Ray felt an emptiness as the crowd disappeared and melted away with the end of the face-off. Mariam's car was the last to pull away, the frustration in their faces evident through the windows. Mariah waved goodbye, a sad sort of grin tilting her lips.

"What was that?"

Ray jumped, surprised by Hilary's closeness.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you just ask Mariah out?"

"No," Ray said quickly.

Not impressed with his weak denial, Hilary crossed her arms.

"Well, if I did, she didn't say yes, so don't worry about it,"

"Do you know what this means?"

Ray tried to think of what she could be speaking about. There were so many options, he couldn't narrow it down to one single thing.

Hilary titled her head toward Tyson, who'd joined the crowd inside to rave about the recent activity. He was waving his arms around excitedly, punching the air as though someone was there. The group around him cheered and laughed.

"We're going to have to tell him he was right," Hilary continued.

Ray hesitated with his smile, but it broke wide across his face as the laughter bubbled up.

"It's not funny, Ray. Do you know what that's going to do for his ego?"

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I'm sure we'll be fine, Hil,"

"You will. You'll have Mariah," she shook her head. "What will I have? Nothing, that's what, and then I'll have to deal with his ginormous head."

"Have I ever abandoned you before?"

Hilary looked up at him. Her normally warm eyes were pensive and worried. "You've never been interested in someone this way before,"

Ray didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure what was happening with Mariah himself. He liked her, sure, but how deeply was still a mystery that even he hadn't solved yet.

"What about you?" He nudged her. "What was all that with that Tala guy?"

Hilary rolled her eyes, immediately pulling away from him. "Nothing! Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

Ray was surprised by her sudden, extreme reaction. In all the time he'd know Hilary, she'd been logical and easy to get along with. Even with Tyson, who pushed her buttons as skillfully as launching a missile, she found a way to manage.

He'd never seen her so wound up. He started to think of her behavior the past few weeks, trying to identify when she'd started to change and found that he had no time frame. His memories were only full of Mariah.

"I don't know who everyone is," Ray said, "but I'm asking because I noticed something between you two."

"Well, there was nothing there. He helped me with the tire because Mariah asked. And he was only checking up on it to irritate Julia."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't notice? Julia and Tala have a history. There's no way I can compete with that." She continued when he opened his mouth to reply, "Not that I'm trying to!"

"How do you know?"

She shrugged, looking to the ground. "Just something you can see when you're not completely sidetracked,"

Ray could detect a bit of bitterness in her tone. It wasn't like Hilary to get caught up on small bumps in the road. There had to be something going else going on with her and judging by her actions, Ray knew it was big.

They'd been friends for a long time. Had he let himself get so distracted by what was going on in his own life that he'd forgotten all about her.

"Guys," Tyson pushed open the door, "you've been out here forever. You ever comin' in?"

Hilary moved to go through the doors, reaching to hold the door open for him.

"Actually," Ray said, pausing her, "I think we should probably go somewhere else. It's been a while since we watched a movie together, just the three of us. What'd you say, Tyson?"

Tyson jumped at the idea, always easy to impress. Hilary watched him carefully but allowed a small smile to lighten her dark expression.

Ray drove them to the shopping center to pick up some treats and snacks before trying back to Hilary's. Her parents had made their basement into a media room and it was always their go-to when the summer days were too hot.

The front doors were familiar, but the feeling of the home was different when the three walked in. Hilary directed them downstairs while she went to the kitchen to get dishes for their treats and drinks.

"Something's different," Tyson said as he collapsed on the cushy sectional, legs and arms sprawled in all directions.

Ray agreed, trying to find some visible indication of a change even though everything looked the same. Still, there was a coldness that had settled over the entire home.

Hilary comes down the stairs with a tray full of stuff for them. "Did you guys pick something,"

Ray takes the tray from her. "We waited for you," he smiled. She grinned in return, nearly bouncing as she walked over to the couch.

