Hero

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ School
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend], Matthew [Friend]
FEELING ⤑ Giddy.}

Helene was surprised at how daring this guy was, though for some reason she felt things were happening too fast. Yeah, that made all the sense in the world considering she was the one that was egging him on. There was no controlling her physical reactions as he managed to get every single one of her spots. It was actually super impressive considering he was a complete stranger, and even as she tried to stay quiet, his lips seemed to draw her moans out of her. He was amazing, his touch felt amazing, she should have told him to take her right then and there, but as he continued, the little voice in her head grew louder and louder, telling her that she needed to stop. Why did they have to stop? She was due a good time, wasn't she? It wasn't bad to have fun. She could do whatever the hell she wanted. But it was like with every second passing by this doubt kept growing, gnawing at her, and even though she kept trying to keep it down, it was welling up. That is, until the guy managed to get her right at her collarbone, and she couldn't control her mouth as she practically sang his name: "Terrance...!" What the actual fuck? Just saying his name was like someone had thrown cold water at her, and she had to stop. This was wrong. She was wrong.

Opening her eyes, she realized what she did, and she let out a groan, shaking her head as she put her hands on his chest, signaling him to stop. "I'm--I can't do this," She said, throwing her head back in frustration. Why? Why was he stuck in her head? Why couldn't she get rid of him? Why?! "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say his name I just--I can't get him out of my head..." She apologized, her voice cracking slightly, and she realized she was crying. There was no fighting it even if she had found the perfect replacement. Her fingers fumbled with the ribbon keeping her mask on, though considering she didn't want to ruin it with her crying, she had to take it off. Pulling off her mask, she hastily wiped her tears away, looking down guiltily. "I didn't mean to lead you on, I swear, I thought this was what I wanted." She tried to explain herself, but if history told her anything, she was in for some anger on his part, especially since she was literally throwing herself at him.

---

What was with that look in his eyes that suddenly made her nervous? No, she wasn't nervous, but it sure felt like it. Still, that was one look Gigi had never seen on him before, and it threw her completely for a loop. Where was the goofy idiot that chased her around and who was this suave guy? As he asked her to dance, she raised an eyebrow at him, wondering where all this confidence was coming from. Of course, she didn't even get to reply as he brought her to him, causing her to stumble slightly over her heels due to the unexpected movement. Still, it was rather easy for her to keep up. Not that she was a great dancer, she knew a little, but Alexander was a great guide, having her move the way he wanted her to. "Where did you learn how to dance like this?" She ended up asking him as she followed his lead. Though all things considered, she shouldn't have been too surprised. What did surprise her was how much she was enjoying herself.

---

Eva turned to see Matthew ask her to dance, though she was surprised when Arthur pulled her closer to him. Looking up at him, she noticed his look, and she was left unsure. For some reason the day at the beach popped up in her head when he had thrown the shirt over her. Did he not have any faith in her? Now there was a thought that actually bothered her. No, there had to be something more to it. They trusted one another, so it couldn't be that. Was he jealous of Matthew? What an entertaining thought that was. They were just friends, and honestly there wasn't a guy alive that came even close to Arthur in her mind. Not physically or emotionally. But if she agreed, would he get mad? She genuinely didn't see a reason to say no considering she had known him for some time. It was also obvious that he was nervous--it must have taken him a lot of courage to ask, and she'd feel bad saying no.

"Just one," She told Matthew as she really didn't want to stay away from her boyfriend for too long, then looked up at Arthur. "I'll be right back, just watch me," She teased him lightly before giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ School
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ Like having fun!}

Ding ding ding! The hunt was on. But as he took her hand in his, there was this feeling that grabbed at her unexpectedly. A spark? Helene should have been relieved, but it was the strangest feeling to have. It almost felt completely right and that scared the ever living hell out of her. So what, she was just going to go all gaga-eyed for every guy going forward? No, she was just sentimental over Terrance, that's all. She needed to get him out of her system and Mr. Macho over here in her system. Or just in her. Whichever came first. Or whoever. With that in mind she let him lead her to the floor, smiling at his suggestion to dance first. So he wanted to work for it? Well, all he needed to do was keep it up, now.

It was hard to admit his hands kept throwing her back to a few days past, and she couldn't help but remember how Terrance had held her when she confessed her history to him. She wasn't going to last much longer at this rate, already feeling herself slipping back. As he pulled her to him, she placed her arms on his shoulders, watching him for a moment. The mask covered his face nicely, though she could tell he was gorgeous. Was it too slutty to want to jump him already? Then again, she never gave a damn about what people said anyway, so once the song finished, she leaned in close, almost like she was going to kiss him, though she hung back ever so slightly. "Let me make your dreams come true, then," She smiled mischievously, giving him a rather sultry look.

---

Alexander's compliment was genuinely flattering, and Gigi placed her hands behind her back, diverting her gaze momentarily. Shit, that made her feel amazing. She didn't usually care how she looked, and it was common knowledge to know she always came to school rather disheveled, though she went out of her way to look nice. Or rather, she let Helene work her magic with little protest. So the fact that he noticed actually made her feel good. It was addicting always trying to get his attention, and seeing him with those girls triggered something in her. As he asked if he stuck out, she opened her mouth to respond but realized she couldn't admit that she was tracking him down. That would be weird. And weird him out. Right?

