Chapter 40

December 28, 2001

"…and it is another victory from our beloved Northerners!! Are they going to win the Silver Cup this season…"

The flyball game against Argentina just ended, and Coralis headed back to the locker room with her teammates. Their coach met with them there for a little briefing. As Coralis and Sebastian were about to leave to meet with Frank and Stephanie for drinks, their coach intercepted them.

"I know neither of you ever addressed rumours, but just so I know how to answer journalists… is there anything between the two of you?"

Coralis and Sebastian looked at each other and started laughing.

"And why would they think that he and I are together?" said Coralis, after a minute. "Last time I paid attention to rumours, people still thought that Princess Veronica and I had the hots for each other."

"Uh, well people see you two talking often to each other on the side and leaving the field together, so people are wondering."

Their coach Mylo knew that she was seeing a human. She trusted him to not spill that information to outsiders and understood why he wanted to verify if what he heard was true. She respected the fact that he would never share with journalists information that his team members did not want the general public to know.

"You do know that I am seeing someone and that she is human, right?" said Sebastian.

"Yes, which is also why I'm asking if there was any truth to the rumour. You know the media will ask me about it."

"Sebastian is seeing Frank's sister, so that's one reason why we've been talking a lot to each other lately, and we were literally about to leave together to meet with them, you know, kind of like a double date. The journalists do not need to know that. Can't have my enemies finding out about Frank."

"You also know that I started an apprenticeship with the CMMA, that's the other reason why people would see us talking to each other a lot, and that's something you can mention to the journalists if they are pressuring you to answer something," said Sebastian.

"Very well, I'll see you both after the new year."

Coralis and Sebastian took off and headed toward where they agreed to meet up with Stephanie and Frank.

"If there is a rumour running around about us, I'm sure Prince Hendrick will want to know everything about it. He was enjoying the rumour about me and his sister."

"What are you going to do if the rumour linking you and Princess Veronica dies out? Do you think the Swamtons and others will start chasing you again?"

"I don't know. I might have to break things off with Frank. I really like him, and I don't actually want to leave him, but I can't drag him into my world of mess and risk my enemies using him against me."

"He's really attached to you, you know that. Why not just tell him about our world, and let him decide for himself?"

"Why would I do that, if he's probably considering breaking up with me as we speak? For the first time ever, I'm missing the End-of-Year celebrations at the Fullemons, and yet, I still couldn't go to Frank's family party. I have to fly again to Scotland tomorrow afternoon. I'm meeting Andrew there to investigate another Djinn conflict, and I don't even know if I'll be back in time to celebrate the New Year with Frank. Between the EBEE, the CMMA and everything else I'm involved with, he's not safe with me."

"Because it would help him understand what's at stake and why you can't find the time to see him when you want to. I know it wouldn't change how often you can see him, but at least he would stop taking it personal. At the end of the day, he just wants you to let him in, and you know that."

They circled above the meeting place, and looked for a safe spot to land.

"There, there is a dark alley behind that metro exit. We can make it look like we came through it," said Coralis.

"That's one more reason for you to tell Frank about what we are, so you wouldn't have to worry about keeping up appearances with him. I mean, I know I'm lucky, Stephanie always knew about me and I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, to be honest, but you know we would gladly help you with it."

"If I decide to continue with him, I will."

When they arrived at the bar, Frank and Stephanie were already there. Mark was with them, and so was Clarissa.

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I would think that you two are together," said Mark when Coralis and Sebastian got to their table.

They all laugh at his comment.

"Funny thing is, our boss literally asked us if we were together before we left work," said Coralis, after she sat down next to Frank and kissed him. "Sure, we've been talking a lot at work lately, but all Sebastian can talk about, is Stephanie."

Stephanie wanted to ask if they were talking about their coach, but decided against it because she didn't want to upset her brother. She knew that it was becoming a sore spot that she knew more about what Coralis did than him. She wasn't jealous about them talking and knew well that Coralis didn't mind any rumour linking her to other people to protect her brother, but she was wondering if Sebastian was indeed talking about her at work.

At the end of the night, Frank and Coralis took a taxi back to her place. He had to work in the morning, but not knowing when he'd be able to see her next, he wanted to at least spend the night with her and leave from her place in the morning to go to work.

"Hey Vic! Didn't know you'd be home, I thought you were working tonight," said Coralis as she walked into their apartment, followed by Frank.

"I got home about 10 minutes ago, hey Frank!"

Frank left early in the morning, after having coffee with Coralis and Victoria.

"I think you're going to have to tell him soon about us. Clearly, things are getting that serious between you two."

"Sebastian said the same thing last night. Problem is, I don't think I should continue things with him, work is only getting messier and I can't risk us getting too attached to each other."

"Well, it's kind of too late for that, it seems to me you're passed that point."

"I don't know what it is, and I think the twins were right. If I walk away from him, I think I'm going to regret it. There is that 'what if' hanging above my head and that's what stops me from breaking up with him at the moment. However, you know very well that he struggles with my lack of time, so even if I can't leave him, it is probably a matter of time before he does."

"Nah, I doubt that. He is clearly in love with you."