They scrolled through their options, quickly settling on an old favorite and settled into their seats next to each other despite the space on the sectional. They laughed at all the same jokes and quoted lines of dialogue. Ray was taken to a place where time and age didn't have any bearing. It was just him and his friends like they'd always been. But as he looked over at Hilary sitting between him and Tyson, he was brought back to reality. They weren't kids anymore and something was wrong. And he'd missed it.

Ray lost track of the movie, the images playing out in front of him while he tried to think of ways to bring it up without hurting Hilary. It was Tyson, though, that beat him to it.

He paused the movie, jumping from the couch. "I can't take this anymore! Just sitting here acting like everything is okay when we all know it's not."

Hilary turned to Ray with confusion. "Do you know what he's talking about?"

"Hilary," Ray said softly, wishing that it was easier. It had always been easy when they were kids. What was making it so difficult now?

She shifted between the two of them. "What's this about?"

"Let's start with this place: why's it so weird in here?"

"Weird how?"

Tyson stared at her, his eyes narrow and suspicious. Under her defiant glare, Tyson turned to him. "Well, anything to add?"

Ray hesitated under their scrutiny.

"Ray?" Hilary prompted.

"You haven't seemed like yourself lately. You have to admit it, Hilary,"

"Yeah, you forgave me way too early. You didn't even make me apologize first!" Tyson jumped back in.

Hilary crossed her arms and leaned into the couch. "I'm not stopping you," she muttered.

"But it's more than that," Ray said, cutting Tyson off, giving him a sharp look of warning. "I don't know what to say, but I know something has been going on with you. All we want is to remind you that we're your friends and you can talk to us."

Hilary stayed quiet, avoiding their eyes. When it felt like the silence had lasted too long, Ray looked to Tyson. The boy's eyes stayed trained on Hilary, his focus was unwavering.

Finally, Hilary opened her mouth. "I've got nothing to talk about. Let's just finish the movie."

Tyson stared at her for a moment longer. He shook his head. "No, I think I'll walk home. It's been a fun day, guys. See you at school."

Ray called out to Tyson but it's no use. He was gone.

"Well?" Hilary asked, still refusing to look at him.

He sighed. "Maybe it has been a long day,"

She turned the TV off and tossed the remote to the side. "Don't worry, I can clean up down here,"

Her tone was empty, and she makes no move to stand. Ray debated pushing her or letting her come to him when she was ready. He could see more clearly than before that she was going through something and it bothered him that she was keeping it to herself.

Despite how slowly he moved, Hilary never cracked. She held her silence until he was shutting her front door. He felt like a traitor getting into his car and driving the short distance home.

Avoiding his parents on the way up to his room, Ray fell back against his bed. The sun was just about set with only a thin line on the horizon. He filtered through the day's events, going from picking his friends up, ordering the food, and waiting for Mariah to arrive. When she did, he was surprised to see just how well she fit with her friends. If she was confident at school, then she was on a whole different level outside of it.

Then the fight.

Then the movie.

Then the other fight.

He was exhausted.

On Monday, Ray wasn't sure what to expect. Tyson was still fuming when he picked him up.

"Have you tried texting her?" Tyson asked him.

"I've been giving her space,"

"Well, apparently she needs it because she didn't answer me at all,"

"What'd you say?" Ray feared the answers.

Tyson didn't say anything and that confirmed Ray's fears. "Well, obviously she's not going to answer if you're being mean to her,"

"I only said she was acting psycho once,"

"Tyson!"

"It's true. She's being crazy!"

"But why would you say that?" Ray knew there was no reasoning with him.

Once he parked, he waited near his car, keeping an eye out for Hilary's. There wasn't much he could do other than make himself available. Tyson waited with him for a few minutes, but Ray could see him shifting on his feet and talking about random topics, unable to focus on just one.

"Just go," he said. Tyson stopped, looking at him questioningly. "I'll smooth things over with Hil. You can go."

Tyson grinned, slapping Ray on the back. "Hey, thanks, man!"

Once he was alone, Ray leaned against his car, watching the spaces fill up and greeting those that passed him. As the empty spaces became fewer and fewer, Ray grew tenser. Hilary was studious. She had a lot of responsibilities and she loved them. It wasn't in her nature to miss school, no matter what was going on.

