"Excuse me," the lady behind the counter said. "But please go do that outside." Shiro pulled away. Trio tried to follow but his arms stopped her. He nodded and gently pushed her out the door.

"Trio, I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"Kissing you, I'm probably going too fast."

"Oh, Shiro, it was wonderful." Pulling out her cell phone she said, "I've got to call my ride."

"Why don't I drop you off?" Trio's brain froze for a second before it began to work frantically.

"I'm staying with a friend right now, but sure. I've still got to call them and let them know I'm coming." She pulled out her phone and dialed in what she hoped to be Ken's number.

"Is Ken there? Ken? Hi, Ken, it's Diana."

"Trio? Why are you calling me?"

"I just thought cause I'm staying with you for a few days, and since you're suppose to be watching me, I'd call and say I'm coming home."

"WHAT?! What're you talking about?"

"Yea, I'm sorry I forgot to call. Shiro's dropping me off in a few."

"Oh, I get it, trying to use me to get out of your little 'date' well it's not gonna work!"

"Daddy will so pleased you're taking such good care of me! I'll make sure to tell him how well you're watching over his little girl." Trio smirked. Ken knew it was his job to keep an eye on Trio while she was unsupervised in town, even at school.

"Fine," he growled. "My address is."

"I know, I know. Just make sure you left the door unlocked."

"You're going to get it, you little back-stabber."

"I know, I'll be home soon."

"Bye."

"Same here, bye." Trio turned back to Shiro. He had a confused look on his face. "Okay, let's go."

"Um, Diana?"

"Yes, Shiro?"

"That was one confusing conversation! What the heck was going on?"

"He wanted to go out for dinner with his wife and he didn't want to take me and he didn't want to leave a door unlocked. I forgot to call him earlier remember? He was mad at me is all, I'll make it up to him."

"Oh, okay. Should we go pick up my dad first?"

"Can we not? I wanna be alone with you right now, no offense."

Shiro smiled. "None taken." They piled into the car and drove to Ken's house. The lights were off and the driveway was empty.

"Thank you, Shiro, for the wonderful time but are you sure the necklace is necessary?"

"It's my dad's way of apologizing. Please accept it."

"I will, but I gotta go, I've got tons of homework I haven't done yet."

"Okay, I'll see you at school tomorrow then?"

"Right, just don't forget your gym clothes."

"Bye, Diana."

"Bye, Shiro." Trio got out quickly, grabbing her backpack from the floor. Trying to keep tears from her eyes, she turned around and waved goodbye. Shiro waved back and waited until Trio had walked inside and closed the door before he drove off to go pick up his dad.

Trio sunk down in front of the door and cried. She felt torn that Shiro was so kind to her and she kept a deep, dark secret from him. He was the son of the enemy; he might even BE the enemy. He'd kissed her, taken her into his confidence and even bought her an expensive necklace. Yet what could she do for him? Lie to him!

She cried for a while longer, and cried herself to sleep.

What felt like only a few moments later, she fell over. She opened her tired, red eyes to see a lamp on, and Ken and Daemon sitting on the couch.

"'Bout time you woke up. Thought you'd sleep all night," Daemon said.

"What time is it?"

"5:00 p.m. Don't you think you should call Andrio or Sandrio and get ride home?" Ken asked. They were watching TV. Both gave her as much of the cold shoulder as they felt she deserved.

"Fine." She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Jerome's house. Andrio answered.

"Jerome Hawk's residence. Andrio speaking, how may I help you?"

"Hi, Andrio, it's me."

"Ms. Trio, it's about time you called home! Jerome's worried sick!"

"I'm sorry, I'm at Ken's house. I fell asleep."

"I'll be there in an hour. Get some of your homework done."

"I will, bye." She hung up and just rested herself against the door.

"Shouldn't you work on your homework?" Daemon asked.

"Not enough light," she snapped. Daemon stood up and turned on an overhead light.

"There."

"Thanks." Trio pulled out her health book and defined the vocabulary words that were the only homework she had. Once she had finished, she stuffed it back in her backpack.

As she got up to go outside, Ken interrupted her brooding thoughts. "So? How was your date?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm suppose to be watching you remember? That is what you said right?"

"Look, just leave me alone right now, kay?"

Daemon was in front of her before she knew it. He gave her a big hug.

"I'm sorry this hurts so much. Either way, we all know it will be over soon. We'll either stop the 'X' or they'll kill us. But again, either way, you'll be in a happier place." Trio hugged him back fiercely.

"Thank you so much, Daemon."

He pulled away. "But seriously, how was it?"

"It was wonderful. Except his dad."

"What?"

"He was late picking me up, a half hour late. He had to pick up his dad from a friend's house and drop him off at Wal-Mart, but his dad was really creepy. Other than that, it was wonderful."

"I'm glad. Why don't you go get a drink?" Trio nodded and walked into the kitchen, found the cups and got a drink of milk. She took it to the front room and drank her milk and watched TV with the two men. Ken's wife walked in and watched TV with them.

Exactly an hour after she'd called Andrio, he arrived. Trio waved bye and promised to see Ken and Daemon at school the next day.

As she climbed in the little unmarked white car, Andrio said, "Jerome's not happy with you."

"I know and I'm too stressed right now to care."

"He loves you, you know."

"But not even love can stand up to hatred."

"What makes you think that?"

"Let's just say it's personal experience."