My Summer Vacation,

Breeze gusted in through Mae's open window, wakening her slowly. It was near the end of the school year, but Mae was already feeling the same familiar claustrophobia she associated with being inside during the summer. She knew it was against school regulations, but couldn't she just wear shorts instead of her skirt? She hated wearing anything but shorts in the summer, since she always felt stuffy and irritated.

Mae was in a good mood as she dressed for school. Three more weeks and Ced and Rog would be home for the holidays. Mae couldn't wait to see them. Cedric and Roger were her two best friends, and she missed them horribly while they were at school. Mae had Mary Beth and Josie of course, but it just wasn't the same. Mae had been friends with the two boys since she'd been a toddler and she'd moved into the house in between theirs. They'd been friends ever since.

"Oh good," Mae's mother, Merelie Hardesty said distractedly as she wandered around the kitchen. "You're up. Have you seen my planner? I was using it last night... I wonder if Robbie faxed Marvin those documents yet..." she suddenly realized she was in the middle of speaking to Mae and got herself back on track. "It was on the table--"

"It's on the bookshelf," Mae said, making herself some toast. "I had to clean off the table to study."

"Good girl," Merelie said. "I'll be back after dinner, Sean's taking me out but I expect I'll invite him in for some coffee. He's dying to meet you by the way." She pecked Mae on the cheek and strode out the door. Merelie was the only divorcee in the neighbourhood, which had caused some scandal when she and Mae had first moved in. But the neighbourhood had quickly realized that Merelie was not some drug addict or prostitute, but just a young, hard-working mother. They'd accepted the two with open arms. "See you then!" she called cheerfully over her shoulder. Mae continued making her breakfast.

After two slices of toast, Mae grabbed her school bag, which she'd packed the night before. She had her books, but most importantly, she had her football gear. Mae had football practise three days a week after school, and she looked forward to it all day. She raced for the bus stop, only having half an hour to make it to school. She took the bus into London and walked the rest of the way. She was two minutes late for her first class, as usual.

"Thank you for joining us, Miss Hardesty," her Math teacher, Professor Bradley, said as she timidly slipped into the class. "Alarm clock fail you?"

"Sorry," she said, blushing as she took her seat next to Josie, who was near the back. "My mom wants me to meet her boyfriend," she whispered to her friend as she pulled out her book. "Can I study at your place instead?"

"Sorry," Josie said sadly. "My parents are going away and Ben's coming over. I was going to have a party," she said. "But he and I thought we'd have more fun on our own."

"That's fine," Mae said, not wanting to think about what Josie and Ben would be doing. "I'll see what Mary Beth's doing. Maybe I'll just kick the ball around after practise. Who knows?"

"You really don't want to meet him?" Josie asked as they copied down what Professor Bradley was writing on the board. "He might be cool."

"No," Mae said with determination. "My mum already acts like a twenty year old. Last thing she needs is a boyfriend who probably is twenty years old. 'Bout time she grew up."

"You're probably right," Josie said with a shrug. "After all, she's not my mother."

"Lucky you," Mae said, gritting her teeth.

Mae hadn't ever wanted to leave the football field, but all her other teammates were gone home so she figured she might as well too. Mary-Sue said she wasn't allowed to have anybody home that night as her cousins were staying with them, and Josie was probably having her wicked way with Ben at that very moment. Sometimes Mae really hated her friends.

But not all of them. Mae thought happily of Roger and Cedric, who she would be seeing at the end of the month. They were the only friends of hers who didn't annoy her. The bus clattered along, but Mae hardly noticed. She thought of Cedric, with his light brown hair and grey eyes. He was easily one of the best looking boys Mae had ever seen. He had these distinguished features that were so regal. He was one of the most honest people Mae knew.

Then there was Roger. He was just as good-looking as Cedric was, but in very different ways. He and Cedric both looked like jocks since they were both Captains of their Houses football teams, but Roger had a slighter frame. He was wiry but still muscular. He had darker hair than Ced did, but light blue eyes. Cedric was the honest one, while Roger was the funny one. And Mae... Mae didn't quite know what she was yet.

The bus jerked to a stop and Mae took her time on her way home. She was still in her shorts, jersey and cleats, but she didn't care. It would dull her favourite cleats, but they were made to be worn. Her feet never seemed to stop growing anyway. Which seemed to make sense since she could never keep her feet still in the first place. She jiggled her key into the lock, entering the familiar but lonely house.

