Picking up right where the last chapter left off...How did Maya and Claudine's first night together in over 3 years go...? And how will the days of their new future...?

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

Chapter 11. Tower Of Sand

In the past three years, neither Maya nor Claudine had ever had a full, honest night's sleep. There was always some nightmare, some anxiety attack, or otherwise some inability to stop crying that would prevent them from resting properly. Restless nights were just something they'd each come to accept as an unfortunate, but normal part of their lives. Neither had ever thought they'd sleep soundly again for as long as they lived.

But that night is different… Very different.

Though it had taken a while for both of them to calm down and stop their tears enough to actually fall asleep, once they'd made it to that point, they'd both stayed there until morning.

Just this once, there had been no nightmares, no panic, no overwhelming sense of dread and regret and sadness to pull them from their rest. For the first time in over three years, Maya and Claudine had been able to curl up at each other's sides, hold each other in their arms, and simply sleep.

Granted, they hadn't gotten that many hours, due to how late they'd actually fallen asleep, and how early they'd both been conditioned to wake nowadays. But the sleep they had achieved had been perhaps the most restful they could recall since high school.

It's waking up that proves a little difficult.

Claudine can't make sense of it all right away. Before her mind can begin recalling yesterday's dramatic and life-changing events, her senses come back to her first and foremost.

Unlike her own bed, which was always cold, particularly when she woke up, the bed she's resting in this morning is wonderfully warm and comfortable. It wouldn't have been the first time she'd dreamt about waking up next to Maya like she'd used to, and having her scent be the first thing she breathed. But as it happens this morning, the events of the previous day come rushing back.

Claudine's eyes fly open as she gasps, heart leaping in her chest.

And sure enough, she's there. Tendo - or, Tomita - Maya. Sleeping in her bed like nothing terrible had ever happened to them.

Claudine can't help that her first reaction is to start to cry all over again. She locks her arms around Maya's torso and buries herself into her collar, weeping quietly.

It doesn't take much more than that to rouse Maya. When she wakes, she can feel Claudine shaking in her arms. After all those years, she was certain she'd never be able to have mornings waking up beside her ever again. So the fact that she'd been granted one now, out of the blue, meant she wasn't about to lie there passively.

With a slight hum, she stretches her arms out slightly before curling them around her very special guest. She closes her eyes again, and just for a moment allows herself to believe they are back at Seishou, in high school, with only a fraction of the fears, responsibilities, and worries that they had now. A simpler time, where no one's lives were on the line, where no one had been hurt quite so horribly…

Of course, the highly complicated feelings that had once been blossoming between them had also started to flower again after all this time. Though the more pressing matters of safety and secrecy were undoubtedly more pertinent, that wasn't to say that the softer emotions had vanished completely. It just wasn't quite time to worry about those yet.

Maya glances over Claudine's shoulder to the clock on the nightstand, relieved to remember that today is Saturday. But just because she had no classes didn't mean that Claudine didn't have any arrangements. Not to mention that now that the sun was up, Maya's fears about being discovered were immensely heightened.

Before very much longer, the anxieties are too great for her to bear. Giving Claudine one last squeeze, she slowly begins to push herself up.

"Good morning," she clears her throat. "How… are you feeling?"

Claudine draws in one last sniffle and wipes her face before propping herself up as well.

"I don't know if I can really answer that question."

"Of course."

"But-" Claudine says hastily. "All right, I suppose. All things considered."

Maya offers a tiny smile.

"Right. I'll prepare us some breakfast."

From there, it's an awkwardly comfortable morning routine.

Maya takes her turn in the bathroom first before heading to the kitchen, during which time Claudine makes up the bed as best she can before taking her turn in the bathroom. When she emerges, Maya had prepared a platter of several slices of toast with various jams, fruit slices, and two cups of tea for them.

Claudine has a passively bemused thought about how odd it is to be eating a more European breakfast with her rather than the traditional Japanese like they'd been so used to eating in high school.

As they sit down and start to eat, the inevitable topic of where to go from here naturally comes up.

