A/N. I suuuuuck. Sorry it's late- I redid this chapter at the very least 4 times. Still not totally happy with it, but I figured I better update SOMETHING before Turkey Day.

Happy Early Thanksgiving, all! May you spend it with the ones you love!

-X-X-

Chapter Three

-X-X-

Complications

-X-X-

After Joshua left, Rhyme was left alone, stirring her coffee whilst deep in thought. Joshua's so confusing. He claims he's fine with being just friends. He's never lied to me before, and I trust him. She heaved a sigh into her cup. Then why do I feel like he's hiding something? What a complicated man.

Closing her eyes, she could just summon up the faint thrill from her first kiss with Joshua; so foreign, so new.... her first. But the memory was old and faded, like a letter too often read. He had dropped off the face of the earth just a week later, just as she was leaving for private school. Did he know their relationship was hopeless? Was it? Is it?

Her mind still full of confusion, the fog lingering in her mind from the night before, the blonde walked slowly back to the apartment she shared with Tim. A slight tingling sensation touched the back of her neck, like a cold wind. Instantly she stopped, sharp eyes scanning the scenery. There was flash of red hair that disappeared into the sparse crowd, causing Rhyme to make a confused face. That was really weird. Am I being watched? But... I'm nobody.

Sighing, she dismissed the thought from her mind as she unlocked her apartment door. Rhyme kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch, still contemplating the violet eyed enigma as she drifted into unconsciousness. I am never drinking again…

-X-X-

His lips caressed hers with such passion, such affection, and such thrilling desire she shivered, feeling his warm body pressing against hers. One hand of his cupped her cheek gently, and his tongue slid across her lips easily. Blood rushed to her cheeks as he explored her mouth, his tongue flirting dangerously with her own, laced with the numbing heat of alcohol. Frisking her finger through his silky silver hair, she pulled him in closer, needing his touch and the thrill of the forbidden.

SLAM!!

Abruptly, Rhyme was forced into the real world, late day sunlight pouring into the living room as she was roused from her nap by the sound of the door. A black haired teenager was standing in the kitchen, hand on the fridge, trembling slightly. Her dream forgotten for the moment, she sat up, blue eyes full of concern. "Tim, is something wrong? "

Deep-set, dark hazel eyes turned to met hers, burdened with pain and worry for a moment. Then the depressed look dissolved, and he gave a slight smile. "Nothing I can't handle. "

Without another word to her, he turned and vanished into the bedroom in the back.

Rhyme sighed deeply, folding her legs up onto the couch, resting her chin on her knees. She felt like she was slowly being pulled in two.

Ever since their junior year, Tim had... changed. He had grown so distant... she just didn't understand him anymore. Not like they used to. He was like a shell of his former self. A shell of the cheerful, enthusiastic, loving boy she had fallen in love with. She'd give anything to have him back.

Tauntingly, the memory of her dream pulled at her, whispering promises of happiness with a man who actually seemed to want her. With a deep breath, she pushed the stray thoughts away. Joshua may have wanted her, but Tim needed her. If she, the only support left in his miserable existence, left him... he would collapse. And she could not live with that weighing on her. No. She and Joshua were friends... just friends.

"Tim… " she started cautiously, "Are you sure you don't need my help with anything? I'm worried about you… "

"Leave me alone, he stated quietly, voice muffled through the wall. She sighed.
"If you say so. I'm going to the library. "

"Fine, " he replied.

She took in a breath, heart aching to say something, anything to make him feel better. In the end, though, she just sighed again as she shut the door behind her and left, flip flops making little noise on the concrete as she walked along the sidewalk. Gratefully, she took in a deep breath of cool seaside air, letting her mind wander as her legs took her automatically to the library.

This was a pretty common activity for her. Ever since she had been sent to private school, she had been wracking her mind trying to think of someway she could make something of herself and repay her parents for all that they had done for her... not to mention provide some place for Beat to live, seeing as he was getting pretty anxious to leave home as soon as he was finished with the shabby collage he was going to until he had his future all sorted out.

