It took her a long time to realize that maybe her brother didn't actually care what she did.

She finally stood face to face with him. She didn't know what she was expecting, but it wasn't this.

"I understand, Bonnie." Lewis had said. "You made your choice, I made mine."

At the time, she didn't care. She just wanted to fight him, prove that the Union wasn't all that by winning. She wanted to have him on the ground, unable to fight anymore. She wanted to hold her hand out, invite him to the Shadow Degree. She would tell him the Union had failed him, but the Shadow Degree wouldn't.

That didn't happen. In fact, she was the one on the ground. Her brother turned away.

"Lewis?"

"Heh, you've grown a lot." He said. Then he left. He left!

She was stunned. Laying on the ground, she breathed heavily. She wanted to scream, to punch a wall. She wanted to run after him, to...

...try talking for once. Her legs wouldn't budge, though, so she simply laid there unmoving.

"Bonnie?"

Above her, was Li Ao. His eyes were furrowed, and he helped her up.

"Uh...didn't go like how you wanted to?"

"..." her teeth clenched.

"...never mind. Let's get back, it's getting kinda dark."

"Nah, let's go walking for a bit." She suddenly said, turning abruptly around a corner. He followed, jogging to keep up with her.

"Are you ok? You hate walking out this late."

"Maybe I'm not feeling like myself, ever think of that?"

He was silent for a long time, examining her face.

"You can talk to me, you know."

"I know that. I just don't know l'd even put any of this into words."

"Then how about this? We go sit down, maybe get something to bite, calm yourself down." He wheeled around a corner and pointed to a joint nearby. "Then you're head'll be more clear, so you can say what you mean to say."

She thought about this. Normally, she'd punch his arm and playfully accuse him of just wanting to go our for a bite. But looking at him, he was sincere, and really wanted to help her.

"Did ya hear that from a show on the tv?" She asked, heading towards the joint.

"Maybe, but it's good advice!"

"You're right, it is good. Let's get moving."

***

Li Ao licked his plate clean. Bonnie had only eaten a little bit of her when she gave it to Li Ao, claiming she was stuffed to the brim. I'm reality, she was having a hard time eating thanks to her running thoughts. But by the time he was done, she knew exactly what she was feeling.

"Feeling better?" He asked.

"Yes," she said, leaning on a wall, "can I vent to you?"

"Sure, I'm all ears."

"I think the Esper Union sucks ass."

"Wow, who would have guessed?"

"Let me finish! I mean, I kinda knew that before, but I think I didn't released how much until tonight. I mean, why would Lewis chose those boot lickers over me? Maybe it's a difference in opinion, but the way I see it, Lewis won't change his mind until the Union directly fails him. I don't understand why he's so...heartless!"

She sighed and looked away, frustrated and confused.

"Don't get mad at me," he said, "but maybe you just gotta be patient."

"Patient?"

"Yeah, like sometimes I have to be patient for food to be cooked so it tastes even better. Maybe it's the same here, you just have to let him cook before you can take him back."

"Eehhhh..." she thought about it, then laughed. "That's kinda lame, but I get it!"

"Good! Now let's go home, it's cold and dark."

"Alright, stop your whining." She said, starting off. He quickly followed, giggling at himself.

Maybe he was right. Being patient wasn't her strong suit, but if the Union did slip up, it wouldn't be today, or anytime near. She would be waiting for Lewis when that day did come, holding the door open for him when he was ready to come out.

'Just you wait, Lewis!' She thought, sticking her cold hands into her pockets. 'You'll see I'm right, and you'll be thankful I wasn't so heartless.'