Chapter Two
Part Four
Lumière stared out the window in the back of the bus. Her red, lifeless eyes staved off most of the other riders and kept them from bothering her with questions. She didn't feel like having to use her powers and so purposely tried to appear in a way that would make no one would talk to her. More often than not, some old woman or lecherous man would sit beside her and ask why such a young girl was traveling alone. And more often than not said person would end up with a headache that lasted for weeks.
She didn't need people her own age treating her like a child.
Then again she couldn't blame them. She had the body of a fifteen year old, even if that wasn't her true age. Lumière had the misfortune of being changed at the onset of puberty and therefore her body remained in between full fledged woman and scrawny preteen. At least her chest wasn't flat, even if her breasts only had just a gentle swell to them. She smiled at the thought.
She closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat. It was quiet right now—being the dead of night—and she reveled in the gentle atmosphere. For all of America's shortcomings she had to admit that their vast country was not one of them. Lumière enjoyed traveling these long roads more than anywhere else. They helped her to forget her growing impatience and impending doom that should have taken over years ago.
It was only several months prior that she was living in the southwest United States. Russia before that, and Finland before that, and several other countries. She had decided that if she were to die that she would try to see as much of the world as possible. In doing so, the girl had somehow managed to pass the deadline which her kind were slave to. But she feared that her time was coming to an end and, in a move that was quite unlike her, she up and left her home intending to travel as far north as possible before she met her death.
Canada seemed tranquil enough whenever she looked it up online or asked people about it. If she made it there she would acquire a cabin and live out the rest of her days in the peace of nature without anyone around to bother her. At least she couldn't hear the thoughts of animals.
Lumière rested her hand on the traveling pack next to her. She looked down at it and decided to kill some time by checking up on her stocks and investments. Perhaps now was the time to begin dividing them among charities. Before she could reach inside, however, a loud pop, followed by another loud pop happened from under the bus. The vehicle swerved slightly, waking most of the riders, and then came to a halting stop in the road.
The driver could be heard cursing from the front as he unbuckled himself and stomped off the bus. In front of Lumière people were standing up and trying to see what the problem was. She stayed in her seat and closed her eyes. The bus had two flats—cause undetermined—and they were both right next to each other so service would have to be called.
She opened her eyes with a sigh and took out her laptop. Opening the slim computer she held her hands over the top of the keys. When the power turned on she started up the built in GPS. After a few seconds she determined that she was in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin. The nearest mapped city was at least fifty miles away. Wasn't that always the case?
Lumière turned off the power and closed the laptop. She was placing it back in her bag when someone from the seat in front of her turned around.
“You got Internet?” The person speaking to her was a young man, probably in his twenties. Mid to late twenties based on the slight spots of gray in his short, dark hair. He gave her a small smile and then added, “I've been trying to get a signal for miles now. What you using?”
Lumière studied him for several moments. He was certainly healthy, but not her type. She returned his smile, “I've got it set up through the satellites.”
“Satellites?” He seemed impressed, “Me too. But only one. It costs so much, but thats what I have to do. I work and travel. Do your parents pay for it?”
She nodded, “Yes. My father works for the government.” Her smile faded quickly. It wasn't just his thoughts that made it do so, either. She turned to the window and stared out into the darkness. Those tires weren't just an accident.
“Government, really? But you've got an accent? Is he in international relations of sort?” He chuckled, “Ah, what am I asking? You probably don't know or maybe even care.” He glanced back around the bus; people were talking about the accident and some had gotten off to talk with the driver. Lumière paid him little attention when he turned back and said, “You're cute, you know?”
She was distracted as she got to her feet. The man in front of her mirrored the actions. “Going outside?” he asked as she put the traveling pack over her shoulder. She didn't answer him and proceeded down the aisle of the bus. He followed right after her, “Yeah, not as crowded outside. Good to get some fresh air.”
