Hanako Games

Grabiner/ Sue fan story *spoiler*

#1 by Xenostatica - Jul 27 2011

If you haven't gotten one of the endings for Grabby where he tells you to write to him then this is a terrible spoiler!

SO I was thinking on what would led the Sue of the game to gain the nerve to write other then the awesome and sweet kiss... even if it was a greeting feeling one. So here is what I thought that would lead to that first step and a letter. If it seems people like it I will try to finish it off but let me not get ahead of myself.

Story:

I was still smiling and in shock from the kiss still. I was trying not to let on to what had happened. When my room mates came back from the dance I acted like I was asleep listening to them talk about how fun the dance was and all the excitement they had. I simply smiled as I fell into a deep slumber.

Ellen was the one who woke me, "Are you ready? Going home and everything with your parents, will you be okay?"

I rubbed my eyes and looked at her and smiled weakly, "Yeah, it was my choice right? Can't regret it now. What time is it?"

"It's about ten in the morning," Virginia said walking in while munching on a cookie she had stashed somewhere.

"So this is it for this year?" I looked at the blanket and sighed as I slammed myself back into the bed. "Are we going to even get to see each other? I mean can we? Ellen is staying here and Virginia, you are going home..."

"We can write!" Ellen said trying to cheer me up.

Her answering that way made me giggle a little, to think he had the same answer instead of even attempting to ask me to stay. "You are right, we can write to each other," I held out my hand, "Let's promise to do that at least."

Virginia slammed her hand on top of mine and we both turned toward Ellen. She laughed softly and placed her hand on top. I slapped my hand over hers and we soon had a hand topping hand competition which led us to fall to the ground laughing in a hysterics that didn't stop till we heard a knock.

"V, time for us to take off," William said from the other side. "You ready."

Virginia grinned really wide, "Yeah, give me a minute! Okay quick write your addresses down where you want to have me write you all and I will give you mine too." We all scribbled quickly where we would be spending time together. When we finished she gave us a big hug and took off. "See you two next year!" she shouted as she ran after her brother.

Ellen turned toward me and smiled, "So about last night?"

I raised an eyebrow at her and as she sat on my bed I jumped up. "What do you mean?" I started getting dressed, "I was..."

"You weren't asleep and at one point I was worried so I came back to check on you and you weren't here..." she sounded like she had a little guilt in her voice.

"I went to talk with him," I said it as I brushed my hair, "We had a talk and..." I thought a moment, it wasn't strange right? I mean we were married and that wasn't strange.

"You were glowing and smiling as we came in," she said sitting on the bed.

"umm well, it was just a little kiss," I said and smiled at her. It was only right to be honest with her. It wasn't a secret that we were married so I just wanted to be honest with someone before I went home to lying about who I was.

"KISS?!" her mouth dropped. "I won't ...couldn't.... I mean you respect him, you said that in the test but," she stopped and realizing she couldn't say it right.

"It wasn't anything you are thinking of," I stopped and thought about it. "It was almost like a greeting, soft but ... like something that one can respect."

Ellen smiled, "Oh, I think I get it."

"It okay, I am not super sure if I get it," I laughed at her. "But he did tell me to write."

"That's why the giggle," she nodded. "Will you?"

I shook my head, "Not sure, I want to but we will see. I'll tell you if I do."

She nodded and laughed, "Okay..."

#2 by Xenostatica - Jul 27 2011

It was close to 1 o'clock when my parents arrived. Ellen walked me down and out to my parents. She helped me with my bags as we reached them.

"Mom, Dad, this is Ellen, my roommate and friend," I said as we approached.

"Hello, dear," My mom said as she came forward to give me a hug. "Hello Ellen."

Ellen murmured her greetings as my father came over and took the bags from her and placed them in the car. "Hello Ellen, gong home?" he said off handed when he returned for the bags in my hands.

"No, I was going to stay here," she said it softly.