Even when she was sick, she still found a way. One time, she had him call her so that she could listen in to the teacher's lecture. His phone was confiscated but she got her notes.

Her quiet protest only confirmed that something was wrong.

"This is a new look for you," Mariah walked up to him, shoulder bag hitting her hip rhythmically. She framed his face by making a square from her thumbs and index finger. "Strangely intense. What's up?"

Ray took a deep breath. It wasn't her fault that he'd lost track of Hilary but seeing her reminded him of the blame he shouldered.

Mariah's eyes sharpened as he looked away. "Hey, this isn't about Saturday, is it? I said I was sorry,"

"It's not about that," Ray shook his head. "There's nothing for you to apologize for; I had fun."

"Then, what is it?"

"It's Hilary," he relented, "something's going on with her and she won't tell us."

Mariah leaned against the car next to him. "I want to say that she doesn't have to tell you everything," she said, "but I know it bothers me if a friend is keeping something to themselves."

Ray laughed. "You're no help,"

"Nope, none at all," she said happily. "But what I can tell you is that if your friendship with Hilary is anything like mine is with Mariam and Julia, then she'll come to you when you're ready."

The bell rang, calling for the beginning of class. Ray scanned the lot one last time and failing to see any sign of Hilary, he frowned. Turning back to Mariah, she gave him an encouraging smile.

"She'll come around. Just trust your friendship with her."

He followed her into the school, asking her about her weekend, though they had to part ways before she was able to go into details. In class, he worked hard to focus.

The past few weeks, thanks to Mariah's help, he'd been able to keep up with his math class. He started to have fun now that Ms. Kincaid wasn't speaking a different language. He scribbled his notes furiously, putting a question mark next to anything he was completely sure about, something Mariah had told him to do so that they could clarify during their lessons. So far, it had been working out well.

At the end of class, Ms. Kincaid passed back a pop quiz from the week before. Ray waited for his results eagerly as she walked up and down the room, placing the sheets face down. When she got to him, she shuffled his paper behind the others and asked that he meet her after class was released.

Ray's heart dropped. He heard a few chuckles and muffled laughter around him, but he couldn't give it any mind. The quiz had felt so easy, he thought he'd done a good job. He went through it twice because he couldn't believe how quickly he'd finished it. Everything had looked right, but if Ms. Kincaid was asking to meet him, then obviously he was wrong.

When the class was released, Ray went to the front. He knew his expression was lost but he couldn't help it. Just the thought of telling Mariah of his failure was enough to ruin his day.

"Ray," she said when he stopped at her desk. "I know you've been working hard with Mariah after school. I'm proud of you both."

He nodded. "Right,"

Her lips tilted into a smile. "And it shows!" She holds the paper out in front of her. Written in bright red ink was a perfect score, circled three times.

Ray took the paper, staring at the number with wide, disbelieving eyes. "I can't believe it,"

"I admit, I had my doubts about Mariah. She's a good student, but I didn't know if she could be a teacher. But you both have really surprised me."

Ray wanted to laugh. Mariah certainly presented herself as a capable person, but after all he'd seen from her, she was proving to be perhaps the most capable person he'd ever met. If there was anyone who could rise to the challenge, it was her.

"She deserves most of the credit,"

"How the credit is divided is between you two, but you should get going before you're late,"

Ray put the quiz neatly away, excited to show Mariah later. With his mood lifted, the rest of his classes went by quickly. He was only reminded of Hilary's absence at lunch when the table was empty except for him and Tyson.

They sat quietly, eating their food until Mathilda and Miguel joined them soon after, setting their trays down. "Where's Hilary?" Mathilda asked.

"She's sick,"

"She's meditating,"

Ray looked to Tyson.

"Meditating?" Miguel asked, a smirk pulling at his lips. "Right."

Mathilda's curious eyes jumped between the two of them. "At least just tell me she's okay,"

"She's alive," Tyson answered.

"Alive?"

"Tyson!"

"What?" he shouted back.

"What's going on here?"

