~* Reap What You Sow *~ I could tell she was hiding something. She had a tell, whenever she was nervous or uneasy about something. It wasn’t something as obvious as scratching her nose or not looking me in the eye. It was a subtle thing; a thing one picks up on after years of living with someone. I looked her in the eye, trying to offer a reassuring smile. “Mom… What is it?” She exhaled as she turned to stare out the dining room window, framed neatly in lace-trimmed dusty rose curtains. “I never could keep anything from you could I? It’s a wonder you kept yourself hidden from me for so long.” She chuckled, raising her mug for a quick shot of coffee-flavored courage before continuing. “Ash wants to meet again tonight.” “That’s great though, isn’t it?”

---

Author's Note:
To make up for the delay in getting the last couple of chapters of Robin posted, I have another ready for posting. :-D

No party yet, sorry! *hides from rotten fruit*

~Zoe, Q of S

---

I could see only darkness and shadows, tricks of the twilight outside my open curtains when I woke. I fumbled sleepily for my alarm to see the time. “4:30”, it prominently declared in obnoxious, LED red. I groaned as I flipped the switch to preempt the buzzer three hours from now.

“I may as well get up,” I mumbled. Searing pain suddenly shot through my foot. I had rolled out of bed too fast, stubbing my toe squarely against my nightstand. I could already tell it would be one of those days. I stumbled past Mom’s bedroom to the bathroom to get in a ‘quick shower’, and emerged an hour later.

Someone had left the hall light on, so I switched it off as I passed through. I stopped off at my room long enough to grab my robe, and, draping it over my shoulders I padded barefoot downstairs. At least by this point I’d forgotten about my poor, sore toe. The telltale glow from the kitchen confirmed that Mom or Margie were up, and hadn’t just gotten up to check on me earlier. Mom sat at the kitchen table nursing a cup of coffee.

I had to giggle a little at her frazzled bed head, having already tamed mine with shampoo and conditioner. I moved across the kitchen into the dining area and wrapped her in a hug. She smiled up at me, reaching up to return the gesture.

“Morning sweetheart. You’re up early.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep again.”

She frowned slightly, motioning for me to sit. “The nightmares again?”

“They’re not as bad now, but… yeah. I’m going to talk to Doctor Ketz about them.”

“About that… How would you feel about Nikki driving you to New Haven for your appointment?”

I brightened considerably. “Seriously? I’d love it, but… I thought you didn’t want us driving out of town yet?”

“I’m still not comfortable with the idea, but sooner or later I have to let you grow up.” She reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “Besides, she wanted to take you there on a date tonight anyway. I thought since you’d already be there, that you might as well have fun.”

I could tell she was hiding something. She had a tell, whenever she was nervous or uneasy about something. It wasn’t something as obvious as scratching her nose or not looking me in the eye. It was a subtle thing; a thing one picks up on after years of living with someone. I looked her in the eye, trying to offer a reassuring smile.

“Mom… What is it?”

She exhaled as she turned to stare out the dining room window, framed neatly in lace-trimmed dusty rose curtains. “I never could keep anything from you could I? It’s a wonder you kept yourself hidden from me for so long.” She chuckled, raising her mug for a quick shot of coffee-flavored courage before continuing. “Ash wants to meet again tonight.”

“That’s great though, isn’t it?”

She shifted in her seat, turning back to me. I knew that look. I had that exact same look on my face when I met Gina the first time. “This time is different. We’re not just going out for coffee. He invited me to come over for dinner. I promised him I’d have an answer before today.”

“You mean you haven’t said yes yet?”

“It’s complicated,” she responded.

“Mom, when is our life ever not complicated?” I teased. She smiled a little, tousling my wet hair lightly.

“I just don’t know if I’m ready for dating again. I’m only thirty-five, but there are times I feel like an old lady.”

“You just had a major accident a few months ago, and you’re still recovering from it; of course you’re not going to feel a hundred percent yet. Add to it that you’ve been sick for awhile too, but you’ve been getting better all the time. You talked about Mrs. Beaumont giving up hope, and now my scout troop is organizing a walk-a-thon to support cancer research to try and give her some hope. Just imagine what we’re willing to do for you?”