"So…" Claudine begins. "What now…?" They'd already established that they weren't going to break apart again and simply live with the knowledge of one another's lives in secrecy. But just to reinforce that, Claudine adds on. "I'm not going to disappear from your life. And you're not going to disappear from mine."

She states this as a fact, as if her wishes hold any sort of authority over the actual police Maya has been working with. But even so, her heart is warmed at Claudine's unflagging commitment to staying in her life from now on.

"That is quite a delicate question," Maya says. "But I have been considering… As you've pointed out, the people who are responsible for all of this mess in the first place are all the way back in Japan, and our intelligence team hasn't reported a single perturbing move on their part ever since. And especially not all the way over here in France. It's not my place to say officially, but I do believe we've succeeded in our ruse. And I truly do think I should be able to live comfortably as I am here and now." She pauses for a sip of tea to get her thoughts in order. "What I mean to say is… I don't believe I need to be so overly-cautious anymore. I have already been permitted to make friends and colleagues, so what's one more?"

"Even though I'm someone from your past life?"

"That is where you're mistaken," Maya says. "You are still thinking of me as Tendo Maya. But I'm not. I am Tomita Maya. And Tomita Maya and Saijou Claudine have never once met, nor had anything to do with one another until yesterday."

Claudine takes another bite of her toast, feeling her spirits lifting with the direction of this conversation.

"So then… we'll be able to be friends again…?"

"Not 'again'," Maya corrects her. "But for the first time. You see? We met by coincidence one day after your theatre performance where I was in the audience on a college trip. And for one reason or another, we simply hit it off. That's all anyone else ever needs to know. Complete strangers meet and forge relationships of all kinds every day, do they not?"

"But…" Claudine looks down at her plate. "What about your parents…? Won't they recognize the name 'Saijou Claudine'...? Won't they know who I am…?"

Maya flinches. She had considered that as well, and she knows her parents wouldn't be thrilled if they were to find out. They'd more than likely forbid Maya from ever having contact with her again beyond what was already made. Worst of all, they might force Maya to relocate a second time.

But she doesn't plan on revealing Claudine's name to them anytime soon.

"Perhaps," she explains. "But I won't tell them the name 'Saijou Claudine.' You will simply be a friend. An acquaintance I made in college. I already have quite a few of those, and they've been happy for me."

"So… you're going to lie to them…?"

"Not lie. Just… not reveal the entire truth."

"You're unbelievable…" Claudine mutters. But if it meant they could keep seeing each other, she was willing to overlook and accept it, for her own selfish reasons. But she just needs to make sure… Claudine lifts her gaze back up to meet Maya's directly, sternly. "So then… you're not just going to up and vanish on me overnight, right?"

"I swear it." Maya gets out of her chair in earnest, rounding the table to take both of Claudine's hands in hers. "I will not leave you like that again, Claudine. I promise. Rather…" She looks away briefly, and Claudine believes she actually catches a hint of color on her cheeks before she continues.

"Rather… if you would accept it… I would like to message you often. I would like to meet up with you when our schedules allow it. I would like to attend your performances… Not just to make up for lost time… but because I want to get to know you again. I want to know Saijou Claudine. I want to be a part of your life again. That is… if you'll allow it…?"

Her usual haughty confidence that Claudine had known and been annoyed by for so many years is currently nowhere to be found. Her heart both throbs and soars at the same time. She scoffs, yet tears form in her eyes, and a smile on her lips.

"Mechante va… Of course I'll allow it. In fact… I want the same thing…" Clasping her hands over Maya's, she pulls her a step closer, bowing her head to rest against Maya's chest. "So yes… please… be a part of my life… Tomita Maya…" She omits the word 'again', and changes the last name in accordance to this act they must put on from this moment forward.

Maya smiles, then eases her hands out of Claudine's so she may wrap both arms around her and hold her close.

"Very well. Then I accept. From now on, Saijou Claudine and Tomita Maya will be newly-made acquaintances."

