Later, as they were pulling the car up to the manor, a sober Piper spoke up. "This is serious, guys, we've got to do something about this, and do it quick. I'm sorry, Paige, but I just don't understand your reluctance to identify this demon so we can do our job. Now, something has been bothering you - Phoebe and I both know it -ever since the Halloween party. So if you're hiding something from us, you need to tell us now, O.K.? Before one of us gets hurt," she said. Phoebe cast a quelling look Piper's way.
Paige lay on her bed at the loft, thinking. She was so damn tired! She rubbed her forehead wearily. Tired of thinking what to do, what to tell her sisters…tired of feeling as though she would never measure up. She wanted to do the right thing and go to them…. She wanted to help David, too. But she didn't know if she could convince them that he was an innocent.
Paige awoke and tensed for a moment at the sight of a form beneath the covers beside her. She relaxed, and grinning, ducked under the covers. Soon after, a startled exclamation was heard and then David's head appeared as he threw the covers partially back. "Hey, you…" he exclaimed, then added "Hey you," again in a tender voice. He leaned over her, blond hair awry, and kissed her reddened lips. Her heart raced. He smiled, and his grayish eyes turned a clear blue flame. She tried to turn away, knowing her heart was in her eyes, but his intent gaze compelled her to face him. She'd been right the night she met him.
Long hours passed. It had grown dark. Piper was sitting on the couch. Increasingly impatient, Phoebe paced the downstairs. "Could Paige know that David is possessed? That he's already killed - could that have been why she was so upset? Is that what she's been hiding from us?" Phoebe asked Piper. She sat down next to her sister on the couch. Her eyes narrowed. "Do we know, Piper-- do we know, for sure, that she's not seen him since All Hallows Eve?"
Before Piper could formulate an answer, Leo orbed in. "Thank God…did they tell you anything that might help us, Leo?"
"Honey," Phoebe said, "What's wrong? Did we do something wrong? Can we help?" she said, turning the engine off.
Paige swallowed, miserable, then squared her shoulders. "The only thing bugging me is you guys pressuring me to say something I'm not ready to say. Something about this is wrong, and I have an idea…I don't know…look, I'm not Prue, O.K.? I'm not perfect and I don't have all the answers…or any of the answers, even…" she laughed, but it caught in her throat. "I can't even control my powers very well -" she broke off, forlorn and angry.
"Paige, no one said we wanted you to be like Prue--" began Piper.
"Nobody had to. Listen, I'm sorry, I'm just…tired, or something. I think I need to be alone for awhile - call you later, O.K.?" and she got out of the car.
"Wait-" began Phoebe, as Paige slammed the door behind her.
"Well, well, that went great," murmured Piper, as she, Phoebe and Leo got out of the car and walked through the front door of the manor.
"How many times have I asked you to lock that door?" asked Leo, eyeing the sisters.
"Talk to Phoebe about it," said Piper, giving her a sidelong glance.
They'd just stepped inside when Cole shimmered in before them. "Where have you been?" demanded Phoebe.
"More of the same. It's the same thing, every day," he said. She punched his arm, then kissed him fervently. "I missed you, too…" he said, smiling.
"Hey, maybe Cole knows this demon. So what do you know about Asenoth?" asked Phoebe curiously.
"Plenty," said Cole, tensing. "You don't want to mess with him if you don't have to. He was a member of the Brotherhood for awhile, but he had his own agenda."
The three told him of what had transpired so far. He said, "Then we're in trouble. He's probably working on a mortal right now, which means you've got an innocent to save and a demon to vanquish, and I don't know if you can vanquish him. At one time, he was the Source's right hand. He is not to be underestimated."
"What do you mean, 'working on a mortal'?" asked Piper.
"I mean he likes to corrupt from within-- possession. He gets his strength from his victim's emotions. Sometimes he feeds from them, literally - a blood-drinker," added Cole, face grim.
"I don't know that we have an innocent to save, Cole. He tried to kill Paige," said Phoebe.
"He was Paige's attacker at the party?" Cole shook his head. "Still, he didn't actually harm her, Phoebe," Cole replied. "The man may not have gone over yet. Asenoth can't completely possess a mortal until he or she has done murder, or some other great evil, of their own free will," stated Cole.
"We've just came from a murder scene. It fits his m.o., according to the Book of Shadows," Phoebe said.