She laughed, but shook her head. “There’s more than just that, sweetheart. I have to think about what’s in your best interest too.” I stared, puzzled, for several seconds back at her. How could I possibly play into all this? Sensing my obvious confusion, she stared down at her coffee again, continuing. “Robin, you’ve always been Robin. You’ve always wanted to be Robin. But if things ever became serious with Ash, would I be betraying him by not telling him, or would I be betraying you by telling him?”

I could see a glistening trail of tears down her cheeks as I stood to wrap her in a hug. She stood as well and put her arms around me, and for a full minute neither of us said anything. I knew only too well what she felt inside. I’d felt the same turmoil so many times, and until now I thought that I had finally come to terms with it, but it never occurred to me that ‘extending’ our family would require extending our trust as well.

“I don’t want to tell him because you’re the most important thing in my life, but I don’t want to lie to him either. Maybe it’s best if I just break it off before it goes any further.”

“Mom, no! You can’t; I haven’t seen you as happy as you’ve been these last few weeks in years.”

“And that of course has nothing whatsoever to do with my beautiful, intelligent daughter finally coming out of her shell,” she teased, kissing my forehead.

“I’m sure it does, but I know if you break this off without at least trying, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

“What makes you say that, sweetheart?”

“Because I know if I hadn’t gone with Ally that first day, I’d have regretted it the rest of mine.” I grinned. Check and mate, Mom.

A contemplative expression crossed her features. Finally she looked back at me. “You realize that if things go badly, you may have to quit Kenpo? That is a worst-case scenario though.”

I shrugged a little. “I can always find another sensei. If Sensei Rogers doesn’t want me for a student just because my mind and body don’t match up, then I’d rather not have him teaching me anymore. But I don’t think it’s going to come to that; he’s a good man, and I respect him a lot. I just want you to be happy.”

She sighed, but nodded. “Alright… Alright, I’ll call him later today and tell him I’ll come over for dinner. I want you and Nikki to have fun tonight.”

“Hey, about that … What happened to Margie driving me?”

She smiled wryly at that. “Like I said, you’d already be up there, and if things don’t work out with Ash, I want to know that you’re out of town until things calmed down. I think Margie and Kelly are going clubbing again so they’ll be in New Haven as well, but don’t worry, they won’t be spying on you.” She grinned, squeezing me close. “We trust you, sweetheart.”

“You can trust Nikki too, Mom. She’s had a hard life, and honestly, neither of us are ready for anything serious yet. We’re happy with where things are.”

Margie confirmed my suspicions that she had actually been waiting outside the kitchen for her cue to enter because it was immediately after I said that that she came padding in, making a bee-line for the coffee pot. “Morning,” she yawned, pouring a fresh cup of black nectar for herself.

“Morning sis,” I smiled cheerily as I stepped over to the fridge to get breakfast started.

I had to skip working on the Dojo following Homecoming because I was just utterly exhausted. I even slept in much later than usual that day, causing us to be late for our date with Heedless Despair to plan Nicole’s concert/party, and knowing I’d miss work yet again the next Saturday due to Halloween, I decided to come in and work an extra couple of hours more, especially having just received my orange belt, I needed the extra practice time with Sensei’s kicking bag.

Dressed in simple jeans and a baggy sweater, I stepped into the quiet dojo, kicking off my shoes at the door. I padded across the empty main room into the training hall. No one else seemed to be around yet, though the door was unlocked so someone had to be here. I resolved to wait, throwing a few kicks and practicing my stances. I had really gotten lost in it, with several minutes passing before I heard none other than Sensei Rogers himself behind me.

“Good, Robin,” he began. I screamed, spinning to face him. He laughed as he held up his hands defensively. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s okay. I’m just a little jumpy I guess.”

“At least all you do is scream,” he teased, “I have a friend whose gut reaction to being startled is to throw someone over her shoulder. Are you feeling better today?”

I had to laugh at his comment about his friend, shaking my head. “I’m okay. Still having problems with nightmares all these months later, but … they’re getting better.”

“Nightmares… Ah, you mean about the attacker?”

