Elliot tossed her purse strap over her head and moved towards the door. Beck reached out and pulled it open for her.

"Does it ever feel to you like we are always leaving the office?" he asked.

Elliot gave him an odd look.

"No," she said. "We spend hours in here."

"Must just be me then."

He followed her out the door and closed it behind them. They headed down the stairs and pushed through the building doors. The sun, noticing it's lack of overwhelming heat the previous day, was making up for it. Weaves of heat rose off the pavement, even though the shifting light spoke of early evening. Pedestrians moved with a sluggishness that was mirrored in their tired expressions.

"I'm going to the cafe," Elliot said, looking at Beck. "You coming?"

He nodded and they made their way through the Common, the track well worn and familiar like a nosy neighbor you know to avoid. Outside the tables were occupied by those who prided themselves on being unmolested by the weather and were determined to prove it. Beck pulled the door open, eliciting a ding from the bell over head. He held it for Elliot and she nodded in thanks.

Milo was wiping down the counter when they entered, seemingly absorbed in cleanliness. Elliot cocked her head and looked at Beck.

"Have you ever noticed how Milo is conveniently unoccupied with large tasks when we show up?" she asked.

Beck shrugged.

"I haven't been here enough to notice," he said.

"I must be imagining it then."

They approached the counter, but Milo didn't look up, his thoughts blinding him to the world.

"The counter is clean, Milo," Elliot said, gently.

Milo stilled, but his focus remained downward.

"She hasn't stopped by, has she?" Beck said.

Milo straightened and tossed the towel off to the side, then shook his head.

"No, she hasn't," he said, in a dull voice.

"Milo-"

He raised a hand cutting Elliot off.

"I'm not up for it, El," he said.

Elliot shifted back, fighting an annoyed outburst, deciding to save it since it was meant for Cece. Milo focused on Elliot and Beck, forcing his thoughts away and clearing his expression. A bit of curiosity brightened his solemn face. He pointed between the two of them.

"You two seem to be getting along," he said. "I'm basing this off the fact that it's the second time you've shown up together and Beck is still in one piece."

Elliot nodded.

"Yeah," she said, "it's been days since I've thought of drowning him in his coffee cup."

Beck crossed his arms and gave a nod towards Elliot.

"And I've stopped wondering if she is mad and let it be," he said.

Elliot turned to him with a smug smile.

"Why? Because you realized my brilliance only comes off as madness?"

"No, because I figured I would eventually go mad myself trying to follow your madness to make a conclusive decision about it."

"Smart move. If only Peter Edwards had thought of that. Good thing he likes white jackets and a padded cell."

Milo leaned back on the wall and scowled at them, his hands hiding away in his pockets.

"I'm not sure if I should be impressed Beck can hold a conversation with you?" he said. "Or peeved at your cheeriness? It's making me a little sick."

"Would it help if I was insulting him and wearing a glum expression?" Elliot asked.

"I don't know, try it and we'll see," he said.

Elliot frowned and looked at Beck. He met her gaze with hidden amusement.

"I don't like the way you write because its uncommonly good and your hair does this flippy thing that pisses me off," she said.

Beck pointed at her, with a mask of annoyance.

"Your face is too easy to read and half the things you say make less than no sense."

They both turned back to Milo, their expressions brightening.

"How was that?" Elliot asked. "Any better? I could punch him for good measure."

Milo's scowl deepened.

"Even your insults lacked true venom," he said, morosely. "Do me a favor, order something and go away. Your mutual respect for each other is even more annoying than my current predicament."

Elliot gave him a sympathetic look.

"I'm sorry, Milo," she said.

He waved away her pity.

"Just order coffee and a pastry that doesn't exist and move on."

Elliot nodded.

"As you wish," she said. "I'll have coffee and a croissant that tastes like a cookie."

This amusing comment had no affect on Milo's peeved disposition and he looked at Beck expectantly.

"Just coffee," Beck said.

"Good," Milo said. "Now leave me."

They left him, Elliot glancing back once, before finding an empty table and settling in opposite Beck. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze roaming the room casually before landing back on Elliot. With a troubled frown on her face, she sat with her elbow on the table, her chin resting on her fist and watched Milo work.

"Do you think Cece will ever put him out of his misery?" Beck asked.

A small smile edged its way on his mouth as if he knew the punch line of a joke before it was told. Elliot's eyes went wide and she slapped the table in outrage.

"Never," she said. "Cece couldn't bring herself to kill Milo."

