaTonia needs to write in.
Tonya calls the hospital again. In a confessional, Tonya says that she's having surgery on Monday, and she seems waaaaay too excited about it. Almost like she's excited to have surgery because it will get her attention. But, no. That's crazy talk. Tonya asks the woman at the hospital what she needs, and the woman says that because Tonya is uninsured, she needs to pay in advance. In an interview, Tonya says that it's "sickening" how much health care costs. Tonya immediately gets back on the phone and dials up Daddy Darren. In an interview, Tonya explains again that Darren is "a photographer" who is "very much, like, a computer nerd and has no social interaction." Wow. I say a prayer every night that as soon as this aired, Darren not only cut Tonya off, but he also sued her for the money she's about to ask from him. Tonya explains that she needs money to have surgery. Darren says that he could use a credit card. Tonya tells him to claim that he's a family member. Why? What does the hospital care where the money comes from as long as they get their money? Just another one of Tonya's lies, probably. Darren says he'll take care of it. Tonya hangs up the phone and stretches like a cat, and totally checks out her own ass while sticking her fake boobs in the air. She is really a piece of work. If Justin, the love of her life, cared about her, why couldn't he help her? Why couldn't Tonya get her own goddamn credit card and use a cash advance? Sure, the interest rate sucks, but if this surgery is so important to her health, it would be worth it. I don't think Darren is her pimp anymore. He's clearly a sad sack who Tonya gave sexual favors to, and now manipulates for her own evil purposes.
Aneesa and Tonya discuss when Tonya has to be at the hospital. Tonya worries that she's being a nuisance. CJP assures Tonya that this is what roommates do for each other. The morning, Aneesa drives Tonya to the hospital. Aneesa is actually very caring. In an interview, Tonya says that she hopes this is the last time she will have to be in the hospital. Aneesa walks into the hospital and reveals that she volunteered at a hospital back home. Tonya checks in. In an interview, Tonya says that the surgery is to take out her kidney stones and find any other source of infection. Okay. In the book about this season, Tonya says, "The surgery got to the source of the problem. It ended up I had fibrous cysts on my cervix. But had those infections not been cleared up, I would have gone into renal failure" (p. 66). Admittedly, I have only had high-school biology, and I'm sure if I'm wrong, I'll get emails about it. But as far as I understand, cysts are not infections. Also, the cervix is part of the reproductive system, and "renal failure" refers to the kidneys, which are part of the excretory system. The two are not really connected. It's like Tonya thinks that since it all ends up coming out of her cooter, it's all the same thing. Is she that dumb? Or is she just making shit up? Obviously, she had surgery. I don't doubt that she had cysts removed; that's actually a fairly common outpatient procedure. But that should have nothing to do with her bladder infections and kidneys. I don't know. I just have a hard time believing anything she says anymore. Tonya tells Aneesa that they are going to "pull some stones" and take biopsies. Aneesa assures Tonya that she'll be fine. In an interview, Aneesa says that surgery is scary, and that it's good to have a friend with you. Tonya and Aneesa are ushered into the ward.
Tonya is home now. She tells Aneesa that she came out of surgery asking for Big Macs. Aneesa asks if they got anything. Tonya says that they had to leave a couple of stones, but that the big ones are gone. So she did have surgery on her kidneys? Because that's not what she said in the book. Or are we supposed to think that while the surgeons were all up in her business, they decided to check out her cervix too? I don't think that's how it works. In an interview, Aneesa says that she and Tonya have been through a journey where they have both become stronger. In an interview, Tonya says that her friendship with Aneesa shows that people can change and grow. And lie.
Aneesa and LaTonia debate whether they should go out. LaTonia is one of those "I don't know, what do you want to do?" people. I hate that. I'm sure people get annoyed with me for being bossy, but I seriously cannot stand indecision, especially in a group setting. They finally decide to go to some club, and Danielle is there. I think Danielle wears a wig. In an interview, Aneesa says that she really likes Danielle. Aneesa totally ditches LaTonia to dance with Danielle. Danielle wants Aneesa to come home with her. Aneesa says that she has a ride. In an interview, Aneesa says that LaTonia is a nice person, but she's no Danielle. Aneesa sits on the sidelines with LaTonia until Danielle walks over. Danielle is like an abusive husband in the way she manipulates Aneesa. In an interview, Aneesa says that Danielle has shown her that looks aren't everything, and that the person with the prettiest face can belong to the ugliest person at times. She's just learning that at the age of nineteen? Danielle and LaTonia both leave without Aneesa.
At home, Aneesa talks to Kyle and Chris about how she just lost two people. Kyle wants to know if Danielle was the love of Aneesa's life. It would be funny if Aneesa said they had a fairy-tale love, just to fuck with Kyle. But she doesn't. Aneesa can't explain it. Kyle and Chris think that Aneesa just latched on. Aneesa agrees that since she didn't have her mom and didn't know anyone, she was needy. Aneesa says, "I need, and need, and need, and blah." I know the feeling, especially that last part. In an interview, Chris says that he has tried to point out relationship patterns to Aneesa. What is he, Dr. Phil all of a sudden? Aneesa says that she realizes that she did the same thing to LaTonia that Danielle did to Aneesa. Kyle thinks that Aneesa kind of used LaTonia. Aneesa agrees; now, she has no one. Kyle says that Aneesa needs to go home alone anyway. Does that mean that the season is almost over? I definitely perked up there. In an interview, Chris psychobabbles something else about destructive relationships and I liked Chris a lot better when he didn't speak. In an interview, Aneesa says that she's not going to get into any relationships when she gets home, and she's going to work on her relationship with her mother.
Aneesa talks to her mom on the phone and cries. Aneesa voice-overs that she just wants her mom to love her. Aneesa's mom wonders what she has to do to convince Aneesa of her love. Aneesa says that she knows her mom loves her. In an interview, Aneesa says that sometimes she cries because her mother doesn't accept her. Aneesa's mom thinks that Aneesa is crying because she doesn't want to come home, and Aneesa says that she does want to come home. They hang up. In an interview, Aneesa cries and cries and says that she wishes that her mom would understand that Aneesa is trying to be her own person and live for herself. And...Aneesa's story arc is complete for the season, so I guess we won't be seeing much more of her.
The roommates cheer and scream. It turns out that Tonya got accepted into that financial program at the hospital, and her entire debt has been forgiven. Dude. That just doesn't seem right. She's able-bodied and young. I could see deferring it or something, like a student loan, until she can get a decent job. But just forgiving the debt? What's up with that? That should be reserved for like, chronically ill or terminal patients who are physically unable to work. In an interview, Keri says that it's great to see Tonya get that letter, because she doesn't have anyone to turn to when she's broke. Except Darren. Or the people who read mtv.com, where Tonya posted a letter saying that she didn't really want people's donations towards her hospital bills, but if they really wanted to send her money, she would provide an address. I mean, first of all, anyone dumb enough to send her money probably deserves to be scammed, but now that we know that all of her debts were forgiven, that's just wrong. And kind of criminal. Tonya calls Justin and tells him (hee! I just typed "her" in reference to Justin which is oddly appropriate) about the debt forgiveness. Justin talks in his womanly voice that I have a hard time listening to because it makes me uncomfortable. In an interview, Tonya says that she feels like "all that [she's] been working for has paid off." Working how? Working Darren? Tonya purrs to Justin that "good things do happen to good people." Gah. I hate them both.
week: Chris and Kyle participate in a fashion show. Kyle and Keri get in a big fight when Keri says that she's not going to protect Kyle's image on camera anymore. Yeah! Go, Keri! Bring down the Mangina!