"Ah, but did the mortal do it, or the demon alone? That's the question, unless you want to kill them both…" Cole said.
"You know we can't do that," said Leo, looking annoyed. "I'm going back to the Elders, O.K.? You two," and he looked at the sisters, "need to mend the situation between you and Paige. It's causing a rift that's bad for you, her, AND the Power of Three," and glaring at Cole again, he orbed out.
"You," said Phoebe, looking at Cole, "stop antagonizing Leo, and you--" she said to Piper, "let's go get Paige."
"I think that's the wrong thing to do, Pheebs," said Piper thoughtfully. "We need to give her time to come back on her own."
"Time is what we don't have, Piper," said Phoebe, exasperated.
"O.K…but I'd like to wait until Leo comes back, anyway. He may have something useful to tell us," Piper replied.
She wasn't trying to protect the demon, she was protecting David - but at this point, the two went hand in hand. During the research for his novel, Paige figured that David had been meddling in things better left alone. He'd seen things that he shouldn't have, and gotten in way out of his depth. He practically invited invasion by an evil spirit. Possession. No, the demon they were after wasn't just a demon in human form. It was Asenoth within David, fighting for possession of his immortal soul. The entry in the Book of Shadows had confirmed it for her.
But this was her responsibility - as Piper had said, "her demon." She didn't have to expose Piper and Phoebe to danger. She was a witch, too, after all, with formidable powers. She'd already learned to cast spells. She just had to think. Maybe she could do this on her own. Then everything would be back to normal between her and her sisters - and no more hiding things, either, if she got out of this one. She grabbed paper and pen and began to write.
Demon or mortal
The Three called in vain
Now both together
I call you in twain
Come and be near
Demon and mortal
I summon you here
Step through the portal
David and Asenoth
I call you by name
Be drawn to me
As a moth to flame
She chanted the spell and waited with bated breath as David appeared before her, as if from thin air. Momentarily disoriented, his eyes roved quickly around the room and halted to meet Paige's gaze. He said, still staring at her, "Oh, Paige…please, tell me you have nothing to do with what is happening to me."
"I want to help you," she replied. "That's why you're here, now, with me. I summoned you," she said firmly.
"I suppose I should be surprised. I'm not. I don't give a shit," and he gave a brief, tight smile that did not touch his cold eyes. He turned away to sit on the side of her bed, and Paige noticed the .38 clasped in his hand. Her eyes widened as he caught her gaze and looked wearily back at her.
"What the Hell is that for?" Paige demanded.
"I need to go— send me back, now!" he ordered.
"Not until you tell me what you're going to do!" she yelled.
"Look, Paige…," he sighed, "I told you before, this is all crazy, I know you think I've lost my mind, but…but He wants things of me…things I can't accept. He made me hurt…he tried to make me hurt you, and now this, this Thing got in my head today and…and…I killed her…" his eyes blazed blue fire, then dimmed as he trailed off. He nodded towards the gun, eyes empty now of emotion. Paige shivered. "He thinks he has me now, but I won't be a pawn. You understand what I'm saying…Paige? Say you understand….I have no choice," and his eyes fastened on hers, then he straightened. His eyes widened, almost imperceptibly. "Send me back. Now," he said, voice low.
"You're crazy if you think—" she began, bluntly.
"Do it, Paige!" Seconds ticked away. "I didn't want you to see this," he said, eyes clear, voice firm. "There's no time now. I can't-- I won't kill for him ever again," and with a sudden move, he jammed the gun up and under his chin.
"Gun!" Paige screamed, and as he pulled the trigger, the gun luminesced from his hand and returned to its original form in her outstretched palm. He dropped his hand and stared at it, turning it, then looked at her hand.
"David, please look at me," and her brown eyes locked onto his own bruised gaze. "Listen to me, I'm going to help you, you are not going crazy."
"I was there. I was with her," he said flatly. "I woke up and she was dead, covered in blood - do you hear me? I'm a danger to you, to everyone, now," he said, fastening his wintry eyes on hers, "You've seen it. You know what I am now. He almost had control again, just now, but he left me. Imagine. Maybe he didn't want to be within when I blew my brains out," and his laughter was thinly edged with hysteria.
