My iPhone clock went off. I needed to get dressed and get to work. As I looked at my clothes I could not make up my mind what to wear. I knew I neede... to show more cleavage than normal to ensure that I got the day off and could spend it with Jake. I pulled out a push up bra, a low cut one and a black lace one. But I had worn then all to work. I needed to do something bold to make sure I could get the day off. Time was running out to decide. I reached in my closet and pulled out a blouse and. Hey, it was just the gentlemanly thing to do.She was holding a plate of cookies and asked in heavily accented English, “You like cookies?” I nodded and invited her in.I asked her if she would like some tea or coffee or soda and she selected soda so I took her to my refrigerator to pick out the kind she liked. This is my first friend in my new neighborhood, if you could call a multi-story urban apartment building a neighborhood. We munched on the cookies and drank our beverage. I usually have. Unconsciously, she steered her car to theleft, stepped on the gas and was about a block behindthe black Camaro.The black Camaro was not going at a slow speed whereit would be easy for one to follow. Cutting in and outof traffic, the Camaro sped up to its destination. Behind the Camaro, a silver VW sped up to weave in andout of traffic also. Going about five miles, the carscrossed the tracks to the `other’ side of town, theseedy side of town. The Camaro turned into the parkinglot of an old. "There are compensating forces," MuSu said with amusement."What did he just say?" Petra asked."We may not be in charge," Gabriel laughed. "But having you for matesmakes it worth the burden." What burden is that?" Petra asked with mock anger."The burden of being dispensable," MuSu said with mock sadness.***** Trevor was caught in a trance; his entire body was rigid, as he driftedtowards Rose. He knew that his body was changing forever, and thatsome of the light he could see reflected in her.