The house was quiet when Ava and Belicia returned from the Pizza King, and they talked about Tuto and his sudden exit after receiving that text.

"But did you see how fast he jumped up? I know it had to be Desiree." Ava gushed. "I mean, one second he was giving you goo-goo eyes and the next second he was flying out the door!"

"I wonder if she was right outside?" Belicia surmised. "I hope they get back together because I've had enough of the drama, Ava. Either way if he just leaves me alone I'd be happy."

"What about Koya though. You like him don't you?"

Belicia went silent and Ava stared at her expectantly waiting for her answer. "He really likes you Bel," she encouraged a response.

"I know," Belicia finally sighed. "But I don't know how I feel. Honestly. I can't unsee him kissing Desiree. And anyway I've been saving myself for the right person Ava you know that. I'm not into sharing," she muttered.

"Bel, no one is perfect. Look at Cayde. He hasn't been the perfect boyfriend-,"

"But Cayde hasn't made out with someone right in front of your eyes Ava!"

Ava deflated. "I know, but what he told me today, oh nevermind."

"Nooo, Av, what? What did Koya say today? Are you keeping things from me Ava? I can't believe this!"

"No! I mean, I can't, I promised him I wouldn't. I just wanted to know how you felt."

"That is such crap Ava! You know something and you need to tell me! How could you, and that wasn't an accidental mention. Now tell me Ava, because I'm starting to wonder if I can trust you," Bel cried.

Ava took a breath. "It's really nothing. But you cannot let him know I slipped up please Bel," Ava appealed in a whiny tone.

Belicia crossed her arms across her chest.

"Look, let's get ready for bed and I'll tell you."

"Uh no. You'll tell me now and I'll decide if I even want to stay here Ava. You're supposed to be my friend. We promised we would never keep things from each other."

"I know. Your right Bel, I just didn't think it would come up. But anyway, when I got to class after what happened in the cafeteria Koya was sitting in DJ's seat. He saw my face and asked what happened. I told him and I honestly thought nothing else about it but then he asked me if you had confided in me about kissing Tuto."

Belicia's arms dropped to her sides. "How could he know about that!"

"Honestly I didn't think to ask but now I wonder. Do you think Tuto told him?"

Belicia swallowed hard. "It's possible. Since I did walk up and tell Desi I kissed him," Belicia slapped her hand to her face. "Geesh, Ava, what am I gonna do?"

"So, you doooooo, like him?"

Belicia looked at her very best friend of all time and nodded. "I do Ava. I don't know why though. He's just so different. Insightful. Almost telepathic. But now Tuto is making me second guess myself."

"What? No! Bel, how? You know Tuto and how he is. Tuto is a leech in every sense of the word. He takes advantage of anyone who lets him. He's bully too, you can't possibly mean that!"

"I don't want to mean it, but you didn't see his face or his eyes the other day Ava. He was so sincere. So heartfelt. And when he kissed me, it was so strong. Koya's kiss was nice, but it wasn't like Tuto's."

"Oh my God Bel, Tuto has plenty of experience ya know. He's worse than a whore, I can't believe him and Desi have been together for two years. Probably because she's just like him. You know this!"

"Yeah, I know-"

"Well then forget about Tuto. He's the one you shouldn't trust. Koya is, well, he's just being respectful."

"You really think so?"

"I do," Ava nodded. "Now let's get ready for bed. Tomorrow is Friday and I want to go shopping after school for next weekend."

Belicia didn't know what to think after hearing Ava's little truth bomb but she got undressed and crawled into bed, her thoughts still conflicted over her feelings. Should she trust her thoughts, or her feelings? Ugh. It was a mess in her mind. She wanted to confide in Ava, especially about Koya's ability to seemingly read her mind or talk to her telepathically but she wasn't sure she could even trust Ava now. The whole situation was so complicated.
She tried to go to sleep but she only managed to toss and turn.

Her mind replayed the day's events and she wondered what else Koya may have said to Ava.

His bright hazel eyes materialized in her mind as she thought about him and that sweet smile. He could be goofy. He didn't have a problem laughing at himself. He treated everyone with respect. The people he had made friends with all seemed to like him. Except Tuto.

Was Tuto just a bully, or was there something more about Koya that bothered him? She tried to think back over the years that she had known Tuto and he'd always been a rough houser. The guys who hung out with him were nothing more than fanboys, like Desiree's little cliche. They had ruled the school since Desiree had moved there and they got together almost immediately. Of course she knew the answer and of course Desiree would do anything to make herself look good in front of them.

As she may there drifting with her thoughts and unbidden voice arose in her mind. As clear as day she heard the request like the speaker was standing right by her bed. Bel frozen and her heart began that nervous thump against her chest.

"...Come outside Bel."