Clearing her throat, she tried to think on her toes. "Thank you. But no, I was just walking by and saw you were in need of my assistance," She outright lied, looking away. "But I'm...glad I found you..." She murmured as that strange feeling in her chest came to her once again. She felt like she was being watched, and as she looked to the source, it took her a second to realize she was being talked about. Right, Alexander was actually fairly popular, so people were probably wondering who the hell she was. She rolled her eyes, not really bothered, though she looked up at Alexander. "You look really nice. I almost didn't recognize you, but that grin of yours is unmistakable."

---

Eva couldn't stop smiling, though whether it was from enjoying herself or watching Arthur clunk around, who knew. Honestly, she was surprised he let her drag him along, but she really just wanted to enjoy him. She almost wanted to tease him, but considering he was clearly uncomfortable and danced with her anyway, it'd be mean to do so. As he asked how she felt, she stared at him for a moment, her smile faltering slightly as she looked at him. While she appreciated that he was always looking out for her, she couldn't quite get rid of the guilt she had. He should be enjoying himself, or at least relaxing a little bit. In the back of her mind she wondered if he felt obligated to be with her, and she had to quickly stomp it out. It wasn't fair for her to keep doubting him. "You don't have to worry about me tonight," She told him, perking up slightly, her hands playing with his hair. "We're here to have fun. Together."

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Alyssa's House -> School
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ Like having fun!}

Helene nearly jumped in place as she was addressed, having been completely lost in her thoughts. The guy definitely knew how to talk to her, his touch giving her chills. Perfect, just the distraction she needed for tonight. He had a great smile, though something about it looked familiar to her. Had they met before? His mask covered him up well, though she figured it was probably just someone she knew. She watched his eyes for a moment, the familiarity feeling nice, and she figured she had nothing to lose. At least she wasn't getting any bad vibes from him, and God knew she needed something good considering how shitty her week was. "You have good taste," Helene admitted, taking a step closer to him, though she figured she'd have him try just a little harder. She really hadn't flirted since Isaac, and before that Terrance--no, fuck, of course he'd pop into her head. "I don't know, I'm thinking maybe I'm the lucky one. You look like you know exactly what you want, unlike the rest of these boys..." Her hand trailed down his suit, her eyes following before flickering up to his.

---

Despite knowing that this was supposed to be a cordial event, Gigi found herself using every ounce of her skills to determine whether or not the guy was Alexander. Her observational skills were on point, and she actually managed to differentiate Alyssa in the crowd, giggling to herself as she looked for Jacob. Wracking her memory to remember Alexander's measurements, Gigi studied him rather intensely, though she did carefully maneuver around the crowd to get a closer look. For some reason, she felt a little annoyed at how the other girls were pawing at him. Not that it should have been too surprising; supposedly Alexander had been a womanizer way back when according to Alyssa. But what, were all his declarations of his supposed love to her just a farce? She was beyond annoyed now, more determined to scope him out and possibly strangle him. Worst case scenario she could probably get away with it considering she was likely unrecognizable unless you actually looked. Of course, things took a turn towards the unexpected as suddenly the girls started pulling him in opposite directions.

Something seemed to click in her mind, and rather than continue to observe, Gigi found herself pushing around to get behind him. Yeah, the height and stature definitely matched, and once she got close enough, those beautiful eyes of his gave it away. Okay, now that her target was in place, now she needed to get rid of the other baggage. Using non-lethal methods, of course. Changing course slightly, she popped up behind one of the girls, grabbing a stranger's cup and pouring just a little on her exposed back, earning her a shriek. Once that girl went down, she moved quickly, her foot hooking the other girl's heels and effectively tripping her. As the girls released him, Gigi reached for his collar and pulled him into the crowd, effectively making him disappear while the commotion happened. "Here I thought you could handle a pair of high school girls," She couldn't help but shake her head at him as she eyed him carefully.

---

Her pink cheeks clashed a bit with her dress, though she loved seeing Arthur so happy. The idea of sneaking away came to the forefront, though she figured it was probably better to enjoy themselves a little bit before that. Eva bit her lower lip as she looked up at Arthur, completely at ease now that she was with him. She had nothing to worry about, tonight was going to be fun. Even all the dark thoughts at the back of her head were muted by the music, though if she was honest, just getting to be around him again was all she wanted. No need to be nervous when they were together. "Wanna dance?" She asked him, taking both his hands in hers and giving him an eager look.

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Alyssa's House -> School
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Alyssa, Gigi, and Helene [Friends], Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ A little on the adventurous side.}

Humming to herself, Helene was practically dancing around Alyssa's bedroom, securing several golden pins onto Eva's hair. Normally Eva didn't mind being Helene's doll, though as she watched the redhead, she could tell something was wrong. Ever since the beach, she had been acting strange. It was hard to pin down why, as technically, she was still cheery, cheeky, and overall mischievous, but there was just something off. Of course, anytime Eva tried to inquire, Helene managed to turn the conversation around, so she was defeated each time. She should have been glad because it wasn't Alyssa; when the two had seen each other, Helene immediately apologized, and Alyssa accepted. The only hint she had was that it had something to do with Terrance. In public she acted rather cordial with him, but if his name was mentioned when he wasn't around, she just went quiet.