"David, you don't know what I know, and I'm telling you, this is not your doing. HE has you right where he wants you - ready to give up, to die. Despair is the beginning of all that is evil, David. I summoned you and you came because I am a witch. I know who is tormenting you, and I know that he cannot compel you. He can drive you to the brink, he can belittle you, make you crazy and incite you to evil in so many ways… but it must be done of your own will, nevertheless, and only then will you be lost. He would never have you know that a choice must be made. He's trying to convince you that you killed, David, he wants to weaken you by preying on your doubts…he almost succeeded."
"How, Paige? How do you - how can you know?" he whispered. His eyes seemed almost colorless, now.
"You would remember it," she answered gently. "If it had been done by you - by your hand - he would want you to remember it for the rest of your life. That would be the key to controlling you until he tires of you - of the game.
He came from out of you and he killed her himself." He stared at her skeptically.
"Look, did you have blood on you? Scratches? Anything?" There was a long silence. David put his head in his hands for a moment, head throbbing, and rubbed his face. "David, please, please, trust me." Finally he looked into her worried brown eyes and nodded.
"You say you know who he is - tell me," he said.
"His name is Asenoth. He is a powerful demon and an insidious one. He's a seducer, a possessor, and of course, a killer." she replied.
He nodded. "Do I even want to know how you know this? I mean, you're a witch, and since you're against him, I guess - I hope like Hell that you're of the 'Glenda the good witch' variety?" He laughed disbelievingly. "Am I having this conversation?"
Paige grinned at him. "Wait 'till you hear the spell I made to get rid of him," she said.
David said quietly, warning, "If you can do it, now is the time." She nodded.
Demon and mortal
The two combined
Evil coupled
With goodness entwined
One in another
Demon and lover
Uncouple the two
Let demon be demon alone
Send him to Hell
Where demons dwell
And mortal be mortal alone
As Paige's voice drifted over the loft, it began to darken, and the darkness became a live thing, heavy and pulsing with malice. She shivered, feeling chilled fingers run up her spine. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands, and she uncurled her fingers with a conscious effort. There was a sound, a cracking sound - as if a tremendous pressure were coming to bear on the ceiling, the walls, the floor. The sound segued into another - a low, powerful, sound, filling the loft, unspeakably evil, coming from everywhere and nowhere. Paige's skin crawled. A crushing pressure began to drive the breath from her body. Terrified, she nonetheless stood her ground, pulling labored breaths into her lungs, waiting. Watching.
Gradually she noticed the darkness and the pressure lessening. Then silence blanketed all as the presence distanced itself from the room like an afternoon thunderstorm. David moved to stand beside her, clasping her hand. He was adrift, eyes preoccupied, inwardly listening. They stood silent for some time. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb absently. She watched his still face - light eyes surrounded by a fine ring of darkness, sensual, somber mouth - and felt a powerful attraction. Gone was the heavy, drugged feeling from the party that night, replaced by a powerful, undeniable yearning. As if sensing her thoughts, he turned to face her. Again, as before, she was hit with the intimate intensity of his gaze upon hers. His finger traced a line from her cheek to chin, and he murmured, "Now how the Hell do you know all these things about me?"
"I know what the demon does. We looked him up in the Book of Shadows."
"We? Book of Shadows?"
"My sisters and I. We looked him up in our---"
"What an interesting person you are. I would have thought you insane a month ago, you know," he said.
"I didn't know I was a witch until recently - my powers weren't active. Remember when I told you about my older sister who died? That's when I came to know. My sisters have been teaching me how to use my powers, but I'm still very new at this. I've cast a few spells, and orbed things-"
"Orbed?"
"Yeah, like when I took the gun from you."
"That must be useful," he said dryly.
"Must be - it saved your life," she retorted.
He laughed. "I think you've saved me in more ways than one." His hands touched her waist, caressing her hip. "I can be really appreciative, you know," he said seriously.
"I can't imagine how."
"Want me to show you?" and he smiled down at her.
"You could give it a try," she murmured as his lips came down on hers. He kissed her, slowly, savoring her. Paige felt her body begin to relax as his arms wrapped around her. She touched his chest, then reached up and stroked the back of his neck and up, entwining her fingers in his hair. He touched her face and smiled, then kissed her again, deeply, sending shivers of excitement through her. Paige felt something weary, bitter and alone unfold and lift itself away from her. Feeling his warmth, his breath on her, she instinctively understood that this man, who could break her so easily, would not. Shaken at the depths of her emotion, she molded herself to him like a puppy burrowing into warmth and he responded, stroking her back, murmuring her name. Her heart raced as she whispered his name questioningly, and he smiled tenderly down into her eyes. She grasped his hand and led him to her bed where an unspoken, tenuous bond began to strengthen.
