1st September 2025

He was a cat on a mission! An ebon black streak dashing among the skinny legs of hundred of kids seated, standing, lazing, casting excited jinxes and spells at each other. The magic didn't bother Greebo at all. Surely he knew that his boy would set the first person on fire who messed with him. Maybe even give him those wicked thick and sharp talons like his did over the summer! But now there was The Mission to attend to! And Greebo was keen on accomplishing the objective. Discover the location of those delicious smelling kitty treats!

And was Greebo alone in this mission? Not hardly! For in the wake of the silent stalker, two juggernauts ran behind him! Tall, skinny, mops of long and messy white hair, green eyes like brilliant pond scum on a sunny afternoon; their kilts and satchels bounced along merrily as they loped through the train's corridor. They were hard not to notice. For while the twins were rambunctious, anyone who knew them would certainly notice that their motion had grown more graceful, even as their bodies had grown taller. Perhaps thankfully, those in the know would notice that they sported no new scars and appeared far more joyful than even this time last year!

"EMMIEMMIEMMIIIIII!!!" one cried out!

"We know where ye are lass!" replied the other!

BANGGG!!!! The door to the next carriage opened with a crash and the duo found themselves instantly face to face with their old nemeses! The paid barely had time to pivot! "MeyJunWotcha!! Comin through lassies!!" Colin called out to the second year girls --- he was still utterly convinced that they were twins. It had been a long while since first met, back at the Wolf Moon, and they really needed to talk. It had been in the back of Colin's mind for months, and of course he'd talked about it with Liam. They agreed. There was something extremely familiar about the girls. It was a mystery that needed solving! But not right now!

Colin and Liam twisted, lithely slipping between Mey and Jun with expert grace. And! They didn't even knock the younger twins into the walls! Colin stuck his tongue out at Mey and laughed merrily as they continued along the corridor. Greebo was running ahead and the twins leapt forward to catch up! "Owoooo!" Colin smirked. A familiar scent rose to the foreas they neared the end of the carriage. Liam smiled and nodded towards the door ahead. Colin replied: "Right! On three two one!"

Colin hit the latch of the compartment door. Both boys struggled to occupy the doorway at the same time. According to physics, this was impossible. That didn't stop Colin and Liam trying! "FYYYYYRE AND SIIIMOOOON!" they chorused! Colin snickered. Not the usual AngelFyre and Simon snogfest today! Just a tender kiss. Colin rolled his eyes. "I see ye saw sense, Simon --- smart choice, our AngelFyre!"

"Cail! Come on!" Liam cried, yanking Colin away from the compartment door. "Greebeaux's waiting lad!" And indeed Greebo was meowing at the door between AngelFyre's carriage and the one ahead. Colin knew they were getting close! She'd been this way --- along with Tav! Perhaps an hour ago! Pushing through the door to the carriage ahead, Colin and Liam charged along the narrow corridor! Greebo darted ahead! The boys caught up and all three tumbled to a halt just before the door to one of the compartments!

Liam jabbed Colin's ribs, nodding towards the door! Colin shoved Liam's shoulder, smirking. That's when he caught it --- a familiar scent in conjunction with Emmi. Colin wrinkled his nose, not quite sure what sort of reception they'd receive from the red haired banshee. She was at the werewolf night just a couple weeks ago. Colin was both shocked and not at all surprised. The two were as inseparable as he and Liam!

Liam threw to door to the compartment open and shoved Colin in! "Eep!" And there she was! His nose wasn't wrong! They were chatting like two friends who hadn't seen each other in like three hundred years! "Scout?" he said softly. The Gryffindorque's back was to him. One of these days, he knew, they'd have to work themselves out. Liam said that from what he'd seen and heard, Scout wasn't all that bad, and that she probably didn't actually hate werewolves. Colin still remembered the smug smile on his twin's face when they'd talked about Scout last year. He could still remember Liam's words: no laddie, she doesn't hate werewolves at all, really! It's probably just you, Cail!

Grr.

And then he caught sight of Emily's long brown hair behind Scout's red. "EMMI!" he cried, suddenly lifted up in spirit! He'd found her! He'd found his treasure again! Greebo darted into the compartment and hopped up onto the seat between Scout and Emily! Liam shoved Colin all the way in! The boys tumbled onto the bench opposite. Liam sprawled out. Colin hopped up onto the seat and crouched down, before eventually settling into something like seated position. "Emmi," he said softly. The world was a better place just with her in it!

