It was lively at HERBERT WILBUR, the once quiet and almost haunting atmosphere now replaced with noise, movement, and life as students returned from the well-spent week break. Laughter echoed faintly across the grounds, footsteps filled the walkways, and conversations overlapped in a constant hum that made the school feel alive again.
"It feels weird," Elaine said as she walked beside Allan, her gaze wandering around as though trying to re-familiarize herself with a place she had once known so well.
Coming back to school hadn't been as difficult as when they first arrived. This time, her mum had driven both of them to the next lonely town before HERBERT WILBUR, and from there, everything else had been easy. Smooth. Almost too smooth.
Elaine found herself glancing at Allan from time to time. She liked that he had gone with them, even though she knew very well that he could have simply apparated to school without any effort. There was something about it that felt… intentional. Human.
And she liked that.
It was strange, really. The way he could blend in so perfectly. Anyone looking at him would never guess that something was off, that he wasn't entirely what he seemed. He carried himself so naturally, so effortlessly normal.
She also found herself feeling oddly relieved to be back at school. Her mum had already begun noticing changes,bsmall, but alarming ones. Her hair had started looking thinner, like it might fall out at any moment. She had been losing weight without explanation. Her skin had grown unnaturally pale. And worst of all, she had begun spacing out frequently.
Too frequently.
She had to keep making up excuses, brushing it off, pretending everything was fine.
The only thing she disliked about being back aside from the looming reality of her impending doom was that she wouldn't be as close to Allan anymore. Not like before. Not like during the break.
He would go back to being… distant. Almost invisible. Even when she saw him, he would most likely be with Horace.
"How?" Allan asked, his voice cutting into her thoughts, referring to her earlier statement.
"I don't know," she said, shrugging slightly. "It just feels like it's been an eternity since I was last here. Maybe I just got too comfortable at home."
He simply nodded.
Elaine hesitated before speaking again. "Are you alright?" she asked, her tone light but edged with concern.
He turned to look at her, one brow arching slightly.
"I mean… you've been quieter since we got back," she added, trying to sound casual.
He nodded again.
No words.
Elaine's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she looked away. She noticed it now , he had already started to change. Or maybe not change… maybe he had simply returned to who he really was.
And who was she to question that?
The Allan she spent the break with… perhaps that version of him had only been temporary.
She slowed slightly as he walked ahead of her, his figure moving steadily forward before disappearing into the building without another word.
Elaine let out a long sigh, her shoulders dropping.
"Guess things are back to normal," she murmured to herself, though there was more disappointment in her tone than acceptance.
"Elaine."
The sound of her name made her turn.
She froze.
Of all the people she expected to see it was the last person she had thought of.
To be more precise… she had completely forgotten about his existence.
"Elaine," he called again, walking closer.
Her body tensed, though she tried not to make it obvious.
"Kyle," she replied awkwardly.
"Are you alright?" he asked immediately, worry clear in his voice.
"Why are you asking?" she countered, her discomfort growing. After what had happened between him and Allan, they hadn't had the chance to talk and honestly, she had been glad about that. But now… she almost wished they had cleared things earlier.
Allan wasn't here now.
And she didn't know what she was supposed to say… or not say.
The only thing she knew for sure was that Kyle wouldn't snitch on them.
Why? She didn't know.
"Hi," she added, almost as an afterthought.
"Are you alright?" he repeated, his gaze dropping briefly to her hands. He couldn't see the mark her oversized hoodie covered her wrists and fingers completely but instinctively, she covered one wrist with her other hand.
"I'm fine," she assured him quickly.
"Did you just get back?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation away.
"What's going on between you and Allan?" he asked bluntly. "And why did he give you the phantom mark?"
Elaine blinked.
Wow. This guy really doesn't prevaricate.
A bead of sweat slid slowly down her back, the heat of the sun pressing down on her despite the casual tone she tried to maintain.
She glanced around briefly.
"Let's talk somewhere quiet," she said. "After I drop my things in my room."
He agreed though not without reluctance.
-----
She walked toward the back of the dorm building later, moving farther away from sight, into the woods behind it. The dense trees blocked out most of the sunlight, casting shadows across the ground and lowering the temperature noticeably. It was quieter here. Isolated.
There, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, was Kyle.
Waiting.
Impatient.
"Are you ready to tell me now?" he asked as soon as she approached, his face set in seriousness.
Elaine took a slow breath.
She didn't know exactly what to say.
Or rather, how much of the truth she could afford to tell him.
He was her friend. That much was certain.
Her seatmate.
And more than anything, she knew he was genuinely worried about her. Though that concern seemed to be tangled deeply with his obvious dislike, no, hatred for Allan.
"Fine… I'll tell you," she started, stepping closer and standing beside him.
But then she paused.
"Before that," she added, turning slightly toward him, curiosity creeping into her tone, "what exactly is going on between you and Allan? Why did you fight with him?"
Kyle opened his mouth to respond
But her next question stopped him completely.
"And what exactly are you?"