She'd lost herself to him, and found a part of herself that she never knew existed….
Later that evening, still in bed, Paige burrowed into his warmth, throwing her leg familiarly over his. She ran her hand drowsily over his muscled chest. He roused himself and looked at her with one eye open, then smiled. He pulled her close, arms surrounding her. She sighed, then suddenly gasped and sat straight up. "Hey, we have to get up!" she threw the covers energetically off of both of them. He groaned. "Oh God…you're one of them…" he muttered.
"One of what, may I ask?" she said, now standing, hands on hips. He cracked an eyelid open and then sat up, appreciatively. "One of those people that bound out of bed, that's what,'" he said, grumbling and eyeing her at the same time. "Guess I'll just have to get used to it," he added.
"Yup…you will," she agreed. "We've got to get over to my sisters house, pronto. I have a lot of explaining to do, and amends to make. I hope you have a thick skin…they're not going to like it when they find out I've been keeping things from them."
He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I really can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this," he said, throwing her a mock sincere look. "Don't we have a little more date-time, fun-time, sex-out-the wazoo-time, before you throw me to the family lions?" She threw a pillow at him, then plopped back down on the bed.
"Maybe one more wazoo," she said seriously. "but that's all."
----------------------------------
Paige was awakened by David shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes with an effort, seeing he'd dressed. She closed her eyes and curled up on one side. His warm hand rested comfortably on her hip as he leaned over and nuzzled the inside of her neck. She signed happily and opened her eyes once more as his mouth roamed down her shoulder to her arm. His eyes rolled up, meeting hers, and a sudden cold arrow slammed into her heart as he stared at her.
Oh my God, she thought, stricken. She struggled to keep calm as panic overwhelmed her. His eyes were sly, bestial. Inhuman.
"Get up if you want to see your sisters tonight," he said and she sensed that he carefully modulated his voice to seem normal.
"We'll go later," she said quietly.
Really.. I thought you were so eager to go?" he said, and fixed his frozen stare upon her.
He looks like a cat in the dark when you flash a light in its eyes, she thought brittlely. Alien, glowing. Cold.
"You know I'm here with you, don't you?" he said softly, indifferently.
"I'd have to be an idiot not to know," she answered, just as soft.
His pupils retracted, infuriated, before his expression turned cold. "No one will save you, Paige… and you know it, don't you? Your sisters don't care about you…" he said, gaze narrowed. "And David… is weak. He's a part of me now… he knows what I'm going to do to you. He likes it. He can't wait." He smiled, and she was horror-stricken, listening to the voice that was his, and not his at all. "It's what you wanted. It's what you wanted at the party. If your sister hadn't come outside, I'd have had you then. Right there. But I'm patient. He and I… we'll both get what we want. You'll both be in Hell together." And his eyes were wintry and cruel. "You think I can't make him hurt you? You and your pathetic spell…your weakness repels me," he whispered. "But oh, he was right about one thing…you were so good for him. Now it's my turn," he crooned. He loomed over her, staring directly into her eyes and revealed the reptilian nature of the beast to her. With pride. He stroked her hair, her face. Leaning forward, he ground his lips into hers, scorching, greedy. She felt weak, heavy…cold, so cold inside…her essence, her being became a small white pinprick of light, far away… but oh her body…her body responded to him. His heat, his intensity. His lust.
She opened her eyes, meeting his own ravenous, intent gaze with her own. "David… you have to help me. He's going to win," and his silver-flecked eyes froze. "Don't let him hurt me," she said.
His whole face wrenched as he screamed, "Get out of here!" and Paige leapt up and threw a shirt and pants on, covering her nakedness. He screamed at her again to leave. But she couldn't do it, knowing David was in there. With him.
"Yeah, but it's not good," he replied, voice solemn. "There is no chance of vanquishing Asenoth, even with the Power of Three…unless you can get him out of the innocent's body first," he said. "Otherwise, he'll use the innocent as a firewall. You'll end up killing him before you get to the demon."
The sisters stared at Leo. "And just what—" Piper started, when Leo interrupted her.
"She's in trouble. We have to go to her."