It's a lot to take in. Three years' worth of complicated feelings would be coming along with this new arrangement. But if they had time in the present to talk things through, then maybe, little by little… Maybe they could almost be able to find some sense of normalcy after all they'd been through.

Claudine returns the embrace, and they stay that way for a long moment, letting this all sink in. When they do finally part, Maya makes her way into the living room to retrieve her school bag and fishes out her cell phone.

"Now then," she says as she makes her way back to Claudine. "I believe the first step of becoming good friends is that we would exchange contact information."

Claudine raises an eyebrow.

"This coming from the girl who wouldn't even let me text my colleagues from your phone last night…?"

"Well, I cannot simply reach out to any unknown number. But if it is just yours, and I know who is responding on the other end, then it won't be a problem."

"You are so strange with all these little rules…" Claudine sighs. "But I guess I understand." She recites her cell phone number for Maya to put into her phone.

But even as they're doing this, Claudine still can't shake the lingering feeling that this is all too nice and easy. After all those years running and hiding, was Maya really going to accept her into her life again just like that? With so few conditions? Some part of Claudine truly thinks she's just going to up and move and disappear completely on her all over again by tomorrow...

As Maya finishes making the new contact in her phone, she notices that Claudine's shoulders have slumped, and her posture has slouched in her chair. Maya had been under the assumption that beginning this new chapter in their lives together would be more thrilling than upsetting. Keeping her tone gentle, she calls out for her.

"Claudine…? Is something the matter…?"

Claudine sniffles a bit as she slowly meets Maya's gaze again.

"You're sure…?" she murmurs. "I mean… you're sure you're not just going to disappear on me again…? That you aren't just doing and saying all of this now to pacify me…?"

She hates to think so lowly of Maya, but she just can't help being guarded about such an incredibly sensitive matter.

Maya can't blame her either. Had their positions been reversed, she knows that she would've also been quite wary. Maya isn't sure if there's anything she could do right now to earn Claudine's trust. But that doesn't mean she won't try.

Pocketing her phone, Maya crouches down on one knee in front of her, taking both of Claudine's hands once again. She looks up into her eyes seriously, with all the honesty in the world.

"Claudine… I swear to you that I won't leave you again. I understand if these words feel empty to you right now… but I promise that I will prove myself to you. We will be in each other's lives from now on. We will text and call one another. We will go out to lunch and go shopping together. I will invite you to come visit me here, and you are more than welcome to show up anytime you might wish. I understand you might not be able to accept my sincerity right away… but I will do everything within my power to prove it to you. I swear."

Perhaps she just gets carried away in the heat of the moment. Or perhaps it's something she really wants to do. But regardless, Maya lifts Claudine's hands to her lips and plants a warm kiss on her fingers - a display of her earnest intent.

Claudine hadn't been expecting the gesture. It makes her wary heart flutter and melt, just a little. Just enough to believe her.

"All right…" Claudine holds Maya's gaze with her own, and offers a warm, familiar smile. "I trust you, Tomita Maya."

Maya's eyes fill with fresh tears. She leans forward and wraps her arms around Claudine again, and Claudine pulls her close.

With the new terms of their arrangement now established, this new chapter of theirs is set to begin…

After Claudine had cautiously left Maya's apartment later that day, wearing Maya's clothes, she had returned to the theater of her work. Luckily for her, one of her colleagues had collected her things from the previous night and brought them back for Claudine, who explained that her sudden absence was due to a family emergency.

After smoothing things over with her coworkers and fellow actors, Claudine had stayed for a few hours to practice, in spite of the fact that it was an off-day.

And then, when she finishes up in the studio and goes to retrieve her water bottle to cool down, she's genuinely shocked to see a new message waiting for her:

It was very nice to meet you. Though you are more than welcome to keep the clothes I lent you, you may come visit tomorrow to return them if you'd like.

Claudine sputters a bit, not sure if she's more surprised or excited to see a message from her. After a moment, she swipes out a reply.