“Yeah. They’re different somehow though. I don’t see the raggedy man chasing me anymore. I see something… worse, more terrifying and monstrous.”

“My old master, the man who taught me Southern Mantis Wushu before I branched out into studying and teaching Kenpo, believed recurring nightmares are a sign of a powerful and imaginative, but tortured mind. You still hold some feelings of what happened inside, don’t you?”

I didn’t answer at first, simply slowly nodding, but after a moment, I stepped away from the training mat, sitting on a nearby folding chair. He followed, turning another chair toward me and sitting. “It’s like I can’t break free of the fear, of what might have happened if…” I stopped myself, biting my lip.

“If what?” he asked gently, but I shook my head. “I can’t say. It’s something you’ll have to talk to Mom about tonight.”

He didn’t even seem to register that I’d just given him Mom’s answer. Instead he reached out to take my hand, squeezing it lightly. “Robin, you are one of my favorite students, and not just because your mother and I have been getting to know one another better. You are poised and confident when you have to be, but humble enough to admit when you feel you’ve made a mistake. I wish all my students were like you.”

“Believe me, you don’t,” I chuckled wryly. “Sensei, I wasn’t always so confident. I feel like I’ve been through hell to get to where I am, and it’s still a roller coaster ride. There’s something you need to know about me.” I paused, glancing around to be absolutely certain we were alone. “Mom was afraid to accept your dinner invitation because she didn’t know how you’d react. She wanted to protect me, and she was even willing to sacrifice the chance that there might be more between you two.

“The truth is, our family has one secret. It’s only a danger to me. We have to be careful about who we trust because in the wrong hands, it could destroy me. There are people who would kill me just because of who I am, and what I represent.”

Sensei nodded slowly as he listened. During the long pause, he spoke more softly, “When my fiancé told me she wanted to leave me to join a convent, I thought I’d seen and heard it all. I was devastated for months after that, but eventually, I came to grips with losing her as a lover, and learned to love her as a friend.

“She had sacrificed everything we worked to achieve to follow her heart. I have my martial arts study, and she has her faith, and while neither of us can understand the other, we still respect each other, and we’re still good friends today. Whatever this secret is, Robin, I want you to tell me only if you feel it’s necessary, but I honestly can’t think of anything that could change how I feel about Linda or you.”

“I’ll let her tell you tonight then. It’s important to her not to keep secrets from you, but she’s afraid she’ll be betraying my trust by telling you. I want her to tell you, though. In the meantime I’ll try and work on letting go of what terrifies me most.”

I spent practically the entire morning helping Sensei move equipment and training mats into storage so the maintenance people he hired could re-varnish the floors and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Margie dropped me off at home so I could get ready for my day-trip with Nicole in New Haven. I thought about getting dressed up, as this would be our first date outside Alpine Springs without parental supervision, but there was no way I wanted to spend all day plus the evening dressed like I was going to a club.

I had just thrown on a white knit sweater over a dark hunter green turtleneck long-sleeved top and pulled my hair back when I heard Nicole calling from downstairs. I glanced back over my shoulder, yelling in response, “Up here! I just need to fix my makeup!”

Seeing my Aria Blade costume high heeled boots lying next to the bed, I leapt from my vanity, scooping them up and shoving them quickly into the closet as I heard Nicole’s own boots on the stairs outside my room. I plopped back down again seconds before she appeared in the doorway, and pretended to have been applying foundation rather than the frantic scene that had actually preceded her arrival.

She had dressed as casually today as me. I actually hadn’t seen her in a t-shirt for some time now, though on closer inspection I could see why, as the four faces of Heedless Despair glowered prominently in all their silkscreen glory. I couldn’t help grinning as I touched up my pink rose lip gloss. “Niiice shirt.”

She giggled. “Thanks. They’re an advance prototype of the new merch, but Shadow gave me one to wear for publicity since they go on sale tomorrow.”

“You two have really bonded haven’t you?”

“Not really. We’re just a lot alike; just that she’s Margie and Kelly’s age,” she chuckled, burying her hands in her black jean pockets as she sat on my bed. She lay back a moment later with her hands behind her head. “I can’t believe Linda’s letting me drive you to New Haven.”

