[color=ed145b]“None of us are pathetic, and you certainly aren’t.” [/color]Tonya argued, almost defensively. [color=ed145b]“We’ve only been at it for two days, stands to reason we aren’t professionals yet. You’ll see. We’ll get better. It was bound to happen sooner or later anyhow, us learning each other’s identities I mean…” [/color]Despite Tonya’s protests to the contrary Bella still seemed upset and shrugged her off. They worked together in abject silence from that point on, up to their elbows in greasy water and sticky pans. A few times Tonya glanced over at Bella, hoping to strike up a conversation again to little avail. She felt a little hurt, her own day hadn’t been too great either, they were all hurting, but Bella could’ve at least acknowledged the attempt at openness. Tonya decided not to stress on the issue, though she would’ve welcomed some remedy to the awkward silence. Sighing Tonya fixated on her work, trying not to think about her reception once she got home. Ossar being angry was the least of her worries.

	When their time ended Tonya slushed some of the overflow into the sink with her wet towel and went to retrieve Ossar and the now empty milk carton. Behind her Bella uttered a heartfelt apology for the way she acted, but before Tonya could say a word she rushed out of the kitchen joining the others outside. [color=ed145b]“There’s nothing to apologize for…” [/color]Tonya trailed off, a confused, hurt look on her face. She’d hoped they could’ve cheered each other up working together, instead it was like Tonya’s presence had made things worse. 

[color=ed145b]“I’m such an idiot, always messing up like this.” [/color]She grumbled to herself, sliding Ossar’s sleeping form onto her hand and depositing him at the base of her neck, where her hair hid him from prying eyes. [color=ed145b]“I hope she’s not mad at me.” [/color]First it’d been Eddie, their argument on the school steps earlier that morning. It made sense now why’d he’d been so interested in what she thought of Talon. Surely he still resented the way she’d yelled at him in front of everyone, Tonya winced just thinking about it. And now Bella was upset at her, and Tonya wasn’t even sure why, or if she really even was. Maybe this was just how Bella coped with her feelings. Her mind absorbed in these thoughts Tonya barely acknowledged the others, until Eddie showed the girls his kwami and Bella began crying.

[color=ed145b]“That’s what they wanted us to do.” [/color]Tonya said in agreement with Alex, the older girl made good sense, and clearly held strong reservations at the thought of all of them knowing each other’s identities. [color=ed145b]“But whatever they wanted was then and there, and the cat is clearly out of the bag here and now. We have to live with it, whether we wanted to or not. I suppose we should agree only to talk about it – if at all in secret, and secure places.”[/color]

After a minute, Tonya waited until the other girls had gotten a fair distance off, hesitating at her locker door. Seizing her chance she stepped forward, tapping Eddie on the shoulder. [color=ed145b]“Hey, Ed, can I speak with you for a minute.”
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