Of course, everyone was more concerned about Eva's own issues, and she had her own hidden feelings. No, that wasn't right. She had gotten numerous phone calls and condolences since her mother died, but she just didn't feel anything. She wasn't sad or upset, she just was. Granted, the amount of paperwork that ensued as well as inheriting most of Evelyn's assets was stressful, but all Eva could think about was Dr. Galen's news and Arthur. Truly, he was a godsend in this time, and she didn't know what she would do without him. Except, anytime they were apart, she found herself getting increasingly nervous. Ironic, considering just the other day she thought she was getting too attached to him. Still, she enjoyed him more than ever, and ever since he found out she was pregnant, there was this subtle change in their relationship. Well, not entirely subtle, that's what babies did, right? For the moment, she was keeping it quiet from Marshall and...everyone, actually. Lord knows that she had enough on her plate, and even though she figured it'd eventually become obvious, for now she could just enjoy it privately with Arthur. There was a little guilt keeping it from her friends, but she knew they wouldn't hold it against her.

Alyssa walked into her room, watching Helene with a frown on her face. "We'd like to go sometime this century, Hel," She chided her, completing her own outfit, and Eva thought the peacock theme fit her well. She was a little surprised to see her with her hair down, though that was mostly because Alyssa nearly always had her hair up.

Helene rolled her eyes, though she handed Eva her mask. "Rome wasn't built in a day, you know," She huffed as she patted Eva's shoulder, signaling she was done, and she beckoned Gigi to take a seat next. "Besides, we finally got Gigi to wear a dress, it's a special occasion!"

Gigi raised an eyebrow at her. "You always dress me up," She pointed out as Helene brushed her hair over her shoulders, pinning some of it over her ear.

"Oh, sue me, I have fun with it!" Helene giggled, though as she glanced at the time, she realized the girls had a point. "Well, I'll leave you as is, the fact that you look so cute already will do nicely~" She said, and she began to strip down.

Shaking her head, Gigi stood up, though not before looking in the mirror. As she put her mask on, she looked herself up and down. It wasn't much, really, though she did like the idea of wearing a mask. It wasn't really for the mystery, though, she just liked that she got a chance to properly hide from everyone. Then again, considering her black hair and dark eyes, would Alexander recognize her? Ugh, there she goes again, not having been able to get him off her mind since that movie night. It was entirely unnerving and bizarre, though she didn't dare bring it up to anyone. She wondered if she was coming down with something, she hated this weird feeling that she couldn't quite shake. Speaking of weird, however, their entire group had this sort of awkwardness around them that she was picking up. Her eyes landed on Eva, who was pretty nonchalant considering her mother had just died. Then there was Alyssa, who had dropped her feud with Helene--not resolved, just plain dropped. And finally, there was the Queen of Drama herself, Helene. As she shimmied herself into her dress, Gigi eyed the cut on her neck. Gigi wanted to chalk up her weird behavior to the attack the other day, but there was more to it. What it was, who knew, but everyone was acting off, herself included. There was little time to properly think on it, however, as Alyssa ushered them into her car, and the ride was relatively quiet. Helene kept humming, scooping up her hair into a tight bun at the top of her head, but no one else said anything.

Once they arrived, Eva looked around, surprised that there were so many people there. It was really nice to see people get along, though, so she felt herself getting a little excited. Alyssa leaned in close, motioning towards something. "He made himself so obvious," She grinned, and the two spotted Arthur rather easily. "Anyway, I'm going to try to find Jacob, so have fun, okay?" She said, and before Eva could say anything, Alyssa walked into the crowd. Eva had assumed they were going to stick together, but as she watched Helene give her a wink and also begin to mingle, she figured that thought went out the window. Gigi stayed at her side, though she was looking around, too. "Looking for Alexander?" She asked her, raising an eyebrow.

"What makes you ask that?" Gigi asked, genuinely curious.

"You seem happier lately, I just thought that maybe you two were getting close."

Was that it? Gigi was stumped at Eva's answer, though she didn't get a chance to ask her to elaborate as Eva darted off in Arthur's direction. Great. Pushing past people as they got too close, Gigi felt like a lost kid at the mall as she looked around, though as she heard a group of girls laugh, she spotted someone she thought was Alexander with a small group of girls. No, that couldn't be him, he was only interested in her. Except, she was pretty sure it was him. Sort of. Not that she cared, he could do as he pleased. Right? Right. Right...

Helene's eyes scanned the area, though she was a little disappointed by the crowd. Despite the masks, it was easy for her to differentiate the freshboys from the men, and the men were so few and far between. Or rather, the ones she either knew could give her a good time or hadn't explored yet were numbered. For just a moment, she wondered if Terrance was around, though that was a dumb thought. He was probably in the closet with his new hookup already. Clicking her tongue, she decided she needed a drink first, and approached the table. She took a cup from the punch bowl, though as she drank it, she realized that she shouldn't have just ditched her friends. Downing her first cup, she placed it down and looked around again, wondering what to do. Now that she thought about it, she really didn't know what to do with herself. Bringing her cup to her lips, she let out a sigh, though at least she felt a little better now.

Meanwhile Eva approached Arthur, practically beaming as she tapped his shoulder. "Hey there, handsome," She greeted him cheerfully, though she peered at his mask. "Interesting choice, though I feel like you're more of a knight than a joker."

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ St. Lucia Hospital
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend], Marshall [Stepfather]
FEELING ⤑ Nauseous}

Gigi was going to have a heart attack.