"Then let's go, now!" said Piper, and holding her in one arm and Phoebe in another, Leo orbed them all into Paige's loft. They stood together in a tight knot and were relieved to see Paige standing in front of her doorway, unharmed.
David blocked her path.
"Leo," said Piper softly. "What can we do? I'm afraid I'll blow him up if I try to freeze him."
Then David disappeared.
"Oh, this is not good. Not good!" yelled Phoebe. "Paige, are you all right?
Paige nodded, mute.
Piper suddenly felt her feet go out from under her and she was flung across the room. She crumpled against the wall, sliding the rest of the way down. Leo shouted her name, running to her side. Her head was bleeding, and he raised his hands over her, healing her quickly.
Phoebe felt a fist smash into her face. She grunted in pain and covered her face with her arm. Quickly, she levitated and spun, kicking out on all sides. There was a crash as the demon flew into Paige's dresser.
"How do we get the demon out of him, Leo!" Phoebe yelled.
"I don't know!" he said, frustrated. Paige still stood in front of the doorway where they'd first seen her. Leo spoke to her urgently. "Paige, snap out of this - your sisters need you!" She blinked, dazed, at him. "Paige, what's wrong with you? What did he do?" She shook her head drunkenly at him. "You're not alone anymore. Help your sisters, please!"
Phoebe was flung violently to the floor. Leo and Piper rushed to her aid. Phoebe shook her head and sat up.
"It's too late to save him," said Piper grimly, looking Phoebe in the eye.
"You don't know that yet, Piper. That's what you said about Cole. We all did, we all thought it was too late. I can't make that mistake again!" Phoebe said, raising her voice.
"We have to do something-- we have to save Paige! Look at her!" Piper shouted. "Do you want her to die, too?- she's defenseless like this!"
Phoebe's eyes narrowed, hurt. Piper moved to stand next to Paige. "He can't make you do this - you have a choice, the same as he does - Paige! I won't be able to give him a chance if you don't come back to us - we need your help!" and she grabbed her sister by the shoulders.
Leo was flung back suddenly, landing near the sink. Remembering something from the Book of Shadows about Asenoth, he grabbed a glass from the counter and set it underneath the faucet. He turned the tap on and suddenly reeled back as if slapped. Leo shook his head, then grabbed the glass as it filled and flung it, guessing the direction. David reappeared, screaming, water dripping down his chest. Paige stared at him through a curtain of mist. She felt sick, listening to the sound of that scream.
Cole's form appeared as he shimmered into the loft. "Where have you been?" shouted Leo.
"Taking care of some bounty hunters," Cole said, cocking an eyebrow at him. "I see you've got everything under control," then, turning his attention to David, said, "Ah, Asenoth. It's been a long time. Could have been longer," and he flung an energy ball at him, narrowly avoided.
"Cole, no! You'll harm the innocent!" screamed Phoebe. Cole barked a laugh. "If it's him or you," he said, grimly, "I'll kill him. Without a thought, understand?" But Cole rushed David and threw a punch at him.
The force of the punch threw David back. "I thought you were dead, Belthazor," sneered the demon. Blood ran down his chin. "But maybe we can take care of that right now," and he slammed Cole's head into the wall and shoved him down to the floor. Grinning, he smashed his foot down on the side of Cole's head. Phoebe screamed and ran to Cole, followed quickly by Leo. Laughing, the demon grabbed a handful of Phoebe's hair as she knelt down. Leo raised his hands, healing Cole swiftly.
Piper faced Paige and spoke quietly, urgently. "Paige, your family needs you. We love you. I'm sorry, I know it's been hard, but you've got to come back to us, right now." She stared at Paige a moment longer, waiting, then walked to the night stand. Phoebe called Piper's name, desperately. Piper picked up the .38., leveled it with steady hands, and fired.
David collapsed onto Cole. "NO!" Page yelled, and ran to the two on the floor. David whipped his head around and moved as if to get up.
Cole gritted his teeth, slinging David to the ground, and dug his fingers deeply into his throat. David gagged and turned blue. Squeezing harder, Cole yelled, "Damn you, Asenoth, come out!" A black, viscous shadow came oozing out onto the floor. "Paige," Cole growled, "choose, Paige. Who's it going to be?
Him…or us?" she stared at Cole's furious blue eyes, then looked at David, then her sisters. "He's trying to go back in, Paige!" Cole roared. "Choose now! Once and for all!"