The smile fully bloomed on Beck's lips.

"How about just ending the current state he is in?" he asked.

Elliot sank back onto her fist.

"That question elicits about the same response," she said.

She let out a tired sigh.

"I'm still annoyed they aren't talking," she said.

"Hard to see your best friends fighting?"

"No, it just ruins my day."

Elliot rubbed her face, trying to push away her frustration at the situation. She dropped her hands and looked at Beck.

"I get where my sister is coming from," she said. "There is probably no one else on this planet who gets her more than I do. We go off planet and that changes things. But the thing that annoys me is, Cece is so determined and head strong in everything else she does, but when it comes to this one issue it's like she is a whole different person. She's scared and avoids confronting the issue like it was Ms. Newett's casserole. If she is scared, what hope is there for anyone else?"

Beck nodded, his expression serious.

"Please say what you're thinking," she said, "because its making me nauseous just seeing how fast your brain is working."

The corner of Beck's mouth twitched.

"Your sister is human, Elliot," he said.

"That's debatable."

Beck raised his hands in a placating gesture.

"Alright, let's for sanities sake, assume she is human," Beck said.

"Fine, assume away," she said, "but know that if we do assume it makes an ass out of u and me. So as long as you're fine with that, continue. Though I guess it wouldn't change much in your case."

He gave her a flat look.

"I warned you what would become of us if we assumed and now you see how it changes me," she said.

"Can you be serious?"

"I thought you wanted me to assume? You should try to stay focused."

"Peter Edwards's situation is starting to make a lot more sense and sounds more inviting each second."

"You do look good in white," Elliot said.

"And you are dancing around the subject because you're avoiding facing facts. Cece's not the only one scared."

"You're wrong," she said.

Beck raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"I can't dance. It's the shame I try to hide because Tristan is embarrassed by how awkward I look when I try."

Beck looked at her with an emotionless face.

"Being scared isn't something to be ashamed of, Elliot."

"So you're fine with being scared of never admitting to your brother what you really want to do?" she quipped.

They looked at each other for a long, tense moment. Elliot broke away first.

"For a second there I thought we were getting along," she said.

Beck didn't respond, his face blank. Elliot closed her eyes and let out a sigh. When she opened her eyes Beck was still staring mutely at her, his thoughts closed off.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have brought up your brother. That was uncalled for. It appears I'm an ass whether I assume or not."

Beck's placid expression cracked and he shifted, his gaze dropping from hers.

"It seems we both struggle with that," he said. "What I simply meant is, its easy to understand that Cece and you share the same fear. You both chose the same sort of life and made similar decisions. That was all."

Elliot leaned back in her chair, mulling over his words.

"So because I don't want to deal with Cece's indecision over this issue with Milo, it means I'm scared that if I was ever in the same situation I would react the same."

Beck waved his hands out to the side.

"Your words," he said.

"But that's where your brain was taking you, wasn't it?"

He gave a single nod. Elliot leaned back on the table, giving him an inquisitive look.

"Here's the real question," she said. "Is that actually true or are you over complicating the fact that I'm annoyed with my sister for being a pain to Milo?"

Beck gave her a small smile and shrugged.

"I could be over complicating things, but you came to your conclusion by yourself."

Elliot frowned at him.

"I don't know what is more annoying," she said. "The fact that you could be right. Or the fact that you would make a really good psychiatrist and you're a great writer. It almost seems like you are a selfish person."

Beck chuckled. Elliot tapped her cheek with a mock, ponderous expression.

"Where do you think this selfishness comes from?" she asked.

Beck shook his head with amusement. Milo walked over to them with two cups of coffee and a cookie. Elliot looked down at it as he set it on the table.

"Did I order this?" she asked.

"No," Milo said, "I've given up listening to you when you order."

Elliot shrugged and broke the cookie in half, handing one piece to Beck. He looked at it with raised eyebrows.

"It's the least I can do for my remark," she said.

Beck took the cookie. Milo scowled at them.

"You make me sick."

He returned to his post behind the counter, busying himself with mindless jobs. Elliot took a sip of her coffee, managing to successfully burn her tongue. She set it back down.

"It's fine," she said. "I never liked the feel of my tongue in the least."

Beck smiled. Elliot broke off another piece of the chocolate chip cookie, looking at Beck.

"I have a question for you," she said.

Beck eyed her over the top of his cup.

"Should I be scared?" he asked.

"Only of ghosts, walruses and people who slurp their soup."