You sure are strange… You make it sound like something promiscuous happened between us…

As she sends the reply, Claudine finds that a smile has formed on her lips. Somehow, texting Maya like this… It feels like old times. Like those three awful years had never happened at all.

Her phone vibrates with a response.

I can assure you, promiscuity has nothing to do with it. I presume I will see you tomorrow then?

Claudine rolls her eyes.

Fine.

It wouldn't interfere with any of her rehearsals, nor did she have any performances anytime soon.

And so, Claudine allows herself to look forward to tomorrow; which is something she can't remember doing at all in recent memory.

On Maya's end, she checks in with her professor and parents to ensure that her explanation of why she'd left the museum so suddenly yesterday wasn't questioned. Thankfully, all of them believe her excuse, and Maya follows up by telling them all that she's recovering well.

When she sends her message to Claudine, she's actually stunned when she receives a response. To be texting her again like they'd used to… It was surreal.

Maya spends the rest of her day cleaning the apartment and grocery shopping. She doesn't anticipate Claudine spending the night tomorrow into a work day morning, but she does tidy up as much as possible in order to help her feel comfortable.

That night, sleeping alone in their own beds feels odd for both of them. Now that they'd been together again and know that it's possible to keep seeing one another like they'd always used to, there's an odd sense of anticipation that keeps them both awake for a while until sleep finally comes.

And when Sunday finally arrives, so too does Claudine.

She appears at Maya's doorstep with a bag that contains the clothes she'd been leant, now washed and dried for return to their owner. Maya invites her in and offers to make some tea.

It's confusing. Because it feels so natural, so casual. As if they'd been doing this sort of thing forever. Yet each of them both know there'd been a terrible three-year gap, filled with uncertainty and grief.

So why…? How did this immediately feel so… normal…?

They talk for hours; about Claudine's work and performances, which plays she'd been a part of, which roles she'd auditioned for, failed, and won.

They talk about Maya's classes, her studies, the new hobbies she'd been made to take up now that she'd given up acting… Hearing that makes Claudine's heart sink.

"So it's true then…?" she asks. "You… really can't have anything to do with the stage anymore, can you?"

Maya shakes her head sadly.

"I'm afraid not… Even if it were somehow safe and permissible for me to go back now, I've been away from it for far too long. The spotlight is… no longer for me…" She bows her head, and doesn't speak again for a long moment.

Claudine has never seen her quite this miserable before. Not even when she'd failed an audition for a lead role she'd really wanted back at Seishou. No. This sadness… this misery… this utter defeated hopelessness ran much, much more deeply.

Tendo Maya. In spite of her alias, that was who she truly was; in body, soul, and blood. She'd been born for the stage, for the spotlight. She'd been blessed with the perfect genes to move, to dance, to sing, to perform, to entertain.

It had always been her life's goal, her dream…

All of those plays, recitals, and revues…

Now all for naught.

Thanks to some greedy, misguided strangers whom Maya had never even met, let alone wronged, she'd had all of that stripped away and stolen from her.

So it made sense. She could never go back onstage. Because Tendo Maya was dead, and she would remain dead to the world forever. Not only would there be too high a risk of her true identity being discovered if she were to reenter the spotlight, but there would be little point in returning under a new name. If she could not be Tendo Maya, and be affiliated with all of the fanfare, credentials, and excitement that used to be associated with that name, then there would be no reason for Maya to return to the world of theatre.

Claudine understands it all too well, and her heart bleeds for her. She can't imagine having to give it all up - not for anything.

The weighted moment of silence persists, until Claudine refuses to let Maya wallow in that sorrow any longer. She gets up from her spot on the couch and offers her hand.

"Well, maybe the rest of the world can't ever have Tendo Maya back. But I can."

Blinking away the tears behind her eyes, Maya looks up at her, puzzled.

"Eh…?"

"Come on. I know you've still got it in you."

Maya flinches on reflex.

"No… I-I can't…"

But the protest dies on her tongue before she can even finish it. Her mind tells her that she must reject any and all things theatre; for her own safety.

But her heart…

Her heart aches. Her soul misses it so, so terribly.

