Kyle peeked out into the hallway, squinting at the newly dawned sunlight pouring through the large window at the end of the hall.

“Come on,” he whispered over his shoulder into his bedroom, motioning with his hand.

He was more than a little surprised when a small hand grabbed his bare arm and started to pull him back into the room. Quietly he shut the door behind him and stood still with his back against it. The hand was now on the back of his neck, urging his head downward.

After a few seconds he broke the kiss he’d been pulled into.

“I thought you were leaving,” he said with a grin.

Blonde curls bounced from side to side as she shook her head.

“Maria could be up at any minute, she’ll have some new lessons she’ll insist you participate in,” he said, trying to sound practical, while hoping she’d stay in his room for the rest of the day.

Tess giggled and gave him a ‘come hither’ look as she let the sheet that was wrapped tightly around her body fall to the floor.

Kyle didn’t need an engraved invitation - he swept her into his arms and carried her back to bed.

***

Michael was awakened by the sound of a door closing somewhere down the hall.

Liz had slipped out before dawn, she’d told him the night before she didn’t want to be there when Maria woke up, making some comment about Maria calling her a ‘mother hen’. He had watched his sister leave twenty minutes before, not telling her that Maria already knew she was there.

She was awake again. He watched her still form, unable to see her face. It had been a long night…watching her when she was awake, watching her dreams when she slept.

He wished he could reveal her secret to someone, give someone else the responsibility of watching her – tell them what he suspected she might do.

It was almost too much for him to bear.

When he heard a sound in the hall again he slipped to the door and opened it quietly. He was just in time to see Alex and Isabel slip into Alex’s bedroom across the hall.

Behind him he heard Maria’s slight intake of breath. She’d seen them too.

So, it had been them riding away the night before, he’d been right. It didn’t take much imagination to realize what they had been up to.

Being the big brother, Michael knew he should go across the hall and lecture his brother on the mistake he was making, but he didn’t have the heart.

He envied Alex. It must be amazing to have someone return your love full force. Even though he knew this must be a difficult time for them, they still had each other. For a moment, he was filled with hope that his brother might somehow find a fairy tale ending to his love story - Michael had a feeling that come hell or high water Alex wasn’t going to settle for anyone but Isabel.

Closing the door softly, he stood for a moment with his palm pressed against it.

“I’m glad,” Maria said softly.

He turned to her, “About them?”

“Yes,” she sat up in the bed.

“Me too,” he whispered.

She shoved her disheveled hair out of her face, and grabbed a cloth off of the table next to her bed and wiped it over her tear-stained face.

He thought she’d never been more beautiful.

“I’m sorry,” she said, looking at her lap, “about last night. I know that you just wanted to make sure I was all right. I had no right to throw it back in your face. As if it isn’t hard enough for you to be stuck watching me, I had to be a brat about it.”

Michael took a step toward her bed, and motioned his hand toward the spot her feet had occupied while she was laying down, silently asking for permission to sit.

She nodded, and smiled slightly as she swept her hand out in a welcoming gesture.

He was glad she was talking to him, even if the conversation felt awkward, he was too accustomed to only trading insults with her.

“I don’t want you to be sorry,” he said as he sat down and leaned against the footboard of her bed. “And I wish you would stop making comments about my ‘being nice’ like it was taking a Herculean effort. It’s hurting my feelings,” he said trying to joke with her.

She gave him a genuine smile, it was small, but it was real. He felt relief wash over him. Maybe her depression was over.

“I didn’t mean it like that, Michael, I just meant that – well, I know that I’ve never exactly been nice to you-.”

God, he loved the way she said his name.

“I’ve never exactly been nice to you either. I’ve acted like an ass for years.”

Her smile broadened, but she shook her head slowly, “No, it was me, I was always irritating you in some way.”

Now he was smiling. This was amazing, on so many levels. She was smiling again, she was having a real conversation with him, she was accepting his apologies for years of rude behavior – and, she was offering her own.

He’d never imagined it could feel like this to have her smile and talk comfortably with him. Michael completely forgot his heart ache, he could live on these few words for the rest of his life.

“I seem to recall acting irritated even when you didn’t do anything, Maria.”

“Well…” she trailed off. “I just wanted to say thank you.”

“I was worried about you.”

“I know, I’m sorry. It was all so overwhelming last night, but now…” she blushed slightly and looked at her hands.

“Now…?” he urged her gently.

