The Magician's Daughter

There he was. On Laurel's couch. Just sitting there. Like a handsome statue. They had set Laurel on her bed. Thea had taken her boots off, of course. Her friend had very much passed out.

Thea suddenly had the urge to hug him. She splashed her face with water. She removed her hands from over her eyes and saw him.

THEA
Ah!!

MALCOLM
Sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I've been standing there for a while, it's a wonder you didn't notice.

THEA (wth?)
(enunciated: ) For a while? (normal: ) How long h've you been standing there?
(flustered: ) Just go back to your couch.

MALCOLM (leaving)
It's not my couch.

THEA's THOUGHTS
To ask or not to ask. That is the question. If I ask... I might lose my- our friendship. And it isn't worth wasting our friendship away. But, if I don't ask... I might lose our friendship anyway.