The atmosphere in the room grew tense, words hanging in the air like unspoken promises. Elliot, Eli, Mia, and Alexander stood frozen, caught in a web of secrets and suspicions.

"Elliot: Mia??"

"Mia: You??"

"Elliot: Alex????"

"Mia: Uhm."

"Alexander: Hello, Elliot."

"Mia: Wha?? How did you know it was Elliot???"

"Alexander: Elliot calls me Alex while Eli calls me Alexander. So that's how."

"Mia: ..."

"Elliot: Why are you two together? And alone..?"

"Alexander: We were—"

"Mia: WE WERE DOING NOTHING!!"

"Alexander: ???"

"Mia: We were doing nothing."

"Elliot: That honestly sounds really fishy."

"Mia: Well, it's not!"

"Elliot: One, your scream gave you away."

"Mia: You scared me."

"Elliot: Two, you screamed that you were doing nothing."

"Mia: I hadn't used my voice in a while, so I accidentally screamed."

"Elliot: Please just stop making excuses and tell me what you were doing?"

"Mia: I- I can't."

"Alexander: Why not???"

"Mia: Didn't I tell you already?"

"Alexander: No, I think you left a part of the story out."

"Mia: Oh.. Well um, I'll tell you later."

"Elliot: And you left out the part to tell me everything!"

"Mia: Sorry, I can't right now."

"Elliot: Fine.. I'll give you time to gather your thoughts then?"

"Mia: Mhm."

"Elliot: I'll give you your space, but make sure to tell me one day, okay?"

"Mia: Yeah, for sure."

"Elliot: And I'll take it that Alex knows?"

"Mia: Yeah."

"Elliot: Well, okay, I guess I have to head back now; I told Eli I'd try to come back fast."

"Alexander: Yes, you should probably go back to him; he gets lonely easily, right?"

"Elliot: Yeah, he does."

"Mia: Later, Elliot. Oh, and thanks for being understanding."

"Elliot: Yeah, of course! That's what friends are for!"

"Mia: Heh, yeah, guess you're right."

Elliot leaves the room

"Elliot: Hm.. What could she be hiding?"

After School

"Eli: Ah, finally, school's over. I wonder why college is so long; they must think they might burn the knowledge into our brains."

"Alexander: Yes, that's kinda the point."

"Mia: So you're finally done school and ready to hang out, I vote we hang at the twin's house!"

"Elliot: Yeah, why not—"

"Eli: Sorry, you can't come over to our house; we're busy today."

"Elliot: We are?"

Eli elbows Elliot

"Elliot: We are.. We are so busy today.. ow..."

"Mia: Oh, that's too bad... But it almost sounds like you guys are keeping a secret..."

"Elliot: Uhm.."

"Eli: We kinda are. I guess we could tell you everything, but I don't wanna waste my breath explaining everything."

"Elliot: I kinda agree with Eli."

"Mia: Aw, could you at least tell me?"

"Elliot: No, we can't, not even you or Alex.. Not even the cops."

"Mia: The cops? Why would they be involved?"

"Elliot: Well, I'm just setting examples..."

"Eli: Well, we should probably call the cops if we find anything missing at our house."

"Elliot: Yeah..."

"Mia: ???"

"Elliot: Fine, I'll tell you a little bit..."

"Eli: Nope, I'll tell it. Even when you say you're gonna tell a little bit, you tell the whole story."

"Elliot: Oh, do I? Guess I never noticed..."

"Eli: Anyway, the truth is we are kinda keeping someone who's probably dangerous at our house."

"Mia: ?!"

"Alexander: ?!"

"Mia: Why would you be keeping someone dangerous at your house?!"

"Alexander: Yes, why would you? Unless you had a weird reason."

"Elliot: Well—"

"Eli: We should leave now, Elly. We need to see if he's there or not. Who knows, maybe he's a thief."

"Elliot: I'm sorry."

"Eli: You should be. Anyway, we should hurry home. C'mon, Elly."

"Elliot: Okay, and see you guys later!"

"Mia: ..."

"Alexander: ..."

"Mia: Okay, bye?"

Chapter End