"Hey, neighbor," a soft, cool voice greeted him. "What's with the expectant father act?"

He turned quickly. "--Sally! I didn' know ya lived here!"

Sally smiled up at him. "Well, down the hall, but yeah. I wanted a place of my own. I didn't suppose F.O.W.L. would set me up with a place the size of a small closet, though."

"Yeah," Steelbeak replied. "Dat seems ta be de trend 'round here, lately."

She shrugged delicately. "Inflation. Times are tough, you know."

Steelbeak hesitated, seriously considering inviting Sally inside. He wasn't sure how old she was but he was certain she was underage. Besides, he had somewhere to be. "Yeah," he finally said.

"You okay?" Asked Sally softly. "You're preoccupied and pacing. What's going on? More problems with Gabe?"

"Nah." Well, not entirely. The problem was with Tegwen but he refused to admit that he thought something was fishy with her. He didn't want to acknowledge that -- for the first time since High School -- he was nervous about a date. What the hell was that about, anyway?

"Come on," Sally insisted. "Something's up. You know you can tell me."

He knew that, of course, but this particular topic was one he didn't feel like discussing. Tegwen made him feel strange, like what exemplary self-control he had suddenly went A.W.O.L. She made his head spin and his heart race. She made him angry, excited. And that was all when she wasn't being nice to him. But it wasn't love; though, frankly speaking, he would have nothing to base that assumption on.

Steelbeak was also put off by her sudden change in heart and he knew Gabriel had been witness to it, as well. He couldn't help but wonder if Tegwen was endeavoring to use him for something. He was the one who should have been up to such underhanded dealings. He was the user, not the one who got used by someone -- anyone -- else.

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