"I hope you don't mind, I used the last of the shampoo."

I looked up from my notebook at Isabel.

"Oh, no, that's alright," I replied rather awkwardly.

Her eyes were hard and cold as they scanned along me.

"What are you writing," she asked abruptly.

"Just a few notes," I told her, holding the book closer to me.

"May I read it?"

We looked at each other for an indeterminate length of time.

"It's just my diary, Ivo suggested I write it," I said anxiously. "Just to help make sense of things."

"Ivo did? Oh, I must be mistaken. I thought it was the doctor that made the suggestion," she said dryly.

I blinked at her in surprise.

"Ivo told you."

I said it more of a statement than a question but she saw it fit to answer.

"Well yes, you see he was only trying to explain to me how the whole mess happened in the first place. I should have seen that you were only infatuated with the idea of me to taunt the person you really loved. That's the only way you know how to love something, isn't it Tim?"

My silence only encouraged her.

"It's great seeing the progress you've made. Ivo's been keeping me updated on how well you've been doing. How much more trusting you are, willing to open up. You're even taking your medication," she laughed harshly.

Her words were harsh and bitter; designed to fracture my trust in Ivo. If she had visited six months ago it might have worked. Not now however.

"Isabel, what do you want?"

It was her turn to appear surprised.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Closing my journal I stood up to be more on level with her. She seemed younger without all the makeup on.

"I love him, I can't change that. I'm sorry that it hurts you. I never wanted that but what do you expect me to do?"

"I don't know," she hissed in annoyance.

In all the time I had been with her on Juno I would never have guessed that she could harbor so much hatred.

"I'm just so sick of hearing about you, how brilliant you are and how much he loves you. Why can't I have that? What have I ever done to deserve any of this?!"

"Nothing," I tried to soothe her. She swatted me away from touching her and I folded my arms to hold myself together.

"Even if there hadn't been anything between us, do you really think I would want my brother living with some drugged up toyboy," her eyes widened and she grew louder.

"Do you even realise how much he sacrifices for you, so you can have a pathetic career and someone paid to listen to you complain about your sad little life. He always did like pretty things that are hard to work out so I can see why he wants you. He's blinded though, he tells me about all the things you do to him, how much you hurt him. The worst part is you know it and you don't seem to care. The whole time I've been here you've been rubbing it in my face, pretending to be happy. He's just infatuated with you, the way you were with me. But now I see what you are really like, I don't know what I ever saw in you," she said haughtily.

"That's enough."

We both jumped and whirled to stare at the doorway where Ivo stood menacingly.

"Ivo," Isabel said nervously.

"How long have you been there?"

He glowered at her.

"Long enough to know we need more shampoo."

I almost laughed despite the severity of the situation.

Ivo looked straight at me and his expression softened, but only slightly.

"Get your coat, we're going out."

I didn't even think to question him and grabbed my jacket from the back of the sofa. I hesitated as I looked at the journal.

"Leave it," Ivo said darkly.

I did as he asked and went past him to the hallway and he followed directly behind me.

"Ivo,' Isabel tried.

He ignored her and lifted his car keys, holding the door open for me and slamming it behind him with finality.

"Where are we going," I asked worriedly.

"Anywhere you like," he responded with a false cheeriness that only succeeded in making him seem like a madman as he held open the car door for me.

I wasn't sure quite how long I should humour Ivo as he ordered me a chocolate muffin to go along with my coffee.

"Are you alright," I asked.

"Perfectly."

"Okay."

We sat in silence for the next twenty minutes or so and I picked at the crumbs of my muffin. He linked his fingers neatly beneath his chin and rested on them.

"Did you take your tablets today," he asked warily.

"Yes, I took them with breakfast," I responded quietly.

He gave a slight nod to acknowledge me but otherwise stared rather moodily at his coffee mug.

"I'm sorry she said all of that."

"It's not your fault," I smiled. "Half of it was true anyway," I laughed in an attempt to make him smile.

"Don't say that. None of it was true and you know that."

I nodded.

"Do you think she'll read it? My diary?"

Ivo looked at me with a concerned expression.

"Would she be mad if she did?"

I nodded.

"Then I hope so," he joked and took a sip of his cold coffee.

"Where shall we go now?"

"What?"

He smiled.

"Where do you want to go?"

I shook my head.

"I don't know."

"We'll go see if there are any tickets left at the Theater."

He left the money for the bill on the table and held open the tiny cafe door for me.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Yes. Just having fun," he said with enthusiasm and I could see the Ivo I had fallen for.