Lumière walked over to the bus driver who was busy trying to explain the situation with some angry riders. She put on a sweet face and took his hand in her gloved hand. He seemed confused for a moment and then looked down at her with a smile. “It's alright little girl. You should wait on the bus until the other one comes, okay?”
He stared into her red eyes for several seconds and soon his eyes seemed to lose their lucidity. Lumière let go of his hand and took a step back as the driver turned to everyone and stated in a firm voice, “Everyone, get back on the bus, now.” When people started shouting in disagreement he yelled even louder, “Get back on the bus now or else I will have them leave you out here in the middle of nowhere!”
The yelling spooked some of the people to head back into the bus. Several others followed and soon almost everyone was back on. The only people that were left outside now were Lumière, the bus driver, and the man who was sitting in front of her. He eyed this teenage girl warily and wondered to himself what she said to the driver. With a sigh he put a hand behind Lumière.
“Well, we should get back on, too, right?”
Lumière shook her head. She gave him a small bow, “I know what you were thinking. Perhaps you should get back on the bus and use what little time you have left to reconsider the road which you were leading yourself down and then maybe, just maybe, if there is a god, he or she will forgive you.”
The man's eyes widened. His face narrowed into anger and he raised his hand at the teenager, “You little bitch!” He swung but was stopped by the bus driver.
“Back on the bus,” he urged and with much greater strength, pushed the dark haired man back onto the bus in spite of his protests.
From the tinted windows people watched Lumière with great interest and fear. Some were tapping on the window for the girl to get back on and others were trying to get on their cell phones. She ignored all of them and proceeded to the under carriage of the bus where all the luggage was stored. She opened the compartment with the key she had taken from the bus driver and retrieved a small suitcase on wheels.
Lumière slung the pack over her shoulders and began walking down the dark road leaving the bus behind. When she was far enough away she stopped and turned back to the lone vehicle. A slim young man in his early twenties appeared next to her. She knew he was the one who damaged the bus. And the others were heading towards the it as he spoke to her.
“You didn't want any of them?”
She shook her head, “Not really.”
The vampire laughed, “If that's the case, we'll be taking them for ourselves. Don't try to stop us.”
She gave him a side long glance to which he just shrugged and said, “I heard some vampires go around trying to save humans. Seems like a pretty dumb concept considering without human blood we'd all die, right?” He studied her and then smiled, “I got some friends who might like you. Maybe you'll join our coven?”
Lumière gave him a mysterious smile and turned down his offer.
“Is that so?” He ran a hand through his long blond hair, “Pretty girl like you all by herself. No partner?” She shook her head, still smiling, “Seems kind of a waste. You have such beautiful hair, too. Not many with that color. Well I got a dinner to catch. Good luck!”
The vampire waved and ran off towards the bus where the massacre had already begun. Lumière watched the bloodbath for a minute and then turned and continued down the road. She would need to find shelter soon and then another way of getting to Canada. If she had heard the sounds correctly, there was a train within twenty miles of where she was standing.
Her mind wandered back to the people on the bus and her stomach muscles clenched briefly. She would need to eat soon. Perhaps tomorrow. The sun would be coming up within a few hours and she couldn't feel the presence of humans near enough for her to find and eat before getting burnt to a crisp.
Shelter and sleep now. Eat tomorrow night.
Part Five
Éclair questioned, not for the first time, why Caprice was tagging along with her to school.
“Because I haven't been to school in over a decade! I was 18 when I got changed. I didn't even get to graduate school. And since you want me to stick around with you I figured I'd get a chance to finish out a school year, even if it does mean nothing!”
The redhead shook her head, “Why didn't you graduate?”
“Well, that's because...” Caprice sighed, “It doesn't matter! The fact was that I had to leave town so I didn't get to graduate!” She crossed her arms in front of her and looked away stubbornly. Éclair just shrugged and gave the subject up.
“Alright, alright. It's your choice. I still don't think it's going to work. You have to have proper forms and what not to enter school. Plus you need the transcript from your old school.” The brown haired teen nearly fell over at hearing this.
