Tracey smiled. Reaching over, she patted the stuffed elk on the head. "Good." The sadness in her voice was still present however. Sighing, she really didn't know what to do. She felt helpless and horribly trapped. But, in an odd way, she was able to breathe a little easier. Her damning secret had been found out, there was really no need to hide anymore.
"I'm a little surprised that…everyone believed we were together so…readily," Tracey admitted, unwilling to comment about her mother. Heidi was just wrong. She couldn't bring herself to tell her that, at least, not yet.
"Who do you think told?" Tracey asked in a defeated tone.
She looked up at Heidi, surprised by the offer. They'd wanted to sleep and cuddle together so long, could they really do that? "What will…the professors say? Won't they keep an eye on us much more now that they know we are dating? Or when they find out?" Tracey didn't relish the idea of the scrutiny they were likely to receive.
If she did stay with Heidi, there would be no way to walk away from the "rumor". Staying would her would just acknowledge the truth. Tracey was quivering as she spoke. "I…want to stay."