Mrs Hale, I Surrender

Tobias signaled Michale Shaw to put on his clothes, lowered his head, and continued eating, with someone’s chatter ringing in his ears:

"Last time I went home, I came clean to Grandpa. He beat me up and said he’d lock me in a nursing home and get a psychiatrist for me. But I know I’m not sick!"

"How can liking someone be an illness?"

Tobias’s mouth twitched hard, wishing he’d shut up soon.

"What were you thinking? Why did you come clean to your family?"

"Because I want to pursue you."

"You haven’t even won me over, and you dared to come clean about this to your family?"

"Because I need to clear all obstacles and pursue you without any worries. That way, when we actually get together, my family won’t make things difficult for you."

Tobias paused for a moment; Michale was different from everyone else she knew.

Straightforward, honest.