Liam bapped the side of his head. "Say hello to our friend, lad!" he nodded towards Scout.

"Oh! Er. Ayo Scoutie!"

Liam nudged Colin, then whispered into his ear: "Ye can't ignore the bridesmaid, lad!"

Interacting: @Emily Shephard | @Scout Fu-Hai
Mentions: @AngelFyre McCubbin | @Meyra Lancaster | @Jun Mayumi Mochizuki | @Simon Kincaid

september 1st, 2025		monday
wc: 700		dhampir | terrible presence
interacting with: @Emily Shephard @Colin McCoire		mentioning: meow meow meow

it's a chaotic boogie-woogie, a happy extra-large serving
don't be shy now, don't be shy now, jeez!

It was almost peaceful.

Scout liked the quiet of the train rides to and from Hogwarts, she considered it some much-needed decompression time before she booted up the happy-go-lucky Scoutie 3000 model. Luckily, having a best friend like Emily meant that this decompression time didn't need to be spent alone. Somehow, being around some certain Hufflepuff's made calming down with them just as easy as doing it alone.

Unfortunately, one of these certain Hufflepuff's have a white-haired wolf at their beck and call... and even when she doesn't call for him, Colin still seems to always be around. And usually, where there's a Colin, there's also a Liam in tow. If Emily and Scout were sisters, they'd be a good parallel of the pair, because wherever there was Emily, Scout was probably not too far behind.

That sentiment had only tripled after this summer, what with Casey's 'brotherly' escapade, the whole 'almost getting eaten by said brother', and also the 'literally fighting an older teenaged boy in a fight-or-flight panic', Scout really felt weird letting Emily out of her sight for that first week after she had gotten back. Even Casey had gotten soft(er) and gentle(r), it felt weird for Scout, seeing him not immediately burst into a giant red-hot fiery pan of Stone-colored fish whenever things got even slightly heated. It was an adjustment, and probably part of 'growing up', something she was still working towards.

"This whole summer has been a total kerfuffle of like... weird-freaky stuff happening." Scout could feel her feet falling asleep from her crisscross position, but her words were tumbling out of her mouth at a Scout-pace, and she was too busy saying things to worry about something as silly as sleepy feet. "Did I tell you, me and my dad met Zyair's sister? I feel like I did, did I? They're like... the same person but one is older and a girl, it was so weird. My dad drove to her house, in like a muggle car- 'cause like, she lives in the muggle part of London, but she's a witch, and like-"

When the compartment door had swung open (with quite a bit of velocity), it took Scout another second or two to stop her rambling. She had initially figured it was some lost first-year who had gotten lost, or it was... you know, literally anyone else besides the McCoire twins. But, of course, like a fly or flea, they seem to stick wherever Emily might be. And unfortunately, by proxy, Scout.

Since that whole werewolf appreciation night thing with Tesla, Scout had been... not really able to place where she felt about Colin. She liked Liam alright, he wasn't as- well-, eccentric, but she had placed Colin on an 'unable to stand' tier. But since that fateful night, that had... changed? Scout wasn't really sure. She had initially figured that she would always have a general disdain for Colin, for more than one reason, but now all of those reasons she had perfectly built up in her head felt nothing more than stupid and petty. Besides, she had no way to articulate her reasoning to anyone besides herself and Pebble- and that was eating her up inside. If only she could say why to Emi, every response Scout could conjure would be met with a strong 'you just need to get to know him!'

"Do they always show up wherever you go, Emi?" Scout asked, leaning close. "'Cause like, one time's an accident, two's a coincidence, three's whatever Colin's got going on." An infatuation with Emily, which could be seen even unsaid.

...

...

BRIDESMAID?

"Woah, woah, woah." Scout shook her head, crossing her arms. "Bridesmaid? No. Freaking. Way. If you think I'm going to be anything but the maid of honor, you're sorely mistaken! If I have to sit through a wedding with Colin in it, then at the very least I want to be the one making sure Emily looks her best. Like come on, Liam, I feel like that goes unsaid, doesn't it? You'd be the best man, and I'd be the maid of honor."

Oh, wait, wait, wasn't she forgetting something? She did have a spiel about not totally hating Colin, so...

"Oh, and hi, Colin."