“I think you were right last night - about things looking a little better in the morning. Maybe my life won’t be what I want, but I can still be happy about the little things,” her voice was a little hoarse and she was staring at her hands like they were the most interesting things in the world.

Before he could stop them, the words tumbled out of his mouth, “I know exactly what you mean.”

Her head shot up, “You do?”

Uh oh.

‘Yeah, because I’ll never have you, but I think I’d be happy for the rest of my life if you would smile at me again,’ he thought.

He couldn’t say that.

“Yeah…” he hesitated. “You know, being, uh- well being adopted, not really fitting in. It t-taught me to be happy about the little things.”

He watched her face, hoping she’d buy it.

She was nodding.

Thank God.

“I should, uh, get dressed.”

“Meet me downstairs in 5 minutes,” he said rising.

“Why?”

“For breakfast.”

“Yes, sir,” he voice was mocking, but her smile was friendly.

He paused at the door, should he really trust that she was no longer a danger to herself?

“Maria?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t try anything stupid. If you’re not downstairs in 5 minutes, I’ll break this door down and wake up the whole house.”

He expected her to protest.

Instead, she nodded with a puzzled look on her face.

He closed her door quietly behind him.

Things were definitely looking better this morning.

***

Maria entered the dining room with one minute to spare, but didn’t see Michael. She was about to go back upstairs when she heard muffled bang and a male voice uttering a few choice curse words. It sounded like it had come from the kitchen.

She pushed through the dining room door to see Michael stoking a fire in the kitchen stove.

He grinned up at her sheepishly.

“I forgot that I told the cook not to worry about breakfast until 10 this morning. It was before we left last night, I thought we’d be home late, and not up early,” he shrugged slightly as if to apologize.

“So…you’re cooking?” she was more than a little surprised.

“Well, I can boil and egg,” he flashed another smile, “we couldn’t afford any servants when we first came to live out here, you know. Kyle makes an amazing shepherd’s pie.”

She laughed. It felt good. Everything about this morning felt good. When she’d first opened her eyes she’d been sure her life was over, but a few kind words from Michael had completely turned that around.

Honestly, she didn’t even care if he was only being nice because he pitied her. It didn’t matter, as long as he kept smiling at her.

“So, uh, when did the rest of them get home?” she asked, watching him put water in a pot to boil.

He unwrapped a cheese cloth from around the large smoked ham that was sitting on the butcher’s block in the middle of the room and began slicing thin pieces from it.

“Um, I think it was about 3 hours ago.”

“What did Kyle do with Tess?”

He looked up quickly at her and narrowed his eyes a little, “Well, it was funny, right after you walked up the stairs she sort of snapped out of it.”

“Completely snapped out of it? Just like that?” she snapped her fingers and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

He smiled again, and she thought she would melt.

Oh boy, she could get used to this.

“Yeah, pretty much. Didn’t remember a thing from the ball though. Kind of worried Kyle, so he was going to sit up with her for a while to make sure she was all right. I just left them and went to up to you…” his voice trailed off, and he concentrated on re-wrapping the ham.

Neither of them was willing to discuss her state of mind the night before.

He walked to the back door and picked up the basket of eggs someone had placed there after doing the morning chores.

“How many eggs do you want?”

“Four.”

He raised his eyebrows slightly.

“You must be hungry,” he muttered.

“You’re one to talk, you eat a dozen every morning.”

She half expected him to say something rude in response.

“Well, I’m a growing boy,” he said with a laugh as he placed the slices of ham into a frying pan.

“…Of 24?” she teased and laughed again.

He blushed slightly, but was laughing as he set out 16 eggs before replacing the basket by the door.

She was on cloud nine. In the whole time she’d known Michael, she’d never seen him laugh and smile as much as he had this morning. It was amazing.

Still laughing, she walked to the bread box and pulled out a loaf. Maybe she couldn’t cook, but she could slice bread.

“Want me to toast some for you?” he pointed toward the bread in her hands with the fork he was using to turn the bacon.

“I don’t really like it toasted.”

“Yeah? Me either.”

“Where’s the butter?”

“Second cupboard to the left of the pantry.”

“Thanks.”

“How do you like your eggs?”

“Hard.”

“Me too…”

Maria’s face was going to split. Her smile was so big it hurt.

She prayed that this morning would never end.

“I’m gonna’ run these out to the table and set it. Utensils are in the china cabinet under the window, right?”