“Nervous yet?”

“What about?” she shot back, glancing at me.

“Well, I thought I’d introduce you to Dr. Ketz. I mean, Ally and I have both been seeing her since the summer, so she knows all about you.”

“Oh gawd. I didn’t even think of that.”

I stood and offered my hand, pulling her up and right into a warm hug. “It’s okay. You can wait in the lobby if you want. I have a lot of really dark stuff I need to talk to Barbara about anyway.”

She frowned at me as she looped her arm in mine, leading me downstairs. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes and no. Mom’s going to tell Sensei Rogers the family secret tonight, but more importantly he’s talked me into trying to come to grips with what’s causing my nightmares.”

Nicole paused at the door, retrieving the lightweight leather jacket she left hanging on the doorknob to the hall closet. As she pulled it around her, I reached into the closet to retrieve my brown suede jacket, following her out.

“So that’s why she wanted me to take you instead of Margie?”

“Yeah. Well, that and Margie’d be in New Haven with Kelly again tonight anyway. She figures that since you and I wanted to go on our weekly date there, and I have my appointments to deal with, that it’d be best for everyone if you took me, and we could just go do whatever after in case of fallout.”

Nicole laughed as she slid across the driver’s seat, sliding the key into the ignition. “Now I see where you get it from.”

“Get what?” I asked as I sat down, situating my white faux leather handbag and pulling my seatbelt across.

“You’re always thinking ahead, and always thinking of others first, just like your mom.”

The meeting with Dr. Ketz went surprisingly well. I hadn’t actually talked about my nightmares for awhile, so confronting them in the waking world was more difficult than I realized, but I managed not to cry at least. Dr. Ketz validated a number of my fears, but at the same time she reminded me of precisely why I’m taking self-defense courses.

She also reminded me that, since my goal had been all along to pass, that I should continue as I have been in not telling anyone who had no business knowing. I was, for all intents and purposes, an average teenage girl. I really wished Nicole could have come with me for moral support, but deep down I knew that confronting my demons would probably make her confront a few of hers that she still wasn’t ready to face.

As I emerged though, she greeted me with a welcoming hug, and I kissed her cheek. I stepped to the side a bit and smiled, motioning to Dr. Ketz. “Nikki this is Barbara Ketzowski. Dr. Ketz, this is my steady girlfriend, Nicole.”

“Please, call me Nikki. I feel like I already know you between Robin and Ally always talking about you.” She smiled nervously as the two shook hands.

“It’s nice to finally put a face to the name, Nikki. If you ever need to talk, my door is always open.”

“Err, thanks, but I’m not the therapy type,” she responded with a touch more unease.

Dr. Ketz smiled as she nodded, “It’s quite alright dear. Personally I believe everyone needs someone they can vent to with the professional training to help bring things into perspective, but you have to feel absolutely comfortable with that person, otherwise you’re just wasting your time.” I noticed she didn’t say ‘and theirs’, and smiled. Nicole seemed to notice too, as she slowly nodded.

“Anyway, I’ve gotta get Robin to her next appointment. Nice meeting you Dr. Ketz.”

I squeezed her hand as we approached the elevator. “Sorry. I know how you feel about therapists, but I wanted you to at least meet Dr. Ketz.”

“Hey, as long as you don’t expect me to actually see her,” she responded a little defensively as we stepped onto the elevator, continuing as the doors closed. “Don’t get me wrong. I know she’s done so much to help both you and Ally, but I …”

I turned and leaned into her, planting a kiss squarely on her lips before she could finish her thought. “Nikki, it’s okay. You don’t have to defend yourself to me or anyone. I’m not trying to push you into anything. I really did just want you to meet her.”

She smiled apologetically at that, hugging me close. “I’m sorry Robin. It’s just there’s a lot of things I’m not ready for yet. You’re like, the only person that gets that, and I shouldn’t doubt you of all people. It’s just … reflex, y’know?”

The doors opened, and we stepped out, passing through the lobby into the late-afternoon sun. A crisp wind caused me to pull my jacket a little closer despite having dressed in layers. Nicole laughed. “You are such a Cali girl. You’re going to die of hypothermia the first time it snows.”