She sat straight up in the bed looking over at Ava who lay there lightly snoring. It wasn't her who said that. Who was she fooling? She knew exactly who'd said it.

"...Bel, it's me. I'm outside right now. Please come out so I can talk to you."

Belicia crawled quietly out of bed and went to the window just barely parting the curtains and peeking outside.

Below, just at the road and the driveway stood Koya. Her heart sped up, seeing him down there.

"...I know you see me. Come outside."

With her heart now beating wildly, Belicia grabbed Ava's robe and crept downstairs to the kitchen. She stood there momentarily, her breathing so loud in her ears she wondered if the whole house could hear it. She tried to calm herself and tiptoed to the mud room and carefully let herself outside. She walked around the back yard and stopped as she reached the side of the house, almost screaming with fright as Koya stepped out from the shadows.

He walked up to her and took her in his arms, calming her frayed nerves.

"You scared the crap out of me Koya," she whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"Proving some things to you," he answered enigmatically.

"Like what?" she demanded, "that, you can scare me?"

He shook his head. "That you can hear me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Koya smiled. "Yes you do Belicia or you wouldn't be standing here right now. But that's not what I came here to tell you."

Belicia relented because she knew he was right. She could hear him. It freaked her out to no end and she couldn't understand it, but there was no denying it. "So, what?" she asked impatiently.

Her brusque behavior didn't rattle him at all.

"Come over here and sit down," he took her hand and led her to a little gazebo the Avila's had on that side of the yard. She sat down on the side bench and he sat on the floor.

"Come down here with me." he patted the area next to him.

"Koya, I don't have all night. What if Ava gets up and finds me gone, she'll have a cow--"

"Trust me, she won't. I've taken care of that. Nobody is going to wake up. We have all the time we need."

"This better be good Koya Kenchasi."

He almost laughed at her cuteness. But took her hands in his and tried to be serious.

"Okay princess. It will be, I promise. First I want to apologize for what happened with Desiree."

"Oh? Out here in the middle of the night where nobody can see you? That's lame Koya, and I don't know if I want to believe that."

"I get that, Bel," he let go of her to run a hand through his blonde hair which was loose and flowed around his shoulders. "But I need you to hear me out. So, Tuto-,"

"Oh, you're one hundred percent going to make this about him?"

"No, Belicia, please just listen. Tuto and I. We have known each other for a very long time."

Belicia looked at him like she'd been thunderstruck. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"No. He just doesn't remember me. And I wouldn't mind keeping it that way, but I don't think I'll be able to. And you might see some things happen between us when he does. I just want you to be ready. He already has suspicions, because he has it out for me. He thinks I've got the hots for Desiree but I swear Bel, I don't and no matter what you see, it isn't true."

"So I'm supposed to not believe what I'm seeing Koya? Is that it? I'm having a hard enough time with you in my head! I need to know what's going on! Not some crazy story about you and Tuto. I could care less if you were brothers Koya. This is all just crazy."

"I know, I know," he pleaded with her, his voice barely above a whisper. "That doesn't make it any less true! Tuto is my cousin Bel. And he hasn't been honest with you about himself. At all."

"Well you just said he doesn't even remember you Koya."

"He doesn't Bel. I'm trying here. It's difficult to explain. I just wanted to warn you, really. I know he's making moves on you and I want you to be careful--"

"Yeah, thanks to Ava's big mouth I'm sure you do know."

"Bel, if I can hear your thoughts, and speak to you from anywhere, do you think I can't see or hear what others are doing or saying?"

Belicia's eyes met his and she was loath to admit it but she knew he was being truthful. The reasonable part of herself wanted to reject his explanations but she couldn't. She had to be honest with herself but she didn't want to.

She gasped as he took her shoulders and pulled her toward him, and his lips brushed hers momentarily before he longingly kissed her passionately. He pulled away slightly. "Don't think because I am tender with you that I don't have desires," he whispered looking deep into her amber eyes.

Belicia was breathless. She wanted him to kiss her again. To make her forget the confusion she felt and to prove he was able to hear her deepest desires. He did just that.

He kissed her hard and when their lips touched her mind exploded with his hunger, showering electric spasms throughout her body. A kaleidoscope of emotions pulsed through her as her mind connected to his and her thoughts whirred with what she was seeing.

When he leaned back from her, his hazel eyes were dark with stormy passion. "Go in to bed now Belicia," he said raggedly. "I have said all I can say for now."

For a slight moment he thought she looked hurt, but it was a fleeting expression lost in the situation as she rose up and ran, and he stood up and watched her go until she rounded the corner and he could see her no longer.

With a grave feeling of impending doom, he headed the opposite way, toward his car which he parked just up the street.

He hoped somehow, he had gotten through to her.