Or at least, that was how she felt as Alexander helped her to her feet. Why was this happening? She couldn't think straight, it was like something was clouding her mind. Was she sick? Was she coming down with something? It sort of reminded her of that one time she got poisoned, where her entire body turned stiff. Except, she could still move. Sort of. She felt rooted to the couch, trying hard to steady her heartbeat. She didn't even notice Alexander come back until he spoke to her, at which point it took her a little to understand what he said. Helene. Shit, she had no idea what happened between Helene and Terrance. She hadn't gotten any notifications on her phone, so that was a good sign, right? As she was about to pocket her phone, however, Alexander sat back down next to her, and she felt herself get nervous again. The warmth of the blanket was somewhat comforting, though she found she just couldn't concentrate on the movie. Which was too bad, because the gore was actually decent. Less so when she felt Alexander put his arm around her. The last time someone did that she dislocated it, but she had to restrain herself from hurting him because...because why? Because it was comforting? Nice? What the hell was wrong with her?

As her phone beeped, this time Gigi was the one to jump. For the love of all that's holy, she needed to get a grip on herself! Opening her phone, she tensed slightly at seeing it was a text from Evan. Helene's house was compromised, I don't know if they've found you, but I'd try to avoid going home. I'm keeping her with me for the night, find somewhere safe. Compromised? Shit, something went down, and here she was acting like a silly schoolgirl. Well, she technically was a schoolgirl, but she was supposed to be a mercenary first. Was it her fault for leaving Helene alone? What the hell happened with Terrance? Was he alright? Putting her phone in her pocket, she exhaled, trying to calm herself. Her thoughts were way too scattered right now, she just wasn't thinking straight. But she wondered if maybe Alexander would let her stay here. She could crash on the couch like she did whenever she used to stay at Eva's place. "They're doing some sort of maintenance in my building, so I'm not able to get back," She told Alexander, keeping her eyes ahead as she spoke, though as she neared the end of her sentence, she dared herself to look at him. "Would it be alright if I stayed here?"

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ St. Lucia Hospital
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend], Marshall [Stepfather]
FEELING ⤑ Nauseous}

Alexander had relaxed immensely, which let Gigi actually watch the movie in peace. She expected his little jumps, though she just held his hand through it. He interlocked their fingers, which she found a little odd, but for some reason she didn't mind it. Now that she really thought about it, though, this was probably the first time she had been so close to someone without the intention of murder or maiming. How strange. But her chest felt warm, and even as he continued to jump once in a while, she found herself actually liking it. Was this wise, though? Getting so close to Alexander? Helene would probably be thrilled at the idea. Then again, if she got close enough to him, she could use him. Wow, that was a really shitty thought, and she ended up frowning slightly to reflect it. A boy and a girl watching a movie, if they were normal, this could even be considered a date. But they weren't normal. Or at least, she wasn't. She was taught not to feel, not to make attachments. But ever since he managed to get in her good graces, she felt the wall she had put up slowly cracking. And no matter how much she tried to patch the holes, Alexander kept bum rushing her.

So what did that mean? Was she catching feelings? Was that why she kept feeling so weird around him? No, it should be more obvious than this. She should be all fluttery or have butterflies or something. No, she was just being comforting so she could watch the movie in peace. Except, she had been so lost in her thoughts she wasn't really paying attention. Great, someone was getting ripped to shreds and she didn't know why.

Suddenly, Alexander jumped out of his seat, pulling her along with him. At first, she was at a complete loss, having been caught completely off guard by the sudden movement. The most she let out was a gasp as she was pulled down. Once things had settled, she rubbed her head, confused. What, the microwave of all things was what scared him? As she tried to move, she looked up and saw Alexander looking right back at her. She felt her breath actually get caught in her throat, her eyes widening. What was wrong with her? Breathing was supposed to come naturally, why was she having such a hard time? It was his eyes that had paralyzed her. Now that she was this close, she realized how beautiful they were. The light of the television didn't do them justice, and she felt trapped.

"U-Um..." Whoa, was that her voice? Why did it come out so meek and shy? Her heart was beating fiercely against her chest for some reason, her cheeks gaining color rapidly. "Are you okay...?" Wow, her face felt really hot.

---

As the sound of a gun fired, Helene braced herself. The sound of something falling on the ground, however, made her open her eyes, and she realized the man that was about to shoot her was now lying in a pool of his own blood. Who shot him? She didn't have time to wonder as she was pulled up by hair hair, and she let out a cry of pain as she felt something press against her throat. But with a second gunshot, and the pain ceased, and she landed on the floor as well. Her hand flew to her throat, and she found blood on her hand. Said hand was shaking, and as a pair of black shoes came into view, she looked up and saw Evan breathing heavily. When did he get here? No, he must have noticed the alarm had gone off and came as quickly as he could. He knelt down to her, carefully helping her to her feet. His eyes ran over her, likely checking for injuries, and he placed his hand on her neck.

"Je l'ai fait..." His words came out automatically as he pulled Helene into a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Dieu merci, je l'ai fait...I'm so sorry..." Hearing his voice and feeling his embrace seemed to bring Helene back to life, and she squeezed him back, letting out tears she didn't know she was holding back. As she pulled away, she was surprised to see him crying too, though he quickly wiped her tears away. "We're getting you out of here, it's not safe anymore."

She nodded, clinging onto him as he lead her out of the house. A few people walked past them, likely to clean up and dispose of the bodies, and Helene shuddered. As she was about to get into Evan's car, she hesitated, looking back at the house. She really thought she was going to die, and all she could think about was Terrance and her friends. Evan noticed her hesitation, looking at her expectedly. She shook her head, getting in the car, and together they drove away. With shaky hands she brought out her phone, and as she unlocked it, the picture she had sneakily taken of Terrance popped up. She felt her heart sink, and she suddenly imagined if he had been there. What if she had declared her love for him, invited him back to her place? Then he would have gotten attacked, too. A shiver went down her spine as she imagined those man grabbing him, getting him down and shooting him, and she clammed up entirely. No, she had made the right call. If anything had happened to him, she would never have forgiven herself. If she wanted to keep him safe, she had to stay away from him. She had to.

