Word of Cillian and Miranda's face off were on the tongues of every student in the school. Miranda had chosen to abandon all hope and escaped to her home.

Taro and Arlo couldn't afford to miss even one class so early into the semester so they parted ways with their new friend and went back out into the jungle swarming with bees and wasps with their names tangled into the mess on the tongues of the social network web.

Cillian had taken his way to finding his next class, he had American history and he rather not be tardy. The bell rang its warning and he sighed when he saw that he was still a few doors away. He pushed foot and hurried. His hand reaching for the handle before the teacher's own could. "Mr. Anthony, you were almost late." she stepped aside for him to enter. Soft brown eyes looked up and froze as they met Cillian's cool gaze. Taro swore in her head and glimpsed at the empty seat beside her.

He didn't walk towards the seat instead he sat two chairs infront of her to the left of her table, close to the window. She let out a sigh of relief and turned her attention towards the teacher as class begun.

Arlo was speared from having class with Cillian, her heart beating easier and her lungs breathing without struggling to keep her alive.

The class seemed to pass by without any luster for learning as her minds eyes replayed him for her curious speculation. He was still such a mystery to unravel, yet he showed so little to question, but that made her question what she didn't know she should.

He was a confusing human, he caused her to reevaluate herself, her thoughts, and her reasons for befriending him. Should she tiptoe her way around him or would she need to run before she feet led her towards dangers unseen by her eyes?

Arlo was caught off guard when the bell rang, the quick hurrying of bags being packed and feet scurrying off snapped her out of her trance as she saw 2:31 pm on the clock. School was over? She stood up in a haze, not sure if to believe, she dipped her hand into her hoodie to pull out her phone and saw the time 2:32 pm. The trickery of clocks was harsh and heartless. The teacher was leaving the room when she stopped and looked back on Arlo. "Are you okay, Arlo?"

She looked to her as if she hadn't known she was there. She shook herself out of her stupor once she realized a question had been asked. She recalled what was asked and nodded. "I'm good, just thinking of something."

"Okay, well if you're okay. Have a good day Arlo."

"You too Ms. Pearl."

Arlo was slowly packing her bag, she remembered having a free period on her schedule, but then the walk home would be enough time to waste thinking of how life was strange. She zipped up her bag, picking it up as she got ready to leave.

She turned around, her deep brown eyes falling to the figure standing in the doorway, sharp blue eyes caught her off guard. Her fingers loosened and her bag dropped to the floor. The door shutting followed as his footfall closed in. "Are you going home now?" Arlo nodded her head.

"Me too."

Her heartbeat was racing. Her eyes were wide and her mind soaring as his beautiful cold features imprinted on her brain. "H—how did you find me?"

"Taro told me." he sighed as he stood before Arlo. His fist clenched and unclenched. "Can I... try something?" she nodded, she didn't know why, she was unsure and her heart was too.

Cillian bent over her, his hands patiently unfolding and carefully resting on her hips. Arlo's breath caught in her throat as his head dipped. She felt her body shiver and her eyes fluttered close. Cillian studied her body, her minimal actions and her complete surrender. He couldn't break this fragile girl, he couldn't fathom doing that to her.

His cool lips pressed to her temple, she gasped, his lips soft and warm as it met her skin; still her eyes did not open. Cillian's left hand rose, pushing up the intrusive fabric of her hoodie. She arched her back ever so slightly as he dropped his head and touched his lips against her neck. She bared her throat for him so willingly that she also forgot who this was before her.

Her mind flashed warning signs, but her heart took them down. His lips pressed harder, teeth joining them as he enjoyed the taste of her skin. Her eyes squeezed shut while his hands moved up. Her hoodie slowly pushed away to reveal her flat tummy. His thumbs brushed against her smooth ebony skin before his teeth bit harder and his mouth sucked a mark to her flesh. Arlo was about to fully be taken under his spell—«ring, ring, ring»! The bell cut off the imaginative thoughts she might have conjured and her eyes awoke to see reality steering her back into place in the form of Ms. Pearl. Her eyes snapped to the clock 12:40 pm.

"Do you need any help Arlo? Should, I call the nurse?"

The teen snapped to her senses and stood up in an abrupt fashion. She grabbed her book and backpack and started for her escape. "I'm fine, just fine—woke up late  bye." she hurried for her life as she headed to free period.

What in God's good name was that? She asked herself as she ran for the library. She was thinking of Cillian... and not just thinking of this morning's troubles, but of him... making a move on her! Her! A simple, basic girl who just happens to forget to tie her shoes every so often.

She was freaked, his touch felt so real, and his lips at her neck, it gave her skin goosebumps and did something else she wasn't so proud of. She gulped. Could this be something more than it should be, or is she delving too much into the nonsense that her unconscious mind produced while unused?

Arlo didn't know what to make of it, but she sure as hell knew what she should do for the remainder of the day... avoid Cillian.

~ ~ ~

Cillian had left his class, leaving behind a confused Taro and had begun walking towards the library for his free period time. His mind drifted to Arlo's expression when he had approached her in the old gym and how he scared her. He didn't intend to make her go ghost pale but it did humor him just a little. Her show of anger was clearly received and he rather not make her feel like that again. She could defend herself, but something in her was holding back and he wanted to know what and how he could get her to be open about it.

Cillian lifted his eyes up, just as a few students brushed by and saw as the shocked eyes of Arlo gazed back at him. He saw her face freeze in that familiar way that it did when she was surprised and he smiled.

Arlo couldn't breathe... the Gods didn't want her to get rid of Cillian..