"Why can't we share this with others?" I whine. We are at Tam's house.

"Come on, Keefe. I told you," Tam groans. "It's against the council rules!"

"But, just our friends-" I try to say but he cuts me off with a kiss. It's sweet. It's long. It's passionate. It's Tam.

"Of course I want to tell them. Do you know how hard it is for me to not tell Linh?" He says after we break apart. "But we just can't. We can't risk it," We are both out of breath. Then a horrible idea pops in my head.

"Are you ashamed of us? Of this?" I whisper.

"Wh-what? Of course not, babe. I love you. I love us!" He says, and by his horrified expression, I know what he says is true. "I don't care what others will say. I just don't want you or our friends to get hurt," He sighs through his nose and leans away, but his scent lingers. A mixture of the smell of a day after raining and fresh clothes. "Now, though I love kissing you, we have to get our project done,"

"Fiiiiiiiiiiiiine," I groan. "After we're done with the project," I promise as I tuck a lock of Tam's hair over his ear.

We've been doing whatever this is for two months now. The happiest two months of my life.

"Don't worry, Keefe," Tam says as he puts the papers on the floor. "I won't forget to kiss you like the world is ending," He grins and ruffles my hair. I love his touch.

Then the door creaks. Surprise and dread pulls my gut so hard that it hurts.

"Tam? What is going on?" I see Linh, slowly opening the door. I look at Tam, then Linh. Unable to think of an excuse, I just stay silent.

"Linh, it's not what you think-" He scoots back away from me. Though it hurts, I do the same.

"What did you say? Kiss you like the world is ending?" Linh steps in the room and closes the door behind her. "Tam, what is happening?" She looks at him with eyes wide like dinner plates, then looks at me, then looks back at Tam.

"Linh-" Tam takes a deep breath and stands up. "I am dating Keefe,"

"Tam, that's against the council rules!" Linh is absolutely horrified. Why? Is our relationship that horrifying? That bad?

"I know, Linh. That's why we didn't tell you, or anyone," Tam seems calm. I stand up.

"We really wanted to tell everyone," I say, and I'm pretty sure she understands what I mean when I say everyone.

"How long have you been dati- doing this?" Linh shakes her head. I don't fail to notice that she corrected herself from saying 'dating'. As if it isn't dating.

"Two months," I say. Tam bites his lip.

"Two whole months, and you didn't tell me?" Linh turns violently and stomps out the room. Tam immediately follows. I just stay in Tam's room, knowing that I won't be much help.

"Linh, please you have to understand. I wanted to tell you," Tam starts. I can still hear them clearly.

"Then you could have told me! You always told me everything!" She screams.

"I know! But I was scared of what you would think of me!"

Silence follows. I quietly pack my papers. There is no way that we can continue the project.

"Scared of what I'd think of you?" I hear Linh in a deadly quiet. She has never spoken like that, and it is bloodchilling. "Scared of what I'd think of you?" She repeats. I can see from the crack of the door the hinges create that she is shaking her head in disbelief. "You thought I would judge you? What did our life together mean?"

"Linh, I'm sorry. I really am," Tam reaches out to hold his sister's hands, but she takes a step back away from him. I feel the hurt just radiating off of both of them.

"I trusted you," I hear her voice crack.

"What do you mean? You can still trust me!"

"No," Linh growls as she heads out the door. "I can't now,"

"Linh- wait-" he calls after her, but Linh forms a wall of water to block him. As soon as she is out of eyesight, I come out the door, and wall of water is gone, leaving a soaked door and floor. He groans and curses.

"Tam, I'm sorry," I finally say after he's done with his rant of words I probably will never repeat.

"It's fine. Do you think she'd tell others?"

"No idea," I sigh, and hug him. He makes no effort to hug me back. It stings. So I pull apart. "Linh will forgive you. She's Linh," I say.

"I just feel so... awful, not telling her. I mean, she's my twin," Tam runs his hand through his hair.

"You said it. She's your twin. Linh will forgive you," I repeat.

Tam blows out through his mouth. "Keefe?"

"Yeah?"

"No matter what happens, I won't regret it. Us," He gives a small smile. "No matter what happens," He murmurs in my ear as I pull him close again. I smile wryly, knowing that he can feel my facial muscles move against the side of his head.

"No matter what happens," I echo.

"I guess we don't have a reason to hide anymore," Tam sighes. I feel his shoulders sink.

"Yeah,"