Zandra had helped me carry my bags to the door, but I could tell she didn't want to come in. Our trip together had been strained. I could feel her staring at me often, and the looks on her face as I freely spent in the kitchen store, buying Madlax new pots and utensils, almost made me laugh. Almost, but the look she had now was painful to see. "Well, thanks. I'll call you, okay?" I said, putting the key in the door. "Yea. Sure." she looked down at the floor, obviously unhappy. "I – I don't know what to say, Zandra. I didn't mean for this to happen." I pushed the door open, and turned back to face her in the hallway. "It just happened." "That stuff you bought...she's really going to stay here with you, isn't she?" "Yes, she is. She...likes to cook." I bit my lip, unable to think of anything else to say. Zandra was staring at me, but it was hard to tell what she was feeling. "Please, say something." I blurted out, unable to take the tension any longer. If you hate me, tell me now.... "Well then you'd better learn to cover your neck! You've got a huge love bite there!" with that, she turned and ran down the hallway. When she reached the elevator, she spun about and put her hands on hips, glaring at me. "I can only imagine what your parents will say about this new twist in your life!" she yelled as she got onto the elevator. "My parents..." my hand went up to the sore spot on my neck. "How will I explain all this to my parents?" I ran my hand along the welt, feeling a mixture of shame and arousal at the same time. "I'm crazy." I picked up my numerous bags and limped inside, dropping them by the door. The phone rang, and I ran as fast as my ankle would let me, huffing my way to the phone. "Hello!" I barked out impatiently, hoping it was her. "Vanessa? This is Margaret. Are you okay?" "Oh, I'm fine. Just a little winded from running to the phone." I tried to force some cheer into my voice, to cover my disappointment. "I was wondering if you would like to come to my birthday party tomorrow afternoon." Margaret's voice seemed shy, so unlike her sister. "Oh- well that would be lovely." I sat down on the edge of the sofa, dangling my sore ankle off the floor. "Thank you for asking. Do you want me to bring anything?" "Just yourself. That would be the best present of all." Margaret's small voice brought a smile to my face. I really did like the girl. I heard Margaret clear her throat on the other end of the line. "You miss her, don't you?" her voice was surprisingly gentle. "I do." I felt myself sliding off the edge, down into the cushions of the sofa. "I really do." "She misses you too." her voice was soothing. I hooked my arm around a pillow, pulling it to my chest. "How do you know? Did you talk to her?" I tried not to be jealous, but I could feel it in my chest. "Not on the phone. Not in words- I just know." Margaret's voice sounded almost sad. "She's safe?" I couldn't help but ask, ignoring the tone in the poor girl's voice. "She's safe. Don't worry, Madlax will come back to you, Vanessa Renee." For a moment, she sounded like Madlax, and I felt my body curl up around the pillow. "Thank you, Margaret Burton." I sighed. "You're welcome. Goodnight." She clicked off the phone. I lay still, clinging the phone and the pillow to me. "Goodnight." I whispered, wishing I could communicate with Madlax like Margaret did. "Goodnight, Madlax."
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