A sudden letter PV Draven Mirador

@Draven Mirador

Sobbing, Bailey stifled her sobs as she heard someone coming up the stairs. When she heard a soft voice say that she was going to freeze, she looked up. There was a hand, and she took it, standing up. Turns out it was Draven. He was as well dressed as ever, and as he helped her up he said that it was no weather to cry. Nodding, she shoved her hand with the letter from James into her pocket. Taking a deep breath in, she let it out shakily, trying not to cry. She really did not want to look bad in front of Draven- he… well Bailey wanted to leave a good impression on everyone, and especially Draven for some reason.
Looking down at her boots, Bailey muttered “Thanks. Sorry if I’m in your way.”
Bailey said that, but didn’t move. She was shocked and didn’t think she would be able to, even is he yelled at her to.
Internally she was still shell shocked, but she managed a random thought. why is Draven here and why is he dressed so nice?
Somehow this slipped out as a question, because she heard herself ask “Why are you here in this weather? And why are you dressed so immaculate. I mean… you always dress immaculate, but still…”

Word count: 215 ish

As he answered her question he wiped away her tears gently with a handkerchief.
Sniffing, Bailey smelled something that she couldn’t quite place… oh that must be cologne. she realized, internally. It was coming off of Draven, and was quite a comforting smell, strong and rough.
Bailey found comfort in it; it was so different than James and it helped keep her mind off of him. Accepting the handkerchief he gave her, Bailey wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.
Standing up, Bailey sighed as Draven spoke.
He unknowingly brought the topic to James without realizing it. He said he would be more than willing to set him on fire, and Bailey had to smile at that. The smile was a bit sad though and she sighed before speaking.
“It is a boy, though I am not crying because he broke my heart. And if is had, I am sure I can hold my own; I know things that most don’t. Just…”
She broke off, looking at the window before she spoke again.
“I just got an owl from him. His name is James- James Owens. He left Hogwarts; his Grandmother is apparently dying. I thought we had.. a connection? Something more than just friendship… But I don’t think I will ever see him again. Does that make sense? I feel like I’m being unfaithful, but we were not even dating or anything.”
After she stopped talking, she mutely offered the letter to Draven; if he took it he would read:

Dear Bailey,

My apologies for my abrupt leaving without telling you. I'm so very sorry. You see, I got news from my father that my grandmother has fallen ill. They also don't know if she will make it through the sickness or not. I haven't visited her in quite a while so I would like to spend the last few months with her until she beats the sickness or unfortunately passes. I will return, but I do not know when. It will not be any time soon however. I truly am sorry. I do hope that you understand my situation.

Until I come back and with love,

James Owens

She silently waited; the Owlery was silent with the exception of a few sounds from the owls.

@Draven Mirador accepted the letter but did not look at it deeply. He handed it back and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. As he led her out and down the steep stairs, Bailey was glad that he was taking control. She was in no place to be left to her own devices at this moment.
As he spoke, Bailey was half listening. Draven assured her that if James had truly cared for her he would have told her in person.
Bailey nodded, trying to take everything in.
was everything he said a lie them? If I had know this I would have responded different to the secret admirer letters.. maybe … maybe
Baileys stopped her internal questions deciding to ask Draven a question to distract herself.
“Draven?” she started timidly. “How come you always are so well dressed? I admire that you always can, but it seems odd to always be as well dressed as you are. Sorry if this is too impersonal; you don’t have to answer if it is.”
Bailey was not sure if he was going to answer. She was usually pretty good at getting people to tell her things, but Draven was a sort of mystery to her, and seemingly everyone else as well.

As Draven leaned against the wall and adjusted his cuff links, he answered bailey.
Hu.. I never really thought that dressing casual would be disrespectful. But I see where he is coming from- and plus he looks good dressed up nice.
Bailey’s mind was odd at times, and her thoughts often made no sense, especially when she was upset or sad, which she currently was.

Signing, Bailey straightened, standing up to her full height. She heard a squeak coming from Draven’s coat, and Dravy pulled out a spider. He introduced it as Deimos Mirador, and Bailey smiled. It was cute to see Draven interacting with Deimos. Bailey was also glad to know that Dravy had someone, even if they were a spider, to talk to. She was not going to go around saying this, but venting to an animal or pet is quite therapeutic. She would vent to her pets on the farm back at home. Sometimes she missed her pets, for this reason and also others.

Smiling at Draven she said “Thanks, by the way. I didn’t mean for anyone to catch me like that; it was so unexpected. But it was nice talking to someone, and it was great to see you. Hopefully we can get together more often, you’re a wonderful person to talk to!”
Bailey felt better now. She didn’t talk about herself of her personal life or her emotions to anyone really, besides Kim in her letters. So for once, Bailey felt clean, emotionally. No more need to cry, or hold back emotions.

After she had collected herself, and all was better, Draven had sent it letter, and Bailey had left. Walking through the rain, her hair totally getting soaked, Bailey didn’t care.
The letter was dissolving as it got wetter and wetter, and then bailey dropped it, watching the letters, the words melt and the paper dissolve - all evidence of those glorious months disappearing. The hurt was fading too; had she know that it would end with this?
Her fairytale romance over, Bailey decided then and there to take more time for her, and her friends.
“Love can wait- there really isn’t a rush. I really should focus on finding me, before … before I rush headlong into love again. Matters of the heart shouldn’t be rushed.”
And with that Bailey walked up the front steps of the castle and into it.

Back up in her dorm, Bailey grabbed all of the letters she had ever gotten from James.
Opening the window, Bailey shredded them and let them fall, making it look like it was snowing.

She saw a few people look up as they saw the parchment spiraling around, but she didn’t care. She was closing a chapter of her life, and all evidence of her foolish and love driven decisions were now gone.

Her heart felt empty, but it was freeing.

“Time to focus on me.” Bailey said, turning back to the dorm and closing the windows.