Beck lowered his cup and gestured for Elliot to continue.

"Why did you ever agree to write this book with me?" she asked. "I know you said money and I am paying you a lot, but still, couldn't you have gotten a better job somewhere else?"

Beck smirked.

"Well," he said, "if I had known it would entail working along side you for countless hours, slowly losing my grip on reality, I might have rethought my rash decision."

"Your fault for not reading the fine print. It was clearly stated what would happen." She shrugged and took a sip of her coffee. "Besides reality is overrated and over taxed. I had to leave because the IRS kept chasing me."

Beck gave her a long, calculating look. Elliot shook her head.

"Nope," she said. "Not insane, just odd. So why did you take the job?"

"It really was for the money," he said. "I read your books, knew it wouldn't be too difficult to write along side you and could easily make in the summer what would take me months to earn at another job. Also, it would be a faster turn around so I could support my mother."

Elliot nodded.

"If I ask about your mother would you throw your coffee at me?" she asked.

"No, you already burned your tongue, I figure that is sufficient."

Elliot raised her eyebrows prompting him. He gave a tired sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

"She's sick and things have been tight with bills and college, even though I'm on scholarship. It was a way I could help. Relieve some of the burden on my parents' shoulders."

Elliot gave him an approving nod.

"You just became a lot more likable, Beck Daniels," she said.

He laughed and self consciously rubbed the back of his neck. The door opened, the bell giving out a bright ding, and Cece walked in. Elliot straightened as her eyes jumped from her sister to where Milo stood behind the counter. Beck noticed Elliot's reaction and twisted around. Cece walked up to the counter and Milo looked up, freezing at the sight of her.

"Hi," she said, her voice sounding small and nervous, a sound Elliot was not use to.

Milo shifted.

"Hi," he said.

"That's progress," Beck said to Elliot.

She shook her head.

"Luke, I have a bad feeling about this," she said, still staring at Cece.

Beck moved his attention back to the front.

"I heard you've been writing," Milo said.

Cece nodded.

"Yup," she said.

A moment of silence elapsed before Cece spoke again.

"Look, Milo," she said. "I'm sorry for getting angry and arguing with you on your birthday. I didn't mean to make a scene."

"Okay," he said.

A slight frown flashed through Cece's expression.

"You forgive me?" she asked.

"Sure," Milo said.

"Alright."

Milo made no response and Cece shifted, the frown becoming more permanent.

"Why do I feel like you still hate me?" she said.

"I don't hate you, Cece and you know that. I don't want an apology."

"Then what do you want?"

The frown seemed to leap to Milo's face as Cece's became distressed.

"I want you to make up your mind," he said. "I want you to decide that either you want this or you don't."

Cece leaned closer to the counter, her face expressing her tormented thoughts.

"Milo," she said. "You don't get it. It's not that I don't want this...its just..."

"I know what you've been through Cece and I get it, but someday you are going to have to get over it."

Cece's face flashed with pain.

"I know that's harsh for me to say, but come on Cece, when you are going to say screw the past and move on. Am I not worth that to you?"

Cece opened and closed her mouth, the words trapped behind a barrier in her mind. Elliot leaned forward, gripping the table with unnoticed intensity.

"Say it dang it," she muttered.

Cece stood there speechless, her mind frantically searching for words that she knew even if she found them she would be too scared to say. Milo seemed to deflate under her silence. He looked at her with a tired, resigned look.

"It seems you made up your mind," he said.

He turned away and the image of his back snapped Cece from her mind.

Milo," she said, "I don't-"

He raised a hand, silencing her. She closed her mouth. He flicked his hand in a careless gesture.

"Cece," he said. "There is no more to say. I have work to do."

He disappeared into the back and for a moment Cece stood there stunned. The door opened and the bell rang, pulling Cece back to herself. She turned and left the cafe. Elliot slumped onto the table.

"My stupid, idiotic sister," she moaned.

**********************************************************************

Hey you! (Ha! You were expecting a food of some sort as a greeting weren't you?! Pulled a fast one on you. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Wow, could I be more odd? I'm not sure, I'll work on it)

Okay, so the video at the top is in honor of Cece, because other than the fact that she doesn't sleep around and wear low cut black dresses, it pretty much sums her up! So hands up if you are super annoyed and frustrated with Cece at the moment. Wow! A couple double hands, I'm with you there. Do I have anything to discuss? Not really. Turns out I'm boring today. Haha just kidding, I'm always boring so that's nothing new! Love you crazy skidoo!

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