Rosa tried to look as pitiful as possible. However, her childlike pout just made her as endearing as ever, something to be smiled at rather than pitied upon. She was all too aware of this fact and therefore relied on the rest of her body to portray such an idea. Her arms were cross across her chest as she tried to warm herself using her hands. She hunched herself over while walking along, hoping she would succeed.

Much of what she did wasn't acting - she didn't have her coat, and she was honestly cold. It was no pleasant sensation, but the promise of her plan working out ended up driving her onwards. She just about laughed with joy when she finally arrived at the main building, knowing that the chorus room was just inside. She just had to hope that her cheeks didn't lose their flush from the cold before she arrived.

She stepped into the not quite empty chorus room, placing the slightest vestige of a sheepish smile upon her lips. This would be a performance unlike any other she'd done, but far more vital and therefore more dire.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Jasper," Rosa said, still keeping her arms crossed. The bite of the cold had faded away just moments after stepping into the heated building, but Mr. Jasper didn't need to know that.

"Rosa? What are you doing here? And without any jacket?"

"I...well, you'll believe me to be rather foolish, but I appear to have misplaced it. It is most probably that I left it within one of my classes, and I thought it would be sensible to check this classroom first. I tend to leave things here more often than my other classes, it seems..."

"Well, I...I can't say I've seen anything, Rosa. It would most likely still be here if you left it behind, and I would've seen it. I'm sorry..."

"Oh, it's not your fault, Mr. Jasper," Rosa said. "I'm just a bit saddened by the thought - my upcoming class is within one of the auxilary buildings, and even with a jacket I would be frightfully cold...and since I am without a jacket..."

Mr. Jasper opened his mouth to speak, reconsidered, and then closed his mouth. But as Rosa allowed her lips to fall into a "pitiful" pout once again, he ended up deciding it was best for him to speak out.

"Wait, Rosa," he said. "I won't need my coat today, as I'll be staying here for the rest of the schoolday. You can take it."

"Oh, thank you," Rosa said, unable to keep herself from smiling. She'd managed to predict Mr. Jasper's behavior perfectly. Her plan had succeeded despite all of the ways it potentially could have gone wrong. And, of course, she wouldn't have to walk in the frozen outdoors without anything to wear. She stood still, waiting for Mr. Jasper to bring the coat to her.

Yes, on a normal day she would have shivered at the thought of being a room alone with Mr. Jasper, but this was all planned. All she had to do was pluck the coat from his hands, wrap it around herself, and begin her gleeful prance back to her dorm room where Helena was waiting.

Upon entering the room she was met was nothing but confusion from Helena.

"Rosa, what are you wearing? Where were you?"

Rosa did not answer immediately - instead, she cast the coat from her shoulders and on to her bed.

"It's evidence!" Rosa announced.

"What?" Helena asked, still as confused as ever.

"I managed to get Mr. Jasper's coat. It can be used as evidence, don't you see?"

"I don't see."

"Here," Rosa said, flipping the coat around. "You remember the night Elly mysteriously disappeared, yes? Of course. Elly wasn't wearing a coat that night - I know that much for certain, as they would not hush about it no matter what! I chastised them for forgetting a coat, of course, but..."

"Then what does Mr. Jasper's coat have to do with it?"

"Helena, this was the coat Elly was wearing when they died."

"You're kidding," Helena replied.

"Why would I have the slightest motivation to kid about such a matter?" Rosa said, her face lighting up with glee. "This coat by itself could be damning evidence to figure out precisely who murdered Elly. Think about that, Helena!"

"I am thinking about it," Helena replied. "I'm just worried about how you got this coat to begin with."

A flush appeared across Rosa's already pink features (her excitement over the possibility of evidence coupled with the chill of the outdoors caused the ruddiness).

"Well, I suppose if I divulge such a matter to you it will also help to explain some of my thought process. I left my coat within this room and then ventured out to the chorus room. I then queried Mr. Jasper, asking him if he knew where my coat was - I might have left it in the chorus room, no? But as it was here the entire duration of it all, he didn't have it."

"That doesn't explain why you have his coat."

"I find that if you're pitiful enough, people will bow to your every command," Rosa replied. "Thus Mr. Jasper lent me his coat, on the basis that I plan to return it as soon as I discover my coat again. And, rest assured, I shall not 'discover my coat' until I manage to unearth every last piece of evidence from this coat sitting before us."

Helena shook her head, although she could not resist the smile which played across her lips.

"And how does this explain your thought process?"

"Oh? Well, if Mr. Jasper would lend his coat to me, it would only make complete and utter sense that he would lend it to his dear coatless nibling on Christmas Eve!"

