Your sister Celia just found you and Arias in your bed, you'd gone to her and she said she wouldn't tell anyone, especially since Homosexuality was illegal. She said you had to stop things or he could be killed.

Going to Arias' room, you closed the door behind you, Celia left, going back to her room, leaving you with Arias. Then he spoke, "Did you talk to her?"

"Yeah," you mutter, walking over until you were in front of him. "What'd she say?" He asked, "...she won't tell anyone" you say.

"See? I knew it would be okay. Your sister's cool" Arias spoke, oblivious of what you were going to do. Rubbing the back of your neck you nod faintly, "Mm-hmm.." he takes your hand and pulls you closer.

"I hardly got any sleep because of you," he said teasingly, "wanna take a nap with me?" He asks, still holding your hand. "Just for a little while, no one will even notice you're gone," he says, pulling you onto his lap.

'No no no no no, I have to say no,' you think strictly to yourself, "I'll lock the door this time." He spoke into your neck, warm breath fanning over your skin. Your face flushed, 'I'm already forgetting what I came here to say..it's like the second he touches me, I lose my willpower' You think.

Then you remember what Celia said before, **"You need to protect him. If you two are caught, Arias will likely be killed."**You turn your face away from him, 'I need to stand my ground. I can't look at him or I'll change my mind..' you think.

He watches as you look away from him, confusion filling his face, "What's wrong?" He asks, 'I don't want to do this, I feel like I'm going to throw up.' You think, taking a shaking breath.

"Arias....I don't want to do things like this with you anymore. Lets end this.." you manage to say, standing up from his lap. He stared at you for a minute, before asking, "..why?" You still weren't looking at him.

"It's dangerous and stupid," you say, trying not to look at him. "Yeah, we've established that already. It wasn't stopping you before," he said, "I'm serious this time" you say firmly, before continuing.

"Whatever this is, it's over, it never should have happened in the first place," you say, avoiding eye contact. "Why are you doing this all of a sudden? What did Celia say to you?" He asked, you didn't answer, but kept talking.

"It's not all of a sudden. I decided this, not her," you say, voice firm, "I've been wanting to end things but I didn't know how to." You say, "Then tell me why" he says, and you're silent, knowing what you had to do.

"Wake up, Arias! We could never actually be together! I have to marry Catalina!" You yell, turning to look at him, "Why would you want to put yourself through such a painful situation? I'll only hurt you!" You say, voice strong, he stands up firmly, "I don't care."

His voice was stubborn, "I'm aware that I can't marry you, I know what I got myself into." He says, looking down at you, being taller, "You'd give up the opportunity to marry someone just to mess around with me?! The opportunity to have a family? To have a decent life?" You ask, looking at him.

"I'd give up anything for you, Osora.." He says, voice softer now, you glare at him and he keeps talking, "I just want to be with you. Even if we can't be in a real relationship," his voice was smaller now.

"Then we can be regular friends like we used to be," You say, voice still firm, "We're not friends, this isn't friendship.." He speaks, while your eyes stay on the ground, 'I know he's not going to give up, I have to commit to this decision. I have to be harsher.' You think.

"Sorry, but that's all you are to me. A friend. And that's all you'll ever be," You speak, a coldness in your voice, face blank as you look at him, "A friend? That's all I am to you?" He mutters.

"Then explain last night, explain the things we've been doing together. You think those are normal friend activities? You think I do stuff like that with the guys at the barracks?" He asks, voice uncharacteristically calm.

'If I leave him with any shred of hope, he's going to keep trying...'