_{[1]I made it. Thank God, I made it.}

---

Eva watched Arthur rather nervously, trying to figure out what was going through his head. Of course, this was about as easy as finding the end of clear tape on a roll, and she had no idea what he was thinking. He looked nervous. Why wouldn't he be? Sure, at least now they were a couple, but still. For all intents and purposes, they really hadn't gotten to know one another that well. She never asked him what his plan for the future was, she never expressed to him what she wanted to do with her life. What was she going to do if he didn't want anything to do with it? Would he leave? No, there was no way she could handle it or anything else if he left. As his eyes finally met hers, she felt nervous as he didn't look happy or sad or anything. It was like the first day of school again, when he just noticed she existed. His touch came as a surprise, but as he held her hand, she knew they'd be alright.

His words gave her an immense relief, and she let out a breath. How could she have doubted him when he had proven time and time again that he was there for her? Still, this was something that shook her to her core, and the timing wasn't ideal. Okay, so maybe she really did want to have a little Arthur in her arms someday, the idea was comfortable in her head, but she wanted it at least when she finished college, or maybe when they were married. There were too many thoughts running through her head, and she suddenly remembered it wasn't just the two of them in the room, her eyes darting to Dr. Galen, who was watching with genuine curiosity. "I'll admit that's the best reaction I've seen in some time, you're very lucky, Evangeline," He chuckled, closing her chart. "Still, you're very delicate right now. Your injury should heal up nicely, but I'd like to see your iron levels improve before I'm comfortable discharging you. I'll come back in a while and give the two of you some privacy." He nodded at Arthur approvingly, and as he left, he gave the pair a smile. "They get younger and younger these days." He commented as the door closed behind him.

Once they were alone, Eva looked at Arthur, her eyes searching his. "I'm sorry, Arthur," She apologized, squeezing his hand. "I feel like all I've ever done is drag you down. First getting kicked out, now this. I...won't blame you if you walk away," She found herself saying despite every fiber of her being screaming at her to shut up. But she had to give him an out, it wasn't fair to him that she kept putting him into these situations. "I don't want you to think you're stuck or trapped. You can go whenever you want, I promise. I won't get mad or hold it against you."

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ St. Lucia Hospital
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Arthur [Boyfriend], Alyssa [Friend]
FEELING ⤑ Nauseous}

Gigi watched the movie, slightly amused, although the gore wasn't as much as she would have hoped. When a particular scream happened, she felt Alexander jump, and she slowly turned her head towards him, though he came a lot closer than expected. It looked like he was cold. Well, that's what he said, but for the first time, Gigi recognized this social cue. Alyssa wasn't a fan of horror movies, either, and the way Alexander jumped reminded her of how she acted. It was pretty cute if she was being honest, though he surprised her by getting so close. He was warm, and being this close she caught a scent that she enjoyed. Sugar? Was he baking? It was something sweet, but she had no idea what it was. The smell went away somewhat as he pulled the blanket up to his nose, inadvertently forcing her to shift herself a little closer to him. Figuring that he was going to turn out just like Alyssa the scaredy cat and not really wanting him to jump on top of her unexpectedly, Gigi got as close as possible to Alexander without getting on top of him. Her hand searched for his arm under the blanket, tracing down to his hand. She felt him gripping a pillow, and she let out a sigh as she looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "You'll feel better if you hold my hand," She told him bluntly before looking back at the movie.

---

Helene didn't want to go home, but Terrance insisted on taking her. Why would he say she didn't want to see him? If only she could actually voice her thoughts, but the words wouldn't come. Terrance's hand with hers felt so right, she wanted to stop him and tell him she was sorry for being stupid, sorry for flirting with Isaac, and beg him to make her his. But nothing came. He had to drag her to his car, probably for the better. She didn't even realize how short the ride to her house was, though the irony of coming to her house from the beach on the verge of a breakdown twice in a row was too much. For some reason she just watched his car drive off, and she found herself angry again. Why couldn't she be honest with him? Why did she have to push him away? The hurricane of emotions threatened to take her under again, and she resigned herself to her anger once again. She needed a fucking drink.

As she opened the door to her house, she heard a low, repetitive beep. But she was so unfocused it took her a moment to look for the source, and she spotted the security panel blinking a red light and beeping at her. Someone was in her house. Every hair seemed to stand as Helene's eyes widened, and she looked around nervously. Nervous hands fumbled through the entrance closet, pulling out a handgun, and she carefully stepped into the kitchen. Inhaling sharply, she raised her gun as she looked around. As she turned the corner, a hand grabbed her arm, and without waiting, she pulled the trigger. The shot rang out, deterring her attacker, and she aimed at him, shooting. The bullet went into his shoulder, although another came from behind and grabbed her wrists. Her finger squeezed the trigger, firing several shots as they struggled, though the man managed to get it out of her grasp.

This was it. This was going to be how she died. She found herself relatively at peace with the idea, glad she didn't tell Terrance anything. With how they left off, he wouldn't miss her, at least. She found herself wishing she could've seen her friends again one more time, but at least she could go with the fact that Gigi wouldn't get hurt defending her. Holding her steady, the man forced her onto her knees, one hand grasping her hands behind her back and the other yanking her hair so she was forced to look up. The other guy she had injured picked up the gun she had, and Helene watched him, feeling her heart beating faster, though she closed her eyes.

