Val stood aside as all the people left, managing to smile at the boy with the gamestation as he left the room. She stood alone for a second, then crossed the room and sat down at the piano bench, her head hurting like crazy. She needed music, something to drown it out. She was left to her own resources; her ipod was left in her room. She looked around wearily, making sure she was alone, then lifted her fingers to the cool black and white keys, scrabbling for something to play as a headache split her head.
Finally she began to play a tune, Bach she believed, but she couldn't be too sure. All she knew was that she had learned it when she was younger, and her head hurt. The music strained out of the piano as if each note were a bird waiting to be let out of a cage, floating softly in the air and wrapping around her head. It soothed the headache away, and she continued to play, lost in her own little world as she transitioned from Bach to her favorite song ever- Moonlight Sonata.

Thomas rounded the corner hesitantly and saw Rayne sitting in the hall. "Im really sorry.... I gues I should go... I can't really make up for something like that..." Thomas said and looked at her wishing she would look at him. When she didn't he turrned to leave feeling like the worst jerk on the face of the planet. He stood there his body not moving like he wanted it to.

((Wow, I finally caught up! hehe))

"Tell me again why you're escorting me every place I go?" Astelle said, sounding pretty annoyed as she walked with her cousin Sebastian.

She did like Sebastian, but this wasn't one of those times. Right now she just wanted to be alone. Her white hair was down loose, very untraditional apparantly in her family.

"Just in case someone bothers you." Sebastian said.

"Yes someone is bothering me . . . you." Astelle replied tersely.

"Oh well, sorry Astelle, but our parents did ask me to look after you and I will."

"Sebastian, I do appreciate it, but I am able to look after myself."

And with that, she took off running, not really paying attention to where she was going. Sebastian just sighed.

Rayne looked down at the ground waiting for him to leave.When he didnt she looked up at him."Why are you standing here?"She asked.Rayne stood up and looked over at the oppitise wall."Your so stupid.If you wanted to prove a point you should have just kissed one of the other girls that was begging you to."She said.

"Thats not the point I wanted to get across.... They are so! You have no idea what things they do! I would never.... Not with any of them... And you where there and I just.... Oh never mind. You won't believe me." he said angerily and shoved his hands into his pockets and slowly began to walk the walk of shame inside of his heart.

Rayne looked over at Thomas and growled.She shook her head."Well what point do you want to get across.If it's so important then I will stand here and listen to you say what you need to say."She said sternly.

"Great, now where did she go?" Sebastian grumbled.

He knew he couldn't always be with her and she did have a point. Who knew what hell she went through during her captivity. She never did elaborate, at least not to him or his parents. He was pondering his thoughts when he saw one guy walking his way. He knew who the guy was and was about to ask him if he seen Astelle when he heard someone behind him say something.
"Uh, is everything okay here?" he asked when she finished talking.

Thomas stopped in his tracks and his body went rigid. He sighed giving in and ran his hand threw his hair. "That if it was anyone I had to chose here and now.... It would be you... I wouldn't even need to think..." he said quietly and stared at the wall. He clenched his hands turning his knuckles a burning white as he dug his fingures into his palm.

Rayne's eyes windened as she stared at him.She didnt even think that...he would say that.
She slowly shook her head."But why? Why would you?"She said.Rayne slowly walked up to Thomas and looked at him."Your weird."She said.

Thomas smile and looked at her. "Yeah.... I know.... I get that alot...." he said quietly. He looked ino those eyes wondering how he could make her understand. He didn't want a normal girl who would throw herself at him. He didn't even want to be around people like that. He wanted.... Someone like Rayne...

