Austin sat in the circular drive waiting for Em to come to the door. He had turned the engine off and sat back with his eyes closed. The passenger door opened with a soft whoosh, and Em jumped in.

"What's up?" Em closed the door.

"Nothing. Just bored."

"You decided to see if I could entertain you?" She snorted. "Since when do you come hang out at my house when you're bored? Is this the apocalypse?"

"Close."

"You're getting to be a real downer. You know it?"

"Yeah. I'm sick to death of hearing myself whine. I should leave here. Transfer to somewhere normal with normal friends who worry about normal things."

"What's normal?"

"It sure isn't this. We talk about keeping Mia safe and figuring out what is going on. We should be sitting around watching movies in your living room."

They both looked at the front of the house and knew Austin wouldn't be going inside. Em wasn't allowed to have visitors over unless it was planned, scheduled, and had a permission slip attached. 

"Don't you ever have homework in college?" Em shifted to angle toward Austin. The darkness hid his face. 

"Is that all you ever think about? Homework?"  He didn't wait for her to answer. "And I don't have homework. That's high school."

"Oh." Silence. "I miss hanging out with Mia, too." 

Austin reached over to the glove compartment to remove something camouflaged by the dark interior of the Jeep. Seconds later, he held a cigarette between his lip and flicked the lighter. 

"Maybe I should go. Your mom know you're outside?" Austin stared at the front of the house. The security light cast a bright beam illuminating the front entry and bushes.

"She's watching television in her room. She's in for the night."

"Good."

"Since when do you smoke?"

"Since lately."He took a drag and exhaled. 

Em coughed. She frowned at him  and opened her mouth to say something.  He wasn't in the mood to hear Em giving him grief. His mother had handed out the weekly lecture earlier today.  A lecture about not doing the millions of things that would ruin his health. 

"Let's walk." Austin opened his door and grabbed his jacket from the seat.

"I need to go in and get a coat. It's freezing out here."

"No. Take mine. I don't need it."

Em eyed him before taking the jacket from his hand. Shrugging into it, she pulled her long hair over the collar and smiled. "Thanks. Now tell me what's really going on."

Austin headed down Em's paved driveway. He looked back to see the dimly lit upstairs windows. "Let's walk around that bend up there." Austin quietly moved at a brisk pace and Em fought to keep up. 

He slowed as they turned a corner and could no longer be seen from an upstairs window. "What do you think Em? You think that we're going to make it out of college? Mia and Dimension Dork will settle down and have a family? Raise some mini-dorks."

"No. They're only dating. Why do you have to be so dramatic. And he's not a dork. Why are you calling him that?"

"Mia, you are my destined gatekeeper for the galaxies. I am unable to be complete without you. And your uncanny ability to find me a new place to exit when necessary." Austin's voice rose dramatically while gesturing a hand clutching his heart. The cigarette fell, and he bent to pick it up.

Em stared at him without smiling.

Austin shook his head. "Okay, he's not a dork. He talks like one. He's a dork with some muscles and a pretty face."

"No, he's not. And he really cares about Mia. You don't see it because you're bent on hating him."

"I wouldn't hate the guy if he dated you. I might still think he's a freak, but I wouldn't have this overwhelming urge to rub his face on the concrete every time I see him."

"Yeah. I realize that. Does Mia know?"

"Know what?"

"How you feel about all this." Em reached over to grab the cigarette and pulled it to her lips. She inhaled and sputtered before handing it back. "That is so gross."

Austin dropped the cigarette and smashed it with the toe of his boot. "I think Mia knows."

"So you've told her."

He hesitated. "No. Not in words."

"You drew a picture or what? Or maybe you handed her a note that said I like you. Check the box if you like me," she said, each word dripping sarcasm. At his silence, she added, "This isn't third grade, but you have to be obvious. With words." She waited for him to reply. "Maybe you do need the note."

Austin moved to sit on a large rock which sat conveniently at the edge of the drive. Emily sat on the ground beside him with her legs crossed underneath her. She gripped Austin's jacket tightly in front and tucked her chin against the collar.

"Do you think it would make a difference?" Austin's voice came out gravelly and uncertain. He cleared his throat and looked the other way. Talking to Em felt easy, but they were treading into the land of no-return. He wasn't her BFF and almost wished they were talking about the latest Quest of Zion tourney. Hell, they'd be talking about pedicures next.

He thought she considered the question too long. 

"That's my answer," he said. New topic in order.

"I think she's really into Regulus. Maybe even in love with him. But that doesn't mean it's forever and she ought to know where she stands with you. I'm trying to protect you." Em laid a hand on his knee. 

"You can't decide whose side you're on, can you?"

"Oh, I'm only on Mia's side."

"What about my side? Aren't we friends?"

"You can take care of yourself. Besides, I have a bad feeling about all this. I've never seen her act this way over a guy."

"Do you know something?  'Cause if you're keeping something from me--."

"I  know a person should only have to deal with a finite number of issues. There should be a limit. So, if this goes badly, she's going to need us. We both have to be here for her right now."

"How'd you get so smart?"

"Hangin' out with you, I guess."