This Star-Like Solitude finished

Feather-like fingers were coiling through golden strands, the light touch soothing as her friend was expertly brushing half of her hair in a two beautiful braids that joined near the middle of her head. She felt her tuck some previously picked flowers into the adorable hairstyle - periwinkles, ones of a beautiful blue that reminded the raven of a sky just about to melt the striking colour explosion from twilight into the endless dark of the night. When she felt her hands retrieve, the honey haired girl pivoted, brushing lightly her braided hair. And earning a tap on the hand. Locking eyes with her dear friend, the two of them stared at each other for a few moments before Elena bursted into a heartfelt access of laughter. Alyss was someone that always managed to bring to the surface this childlike part of her - and she adored her for it. Tucking two strands out of the hairstyle to frame her features, and twirled around with an excited smile, trying to glimpse at it. Which was impossible, of course, given it stood behind her head. Pouting lightly, she thanked her, "You're amazing, Aly. It would require me at least three days to even come close to what you just made in a matter of minutes."

Tucking her arm beneath her friend's they walked together through the courtyard. As they did, she felt an obnoxious stare coming from below a tree. But when did did looked, she only saw a boy, probably napping given his shut eyes. Hmm. Strange. The sort of sixth sense she had had ever since she was a child had never betrayed her. Brushing it off, she focused on returning to the conversation they previously had. "Indeed !! Spring break was fantastic. Unfortunately my mother was away, yet I had such a great time with my father her absence felt much less heavier. We read books, watched the stars.... oh, and made a poorly attempt at baking. If you can call what we made baking." A light frown wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Nights were fantastic. You do know how much I adore astronomy, and dad is even more passionate than me. I've learned so much ! We absolutely need to go stargazing sooner or later."

After conversing for a long moment, it was time for the girls to split ways as they reached the entrance to the castle. Elena had some reading to catch upon, and would only do so beneath a willow tree, and Alyss had homework to do. Hugging her friend goodbye, she waved until the blonde girl disappeared, a light smile hanging on her lips. Pivoting on her feet, she then prepared to reach her favourite tree.

As her feet naturally carried towards her loved willow tree, she felt the same sort of thunder - like sensation. Being observed was something she always felt, thousands of eyes just pointing in one direction at each step she took, waiting for something to slip. Yet here was different. She felt eyes soaring through her body, as if branded with tin. Spine straightening up, she immediately searched for the culprit of this most disagreeable sensation, and locked eyes with the same lonely boy sat under a tree. A pine, if she was being exact. The burning hatred she felt emanating from his body ripped her gaze away from his, as a shudder ran down her spine. Who in star's names was this person and why did he look at her like she had just cursed his entire bloodline ?

Ignoring him, she continued her way down the stone path, yet she could feel his eyes following her figure. Uneasy, she risked another glance. What she saw stopped her strides.

Silver drops pearling down his cheek, lips wobbling pathetically. Disconcerted, Elena stopped midway, raising an eyebrow at this strange character. Torn between her insatiable curiosity and her desire for piece and quiet, she hesitated, shifting her weight from one feet to another. Completely lost in his melodramatic moment, the boy was oblivious to her dilemma. It was the way his shoulders started shaking that settled it, her soft heart clenching at the sight. She had never been one to let others in despair, and now would not be the moment to start.

Taking little step towards him, she stopped a few feet away from him, and cleared her throat, unsure how to act. "Ahem." No reaction. "You don't look good." Way to go, Elena. 10/10. Sighing, she was about to correct herself when an angry vociferation interrupted her.

What had started as a mild annoyance quickly turned into worry, as the coffee haired boy seemed completely lost in his frantic turmoil of emotions. Despite not understanding what had caused such distress, her eyebrows creased in sympathy - how many times did she found herself desperately sobbing, clutching her chest in the midst of the night ? How many times had she longed for a hand, for arms to hold her, for a voice to hum bittersweet tunes until she crumbled back to the realm of Morpheus ? It became an instinct to mold herself into that hand, those arms, into this humming. To become the comfort she longed for, to offer a presence where the world seemed to have abandoned them.

And given the sideral lack of caring friends by his side, that boy seemed to be going through whatever he was experiencing at the moment alone. Kneeling down, she lowered herself to his height, hesitation flickering across her features. He was lost in his sobs and desperation, eyes closed and hands firmly planted in the grass, attempt to ground himself that seemed to do little to no good. "Hey," she began, reaching to slightly brush his shoulder. Method that seemed to fail, given the lack of response from his part. Panic attacks were tricky, as it depended on the other's need - she, for instance, needed to be practically squeezed to death, to get lost in another's embrace. One she quite often never had, so she settled for the company of the moon, and long strolls under the stars. Yet she had met some that needed space, as well as others that needed a simple hug despite their obvious displeasure in her presence. The hint of a smile played at the corner of her lips, as she remembered the grumpy blonde cat she had managed to tame. The two of them had become close friends, beyond her expectations, and she felt that foreign sensation of having known him her entire life - one that always marked the begining of deep, long lasting friendships. At least she hoped so.

