Okay, guys. I'm really not sure about this, so here goes nothing. A bunch of this chapter is in Latin.

Enjoy anyway!

Illiud Latine Dici Non Potest

"So Sabrina," Jill began lightly, "What was growing up like for you?"

It took a second for Kelly to realize what Jill was doing, and she immediately tensed. It is clear when Kelly tenses: she straightens her posture and narrows her eyes, looking like a puma about to pounce on its prey. Kelly often shifted her personas, making it hard for people to read her. One moment she was calm and understanding, the next playful and happy, and then all of a sudden she turned quiet, analytical and altogether dangerous to be around. This last one was not a good sign. Not a good sign at all.

"What do you want to know?" Sabrina replied, just as lightly. Kelly relaxed slightly, but she remained still, looking at Jill to see just how far she would tread down this path, and wondering when she would need to break in.

"Just, you know. The basics. What growing up a military brat was like for you and all that."

Oh. The basics. Deep breaths, Bri. Would you like me to take over for you? Sabrina's conscience was acting up again. She sighed in relief. It would be good to have the more relaxed Sabrina talk, rather than the one who would never betray her secrets to anyone.

"Well, as you all know, I grew up with my daddy. He was the one who first taught me how to handle a gun like a soldier, how to catch a fish with a spear like a pro, and how to play chess like a master." She smiled and shrugged. Keep going. "He raised me well. Made up for everything else." As soon as the words came out of her mouth, she realized what she was doing. Damn! Too loose. You gotta keep it light. Don't say anything yet, just wait for the reaction.

Sabrina's wince went unnoticed to all but one. Kelly cringed and stood in her defensive mode again. Oh, Jill. Can't you see she doesn't want this? Why couldn't you let it go? Oh well. It's too late now.

Kris looked at Kelly and saw the emotions flit unsurely across her face. Kelly's upset by this, as am I. Jill shouldn't jump into things like this, it might be hurting Sabrina. She does never talk about her past, though. Kris frowned, unable to decide if she should act or see this through. She saw that it was hurting Kelly, and even more importantly, shutting the usually talkative and cheery Sabrina down. I'll wait it out for now, I'm rather curious as to what Sabrina's reaction will be.

Jill frowned. "Made up for everything else?" She repeated.

Sabrina smiled nervously. "Well, you know, my dad wasn't around all that much, so when he was with me, he made it real special. We would have great times together."

Jill smiled back at her, but she knew Sabrina was hiding something, and she intended to figure out just what it was.

"What about the times when he wasn't there? Were you alone?"

Something in Sabrina clicked just then, something dark and cruel. Her mindset switched straight from evasive to unforgiving, an emotion she rarely used on anyone, let alone her friends. If they want my past, then they're going to have it.

Kelly saw Sabrina's eyes harden. She could see right through her. She winced and sent a quiet prayer to her.

" 'Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent.' " Kelly said softly.

Jill looked at her friend, utterly confused. Since when had Kelly spoken Latin?

She knew that Sabrina had studied it in school and could read and translate the language perfectly, but she had never known that Kelly also understood the dead language.

"What does that mean, Kel?"

Kelly looked straight at her. "It's a quote, spoken by Publilius Syrus. It means, 'Other people's things are more pleasing to us, and ours to other people.' Roughly, we are always more interested in other people's 's proven to be right."

The corner of Jill's mouth twitched. She knew Kelly was targeting her, and she instantly felt badly about letting her instincts run free. She wondered how Sabrina would react.

Sabrina, however, took no notice of Jill. She looked at Kelly and smiled just a tiny bit. "Adversus solem ne loquitor. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam." Don't speak against the sun (don't waste your time arguing the obvious). It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice.

Kelly looked back at Sabrina. "Cum tacent, clamant." When they remain silent, they cry out. (Their silence speaks louder than words) (Cicero)

"Excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta." He who excuses himself, accuses himself. Replied Sabrina, quick-witted and sharp as ever.

Kelly thought hard, scrolling down the list of quotes that she knew. She found one and looked at Sabrina like a teacher looking at a student who doesn't understand the basic concept. "Intelligenti pauca." Few words suffice for he who understands.

Sabrina scowled. She was most definitely not going to let Kelly have the last word. She, after all, was not just quoting, but actually speaking fluent Latin. She finally came up with something and smiled at Kelly.

"Lapsus linguae est lapsus memoriae." A slip of the tongue is a slip of the memory.

Jill looked at the two of them, utterly confused. "I have no idea what you guys are talking about."

Sabrina laughed. "Latine loqui coactus sum." I have this compulsion to speak Latin.

"Ah." Jill chuckled, still having no idea what she was saying. Through the smiles, though, Kris could see that she felt bad for her rash actions. She knew she had to do something.

"Jill, want to go upstairs? You look tired."

Jill looked at her and blinked thrice rapidly, their signal of thanks, then nodded and followed Kris upstairs.