“I think so. Hey! Take out the salt and pepper, while you’re at it,” he said over his shoulder.

When she came back into the room he was loading up their plates.

“Should I get some milk?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he smiled as he backed through the door with their steaming food.

She poured two glasses and walked out to join him at the table.

He was buttering his bread as she sat down.

“You’re a good dancer.”

Ack! Why did she say that? Everything was perfect, and now she was bringing up the humiliating experiences of the night before.

He laughed, which made him choke a little on the bread he was stuffing into his mouth.

Downing half of the glass of milk, he smiled and said, “You’re not bad yourself.”

“I’m not nearly as good as Lady Margaret.”

What on earth was she doing?

He was laughing hard now.

“She has to be good at something – you know, to make up for her personality.”

She was stunned. Although she had no idea why she’d brought the subject up, she’d never expected him to react like this.

Maria did her best to sound casual, “Not your favorite person?”

He rolled his eyes.

She was bursting with joy.

“Forward little hussy,” he glanced up to see a shocked look on her face. Shaking his head, he laughed harder, “Not you, stupid, her.”

Her heart had stopped for a moment, but now it was beating again. It was beating very, very fast.

He’d finished cracking all of his eggs and was beginning to mash them up on his plate.

“Michael?” she asked.

“Huh?” he didn’t look up, intent on his food.

“Don’t you want that awful chili sauce?”

He jumped up and ran into the kitchen, returning with the goop and a bottle of milk in seconds.

“Thanks,” he grinned at her as he began coating his eggs with the red mixture.

“Uh huh.”

“So,” he said over a mouthful of eggs, “was your, uh, ‘gentleman’ at the ball last night?”

He sounded casual. She knew he was fishing for information.

“Mm hmm,” she nodded.

“Oh,” he was shoveling in more eggs, staring at his plate, “um,” chew, chew, chew, swallow, “did you,” chew, swallow, “dance with him?”

Maria was so caught up watching him, wondering where his charming manners from the night before had disappeared to…

That she accidentally answered him honestly.

“Once.”

Oh no. Oh no. OH NO!

He was the only man she’d danced with.

He took another long drink of milk, and refilled his glass with the bottle he’d brought to the table.

She was dying, she wanted to run, she knew her face was six shades of red. If only she weren’t frozen to her damn seat!

Oh God, he knows, he knows, he knows-

He looked up at her and seemed a little surprised by what must have been a look of horror on her face.

“Calm down. I didn’t see him, it must have been after I left the room. Maria, I told you, I’m not going to tell anyone.”

He shoved in another forkful of eggs, and looked at her again

“Uh, I think you need to breathe. Maria!”

She let out the breath she’d been holding in a gush just as he was starting to get out of his chair.

He was watching her cautiously.

“I suppose asking who he is would be out of the question?”

She nodded.

“Look, Maria, I feel a little uncomfortable with this. I mean if this guy is no good-.”

“No,” she said softly. “He’s wonderful. There’s no need to worry, though, he doesn’t feel the same way. Nothing will ever happen between us.”

He looked unconvinced.

“If Alex gets you out of the engagement something could ‘happen’,” his tone was dry, then he looked slightly upset, “It’s not Alex is it?”

Maria shook her head violently.

All he would have to do is ask Liz who she’d danced with…

She reached for his hand, appealing to his pity - a last resort.

“I’m begging you, Michael,” She dropped her eyes to her plate, trying to keep her voice even, “I would be utterly humiliated if anyone knew. He does not now - nor will he ever - feel the same way about me.”

“Unrequited…” he whispered.

She looked up to meet his gaze.

Beautiful brown eyes, they held understanding and something else…

A tear fell down her cheek, and she dropped her eyes.

He squeezed her hand.

She loved him. Loved him so much she ached.

He cleared his throat, “Better eat your eggs.”

She let out a small laugh, and wiped at another tear that had escaped.

“I’m serious, any unfinished food in the room is ‘fair game’ if I’m still hungry when I’m done with my own.”

The tears were gone as she giggled at him.

“You better not get near my eggs, a hungry Maria is a scary Maria.”

They were still laughing when Kyle walked in a few moments later, Tess on his heels.

“Goooooood Morning,” Kyle said a little too loudly.

Maria laughed at the grin on her brother’s face.

He planted a kiss on her head and sat down next to her.

“Feeling better, sis?”