"If you would like dear, let us know if you would like you could come with us," my mother said with a soft smile. "I mean if you want to come for a week in the break. I know right now would be too short notice but ask and see then call or write to Sue and we will come, you aren't too far away."

She smiled big, "Thank you so much, I will see if I could later on. I promise."

I walked over and gave her a hug, "She means it. If you want just remember the offer is there."

"Good luck," she whispered as I pulled away.

"Thanks," I smiled at her as I walked away to get in the car.

My parents were happy when I got in the car. We missed you and it will be good to have you home was all they said and when we drove. After that it was silence. Nothing, no how was school or about your friends... I should be use to it but it was weird to have chosen to do this to myself. I just love my parents even if they don't understand the craziness that occurred this school year.

When we got home I followed my father up the stairs to my room and we placed the bags on the floor.

"Your mom has planned a special dinner so please be happy to be home," he said and walked out.

That was weird. I had not expected that reaction from him. He usually is happier and in a great mood. He seemed out of it, maybe it was the drive.

I began unpacking and then stopped. I was unsure of what to leave packed and unpack. I stared at the books and clothing I had, my robes were on top because they were the last thing I packed but I wasn't in the mood to unpack it all.

I laid on my bed and took a nap. My cat came in at one point and curled up with me. I listened as his gentle purr was his welcome home greeting.

My mom came in later in the evening to announce dinner was ready. I got up quickly doing what I was told and remembering what my father had said.

The dinner was wonderful. Having the home cooking was great and I really did enjoy it. But the dinner was in silence.

"So what was it like with me not here?" I asked trying to break the ice, cold silence.

"It was quiet," my mom answered, "though it is noisy when I have piano classes with the students, but that is in the afternoon before father comes home."

"I enjoyed your mother playing and catching up on my reading," my father said. "Maybe you can go see your old friends tomorrow or sometime."

"No...they went on that trip remember," my mother said thinking on it. "It's okay, you'll find something to do." She smiled at me as she finished her plate.

I smiled, "You are right... I was thinking of taking up the piano, so if you could teach me..." it wasn't the best idea but I thought about learning the chamber music, maybe we could play a duet or something, I smiled a little thinking on that.

She rushed over and hugged me tight, "Really? Of course, once you put your bags away." She took my plate and began cleaning up.

My father got up, placed his plate in the sink and went to the living room. I could hear him getting comfortable on his chair.

I went to the living room and joined him. I sat in silence and hoped that he would start the conversation.

"Any boys in your life?" he said from over his book.

Except that one...

"I do like someone," I said slowly.

"Oh?" he placed the book down. "What is he like?"

I was kind of nervous but took a deep breath, "He is a bit older then me. He is very intelligent and can be kind once you get to know him but before that he is a tad scary."

"Oh? scary?" he leaned forward in his chair.

"Well he is older then me so he had a lot of control of situations and helped students out when they were in trouble, but he was by the books so it often made others around him nervous," I said it easily, his description left my lips and were the only think that I could think on as I told him.

"Oh, if he is by the book, I could probably like him," my father said and noticed me smiling. "Seems a little serious then just liking him."

"No no... it is slow going nothing to rush into," I laughed nervously... cause marriage wasn't rushing into anything. "I don't want him to think that I am..."

"A child, immature? inexperience?" my father growled under his breath.

"Harsh father..." I took a breath.

"Truth be told my daughter is all those things or better be," he picked up his book.

I got up annoyed with the attitude, "How would you know? You didn't even ask about my year!" I got up quickly and moved to my room.

