[right][sub][color=crimson]LOCATION[/color] ⤑ [color=hotpink]Library[/color]
[color=crimson]TIME[/color] ⤑ [color=hotpink]Afternoon[/color]
[color=crimson]INTERACTING WITH[/color] ⤑ Isabelle [Classmate]
[color=crimson]FEELING[/color] ⤑ [color=hotpink]Anxious.[/color]
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Dread was a terrible feeling to carry, this much Helene learned. It was probably the first time in her life that the bell signaling lunch was something she didn't want to hear, her feet dragging as she made her way to the bleachers. The rush of students made it easy for her to sneak by, though she was careful to make sure she wasn't seen. She recited her lines in her head over and over, choosing what and how to say what she needed. There were a few routes the conversation between them could go, and she had to make sure he wasn't going to catch her off guard. She did have a slight advantage, mainly being that there was the slightest chance that he could very well accept what she had to say, but she wasn't an optimist, she was a realist. And the reality was that this was going to go south very quickly.

As she spotted Terrance, her legs seemed to pick up the pace on their own, though the dread began to overwhelm her. Her little slice of heaven was going to be thrown away like everything else she loved. And as soon as that thought crossed her mind, the realization hit her. She could very well lose him. Lose him? He was never hers to begin with, why would she think that? If not him, she was going to lose their moments together. There would no longer be any escape, no more breaks from reality. Her previous determination crumbled at that thought, and in a split second moment of weakness, she ran into his arms, placing a passionate kiss on what could have been the last chance she had on his lips. It was strong, fiery, a little more than the ones she had given him in the past. Before he would take it further, however, she broke them apart, having to physically step away from him so that she wouldn't get trapped.

"[color=lightsalmon]Thank you for everything,[/color]" She found herself saying, mentally locking away her emotions so they wouldn't impede what she had to say. "[color=lightsalmon]But there's something I need to tell you.[/color]" It was just physical. No strings attached. No hurt feelings. No hurt feelings... She had to think like her father, like her uncle, like the head of the Carbone family. And the best way to catch her prey was to use bait--though unlike her cowardly father, she was content on using herself. "[color=lightsalmon]It's probably going to be something you won't believe, but I promise everything I say is real.[/color]" Why the hell was her heart beating so fast? Lord have mercy, she was pathetic. 

"[color=lightsalmon]I know it's pretty obvious I'm not from this country. I came here about six or seven years ago from France. At that time, there was a power struggle within my family, and it quickly became a blood soaked battle for dominance. It wasn't really my choice to come here; my life was in danger, and it was my best chance at survival,[/color]" She began, playing with her hair nervously as she told her story. "[color=lightsalmon]And the reason for my life being in danger--even now--is because I am Helene Étoile Carbone, current heiress to the Carbone family. It's...one of the biggest mafia families in Europe.[/color]" She released her hair as she studied Terrance for a reaction. 

[hr]

Where was everyone?

It was the strangest feeling to be sitting alone at lunch. Gigi found herself looking around, trying to find her friends. Was it the familiarity? She hadn't sat alone in years, not since she was assigned to Helene. At first it used to be only them, then they met Eva in Hartford High, and became the four of them once they came here. The group wasn't always together, but there was always someone there waiting for her. It was just bizarre, and for a moment she felt like a lost child. The situation made her lose her appetite, and she just sat there, waiting. She figured Helene had probably gone to meet Terrance, though if she was honest, she doubted Helene was actually talking and knew they were probably going at it. Alyssa wasn't speaking to them, not responding to Gigi's greeting earlier. So that should have left herself and Eva, but the blonde was nowhere to be found, either.

She spotted Alexander, Jacob, and Arthur together, and the slightest pang of jealousy hit her. Why was she getting so worked up over lunch? These past few days have been one hell of a rollercoaster, so she was slightly stressed out. Returning to the normalcy of school was probably something she didn't know she wanted. Letting out a sigh, she leaned back in her seat. She had been restless ever since she had spoken to Ariadne, who had informed her of what she had learned. Her eyes landed on Arthur once again, and considering how miserable he looked, something seemed wrong about that picture. Why wasn't he with Eva? Apparently they had spent the weekend together. What, he didn't want to be seen in public with her? That last thought pricked her in annoyance. Not that she agreed with the two having a relationship, but it looked so bad to see poor Eva the center of all the nasty comments and Arthur just sitting there feeling sorry for himself.

Before she knew what she was doing, Gigi had stood up, walking over to the trio. Considering recent events this was an idiotic move, but she was relatively safe among the many witnesses. Stopping in front of Arthur, her eyes narrowed at him. "[color=orangered]Why aren't you with Eva?[/color]" She asked him somewhat curtly; it was easy to tell the usually emotionless girl was annoyed. "[color=orangered]If you're going to be responsible for her, you shouldn't leave her side.[/color]"

[hr]

Getting dragged into the library against her will, Eva outright got annoyed when her classmate ditched her. She needed to talk to Arthur! Letting out a sigh, she brought out her phone to text him, only for the sound of a very sultry voice to catch her attention. Eva's face paled slightly as she spotted Isabelle, whose venomous smile made her stomach uneasy. She was a beautiful girl, but since the first time Eva had encountered her, she reminded her far too much of a girl from her old school named Victoria, and thus Eva usually went out of her way to avoid her. The last thing she wanted was for Isabelle to expose her like Victoria did. She considered leaving, but the dark haired beauty had already stood up, blocking her path as she walked over to her. Eva had seen the slut comment coming from a mile away, though she was surprised when Isabelle expressed pity. Pity because she was Arthur's girlfriend. 

Girlfriend? What? Since when? Confusion seemed to take its hold as she explained her situation, and the previous uneasiness Eva felt multiplied. Arthur had never mentioned her before. Neither had Helene, who had continuously pushed her to get together with Arthur. And Helene hated cheaters, so where was this coming from? She had to be lying. Right? Isabelle seemed to take enjoyment in kindling Eva's doubt, going on and on about her and Arthur, and Eva felt her heart sinking as she listened. It couldn't be true. He wasn't just using her. He went so out of his way, helping her when she needed him, it just couldn't be right. But when Isabelle asked if Arthur had said he loved her, Eva's eyes went elsewhere. No, he hadn't. But for some reason she just couldn't believe Isabelle. 

[I]"[color=dodgerblue]Eva… If someone did… something very bad to you, or someone close to you. Do you think… you’d forgive them?[/color]"[/I]

Covering her mouth with her hand, Arthur's words suddenly started to make sense. Was [i]this[/i] what he was talking about? She started to feel ashamed of herself, her mother's words ringing in her ears. And she so stupidly said she would have to forgive them, or rather, forgive [I]him[/I]. She had liked Arthur for so long, and him suddenly noticing her happened so fast that Isabelle's story made sense. But the time they spent together, the moments they had--she wasn't willing to believe they were lies. They couldn't. They just couldn't! Eva stood up, her legs wobbling as she shook her head. "[color=pink]I don't believe you![/color]" Whether it was determination or denial that fueled her declaration, no one knew, but Eva needed to hear it from Arthur himself, she needed to hear it from him!

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