I giggled, snuggling up next to her. “I guess you’ll just have to keep me warm. So where are we going after I get my bi-monthly stabbing session over with?”

“Oh, I thought we’d-” she trailed off as my phone started ringing. I frowned, pulling it out and checking the caller ID. “It’s not Mom. I don’t recognize the number.”

“So, answer it!” she laughed.

“Hello?”

Andrea’s voice responded nervously, “Um… Robin?”

“Andrea!” I responded cheerfully as I pulled the car door closed behind me.

“Hey, um… what’s up?”

“Just leaving my therapist’s. I need to get some blood work done then I’m going out to dinner with Nikki.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll um... call back later.”

“No, it’s okay. I have a few minutes. What’s going on? I didn’t think you were ever going to call me.”

She sounded even more uncertain as she replied. “Robin, what are you talking about? I tried to call you a bunch of times a couple of months ago, but you always hung up on me as soon as I said ‘Hello’.”

“Wait a minute. A couple of months ago? Did you try calling me about the same time every day, around… four-ish your time?”

“Yeah… Why?” I had to laugh. I couldn’t help it. It was just such a weird coincidence. “Stop laughing!” She yelled.

“I’m sorry,” I giggled. “I’m not laughing at you Andrea. It’s just the timing. My phone died literally a couple of weeks after that, but half the time I couldn’t get it to work anyway, so all I got was these weird calls at the exact same time every evening. I thought I had a stalker so when I got a new phone I made sure it had caller ID on it.”

“Ohmygawd,” she whispered. “Robin I am so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault An. Really. Anyway how are you doing?”

“Lousy,” she whined. As Nicole drove, I listened as Andrea explained how things at school had taken a nose-dive after the jock dumped her. Apparently people had gotten the idea that I left school because of her.

“Why would they think that?”

“Because I … kind of… let them think that. I thought maybe it’d boost my popularity in the wake of being dumped, but it just made things worse. God, I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“Andrea… Have you tried just being nice to people?”

“I don’t know how to be nice to people. I mean, what if they just try to use me, like I used you?”

“That’s the risk you have to take, but consider the reward. Like I said, I’m driving with Nicole to my endocrinologist in her Mustang.”

“She has a Mustang?!”

Nicole giggled, “I heard that.”

“Yes, and we met Heedless Despair at her birthday party last week. She talked them into playing for her Halloween party too. I’m not saying it’s all been sunshine and rainbows here. I’ve had plenty of problems too, but the difference is I have friends who love and accept me who’re there to catch me when I fall. Andrea, you’ve got to realize trying to control everyone doesn’t win you any friends. It wins you lackeys, but they’re not going to care when you fall.”

She stayed silent for several seconds after that, and I’d started to wonder if we lost the connection when she finally replied. “Thanks, Robin. I… I think I needed that. Truth be told, I miss you. I never thought I would, but that day at the mall, you showed me a side of yourself I never knew you had, and I’m kind of feeling … well … bad about not getting to know her … you … better.”

“I’m sorry, Andrea, but I just couldn’t stay there any longer. My friends, my sister, and my Girl Scout troop are all here. My life is here. But if you ever find yourself on the east coast you’ll find a warm welcome here.”

“Maybe. It’d be just as well. I mean, nobody would believe that totally hot girl a few guys saw me talking to that day was really you anyway.” She chuckled. “It kind of stung when they only approached me after I left so they could ask for your phone number. Anyway, I’m sorry Robin. I’ll let you go so you can go do your… Endo-whatever thing.”

“You made your bed, Andrea, but that doesn’t mean you have to lie in it. Get yourself some good friends. Surround yourself with people you can trust, and treat them the way you want them to treat you, and I promise you things will get better, alright?”

“Yeah... Thanks Robin. Take care of yourself.”

Nicole shook her head as I put my phone away. “You really are perfect.”

“Like hell,” I laughed. “The thing is, Nikki, there are very, very few people who are truly ‘evil’, heartless, and without remorse. Jason might be. I don’t know yet. Andrea was just petty, and now she’s paying for it.”