The houses on King Ave. were all good sized, but not mansions. Roger's was a bright blue while Cedric's was a bright yellow. Mae had always loved their houses. Hers was a dull grey.

She headed straight for the shower, and then dried off her dark hair. It was the same shade as Roger's, and the two had once actually convinced old Mrs. Battlebey that they were twins. Cedric could never pass for their triplet though, as he had much broader shoulders and was two years older. Roger was a year older, but it wasn't as obvious. She dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, hating it not being quite warm enough for shorts yet. Mae grumbled as she cooked her own supper, eating it in silence. An owl at the kitchen window made her jump.

Mae had gotten used to getting owls from Roger and Cedric, as she'd been getting them since Cedric had left for Hogwarts when Mae was ten. She knew Hogwarts was a bit of a weird school, since come on. They used owls to deliver mail! But it still intrigued and delighted her as much as it did when she was ten.

"Come on in Bernie," she whispered to the owl she recognized to be Cedric's as she opened the window. "You've come a long way." She didn't know exactly where Hogwarts was, just that it was in Scotland. Which was far enough away for her.

She opened the letter just as she got up to put some music on. She froze as she read it. No, she thought. No, no, no.

Dear Mae, it read in Roger's handwriting.

I'm sure you're wondering why on earth I'm sending you a letter with Cedric's owl. You might want to sit down for this Mae; I'm being serious for once. I've got some bad news. About Cedric. It's bad. It's really bad. He's dead. I'm sorry, but that's the only way I know how to say it. He was killed, you see. There was this crazy guy on the loose, and he got Cedric and another boy. The other boy carried Cedric's body back to Hogwarts. I'm so sorry Mae. I know how much he meant to both of us. I'm trying to get home as soon as possible, but they want me to help clear out all of Cedric's things and I might not get home until summer break. I couldn't stand the thought of you not knowing for a whole month, so I had to tell you. Cedric's parents are here, and they say they know how much you cared about him. They know how much we both cared about him. I'm sorry Mae. I'm trying to get home to you as soon as possible.

All my love,

Roger Davies

P.S. Ced's parents want you to keep Bernie. I think it'd be for the best too. He was practically yours anyway.

Mae's body was very heavy. Things shifted around her. The room got very dark, and she couldn't see where she was. She went completely numb. She felt something hit her head, but it was all so far away. Mae was floating away someplace completely new, where postmen instead of owls delivered mail. How bizarre, she thought.

Her eyes spun into focus. She was on the floor. He head was spinning, partially because it was jammed against the bookshelf she must have hit on her way down. Hmm, she thought. I'm on the floor.

A series of random thoughts flitted through her head, but left as quickly as they'd come. She heard noises, and sat up.

"Oh," she said as she saw Bernie nipping at her dinner. "Right. Food." She lay back down on the floor. "You do that," she said. She stayed on the floor for a while. It didn't seem like much time passed but before she knew it she heard the front door opening.

"Mae!" Merelie called out. "Where are you darling? Sean's here!" She rounded the corner and screamed. "Oh god, Sean!" she yelled, falling to her knees beside Mae. "Call an ambulance!"

"Hi mom," Mae said, turning her head to look at her. "Sean here?"

"Yes darling!" her mother cried shrilly, tears coming to her eyes. "You're going to be alright! Mummy's here!"

"I'm Sean," a man said who Mae hadn't bothered to notice yet. He had dark curly hair and blue eyes. Mae wondered if he looked anything like her father had.

"He's young," she said to her mother. "Twenty?" she asked.

"Er," her mother stuttered. "Not quite."

"Give or take fifteen years!" Sean cried. "I'm thirty-five!"

"What were you doing on the floor, darling?" her mother asked gently.

"Resting," Mae said simply. "My head hurts."

"Let's see," Sean said, feeling around the back of her head. "Oh god," he said, drawing his fingers away. They were sticky and dark. "She's bleeding."

"How bad is it?" her mother screamed again. "Now can we call an ambulance?"

"It'll be fine," Sean said, and Mae liked him. He was sane, unlike most of her mother's other boyfriends. "It's not a serious injury. What's that?" he asked, pointing to something in Mae's closed fist.