#3 by Xenostatica - Jul 28 2011

I sat quietly on my bed petting my cat and listening to him purr happily. I was still grasping at who I was and what I wanted to become, of course. I was young. I may be a year older and there is much that has happened that made me grow up a bit faster but I still needed comforting. I picked up my cat gently and cradled him in my arms. I just needed someone to know what happened and them not judge me on the whole situation. I acted without think because I thought I was doing the best but as I sit here thinking about it the more he was right, they wouldn't understand and it would make it worse if I even tried to make them understand. I will just continue it as if it is just a crush and I will make it sound like he is just an older student... though it feels like I am degrading our relationship to something simple and easy to forget. I sighed and got up, I need to go to bed and think on it, going into my routine from school kicked in and I got up gathered my things and took a shower, brushed my teeth, braided my hair and went back to my room where I sat my desk, pulling out my notes and started reading over them.

I looked over at my cat who was now just blinking at me, but it felt like I could tell what he was saying. "Really? why? You are home and you should be loving on me..." He shifted, stretched out and yawned then turned away from me.

I stared at him a moment and chuckled, "I could talk to you and no one would know anything because you would never tell, even if you could they wouldn't listen, would you listen?" I watched as he lift his head and looked over at me then his ears twitched. "I will take that answer as a yes..." I got up, moved him over and started at the beginning of the school year, all the while promising this would be broken down and he would not have to listen to me the whole night. I just remember falling asleep just after telling him about the treasury position I decided to run for.

The routine was set in motion, get up, get dressed, go down stairs and listen to my parents talk over breakfast. Soon after that I would do my lessons with my mom and be free to do as I pleased at lunch. She would usually leave to meet her friends up to chat of the town gossip. I chose to stay out of her way with this and would continue to practice till I got hungry and would get up and make myself a sandwich. The routine of school was hard to break and relaxing after lunch was unconscionable at times.

The trouble was a week or more had passed by and I had not unpacked, but simply pushed my stuff under my bed. I took the clothes and robes out to wash but left everything else in my bag. I worried what would happen if I just left stuff around, besides my yearbook had a lot of comments and quotes that I would have to explain if they saw it... not to mention, Virginia drawing hearts around my picture in the book and the professor's. Harmless fun and it made me laugh when I saw her do that I wondered what my parents would say. Though one thought was:

"Crush on a teacher?" my father would be kind of angry maybe even a little annoyed with it, "You should be looking at dating... no scratch that, don't even bother with dating, there is no point. Your life should be school and that is it!"

My mother would then say, "Oh but honey, it is healthy for a young woman to have a crush like that, I mean I am sure he is intellectual man and can be seen as a beacon in the darkness of teenage anxious. It's fine as long as it is not pursued..."

"No, she should think on work only..." he would answer back.

"Some fun would do no wrong and a crush is a crush, remember how..." she would then go into the story of how they met in college and how it was fun.

"The clue to this story was college!" he would growl and leave.

This would then leave my mother and I to sit in silence. She would get up shrug it off and continue on other house old chores.

I shivered as the thought finished off and I made sure I had everything tucked away. At some point of the day my mom had left my laundry on the bed and I worked on folding my clothes and hanging things in my closet. As I did so I told my cat more on the events of the year. It appeared as if he made an effort to listen as I talked to him about the school year. I stopped when I heard the door shut and my mother called for me. I went down stairs and she stood there with a grin on her face and beside her was a young man who seemed to be very shy once he saw me.

"This is Clarience," she said, "He is one of my students actually he is only a year younger then you and will be starting summer school so he is staying here, maybe you two would get along and you can sit here during the lesson and learn more, he is advance so you could learn from him," she explained as she walked over to the piano and started get ready for the lesson.

I stuck out my hand, "Hello, it's nice to meet you, you can call me Sue..." We shook hands and I turned toward my mom, "Actually I was going out for a walk over to the library."

She turned toward me quickly, "Library? I mean it's fine but..."

"I just want to have some time there, read a book, write, anything like that and get out of the house too," I explained as I moved toward the door, Clarience jumped a little, "It was nice to meet you." I rushed out and stopped on the porch and took a deep breath. What was she thinking? Did she think that he would be good match? Ugh, I can't get mad because she doesn't know anything but at the same time is that how she saw me?