"Jill, I know you feel bad about that, but hey, listen. Look at me." Kris stroked the left side of Jill's face and turned her so that she was facing her. "Sweetie, I think she'll tell us eventually. Bri is definitely not the secretive type, you know.

Jill sighed. "Yeah, I know."

Kris made a face and pulled her older sister into her chest. "You know what type Sabrina is? She's forgiving, comforting, honest, and kind. I don't even think she cares! I mean, you shouldn't have done that, but there is a very slim chance that Sabrina doesn't want to be your friend. Very slim."

"Yeah, I know."

Kris frowned. "You gotta come up with another answer."

Jill looked up at her, and this time she was grinning. "Yeah, I know."

Meanwhile...

Sabrina frowned. "Where are they off to in such a hurry? Kris didn't take what I said to heart, did she?"

Kelly looked at Sabrina quizzically. "They don't understand Latin, remember? And…what did you say?"

Bri grinned. "Just a little tease, nothing too bad."

Kelly decided that Sabrina was not going to share any more information, so she didn't push any further. Besides, she had something else on her mind. "Oh." She smiled.

Sabrina smiled back at Kelly, but Kelly knew that there was sadness behind the smile. Sabrina's past was haunting her, and Kelly could see it plainly in her face. It was an itch she knew Sabrina could not- or would not- scratch. And Kelly wondered if protecting Sabrina from her monsters was a god idea after all.

We might've waited for Jill to act up instead of going in like that. It might've been good for her to let it out.

Good how?

Like it was good for you.

Kelly sighed and put her head in her hands, earning a concerned look from Bri.

Sabrina was hurting, but she put Kelly first anyway- like Kelly did for her.

"Hey, kiddo. What's on your mind?"

Kelly looked at Bri and, for the first time, noticed how she looked. Her dark brown hair was starting to grow out, constantly in her face. Her chocolate brown eyes, usually warm and friendly, were now intense, telling a story of secrets and hardship. Kelly looked straight into them now, wanting Bri to know how serious she was.

"Sabrina," she began, "I'm not half as concerned with myself as I am with you."

Sabrina sighed. Maybe the time had come, after all.

"Well, first of all, I owe you a depth of gratitude for cutting in back there. Kel, I was- I was about to hurt myself, and probably hurt Jill as well. And that would be inexcusable." She looked down, blinking hard.

Kelly exhaled, glad that Sabrina was not being evasive, and that she was finally opening up.

"I could see your eyes turn to steel, something that reminded me of myself. You felt that you were being forced into something, so instead of submitting or lashing out, you turned to ice. I couldn't let that happen. Not to you."

Kelly was expecting a smile, or a frown, or any acknowledgement of the words she had spoken. So she was quite surprised when a low growl slid through her throat.

Alarmed, Kelly asked, "Bri, what's-"

"Shut up for a second, will you?" She hissed through clenched teeth.

Anyone else would have been taken aback. Kelly, however, had much experience with these reactions, and she knew that Bri had snapped at her only because she sensed danger. Kelly immediately switched into defensive mode.

"Alright, Kelly." Sabrina's voice was barely a whisper. "Go check on Kris and Jill, see if they're alright."

"What! No! I'm not leaving you alone down here, Sabrina. Remember what happened last time?"

Sabrina whirled on her. "I can take care of myself, Kelly! Or maybe you would choose my life over theirs!"

Kelly immediately retaliated. "Maybe I would!"

Sabrina froze. She looked at Kelly with horror in her eyes.

"Kel," she whispered. "Don't think like that, come on. I'm sorry."

But Kelly went right ahead. She could feel the ice crawling up her throat. "What would you do in my place? Who would you choose?" She said quietly.

Sabrina hesitated. "That's different." She muttered.

"How is it different, Sabrina? How is it any different?

"Because, Kelly!" Bri exploded. "Because it's you! And I don't want to lose you! I've lost too many people as it is!"

Kelly was shocked and ashamed of herself, but a small part of her felt victorious without her knowing why. She stared at Sabrina, who was trembling with passion and fury.

All that could be heard was the stillness of breath. Time seemed to go on forever.

Finally, Kelly sighed. "Alright. How about we both go?"

Sabrina didn't respond for a few moments. Then, "'Kay."

They walked in silence upstairs. Kelly nervously shifted her gun from her left hand to her right, her thoughts not only concerned for her two friends upstairs, but also for the one who was now following her to whatever danger that they would come upon. She couldn't believe what Sabrina had said. What she herself had said. Kelly knew that she had struck a nerve, and she couldn't forgive herself.

They finally reached the guestroom. Sabrina quietly approached it, and, on Kelly's nod, flung the door wide open.

Even if you didn't like the Latin, it was a long chapter, you have to admit.

Anyways, hope you liked. Maybe I'll post the next one, maybe I won't. Please Review!