“Much, thank you.”

Kyle gave Michael a know-it-all look, “I told you she’d be fine.”

“Actually I think it was my cooking,” Michael smiled.

Maria knew he and Kyle had been fighting the night before. She was glad to see they’d made up.

“So where’s the food?” Tess asked as she sat next to Michael.

“Michael told the cook to wait ‘til 10,” Maria smiled at her, “so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a few hours. Unless, of course, you can convince Michael to cook for you.”

She looked at him across the table and they shared a smile.

Kyle whistled.

“Wow, are you two getting along?” he asked. “Isn’t that one of the signs of the apocalypse?”

The three of them broke out laughing. Tess watched on, apparently a little put out at having to wait for her breakfast.

“Well, Maria, you wanna’ help me do the dishes too?” Michael asked when their laughter died down.

“Sure,” she said brightly.

Kyle looked between them with a surprised smile on his face, “Yeesh, you watch over her for one night and you two are best friends…”

A strange look passed over Kyle’s face. His hands gripped the edge of the table, and his knuckles went white.

Face filled with rage, Kyle leaned forward giving Michael a deadly look, “Guerin, I swear to God…”

Michael’s smile fell. He looked puzzled, then realization swept over his features. Briefly he looked stunned, then a little frightened – then he was furious.

He pointed the fork he was holding in Kyle’s direction. His muscles so taut he almost shook, “Don’t even think it.”

“Don’t give me a reason,” the angry brother retorted.

“Jesus, Kyle. Are you out of your mind? I mean – Maria?” Michael shook his head as if it were the most ridiculous thing he’d ever hear.

The tension broke almost immediately. Kyle shook his head as if trying to decipher what had just happened.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I know you’d never… She’s my sister, you know…” his voice trailed off in explanation.

Michael nodded as if he understood perfectly and finished his last bite of eggs.

That was it, argument settled.

Maria was ready to cry.

“Maria,” Michael said softly, “he’s your brother, he was just worried.”

The worried look on his face was the same one she’d seen last night.

“Maria,” her brother put his arm around her shoulders, “I’m sorry. I’m an idiot. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She gathered her wits about her. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know it was ridiculous to hope anything could happen with Michael - she just hadn’t been ready to hear him say it out loud.

There was no reason to feel embarrassed for her reaction. Kyle simply thought she was frightened, and Michael thought – well, she didn’t know for sure what Michael thought, but he didn’t know the truth. Let them believe whatever they wanted.

Maria glanced at Tess who was staring at her brother with a strange expression on her face.

Smiling, Maria laughed a little, “Sorry. I’ve never seen either of you that angry before.”

They both smiled back, looking relieved.

“So what about my breatkfast?” Tess asked.

“I’ll make you something,” Kyle said absently, playing with the salt shaker.

“Thank you, Kyle,” Tess purred.

Maria watched a blush creep up her brother’s neck at the girl’s tone. He looked at Tess and their eyes locked.

“What sounds good to you Tess?” Kyle asked, his voice husky.

“I’ll take whatever you can give me.” Tess’s voice was deliberate, and a little husky as well.

Ew. Ew, ew, ew – ick!

Was she seeing what she thought she was seeing? It wasn’t bad enough that Liz and Max were constantly making gooey eyes at each other? Or that Alex had Isabel in his bedroom doing god-knows-what? Now her brother and Tess?!?

She turned away from Kyle and Tess (who no longer seemed to know anyone else was in the room), and met Michael’s eyes across the table. His face had the same expression hers did.

She gave him an ‘oh brother’ eye roll.

He shot her a ‘not them too’ smirk, and jerked his head toward the kitchen raising his eyebrows.

Maria glanced at the couple and responded to him with a ‘good idea’ nod.

They barely got out of the room before they broke into hysterical laughter.

***

“Good Morning, Max.”

“Morning?”

“I think it’s technically still morning,” Maria giggled.

“Are you feeling better? Liz said you weren’t well last night.”

“Yes, better, thank you. Come on, I’ll take you to the dining room and get you some breakfast. Liz is already eating.”

“Hello, Liz.”

“Hello, Max.”

Perfection, she was perfection.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to eat, time for my ride.”

“Thank you Maria. Oh, uh, could you tell me where my sister is?”

“Oh, uhhh, yeah. She’s – well, you were all tired, so I wanted everyone to sleep in.”