Ray turned to Mariah, holding her lunch bag in hand. She took the seat next to him without asking.

"They're acting weird about Hilary not being here," Miguel caught her up easily.

"Since when is it a crime for a girl to take a day for herself without having the world question it? I think great that her friends would cover for her," she gave Ray a doubtful look, "no matter how bad they are at it."

"Oh, so she's okay?" Mathilda smiled, "That's a relief."

Ray listened as Mariah chatted easily with the others, moving the conversation away from Hilary. It was different than when they were alone, but he was happy she was getting along with his friends. It felt right to have her at the table.

She laughed at something Miguel said, her laughter like high wind chimes in a breeze. The school uniform hung off her steep curves – ones he hadn't been aware of until he saw her in her jeans and tight shirt. The knowledge of them did nothing to help what he had identified as growing feelings. He wanted to believe she was just a friend and tutor but as he thought about being with her more and more, he realized there was no denying it.

Tyson was right.

He had a crush.

"Mariah," he said, getting her attention. He pulled out his quiz to show her. When she saw the score, she grabbed the paper greedily, eyes lapping up the grade.

"It's not even my test and I'm so happy," she said. Her hand ran over the page with gentle care.

Her tenderness surprised Ray. "You can keep it if you want,"

"What? No! It's your perfect grade. You should frame it."

He laughed, but she just smiled at him. "I'm not going to frame it," he said. "I probably won't even keep it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why would I?"

"Because," she paused. Her eyes drifted over the page. "It's your accomplishment. Why wouldn't you treasure it?"

"Are you telling me you have every test and quiz you've ever gotten a perfect score on?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Mariah," Mathilda called. Their three other companions had been listening in and were looking at her with varying degrees of concern. "That's really weird."

"Do you want me to pretend I care?"

Ray and the others laughed with her. Slowly, as if unaware, Mariah slipped the page into her bag. Ray smiled. It was just as much her accomplishment as it was his. If she wanted it, she earned it, it was hers.

As lunch came to an end, Ray followed Mariah into the hall. "So, should we hang out later?"

"What?"

"Like we talked about before,"

Mariah stopped, pulling him with her into an alcove in the hall between lockers. "Look. Last week when I said I was studying I was making up a test. I failed a test, Ray."

Ray couldn't believe what he was hearing, but the serious set of her eyes told him he'd better. "Why didn't you say something?"

"Because my dad told me that if my grades start slipping, I can't tutor you anymore. I'm trying, Ray," she said. "I'm trying to figure out how to balance everything, but my workload is no joke. And it's easier now that you're giving me rides on the days that I stay late, but on days that we're not studying, I need to focus on myself."

He nodded. "Well, I can give you rides on the other days too, so that you don't have to take the bus."

"Ray, that's sweet, but it's not necessary."

"I think it is,"

"Ray -"

"Mariah, I got my first perfect score," he said, "and I need to continue improving. So, if this helps you continue tutoring me, then it's necessary."

She smiled softly. "I guess,"

"So, I'll see you after school?"

"Yes, but now I've got to go, or I'll be late and that will also do me in," she waved and merged with the traffic in the halls.

She disappeared around the corner and Ray had to rush to his next class. He had to wonder if he was being too forward and eager to be around her. Still, he couldn't help but be excited for the ride home. With everything going wrong, it was nice that she brought a little joy to his life.

A lot of joy, actually.

After school, Ray waited for Mariah to appear, having let Tyson know he'd need to find another ride home. He gave Ray a weird look for a moment before giving in.

"It's not like I haven't been finding a ride for the past few weeks anyway," he shrugged. "Tell Mariah I said hi,"

Ray was just thankful he didn't say anything about his crush again.

"Hey," Mariah found him already sitting in his car, ready to go. "Eager to leave?"

"You want to get home, don't you?"

"Oh, you're just trying to get rid of me?"

"I was thinking we could stop and get a drink. You need something to help you study, right?"

Mariah's golden eyes studied him. "Ray, you really don't need to do all this. It was one grade."

