[For the next few days, Luka dodges Maeve. Maeve doesn’t want to push his boundaries, so they don’t talk at all.]

[One day, they are forced to talk due to the project. Their conversation starts awkwardly, but eventually they are back to laughing and joking.]

[During their free time, they watch movies and tv shows together. During one session, Maeve has belly flopped onto Lukas bed, while Luka sits on the floor, back against the bed, searching for movies on Maeve’s sticker-covered laptop.]

[Luka selects a children’s movie about a queen with ice powers.]

Maeve: That movie? Seriously? Isn’t that a kids movie? 

Luka (w): Yeah, and it’s the best movie I’ve ever watched. 

Maeve: I’ve never seen it. 

Luke (w): WHAT? We are definitely watching it now. 

[Luka presses play. The sounds of the musical movie fill the air, and Luka begins to hum the first song.]

[Maeve feels safe here, at this moment. She doesn’t realize that this is the first time Luka has made a positive noise, and that he also feels incredibly safe.]

[Maeve starts singing along.]

~~~

[The movie resolves with one big song. All of the villagers are happy, and every character gets along in the end.]

[Luka shuts Maeve’s laptop.]

Maeve: Aw. No more? We could probably have time for another movie if we- 

[Luka's voice is quiet and weak. He strains his voice, using every little bit of effort in his body to speak.]

Luka: I am glad we are friends—

[He mouths Maeve, but his voice gives in at that point.]

[Maeve gives him a hug, channeling all of her excitement] 

[Luka pulls out a notepad, beginning to write] 

Luka (w): That took me weeks to practice. 

Maeve: It was worth it. Absolutely. 

Luka (w): You’re the first person who’s actually treated me like a person even though I don’t talk. So you’re the first person who deserves to hear me talk. 

Maeve: You’re the best friend I’ve had since- agh 

Luka (w): Since what? 

Maeve: My brother. He was kidnapped when I was young. 

Luka (w): Oh. I’m sorry. 

Maeve: He’s probably dead. And it’s my fault. We were playing tag and I led him outside the palace, where we weren’t allowed to go alone. Then a van pulled up and took him, and I never saw him again. 

Luka (w): There’s no way that’s your fault. 

Maeve: What? 

Luka (w): You were a kid. Honestly it says more about your mom that you were able to run away and nobody was looking after you. 

Maeve: Yeah… I guess she always blamed me for it, though. Shortly after, my dad moved back to the demon region. We stopped going there every other week. We stopped being a family. 

Luka (w): Something similar happened to me. My mom was killed in some stupid match against the Prince of the Demon Region. She was one of the most famous fighters there. My dad started going out more and more, and eventually it was just my brother and I. My brother hates me.

Maeve: God, I’m sorry that happened to you. I wish we’d met sooner.

Luka (w): Yeah. Same.

~~~

[Weeks pass, most students busily working away at their presentations. The entire class procrastinated on their projects, so the week before winter break is filled with talk about presentations.]

[Maeve and Luka go unbothered by Elle for those weeks. Maeve assumes it is due to Oliver’s talk with her, or the project occupying her time.]

[The week after the project is due is winter break, so the noise among the students switches from projects to winter plans.]

[The morning the students are dismissed from school for winter break, Maeve walks down the stairs to discover a familiar demon-winged boy curled into a ball on one of the couches.]

[Maeve sits down next to him.]

Maeve: Are you ok, Luka? 

[From his ball, an arm extends, offering Maeve a note. She takes the note, and Luka pulls her in for a tight hug. He then gets up and leaves.]

[She begins to read the messily written, crumpled letter, but a knock at the door interrupts her. She answers the door.]

Prince: Hey, Maeve! It’s time to leave! 

Maeve: I’m waiting for my mom still, but I’m all packed and ready. 

Prince: No, you are coming with us. Go get your things. 

[Maeve, unsure of herself, retrieves her baggage and hands it to the Prince to be put in his car. The boys also bring their luggage, and they pack into the sleek, black car.]

[The car starts, the gravel crunching under its weight. Maeve unfolds her note, and thoroughly reads it. She is deeply troubled by what she reads.]

Maeve: We need to go back! 

Prince: We can’t. Did you forget something? 

Maeve: No! It’s my friend! I shouldn’t let him go home. And he— he had a rough night last night, I don’t know how much more he can take. 

Prince: Maeve, he is probably already on his way home. If you know where he lives, we can send someone to check on him, but there is nothing more we can do. 

Maeve: I don’t know where he lives, but we can turn around, it will be quick, I promise! 

[The Prince arrives at a red light. He turns to face Maeve]

Prince: Can you please just be quiet and let me drive? 

Maeve: No! We have to go back for him- and then I’ll just bring him to my place- 

Prince: You aren’t going home. 

Maeve: What? 

Prince: Your mom wants you to spend winter  break with us. 

Maeve: No. No- we always spend this time together.

Ethan: The light’s green, you can go. 

[The Prince sighs] 

Prince: Look, I can’t explain this right now. I need to focus. We can talk about it later. 

Maeve: Do you even care about me? 

Prince: What? Of course I do! 

Maeve: You don’t. You only care about what’s superficial.

Prince: That’s- that’s not true! 

Maeve: What’s one thing I’m passionate about? 

Prince: Look- can we just have this conversation later? When I’m not behind the wheel of a car? 

Maeve: And now you’re pushing me away again. 

[The Prince grips the steering wheel so hard it creaks]

Prince: Fine, you want to know what your mother said? She said that you were unfit to be her heir to the throne. She’s found a replacement. 

[The rest of the car ride is silent.]