"Nick, don't be weird. He was just admiring my obi! His grandmother is a seamstress, you know?"

Phoenix let out a sigh a relief.

Maya continued, "And by the way, we have a date next week!" She winked.

We?! Nick's jaw dropped but he quickly put it back in place when he realized who she meant exactly. "A... a d-date! But you barely know the guy!"

"Well, duh, that's why I am going on a date with him. To get to know him!" She smiled cheerfully and marched out of the restaurant without another word. He didn't like the way she emphasized those words.

Phoenix fought every urge he had to argue with her about her decision. He couldn't think of anything he could possibly rebuttal with. If Maya wanted to date some loser she met at a burger joint then so be it! It was no concern to him what she decided to do with her life.

And with who she decided to spend it.

His last thought left a knot in his stomach but he chalked it up to hunger.

("Can I get three bacon cheeseburgers, please?")

Maya felt good.

She felt better than good, she felt great.

It had been a little while since her tearful outburst in Nick's office and she was glad the awkwardness of it had finally blown over. She had decided then and there that she couldn't let her feelings get in the way of her relationship with Nick.

If she had let him be aware of even the slightest hint of how she honestly felt sometimes, it'd change the beautiful dynamic between them forever. And that was the absolute last thing she wanted.

Maya wondered how friends in movies could so easily admit their feelings and still remain friends afterwards. Such a thing seemed positively insane and impossible. Things just didn't work out that way.

As soon as someone says they like you, or vice versa, the atmosphere changes immediately. You start to question their actions as something they're doing just because they like you. Or maybe they wouldn't do them if they didn't like you. Or even...

Maya shook her head roughly, getting tired of her own annoying thoughts about nonsensical things.

It didn't even matter now anyway considering she was more than ready to happily move on. The little thing she had with Nick had yet to be spoiled and she was more than glad to cheer him on from the sidelines.

But it didn't mean she had to watch all by her lonesome, right?

That's why when a boy approached her while she was ordering food and asked about her spirit medium outfit did Maya offer a most glorious smile.

This was the turnaround she was exactly looking for. She still had it in her to attract the opposite sex and she was still yet young enough to find someone else. It wasn't too late for her at all and Maya was grateful for the distraction. On a side note, he was intelligent and also pretty cute.

Who knows, she'd think, this could all lead to something much more exciting.

"Mystic Maya! How could you? Your poor Mr. Nick was in tears when he learned of your devious affair!"

"Pearly, please! There is no "my Mr. Nick" for the last time! It's just a little date... Also, I highly doubt Nick was crying." Maya huffed.

"But, why, I mean-"

"Pearly! Don't you...!" Maya turned her head away and mumbled, "...want me to be happy?"

"H-Happy?" Pearl began chewing on her nail with vigor. "Of course I want Mystic Maya to be happy! Aren't you happy with Mr. Nick and I?"

Maya remained silent for a moment. "I'm always happy to be with you, Pearly..." She patted the young medium's head.

"So...so are you saying you aren't happy with... Mr. Nick?" Pearl stared at her feet, looking downtrodden.

Maya didn't respond.

Phoenix walked through the door a second later, burgers in hand. He paused awkwardly when he saw the stern faces on Maya and Pearl but continued on towards his desk without a word. Phoenix didn't really feel like talking anyway.

Maya watched him quietly as he walked away. His silence was a little unnerving but she figured it was nothing to get worked up about. They could talk later.

In the other room, Phoenix was greedily stuffing hamburger into his mouth and pretending he could appreciate the taste. Everything tasted bitter to him.

("...")

"Nick!" Maya called from the opposite room. Today was the day of her date with the mysterious boy. She felt a little out of touch with the dating scene considering she's never had a real one in her entire life. Sure, she's been out with boys alone and they have gotten food together but never with the intention of... what exactly? Where does a first date lead to?

Maya shrugged to herself. "Nick! Where are yooou!" She called again.

"What?"

Maya swiveled around to see a rather disheveled looking lawyer scratching his head in the door frame. His eyes were squinted and it looked like it took a great deal of effort to keep them open.

"Were you sleeping?" She questioned, rocking back and forth on the tips of her shoes. She wasn't wearing her typical spirit medium sandals and had instead opted for something a little more formal. She had to look good for her date, after all.

Nick merely shook his head.

Maya raised an eyebrow but said nothing more on the matter. "Well?" She said, giving a little twirl, "What do you think of this dress? It's not much but it's the best I could find on short notice."

