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"[color=teal]Kalder. Kalder? Kalder![/color]"

His name sounded empty coming from someone else, and if it were possible, he never wanted to hear it again.

[i][color=darkred]I truly hope that, one day, you’re brave enough to find and fight for your real happiness.[/color][/i]

Demi's words were on an unrelentless loop, constantly playing over and over and over, again and again, never stopping in any waking moment. And when he was asleep, those same words plagued his nightmares. He wasn't entirely sure how he was still functioning, it was as if the day were a dream as he floated by, doing everything he was supposed to be doing but with no soul in his actions. Why didn't he say anything to her? Maybe it was because he had sincerely hoped she would have believed him. He should've tried to convince her better, maybe shouted, ran after her. But her words had been the complete opposite of what he had hoped for, leaving him completely stunned. Why hadn't he done anything? Why did he tell her? How he wanted to turn back time and change everything, change it so she wouldn't have said those words to him.

[i][color=springgreen]What's the point if you were my happiness?[/color][/i] His sour thought rested in his head before being dissolved by her words. Letting out a groan, he ran a hand over his face. As he exhaled, he tore his gaze away to look at Blake. The girl had been rather patient with him this week, never asking what the issue is but more than aware that [i]something[/i] was bothering him. The pair were in the nearly empty common room, Blake having picked up Kal's slack on the Quidditch team.

Shaking her head, Blake let out a sigh. "[color=teal]If you're going to keep shirking your responsibilities to me, I may as well take the Captain role from you,[/color]" She snapped at him, annoyed.

Oh, right, Blake was mad at him, too. Everyone was mad. He had been rather distant, uncaring, treating them like...everyone else at the school. His friends were right to be mad, of course, but they were more so because he refused to talk about it. Demi hated his guts as it is, if he told people about their relationship it would just make things worse. [i][color=springgreen]Not that it can get any worse than this.[/color][/i] After he would take a second to let his mood shift, he stared at Blake. "[color=teal]If you want it, take it,[/color]" He informed her, rolling his shoulder. He was sore. "[color=teal]I'm useless.[/color]"

"[color=teal]Too bad, Kal, I need you to be [i]useful[/i],[/color]" She informed him, pushing her notes into his arms. "[color=teal]You never showed up for tryouts, so I wrote down my observations. Despite our joking, Coco actually did a decent job as Beater, and he works well with Noel. There's a promising fifth year Catcher, and everything else is...just [i]look[/i] at it, okay?[/color]"

Kal sighed. "[color=springgreen]Just take the position, Blake. I don't want it anymore. You're doing the work, you should get the credit,[/color]" He replied.

Too bad Blake wasn't having any of it. "[color=teal]You know, for some reason despite being a total asshole, you're actually well liked around here,[/color]" She informed him. "[color=teal]Stepping down would hurt the team morale, and why would you do that when we both know you [i]aren't[/i] a complete asshole?[/color]"

"[color=springgreen]I just don't care anymore,[/color]" He said, his voice rising. "[color=springgreen]I don't care about Quidditch, I don't care about school, I don't--I don't care. Everything can go up in flames and honestly it would be a mercy right now.[/color]"

"[color=teal]That would be running away from the problem, and you are not a coward. A zombie, maybe, but not a coward.[/color]"

[i][color=springgreen]I promise you, if you knew any better, you would NOT be saying that.[/color][/i] "[color=springgreen]I can't handle this right now, I'm trusting your decision.[/color]" Kalder stated as he stood up, placing her notes on the table.

"[color=teal]If you're going to go somewhere, go eat,[/color]" Blake told him, frowning. "[color=teal]Don't think I haven't noticed, you haven't eaten in a week.[/color]"

Right. Without responding, Kalder walked out of the common room, walking through the halls of the castle. It was still early, so not too many students were up, but the silence was killing him. Making his way to the library, he halted in his tracks as he spotted Beatrice and Caleb. The pair were engrossed in their conversation, with Beatrice looking angry at something. Well, Beatrice was always angry. Not always, that isn't true, but her anger at him had been for a good two years, so this looked like she was mad at something else.