“Whaaaat?”
“Yeah. I've had to do it a few times. This is my fourth school, actually.”
Caprice smirked, “A little trouble maker huh? Seems like I made friends with a delinquent.”
Éclair pinched the other girl's arm causing her to wince and rub the spot.
“I'm not a trouble maker. My mother and father are architects,” when Caprice proceeded to look around the town for some new building she quickly added, “But they don't like to live in the town they work at. They usually pick a place about an hour away, for my sakes, I guess. Right now they're in Michigan giving an estimate for a job in Grand Rapids. But I think, this close to my graduation, they probably won't move.”
“So where are you originally from?”
Éclair smiled, “I was born here in the United States, Colorado. But my parents are originally from Russia. They came here on scholarships to go to school and worked to get permanent residence.” She waved her hand, “Well, as permanent as we can be.”
Caprice smiled, “Sounds like so much fun. I never left California until about two years ago. You've lived all over the country?”
The redhead shrugged, “Sort of. Colorado, New York, Texas,” she made a face at the last state, “We stayed in Washington the longest. I had a lot of friends there. Then they got a job in Green Bay. We only just moved here last summer.”
They began walking up the path to the high school. A group of girls waved at Éclair but paused when they saw Caprice. The girls turned their backs and began speaking in hushed whispers. Éclair looked over at her new friend with a sigh. She wasn't wearing the school uniform but instead borrowed some of Éclair's clothes: a pair of shorts and a tank top and sandals. Éclair tried to convince her to wear something a bit more conservative considering the town and the school but Caprice said she was quite comfortable what with the weather getting warmer.
“So what are you going to do about getting into school?”
Caprice scratched behind her own ear, “Hm, maybe we can tell them I'm an exchange student?”
“From America?” Éclair deadpanned.
The brown haired girl winced, “Oh yeah.” She looked around the parking lot and school yard and then snapped her fingers, “Tell them I'm a relative and that I'm visiting and no one is home to take care of me.”
Éclair's brows furrowed together, “So you have to come to school with me? I wonder if they'd even allow something like that...”
Caprice nodded, “I think I saw something like that on television once. It's gotta work!”
The violet eyed girl wasn't as confident but she had no other plan. The two walked into the school together and didn't get a few steps before a group of girls walked up to them.
“Éclair! I heard you got sick! Are you okay?” The captain of the lacrosse team took Éclair's hands into hers. She seemed genuinely concerned which put the redhead at ease; at least someone was worried about her.
“Ah, yeah, I'm fine. Just a fever. A-okay now!”
The team seemed happy at this news. The captain, a tall, curly haired girl who looked like she could be an NBA player bounced up and down, “This is so great! We were worried we'd have to play without you. You'll be able to practice tonight, right? The game against South Fenice is tomorrow night.”
Éclair nodded and caused the team to erupt in cheers. She blushed at the attention and then remembered, “Ah! Yes, everyone, this is my... cousin, Caprice.”
The team greeted her, some stepping forward to shake hands with the suddenly shy brown haired girl. “Nice to meet you all,” Caprice waved at those she couldn't reach, “Éclair has talked so much about you guys. And she says you're the greatest team she's ever been on!”
Too much, thought Éclair. She grabbed hold of Caprice's arm and began guiding her away, “Anyways, we gotta get to the office before school starts. I'll see you guys tonight, okay?”
They all waved after her as she and Caprice pushed their way through the crowded hallway and down to the office. Caprice said something about the team being nice but Éclair didn't respond. She was thinking about how everyone knew she was out sick but her. She had talked with the brown haired teen about it over the weekend. Caprice's answer was simple: whoever made her informed the school of the fever until Éclair could get adjusted to the powers.
It didn't make sense to the redhead. Why inform the school but not stay around to help out? She planned on asking the secretaries in the office who it was since Caprice said she had met several werewolves before coming to this town. Maybe she could identify one from the description.