This was it. Oh well.

---

Alyssa crossed her arms and hung back slightly, watching Arthur carefully. It looked like he was just as shocked as she was. Eva looked so out of place in a hospital bed, but she remembered Helene telling her that Eva wasn't a stranger to any medical facility. It was one thing to know about, however, and another to see her there entirely. Arthur immediately pulled up a seat, probably resigning herself to staying at Eva's side until she woke up. He was tense, but guilt was written all over his face. Was he blaming himself? She didn't want to touch him just in case he would take it the wrong way, but Alyssa knelt down next to Arthur. He wouldn't take his eyes off Eva, and Alyssa knew she had to tell him what little she knew. "I know you won't believe me, but what happened tonight--this isn't your fault," She told him, trying to empathize with him. "I don't think she mentioned it at all to you, but she has some health problems. Normally it doesn't affect her day to day, but once in a while her symptoms just come and hit her all at once," She tried to explain it to him the best she could. "I know for a fact she's anemic, she must have been feeling weak already when she got Marshall's phone call. I'm just wondering what he said that sent her into shock..." She admitted, following Arthur's gaze to her sleeping form.

Her voice trailed off as she heard a quiet groan, and Alyssa stood up as she noticed Eva stirring. Slowly opening her eyes, Eva winced slightly, her unencumbered hand moving slowly to her head. They weren't in Alyssa's house anymore? She looked to her side and saw Arthur and Alyssa, and as she looked around, she realized where she was. She let out a groan, her head hurting, though she smiled at Arthur. "I must have...passed out..." She said slowly, trying to remember what happened. Her smile slowly faded as she remembered Marshall's call, and for a moment she thought she was going to faint again.

A knock on the door caught her attention, and to her surprise, Dr. Galen walked in. He was an older gentleman, wrinkly with a stern face and gray hair. Still, he was rather sprightly, moving just as quickly as anyone else, and he stopped before Eva's bed, looking at the two strangers. "Good evening, I'm Dr. Galen, I'll be your attending doctor tonight," He introduced himself to Arthur and Alyssa, though he looked back at Eva. "It looks like despite our followup the other day you ended up here anyway. Tell me what happened."

Eva's eyes darted to Arthur and Alyssa for a moment, though she figured they'd find out anyway. "...I just found out my mother died," She replied quietly. Alyssa actually took a step back in shock, completely surprised. "I guess the shock got to me, I don't remember what happened..."

"You fainted and hit your head. Your 'sister' and fiancée brought you here, and considering the results I got, I'd make sure to be very kind to them," He seemed to have already known what had happened, though Alyssa smiled sheepishly as he called out her bluff. "It's alright, I've known Evangeline for quite some time. I'm sorry for your loss, but as Evelyn was a source of your stress, the silver lining is that you'll be considerably less stressed going forward. I wasn't aware you were engaged, however, so that makes my job a little easier."

Fiancée? Engaged? Eva's cheeks turned pink as she looked at Arthur, though she looked away just as quickly. Was that why he was here? He said he was her fiancée? It actually made her feel really nice to see that he would go so far for her. Did that mean that he thought that far ahead? She definitely felt guilty, she honestly hadn't thought about their future like that. Something about what Dr. Galen said caught her attention, though. "Wait, what do you mean?" She asked him, confused.

He looked at Alyssa for a moment. "What I'm about to say is a little sensitive, if you could just leave the room for a bit, Miss," Dr. Galen told Alyssa. She nodded and complied, and once she left the room, he continued, "Your iron levels have dipped dangerously low, causing some arrhythmia, but I can't give you your usual medication because of something that came up during your blood work." At this point he was speaking to both Eva and Arthur, and Eva couldn't help but get nervous. Why was he addressing Arthur? Of course, his next statement was why: "It looks like you're pregnant." If Eva had any color in her face, it definitely left with that statement. Pregnant?! What?! How--wait she knew how, but this was such a shock that now she felt she was definitely going to pass out again. Her eyes widened considerably, and she nervously looked at Arthur, waiting for his reaction.

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Brady Household
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Alyssa [Friend], Arthur [Boyfriend]
FEELING ⤑ Tired.}

As Gigi heard the yell come from inside Alexander's apartment, her hand flew to her backside on instinct, though Alexander opened the door shortly afterwards. She exhaled slightly, remembering that this was a cordial visit. Of course, with him fumbling around the lock, she decided to stay on her toes anyway. Why was he so nervous? Well, despite the jitters, he was acting very much like his usual self, so that much was a relief. Taking off her jacket, she looked around as she walked through the house. It was clean, empty, although there was something just a little off, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly. Probably the quiet; she didn't know if he had any siblings or where his parents were. Then again, if he invited her over, they had probably gone out.

Placing her jacket over the couch, she wandered over to the TV stand, kneeling down to see his collection. There was a decent variety, though personally Gigi found a majority of cinema to be terribly boring. Comedies were cheesy, action flicks overblew situations considering she went through a majority of them, and anything else just didn't grab her attention. But horror movies always kept her guessing, and while they never really scared her, she got a slight thrill out of the gore fest that ensued. Of course, there was the matter of her always finding flaws in the killer's plans, but it was all in good fun.