Mae stared at it. Her mother started screaming again when she noticed the owl on the kitchen table, and tried to shoo it out the door.

"Don't," Mae said quietly. "It's mine now. His name is Bernie."

Merelie and Sean looked at her as if she were mad. "You're sure," Merelie said nervously to Sean. "That she hasn't hit her head too hard?"

Sean didn't say anything. Mae didn't say anything. She stared at the letter and unfurled it slowly, rereading it. A tremor swept through her body, a moan like a wounded animal escaping from her lips. She jumped quickly to her feet, the ground swaying beneath her feet.

"I need to go," she whispered before dashing out the back door. Her mother screamed at her. Sean ran after her. But she hadn't been playing football for eleven years for nothing. She was the fastest on the team, and she knew she could outrun Sean any day. He was fast, but not fast enough. She raced through her neighbours' back yards until she lost him. Running usually cleared her head, but today it was just as jumbled.

She collapsed onto a riverbank far away from her house, but she knew where she had to be. She dropped her head onto her knees, hearing the water rush beside her. She would wait until Sean would have made it far away, and then she would take the streets back. She knew where she had to be. She knew where Cedric would be.

After a while, she walked around the house she was nearest to, finding herself three streets from her own. She walked along slowly, wishing she were wearing shorts. She wished for so many things, she didn't know where to begin. She wished she could think straight. She wished she didn't have to think at all. She wished she didn't have to feel.

It took her twenty minutes to get to Cedric's house. She knew where the spare key was, but she kept out of sight anyway in case her mother was watching for her. She slipped into the house, having enough sense to lock the door behind her. She turned around, knowing the house as well as she knew her own. Her feet went first to the kitchen, which was empty. She then checked the den and the study, but they were empty too. She walked up the stairs, letting her feet take over.

"Hi," she said to Cedric's empty bedroom. No one answered. No one would ever answer. The life in this room was gone; as sure as Cedric himself was gone. He wasn't coming home. He never would.

She sat down gently on the bed, realizing she still had the letter clutched in her hand. She wanted to see Roger. She wanted to see Bernie. She wanted to see Cedric.

A sob echoed throughout the room. She shut her eyes. Tears fell from her eyes onto Cedric's flannel bedspread. She lay down. She let the shuddering sobs overtake her, tears streaming down her face. She kicked her shoes off and crawled under the covers, burying her head like she had when she and Roger had slept over here. Merelie hadn't liked the idea of Mae having sleepovers with boys, but Mae had refused to be left out because she was a girl. Cedric and Roger had always slept on the floor. Mae had always gotten the bed. She cried until she was until exhaustion overtook her, and she was too tired to do anything else but sleep.

"Morning sweetheart," a soft voice called to her. Mae shivered. It was a perfect morning. She and Roger had slept over at Cedric's. That was Cedric's mother waking them up. She opened her eyes and crawled out from under the covers. It was indeed Cedric's mother, but Cedric and Roger weren't there.

It hit Mae like a ton of bricks, and she gasped desperately for breath. Cedric's mother, Donna, pulled her against her, letting Mae sob into her blouse. Suddenly Mae realized that Donna was crying too. Of course she is, Mae cursed inwardly. Her son's just died.

"I know," Donna whispered into Mae's hair, and Mae cried again for herself and Roger and Donna and Amos. "I know." Mae knew Cedric's parents as well as she knew her own mother. Mae had never had a father, so Cedric and Roger's fathers had had to take that role as well.

"I miss him so much," she whispered.

"Your mother was worried," Donna said comfortingly. "But I knew you would be here. There's nowhere else you'd have been. I knew that."

Mae hated her mother for worrying. She hated her mother for not knowing where she had gone while Cedric's mother had known instantly. Why couldn't Merelie be like that?

"I'm sorry," Mae whispered into Cedric's mother. "For sneaking in."

"It's fine," Donna whispered back. "You're always welcome here. You know that."

They cried for a while, until Mae realized it was only a Wednesday. "I have school," she whispered. "What time is it?"

"Nine," Donna said with a smile. "You don't have to go to school today, darling." She paused. "There's something you should know."

"What?" Mae asked.

"Cedric, Amos and I," she began. "We're not normal."

"You're the most normal people I know," Mae said with a smile. "You're better than normal."

"I mean," Donna continued. "We have special abilities. I," she said cautiously. "Am a witch."