“She’s not in her room, I checked before I came down here.”

“M-maybe Michael knows where she is. I’ll just run upstairs and change into my riding clothes, and then we’ll look for them – I mean, uh, her.”

“I really should speak to her right away. Excuse me, Liz.”

“Oh, of course.”

He walked into the hall past Maria, but she grabbed his arm.

“W-where are you going, Max?”

“Upstairs, to ask Alex what Isabel was planning to do this morning.”

“He’s not upstairs – he’s um, outside.”

Why was she holding his arm?

“Maria, I know he’s upstairs. I saw him speaking to the maid at his door, saying he was still sleeping, and wasn’t to be disturbed.”

“Well, there you have it, he doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

Max began to walk away from her, but she wouldn’t release her deathgrip on his arm. He was literally dragging her to the staircase with him. He jerked free of her and started up the steps.

“Noooooo!” she cried, lunging and grabbing his ankle. “Michael! Miiiiiiiccchhhaaaeeeell!”

“Maria? Why are you calling Michael? Why are you trying to keep me from going upstairs?”

“Nooo, I’m not. This is just a game I play. With, uh, my brother,” she wiped her hair out of her eyes, with one hand, “and it’s like a ritual. Um, on the day after a ball, you know.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He started dragging her up the staircase with him.

“Nooooo! Miiiiiccchhhaaaeeell where are you!?!”

“What are you doing?!?” Liz called from the bottom of the stairs.

Liz seemed to distract Maria because he got away and ran up the last few stairs.

He had just raised his hand to knock on Alex’s door when Maria came rushing down the hall and tackled him.

“Maria! I don’t know what this game is, but I don’t like it, now get off of me. Please!”

She was sprawled on top of him, on the cold floor.

Michael’s voice came from the stairwell, “Maria? What are you screaming about? I’m busy-.”

Michael was stopped at the top of the steps staring at them.

“Oh thank God,” Maria whispered, as she climbed off of Max.

“Maria is playing a game,” Max sat up and shook his head to clear it.

Maria was standing in front of Alex’s door, and tapping on it softly behind her back, thinking he wouldn’t know.

She turned to Michael, “ Max can’t find his sister,” she kept making gestures to Michael with her eyes, “He wanted to talk to Alex to see if he knew where Isabel was.”

Max knew she was trying to give Michael some sort of message. And he also knew she didn’t want him to go into Alex’s room. He got to his feet.

“Move.”

“Max, let me go in and ask my brother for you,” Michael said softly behind him.

He turned to Michael, eyes blazing, beginning to fear whatever it was they were hiding.

“Move her, or I will.”

Michael moved between him and Maria and growled, “Don’t touch her.”

Max ignored him. If they wouldn’t move, he’d just open the door on his own. He held his hand up and the door fell inward behind them with a flop.

***

Alex had his face buried in his wife’s neck.

His wife.

They’d set out last night for town, but he’d decided it would be easier to visit the vicar in the nearby village. He would have had to take her to his father’s if they’d stayed in town, and he wasn’t anxious to spend his wedding night in the same house with a fuming Jeff Parker.

There was a commotion in the hallway, but Alex didn’t pay much attention to it. He was too busy listening to Isabel breathe. She’d been so sleepy, they’d simply gone to sleep after they got back from the vicar’s. He couldn’t wait until she woke.

The noises in the hall grew a little louder, the door fell in, and all hell broke loose.

A very shaken Maria didn’t even glance at the bed, she was backing into the room and pointing a shaky hand at Max, her mouth was moving as if she was speaking but no sound came out.

Max and Michael were in the doorway, chest to chest, staring each other down, and then Max turned his eyes to the bed.

Isabel had hardly been disturbed by the commotion. She just groaned a little and turned to bury her head in his chest. He knew she hadn’t even opened her eyes.

Michael, seeing that Max’s eyes were trained on the bed stepped aside to let him enter.

“Isabel?” Max asked softly.

Alex almost smiled, Isabel was sound asleep.

“I’m sorry,” Michael said in his direction, “we tried to stop him.”

Alex shook his head slightly and gave his brother a ‘not your fault’ look.

“I don’t have anything to hide.”

Max’s fingers were working circles into his temples as he stared at Isabel’s back.

“Isabel!”

“Mmmm…” Isabel groaned into Alex’s chest.

“Isabel.”

“Max, go way. Sooo sleepy,” she slurred at her brother.

