“You know,” Jade remarked, “I haven’t seen Tacita around here lately. Doesn’t she practically live here?”

“Oh, yeah, I meant to tell you about that,” Valo replied. “She told me she was taking music lessons.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Some guy a friend recommended.”

“Hm. Is he any good?” Jade asked.

“According to Tacita, he’s really good. Plus, she says he’s really cute and has a great personality,” Valo answered. “Hey, if things don’t work out between you and Graham, maybe you can give this guy a try.”

“Maybe.”

“Tacita said she’d try to get him to come over here with her today. I bet you two are going to hit it off.”

Jade shrugged and said slowly, “Well, anything’s possible, right?”

Valo narrowed her eyes slightly and looked Jade over carefully, then commented, “Something’s bothering you. Come on, tell me.”

Jade took a deep breath and said slowly, “Have you ever known someone who you’ve had serious chemistry with, but you knew you two shouldn’t be together and can’t be together?”

Valo raised an eyebrow and remarked, “I have the feeling you’re not talking about Graham now.”


“So, right now, it’s split down the middle,” Emily said, plucking a blade of grass out of the ground and toying with it. “We still can’t decide what to do about the whole Angela situation. Looks like it’ll be up to you to make the tie-breaking decision.”

Louie sighed and chewed on his lower lip. Finally, he spoke. “Well,” he said slowly, “do you really want to know what I think?”

“Sure.”

“I think it’s weird that she wants to be part of the CNC team again, after she left, on her own accord,” Louie remarked.

“I agree.”

“I think that if you guys decide to let her in, you should have a probationary period. During that time, she’ll have to prove that it’s worth letting her back in, and if she messes up, she’s out permanently.”

Emily nodded in agreement and commented, “Sounds like a smart decision to me. See if you can sell it to the others.”


“So, why can’t you be with this guy?” Valo asked. She raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “He’s not related to you, is he?”

“No way!” Jade exclaimed. "That's just gross."

“Okay, that’s good,” Valo said slowly.

Jade tapped her foot and shifted awkwardly in her seat. “There’s just some people who… well, they’re not the relationship type,” she said slowly.

Valo gazed over at Jade, a knowing expression on her face. “So, it’s like that, then,” Valo murmured, mostly to herself as she sipped her tea.


“Trust me,” Tacita said, grinning at her companion in the car, “you two are going to get along great.”

“Who did your say your friends were again?” the man asked.

“The one with long hair and who wears glasses is Jessica, but she prefers to be called Valo. And the pretty one with the reddish-brown hair is Jade.”

“Is that so?" the man asked. “And you say you think Jade’s the one I’ll get along with?”

“Yeah, probably. I mean, you’re more Valo’s type, but she’s in a relationship. I’m sure once Jade takes the time to get to know you, you two will get along fine,” Tacita replied.

The man smiled and remarked, “Somehow, I’m not so sure of that.”