"A witch?" Mae asked, her head spinning slightly. "What?"

"I'm a witch," she said sadly. "Amos and Cedric are wizards. Roger--Roger is as well. We can do magic. We ride brooms and use wands and make potions. We're magic."

Mae stared at her. The jumbled thoughts in her head stopped jumbling in shock. What?

"There's a secret community," Donna said. "Of Witches and Wizards. That's what Hogwarts is. It's a school for magical children."

"Why didn't anybody tell me?" Mae whispered. She believed Donna. Merelie was of the firm belief that sometimes the truth should be elaborated a little, just to tell people what they want. Donna on the other hand, would never lie. "Why didn't I know?"

"We couldn't tell anyone," she said sadly. "Cedric and Roger both wanted to tell you, but we said they weren't allowed."

"Are George and Sylvia magic as well?" Mae asked, referring to Roger's parents.

"Sylvia is," Donna said. "George's a muggle like you. He can't do any magic."

"Does Merelie know?" Mae asked. So many questions she'd had had just been answered by Donna. It made to much sense for it not to be true. Screw logic. "About what happened to Cedric?" She choked on the last word, but managed to say it.

"I explained it to her when we got home," she said, her eyes brimming again. "He was a hero," she said. "You know that."

Mae nodded. "I know that," she whispered, but couldn't manage to say anything, merely collapsing into sobs again.

"Hi," a voice on the phone said. "Mae?"

"Yes," she answered. "Hi."

"I've been trying to call you all weekend," the voice which Mae recognized as Josie's said. "Your mum gave me this number. She said your neighbour died. I'm so sorry."

Mae slammed the phone down. She'd been at the Diggory's house two nights now, and she didn't plan on ever going home. She didn't plan on ever seeing Josie or Mary Sue again. She wasn't going back to school. She didn't even want to see her mother again. She wanted to see Roger and his parents. That was it.

"That was for you?" Amos asked as he passed by. Mae nodded.

"Just a friend," she said. "I don't really want to talk to anyone though."

Amos kissed the top of her head. "You'll be ready to go soon?"

"Yeah," Mae said. "I just need to change."

Cedric's parents were taking her to the funeral, which would be held at a small London Cemetery. Some of his friends from school and his relatives would be there as well, but Mae just wanted to see Roger.

Mae pulled on a black dress and shoes her mother had dropped off the night before, then brushed her teeth and hair. She looked dully in the mirror. Blue eyes, brown hair. Just like Roger. So unlike Cedric.

She climbed into the car with Amos and Donna, watching the house speed away behind her. Her mother was watching her through the living room window of their house. Mae knew she was hurting her, but she didn't know what else to do.

"Mae," Donna said. "Cedric's school friends will be there."

Mae nodded. She knew what to expect. Normal looking teenagers who could do magic in their spare time. Amos and Donna had showed her some magic, and she'd even got to ride around the den on Amos' broom. It had been weird, but exciting. She'd discovered that Roger and Cedric hadn't been captains of their houses' football teams, but of their Quidditch teams. Amos had tried to explain it to Mae in football terms, and she was sort of understanding it. She just wanted to see Roger to know it was all true.

"We're here," Amos said sturdily. That was Amos: if he was one thing, it was sturdy. Mae had never met her father, but she'd hoped he'd been something like Amos. Or at least something like Sean had been. She hoped she hadn't scared him away from her mother. She hoped her mother was feeding Bernie properly.

The three of them climbed out of the car, Mae closing the car door fondly. She remembered being in that car, crammed in between Roger and Cedric, on the way to the beach. Those summers had been everything to her, now they were all she had left.

She made her way across the cemetery with Cedric's parents, all of them leaning gently on each other for support. Mae could see a small group already gathered, and she froze when she saw them. There was a pretty girl with dark hair standing by Roger. Roger was nodding and looking bleak. Mae didn't want him talking to this girl. This girl shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Slowly Roger turned and saw her. Mae wanted to run (in which direction she wasn't sure), but she sank to her knees instead. Roger was beside her in an instant. He had always been the only boy as fast as her.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, and Mae could feel the wetness from his eyes against her neck. She sobbed and buried her face into the collar of his suit, smelling the same old Roger he had always been. Only now their threesome was down to two. He would never be the same old Roger again.