They entered the school's office and Éclair told Caprice to wait in a chair while she talked to the secretary. After explaining the situation of her cousin coming to visit the secretary said they'd have to wait and take it up with the vice principal after he was finished with his meeting. Éclair took the opportunity to ask who came in and vouched for her fever last week.
“Oh, um, I wasn't here for that,” the young woman turned around to the other two secretaries, “Did any of you talk to someone about Miss Muse's sickness last week?”
An older woman from the very back spoke up, “I took the phone call from your family doctor, Miss Muse.” Éclair frowned at the woman. What did she mean family doctor? Her family didn't have one. The woman continued, “He faxed over the proper documents so you're excused, no need to worry.”
Éclair smiled and thanked her. She sat down next to Caprice who was peering around the office with wide eyes like she'd never been in one before. There was need to worry. Someone was pretending to be a family doctor to Éclair and going so far as to fax documentation as well. She felt a familiar pounding in her head. She couldn't make any sense of this.
The bell for classes rang causing Éclair to jump up. She worried that she would be in trouble for being late for class but none of the secretaries said anything so she sat back down. Caprice had jumped up with her and was now giving her a curious look as she sat down as well.
“You okay?”
Éclair waved her hand dismissively, “Still adjusting. There's a lot to take in here. So many sounds and smells.” It was at least half the truth. Everything was so much more powerful now that she was a werewolf. Every person that came within a hundred feet of her made their scent mark and everyone's was different. Éclair worried that she wouldn't be able to keep track of all these scents, but, she found it surprisingly easy. She hoped these ability would lend itself to her math skills. The thought caused her to laugh softly.
Caprice tilted her head at the laugh and then poked the redhead, “Heeey, what's so funny there?”
Before Éclair could answer the door to the vice principal's office opened. One of Éclair's teachers, Ms. Cole, was standing in the doorway. She was still talking to the vice principal. The two chatted for a few moments more before the blond haired teacher turned to walk out. She got two steps and then stopped.
“Ah! Éclair! You're back,” the teacher walked towards her pupil and gave the girl a huge grin. Her eyes flashed to Caprice for a brief second but the focused back on the redhead, “I hope you're doing better. I heard it was a bad fever.”
Éclair got to her feet. Behind Ms. Cole the vice principal was talking to a secretary. “Ah yeah,” she replied, “I'm fine. Sorry about missing class. I hope I didn't miss anything important.”
“Nothing that you can't easily make up,” as the teacher was talking Éclair couldn't help but notice a change in the brown haired girl next to her. She glanced at Caprice out of the corner of her eye. The girl was staring straight ahead, unmoving, and Éclair could swear she saw her shaking just ever so slightly. Caprice's heart rate was increasing as well. It startled the redhead that she could hear the thuds so distinctly, “If you don't mind coming in during lunch we could go over the readings together and that should get you caught up with everyone in a couple of days.”
Éclair smiled, “Sure. That sounds good.”
Ms. Cole nodded and then glanced towards the clock, “Well, I have to go,” she took another look at Caprice. A longer one and her face contorted into confusion at the brown haired girl, “I'll see you at lunch and in class then. Bye!” She tore her eyes away from Caprice and headed out into the hallway.
Once the door to the office closed both girls sat down. Éclair laid a hand on the other girl's shoulder, “Hey, you okay? You looked like you were about to have a mental break down or something.”
Caprice shook her head as though coming out of a daze, “Ah, no, nothing like that. I'm fine.” But she seemed far from fine, Éclair thought. She didn't have a chance to pursue the questioning as the vice principal walked over and gestured the two into his office. Éclair sighed and lead Caprice inside. This felt like one of many trials she'd have to be getting through in the next coming months.
Part Six
The vice principal seemed skeptical but allowed Caprice to attend all of Éclairs' classes for the rest of the day. He explained that he'd need Éclair's mother or father to call and confirm this before Caprice could attend for the rest of the semester. There would be some forms to fill out, as well. Éclair tried not to think about explaining this one to her parents; she would get over that obstacle when she got to it. For now she focused on trying to keep stories straight with Caprice and catching up on school work.
