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up.
     
    "I think it's customary. Maybe she wants your approval", she continues good-naturedly.
     
    My eyes begin to twitch. I simply cannot imagine a universe, real or alternate, where Kate would want my approval; now my disapproval, you ask? That is more likely to cheer her up. Not that I disapproved. My sister's boyfriends are a subject I don't care to dwell upon.
     
    "Is that so?" I question sweetly, then add a savory afterthought, "I wouldn't know".
     
    I wasn't lucky enough to get introduced as her boyfriend officially.
     
    Apparently both of us are on the same page, as I watch her bite that lip of hers in silent retrospection.
     
    Damn her lips.
     
    Damn her.
     
    "I'll just sit here for a few minutes, if you don't mind", she finally whispers and turns her face away, but not before I catch her biting that lip with enough force to draw blood. Huh. Just as I'm about to call her out to put a stop to her lip massacre, I accidentally drop my guitar, and the loud thud it sounded must've startled her, as she jumps with alarm, eyes fixed on the floor.
     
    Honestly, something was wrong here. This behavior of hers is beginning to worry me.
     
    "What's wrong Elizabeth?" I ask, gently this time, without mockery or censure. Something was troubling her, other than me that is. It didn't sit well with me. But she just shakes her head, and lands up on the floor once again. I follow her example, and continue to regard her with part concern, part resignation. She looks up at me suddenly, perhaps sensing my unwavering scrutiny, and I see something like mild embarrassment slip into her eyes. And just like that, I know.
     
    Taylor Stevens is the problem. The younger Stevens had a thing for Elizabeth, much to his regret and my righteous indignation. His active pursuit of her several years ago, had cost him his lower incisor and a split lip one memorable summer, when he had displayed his overtures towards her right in front of me. He'd claimed to have overcome his 'affections' for her on several occasions since then. But I have my doubts.
     
    "Just tell him to butt off, Elizabeth", I assure her, moving unconsciously towards her in comfort.
     
    I can tell she seems surprised by my intuition. It is weird really, how easily I can read her. Even after all this time.
     
    "He asked me out, sort of", she whispers, and a swift wave of anger deftly washes away the mild case of tolerance I had developed towards him.
     
    He doesn't appreciate his teeth, after all. Or his face, for that matter. I'll just have to bash it again, to stand as a reminder he wouldn't forget any time soon.
     
    I contemplate my course of action, when a sudden unwelcome intrudes my subconscious.
     
    I hadn't the right. She had made sure of that five freaking years ago. 
     
    "That's very progressive, for a 30 minute chinwag. So, what about it?" I snap, disgusted with myself for being even remotely interested with her answer.
     
    "This Saturday. He's says there's a nice new Chinese restaurant, at the hillside", she responds in the same tone, trying to provoke me no doubt. And succeeding beautifully.
     
    "And you don't like Chinese! Tsk tsk. No wonder you're hiding".
    I mentally evoke the picture it'll make, with him tumbling down said hill following a swift kick on his puny backside.
     
    "We could make it a double date, with Kate and Ryder. And I'm sure I'll find something on the menu which suits my palate", she returns equably, clearly enjoying herself, the shrew .
     
    Or you could ask Drew", she blurts out, and gets embarrassed all over again.
     
    Aha! So that's where the wind blows, huh? Now that she's made a slip,  I latch onto it with innumerable pleasure, like a leech on the scent of human blood.
     
    I regard her closely, quirking my eyebrows at her obvious discomfort, thoroughly enjoying the scenario. I know the situation was pretty hopeless, if a petty case of jealousy could make me want to do cartwheels in the hidey-hole. But I decide to let it go,