Lydia stood awkwardly, the words, [i] This is why I didn’t want to tell you, you idiot… [/i] on her lips, but unable to speak them. His small smile, his intense stare into her eyes, all of it made her feel incredibly, stupidly weak. [i] I hate feeling weak. Damn it, Adrian. [/i] Her chest burned with the emotions she was compressing, but when he took her hand, and he spoke those gentle, well-meaning words, his eyes staring straight into hers, a sound not unlike a cry escaped her lips and she pressed her free hand against her mouth to stifle it. “... I-... I’m fine… if I hadn't been so stupid...” she mumbled around them. [I]... what, Dillon would have been here alone with him?... What was I going to say? How am I supposed to be strong like this, with him staring at me like that? [/i] She hesitated, feeling the weight and warmth of his hand wrapped around hers. She stepped forward, leaning against him, one arm wrapped around his shoulder in an awkward half-embrace, burying her face in his shoulder. “Thanks…” [i] I hate you for making me weak. I was handling it just fine… [/I] She couldn’t let the moment rest, not even in her own mind. [i] If he ever mentions this again outside of right now, I’ll strangle him.[/I] 

Josh pushed off the wall and headed on, deciding to leave them alone. He walked back to the living room, sitting down on the couch, crossing his legs and staring down at his hands resting in his lap, his thoughts filling his head. [I] I can’t let Thomas get away with what he did… I’ve never even seen Lydia show emotions… he must have really gotten to her.[/I] One of his vines crept down his shoulder, curling around his arm, and he held it in the palm of his hand. [I] But what can I do? I can’t believe her enemy is closer to her than I am...[/i]