"Coatless?"

"Elly didn't wear their coat on Christmas Eve. I walked with them, I know - they would not cease their complaints about that particular matter! Elly left after us at the dinner, but they would not have returned to Cloisterham without a coat on, not with such a raging deluge! And so they must have gotten the coat from Mr. Jasper," Rosa explained.

"And then Mr. Jasper has that same coat back, even when it should have gone missing with Elliot," Helena said, finishing the thought.

"Precisely," Rosa replied.

"Oh my god," Helena said, shaking her head.

It wasn't long before Rosa's excitement over the matter ended up spreading - she told Helena first, then Neville, then Jasmine. She made it clear she wished the matter to remain rather quiet, despite projecting the message about it out all over the place. To her, it seemed that a major portion of the mystery had been solved with just a coat.

But, of course, Rosa knew she had to give the coat back to Mr. Jasper sooner or later. It was certainly freezing outside, and he would likely use the matter of the coat to gain a way to speak to her more often if he could. She needed to avoid such a matter at all costs, especially because she'd always known where her coat was.

For the moment, however, Rosa would use the coat in whatever manner she could. What could be more damning than such a direct piece of evidence? Rosa couldn't think of anything that could be better. She would get something to come out of Elly's death, something than pain and mourning. She would find what happened to them even if ended up killing her.

"Helena, we have to figure this out. Yet I am exhausted by every last matter involved in this situation," Rosa exclaimed. "I feel as if it is slowly murdering me. I suppose there is nothing I can do about it. I must only place a smile upon my lips and hope that eventually I reach a moment of calm. Peace. Absolute serenity."

"If you stay around Cloisterham, I can guarantee you're not going to find any of that," Helena replied. "With everything surrounding Elliot and how crazy things have gotten because of it..."

"I never thought I would admire the former Cloisterham, and yet here I am," Rosa said. "There were no terrible secrets and horrible deeds back when things were simple, back when Elliot was alive. Dear Elly. They would never have guessed how profound of an impact their death would have."

Helena, sensing that Rosa was working herself into quite an emotional state, decided to intervene before things went too far.

"I think that we should avoid talking more about this, especially if it's exhausting you," she said. "I think you should focus on something else."

"But how can I do such a thing?" Rosa replied, placing a pout upon her lips. "I cannot focus on any singular thing! I can only think of Elly and Elly's death and Elly's impact. They never leave my mind, regardless of what deed I do."

- - - - -

"I have a secret admirer, Neville. How poetic is that? Or perhaps I should say I have an anonymous admirer."

"Er, yeah...that's very poetic."

"Oh, I suppose you do not find it as fascinating as I do - but on tumblr I have an anon who continously sends me compliments. I do enjoy the attention but I hope they do not wish it to be reciprocated...oh, I'm boring you, aren't I?" Rosa exclaimed, snapping back into her senses.

"No, you're fine."

"No, I can tell, I'm boring you. I shall make the matter more interesting as it pertains to you. I wish Mr. Jasper would stop teasing you in class every day," Rosa said, her signature frown playing across her lips. "What could he hope to gain?"

"I've had worse," Neville replied, shaking his head. "It's fine."

"Just because you've had worse doesn't mean this is fine!" Rosa exclaimed, crossing her arms. "Really, Neville - he shouldn't have to prod at you at all. It's absolutely dreadful! He's absolutely dreadful."

"Well, he certainly likes you."

"Oh," Rosa breathed out, wishing that she could manage to speak about those thoughts which always played at the edges of her mind. "Oh, I suppose so. You can be assured that these feelings are not mutual, Neville."

"At least he's not as bad as-" Neville began.

"As bad as who? Or what?" Rosa asked, tilting her head to one side. Her curiosity was so genuine that Neville wished that he could just let his answer ring out without an ounce of shame. But she would loathe his answer, that he was certain of.

"We shouldn't have to just stand there and let it happen," Rosa said, deciding to carry on the conversation herself. "Something needs to be done. I want to help you, mostly because I have met only a select few who deserve to be helped."

Neville couldn't form a response to Rosa at first. He found himself distracted by that half-smirk half-pout which so often sat upon her lips. She knew how beautiful it made her, and that confidence ended up making her glow. There were so few people on Earth who glowed from the light of an inner world, and yet Rosa sat before Neville. He wished he could just dive over and kiss those lips of hers, if only for a second-

"Neville, we have do something about it...I just don't wish to spend another moment of my life in the company of Mr. Jasper."

"Well, uh..."