And to see a hand offered to her after all this time, asking her to dance…

And for it to be the hand of none other than her old partner, her driven rival, her perfect match…

Maya is already accepting that hand before she realizes it.

Claudine helps her up, and together they dance. Just dance.

No number in particular, though as they begin to move together, they naturally start to incorporate steps and movements they'd once practiced together so long ago.

And though Maya hasn't moved like this in years, with Claudine, it's like she'd never stopped. Clearly, her body and her heart haven't forgotten any of this, no matter how desperately her mind had tried to make her leave it behind.

Claudine leads, and Maya follows, perfectly in-step and in-sync with her, as though they had been practicing this for decades; as if they'd never been forced to stop. No music plays, yet they can both hear the tempo, feel the rhythm, and follow the sound with ease.

Maya moves with that same fluidity, grace, and elegance that she'd always had. Not even three years of abstinence could smother the natural-born skills she harbored; especially not when she'd wanted nothing more than to continue with it.

How many nights had she dreamt that she could dance again? Sing in front of thousands? Perform and act and inspire? Elicit emotions from her audience the likes of which they'd never experienced before…?

She wants this. She's always wanted it. And now that she'd found Claudine again, Claudine had given it back to her.

As they dance around the room, Maya eventually takes the lead. Claudine huffs softly, but she lets her.

Together, they dance for what feels like hours. Maya feels truly free, no longer pressured to suppress her desire to move and spread her wings. They smile, They laugh.

And when their number finally comes to an end, they lock each other in a fervent embrace - breathless, hearts racing.

And Maya sobs. Breaks down all the way to her knees. Claudine goes with her, pulling her close, letting her weep.

For regret, for sadness, for what could have been…

And for joy, for elation, and for what can still be…

They come to that unspoken agreement then and there. That Claudine will continue to be her partner - if only in secret. That she will help Maya to live out the dream she thought she had to leave behind for good.

And so, day by day, Maya and Claudine fall into a new routine - one just between them.

They go about their lives as per usual, with Maya attending her classes and Claudine working with her troupe. As far as the rest of the world knows, nothing has changed with either of them. They even text one another only when they are alone, just to avoid any potential prying from nosier friends and colleagues.

Typically, they text in the evenings, asking each other about their day and any other going-ons. They even call every now and again, able to speak out loud rather comfortably since they both live alone.

When their schedules align, Claudine pays Maya visits at her apartment, where they chat and catch up, and inevitably end up dancing for any given amount of time.

They find the perfect balance between walking on eggshells and enjoying their rendezvous to the fullest. In only a few weeks, they've more or less established the perfect routine to text, call, and see one another in person.

Of course there are times when Maya has an exam to study for, or Claudine has to stay later at the studio than usual. Those times where they have to postpone or cancel always make them each feel anxious - much more anxious than any normal pair of friends might feel in doing such things.

For all the enjoyment they experience from being together again, there is an equal amount of apprehension. It's all too easy to think that things could go awry somehow.

Claudine's constant fear is that Maya will simply up and vanish overnight without a word to her.

And Maya's fear is that Claudine will decide that seeing her again brings her more pain and complicated feelings than it's worth, and tell her she doesn't want to see her anymore.

The trust they slowly and carefully try to rebuild is delicate - a tower made of sand that is constantly building higher, while consistently losing grains that fall away over and over. A single, solid image of strength that is built of millions of flimsier, tinier weaknesses.

It's mostly in their heads, as a simple call to hear each other's voices again always mends the worries. But the hours spent waiting and waiting for that call to be made and answered are always agonizing and full of uncertainty.

Those instances only occur a handful of times within the first month of their reunion, but they are always devastatingly heavy. It takes a mental toll on each of them, even though they both recognize that it is all hurtful emotions that they themselves project.

But when things work out and everything is as it should be, they couldn't be happier.

After a few weeks, Maya declares that she is comfortable going out in public with Claudine. She'd been out with other friends before without incident, and therefore she has no concerns about being seen with someone else for a change.