"I missed you," he breathed into her, and Mae sobbed harder. "I missed you so much." Usually their reunions involved long hugs, but this was different. It was as much a goodbye as it was a hello.

"I needed to see you so bad," Mae cried into him. "I can't believe it's all true. You're--you're a wizard?" she asked faintly. Roger closed his eyes.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, tears falling shamelessly from his eyes, gluing his dark eyelashes together in triangles. "We wanted to tell you--"

"Don't be sorry," Mae said. "Donna and Amos explained it all to me. I--I've been living with them since I found out."

"Roger?" a voice called to them. "Mae?" It was Donna, gesturing for them to come over. Roger stood, helping Mae to her feet. His arm stayed around her waist, and Mae let herself lean heavily against him.

Donna took her hand as the funeral began, and Mae prayed. She never prayed. She generally didn't believe in God. But this was different. Cedric was dead. It was a time for endings as well as beginnings.

Hi, she prayed. I know there's a reason for this. There's got to be. Everything happens for a reason, right? Please God, look after Amos and Donna. They'll need you. They don't have any other children. Cedric's all they had. Well, they'll still have Roger and me. But just look after them when we can't. Look after Roger too. He'll be lonely, but let him know I'm here. I'll always be here. Let my mother know I love her in my own way, even though she's not what I need right now. Let her know that. Let that girl with the dark hair know that I don't like her, but I'll do my best. She shouldn't have been talking to Roger though. She shouldn't have been. Okay, never mind God. I'll try not to hate her whoever she is. Just look after her too. And if you could just tell Cedric I love him and miss him and that I'll never forget him, that'd be great. Okay God, I think that's about it. Oh yeah, if you have time, could you look after me too? Thanks. Oh yeah, Amen.

She sobbed into Roger's shoulder as he cried into her hair, and it was just the two of them, huddling against their grief.

"Tea anyone?" Sylvia asked. The wake was held at the Diggory's, but Sylvia had placed herself in charge. That's why Mae loved Roger's mum. She was as strong and stable as Amos was. Not a flake like Mae's mother.

"Yes please," Mae said softly, letting Sylvia fill up her cup. "I'll help with the sandwiches," she said, following Sylvia into the kitchen.

"So you know, huh?" Sylvia asked her in the kitchen. Sylvia had Roger's hair, unlike Donna who was blonde through and through. "About us?"

"You're a witch," Mae nodded. "Donna told me."

"Good," she said. "There's no harm in you knowing, of course," she said, handing Mae a cucumber to slice. "We asked Headmaster Dumbledore though, and he said it was alright for you to know." She shook her head. "I'm sorry you had to find out at such a bad time," she said, ruthlessly cutting a carrot. "But you had to know."

"Thanks," Mae said. "For telling me." She and Sylvia had done this so much. Cooking together in the kitchen while Roger and Cedric teased her for being a housewife already. Mae preferred the term 'homemaker'.

"We'll never forget him," Sylvia said, and Mae was surprised by her boldness. "He was one hell of a boy. You don't meet good people like that much. You and him and Roger, you three have got something really special. Don't lose it."

"I won't," Mae said. "I'll never forget about Cedric. And I'll never let Roger out of my sight again."

"Oh honey," Sylvia said, putting down her knife. "That's not what I meant. He'll have to go back the day after tomorrow to Hogwarts anyway. And then come fall, he'll be gone until Christmas."

"I won't let him go," Mae said with a shrug. She violently cut the cucumber into transparent slices. "Thin enough?" she asked her.

"That's perfect dear," she said. "He has to go to Hogwarts," she said. "You'll have to let him go."

"I guess," Mae said, beginning to slice the crusts off the bread. "I don't want him to leave me again."

"Honey?" Sylvia asked. "I know this may be strange, talking about this with his mother, but what's going on with you and Roger exactly?"

Mae stopped cutting the bread. "We're friends," she said simply. "What else would be going on? No," she said. "We're best friends."

"I know that," she said. "But I always thought you would end up with one of those boys, even when you were just a little girl, and now..." she trailed off. "I'm so sorry," she said quickly, finishing off the sandwiches. "We'll have this conversation at a better time." Mae nodded and helped Sylvia carry in the sandwiches.