Scanning the movies, she found one she hadn't seen and pulled it out. "Your selection is quite diverse," She told him as she went ahead and handed the DVD case to him. As she straightened up, she looked at Alexander with curious eyes. "Thank you for inviting me, it's been some time since I've watched anything,"

---

The amount of disappointment Helene held was too much for her, crushing her heart. Why was she expecting anything otherwise? Of course he was apologizing for being a hypocrite. Of course he's apologizing for getting in the way of her and Isaac. As he hesitated ever so slightly, she found herself looking at him. It was too dark to see, but she felt like if maybe he said the right thing, maybe if he gave her some kind of hint for something, maybe...maybe what? She didn't know what she wanted him to say, but as he carried on, it was obvious that what he said wasn't what she wanted to hear. She didn't realize that deep down there had been the slightest glimmer of hope underneath all the confusion, but hearing Terrance speak further seemed to whittle it out of good. So much for no hurt feelings.

Keeping her hands on her lap, she wondered what she should reply with. 'I want to stay with you'? 'I don't want you to look at anyone else'? For the first time in a very long time, Helene was at a complete loss on what to say to a guy. No, that wasn't right. To any other guy, she'd brush it off, put on a mask of cheeriness, and carry on. But it didn't feel right doing that to Terrance. He deserved better. He deserved something real. And no matter how much Helene wanted to, she couldn't give it to him. She wanted to, but she couldn't drag him into her mess of a world, even if she felt he of all people would understand. There was a selfish part of her that considered asking them to continue as they were, but she just couldn't forget him running off without her. It hurt to think about, and if she was going to continue, she wanted them to be exclusive.

So why wasn't she saying anything?

It was too much. Helene's little slice of heaven was destroyed with everything else in her life. She was so naïve to think she could hold onto it. And once the realization came crashing down, she felt dead inside. Turning to look at him in the dark, a question lingered that she had to ask. And if he gave her some semblance of hope, any sort of hint, then maybe... No. She couldn't ask, because she wouldn't be able to handle it if it went the other way. "I see," Helene finally spoke, exhaling lightly. "It's been fun. Thanks...I'll...find my way home," Her hand opened the car door and she stumbled out on shaky legs, heading towards the sand. There was no point in looking back. And so she kept walking, heading towards the water. The wind blew her hair in almost every direction, but she couldn't feel it or anything else.

She felt like she lost everything. There was no point in anything anymore.

---

The little bell from her phone woke Eva, and as she opened her eyes, her phone's light hit her. As she sat up she stretched her arms above her head, letting out a yawn. Rubbing her eyes, she looked at her phone and realized it was a text from Arthur. Her eyes lit up as he said he was on his way, and she got off of Alyssa's bed. That little nap hit the spot, but she still felt tired. After running her hands through her hair, she took the bag Alyssa gave her and tucked it into her backpack, bringing it with her as she went to find Alyssa. Said was looking at her phone sitting on her couch in the living room, the TV showing some kind of action movie, though she looked up as Eva came down the stairs.

"Did you hear about that masquerade thing?" She asked her as Eva took a seat next to her. "It'd be great to go, what do you think?"

"That sounds like fun," Eva admitted, putting her backpack on the floor. She hesitated slightly, looking at Alyssa seriously. "It would be nice if we all went together as friends. You and Helene included."

Alyssa had to admit that Eva was persistent, if nothing else. As she went to reply, Eva's phone rang. The blonde squinted at the number she didn't recognize, though it looked familiar to Alyssa for some reason. "Looks local," She commented.

Eva shook her head, declining it. She really didn't like answering calls if she didn't know who was on the other line. As they continued to watch TV, her phone rang again, but this time it was Marshall. She had ignored his previous calls, so she felt she should answer this one. Getting up from the couch, Eva picked up. "Hi, Marshall," She greeted him.

"Eva...where are you?" He asked, and she couldn't help but notice his voice shaking slightly as he spoke. "No, that doesn't matter--I'm sorry, I can't think straight right now. I need you to be very calm and listen to me."

That was weird, Marshall was always so collected that it actually unnerved her to hear him like that. "Marshall, what's wrong?" She asked, getting worried. Alyssa frowned, though she heard the door and got up, walking over to open it. "You're scaring me, what is it?"

"Eva...your mother is dead."

Marshall had probably continued after that, but those were the only words Eva heard. Her mother was dead. Something pressed on her chest, befuddling her mind so that she couldn't think or breathe. There was no way she could form the words she needed to question him. How did he know? What happened? Was that number she declined the police trying to give her the news? The denial didn't even have a chance to hit as she knew Marshall wouldn't lie to her about something like this, and suddenly everything was spinning. No, this wasn't real, this had to be some sort of nightmare. But it hit her, and it hit her hard, and suddenly she felt herself slipping away.

Alyssa opened the door, revealing Arthur. "Welcome back, she's ready for you," She said, looking back at Eva, though her pale face and shocked expression alerted her that something was wrong. "What happened--Eva?!" Her question turned into an exclamation of panic as Eva hit the ground.

Behind Blue Eyes [1x1]

_{LOCATION ⤑ Brady Household
TIME ⤑ Evening
INTERACTING WITH ⤑ Alyssa [Friend]
FEELING ⤑ Tired.}

"...and that's the summary. Evan wants me to keep you updated," Jun's voice came through her phone as Gigi sat in Helene's car. The girl nodded even though she knew he wouldn't see her, and she leaned back in her seat. She was aware of Ariadne's raid happening relatively soon and wanted to know what was happening, so she had asked for a rundown from intelligence. The good news was that Bastien was cornered, but even though it should be a relief, something didn't sit right with her.