And so, she and Claudine begin with a simple trip to the grocery store together, where they shop for necessities, but go home their separate ways.

And the next time they go out, it's to the mall to shop for clothes, and then it's to the movies, and so on. They go out together as any friends would, while still being sure to make time for the other people in their lives.

As badly as they want to spend more time together to make up for the past three years, they're aware that they need to find a balance, or else their parents and other colleagues might start asking unnecessary questions.

Maya still hangs out with her classmates between lectures and joins them at lunches and for study sessions.

And Claudine still goes out to dinner with her coworkers, and runs random errands here and there with the other actors and actresses within the troupe.

But it's no secret that their private meetings with each other are always the most-anticipated.

One day, Maya even offers to pick Claudine up from the theater to take her out shopping for the evening. Claudine eagerly accepts, and is all the more relieved when no one asks questions.

Maya had only ever used her car to drive to campus before, but she thinks it's about time she starts using it for recreation as well.

After that, Maya tries to go and pick up Claudine after her work whenever she can. She either drives her to the market, the mall, or to a place in town that's close enough to Claudine's home where her parents wouldn't spot Maya.

And for those first several weeks, the two young women live their lives as they felt the should; balancing a life of work and school with outings, calls, and visits with friends. Without that suffocating agony of secrecy and loss that had hung over them both for so long.

Now, the fog has lifted, and they could both breathe more easily again, with the promise of knowing the other's whereabouts, and that she was alive and well.

However, though the fog lifts, it doesn't entirely clear away…

It's just another weeknight - one where Maya had made plans to pick Claudine up and bring her grocery shopping.

They've done this a dozen times by now, so Claudine knows exactly what to expect. She makes sure to finish on time before changing out of her leotard and back into casual clothes. After wishing her friends and colleagues goodnight, she hurries out of the studio to wait for Maya.

Sitting on one of the empty benches, Claudine lets out a sigh as she enjoys the warmth of the later-afternoon sunlight on her skin. She checks her phone. The last message she'd received from Maya had been the usual I'm on my way.

Claudine closes her eyes for a moment and breathes in the scent of the nearby bakery. It had taken a little time since she'd found Maya again, but life was finally starting to feel as normal as it possibly could, in her book.

Of course there were still tearful nights - be it with or without Maya - and plenty of darker thoughts and moments of uncertainty. But for the most part, everything felt better as soon as she remembered Maya. Tomita Maya, as she is now.

Just seeing a text from her, hearing her voice on a call, or being able to hug her after a long day put Claudine's heart at ease. And soon she'd get to do it again today.

It usually only takes Maya about ten minutes to get to the studio to pick her up once she'd sent her "on my way" message.

Claudine plays around on her phone to pass the time, keeping an eye on the street for that familiar blue car. The ten minutes pass, and she begins searching the streets more carefully.

Another minute goes by.

And then another.

Still no Maya.

Claudine draws in a deep, steadying breath. Of course she could be a couple minutes late sometimes. Red lights, slow pedestrians, an ambulance hurrying by needing her to pull over…

All sorts of scenarios were possible, and Claudine knows them all.

But still…

It still makes her heart begin to race.

She shuffles her shoes as another minute goes by, with still no sign of Maya's car, and no follow-up texts from her. She begins to pull anxiously through her hair, over and over again.

"It's only been five minutes…" she mutters to herself. "She's fine. Everything's fine."

Until another five minutes pass.

And then another five.

After fifteen minutes, Claudine has started to tremble. Every second that she fails to see Maya's car sends her heart into a new level of frenzy.

She can't help it. What if… something had happened…? What if… she got into an accident…?

Just thinking the word sends terrible images through her mind. Images of a crash that hadn't actually happened, but that she'd lived believing had been real for three years. In a way, the crash was real to her.

"No-" She chokes out the word, fumbling to bring up Maya's contact page in her phone. "No… Maya, please…"

Claudine shakily presses the Call button and squeezes her eyes shut. Her heart continues to pound with panic, which only worsens each time the phone rings without being answered.