September 1st 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire - @Scout Fu-Hai

Boarding the train felt different this time. Usually on the day before, "Auntie" would give Emily her birthday gift to her and they'd spend their last hurrah together with a nice meal and some girl time. But with Emily away at summer camp, assisting Casey the month before and thus hardly being at home all summer, all efforts to be with her beloved guardian were in vain. Before she knew it, she was whisked away to the train station to begin her third year at Hogwarts.

The train ride was made bearable with Scout and Tavra accompanying her. Otherwise the ride would've felt incredibly lonely, despite how gorgeous the scenery remained outside as it whizzed passed through the window. Chit-chat with Scout was kept in small bursts. Mostly about their escapades over the summer while they were apart. Interestingly enough, mentions of Casey's investigation and the werewolf night were left out. Emily wasn't too fussed, not necessarily looking to dump any deep or meaningful thoughts on either matter. She expressed herself crystal clear on the werewolf night, while Casey and his brother's reappearance left a bitter, lingering taste of worry for the both of them. The fact that neither she nor Scout brought it up did her a favour of sorts. Talking about it at all felt hard to bring herself to do, much less cope with already.

Taking advantage of the comfortable silence between her and Scout, Emily sat with a copy of Olalla, muttering the text silently as she read it. Tavra nestled cosily along her arm, her fluffy noggin nuzzling the space between Emily's arm and chest, only ever so slightly shifting when Emily went to turn the page of her novella. Despite being heavily engrossed in her book, she still spared attention to Scout when she talked about Zyair.

"Must be a sign if your families get on well--"

"EEP!"

The shrill, startled voice of someone falling into the compartment knocked Emily clean out of her zone and she squeaked a gasp. Tavra shrieked as she flapped out of shock while Scout watched blankly at what the hay just exploded into the carriage.

As soon as she processed the mop of white hair she was faced with and the black cat that settled between her and Scout swiftly gave Emily the answer and she leapt from her seat.

"Colin!"

The book left her lap and in seconds her arms were hugging Colin's skinny frame, with one arm reaching for Liam when Colin's other half came in. When they sat down, Emily retook her spot and pulled both her book and Greebo onto her lap, allowing Tavra to take residence on top of her head.

"So good to see you again, my friends!"

And how things had changed since they all last got together. Colin said hello to Scout... And Scout said hello back to him! Emily squeezed Scoutie's hand. She always knew she would come around with Colin eventually!

But that wasn't all. Clearly there was something between them that Emily didn't know about.

Bridesmaids? Maid of Honour? Best man? Wedding with Colin? Looking best?

"Did--Did I miss something?"

Emily examined everyone's faces before nervously shaking her head. "Who on Earth said anything about marriage?? We're all only teenagers, for Aphrodite's sake! Even if I was of legal age for such a life changing commitment, I'd never go through with it! Marriage is far too demanding for something that might not even last! Like--Like divorce!"

The words tumbled out of her before she could stop them. A side-effect whenever the topic was broached. It always reminded her of her parents. Married. And never seen in the same room together. She sighed and refocused on her book.

"Marriage just destroys whatever's already beautiful..."

_{Word Count: 630}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 9 | Arcane Power: 8 | Accuracy: 8
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

"So good to see you again, my friends!" Emily said, full of her usual cheer. Colin was hoping that this year would finally be relatively normal at Hogwarts. Of course, the ball would be total chaos, but that was to be expected! He was just glad that Emmi was a courageous and adventuresome girl. Just what Colin needed! He gave Emmi his best smile! "Emmi, I've got something ---!"

Colin found himself cut off by Liam and Scout.

Colin looked from Scout to Liam. Part of him wanted to murder his brother right there in the compartment. Liam had a rather inconvenient way of voicing what Colin was thinking about. Wait!! Bridesmaid!? his brain screamed. Scout caught on and started hollering at Liam! "Bridesmaid? No. Freaking. Way. If you think I'm going to be anything but the maid of honor, you're sorely mistaken!" Had they been talking to each other? he wondered.

"Oh!" Liam responded without missing a beat. "Ye know what? Maid of honour would actually be perfect for you Scout! Cail wasn't sure if ye would accept!"

Colin felt it then. The creeping rise of a major blush attack! His eyes widened, now fixed on Emily's. He could not believe his ears one bit! They'd only just settled into the compartment and already Liam and Scout were at it, planning the wedding!

"It's a lot of work, I reckon, Scout, but if ye're keen on doing it, then we'll change the assignments. Ye know Caileann, he can be such a dingbat about these things!"