“I guess. I just wish I could forgive so easily. Anyway, we’re here. C’mon pumpkin. Let’s get this over with.”

Following my bi-monthly stabbing, Nicole offered to make it up to me (as she knew how much I loathed needles) by taking me out to a romantic movie I’d been waiting to see for a couple of months. Afterward we talked it over, and decided to have dinner at one of those clubs that allow minors in as long as we don’t order anything alcoholic.

Not surprisingly there were a few other high school students mingling with the college students, in addition to the array of older folks here and there. We pushed through the crowd as a pulsing techno beat blared to the flash of colored lights overhead, finding a comfortable booth away from the dance floor to wait for someone to come by.

We didn’t have long to wait, as a man who couldn’t be older than Margie, with neatly trimmed brown hair, dressed in a faux tuxedo t-shirt and slacks approached us.

“Welcome, ladies! Can I get you anything? And if you order anything alcoholic I’ll have to see some ID.”

We both produced our IDs just the same, as I glanced at Nicole. “I dunno. I’m not very hungry.” I giggled, glancing back at our waiter. “I kind of filled up on popcorn at the movie.”

Nicole laughed, “You, not hungry? Now that’s a first. Want to split an order of breadsticks?”

“That sounds great. Um, do you make virgin cocktails here?”

“Sure do. What can I get you?”

“Anything with cherries.”

“Vanilla Cherry soda?” he responded with a smile.

“Oooh, that sounds good.”

Nicole laughed. “I’ll have an Abstinence on the Beach.”

He gave her a funny stare for just a moment, as it registered. “Oh, right! Sorry, this is my first day so I’m still getting used to things. Hey, great shirt. Heedless Despair right?”

Nicole nodded, grinning proudly. “Yeah. My girlfriend here and our other friends got them to play at my sweet sixteen. Shadow gave this to me for publicity, since they’ll go on sale tomorrow anyway.”

He laughed, “Publicity eh? At least she’s honest. I’ll be right back with your drinks and breadsticks. Enjoy your evening!”

As we sat waiting for our drinks and just enjoying the music, Nicole nudged my leg gently with the tip of her boot. “Hey, Robin, isn’t that Kelly?”

I turned to see Kelly chatting with our waiter over by the bar, and giggled when he noticed us staring. He practically raced over to our table.

“I’m so sorry. I just got caught up talking to that cute girl over by the bar and-”

“It’s okay. They weren’t staring at you,” Kelly interrupted him, turning her attention to us. “Those had better be virgin cocktails, girls.”

“Oh, they are!” he quickly answered, sensing that Kelly obviously knew us. “Cherry Vanilla soda and Abstinence on the Beach,” he continued, setting the drinks down. Kelly grinned teasingly at us.

“I’m kidding. I know they know better. These two are practically family so I know they’ll behave. I just didn’t expect to see them here.”

Nicole raised her glass and giggled, “Yeah, ditto Kelly. Is Margie around too?”

“Yes, she’s upstairs chatting with the manager about something businessy.”

She turned back to the waiter and smiled, “So, Sean was it?”

We giggled to ourselves as we watched them walk away. Nicole whispered, “Ah, young love.”

“Or at least young like. Now if we can just get Margie dating again.” I laughed.

Hanging around the club, we took in the atmosphere, mingled, and Nicole even taught me a few new dance steps. I wasn’t brave enough to try anything as crazy as improvising, so I kept it simple and let her handle the non-rhythmically-challenged spectacles. Even though Mom told me Margie and Kelly weren’t going to be spying on us, I still felt more at ease knowing they were there if anything did happen. Security seemed pretty tight, but all the same I felt better having someone I knew and trusted there too.

On the way home, Maria finally called. She could only talk long enough to let me know she’d be at the meeting the next day though. I passed the message on to Nicole and sleepily settled into my seat as we talked. As we pulled into my driveway, conversation turned to speculation of how dinner had gone. Mom’s car was in the driveway so I wouldn’t have long to wait, at least.

Nicole shut off the motor and stepped out, and as had become our little tradition, she opened the door for me to step out, right into her waiting arms. She escorted me to the door.

