"I'm gonna go talk to her," Owen loudly announced to the three others still at the table.

"Who? Which?" Keely asked, looking up at Owen with a slightly paranoid look in her eyes.

"I don't think it matters; it's a terrible idea either way," Phil said.

"Don't screw this up, Owen," Keely warned. She glanced down at her plate for a moment, then opened her mouth to speak again. "In fact, maybe I should– Owen?" She glanced around and saw Owen heading for the door. She groaned.

"....well. This is awkward," Phil said, looking around. Across the table, Seth slowly nodded in agreement.

- - -

"Tia! I looked all over for you," Owen explained, shutting the door behind him.

Tia stopped what she was doing to look over at Owen. "You didn't think to check the room I'm staying in first?"

"Look, I can tell that you were bothered by what Via said earlier, and I just want to say....."

She raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to finish his thought.

"I'm sorry. Alright? But I can tell that it bothered you, so that must mean...."

".....what? What did you discover, Sherlock?"

"Well, that you still.... want to be together...?"

Tia smiled and tilted her head back. Owen sighed in relief. "Oh, Owen. So close."

"Wha...?"

"I might have been jealous earlier. But you helped me realize something. After what you did - twice - I don't want someone like that.... I don't need you, Owen."

"...Oh. Wait, really? After your reaction down there?"

"Mm. More like after my conversation with Via."

Owen muttered the Brit's name under his breath in frustration.

"I don't need you!" she repeated, saying it more for her own benefit than anyone else's. "I'm better than that! Wow, you really blew it, Owen, you really did."

"I mean, I don't really think that's—.... where are you going?"

Tia breezed past him and walked out the room, relishing her newfound freedom with an affected air of superiority.

- - -

"Look, I'm not saying that she didn't have her reasons for—" Keely cut herself off awkwardly as Tia walked back towards them with a grin on her face.

"Oh, hey you two," she said airily, "how was the rest of dinner?"

"Awkward and expensive," Phil quickly interjected. Keely gave him a smack on the shoulder.

"So what... happened up there? You didn't go postal on Via again, did you? I'd like to have her in one piece for the rest of the time she's gonna be here. Or-- with us, that is."

Tia laughed softly and looked down, her hair hanging down in front of her face. "No, we just had a nice conversation," she said, turning back up to look at the two of them.

"Oh! Well that's..... wait, is that good?"

She nodded. "Uh, yeah! Owen's just....." Unable to think of a way to finish that sentence, Tia just wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

Keely frowned, then sighed. "Well, if you think so..."

"....why are you more upset by this than I am?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, I just don't like when stuff like this happens. Especially when it happens to my friends!"

"Well, you know what they say, the best of friends make the wwwuhh-huh.....aaaaand I'm going to stop that thought before I make myself sick," Tia muttered, looking at Keely and Phil uncomfortably.

"So... what are you gonna do now? I mean, you have to sleep in the same room as the guy..." Phil pointed out.

Tia tapped her chin. "I think I can persuade Seth to switch rooms with me..."

"How?"

"I'm sure I'll think of something," she finished with a grin as she headed out of the lobby. "I'll see you two around... it's getting kind of late! Don't stay up too late, you two."

Keely gave a small wave and a half-hearted "goodnight" as her friend disappeared. She slowly looked over at Phil and sighed. "Was this how you saw this trip going?"

"You mean, Tia and Owen breaking up? ....yyyeah, actually...."

She pursed her lips.

"She's right, though... you can't get too caught up in her business... we'll be heading back soon. Do you really wanna spend the last couple days of this trip worrying about them?"

She shook her head.

"Exactly. Come on, it's not that late. Let's go out somewhere."

"Where?"

"We'll find something," he promised as he led her out the front doors.