Phoenix rubbed his eyelids and attempted to widen them. His head trailed all along the spirit medium's body and Maya blushed despite of herself under his scrutiny. The dress was simple, white with a black bow around the waist, reminiscent of her medium clothes.

"Uh, it's nice," said Phoenix plainly, "you look different." He nodded at her and then exited the room.

"Hey! Where are you going? Different? Is that good?"

"It's as good as you want it to be," was the muffled reply. "By the way, where's Pearls?"

"I took her to the train station this morning!"

Maya sighed. Nick has been acting a little strange for the past couple days. He slept in more and his responses to her inquiries were less than energetic. A small part of her knew it must be jealousy that caused his unusual behavior. Not jealous that she had a date, but perhaps jealous that her attention was as divided as his was in regards to Iris.

She had been spending quite a bit of time away from the office lately, shopping at thrift stores and taking Pearly along for the ride. Nick must've been slightly lonely. Especially considering he hasn't had many clients lately.

At any other time, Maya would've felt especially guilty for making Phoenix feel such a way but now she just felt excited for herself.

It was as if this was her small revenge at him for always visiting Iris and ignoring her needs.

Maya frowned; she had no idea she was such a little brat. But for some reason she couldn't help herself. She knew Nick didn't deserve the treatment she was giving him but then again, she didn't deserve what she was receiving either.

But then again, what was she receiving? Nick was free to visit Iris and have other friends besides her and Pearl. Maya understood this very well and scolded herself internally for finding joy in Nick's small suffering. It was immature and juvenile and she knew it.

But all the same, his attitude was starting to get on her nerves.

She marched into the other room where Nick had previously retreated. He was at his desk, half dressed and dozing away.

Maya sighed again, all steam of her previous anger evaporating in a second. She walked over to his desk and ran her hand along its surface.

It was weird, she mused, how fragile their little relationship was. Months before she would be so adamant that their friendship was an unbreakable bond. It was a friendship unlike any other. Thrown together under horrible circumstances but sticking through it with strength a million times more than anyone thought imaginable.

Friendships, in reality, could break at the drop of a hat. An unfortunate argument, matters outside of your hands, betrayal, lives going separate ways... the list was endless.

And Maya knew this better than anyone. She never was one for many friendships, but the ones she did keep were the most important things in her life.

But friendship was a two-way street and in order for one to function, both parties must be willing to contribute some sort of effort. And lately both hers and Phoenix's efforts were lacking.

It saddened Maya considerably but hoped it was just a mere slump that occurred with any relationship.

She stood silent a little longer and looked to the clock. Maya would have to start leaving soon. Her date was scheduled to start early afternoon and last well into the night, or so she hoped if it went well.

Phoenix's back rose and fell with every sigh of breath. His spiked hair seemed more limp than usual and Maya ran a timid hand through them. They were un-expectantly soft, but also a little oily, she noted with amusement. A small smile formed on her lips as she continuously ran her fingers lightly over the tips of his spikes, feeling them prod her skin.

Nick stirred and Maya immediately jerked her hand back. Her cheeks were tinged and she looked to the clock again for a distraction. It was about time she got moving.

With one last glance, she put her hand back towards Phoenix but instead placed it near his forehead. Giving him a final pat, she admired how warm his skin felt under the cool of her touch.

Removing her palm from her employer's head, Maya smiled a farewell, grabbed her bag, and scampered out the door.

When the door finally shut, a single eye popped open, lingering on where Maya had just previously stood. Phoenix straightened up, picking his now reddened face up from where it hid behind folded arms. What was that all about?

He sat very still for a time, simply watching the closed door. Phoenix rubbed his cheeks roughly in an attempt to calm them down but to no avail.

He gave up and with a groan, slammed his head back onto the wood of his desk.

It was going to be a dreadfully long night.

AN: Hi everyone! Thank you all for the reviews, they really inspire me to keep at it! I really hope I manage to portray things correctly. I'm really not one for grandoise storylines. I'm not brave enough to attempt them. Anyway, this was a pretty short chapter. Also, you might notice that the point of view had been shifted in the past two chapters but in this one it was more of a back and forth kind of deal. I hope it's okay. Also also, the more I write this, the more detail I want to put into it rather than just the simplistic sentences I was going for in the first couple chapters.

One thing I struggle with the most is trying to make it as OOC-less as possible. I also struggle with coherent story advancement. I want to make a story that isn't cliche... but the more I write, the more cliche it starts to sound. I guess I'll see where the wind takes me... Sorry this was long.

Any feedback is positively great and appreciated!