"What was this?" Marco asked, the crumpled white sheet snaking up his legs and spread across his lap.

I spared him a glance, then went back to collecting my discarded clothing. I couldn't look at the way his hair was sticking out in every direction, the hair on his chest was sweaty and matted, his lips swollen, and the faint, red scratches on his arms that my fingernails had etched on him.

"Rachel?"

"I don't know, Marco."

He was looking at me, probably inspecting the bite marks and bruises on my flesh, the knots in my hair, the sweat glistening on my skin…

"Marco!" I snapped.

"What?"

"Stop looking at me!"

He turned his attention to his toes, which he wiggled impatiently, then looked back at me. "Are you going to tell Tobias?"

I sighed, pulling on my underwear. "I don't know."

"What are you going to tell him?"

"I don't know that, either."

"Are you—"

"Marco, I don't know!" I yelled. "God, can't you understand that this was a mistake?"

"A mistake," He whispered, looking at his toes again.

"Yeah."

"When?" he studiously avoided my gaze. "When did it start being a mistake?"

"What?"

"When I stayed behind? When I made you laugh? When I walked you home? When you invited me in? When we watched the movie? When we kissed? When we started to…" He choked a little, tried clearing his throat, then waved his hand as if to say 'et cetera'.

"All of it, Marco. We can't be more than just friends."

"Why not?"

"Seriously, Marco? As if it's not enough that I already have a boyfriend?"

"He doesn't have to know."

"Why are you so adamant about this?"

"Because I don't want the best experience I've had in the past two years to have been a mistake," His voice was barely a whisper.

I stared hard at the floor. "It was a mistake," I repeated, "It can't be anything more, Marco. I'm sorry. We can't be anything more."

He smirked a bit, nodding. "I know. I just…hoped it wouldn't turn out like this."

"It's the way it should be."

He nodded again. "I know," He got off of the bed and started gathering his clothes.

"If it means anything…" I paused, trying to help the situation. "You were good."

"Yeah?" he managed a smile. "So were you."

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Marco?"

"Hmm?"

"It was a mistake…" I paused, wondering how I should word this. "But it was a mistake I'm glad I made."

He nodded slightly, beginning to smile. "Thanks Rachel."