"If I have to sit through a wedding with Colin in it, then at the very least I want to be the one making sure Emily looks her best. Like come on, Liam, I feel like that goes unsaid, doesn't it? You'd be the best man, and I'd be the maid of honor," Scout continued. Colin kicked Liam's ankle sharply. The lad didn't know when to quit!

"Oh, of course! Totally unsaid! Cail was concerned is all!" Colin caught Liam's sly side glance. GRRR! He kicked his twin's ankle again, trying to get him to shut it. But to no avail! "For some reason, he thinks ye hate him, lass," he confided, slightly turning his head so that Colin couldn't catch his expression.

"LIAM!" Colin grunted. Emily had totally picked up on the conversation. Oh, craporific, Colin thought.

"Who on Earth said anything about marriage?? We're all only teenagers, for Aphrodite's sake! Even if I was of legal age for such a life changing commitment, I'd never go through with it! Marriage is far too demanding for something that might not even last! Like--Like divorce!"

Colin jabbed Liam in the ribs. His brother snorted, trying desperately to hide his laughter! Ach! That's what you get confiding in your twin! Then he caught up to Emily's response to Scout. "Wait ---" he began. He heard the D-Word. How could Emily even think that way!

"Marriage just destroys whatever's already beautiful..." she said.

Colin could not contain himself! His mind flashed back to last spring when she'd tried to explain all about her Ma designing muggle dresses for fish or something weird like that; and then to what Auntie Nora said to him just a couple weeks ago! Pieces of the puzzle began sliding into place in Colin's mind!

"No! Ye're wrong Emmi!" Colin practically shouted. Never let it be said that Colin's strong suit was self-censoring, especially when it came to those he felt the strongest attachments to! "Emmi, I can't divorce you! That's not even possible! I ---!" He caught himself just then. He felt the blush strengthen! A quick glance over towards Scout revealed a girl trying to process where all this was headed. Liam was now very conveniently rooting around in his satchel. Emmi looked up from her book, her gazed focused on him. The silence roared loud about him.

Say something Colin! he thought.

"I---" Colin's voice softened, almost to a whisper. Neither Scout nor Liam said anything. Greebo head bunted Emily hoping for some ear scritches. Lucky cat! It was as if the entire compartment were waiting on Colin. He looked directly into Emily's eyes, the eyes he loved best. Oh, if only he could tell her that! "Eyes of Sky," he whispered. Colin gave Emily his entire heart in those three words. "I --- I promised Casey, I wouldn't say," he said softly. "But I don't know how long I can keep it in..."

Interacting: @Emily Shephard | @Scout Fu-Hai
Mentions: @AngelFyre McCubbin

september 1st, 2025		monday
wc: 700		dhampir | terrible presence
interacting with: @Emily Shephard @Colin McCoire		mentioning: @Casey Stone

it's a chaotic boogie-woogie, a happy extra-large serving
don't be shy now, don't be shy now, jeez!

"Well, it's not like he's the one that gets to ask..." Scout would've done anything for Emily, even put up with Colin for an entire wedding ceremony- even put up with Colin for the rest of her foreseeable future, just as long as it meant Emily was happy, safe, and loved. Which, for all of the flaws Scout saw with Colin, she figured he could do pretty easy. Although, maybe not the 'safe' aspect, considering both Emily and Colin had a penchant for getting themselves into not-so-tiny danger. But that was what Scout and Casey were for, right?

Scout saw where Emily was coming from, she did know that her parents probably didn't set the greatest example of marriage for the little Huffle. But Scout's parents had been married her entire life, and she couldn't even fathom her parents being happy separated, so maybe Emi just needed to spend a little more time at the Fu-Hai household to get a similar viewpoint to Scout. Obviously Emily wouldn't need someone else to make her happy, but Scout figured the same couldn't be said for Colin.

He looked like he was gonna pop five blood vessels at just the mention of 'divorce'. It was just a silly made-up scenario, he was getting this heated over a fictional version of himself divorcing a fictional version of Emily? Keyword being fictional! Scout would hate to see how getting rejected from someone would make him feel. It was hard for even someone like her to see Colin in any sort of pathetic state. Gross... when did she get so soft for him? Someone oughta save this lovesick wolf before he embarrasses himself even more in front of Emily.

