[COLOR=CF748B][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]W I N T E R  C A R L Y L E[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup]Orlaith Valley Trail and Park[/sup][/INDENT]

As Jonas explained the entire situation, Winter found herself getting both angrier and sadder. She was pissed that Jonas let her continue thinking she may have been going mad without so much as a hint she wasn't, but also felt sympathy that he was dealing with this issue with the Draoi and Venturi with no back-up. Now here they were, being told the real reason for everything. It was a lot to take in. She noticed the others asking lots of questions, which was good. She knew more truth than any of them and she still couldn't make heads or tails of it.

More specifically, she noticed Aiden slink off to sit on top of a boulder without so much as a word. The weary glances of her classmates made her think he was feeling extremely guilty for what transpired. His intentions may have been good, but he went about it the wrong way. While Jonas talked, Winter followed and sat next to him on top of the rock. Not saying much, apart from her open body language. If he wanted to talk, she would let him. Until that time, she would at least make him feel like he wasn't alone in this. Not anymore.

[hr]

The weekend came and went quickly. It was an awkward event. The other students didn't really know what to make of the new information. She herself grew more concerned. If what Lehrer said it true, then there were people out there wanting to hunt them down like they did with Elroy and that could mean danger for them and their loved ones. Would they target her family? Would they target her first? After all, out of the lot of them, she was the only one who remembered everything. Surely these beings could see that? It made her more concerned about staying home alone. She would ask Sebastian if she could spend the night at his place, but that was a whole other issue.

Winter wasn't stupid by any means. She could tell he was distant. She could see the side glances aimed at Brynn. If he wasn't interested in her anymore, all he had to do was say so. She liked him and the two had fun together. She wouldn't be against dating him officially, but if he didn't want to anymore the least he could do was tell her so. She also felt a twinge of jealousy at Brynn. She was pretty and nice and a great person to be around, but she wasn't so different. Why was he into her? Was it because the two shared something on this trip like how Sebastian and her shared something during the dance? Winter allowed him some time. He seemed like the sort that needed to think things through, but she wasn't about to be "that girl". She made that obvious.

The trip back was about the same as the trip here, though she could feel the tension. She still didn't have a place to stay. Perhaps she should risk going back home.

As they pulled into the school, the red and blue flashing lights alerted her. The ambulance was surrounded by onlookers and one particular body made her pause and gasp.

Elroy.

By all acounts, apart from being inside the ambulance, he seemed fine. The look in his eye said anything but. He pointed one finger in their direction and Mr. Lehrer was grabbed by the police. Not only that, but Sebastian was also taken away. Before she could protest, she, too, was grabbed and pulled toward one of the ambulances. "Miss Carlyle, we just have some questions for you," was all they said before she saw the inside of the ambulance.

[COLOR=CF748B][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]W I N T E R  C A R L Y L E[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup]Back At School[/sup][/INDENT]

She was questioned mercilessly. She appeared to be the victim, based on what they were asking, but they had that look in her eyes. They asked questions about Mr. Lehrer. Did he do anything to them during their trip? Did she see him with Elroy before? Did he seem violent? She told the truth as best she could. Mr. Lehrer finally opened up and told them the truth, but he wasn't dangerous. In fact, if she knew she wouldn't be tied up in a straight jacket, she would have spilled the beans about the dance, but she knew they wouldn't believe her. Even with her...abilities, she couldn't make them remember the dance unless they had been there specifically. By all accounts, a fire was started. Elroy, however, was alive. But there was something there. Something different. Elroy looked angry, especially at Jonas. Was he mad because he was taken despite Jonas' best efforts? Or was there something more sinister.

She debated going back to school. The school would have understood if she decided to skip. What would they do for Social Conscience then? Would the others show up? Winter made herself up as best she could. She was losing sleep worrying about an oncoming attack. Would she be the next Elroy? As much easier as it would be to forget it all and continue life as normal as she could, life wouldn't be the same anymore. She was different. She was a Hyperhuman and she was being targeted. She needed the class. She needed her classmates. And she needed Mr. Lehrer.

School went on. She could feel the stares. She could hear the whispers. Her social standing was suffering and she found herself not caring. Didn't these idiots know anything apart from Twitter favs and instagram likes? There was danger coming and they could only talk about her and Lehrer banging. She let it slide.

She was happy to see that her classmates returned. They stared at each other, a nod of the head here and there. Understanding. As Social Conscience came, she found herself staring at the door. The others came up too, but no one dared to enter. Silence. What would they do? What could they do?

Finally, Sebastian broke the tension and opened the door. She was happy to see him. She wanted to talk to him. Despite all of this, she was still a teenage girl. If he wanted to stop seeing her, then he should be a man and tell her. But at the same time, she needed him. She didn't want to be alone at home anymore, and she didn't know the others as well.

She tried to get to know Aiden better, at least. Perhaps he would help? Or Belle? Was she still angry at her? She didn't really want to ask Brynn. She wasn't mad at the girl, it wasn't her fault Sebastian was interested in her, but it was still awkward.

She entered the classroom and sat down at a desk, purposefully away from Brynn and Sebastian. She waited a bit before speaking, [color=CF748B]"So, what do we do now?"[/color]