"What, Neville?" Rosa asked.

"I don't really know what we can do. I mean, maybe you could talk to him-"

"No," Rosa interrupted. "No. I don't have any desire to speak with him."

"-but I wouldn't force you to do such a thing," Neville finished. "I wouldn't want you to have to talk to someone you find...someone you find dreadful."

"Oh, of course not," Rosa replied, a flush working its way across her cheeks. She hadn't meant to react so violently, but now she had no way to cover up. Neville had already seen the way she lashed out. He might not know the reasoning behind it, but that didn't stop Rosa's nerves.

"I'm sorry about suggesting it," Neville said. "I didn't mean to make you think that you needed to do anything. You're doing more than what's necessary just by speaking to me about it all. I have to thank you for that."

"Don't thank me," Rosa replied, still flushed from her earlier statement. "I am only attempting to do what is correct and just, and that should not necesitate any thanks. I do wish to help you whenever possible, however."

"Well, it wouldn't be helpful, exactly, but would you mind walking with me to chorus class?"

"I would delight in it," Rosa said, giving a slight nod as her lips subconsciously curled into a smile.

But as soon as the two were actually in class they were forced to separate from one another. The class was meant to be looking over a new piece of music when a new spark lit within Rosa's mind.

"Jasmine!" Rosa hissed. "Jasmine, look at me. I need to speak with you."

"In the middle of chorus class?"

"Well, isn't that obvious?" Rosa asked, tilting her head. "Even if Mr. Jasper catches us, he will not cease our speaking. I know the way his behavior moves along - he will not stop our conversation."

"I've been in his class just as long as you have, and I'm not so sure that I agree with that," Jasmine sighed. She wished she hadn't been roped into Rosa's current conversation, knowing that it might end up launching her into trouble.

"Never mind that. We must speak. You know Elly. You are one of the few who saw them as more than...more than a person all too miserable to be around. The privileged sort to never cease complaining despite how relatively few problems appeared in their life. You knew them as more than that, yes?"

"Well, I guess so..." Jasmine said, lifting her shoulders into a shrug.

"I desire to know...how many others do you believe knew Elly that closely?" Rosa asked. "We must not be the only two in Cloisterham Academy who are aware of what Elly is like."

"Rosa, I don't think that's going to help you narrow any of the suspects down-"

"Yes, it will!" Rosa exclaimed. "I am determined...I am determined to make this work out! I will find out who murdered Elly, and this is just one step...one step in the process...what would you do, then? If you are certain my plan will not be sufficient, then what would you do?"

"I wouldn't waste my time trying to figure out who it isn't, I'd make sure to find out who it is," Jasmine replied. "There are enough people at Cloisterham that trying to eliminate person by person isn't going to work."

Mr. Jasper looked over to the two girls chattering along, and for a moment both became absolutely silent. But once the moment passed, the two were speaking just as intensely as before.

"You don't place the blame on Neville, do you?" Rosa asked, lowering her voice down a whisper once again. "Everyone seems to desire to bring Neville down in one way or another...but he must be innocent, don't you think?"

"I don't know if anyone must be innocent," Jasmine replied, raising her shoulders up into a shrug. "There's going to be someone who's innocent and there's going to be someone who's not. But there's no must until we know for sure."

"You're just lucky I have made the decision not to mark you as a suspect," Rosa said. "You should be pleased with the notion that you are still innocent in my eyes."

"As far as I can see, most people are still innocent in your eyes. That's why you're having problems figuring this out. I'm glad you think I'm innocent, but..."

"Are you attempting to say I should mark you as a suspect in this particular case?" Rosa asked, every "s" in her words making her sound as if she were a balloon slowly losing air.

"If you think people are innocent, then you have to think someone is guilty." Jasmine paused as she saw the beginnings of a smirk beginning to appear on Rosa's face.

"Oh, God. Rosa, don't tell me you already think you know who it is."

"Well, I cannot help it if the answer before us is an obvious one!"

"Who is it, then?"

"I..." Rosa began, her whisper tapering off towards the end. "I cannot state such an accusation here."

Under her breath Jasmine said, "Well, of course not. You can't say that but you can say everything else in the middle of class."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Now, don't you think we should get to work on figuring out the rhythm for this song...American Folk Rhapsody?"

"Of course not. Mr. Jasper is bound to give me a high grade regardless of how well I perform - and, besides, this is rather simple. The most complicated rhythm only involves ordinary dotted quarter notes."

But as Rosa began to thumb through the song she grew quiet. Finally, without speaking another word, she lifted her hand into the air.