Mae passed one to the girl with the dark hair, who had been introduced to her as Cho Chang. Roger has whispered it to her after the funeral. She'd been Cedric's girlfriend. Cedric had mentioned her quite a few times in his letters, and Mae knew he'd really liked her. She had to make an effort not to hate her. She smiled sadly at Mae and Mae smiled back before taking her seat beside Roger. He covered her hand with his own. Mae felt herself smile again.

They at in silence, and Mae looked around the familiar old den. It seemed so wrong being there, all in black, mourning Cedric. It was wrong. "I'll be right back," she said, jumping out of her seat. "I have to go home for a second."

Roger followed her. "Why?" he asked as she dashed across the yard to her own house.

"I'm getting Bernie," she said. "And whatever else reminds us of Cedric."

Mae pecked Merelie on the cheek, who just stared at her in shock, and dashed up to her room. The first thing she saw were her soccer cleats on her bed. She smiled.

"I'm bringing these to the wake," she said, pulling them onto her feet. They felt so good, even though they looked unbelievably strange with her dress. "They belong there." Roger nodded. Bernie hooted softly as Roger picked him up and perched him on his shoulder. They walked softly across the grass to Cedric's house. They pushed open the door and went back into the den. Roger put Bernie on top of the piano where everyone could see him.

"We're back," she said, sitting down again. Amos smiled at her cleats. Everybody else looked confused.

"Cedric's cleats," he said. "I'd wondered what he'd done with those."

"He outgrew them two years ago," Roger said. "They were too small for me so he gave them to you."

"They fit me perfectly," she said. "They still do. I think they make me play better."

Mae was about to propose they all go outside and have a game of football, but she realized they didn't need to. The introduction of the cleats had brought back happier memories of Cedric, not just the more recent and painful ones. This time, it was a good silence.

"That was so nice of you," Donna commented. "To bring the cleats. It really lightened the mood."

"I don't understand though," Cho said softly. Donna, Sylvia, Cho and Mae were all washing up after the wake. "What are they for?"

"You play football with them," Mae explained, happy to be on a subject she could talk to anyone about. "You just kick a ball around and try and get it into this net. The cleats just make sure you don't slip on the grass." She grinned. "It's a muggle thing," she said. She liked the word muggle. She was a muggle. The thought made her happy.

"I've never played football," Cho said. "But I play Quidditch!" she added brightly. "I'm in Ravenclaw," she said. "So I'm on the same team as Roger."

"So," Mae said, wanting to take the subject off of Roger. "How do you play exactly? Amos tried to explain it, but I'm a little confused."

"Well it sounds a bit like football," Cho said. "But in the air. And the nets are on really big posts." This made sense to Mae. After all, if you were up in the air you wouldn't be able to get a goal into a net that was way down on the ground. "The keeper's job is to defend the nets--well they're called goalposts in Quidditch, but same difference--from the opposing team's Chasers who are going to try and throw this red ball called the Quaffle through the goalposts. Roger's one of our team's Chasers."

"I hope he's better at Quidditch than he is at football," Mae said with a grin.

"Then there's the Bludgers," Cho continued excitedly. "They're these enchanted balls that try and knock you off your broom. The beaters try to hit them with clubs away from their team and towards the other team."

"Is that safe?" Mae asked sceptically. "Will they really knock you off your broom?"

"It isn't safe," Cho said with a grin. "But it's still the best. Then there's the Seeker," she began. "His job is to..." her smile faded as she trailed off. "I play Seeker," she whispered. "So did Cedric."

Donna put down her dishes and wrapped Cho in a hug, who sank into her. Sylvia put her hand on Mae's shoulder. There was a honk outside, which caused everyone to jump. "That'll be me," Cho said, pushing away from Donna. "My dad got a car from the Ministry, you see," she explained. She hugged Donna and Sylvia goodbye.

"I'll get your coat," Mae offered, heading to the closet in the hallway.

"It was nice to meet you," Cho said quietly, and Mae nodded. Mae decided to be nice, so she hugged her. It was brief, but nice. Cho pulled away and smiled, opening the door and heading down the walkway.

"Wait!" Roger called from the den. He rushed into the hallway and opened the door, running after her. He didn't even look at Mae. She stood on her tiptoes and stared after him through the small glass window. He caught up to Cho, taking hold of both of her hands. Mae's breath caught in her throat.