"This has nothing to do with any of that. I don't mind do this at all. It's how I treat my friends,"

"Fine, but I'm buying the drinks,"

"I offered first,"

"You bought the food on Saturday," she argued, "and I know I said we could make your dad's bank account hurt, but this seems a little excessive."

"My dad won't even notice, I promise,"

She didn't say anything, letting the songs from radio fill the silence until the pulled into the drive-thru.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Nothing," she shrugged, "I'm good."

"Mariah, seriously."

"Seriously. Get what you want."

"Mariah?"

She didn't answer. Cars began lining up behind him and Ray struggled with what to do. Her stubbornness was something he was still getting used to and under these circumstances, he only had so many options.

"Will you order something if I let you pay?"

She looked at him from the corner of her eye.

"Fine, you can pay,"

She grinned at him and he could only laugh at the sudden change in demeanor. She leaned over him to place her order and he followed right after, pulling up to the window. She passed her cash over, mostly ones and Ray felt a sting of irritation.

"This isn't bus money, is it?"

Mariah rolled her eyes, but not in that playful way he was used to and he cursed mentally. Now that he was finally admitting his feelings, it seemed all he could do was mess things up with her.

Once they drove off, Mariah turned to him. "When are you going to get it?"

"Get what?"

"I'm not risking my future for you," she emphasized each word. "As much as I like you, Ray, my future is too important. So, no. I'm not going to give up my bus money – that literally takes me to school – to buy you a coffee. You're too rich for me to risk that. Also, I hate taking handouts,"

"It's not a handout, it's being nice,"

"Then let me be nice back,"

Ray held his tongue, knowing that if he didn't calm down, he'd say things the wrong way.

"I can be kind in a different way than you can, Mariah. I don't intend for it to put you down. My parents have money, I can't do anything about that, and I'm not going to pretend that they don't. But what I can do is use the allowance they give me to treat my friends.

"You can't do anything the time it takes you to get to school or how hard you have to work, but you still try to make time for your friends and me. That's how you show kindness.

"Obviously, I see how we differ, but it doesn't change that we're both trying. That's why I don't mind paying or giving you rides. It's what I can do. If I couldn't, I'd find another way."

"That's strangely astute of you," Mariah mumbled after a moment. He pulled in front of her home, parking along the curb.

"I'm trying," she said. Her tone carried a softness he wasn't yet familiar with. "I've never had a friend like you and I'm trying to get used to it."

"We'll get there,"

She grabbed her drink and her bag, bidding him goodnight and walking up to her front door, waving just before going inside.

He left, making it home before traffic really set in. After spending an hour in the gym, he took a shower and started on his homework. Mariah had told him to get math out of the way first when he was fresh. He had to admit, it was much easier to push through when he wasn't already exhausted.

Dinners were still a quiet hour. Ray's dad tried to carry a conversation, but neither he nor his mom gave the old man much to work with.

"Rei, your mom tells me you've been coming home later and later,"

"I've been giving Mariah rides home so that she had time to study and keep her grades up."

A sharp clank came from his mom's side of the table as she set her utensils down. She didn't say anything as she reached for her glass of water, regal as ever.

"If her grades fall," Ray continued, "she won't be able to tutor me anymore."

"Oh, dear," his mom muttered under her breath.

"I got my first hundred on a quiz," he announced, his eyes trained on her for her reaction.

Her lighter eyes moved from him to his dad, quietly and concealing.

"That's good," his father said. "I guess that makes it all worth it."

His mother excused herself from the table, walking out of the dining room. They stayed silent as they listened to her steps carry her upstairs.

"I wish you would stop antagonizing her,"

"Me? She's the grown woman who has a problem with a teenage girl,"

"Yes, I know. But we all have our flaws, Rei. Maybe show a little patience as she works her own?"

Ray halted, the words he prepared to fire stuck in his throat.

"Is she working on them?" he finally asked.

"We are, together,"

Silence coated over them again as Ray processed this news. Patience, it is then, he thought.

Whew. Almost didn't make the Sunday deadline. Thank you to all those who are reading this story and stick with it. Updates are every other Sunday.

I welcome any and all thoughts. Take care - Konix