16

"Is Kevin back yet, I need to talk to him," Will Girardi asked his wife, Helen sighed,

"No, he's gone out, looking for Joan's friend," she explained, "who he seems fond of-"

"But it's dangerous at this time,"

"I know, I hope the poor girl is alright," Helen said a little worryingly, "she came from New Zealand all alone you know,"

"New Zealand?"

"Yes, New Zealand. Where their sheep population is considerably larger than the people themselves!" Helen told her husband,

"Well, I hope Kevin gets back soon," Will said, checking his watch, Helen raised an eye brow at her husband, "and," Will continued, "I hope the girl is safe," he added.

~

"Are you cold?" Kevin asked Xiao, taking off his coat,

"No, I'm-" Xiao coughed, "fine, really," Kevin frowned a little,

"I don't believe you," he said, and put the coat over her shoulders,

"Thank you," Xiao said, giving him a small peck on the cheek, she blushed politely and wrapped the coat around tighter,

"So, to your place or mine?" Kevin asked,

"Well, I'm supposed to be at your place," Xiao told him, Kevin grinned,

"Alrighty then."

~

Joan opened the door to find Xiao and Kevin on the doorstep, Joan quickly ushered them inside. "Coco?" Joan asked, Kevin shook his head, Xiao looked up,

"What's coco?" she asked, Joan smiled,

"It's hot chocolate," she explained, Xiao shook her head, took off Kevin's coat and hung it up. Xiao pealed off her own coat to find her jumper almost as soaked as her jeans, "wanna come up to my room, I'll find you some things," Joan said, leading Xiao up the stairs, "this shouldn't be too hard, we're about the same size," she said digging into her wardrobe, Xiao took off her wet clothes and put on Joan's dry ones, "well they fit nicely," Joan said, Xiao squeezed the rain out of her hair with a towel,

"Thanks," she said, "you know, we call coco, 'Milo', in New Zealand,"

"Why?" Joan asked,

"It's just the name of the product," Xiao told her, drying her hair,

"Hmm sounds different,"

"You'll have to try it when you go to New Zealand," Xiao suggested, Joan laughed,

"Like I'd have a reason to go to New Zealand, other than to try 'Milo'" teased Joan,

"Hey, you never know! God was the one that told me to come here," Xiao said, "God turned up before," she whispered,

"What'd He say?" Joan asked,

"He told me… He told me I couldn't keep running away from things, and that eventually they'd catch up to me,"

"That's true,"

"But, I run when I'm afraid," Xiao whispered,

"Oh sweetie! But what are you afraid of?"

"Everything," Xiao said sitting on the bed.

"Explain," Joan told her, Xiao sighed and twirled her hair,

"I guess it's nothing big. Just," she paused, "it hurt. I was 14, when I dated this guy, just after God started talking to me."

"Uh huh…" Joan said, Xiao frowned,

"He was sweet an all. But after two years, I finally found out he had been cheating on me, with several different girls."

"Betrayed,"

"Yes, and I guess, I've never trusted any guy since," Xiao said, Joan nodded,

"You take things right to the heart don't you Xiao," Joan sighed,

"Every time I think of Ryan it makes me afraid,"

"Why?"

"Because Kevin is so good. Just like Ryan was to me. I keep hoping that Kevin will be different."

"Kevin is different, I swear he is. There's no need to worry," Joan told her,

"I know. I guess I'm just a paranoid kind of girl," Xiao said trying to shake it off. Joan patted her on the shoulder,

"Some times things happen for the greater good… but then some times, things happen and turn out to be less… that's some thing I learnt from God," Joan said, "but don't take it to heart. Everything that happens, happens for a reason. Good or bad." Xiao nodded,

"Thank you," she said hugging Joan. Joan smiled,

"So would you like to tell Kevin, or would you like me to?" she asked,

"What? Now?"

"Yes," Joan said, Xiao twiddled her thumbs,

"You can," she said, Joan smiled,

"Alright, lay out the bags Xiao. I'll be back," Joan said leaving her room.

~