I'm just gunna start now. No off topic comments today.

At the pizza parlor…

Mac and Allegra were still there at the Pizza Parlor at 9. No one else was around them but they didn't notice. Their waiter came over to the table.

"Hey, you two. We're just about ready to close. You're gunna have to leave."

Mac jumped. "Oh, my bad."

He was reminded instantly of how this had happened to him and Kaori right before their first kiss. He started to get a little nervous. He got to his feet and felt the need to get out of there before he did something he would regret.

"I'll… see ya later, Allegra." He started to walk out.

"Wait!" said Allegra. "Will you walk me back to the hotel? I don't like the dark." She put on an innocent face.

Mac knew he couldn't say no or things might get ugly. "Yeah… sure. Let's go."

Allegra smiled. They started walking back to the hotel. Mac kept a fair distance from Allegra while not trying to look like he was purposely doing it. She kept moving closer to him and he kept moving farther away. Soon he slipped off the edge of the sidewalk and onto the ground.

"Aw, motha…" He got up and wiped the snow off. Allegra started to help him wipe off the snow.

"I… got it. Thanks." Allegra tilted her head a little.

"You okay? You're acting differently."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's keep walking." Mac wanted to stay clear from Allegra but sure didn't want to fall off the sidewalk again so soon Allegra was right next to him.

"Mac…?"

"Um, yeah?"

"Do you want to… hold ha-?"

"Hey!" Mac and Allegra turned around. Brodi was standing right behind them holding some weird plant.

"Hey Brode. Wassup?" said Mac.

Brodi raised an eyebrow. "I was wondering if I could talk to you privately." He seemed very agitated.

"Um, yeah sure. Allegra, you can wait up if you want. I'll just be a sec."

"Okay."

Mac and Brodi went down an alleyway. Mac looked over at him.

"Yeah?"

Brodi looked at him like he was a lunatic. "What is your deal? Kaori's in the hospital and you're flirting with another girl?"

Mac looked away. "Man, I wasn't flirtin'. She was the one coming on to me. Don't worry, man. I still like Kaori. I wouldn't let Allegra come between us."

"Then why aren't you with Kaori right now? You know, Allegra was about to ask you to hold hands with her. Would you have done it?"

"Whoa, you were spying on us?"

"Would you?"

"No! I mean… maybe. But I wouldn't have let her do anything else."

Brodi sighed and looked down and shook his head.

"What am I supposed to do, huh?"

"Make a choice." Then Brodi walked off.

Mac leaned against the wall. "Dammit…"

At the hospital the next morning…

Kaori woke up to a very bright light. She looked at the clock. It was 8 o'clock. She couldn't really see anything else and she was fumbling around for a glass of water.

"Shoot. Where's my water?"

A hand outstretched and handed her the glass.

"Er… thank you, nurse." She took a sip and put the water down. She rubbed her eyes and then looked up. Mac was standing next to her.

"Hey, Kao. How you feelin'?"

Kaori was speechless for a few moments. "Mac! Um, when did you get here?"

Mac looked at the clock. "1:30 last night. How you feelin'?"

Kaori gasped. "1:30? Did you get any sleep?"

"Heh. Not really. How're you feelin'?"

Kaori's eyes swelled up. "I'm feeling much better. Oh, Mac! I'm so glad you're here."

She paused and thought. "What about… Allegra?"

Mac took her hand. "Don't worry 'bout her. I'm here for you."

Kaori smiled and started to cry a little.

"Kao, why you cryin'?"

She looked up. "I… thought I lost you."

Mac looked into her eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her.

"Don't worry. You didn't lose me."

End. There's one more chapter coming up sometime in the near (or perhaps far) future. I write when I get sick and have to stay home so whenever that is. PLEASE review. It makes my day.