Norton let out a shortugh. "Heard from Callie that Mavis likes you, but you don''t like her, right?"


    "If you''re not into her, you shouldn''t string her along. If you''re not interested, I am. I want to ask her out. What''s wrong with that?"


    "Mr. Stewart, you''re her mentor, aren''t you supposed to have some decency? Mavis isn''t getting any younger. Even if she doesn''t want to settle down and have


    a bunch of kids, is it so wrong for her to date someone?"


    "What, are you nning to keep her around forever, just calling her your apprentice, even after you get married to someone else?"


    "You get your shot at happiness. Doesn''t Mavis deserve the same?"


    Norton knew exactly how to push buttons, and every word was getting under Uriah''s skin.


    Uriah''s face grew darker with each passing second, his re sharp as a knife turned on Norton.


    "Mr. Stewart, I''ll give you time to talk to Mavis if you want. But you can''t stop me from telling her how I feel. You won''t stop me. If I don''t ask her out today, I''ll do it tomorrow, or the day after. I''ve got all the time in the world."


    With that, Norton spun on his heel and strode away, leaving Uriah with a bombshell he had no idea when would go off, but he knew it was there, ticking away, all the same.


    Uriah stood outside, looking as if he''d just bitten into a lemon.


    As soon as Norton walked back in, Portia sidled up to him, lowering her voice. "Well? Did you get to him?"


    "I think so," Norton grinned. "Let''s give them some privacy. Maybe they''ll actually talk this time."


    Mavis, on the other hand, was panicking.


    "Callie... What am I supposed to do if you all leave?"


    She was nervous about being alone with Uriah. She had no idea what he''d say, especially with Norton winding him up like that.


    "You got this!" Calliope squeezed Mavis''s hand. "It''s do or die. You have to try, or you''ll never know."


    "Exactly,” Portia agreed. "You can''t keep putting this off forever. Time to figure things out once and for all."


    They both knew Mavis liked Uriah a lot. But hope had been fading forza while now, and they were ready to help her take onest shot. If it didn''t work out, at least Mavis could finally let go.  s


    Mavis looked at her friends and let out a sigh.


    Finally, she nodded. She already knew, deep down, that no matter what she did, Uriah would never


    Whether it was because


    choose heer or because he


    he didnt like


    thought he shouldn''t, it didn''t matter. The oue would be the same.  s


    It wasn''t even about Norton''s prodding, not really.


    Still, she couldn''t just let go without at least trying. She owed herself that much.


    Once everyone else had left, Uriah came back inside. Mavis was on the couch, alone.<fn5fc9> Updates are released by find[?]ovel</fn5fc9>


    They''d sat like this a hundred times before but tonight, Uriah looked ufortable, almost awkward as he took the seat across fromcher, sneaking nces her way  s


    "If you''ve got something to say, just say it," Mavis said quietly, her face calm.


    "Were you cozying up to Norton just to get a rise out of me?" Uriah''s gaze locked onto hers, intense.


    Mavis blinked, caught off guard, but then she realized, Uriah was too smart not to figure it out.


    She dropped her eyes and admitted, "You''re right. I wanted to see if you''d react. That''s why I let Norton get close."