She finished the song and sighed, laying her head down on the cool keys and causing several keys to go off at once, making her whince slightly. Smart, you idiot, she thought, sighing again and closing her eyes. She wondered if her sketchbook was still wet- and she prayed the inks hadn't run together. The whole book was filled with pen and ink drawings, and she would have been devestated if a year's worth of hard work was destroyed because of rain. She sat up and picked the bag up, then pulled the sketchbook out gingerly. She flipped through the pages, horror reading across her face- almost every single page, except for two or three in the middle of the book, was ruined, the ink smudged all over the place until you could barely see what the picture had been.
She carefully tore out the three that hadn't been ruined, then dropped the notebook in the trashcan sorrowfully. She sat back on the bench and stared at the pictures, trying not to cry. She was far from home, and now her artwork for the summer exhibition next year was ruined, and she just felt so hopeless.

Rayne leaned against the wall."Well if you like me that much then how about we start out as friends.I'm not one of those girls that just falls into a cute guys arms because he said something mushy.You got that?"She said.

Thomas smiled at her his sharp canines flashing at her. "I can do that...." he said and offered her his hand and said,"do you want to go get something to eat? As friends?" he asked and smiled at her trying to lift the mood.

((Strawberry, where's your character at? I'll come find ya.))

Rayne smiled and gave him her hand."I think thats is a great idea.I'm pretty hungrey anyway."She laughed.

Thomas chuckled catching her laugh and walked with her. He didn't let go of her hand as he walked feeling that he needed her warm hand on his. As they walked he opened the door for her and the warm sun welcomed them as they stepped outside. Thomas didn't need to shade his eyes because he was already wearing shades. He smiled at he and said," where do you want to go?"

Rayne blicked a few times ajusting her eyes to the bright sun shining in her eyes.She looked over at Thomas and shrugged."Um...let's go have chinese food.I have been craving that latley."She said

Relieved to be outside, Astelle had climbed into a nearby tree and watched other people. She felt actions spoke louder than words so watching people's actions made alot of sense to her. And while she couldn't understand why people did what they did, it did proove interesting to watch them. She saw two people holding hands.

~Don't they look happy.~she thought.

Thomas smiled. "I was thinking Chinese myself... I love that stuff. And I know the perfect little buffet too." he said and walked with her hand in his. They walked threw town talking about school. "Yeah personally those girls scare and discust me.." Thomas said laughing with her.

Rayne laughed."Sheesh...see I dont chase aorund boys.It not my thing.Besides you would need to be very fast and I dont like running."She said with a smile.Rayne opened the door to the restaurant and looked around.

Thomas smiled at the waitress and spoke Chinese to her. She smiled and the only word you could make out as she spoke was Thomas. Thomas smiled said a few more words in Chinese and turned to Rayne. "I have a special table for us. Resurved for special people who have connections." he said and winked. Behind the beaded certain was a small table for two that was next to a glowing stain glass window. Thomas smiled and pulled out her chair for her.

[[@Mirielle: She's in the art/music room, I suppose lol.]]

Rayne smiled and sat down in the seat.She pushed herself in and looked down at the menu scanning the diffrent types of foods.She suddenly chuckled."You know I have always wondered why they call it the Poo Poo platter.It doesnt sounds appetizing at all."She said to herself.Rayne looked up at Thomas."By the way I didnt know you spoke chinese."She said.

Thomas smiled slightly and looked up at her. "Oh, well.... My parents and I went to China when I was three and well.... I got them killed.... I grew up there and then moved to britian trying to find any relations left.... Because I'm origanally from britian... I had to learn elnglish all over again and picked up the accent.... Then I came here.... I guess I've just been all over... But I did find my uncle. But I pray you never have to meet him." he said lightly and smiled. "Oh and dont tell the chief this but the poo poo platter is horrible...." he said and chuckled. "I recomend the sampler platter if you've never been here before... Its simply to die for." he said and smiled. The waitress came to there table and asked them what they wanted in chinese. Thomas smiled and replyed in chinese and looked at Rayne. "What do you want?"

((Okay coolies.))

Wanting to explore the grounds more on her own, Astelle wandered the halls before finding herself in the Music department. She discovered that one of the rooms was occupied. And the person looked defeated. Normally Astelle avoided people, but since it was only one person and she could never stand to see anyone feeling bad, she came into the room quietly.

"Um . . everything okay in here?" she asked.