“Nikki, I had so much fun tonight. I’m glad you suggested that club.”

“Me too. I wasn’t sure if it’d be your kind of thing, but you’re always saying I need to stop worrying so much about pushing you away, so I figured... why not?”

“Are you kidding? That was great! I mean, I’m not big on the music, but the atmosphere was fun. I guess having Margie and Kelly around let me feel a little safer too.”

She laughed, “Oh Gawd, yeah, that was like, totally unexpected, but I was kind of glad they were there too, just y’know, being normal people there to have fun, but there if we needed them.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist as she pulled me close, resting my head on her shoulder for a long moment. Finally she leaned in to kiss me goodnight. “G’night cutie,” she whispered.

“Sweet dreams, vampire,” I teasingly replied, kissing her back before she reluctantly pulled away, returning to her car. She sat in her car, watching me step inside before driving away.

“Mom?” I called as I stepped inside. “I’m home! How did it go?”

“In here sweetheart,” she called back from the living room. I slid out of my jacket, neatly hanging it in the hall closet. I held on to my white handbag for now as I entered the living room to find her sitting on the sofa, a quart of ice cream and a spoon in-hand.

“Oh no. Please tell me it didn’t go badly?” I rushed to her side. She giggled a little.

“No, sweetheart, it didn’t go badly.” She wrapped her arm around me, hugging me close. “After dinner, we sat down and talked over wine, and I told him everything. He asked if he could have some time to process it all, but promised nothing would change with regard to your training or your Sensei-student relationship, nor would he breathe a word to anyone. He just wanted some time to think about it.

“After that we talked quite a bit more, though I think the wine did most of the talking for both of us. Some old wounds were admitted on both sides, and we agreed to take things slowly for now, but I really think there’s something there. Maybe it’s the wine and the ice cream talking, but…” she paused, turning to look me in the eyes.

She’d been letting her hair grow ever since the accident, and it now hung in perfect curtains around her face and shoulders. “I think I’m falling in love.”

She leaned forward, setting the ice cream aside. “Speaking of romantic evenings, how did your date with Nicole go?”

“It was amazing. We went to see that romance movie I’ve been talking about — you know, the one that the entire movie takes place in an airport terminal? Anyway, after that we went to this club,” I rambled on and on about our date, and how Margie and Kelly turned up there as well.

I also made a point to assure Mom, much as Sean assured Kelly, that our drinks were completely alcohol-free. I never much cared for the idea of drinking anyway.

“Oh, and Andrea called!”

“Andrea… What on earth did she want?”

“Mostly to apologize. Things kind of went south on her after I left, and a lot of people think she went too far and stuff. I feel bad for her. I mean she was a petty jerk, but she’s still human. But with her being on the other side of the country there’s not really a lot I can do for her, so… I told her to surround herself with people she can trust, and treat them the way she wants to be treated.”

“That’s good advice,” Mom responded soberly, but smiled.

“Hey, those three-hundred dollar sessions had better be worth the advice,” I teased. I had no idea how much Dr. Ketz’ sessions actually cost, as it was the one thing Margie insisted defiantly on taking care of herself, but it was still a funny joke, between a euphoric daughter and a slightly ice cream-buzzed mother.

“I’m going to go write in my diary for awhile, then try and get some sleep. If Ally calls though, go ahead and wake me up if I doze off?”

“Okay sweetheart,” she replied, kissing my forehead.

With the second Girl Scout meeting tomorrow afternoon I’d have to work on my Aria Blade costume in the morning. We still needed to see if Jennifer wanted in on the action since, having seen the advance storyboards, I knew she’d love the revised Volcaness.

I felt so terrible about keeping all this from Nicole, but she seemed so excited about her own surprise that I didn’t have the heart to spoil it.

For now though, I kicked off my shoes, and after changing into a pink cami top pajama bottom set, I curled up under my sheets with Mr. Kensington at my side, and my diary close-at-hand to detail the latest entry in a long line of ups and downs.

At least I could safely say I had the one thing I always wanted: to be treated like a normal teen girl, with all the benefits and consequences that came with it.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything, either.