Relief and happiness at Eddie’s lighthearted reassurances brought a warm glow back to Tonya’s heart and she returned the friendly embrace before stepping away, slinging her backpack onto her shoulders. The atmosphere felt better somehow, as if this one reinforcement made the day just good enough to be happy. Sure there was her detention for the next week, and her father’s unbearable disappointment, and a relationship to try and amend with Bella, but Tonya was grateful for at least this breakthrough. A rustle on Eddie’s shoulder drew her gaze and she watched as the tiny eagle kwami climbed out of hiding, perching himself in plain view. His beedy black eyes stared back at her adamantly, as if he expected something to happen. Tonya winked, giving the bird a slight smile.

	[color=ed145b]“I don’t remember all too well.” She admitted, returning her attention back to Eddie, the smile fading ever so slightly. “Everything’s kind of fuzzy from then, as if was weeks ago, even though it was only a few hours back. Strange, probably because I was still a bit loopy from that gas.”[/color] She shrugged, taking another step away and looking back over her shoulder. Her father was waiting at home, and it was probably best not to keep him that way for too much longer. “I better get going.” She explained, walking with Eddie out of the school doors. The stairs were abandoned now, with only the janitor remaining inside the school to lock up for the evening. Long shadows left the concrete steps shaded, casting a mysterious air in the late afternoon. Peaceful and quiet, nothing like the noisy bustle where she'd yelled hours before. [color=ed145b]“I do remember something though,”[/color] she paused feeling and looking nervous but excited and anxious, all at the same time. [color=ed145b]“You called me cute, that time back at the mall. I thought you were just Talon then. Remember? Right after you helped me escape Mr. Johnson. And then when I was blinded back at the Lounge, you helped me get out, and stuck by me no matter what. I guess, that shows you’ve always really cared...”[/color]

	Knowing she could only act once, and at that moment Tonya took a chance. There on the steps of the school, unsure of what she was doing or why Tonya stepped in close to Eddie, kissing him lightly on the cheek. Her face flushing red at the unprecedented act, she hurried away from him, looking back only to wave and call out. [color=ed145b]“See you tomorrow Ed.” [/color]Before running down the street back to her home and father.