Waiting for her friend and teaching colleague, Mary Beth sat alone in her neighborhood<i>Honor Coffee Café.  </i>She’d place an order for a hot beverage once Erin arrived.  And speak of the devil, she spotted her seated friend before being seen herself.  “Damn, M.B., what’s up with you?” Erin asked.  “Did we not get our bi-weekly delivery of Eli sausage?”<br/><br/>She smirked while the best Mary Beth could do was smile weakly.  “He cancelled again on me last night,” she stated.  Being frequent customers here, Erin held up two fingers to a barista who nodded.<br/><br/>Now seated across from her, she asked, “Again?!  How many times has he cancelled?”<br/><br/>“Last night made it twice in as many weeks.  Said he couldn’t get a sitter for Rose, and that he’d make it up to me.  We haven’t quite hit a month of dating and he’s bagged on me twice so far.”<br/><br/>“You believe him about the sitter?” Erin asked with her arms crossed.<br/><br/>“I do,” she replied immediately.  “But sometimes I wonder if he uses her as a built-in excuse.”<br/><br/>Erin shook her head as their order was delivered.  “I don’t buy that.  Eli doesn’t seem the type to lie to you, especially when it comes to his daughter.”<br/><br/>Sighing forlornly, Mary Beth said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.  I feel like I’m second in line, and I hate that.”<br/><br/>Her friend blinked while returning her cup to the table.  “You’re kidding, right?” Erin asked.<br/><br/>Following a sip of her own, Mary Beth enquired, “What do you mean?”<br/><br/>“I hate to say this, M.B., but you’ll always be #2.  Always.  That’s the way it is with single parents,” she pointed out.  “You knew this going in with him.  Rosalie’s gonna be #1 until she’s grown up and moved out.  Maybe not even then!  So what are you gonna do?”<br/><br/>“Well, I’m sure this won’t be the last time he cancels,” she answered.  “I’m wondering if we should just break up now and be done with it.”  With an<i>Honor Coffee Café </i>napkin in hand, she dabbed at her eyes.<br/><br/>“Is that what you really want?”<br/><br/>“No, it’s not,” Mary Beth replied.  “But I don’t want that silver medal, either.  I want gold.”<br/><br/>“Then you should find a single guy with no kids, M.B.,” Erin said.<br/><br/>She looked at her friend with sad eyes, but sipped her beverage instead of replying.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;&lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt;​</div><br/>Elijah’s teaching gig was running along smoothly, even though he had no formal teacher training.  When it came down to anything motorcycle-related, however, his enthusiasm more than matched his knowledge, and sharing that knowledge felt natural to him.  His job was made easier with an overly enthusiastic class.<br/><br/>But what was up with Guinevere Whitmore?  Elijah had suspected she was avoiding him on account of him and Mary Beth dating, though her note to him claimed otherwise.  Seeing her in that sexy outfit at<i>The Fallen Angel </i>was surreal.  Almost running into her on campus like they did on Rosalie’s and Toby’s first day of school was so mind-boggling that it had to be seen to be believed.  Well, he’d seen it, lived it even, and<i>still </i>didn’t believe it.  Fate?  Destiny?  Who knew?<br/><br/>Elijah recalled fondly how during the first week of classes, Gwen had inadvertently entered his shop/classroom.  Like a seasoned pro at improv, she grinned and without missing a beat, declared, "Health & Safety inspection.  Carry on, Mr. Primeau."  It had happened so suddenly, that no one reacted right away.  A few minutes later, and he enjoyed a private chuckle about it.<br/><br/>Currently standing in a short line for the cafeteria to open, Gwen greeted him from behind with a question.  Turning to answer her, Elijah held his tongue while he watched a man with obvious intentions approach her.  He had no right to be protective of her, but still, he didn’t like the manner in which the man undressed her with his eyes, and kept her undressed.  “Hey, beautiful,” he smoothly said, practically standing in her back pocket.  Not really, of course, since she was wearing a skirt.<br/><br/>They hadn’t officially been introduced yet, but already Elijah didn’t care for the stranger.  And judging by Gwen’s expression, neither did she.  Her eyes seemed haunted, desperate to be as far away from the intruder as possible.  Again, he said nothing.  None of his business, really.  On the other hand, if Gwen so much as hinted at a need for assistance, Mr. Primeau would be on Mr. Southeby faster than crows on fresh roadkill.  During their brief exchange, he wished he could engage a cloaking device and move somewhere, anywhere else but here.<br/><br/>Sadly, the third wheel took the initiative and introduced himself after asking Gwen who her “friend” was.  “Hi, I'm Martin Southeby.  Pleased to meet you," he said, offering a hand.<br/><br/>Elijah shook it firmly, replying, “Eli.  Eli Primeau.  Good to meet ya, Martin.”  The cafeteria’s doors had finally, mercifully opened and the line began to move.  He still wished for that cloaking device though.