"[color=crimson]--I don't care what used to be, Caleb, I care about the now. And right now, she's starting to pull herself together. So if you're going to take his side about things, then [i]fine[/i], but don't be surprised when I get pissed about it![/color]" Beatrice made her statement crystal clear, looking up in time to catch Kalder. To his surprise, she simply marched away, an indignant look on her face.

Shaking his head, Caleb scratched his head. "[color=dodgerblue]You know, I never knew I was usually on her good side,[/color]" The brown haired boy admitted curiously to Kalder. "[color=dodgerblue]Turns out being on her bad side just has a slight touch of vengeance in it. Who knew?[/color]"

He had no idea what Caleb was talking about. "[color=springgreen]Honestly, Caleb, I'm shocked she hasn't tried to curse me,[/color]" He said.

"[color=dodgerblue]I would be very wary of your surroundings. You've made quite a few enemies, Mr. Popular,[/color]" Caleb grinned, accompanying Kalder to the library. "[color=dodgerblue]You seem alright for some reason.[/color]"

What? "[color=springgreen]Blake said I'm a zombie, and...it's fairly accurate. If that's what you consider alright...[/color]"

"[color=dodgerblue]You're walking and talking, you haven't had a nervous breakdown, you're distant but functioning. Heartbreak has a multitude of effects on the mind and body,[/color]" Caleb stated, returning a book to the shelf in front of them. "[color=dodgerblue]But life is never easy or straightforward. No good deed goes unpunished, Nathan.[/color]"

Wait a minute. Kal froze, looking at Caleb. "[color=springgreen]What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?[/color]"

Caleb looked Kalder straight in the eye. "[color=dodgerblue]Sticking to our convictions and promises is trying. It certainly seems like a fairy tale when everything goes smoothly, but that just isn't how life works. If you want that happy ending, you have to do something about it. Things aren't going to just play out because you want them to. You have to work for it. The question is, will you or won't you?[/color]" He was entirely serious as he spoke.

Even if he found some way to get out of his engagement, even if he resolved his issues, would Demi even give him a chance? It felt like she closed the door on them for good. "[color=springgreen]I don't know,[/color]" He muttered, raising an eyebrow at him. Did he know? "[color=springgreen]Are you reading my fortune again?[/color]"

"[color=dodgerblue]I do it every day for those I care about. If I can help out in any way I can, I will,[/color]" Caleb grinned. "[color=dodgerblue]Even if you don't consider me a friend anymore, I do what I can.[/color]"

Kal groaned. If Demi was already a sore subject, he most definitely did [i]not[/i] want to talk about this. "[color=springgreen]Caleb...we were never not friends.[/color]"

Caleb nodded slowly. "[color=dodgerblue]I believe you. But...you know that's why Beatrice won't forgive you, right?[/color]"

Of course not. Ever since first year, the three of them were friends. Hell, Kal and Caleb had been closer than he had been with anyone. And then... "[color=springgreen]She doesn't understand.[/color]"

Now it was Caleb's turn to sigh. "[color=dodgerblue]Had to show your posse you don't hang with Muggleborns, right? Even though we were friends for years, you got popular and a lot of attention, especially once you got into Quidditch. So of course when people asked, you said we weren't friends. And then you decided to say that as you looked Beatrice in the eye...you have to have some grand balls to do that.[/color]"

Kalder turned to Caleb, bewildered. "[color=springgreen]I can't change what's happened, Caleb. Even if I apologized, Beatrice won't forgive me. I can't change anything, I can't do anything, and to be honest I'm getting real fucking sick of people constantly throwing that in my face,[/color]" He said, his frustration clear. "[color=springgreen]I have to do what I do for the pride of my family, if they find out I get excommunicated. You [i]know[/i] that's what happened with Lynn, don't act like you don't. Just like you said, reality sets in, I go and make a scene and do the right thing and then what? I get cut out of my family with nothing, not a sickle to my name, nowhere to live, no way to support her--myself--[/color]" He had to catch himself for a moment, his hand on his forehead. "[color=springgreen]I don't want to play the victim but why the fuck don't [i]I[/i] get any sympathy?[/color]"