When lunch came around Caprice became fidgety. Éclair tried to ask her what the problem was but the brunette brushed her off and picked up the pace. They were heading to Ms. Cole's classroom so Éclair could find out what she missed. Ms. Cole taught composition and literature (the latter to the freshmen only). She was pleasant enough but she was really young. She looked fresh out of college and had the maturity of a high schooler at times.
Éclair couldn't help liking her even if the teacher was sometimes too much to handle. They shared at least one common bond: they both came to the high school at the same time. Ms. Cole liked to remind Éclair about it every so often. The redhead figured it was probably her way of not feeling so alone in the small Wisconsin town.
Caprice stopped at the door and offered to hold Éclair's tray for her. They bought food—only on the pretext of looking normal—though neither had any appetite for the processed, unidentifiable slop which came out of the cafeteria. It helped that Éclair ate four pounds of ground beef last night. The brunette teen had gone out hunting—something that Éclair wasn't ready to partake in just yet.
“Hey Éclair!” Ms. Cole waved at them from her desk and the two came in and sat down at two of the student desks closest to the front of the class. The blonde teacher smiled, “I'm just finishing up something here. Go ahead and eat and then we'll chat... uhm...”
Éclair could see the teacher studying Caprice and jumped in, “Ah! This is my cousin, Caprice. She's staying with us for the rest of the semester. Her parents had to go overseas to take care of our grandparents.” This was the story she and the other teen came up with during Trigonometry that morning. It seemed plausible enough.
Ms. Cole nodded, “Nice to meet you, Caprice.”
The brunette sputtered, “A-ah, yeah. Thanks,” she murmured the last part and lowered her head to the slop on her tray. Éclair wasn't sure but she could swear that Caprice was blushing. She also couldn't help but notice how quiet both womens' voices got when they addressed each other. She would have to ask Caprice about this later. Maybe Ms. Cole was a vampire or werewolf.
Éclair and Caprice moved the food around on their plate. The redhead couldn't believe how unappetizing all the foods she normally ate had become over the weekend. And chocolate, oh sweet chocolate dripped over cherries and strawberries or in plain bar form, the smell alone had made her gag. She sighed. Even if a whole lot of doors had been opened up, many behind her were shut. Like celery and carrots with vegetable dipping sauce.
Apparently the violet eyed teen was sighing a whole lot because both Caprice and Ms. Cole were staring in concern after her. With the brunette, she probably knew why. Her teacher, however, seemed to have different ideas.
“Is it boy troubles?”
Éclair blinked several times. Boy troubles? She suppressed an urge to snort and took a deep breath. What could she say? “Well, no. I just... miss my parents!” Plausible, she figured, considering Ms. Cole didn't know anything about her and her parent's relationship.
The blonde smiled and took off her glasses, “You'll see them soon. It's hard to be away from the only two people who know you best, huh?” She stared off towards the window and Éclair became embarrassed for the young teacher, “I have been away from mine now for five years. We talk from time to time on the phone, but I miss them. Dad's inability to contain his flatulence at the dinner table and how my mom never closed the door when she went to the bathroom. They were really fun parents.”
The redhead didn't know whether to laugh or to run out of the room in horror. She made to glance at Caprice because surely the girl would be sharing the same dilemma, but she was leaned forward and her eyes seemed to take on a special glow.
“Ah! I miss mine, too! Like the way my mom wrote my name on all my clothes so people would know whose they were and how my dad always wanted to bathe with me,” Caprice sighed and smiled fondly.
Éclair rubbed the bridge of her nose. What kind of weirdo's did she surround herself with? She stood up and took Caprice's tray (who didn't notice because she was too busy reminiscing). She dumped the food into the trash and placed the trays on top of the can.
“So,” she chanced, “What did I miss last week?”