Focusing back to the matter at hand, she decided to lean back and stare at him until he grounded himself back to the present moment, as conversation seemed impossible at the moment. Sat on her knees, it only took a few seconds for him to open his eyes. Yet what followed wasn't expected.

The teary expression moved to one of anger, and she flinched as a fist suddenly materialised next to her face - too close, to her liking. Eyes widening, she remain frozen, stunned in place, as he started shouting at her. It wasn't fear, just pure astonishment. Mouth took the pretty shape of an perfect "O", and words seem to have deserted. Once the whole angry rant about her father and having a perfect life (?) had passed, it took her a few seconds to get back to her senses, get up and take a step back. Her eyes narrowed, as the previous worried crease in her eyebrows turned into an infuriated one. "I see," she simply gritted through her clenched teeth. Fuck you dude ? I clearly don't have time for this. "Since you seem to know all about my 'perfect' life and you consider an act of care as pity, I shall take my leave of you. I hope the rest of your day is as pleasant as you were."

Half-witted, brainless moron.

A sudden grasp on her hand put a halt to her departure, the contact provoking a reaction akin to a heart attack. Or a hissing cat. His grip was warm, a stark contrast to her freezing fingers - yet it was surprisingly gentle, as if he was scared of breaking it. Turning sharply around, her eyes narrowed in slits, yet before she was about to snatch it away with a venow-laced retort, he quickly dropped it. That made the blonde girl take a step back, huffing. Crossed arms, cocked chin, she glared at him, waiting for the words to escape his clumsy mouth in an intelligible way.

His explanation was average, at best, yet it stirred something deep within the raven that made her arms uncross, and eyes soften. Having a rough time was no excuse to poor treatment, especially souls that had, like her, asked for nothing. Yet who hadn't been in his situation, and the visions-plagued girl could certainly understand better than anyone.

Two choices offered themselves to her liking. Not being fundamentally one to start a fight, she had no desire to further argue. She could either listen to her wounded pride, and walk away with a sharp word. Or listen to the way her heart clenched at the sight of his despair, and linger for a few more minutes.

A choice that wasn't one, since she knew exactly what she was about to do.

Sighing deeply, she rubbed the edge of her nose before tucking a honey strand behind her right ear, and running her navy gaze across his figure. "Though I'm sorry for you, a rough day is no excuse to yell at strangers for something they had no knowledge of," she started before her mind rewinded to the part where he stated overhearing her conversation. "Hold. You were spying on me ?" He was the strange sensation of being watched she had previously experienced ? Frown deepening, she tilted her head slightly to the left. "You are not making your case any better, you know."

Yet her voice had a light tone to it, nose slightly wrinkling in amusement.

Elena felt completely and utterly destabilized. The young girl had, over the years, built a carefully curated portfolio of different situations, as well as the appropriated reactions each demanded, adaptable regarding the person facing her. It had already proven incredibly useful, especially when she felt too exhausted to torture herself into socializing, which happened a lot more often than she wished it to. Lack of sleep, social gathering... her battery was quickly drained, even more so around extroverts, who tended to purposely ignore the pre-written conversations and insisted on doing things out of the blue. A pure nightmare. Introverts were, in contrary, less draining and easier to process. As long as anyone followed the scripts, she could appear perfectly normal and poised.

He didn't.

First his disproportional, though now understandable, reaction had caught her severely off guard, something she hated. Then instead of letting her walk away, he had instead reached out once more - and was now more or less admitting he had been watching her for a few minutes. Eyebrows frowned into a confused scowl, Elena did not know what else to do besides stare. And stare she did. The seconds ticked by, and with them her chance of reacting in the appropriate time window. Luckily - thank heaven - he was looking down in what appeared to be a shameful expression, making him unable to notice the more than odd presence of the raven.

Suddenly he looked up, catching her off guard - once more - and reacted in a more than offended manner, which drew a slight smile on the honey-haired girl's face. A eyebrow raised itself upon hearing this nonsense, as her head slightly tilted to he side, observing him. "You... happened to heard a private conversation," she repeated slowly, before her eyes narrowed slight. "Some would deem this as spying." His words stumbling on themselves seconds after made her shoulders, slump, surrendering the petty fights on words they were having. It was spying though. "Apologies accepted," she sighed, smiling softly. He didn't not seem like he meant harm, though she particularly disliked being yelled at, explaining the slight pinched tone lingering in her voice. This matter settled, she finally took the time to observe him, something she should have done immediately but was far too preoccupied in avoid getting struck. He has tousled coffee hair gently framing a banal face, though the rocky blue hue of his eyes was particularly striking. He reminded Elena of an old, crumbling castle under a night sky - or a blown-out candle, the smoke still rising in the air.

He looked up once again and she averted her eyes towards the tree standing proudly right next to him. Eye contact was something she despised, and found herself avoiding without thinking of it. Secrets were too easily spilled through the windows of the soul, and hers were meant to remain deeply buried.

As he repeated his apologies, she gazed back in amusement. "Your apology have been accepted, I told you," she repeated, though now squirming under the intensity of his gaze. Ahem, stop that please ? "You're staring," she observed, crossing her arms.