Caleb's brown eyes were wide, a look of surprise on his face. He seemed to have taken Kalder's words to heart, however, seemingly nodding in agreement. "[color=dodgerblue]Nathan...that's the first time I've heard about any of this from you.[/color]" He admitted, holding up a hand to stop Kal from interrupting him. "[color=dodgerblue]But you know, I have to disagree. You're trying so hard to do everything yourself that you don't even stop and consider that you have friends that want to help. I'm not saying you don't deserve sympathy, but...while you've been moping around, your friends have been trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with you and you don't say a word. Blake has been doing your duties as captain, Noel and Benjamin have been actively trying to take notes so that you can catch up, and Noel's been watching your back this entire time.[/color]"

Kalder had enough. "[color=springgreen]I don't want to hear it from you, Caleb.[/color]" Kal turned to walk away, though he was surprised when Caleb deliberately stepped in front of him.

"[color=dodgerblue]That's too bad, Nathan, because that's what I do as your friend. Friends aren't just around to inflate your ego, they're there to kick your ass when you do something wrong, too,[/color]" Caleb told him rather nonchalantly. "[color=dodgerblue]And if you think things are done and over with, I'm going to give you a warning. Things aren't done, there's going to be big changes coming your way, changes you're not going to like. First one will be in Potions, and...don't blame him, it's no one's fault.[/color]" 

Potions? What? Kalder was bewildered, though Caleb ended the conversation, clapping his hand on his shoulder as he walked past Kalder into another section of the library. Don't blame who? Potions? Changes? What changes? Slamming the rest of the books onto the table, he decided he was going to go after Caleb. As the thought crossed his mind, however, the nearby clock informed him that he was going to be late for class. As he sprinted through the halls, he felt like there was a weight on his chest. It looked like sleepless nights were finally starting to catch up to him. As if he needed more problems.

Skidding into the classroom just before the clock would turn, he found himself breathing rather heavily. He ignored the many looks he had got, going straight to his table and throwing his stuff down. Plopping into his seat, he looked up, an unfamiliar shade of brown hair in front of him. That's odd, usually Beatrice's blonde hair was in front. Did he sit in the wrong place? He ended up doing a double take as he realized that rather than Demi, it was Beatrice who know occupied the seat next to him, and she was content in pretending he didn't exist.

As that thought crossed his mind, his eyes met her rather cold ones, and even colder smile on her lips. "[color=crimson]Running late, are we, [i]partner[/i]?[/color]" She asked him innocently, her hand on her chin.

What the hell? "[color=springgreen]What are you doing in Demi's seat?[/color]" He asked, not even trying to hide that he wanted to know what the hell was going on. "[color=springgreen]Where is she?[/color]"

While she started out smug, Beatrice was much too wrathful to properly keep it up, but she managed to give him a rather sly smile. "[color=crimson]She requested a change of partners,[/color]" She informed him rather cheerfully. "[color=crimson]And I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. Her new partner is absolutely gorgeous...[/color]" Her eyes trailed away from Kalder to somewhere behind them, a subtle move.

Kal stared at Beatrice for a moment, his throat dry. No, this was not happening. Demi had closed the door completely. Slowly turning his head behind him, he felt his heart jump up to his throat as he saw Demi writing something down, and next to her a pretty content and slightly bashful looking Noel. This is what Caleb had warned him about.

"[color=crimson]Lucky her,[/color]" Beatrice sighed happily, turning her focus back to the front of the room.

Unfortunately for her, Kalder was no longer having any of it. Sitting up straight, he fixed his posture, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "[color=springgreen]That's enough.[/color]" His voice was low, almost like a growl, but it was enough to let Beatrice know that he didn't want to hear another word--and it was not up for debate.

Recognizing his tone, surprisingly she would concede, his threat even managing to wipe the smile off her face. He should have been satisfied, but whatever little hope he had of fixing things had fluttered away. Why?