Paige ran to her sisters, shaking, trying to overcome the fog enveloping her mind, and grabbed their hands. "Follow my lead," she spoke firmly, though tears ran down her face.
Demon and mortal
The two combined
Evil coupled
With goodness entwined
One in another
Demon and lover
Uncouple the two
Let demon be demon alone
Send him to Hell
Where demons dwell
And mortal be mortal alone
The shadow, which had again surrounded David's head, vanished completely. He lay motionless on the floor. Paige knelt beside him. "Please…don't be dead," she whispered, stroking his hair.
Leo came to her side. "He's not dead, Paige."
"You'll help him, won't you Leo?" she implored.
"I'll help him…if you'll help him, too," he said. Together they raised their hands over David, and white light poured over him. He opened his eyes and stared, uncomprehending, into Paige's anxious brown ones.
"Thank God!" Paige cried, as she and Leo gave him a helping hand up. "Thank Leo!" she added. She hugged Leo, then wrapped her arms around David and sniffed, saying "I missed you."
"I'm O.K.," he smiled, warily. "What have I done this time?" No one answered as he looked around the silent group. Finally Paige gripped his arm. "I think HE's gone for good, now," she said to him. He looked confused.
"I don't know if you vanquished him, or simply forced him to leave," remarked Cole. "Let's hope it's the former."
"Of course we vanquished him," Phoebe said indignantly. "with the Power of Three."
Cole cocked a humorous brow at her. "The Power of Three," he intoned, mocking her. "Asenoth is a very powerful demon. I just hope you have what it takes." Phoebe shoved him.
"These are your sisters…and?" David asked, even more confused.
"This is Cole, David," said Phoebe, stepping forward. Not a hint of recognition crossed his brow. "This is Leo…Piper's husband."
"Piper," said Paige hesitantly. "Did you mean what you said to me?"
"Of course," said Piper, smiling gently at her sister.
"Of course she did!" Phoebe echoed loudly. "But let me tell you something. You don't hide things from us, ever again. It almost got you killed, and I'd rather you didn't. Get killed, I mean. We love you just the way you are. Not dead."
"Just the way you are," echoed Piper. "….well, you could be just a little more - " then changed the subject at the stern look in Phoebe's eye. "Paige, won't you come back to the manor with us?…or maybe not," she said, eyeing David.
"I'll be over right after work tomorrow," Paige promised. Her sisters hugged her.
Piper said, "I'm really, really glad you're O.K." Paige smiled awkwardly, happily. The two sisters left the loft with Leo and Cole, leaving David and Paige alone.
He took her hand. "Are you going to tell me what happened?" he asked quietly. Taking a deep breath, she gave him a brief version of what had happened, toning down several parts, sparing him. He moved closer to her, touching her face, watching her. " I know what I did to you," he said, finally, sadly. "I can feel it. I can still feel it from you. And I can't bear it."
"What are you saying?" she said, looking into his eyes. There was a long silence. Her eyes widened and looked at his, searching, heart-broken. "But..but I want to be with you," she insisted.
"And you're scared…every time you look at me, I know it," he said gently. "How can either of us live with that, Paige? I would give anything if that weren't true… for both of us." His gray-blue eyes wavered. He kissed her urgently, longingly "I am so sorry," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "You deserve everything wonderful. You deserve someone wonderful," and he kissed her eyelids, her checks, her chin. "I want to be that person…God, I do -but I've hurt you so badly."
"It wasn't you," she insisted. "I know that. He is responsible," and her eyes pleaded with him.
"Then why do you still feel the way you do when you look at me? He's not here anymore, and yet he still is, isn't he?" he paused. She couldn't answer. "A part of you can't help but wonder," he added gently. "I know. Me, too. Couldn't I have stopped this?" His eyes watered, and he attempted a smile. "I've done something that's threatened… the very fabric of who you are. Paige, look at me…please. Surely you know how I feel about you," he said, sadly, and she looked deeply into her eyes, seeing the need…and the shame. She nodded, lips trembling, and rested her forehead against his. He took a step away, eyes fastened to hers, still holding her hand. Then he let go and walked out the door.
She stood there in the same place, desolate. The clock ticked. Tears trickled down her cheeks. She knew how she felt about him. She'd known it since she met him. She mouthed the words silently.
I love you.
The End