Pulling a few veterinarian, biologist, and fashion designer books off the shelves, Rhyme settled herself in a chair in the far back and set herself to study, basking in the cool serenity of the library. Within moments, she was swept away by the pages into the world of daydreams of what her life might be like one day. Images of saving animals lives, discovering new forms of life on Earth, and sketching dresses all poured through her mind, at last fading to be replaced with memories. She missed Shibuya, with it's bright lights, it's mazes of concrete and metal that was so intimidating to outsiders and so familiar and comforting to her. She missed the rush of wind that chilled and thrilled her the first time Beat had taught her how to ride a skateboard, she missed the smell of coffee at Hanekoma's cafe, the thrum of a sewing machine as Shiki made Eri's designs come alive, making pie at Joshua's place...

Of course, living on the beach here with Tim in the summer was fun… so was the boarding school where she had spent the last 4 years of her life… but deep down, in her heart, she was always a city girl.

Leaning back in her chair, Rhyme lost herself in the tide of fantasies and memories that flowed unbidden through her head. She sighed and smiled slightly, a faint blush crossing her face as she though of what could be.

"Good book, huh? "

A voice, smooth and cool as oil poured over ice, broke through her daydreams. She jolted, and stared with utter shock and embarrassment at the dark blonde-haired man sitting calmly on the chair beside her, violet eyes sparkling with amusement and curiosity. "It must be if it makes you grin like a kid eating a cupcake. What is it? "

Without waiting for her to answer, he pulled her book stack out from under her nose. "Scoot over, " he said, with a sweeping motion of his hand as he squeezed onto the broad armless chair beside her. Wearing a studious, serious expression, he examined her book selection.

"There's this wonderful invention, Rhyme. It's called recreational reading. You should try it sometime. "

"These books are recreational, " she protested, pulling them back. "I like reading them. "

"I can't see why. These seem more like manuals than books. "

She scowled lightly. "Let me see your selection, then. "

Impulsively reaching for the two volumes facedown on the far side of the table, she sensed Joshua tense and froze. The hand he was resting on the books went rigid and claw-like in preparation to keep them secure on the table- just as quickly, he relaxed and slid the larger of the two books over to her.

"All right. " He shrugged, letting her know all was fine again. With one last questioning look at him- which he returned with an encouraging nod-, she flipped over the book.

"...Hamlet? "

"I prefer the classics, " he said airily, aimlessly pushing the smaller of the two books under a stack left by the previous patrons, but not before Rhyme read the title. 'Identifying and Curing Mental Illness'.

He must have noticed her gaze stray to the book he was hiding from her, but he said nothing and elaborated on his book choice. "Don't you read Shakespeare? "

"I never read it, actually, but I saw a play of it once. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' It was a really long time ago, " she said, fingers tracing the letters on the cover with loving memory. "My parents took me to a theater outside of Tokyo. It was wonderful... "

A comfortable silence lapsed between them for a moment, one reminiscing on the pleasant past, the other on the uncertain future. Quickly, however, Joshua snapped out of it.

"Let's go shopping. "

"What? W-why? "

Smirking knowingly, he explained. "It's a nice day, and you're wasting it sitting inside here. And don't tell me it's because you wanted to read, because if that was true, you could have just checked out your books and taken them home. So, you're avoiding something back at your apartment. Am I right so far? "

Rhyme was speechless, only just managing a nod. He continued. "Ok. I'm going got out on a limb here and say... Tim's pushing you away, and it hurts because you still have feelings for him. You felt the need to leave because you wanted to forget all your problems with him. So... we're going shopping. Now. "

He stood, Rhyme numbly accepting Joshua's dangerously sharp powers of perception, and only protesting faintly. "But... Tim just thinks I'm going to the library. What if he comes looking for me? "

"That's why they invented cell phones, my dear. " She turned away, feeling uncertain. "Well… "

He leaned in close to her. "If it makes you feel better, we can even see about finding a AA group for him. "

She turned around quickly and gasped, partly because of Joshua's dangerously on target suggestion, partly because their noses were practically touching. "H-h-how did you know about that? "

"Please. He drinks a lot and often, and he's not happy about it. You're stressed out as well... it wasn't hard to connect the dots. " He gave a small, grim smile. "Besides, I know the type pretty well. " Straightening up, he finished his speech. "So… Shopping. You in? "

"...Ok. Let me text Tim, tell him I'll be late. " She grinned with some effort, and he flicked his hair out of the way. "Excellent. Now, let's head out. "

He caught her wrist, hand sliding down to tangle her fingers with his own as he led her to the door. "Now, smile like you mean it. "

-X-X-