"Jeez, could he be more obvious?" She murmured to Liam. Well, honestly, probably... but given how oblivious Emily was to Colin's advances, she figured it wouldn't go anywhere without Colin explicitly stating how he felt for her best friend. "And by the way, for everyone's information, no I do not hate Colin-" she flicks the back of his white head, "but that'll change if you don't be quiet for a little bit. You know you don't have to say every thought that comes to your mind, right?"

It didn't take any sort of genius to understand what someone like Casey would say to Colin about someone like Emily. Don't mess it up, don't be too much, but that was probably asking a lot out of Colin. He always looked like he would explode with hearts and love anytime he was even close to Emi- he really, really was a lovesick puppy, gross!

"Besides, Emi, marriage isn't all bad. It's not for everyone, sure, but there's something a little sweet in spending the rest of forever with someone, isn't there? And weddings are really beautiful, I think me and Liam would do a good job at helping plan one- even if the groom is a 'dingbat'." Her parents had planned their wedding almost entirely on their own, Scout had heard stories of her mama's parents cutting her mama off for marrying a muggle-born, and how it would've been too expensive to plan a wedding back in Fengjing, so they had a tiny party with friends before filling out the paperwork. The pictures were pretty, sure, but Scout didn't like the idea of having no wedding at all. She wasn't a girly-girl, but... maybe she wanted to wear a pretty dress and be the center of attention for once!

Scout had to cut that thought short, she wasn't sure where her brain was going or why, when that thought came to mind, there were two people she could imagine herself with. Ew, ew! Why in the world was she thinking about Casey or Zyair? They were both yucky boys- one of which was dealing with nonhuman brother problems, and the other was dealing with her nonhuman problems. At least neither of them were Colin. Which, as little of a saving grace as it was, was still a saving grace.

Ugh... Scout would rather focus on Colin being a mess than her being a mess!

September 1st 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire - @Scout Fu-Hai

Emily hid behind her book as one of the most barmy arguments she had ever seen in her life began to spill out of control. Scout and Colin weren't exactly joint at the hips like Emily was with both of them. And yet, of all the things that Scout even remotely got along with Colin in any matter of civility was over a "hypothetical" wedding. Yeah right!

If there's one thing that Scout and Colin incontestably had in common with each other, it was that they took everything seriously, down the finest hair.

Emily slid back in her seat as Scout, Liam and Colin hurled comeback after remark at each other in a mad three-way tennis match. Maid of Honour this. Dingbat that. Scout even openly admitted that she didn't hate Colin. Wow! That was surprising progress in their relationship! Although the real stopper was Emily's little outburst on the whole marriage debacle.

Colin had a face on him like Emily had physically attacked him or something! "No! Ye're wrong Emmi! Emmi, I can't divorce you! That's not even possible! I ---!"

Hold the eff on! What and where the hay did that come from? Emily and Colin competed with sporting shades of red on their cheeks. Colin went one step further and went unnaturally quiet. Everyone was held in silence for what felt like longer than it actually was. Emily was about to anxiously speak up before Colin beat her to it. "I --- I promised Casey, I wouldn't say... But I don't know how long I can keep it in..."

The Huffie shot Colin a quizzical eyebrow. "What did Casey say? What's up with you, Colin? I mean... Is something wrong?"

Emily gave Greebo eager scritches to his ears when he stalked over to her. When Tavra noticed, she chirped before burrowing her fluffy noggin deep into the crook of Emily's neck and shoulder, as if contesting with the attention Greebo was getting. The book laid abandoned on Emily's lap as she petted and tickled both animals. Interesting how this was the only normal thing happening amidst whatever Emily was witnessing with her human friends!

Emily felt both pairs of eyes from Scout and Colin on her. To be expected, of course. However, it wasn't made any better when Emily recognised something in their expressions. Pity. Worry? Sympathy... Emily never really knew how to label those kinds of emotions in eye contact form, only that she could deduce them from a mile away... When the topic of her parents and their "relationship" with Emily was touched on.

Coincidence of course! If you can bypass the churning emotional fatigue in Emily's head if anyone dared to bring them up for whatever reason.

Emily exhaled. "I know what you're both going to say," she said flatly. "But I'm fine. All I'm saying is that I'm not ready for relationships like that. Actually... I'm not even ready for dating yet. And I think that's okay! I don't need a boy telling me I'm special, or--or--or that I'm not alone... Especially when I'm neither of those things".