“What have you done?” Max sounded grieved.

Isabel opened her eyes slowly and looked up at Alex, she gave him a small smile, then turned to look at Max.

“What I wanted to do.”

At that point, Maria, who had backed herself into a corner, found her voice and shrieked like a banshee.

Alex sat up, “What happened to Maria?”

Michael was moving toward the screaming girl slowly, making calming gestures with his hands.

Max looked at Maria and his face went slack, “I’m sorry,” he murmured to no one in particular. Then he sat down hard on the floor, now working his fingers frantically into his temples.

“Well, I guess everyone knows now,” Isabel said as she sat up and held her hand out to the door, moving it upright, reattaching the hinges, and finally closing and locking it.

Michael had been speaking calmly to Maria, explaining the about Max’s otherworldly status, and she had started to calm down - but when she saw Isabel replace the door she fainted.

Catching her, Michael calmly walked her to the bed and waited for Isabel and Alex to get off so he could lay her on it.

Seeing the worried look on Alex’s face, Michael started speaking nonsensically, “The door. I told her. She saw Max, then Isabel – well, you know. She’s fine. Just passed out.”

“How do you know?” Alex questioned.

Michael shrugged, “I just know.”

Isabel patted Maria’s cheeks and she opened her eyes.

“We won’t hurt you, Maria. It’s nothing evil. It’s not magic. Max and I are your friends.”

Maria still looked frightened, but was calm, not screaming.

“Isabel, we’ll just have to pretend that this didn’t happen,” Max spoke sharply as he got to his feet. “They’re coming. Nacedo told me this morning.”

“I know they’re coming,” Isabel said calmly.

“Oh? We can talk about that later,” he gestured at Alex, “We’ll just pretend it didn’t happen. No one needs to know. It won’t leave this room,” Max was nodding his head as though trying to convince himself with the words.

“Everyone is going to know,” Alex said. “We’re married.”

Max’s jaw dropped.

“Ow!” Alex shouted when Michael slapped the back of his head.

There was a knock at the door.

Liz’s voice sounded worried, “Is everything all right in there?”

“Fine.” Alex, Isabel, and Michael said in unison.

“Be down in a few minutes, Liz,” Alex called.

“All right,” she said softly – barely audible through the door.

Maria, no longer looking frightened, sat up a little and pulled Alex into a hug, “Oh, congratulations. I’m so happy for you!”

“Are you all right?” Alex asked, pulling out of the hug.

Maria nodded, smiling, then turned hesitantly to Isabel and hugged her too. Michael was muttering something about Alex being even stupider than he’d thought.

“You’ve really done it this time, Isabel,” Max said coldly, beginning to pace at the far end of the room. “What about Michael?”

“I don’t want Michael,” Isabel replied icily, then shot Michael a look. “No offense.”

Michael shrugged disinterestedly in response.

“It’s not about what you want, Is. I wish it was, but it isn’t.”

“Look, Max,” Michael said, “I thought you said that there wasn’t much point in the whole ‘destiny’ thing.”

“That was in theory. Thanks to Isabel’s actions we may never know for certain how it should have been.”

“I know how it should be,” Alex said quietly. “Isabel should be with me. Michael should find a girl to love, who will love him in return. And, Max, I even have a sneaking suspicion that you should be with Liz. You say ‘destiny’ and I hear ‘mistake’.”

Max stared at his new brother-in-law with no expression on his face said, “I’m going to find Tess.” Then he turned on his heel and walked out the door.

***

Michael shut Alex’s bedroom door behind him and reached for Maria’s elbow to take her downstairs.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Maria-.”

“ Don’t touch me.”

“Look, I know it’s a shock, but you’ve become friends with them – you know them. They wouldn’t-.”

“I’m not scared, all right? I just-well…You’re one of them, aren’t you?”

He dropped his eyes, she looked disgusted.

“Yeah.”

“And, Alex knows, Liz knows…”

“Yeah.”

“What about Kyle?”

“He knows too.”

“So, I’m the only one who didn’t know?”

“Well, yeah. My sister and brother didn’t even know until a few days ago,” he looked up at her just to receive a glare. She looked like she wanted to hit him. “Look, I don’t owe you any explanations.”

“Yeah, I know, I’m ‘just Maria’,” she sarcastically smirked.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

For a minute, he thought he saw tears in her eyes, but she walked off in a huff before he could be sure.

***