"(I) rather think with the rate that Nic goes through women you are the fool."

So this was it; this then was how Whitney saw her: another conquest to be added to her brothers list and then discarded. And what proof could Alice offer that this was not so? Only the surety of her own heart, and Nics words. But her heart told her that this was not so. There was so much more than his words: why, his every touch, his every look told Alice how he felt, as surly hers must tell him. Alice looked again at the girl opposite, and saw, not a spoiled child who was willfully being difficult, but a girl who felt threatened, who saw in Alice a rival for her brothers love.

But surely, she must understand that whatever Alice might hope for, there was never any way that she could replace Whitney in her brothers eyes? Alice could never replace her, any more than Nic would replace Alices father. That Nic had already usurped his place in Alices mind as the perfect male was true, but that was to be expected. Nic was a thing apart, a man apart, to Alice. In any case, Alice had no desire to replace Whitney, but to include her, if it were possible. But clearly the child was unwilling or more likely, unable to see that. And why, indeed, should she? As Alice had to admit herself, Whitneys experience heretofore had been of girls of no consequence. To her, Alice should be only another momentary interruption in her quiet life with her brother; sharing him for an afternoon or two would be no real hardship. But clearly, Whitney had sensed, perhaps from the mere fact that Nic had wanted to introduce this girl to her, of all the girls he had known, that this girl, this Alice, was indeed different. And that explained everything. And everything she had said had made it worse, and made Nics position harder and harder to bear.

Alice glanced over at Nic, now sitting with his head on the table. Poor Love, that he should be subjected to all of this care on her behalf. To be sure, she would make it up to him as soon as could be. She reached over and put her hand on the back of his head, and gently ran her fingers up into his hair, stroking him slowly and softly, willing him to understand her regret that things had fallen out so.

"Anyone stupid enough to date Nic deserves to be mocked."

Perhaps, at another time, and certainly before the night of the Halloween Ball, Alice would have felt an agony of doubt to hear these words form Nics sister. But she had greater faith in his words than Whitneys. But what was she to do? Perhaps Alices pride should be the sacrifice necessary to both save Nic more pain, and to allow Whitney to continue in her belief of her unique position in her brothers affections. Alices opportunity came when Nic again lifted his head and spoke severely to them both.

"Alright girls, enough. Unless you both plan to argue in words with less than five letters, and only use ten words in each sentence, you should stop. I'm getting a headache."

Dropping her hands into her lap, and looking down, Alice responded meekly. Yes, Nic, Dearest.

Barely lifting her head or her voice, she added, Im sorry, Whitney. You are of course right. It was presumpt..... rude of me to talk to you that way. You know Nic better than I do. I apologize. I shall try and not bother you in future.

With that she slowly reached over and took Nics hand. Without looking at him she whispered, Im sorry, Nic, darling. Ill keep quiet.