Stephanie stood with one hand resting on her hip, looking into her closet. She couldn't decide what to wear. Derek wanted her to watch a movie with him and some of his friends over at his house. She didn't want to be too dressed up, but still wanted to look nicer than usual. Still having a few hours before going over there, she sighed as she looked at her clothes.

Suddenly her phone rang. Shutting her closet door, she walked over to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Stephanie."

"Oh, hey Virgil. Um, sorry, but didn't I already tell you I can't hang out tonight?"

"Oh, yeah, you did, but that wasn't what I was calling about, actually. It's not quite tonight yet, though."

"What do you mean, Virgil?"

"Uh, do you think you could come over to my house? Just for a little bit."

"I guess so. Why?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something."

Stephanie felt her stomach tie in a knot. Ever since last Friday things had felt really weird, especially around Virgil and Charlie and Zeke. Realizing that Virgil was waiting for her to answer, she glanced over at her clock.

"Um, ok, I guess that would be all right, if it's quick."

"I'll try to make it. See you in a few minutes?"

"Yeah. Bye Virgil."

"Bye Steph."

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Stephanie sighed a little as she knocked on Virgil's door. She tried to smile when Mrs. Fox answered the door.

"Hi Stephanie. Virgil's in the living room."

"Thanks, Mrs. Fox."

She walked into the house and to the living room where Virgil was waiting.

"Hey Steph. Thanks for coming over."

"No problem." Stephanie sat down on the couch across from Virgil and tried to act casual. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Virgil's uneasy face didn't help to calm down Stephanie's stomach. He looked really nervous.

"Uh, it was about last Friday night."

The smile Stephanie had been trying to keep on her face disappeared. The one thing she was worried about but most wanted to know about was here now. No ignoring it or wondering about it. This was it.

"Ok." That was all she could say.

Virgil sighed, then plunged in. He told her about the time machine, the "snowsuit guys", the black hole, and how, when they had come back, they had gone back in time so nobody knew about any of it. Stephanie listened without saying a word or showing any sort of a reaction on her face. She just sort of sat there, but she didn't lose a single word Virgil said.

"So, that's it." Virgil leaned back a little bit and looked at her.

"Wow, Virgil," Stephanie whispered, not even looking at him.

"I know! It's-"

"It's just great to lie to your friends."

"Stephanie!" Virgil looked shocked. "I would never lie to you!"

"Wow," Stephanie said again with a small laugh, but tears were starting to form in her eyes. "First you lie, then you pretend like you actually expect me to believe you."

"But, I, I mean..."

Stephanie looked over at Virgil. He looked completely confused and unsure of himself, and that surprised Stephanie, because she had never seen Virgil look like that.

"Just stop, Virgil," she whispered in a shaky voice.

"Stephanie, please."

She had never seen him look so hurt. For a few seconds as she looked at him she began to doubt herself, then she shook her head.

"This is ridiculous, Virgil. I don't know if you're trying to impress me or if you just think I'm stupid. But please don't ever talk to me about this again."

"I'm not lying to you, Steph," Virgil whispered.

Stephanie met her long-time friend's eyes, but the tears she saw forming there were too much for her to handle. With one last shake of her head she stood up and ran out of the house.

She stopped when she got outside and tried to slow her rapid breathing. Everything was blurry. The world was swimming through the tears in her eyes. Even though the setting sun warmed her body Stephanie shivered.