Please… Maya please answer…

Her breath catches, and soon she's struggling to breathe properly. Her throat constricts, and her stomach churns.

No, no, no-

"Claudine!"

Her eyes fly open, wild and already streaming with tears. Parked on the street just in front of her is a familiar blue car. And hurrying toward her is none other than Maya herself. Claudine is nearly nauseous from terror and relief alike.

"Maya-!" She pushes herself up, only able to wobble those few strides forward before she collapses into Maya's arms, sobbing with her whole body. Maya catches her, though she nearly stumbles when she realizes Claudine has lost all the strength in her body.

"I apologize-" she says. "There was quite a bit of traffic, and a strong police presence. I didn't want to risk reaching for my phone-"

But as she tries to explain herself, she can tell that Claudine can't hear her. She's crying far too hard, and shaking even harder. People are beginning to stop and give them concerned looks.

Maya feels horribly guilty for making her worry to such a degree, where Claudine had become beside herself with panic. She can feel Claudine's heart shuddering with every beat.

Hushing her gently, Maya leads her back to the car. She sits herself down in the passenger seat with Claudine in her lap, and closes the door. Claudine sobs against her, shaking terribly. Maya holds her as tight as possible.

"I'm sorry," she murmurs to her, over and over. "I'm sorry, Claudine."

She'd suspected that Claudine might still be harboring a devastating anxiety, particularly when it came to Maya. But this is the first time she's seen it since the night they'd reunited.

"I should have told you I was running late," Maya says. "I should have told you all was well so you wouldn't worry. I'm sorry."

Claudine doesn't have a choice in the throes of her panic attack. She just continues to cry, but she does try to talk.

"No-" she gasps. "I… I know I'm being irrational… of course there could be traffic… I-I just-"

"It's all right." Maya just wraps her in her arms and cradles her close. "We are… both still very hurt, for a lot of reasons. We are both still healing. It's going to take time."

Claudine nods against her chest, but she still feels guilty and pathetic.

"I'm sorry…"

"Please don't worry about it."

Maya holds her for a while longer, until Claudine can catch her breath again. But even then, Maya waits until she's finished blowing her nose and wiping her tears away.

"Sorry…" Claudine sniffles. "I'm all right."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

Maya hugs her again for good measure before making her way out of the car, then around to the driver's side.

They go do their shopping as planned, but due to the events that had occurred this afternoon, Maya offers to let Claudine spend the night with her, and Claudine gratefully accepts.

They take it easy that evening, eating and winding down together without their usual dancing before curling up in bed together.

Maya promises to be more mindful of reassuring Claudine of her whereabouts if she's expecting her.

And Claudine promises to try and be more realistic, and think logically in these sorts of situations.

But of course, it's not always that simple. Life is continuously filled with mishaps, but people in delicate situations like Maya and Claudine feel them much more strongly.

About a week later, when they are at the mall together, the two of them get separated in a crowd. It's only for a few moments at best, but when Maya eventually makes her way back, she finds Claudine shaken and almost in tears. Claudine runs to latch onto her, scolding her that Maya should've held onto her hand more tightly.

Another time, simply waiting in line at a restaurant to be seated, Claudine is excessively clingy with Maya, eventually sitting next to her at the booth instead of across from her.

And there are a few times when Maya doesn't text her back for a while, and Claudine starts to send messages a bit obsessively.

It isn't often that these sort of things happen, and when they do, Maya always forgives them. It's very clearly unsettling... But Maya overlooks it all anyway, because she feels it's her own fault that Claudine has these anxieties to begin with.

As time goes on, the grains of sand begin to shift more and more quickly, and the tower begins to crumble…

A/N: I tried to think as hard as I could about how someone in Maya's situation might have to behave on technology devices (like how she has to be cautious about her Internet searches, and how she has to be wary of how and who to text on her phone).

That being said, they did manage to find one another again, Maya revealed the truth, and they even found the spirit to dance with one another like old times... But everything isn't immediately perfect again. There are dark, underlying agonies that both girls still have to face...

Please review!