Ms. Cole looked at Éclair as though she didn't know who the girl was. When the realization hit her she jumped from her chair and looked thoroughly embarrassed. “Yes! Yes, homework, well, we had these readings and here are the questions I had the students answer in class.”
Éclair went over to the desk and took up the pieces of paper which the blonde teacher was handing her. They went over the work until the bell rang for the end of lunch period. She wouldn't see the teacher again until the last class of her day. As she and Caprice headed for the door, the brunette stopped and turned around.
“Ms. Cole,” she seemed unsure of herself as she spoke.
“Yes, Caprice?”
The redhead couldn't help but notice the way the Caprice's hands were clenched tightly into fists. She could hear the girl's heart beat again, too, a sound which might always disturb Éclair.
“Um,” the brunette was looking everywhere but Ms. Cole. She finally took a deep breath and landed her eyes directly into the other woman's confused dark blue eyes, “What is your first name?”
Ms. Cole was at a loss for a moment. She seemed about to launch into something but was cut off by Caprice, “I mean, I won't call you it. But see, I had this bet with Éclair about your first name. We're just curious because I think you look like a... a... Susan and Éclair thinks you look like a Betty.”
Éclair stared at Caprice like the girl had lost her mind. She turned to Ms. Cole and smiled sheepishly. What the hell was all this about? She wanted nothing more to take the brunette by the ear and drag her to the nearest bathroom and then beat some sense into her.
The teacher smiled and smoothed her hair back away from her face, “Hmm, well, I suppose no harm can come from it. My name is Liquide.”
“Liquide,” Caprice said the name as though it had a holy meaning. “That's beautiful.”
Ms. Cole, rather, Liquide, blushed faintly, “I suppose. It's French, and, might I say, not very original. If you're going to think of me on a first name basis, I'd rather you think of me as Liquiy. That's the nickname my mom gave to me when I was a kid.”
Caprice simply nodded and repeated the nickname. Éclair glanced up at the time and took her 'cousin' by the sleeve, “Sorry Ms. Cole, we're going to be late for class. See you in a couple periods.” She dragged the other werewolf out into the hall. She wanted to bombard her with questions but the girl was a million miles away.
They were quiet with each other for the rest of the day. Éclair's mind was on her own parents and how they would deal with this while Caprice, well, she was in la-la land. It finally hit the redhead during the last class of the day what was going on with Caprice. After the last bell the two were in the locker room were Éclair was changing for lacrosse practice.
“So Ms. Cole is the one, huh? She didn't look like a werewolf to me.”
Caprice, who was sitting on a bench and playing with Éclair's lacrosse stick, turned several shades of red and turned away from the redhead, “My feelings are that obvious, huh?”
Éclair grinned and poked the brunette in the side. The act earned her a yelp and made her laugh. Thankfully the locker room was empty for the moment. Practice didn't start for another hour but Éclair wanted to get out and make sure she could still play properly.
“So is she a werewolf?”
Caprice shook her head, “No, she's human. Such a beautiful person, though. Did you see the way her hair glowed in the sunlight. It's such a wonderful length, too. Not too short, not too long. Oh and her eyes, they're like endless oceans. She has such soft skin, too. Do you think she looks French? I've heard of a lot of French people being blonde. She could give models a run for their money.”
When Caprice finally realized what she had been doing she at least had the good sense to look embarrassed. She scratched the side of her head, “Anyways.... I've heard of this possibility arising. I guess I'll just have to ask her if she wants to become a werewolf.” The brunette covered her face with her hand, “Oh god, do you think she likes me back? What if she doesn't? Oh no!”
The last questions confused Éclair, “Why wouldn't she like you back? It's a destiny thing, isn't it?”
“Well, yes, and no,” Caprice dropped her hand and laid on her back on the bench, “I mean I won't know for certain until I kiss her, right? But there's still a possibility she won't like me.”
Éclair shook her head as she laced up her shoes, “Possibility? Weren't you the one telling me it was true love?” She paused as she was leaned over and reached up to rub her forehead.