"Rosa, do you have a question about the song?" Mr. Jasper asked, sounding rather perplexed at the fact one of his most gifted students would have any sort of struggle with the song.

"I refuse to sing this song," Rosa exclaimed, rising out of her seat. "None of us should be singing American Folk Rhapsody."

"What do you mean?"

"I do not believe this particular piece suits our choir," Rosa began. "Perhaps parts of the medley apply to us, but if you look at this...this is a song of slaves! And yet, aside from me and a few others in this room, everyone in this room is white. A horde of white, priviliged people who don't know any of the hardships of slavery or systematic oppression. And, of course, this is Cloisterham Academy. This is quite a simple song for our advanced choir."

There was a pause where everyone in the chorus seemed only able to hold their breath.

"Speak with me after class," Mr. Jasper said. "Maybe we'll be able to work out a better song then."

"Rosa, what the hell are you doing?" Jasmine hissed as soon as the room feel quiet once again. "You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Oh, I doubt that," Rosa sighed.

"Yes, you will. Or I'm going to end up killing you myself, I swear!" Jasmine continued. "You're not going to help yourself by talking to Mr. Jasper in such a way. You're probably going to end up getting kicked out of the choir or something."

"I'm not attempting to help myself," Rosa said. "Is there something wrong with speaking the truth? We should not be singing a song that slaves used to sing. It soils the purpose."

"I'm not saying you're wrong, but..."

"I know what I'm doing, Jasmine, trust me."

However, as soon as Rosa found herself alone at the end of the class period all of her confidence ended up draining away. All she'd managed to do was get herself alone in a room with Mr. Jasper. How foolish of her. How had she managed to forget the fact she would have to speak with Mr. Jasper, alone in a room while everyone else headed off to have lunch? She didn't understand how she could've had such a lapse in logic, but now it was too late.

He started moving towards her, and she immediately began to pluck at the sleeve of her sweater. She considered telling Mr. Jasper that she had to leave for one reason or another, but she remained silent. His gaze wouldn't let her speak up to leave it all behind. No, she was stuck.

"I'll keep this short, I'm sure you're anxious to get to lunch-"

"Eager."

"What?"

"Eager, Mr. Jasper. I am not anxious to get to lunch, I am...I am eager," Rosa said.

"Eager, then," Mr. Jasper said, clearing his throat. "Anyways, now that we have got that out of the way...you mentioned wanting to change the song we're singing in class, and normally I wouldn't do such a thing, but I feel like this is an exception. There are other songs that fit our group better."

"If you are hoping I have some idea of what song we could perform, I regret to inform you that I do not know of any," Rosa said.

"Well, actually, I was going to thank you for speaking up. I glanced right over the problems of the song, unfortunately, and you opened my eyes."

"Thank me?" Rosa said, her mouth hanging slightly open. "Oh, I did not believe you would have a necessity to thank me, but...I suppose...you're welcome...?"

"That's all for now. I'll want you to make sure what I choose as the replacement is appropriate. I'll want your stamp of approval on it."

Rosa, filled with relief she could escape from the chorus classroom once and for all, turned to walk through the door. However, a thought popped into her head before she could let her feet carry herself all the way out. She'd made a promise to Neville to talk to Mr. Jasper - when was a better time than the current moment?

"Mr. Jasper?" Rosa asked. "I have one more matter to discuss with you, and I figure it would make sense if I conversed with you at the current moment."

"Yes?" he asked, whipping around to face her. "What is it?"

"Well, it concerns Neville Lanka," Rosa said. "He is a friend of mine."

"Yes, I'm aware that he's a friend of yours. You two seem to be pretty close now," Mr. Jasper said, his tone flat.

"I suppose we are rather close," she replied. "But that is not what I must say about him - our friendship is not the main concern of the moment. I have been speaking to Neville, and I...I believe that you and he have many qualms."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean that-"

"Neville has nothing to do with any of this," Mr. Jasper said. Upon seeing Rosa's widened eyes from his interruption, he continued with, "Excuse me. Go on, Rosa."

"I mean that although Neville's name or presence is not necessary for what we're saying at the moment, I feel as if...I feel as if the two of you have a massive amount of problems which need to be sorted out between you too. I feel it is..it is not productive to have such a conflict between student and teacher, especially within the classroom."

Mr. Jasper took a moment to breathe in as if preparing to speak, but then breathed out as he reconsidered.

"That doesn't concern you, Rosa. All of that is between Neville and I, and has nothing to do with you."

"But-"

"Besides, Rosa, I do have one more thing I have to say that does concern you - you've never given my coat back."