I walked in silence as I went to the library and though the library was quiet there was a life there. This would be a good place to begin. I went to the corner in the back of the building near the reference books and took a seat. Pulling out my stationary that I picked up from a store when I was younger. There on the stationary were dragons and knights. This was not how I wanted my letter to be perceived but it would do for now.

The letter to Grabiner:

Dear Sir,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and enjoying your summer...

I grumbled with the beginning and tore up the letter. This was not how I wanted him to see me. I stared at the ceiling with the pen between my teeth. Maybe writing to my friends first would help.

Letter to Virginia:

Hey!

I hope you are doing well. Getting along with your brothers? Maybe, hopefully. I hope that your summer is well and you are getting to do everything you can! I mean what do you do? Get to play soccer I hope and have fun.

I have been alright even with what I think my mother trying to get me attached to a guy she teaches piano to. I have been studying over my notes, talking to my cat and avoid my parents after an issue about me possibly dating kind of got messy. I am in pretty good health and trying to settle down as it already seems too long for a break.

I am at a lose for words right now. Maybe you can tell me of your adventures.

Forever Friends Sue

I sighed as I read the letter then placed it in an envelope, sealed and stamped it. I would drop it off in the mail box outside the library.

Next letter to Ellen:

Dear Ellen,

How is everything there for you? I hope that you are able to enjoy the break even if it is at school. I just wrote to Virginia, just figured I would update and get update from you two. So what have you been up to?

I have been okay, haven't written to him. I have been trying to work up my nerve and even with that I seem a little weak on what to say to him, but I will try after this letter. My parents are off titter with me, I think they don't know where to begin or end in a conversation. In fact my father is in an off mood and doesn't truly seem interested in my time there. When we started a conversation it just let to something that I didn't even want to try and clear up.

I did take up the piano... I played when I was young and thought that I would try it now. It gives me something to do with my mother but that is about it. I am also studying so I don't lose my knowledge I have gained this year.

Your Friend Sue

Okay that felt more natural, but I stared at the blank sheet of paper before and shook my head. It wasn't going to happen at least not today. I got up slowly and looked around as I walked. There were empty places everywhere but I felt comfortable here. At least I have that. As I walked to the door I notice my father coming up the stairs. I checked the clock on the wall, it was about time for him to be off. Had I been there that long? I dropped the letters off in the box and walked out to meet him.

"Father?" I asked as he didn't seem to notice me.

"hmm, your mother wants you home now," he grumbled. "wants us to eat dinner with a boy from her lessons..."

"Oh," i was disappointed.

"He isn't it, I know," he said softly, "Look you are so grown up, I'm sure there is a lot going on and I am sorry about not recognizing you as a young woman, but the world is scary. I just don't want you to get hurt by some guy who doesn't understand what life is like..."

"Don't worry," I smiled and gave him a hug. "Don't worry I have no interest in the guy that is waiting for us... he isn't what I am looking for. The guy I have a crush on well... he is a strong person, father, this crush isn't going to go away I believe that. And I doubt he would hurt me and even if it was on accident I can forgive him because he is probably not sure of his footing when it comes to something like this so I am okay..."

He hugged me back, "alright..." He left it at that and it was silent on the drive home.

The dinner was a disaster. My father chased the poor boy away which led my mother to get angry about the whole thing but in the end they made up and forgot about the whole thing. I sat in my room when they had began fighting.

Something was wrong, I looked over at my cat who was on the window sill. He was usually on my bed. I looked around, the room was clean and arranged but not how I left it. I panicked and looked under the bed to see my bags there but they were moved. My heart raced as I tore through the bags and couldn't find my year book. Oh no... I felt a ping in my chest as I notice my mother in the doorway.

"I have said nothing to your father but you want to explain this?" I could see she had the page opened where Virginia had done the hearts all over the pages with me and the professor.

"All in fun..." I laughed nervously.