Emily shot back an unsure look at both of them. Yes and no. Yes, Emily was special in that she was the only witch in the family. No, she didn't feel special when it was probably not the first occurrence in Wizarding history. Yes, Scout and Colin were there in the carriage with her, giving her company like they always did throughout the school year like many other friends Emily had. No, she was alone familially, an emotional weight neither of them could lift even if they tried.

"Anyone who tells me to find a boy because I somehow need one wouldn't get it... As for my parents? Who cares! I don't. They're probably having affairs with other people by now, because God forbid I ever see them hold each other, kiss each other's cheek or tell them they love each other... I don't even know when was the last time they even saw each other".

She pictured "Auntie" and Matthew together. They weren't even married but they had such love for each other. Everything about the way they interacted with each other was an obvious giveaway. And they weren't even married. Barely even a couple yet!

Whereas Arthur and Patricia Shephard felt just as estranged as they both were with their "beloved" daughter.

Emily's knuckle tightened and relaxed as she tried to keep her temper in control. She knew Scout and Colin were just having a laugh, even perhaps trying to help Emily in a way that she might not have understood before.

It was just something Emily couldn't explain with words.

"Sorry-- I wasn't trying to-- I need a minute".

She stood up abruptly, startling both owl and cat. She grabbed her book and made her way out the carriage door, letting it carefully click closed behind her.

She slid down until she was sitting just outside the carriage. She practically buried her face in her book, hoping it would distract her and to cover her embarrassed face.

Emily groaned into the pages of her book. That could've gone a little more gracefully.

"Stupid relationships..."

_{Word Count: 862}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 9 | Arcane Power: 8 | Accuracy: 8
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace |Calming Presence

"And by the way, for everyone's information, no I do not hate Colin," said Scout. She bapped the back of Colin's head; "but that'll change if you don't be quiet for a little bit. You know you don't have to say every thought that comes to your mind, right?"

"But! Scout! Of course I have to ---!"

Colin blinked. "Oh!"

Scoutie's words sunk into his mind. Colin thought about what she said. Whoa. That was practically like Scout saying you're now my bestest bestie ever! At least to Colin's way of thinking. As far as he knew, of the four of them in the compartment, Scout held Emily in awe. They were best friends after all! And somewhere down below the blast ended skrewts and flobberworms that Professor Toussaint kept for Care of Magical Creatures, there were Colin and Liam. And somehow she didn't actually hate him?

Colin looked at Scout, wondering what happened to the real Scout and how this imposter got on the train! She turned to Emily and continued her discussion of marriage. Colin scratched his head in confusion. Turning to Liam, his twin only gave him a girls-are-so-weird shrug.

The girls' chat filtered through Colin's brain again. He wasn't sure how it got started, but somewhere in the middle, Emily said: "As for my parents? Who cares! I don't. They're probably having affairs with other people by now!"

Colin squeaked! He sat up straight, eyes wide!

He took a deep breath!

Liam kicked his shin!

Scout gave him a look!

How could I possibly have an affair against Emily!! "I---! OW! Liam! What was that for?" Colin scolded.

"Oh! Sorry Cail! Um. Me leg fell asleep and I accidentally kicked yer shin! ShutitCaileanlistentoScoutferonceladdie! I mean! Sorry brev!"

Fortunately, the girls weren't paying them any mind. In fact, they'd gone quite silent! Emily had that look in her eyes. That one Colin had learned she got whenever he fussed over her talking about her crummy Ma and Da and his own tears started flowing because he was upset over how they treated her. That look.

Maybe Casey was right? Maybe --- The problem was, how do you tell the girl you love more than anyone in the world that you love her more than anyone in the world when her own experience was the unlove of her own parents? The two people in the whole world who should love her that much!

Rrrrreowww!! Greebo hissed! Tavra hooted in startlement, taking off from her comfy perch!

Colin looked up just in time to see Emily, fists closed tight around her book, practically shoot up and rush out the compartment door, leaving Colin, Liam, and Scout in confusion! Colin watched her go, wondering what just happened. Was it something he had said? "I---" he began, but his voice faltered. His face felt warm and red. His eyes felt moist. He looked from Scout to Liam, then back to the door.

Liam bapped the back of Colin's head.

"Smart move lad! Ye've not even told yer lass ye love her, and she's already walked out on ye! That's got to be a new world's record!"

Interacting: @Emily Shephard | @Scout Fu-Hai
Mentions: @AngelFyre McCubbin