Oh wow I just re-read through my last chapter and I sincerely apologize for all the stupid mistakes. I was in such a rush to get it up online that I totally forgot to review over it. I will make sure to do that this time though! I hope you all like this chapter; again it would be AMAZING if you would review! Thank you!

Mara's eyes stayed locked on mine after I spoke the words. I politely answered the rest of her father and mother's questions but my mind stayed settled on her. I was anticipating the moment when we could finally be alone. When I could finally drop this act. To my disappointment though, Mara's mother suddenly stepped aside to where Mara was standing, appearing to pull her out of a daze, and said, "Mara, can I speak to you for a second?"

I could see the hesitation but she just cleared her throat and said, "Sure."

"You guys figure out what you want for dinner." Indi called as her and Mara walked down the hall into her bedroom and shut the door behind them. I was curious to know what this conversation was about but I was sure Mara would let me know. For the mean time, I settled down with the rest of the family as we discussed what to have for dinner and then what our plans were for spring break. It wasn't until Mara's father was called back and Mara didn't show up in his place that I started to get even more curious to what had been said. After a few more minutes of engaging myself in the conversation, I excused myself and strode down the hallway into Mara's room. But, to my surprise, she wasn't there. I heard faint voices coming from Joseph's room but neither of them were Mara's. The bathroom door was closed though so I assumed that was where she was. She couldn't take too long, right? I might as well wait for her.

I settled myself in her white desk chair, straddling it and facing her bed. I looked around the room. Dark walls, white furniture. All things I had seen many times before. I still puzzled me though why she chose those colors. The room seemed so vacant of personality, which was the opposite of Mara. But the white in contrast with the dark was somewhat calming, in an odd way. I continued to study the room until I heard the doorknob turning. My eyes flashed over to Mara, shakily entering the room. I kept my face blank, waiting. She stopped dead on as she saw me. Staring at me for what seemed like an eternity. Only not in the way I hoped. Her stare was unsure. Self-consciousness radiated out of her.

I arched an eyebrow and said, "You're staring."

Blood filled her cheeks, providing a lovely blush and she looked down and said, "So?"

"You're staring warily."

No answer. She closed the door behind her but didn't come closer. "What are you doing here?"

"I was discussing Bahktin and Benjamin and a thesis about de se and de re thoughts as relevant to notions of self with your brother." I said, seeing the annoyance in her eyes telling me she had no idea what I had just said.

"Sometimes, Noah, I feel an overwhelming urge to punch you in the face." Well I guess that's how she deals with her annoyance.

I smiled at her comment, despite sensing her anger increase as I did.

"That doesn't help."

She was definitely on edge. It may be best to postpone our talk until later so I said, "Should I leave?"

I didn't want to. But I felt like I had upset her. I had not the slightest idea how though. I sincerely hoped she knew my act in front of her parents was just that, an act. To my surprise though, she stood her ground in front of the door and said, "No,"

"Why don't you just tell me what it is that's bothering you?

There was a moment of hesitation before she made her decision to tell me. "I didn't expect to see you here after… I didn't know if we were still…" Her voice trailed off but I knew the ending to the sentence. She didn't know if we were still together. She didn't know if I even wanted her anymore after what happened at the courthouse. I regretted saying what I had said but people lied. She knew that better than anyone.

I wanted to see what was her opinion was so I just said, "I see." Letting her know I knew where this was going.

Her eyes narrowed. She was obviously looking for more of an answer. "You see?"

I stood and leaned against her desk. "You thought after hearing that someone who hurt you—someone who hurt you so badly that you tried to kill him—was alive, that I'd just leave you to deal with it on your own. I tensed at the thought of Jude. What he did to her was unacceptable. I would do anything to finish him, as Mara had tried before. "That's what you think."

After all that had happened to her, it baffled me that she thought I would just pick up and leave. She had heard the stories about me but yet she stayed. I had hoped that I had proved her initial opinions of me wrong. I thought I had.

She swallowed hard. "You said at the courthouse—"

I cut her off before she could finish what I knew she was going to say "I remember what I said. I would say you'll make a liar out of me but I was one long before we met." A faint smile appeared on my lips.

She looked confused, "So, what, you just changed your mind?" I could see the disbelief in her eyes.

"The people we care about are always worth more to us than the people we don't. No matter what anyone pretends. I didn't think you had to make the choice you said you made then. But if I did have to choose between someone I loved and a stranger, I would choose the one I love." I would choose her. Over anything that put it selves in our way.

Mara just stared at me, taking in what I had just said. Before she had a chance to respond, I spoke what I knew she would most likely disagree with. "But I don't believe you have the power to remove someone's free will. No matter how much you might want to."

Mara seemed to shrink back against the wall as she looked up through her eyelashes and said, "What if I could?"

She closed her eyes as if it would shield away the pain of what she thought she did. I couldn't take it. I took a step forward just before she opened her eyes. "You can't," I said firmly.

"How do you know?"

I took another step closer. Desperate to be near her. "I don't."

"So how can you say that?"

I took two more steps. "Because it doesn't matter."

She shook her head. "I don't understand—"

"I was more worried about what your choices would do to you than what the consequences would be for anyone else."

"And now?" she asked warily.

I searched her eyes for the pain I knew I would find. "Still worried."

At that she looked away. "Well, I have bigger problems."

I knew exactly what she meant. The fear was there in her words.

"I won't let Jude hurt you."