Caprice, who was watching the redhead, sat up in concern, “Are you okay?”
The other girl waved her off, “Yeah, just a headache. I'm thinking too much about my own situation. Maybe it'll help me to focus on yours for a while.” She gave the brunette a smile and returned to lacing her shoes. “So what about this love thing? True or not?”
The aqua eyed teen seemed skeptical but let her friend off for now, “I told you it was like true love, but not always. It could be a mother or father type love. Maybe a brother and sister love. Or a friendship love. And of course, a lover's love.” At the last part Caprice blushed and looked away.
It was obvious which one of those Caprice wanted. Éclair wondered what type of love her true love would be—assuming she'd find it. She shook her head and stood up, “Well, I wish you the best of luck! I hope she does reciprocate your feelings. I think you two would make a cute couple.”
The brunette turned her head and flashed a thankful smile to Éclair. The two headed out to the lacrosse field together. Caprice was full of questions about Ms. Cole that Éclair really didn't know the answers to but tried her best to give what information she could. The redhead began to warm up with Caprice watching her from the sidelines.
Éclair noticed right away that she was faster and stronger. She began to worry that the other girl's might notice this increase in abilities and tried to tone it down some. Her headache was still with her so that at least helped make her appear normal. The team joined them shortly and after a series of warm-ups sectioned off into two teams.
Caprice cheered from the side, much to Éclair's embarrassment, as she watched the scrimmage. The redhead was playing better than she ever had and it was something the other team members could not help but notice. They complimented her a lot and kept telling her she should get sick more often. The sky overhead was darkening early and when Éclair studied it during a pause in the scrimmage she could tell a storm was coming.
The captain yelled that they would go for another half hour and then call it quits for the day. The ball started off at the opposite end from Éclair but soon she had it in her possession. She saw an opening to pass it and flung the ball with her stick. At the same time she felt a severe pain in her head. She fell onto her knees. For the first time since Saturday she felt a sheen of sweat covering her body. She hadn't even tired herself out this practice.
Everything around her became blurry and the team members were running to her, afraid she'd pass out. She wanted to throw up, her chest was tight, her breathing restricted, she wanted to smash her head into something to make the pain stop. Éclair felt the world slipping away from her and started to fall forward. She was caught just before she hit the ground.
A pair of strong arms pulled her up and then took her arm over their shoulder. She glanced over at the familiar brunette who stared at her in fear and worry. The girl said something to the lacrosse team and then began half carrying, half walking Éclair back to the school. Inside the locker room Caprice put the redhead under the shower and doused her with cold water.
“Get it together Éclair!” The brunette slapped her face which managed to bring her back to the world—but for how long?
“What happened?” she breathed out. Everything still hurt. Not like physical pain. Saturday morning's pain was nothing compared to this. She felt like she was dying a thousand deaths.
Caprice frowned as she pulled Éclair back to her feet, “C'mon, let's get you home.” She put the redhead down on the bench and took girl's dirty back pack from the locker. Once she was sure she had what she needed she helped Éclair up.
The redhead wasn't satisfied with the answer. Outside she asked again, “What is going on with me? Why do I feel like... like... I want to die?”
“Because you do want to die,” Caprice's face was grim. “Damnit, damnit damnit damnit!” She hurried along, dragging Éclair at times, until they made it to the edge of town. Once there she pulled the redhead up into her arms
Éclair looked at her questioningly.
Caprice smiled, “Easier to carry you.”
“Why do I want to die?” Éclair looked away. The pain had subsided for the moment but she still felt physically weak. Thunder crashed over head. The skies were much darker now—so much so that it seemed nearly like night. In spite of that, Éclair could still see quite clearly.
The brunette sighed as she jogged towards Éclair's home, “Seems you aren't meant to survive without your partner.” She muttered a slew of curses and picked up her pace.
Éclair could only stare off into the forests.
If she wasn't meant for anyone, she decided, then truly, what was the point of living?