"Make room," Sylvia said. "We want to see too." Donna and Sylvia stood on their tiptoes as well, and Mae realized they were all exactly the same height. They all watched as Roger hugged her, kissing the top of her head. The way he had done so many times with Mae.

"He's only being nice to her," Sylvia said bravely, still peering out the window. "Because of Cedric."

"He feels obligated," Donna said quietly. "He thinks he has to look after her because Cedric can't anymore." Mae sank down and rested her forehead against the door.

"Just look at them though," she whispered. "Does it look like he feels obligated?"

The door opened and Roger pushed in, Mae, Donna and Sylvia all falling backwards.

"Honestly," he scolded, heading back for the den. "It's like I have three mothers."

Mae stared after him. She emitted a strangled noise.

"That boy never was good with words," Sylvia said sadly. "Always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time."

"I don't care," Mae said. "He's my best friend, remember? That's it," she said to the two women. "If he likes Cho, that's fine. If he thinks I'm like his mother, then that's great too. It's fine." She stormed back into the kitchen and began making some more tea. She sighed and looked down at her cleats. "I'll be in the park," she said to Sylvia and Donna. "I'll just get Cedric's ball from his room first."

She raced up to Cedric's room, grabbing his football, then running back downstairs. It didn't matter that she was in a dress; she just wanted to kick a ball around.

She walked slowly to the park, which was one street over. They'd always played there as kids, and she sat down on Cedric's favourite swing. She hoped he's left some of his honesty there, or his loyalty or his patience. Any of it would do. Well, maybe a bit of patience was what she could really use.

She got up off the swing and headed for the soccer field. It had been fine for playing on as kids, but it wasn't regulation for teens her age. She hadn't played there in weeks. She felt like it was already summer. But really, she still had two weeks of school left.

She dribbled the ball slowly around the field, getting her feet under her. The dress was surprisingly easy to play in, but she was still thankful there was no one there to see her. She probably looked hilarious. She picked up the pace, until she booted it into the net.

"It's no fun with just one person," Roger said from behind her.

"I'm enjoying myself," Mae said as she ran into the net to get her ball. "If you want to play goalie though, that's fine."

"I hate goalie," he said, sticking his tongue out. "I always get stuck as goalie."

"That's because you suck at shooting," Mae argued. "Unlike me of course."

"Right," he said, taking off his jacket and tie and slinging them over the back of the net. He was just wearing his trousers and dress shirt now. "Take your best shot."

"You're not even warmed up," Mae said. "I think I should get you to run some laps."

But she shot, and he missed. And she shot again and he missed. Fifteen minutes, a very happy Mae and a very disgruntled Roger headed back for the swings.

"Why were you guys watching me and Cho?" he asked as the sat down on his usual swing. This time, Mae took her old swing and left Cedric's empty.

"I was watching to see the car," Mae lied with a shrug. Come on Ced, she pleaded inwardly. I could sure use some of that honesty right about now...

"What about Donna and my mum?" he asked.

"I guess..." Mae sighed. "I guess they think you feel obligated to Cho. Like you're responsible for her or something."

"I am obligated to her," Roger said. "She's not very strong," he said softly. "She relied on Cedric a lot. Now he's gone, and I guess I'm all she's got left." He shrugged. "It's not as if I'm going to marry her or anything," he said. "Just look after her."

"Yeah," Mae said. "That's nice."

They sat in silence, and Mae prayed again. Please, just give me patience, she prayed. Please.

"Not like in a romantic way or anything," he said hastily. "I just want to make sure she's okay."

"Right," Mae said, wanting to think of something witty to say. Nothing came to her. "I hate this," she whispered instead. Roger looked at her.

"I hate it too," he said. "It's not so bad though. We've got each other," he said, staring out at the soccer field. "Forever," he whispered.

"Nothing lasts forever," Mae said.

"Some things do," he said. "Our friendship, what you and me and Ced all had--that's gonna last forever." He grinned. "Or at least as long as we live next door to each other."

"Cedric doesn't live next door anymore," Mae whispered, feeling herself start to cry again. Tears slid from her eyes down her cheeks.

"Yes he does," Roger said, reaching over and wiping her tears away. "He'll always live next door. No matter where you go. So will I for that matter," he said for a grin. "You'll have hard luck getting rid of me."

Mae smiled at him, and set her head on his shoulder. They sat there, suspended in time. When really, they were just suspended from the swings.