Max miraculously gulped past the daunting lump in his throat. “What do you want from me?”

“Why, we have to have our happy ending, of course!” Mary Sue giggled, wringing her hands and blushing delicately.

“And that would consist of…?”

“You know, love confessions, a kiss in the rain, that stuff,” Mary Sue said, smiling. “Besides, I have so many talents to share with you. Did you know that I could play Liszt’s ‘La Campanella’ when I was only four?”

“That’s…dreadfully interesting,” Max managed to choke out, and backed away slowly. “But I really have to go.”

“No, you don’t!” Mary Sue yelled, her voice now deep. She grabbed Max’s hand, and he jumped in surprise because of her strength.

“Max, you won’t!”

Max blinked. His vision was becoming hazy. “Huh?”

“I said you won’t!“

Max sat upright, suddenly aware of his surroundings. He was in the dark living room of his house, sitting next to Kylie on the couch.

Her face was the most welcome he had seen in a long time.

“Wha…? Kylie?”

“Who’d you think?”