Corliss waited outside, keeping a lookout for Illumi's car. She held her bag close to her. She was going to come clean to Illumi. He deserved to know who she was. Only a few people knew everything and she wanted him to part of the few. Would he reject her just like List? The more she thought about it, the more she started to rethink things. His car came to a stop.

"Lin!" Illumi called out.

Her feet kept her planted. Could she deal with another rejection? Illumi noticed something was wrong and proceeded to get out of his car. She started to panic as he came closer.

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine... I promise." she said, finding a bit of strength to walk.

She buckled herself in and held her bag close. The car started to move. She stole a glance at him as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Illumi..." she called out, finally looking at him. "We're friends... right?"

"Just friends? I'd say we're at least good friends by now after all we've been through." he said, making a right. "Why do you ask?"

"Just seeing if we're on the same page." she half lied.

Silence fell over them. Corliss decided to wait until the reached their destination to tell him. The last thing she wanted was for him to go into shock and crash his car.

____

Corliss clung to Illumi as they created groups. The groups were then sent off to their respective areas.

"So, you said you had something to say?" Illumi mentioned as they had moved far from their group.

"It's about me..." she said, unable to meet his eyes. "There's something I haven't told you about..."

"I'm all ears." Illumi said, successfully pulling an apple off.

"I'm trans." she whispered unintentionally.

"Come again?" said Illumi, missing what she said.

"I said I'm transgender..." she said again, her body trembling. "My birth name is John Steinbeck..."

Illumi climbed down the small ladder then looked at her. She was shaking more than leaves in a hurricane.

"I still have a male body, but I feel like my true self with the way I am now. Yet even now I'm being rejected..." she said, a few tears escaping her eyes. "I understand if you're disgusted by me. I just wanted you to know... you deserve to know."

Corliss finally met Illumi's gaze. She couldn't tell how he was feeling from her confession. She watched him step back. That was it. Illumi was going to leave her as well. She covered her face, not wanting to see his backside.

"Lin, why don't you pick some apples too?" Illumi suggested, moving the bucket.

"Huh...?" she said, looking up with her tear stained face.

"You've been through a lot within the last twelve hours. Apple picking is supposed to be relaxing, you know?" said Illumi, pulling her over to the ladder. "Though, I appreciate you telling me this about you. I feel like I finally know you."

"Illumi... You're, not disgusted by me?" she asked quietly.

"What's there to be disgusted about? You're still you whether you're a guy named John or a girl named Corliss." said Illumi with a smile. "You're my dearest friend."

She wrapped her arms around him, sobbing loudly into his chest. Even if he was faking, hearing those words had given her a breath of air that she had been dying for. To know that someone, anyone out there still wanted to be around her solely because they liked her for who she was, not because of what she was. Illumi hugged her back, wondering how long she had been worrying over it.

"If you don't mind, could I tell you some stories...?" she asked, hoping he'd say yes.

"Talk while picking." he said, pulling away.

He held the ladder as she talked about her life growing up and how her parents always forced her to act like a guy. She mentioned her siblings who would sometimes have to listen to their parents talk down to her as if she was scum of the earth. Memory after memory continued to resurface to the point her vision started to blur.

"I wanted to die, you know?" said Corliss, climbing down the ladder. "I just couldn't live with all of the yelling, the screaming, the beating, my siblings disapproving looks." she said, trying to laugh but it came out choked. "I really almost did it..."

Illumi kept silent, knowing his words wouldn't help much. She sighed then looked at their half full bucket.

"Instead I called a friend. I asked her if I could stay the night and she let me in. It was that night she gave me these." she said, digging into her bag and producing a small box that held the heart stud earrings. "I really owe her my life. I might not have been alive at this moment if she didn't answer my call."

"I can't imagine how hard your life was... I'm really glad you stuck around. I got to meet a wonderful person." said Illumi, poking her side repeatedly.

"Stop..." she said, eventually starting to smile and laugh. "Stop it."

"Make me." he said, now poking both of her sides.

She started to poke him back, causing him to run away. She chased after him, a genuinely beautiful smile adorning her face.

____

Illumi put on his hazard lights as they had stopped by Sunny Side. Corliss took a deep breath then got out of the car. Illumi tolled the window down and told her to take her time.

She opened the door and found the place quiet. They were probably having story time around this time. She walked down the hall then cracked the door open slightly. There sat the children listening to one of them read a loud. She stepped into the room.

"And the rabbits lived happily ever after." she said with a smile.

The other children clapped happily and Corliss joined in. The little girl standing up noticed her and quickly ran over to her. Soon the others did the same. Honjo stayed seated along with Aoyuzu.

"Honjo, there's something I need to tell you." she said, beckoning him to come over.

She walked him out the room then bent down to his height.

"About your adoption... It'll be a while longer. List and I had a big disagreement and I may not be able to finish everything." she said, a guilty look on her face. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. I'm not upset." he said, holding her hands.

