It rained for days after you left me,
As if the sky itself shared my grief.

---John Mark Green.
_______________________________________

My hands worked absently on the register in front of me, as I gazed upon the setting sun. As beautiful as the sight was, I couldn't find it in myself to appreciate the scarlet hue, that was splattered gracefully across the sky. Unlike every other day, the descending sun seemed strangely unsettling today, as if sympathising with me, at the loss of yet another thing with its decadence. Only, my loss wasn't temporary like the disappearance of the star.

"It gets better.", I reminded myself. "It always does."

Inhaling a shaky breath, I caved into my conscience's adposition of 'thinking about the happier times', by allowing my hand to ravish the drawing sheet. The wind kissed my face tenderly, with slight strokes of dominance here and there, while allowing the lose tendrils of my hair to flutter carelessly in a disarray.

It wasn't long before, it turned dark, and artificial illuminance replaced the original one. Staring one last time at the sheet on my lap, I reclined back, as my lids fluttered shut into a sweet slumber, letting exhaustion take over the reins.

***

"Six hours. She's been missing for six bloody hours, and none of you fools had the decency to inform me earlier! I swear to god--", a loud voice, followed by a few timid murmers, caused me to flinch involuntarily in my sleep.

"Jesus!"

Warm breath tickled my hair, as a pair of arms encircled my waist, causing my eyes to flutter open.

"Theo?", I blinked a few times to clear my blurry vision.

"Bloody hell, woman! You gave us all a scare. Don't ever do that again, okay?", Theo wisperd softly, as he cradled my head close to his chest. I blinked once again in confusion.

What exactly did I do?

My question was answered, as Theo pulled back, and offered his hand to pull me up. Oh! Glancing stupidly at him, and back at the awkward posture I was lying in, I realised that I'd dozed off on the terrace. 'No wonder I'm cold' I thought, just as my teeth began to clatter, much to my embarrassment.

"Here.", Evie rushed forward, and draped a shawl around my shoulders, as her brother helped me up. I smiled weakly at the apprehensive female, and indicated her to come closer. Her eyes lit, and she almost bounced on me with a squeal, making me chuckle. Her smile really is infectious.

"Evie!", her brother reprimanded, which she tactfully ignored.

"I'm taking my friend with me. "

"No you are not."

"Yes I am."

"No you aren't."

"Well, watch me.", she hissed, and tried to pull me out of Theo's hold.

'As if she could.', Sympathy for this female oozed my mind, but no sooner had the thought occured, than the man in question let out a moan, somewhat similar to that of a woman in labour, making my eyes go wide in concern. Before I could even process what was happening, I was tackled half way down the stairs by the notorious Wilkinson sibling.

"W-what did you do to him?", I croaked, startled by the whole ordeal.

"Nothing much. Just dug my heel in his foot.", she grinned like a chesire cat.

Now, about the time when I doubted her ability to free me from her brother's grasp, I stand corrected. This girl could do any bloody thing. Homicide included. It was twice now, that I'd seen her violent tendencies, and I couldn't help but cringe at the reminder.

"Yeah, like you didn't stick your fist in someone's face, a few hours ago.", my conscience snorted, making me wince, at the memory of my less-than-fond, fated encounter with my former ally.

"Hola, my dear sister.", my companion clicked her fingers in front of me, to draw my attention back to her, and then swayed a hand elegantly towards her dorm,"Welcome to Evangeline's humble abode."

I giggled at her antics. "Abode, Eh? I must say you've got a marvelous place, Miss Wilkinson. Makes me go all different shades of green in envy."

"This place has been much of a home to me, than the fortess in which my family lives.", she chuckled sadly, but quickly recovered when she realised what she'd said, and rushed towards the washroom after throwing me a formality of 'getting settled'. I looked back at her retreating form with pity.

Keeping the family matters a secret is perhaps the first thing taught to an elite, and lord knows knows how many are crumbled beneath the weight of this unspoken agreement.

After a while I was met with a fairly composed Evangeline, who bounced animatedly on the bed, and raised a brow in inquisition of my recent escapade.

"What?", I pretended to be confused.

Her eyebrow shot even higher, and disappeared somewhere under the loose tresses of her dark hair. I fidgeted in discomfort. The girl was a pro at riling one's nerves, and I obviously stood no chance. Realising there's no way out, I sighed, notifying my companion of my submission.

"Ask away."

"Now you are talking.", She grinned widely and her eyes shone with mirth. "The thing, Hera, is that I found my dear friend Ethan with bodily fluids, giving Nile a run for its velocity." My face must've looked comical, because the poor girl quickly elaborated,

"He had a busted nose Hera, and the blood drenched quite a few kerchiefs, crimson, before ceasing its current. I've never seen the boy cry, and its comming from a person, who's known him for years, yet today, he struggled to keep his tears at bay. Then ironically enough his room mate disappears without a trace, making us all go hysterical in agitation. You need to tell me, if there's something wrong between the two of you, my darling, because the dumb-head isn't being much of a help."

"Of course he's not.", I rolled my eyes, and nodded tentatively.

"Wouldn't want people to know that he called a girl a whore for no reasons, now would he?"

I saw Evie's breath hitch."He.Called.You.What?", each word was uttered in a perfect mixture of disbelief, and barely suppressed rage.

"Apparently I'm your brother's flavour of the month.", I chuckled again, and Evie encircled me in her arms. "Oh, Hera. I'm sure he didn't mean that."

I shook my head with a smile. "I am a big girl, Evie. Don't worry about me."

"Listen, its not like I'm justifying his actions or anything, but Ethan sure seemed quite taken with you. He and my brother have had brawls over flings before, and surely it was his jealousy talking.", she said, before continuing with a sly wink, "Doesn't mean I won't have him by the balls though."

"I'm sure you would.", I replied good naturedly, before leaning against the head board, with a sigh. There's nothing she could say to change my mind, and while I appreciated the effort, some wounds just can't be healed.

Ethan Moore was out of my life. For good.

"You are a bigger fool than I anticipated, if you think he'll go without a fight.", a small voice in my mind reasoned, subjecting my disturbed self to an even greater unease.

"Hey, Evie.", I breathed out, after much deliberation. "Exactly how influential are you in this school."

The girl in question eyed me suspiously, before voicing her doubts.

"Enough to have have my way when needed. And you are asking because?"

I smiled lazily.

"It's time you found me a new room mate."

"Bloody hell."

"Bloody hell, indeed."