"I see..." Gigi scratched her chin, though Alexander's response caught her attention. "Thank you. Should anything change, I'd like to be informed if that's alright."

"I'll keep you posted," He agreed, and Gigi ended the call. Pocketing her earpiece, she read the message he had sent. A movie? It had been some time since she had seen anything. Then again, her taste in movies differed from her friends', and the only one who was usually willing to see anything with her was Helene once in a while. Was seeing one with Alexander a good idea? She was surprised to find herself actually not minding the idea. Why was that? Thinking to herself, she turned on the car and began to drive. Sure. Send me your address, I'll drive over. She texted him, placing her phone on the dashboard. A thought occurred to her, and she sent him another text: If you have anything within the horror genre, I'd like to see it.

---

The beach was the absolute last place Helene had expected Terrance to take her. Just looking at the sea gave her the chills, and she found herself having to push unpleasant thoughts away again. The last thing she wanted was to be reminded of the day's events, but it wasn't like she had a choice. Her eyes scanned the sand, but she had no idea what she was looking for. Everything looked so calm she almost thought it was romantic for a moment. He said nothing. She said nothing. For a moment she wondered why he brought her here if he wasn't going to say anything. She stole a glance at him to see if she could tell what he was going to do, but he was still. Not that she blamed him, she wasn't exactly her usual self either. Maybe she should start with her own concerns. Then came the actual apology; he was sorry for hurting her. Helene kept her eyes on the beach as he spoke, not sure what to say. No, that wasn't true, she knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to ask if that was all he had to say. Why was she expecting anymore out of him? It wasn't fair that she kept wanting more, and she felt a pit form in her stomach when she knew what she needed to do.

"I wonder where things went wrong," She finally broke her silence, staring at the sky. "Everything was so easy before. No strings attached, no commitment, no hurt feelings. That's what we agreed on. I don't understand what happened. Or rather, I thought things were business as usual when I saw you with them. Isaac was a little unexpected, but I figured it was all in good fun until you..." She hesitated, finally tearing her gaze away from the stars and looking right at Terrance with a hard stare. "Just tell me why, Terrance. Why are you sorry? Because you realize you were wrong to hit Isaac? Or because you realize you're a hypocrite?" She needed to know why Terrance did what he did before she could continue. "You can't apologize for hurting me because we're aren't anything to each other. We're not in a relationship, we aren't even lovers. We're just...nothing. Purely physical. So why would you be sorry for hurting me?" She asked, wanting answers.

---

Letting out a yawn, Eva crawled onto Alyssa's bed, making herself comfortable. God, she was exhausted. The past few days she felt like she never had any energy whatsoever. She didn't feel sick, though she wasn't sure if it was the anemia or something else. Her lower stomach hurt a bit, and she curled up into a ball, hugging Alyssa's pillow. Maybe she should see if she could contact Dr. Galen, he always encouraged her to see him if she wasn't feeling well. But it was weird, it wasn't that she was unwell, it was just dizziness and stomach pains. She was used to the dizziness, but not the pains. Oh well, she was sure Dr. Galen would know. Alyssa walked into the room shortly afterwards, holding a plastic bag. Eva had been way too embarrassed to let Arthur know her monthlies were coming up, so she had asked Alyssa for a few supplied to tide her over, and she was immensely grateful for her friend's generosity. Alyssa placed it next to Eva's backpack and sat down next to her, curious. "Upset stomach?" She asked her, rubbing her shoulder in comfort. "Sorry, I shouldn't have made something so heavy."

"No, everything was great," She assured her. "I'm just tired. I want to just sleep for like...the rest of the week."

Alyssa nodded in understanding, though she couldn't hide her smirk. "So Arthur doesn't let you sleep? Not that I blame him, any guy would be thrilled to be in his shoes," She teased, lightly poking Eva's cheek.

She blushed, hugging the pillow tighter. "He usually lets me sleep in, but I don't know, I've been having such a hard time getting out of bed," She admitted, letting out a small sigh.

"Probably just drained. You've been through a lot," Alyssa got up from her bed, turning the lights off. "Take a little nap, I'll wake you up when Arthur comes."

Eva wanted to protest, but once the darkness surrounded her, she could feel her body begging her for more rest. Resting herself on the pillow, she stared at the wall for a moment. Now that she thought about it, Alyssa had a point. A lot has happened, though she hadn't thought too much on it. But that's just how Eva was: out of sight, out of mind. She didn't really like to think too much, her mind had a tendency to go straight to the deep end when she did. Taking things as they came was the only way she really knew how to handle things. What was there to think about, really? Things were out of her hands. She was powerless to do anything. She wasn't going to get along with her mother, they were never going to be civil, so what was the point? Letting out a sigh, she found herself wondering if her mother was thinking of her. Probably not, she was likely getting her notes ready for some big meaning. And it hurt to think about that because she was likely to be right. Evelyn was a businesswoman above everything. Eva would never get through to her no matter what, so that was just the way things would be forever. She thought of her father again, wondering if maybe she could at least get her to tell her who he was. Arthur had asked, too...and he was the last thought on her mind as her exhaustion finally caught up to her.

Attack on Titan: Somnium [Closed]

Clearly this calls for a duel to the death.

Nah I'll change, no biggie. If crimson isn't taken (didn't see it on the character list) I'll take that instead.