"You're not? That's a relief." she said with a smile.

"Mr. Zoldyck can adopt me and you can marry him!" he said with a cheeky grin. Corliss sighed heavily as she faceplamed. Honjo gave her a confused look. "What's wrong?"

"Honjo, there are stages that have to be cleared before two people can get married. The first is getting to know the person. Second is building a strong foundation of trust and understanding. Third is dating to see if you're compatible enough. If you can get through those, then you can consider marriage." she explained, hoping some of it would stick in his mind.

"Oh. So it's like a game?" he asked.

"No, I was saying it in a way you'd understand. You never want to treat it like a game." she said sternly.

"I understand." he said, giving her a smile.

"Good. Now run along, I'm sure you want to play with the others." said Corliss, standing up.

"When will we see Mr. Zoldyck again?" he asked quietly.

"Right now." a voice said from behind them.

"Mr. Zoldyck!" Honjo exclaimed, running into his open arms.

A few kids poked their heads out and approached Illumi as well. Corliss smiled happily, cooing at the sight. Ever since his first few days at Sunny Side, the kids had fallen for him. Illumi looked at Corliss and gave her a weary look, asking for help.

The children whined and threw small fits as Corliss told them they had to go. She looked at Honjo who refused to watch them leave.

"I think he's mad at me." she said lowly.

"For what?" he asked.

"After that entire thing with List, I'm certain things are going to combust. There's still a few fees I have to pay and then they're coming to check my place once more and so many other things. I'm more worried about payments though..." she said, sighing heavily. "And I have to work tonight..."

"Think you can face him?" Illumi asked, starting the engine.

"No, but I'll try my best." she replied, rubbing her temples. "Oh, wait!"

He watched her get out then reach into the back for the apples they picked. She hurried back into Sunny Side, placing the apples in the kitchen. She hurriedly wrote a note at the front desk then went back to place it beside the apples.

Illumi watched her emerge from the building then head back over. She got back in the sighed in satisfaction.

"Good to go?" he asked. Corliss nodded then lied back in her seat. "Do you mind if we stop by my company for a bit? There's someone I gotta pick up."

"Oh? Is it a girl?" she teased.

"He can be mistaken for one." he said with a snort.

"Can't wait to meet this person." she responded, playing with her hair. "Hey, I've got a question."

Illumi hummed in response.

"Are you straight?" she asked. Illumi shook his head. "Gay?" He shook his head again. "Asexual...?"

Illumi sighed then shook his head.

"I'm not sure myself. I guess you could say I'm questioning..." he explained, remembering his talk with Chuuya from yesterday.

"You've dated a guy before?" she asked with piqued interest.

"Yeah... it was over a year ago though..." Illumi said, having flashbacks. "It was all my fault anyway."

"What did you do? Cheat on him?" she guessed.

"No. I just... I fucked up. I was scared and confused. I hurt him with that. It was like I was leading him on. So he left." Illumi recalled, hearing his voice in his head and the sound of the train pulling off. "I really did like him then, now that I look back."

Corliss quietly stared at him, assuming he didn't have a past behind that pretty exterior. She guessed he was straight and left it at that.

"Have you dated since?" Corliss pried once more.

"No. I don't want to make a mistake like that again. Even then I haven't had time nor met anyone I liked." said Illumi, recognizing the streets.

____

"She's seriously not your secret girlfriend?" Chuuya asked for the nth time.

"And like I seriously told you before, she's not." Illumi replied, regretting picking him up.

"She's really pretty though. Are you dating someone, Corliss?" Chuuya asked, unaware of what happened.

Corliss frowned as she turned around in her seat. Illumi glared at him in the mirror.

"Okay... moving on, how do you feel about having your picture taken?" he asked.

"I don't mind it." she responded. "Why?"

Snap. The sound of a camera shutter went off. Corliss blinked rapidly as Chuuya sat back in his seat.

"Wow, you look like a goddess, Liss." Chuuya said with a chuckle.

"Only close friends can call me Liss." she spat.

"Either way, you're beautiful. Flaunt it more." he said, making a note to upload the photo to his computer.

"Oh, thanks..." she muttered, feeling slightly bashful.

"Lumi, we're still on for Tuesday right?" Chuuya asked, placing his camera back in the bag properly.

"Nothing's changed, so yeah." Illumi replied.

"What's going on Tuesday?" Corliss asked.

"I'm introducing him to my friends as my boyfriend." Chuuya explained. "Tell me you love me, Lumi."

"Fuck you." Illumi responded, earning himself a flick on the arm.

"If you want to fuck so bad, just say so." Chuuya said, a smirk present on his face.

The two started to bicker back and forth, making Corliss feel like a third wheel. He said he hadn't dated anyone since the guy he messed up with, but after hearing Chuuya call him boyfriend, she started to doubt. The bickering only made her more convinced that maybe he was dating. She was happy for him, but she knew that meant less time would be given to her.