"A teacher?!" she growled suddenly and shut the door behind her as she crossed the room and took a seat at my desk. "What is wrong with you?"

"It's a joke, yes I had a crush on him, but it is harmless," I said as I moved away from her. "My friends thought it would be funny... we had done a play and we were the couple in the play so everyone made fun of us..."

"Oh and the messages about being MRS?!" she was freaking out for a moment.

I stared at her and calmed down, there wasn't any reason to be angry and I smiled, "Yeah, you know like when you are little and everyone makes fun of you because they discovered you have a crush on someone. This is the same thing. I should be careful about it but it is a yearbook and you never know who will be back the next year so I didn't mind so much."

She took a breath, "Just a crush... you know Clarience is only a little younger and well you would make..."

"No, I am not interested in him," I said firmly. "Now can I have my yearbook back since you thought a great idea to go through my stuff. If you wanted to know something you could have asked. Father did..." I stopped a moment, "He didn't know I was crushing on the teacher but still. I am an intelligent young woman and I can make my own choices. Please respect me. It isn't long before I will be away permanently so can we enjoy our time..."

"Was that a threat?" she got up.

"What? no, I do not plan to be here all my life and..." I tried to say but she walked out crying to my father. Oh no, what was happening?

"What did you do?" My father charged in, he was angry. "You upset your mom."

I hugged my yearbook and looked at him straight, no tears, no fear, there was no reason I was not in the wrong, "She invaded my privacy, she got angry about something in my yearbook and on top of that she thinks that I am going to stay here once school is done. I will not always be here, isn't school proof of that?"

"Yes, I see..." he stopped his voice calmed a little. "Yes, it is different now that you aren't here often and we have become accustom to that. Your mother is just worried about you. You are growing up wonderfully but even with everything we have done, well you are leaving us behind and it scares her. Though it does scare me I will become use to it again once you are gone..."

I stared at him surprised, had he really said that? Was everyone right about being easier if I had stayed at school. They were losing sense of me being there and were lost for words. I sighed and smiled, "It's alright, break will be over soon and I will head back to school..." I got up slowly and walked out, "No worries, I understand really." He didn't mean it, it was just part of the spell the school had placed on them, it was suppose to make it easier for me but right now it hurt. It hurt a lot.

#4 by Xenostatica - Jul 28 2011

When I got down the stairs I passed my mother is on the way out the front door and listened as she sniffed after me. I needed to get away from everything. I only had my yearbook cradled to my chest and had walked out without hesitation to get shoes or even a flashlight. I had not even thought about this fact until I had gotten a block away. Now what was I going to do?

I took a deep breath and remember that there was a field near by, but I didn't have shoes on. I looked down at my toes and wiggled them at myself. "You want to give it a try?" I wiggled them back as if they were answering back. I had calloused my feet but when I went to magic school I did not walk bare foot for fear that someone would do something. So let's see how soft was I getting?

The field was green and so the ground was soft. There was fire flies flashing in the field and with little light around I could see all the stars. I gasped softly, when was the last time that I just looked at the stars? The yearbook was still tight against my chest and I let myself fall on my butt then laid out. There were probably bugs everywhere but right now it was about the stars and me.

Laying there allowed my mind to drift, but it would just go back to him. Was he seeing the same stars? Did he even look up to the sky other then to study the weather or work on his research? Or did he take his flute out and play in solitude away from prying ears and gossiping lips? I felt silly wondering these things but I couldn't stop. I wanted to know more. What had happened to my courage of that night? I needed to write to him and talk to him like I trusted him with my heart.

I got up slowly and dusted myself off. They hadn't come to looking for me. I guess it didn't matter, they knew I would come home. I turned away from the sky that had inspired me so and walked home with my head held high.

As I opened the door my father walked over to me, "What did you think you were doing?"

"Thinking," I answered with no bitterness, I didn't want him to take it the wrong way. "I needed to find myself as I seemed to be losing my control while I was listening to you and mother. I mean no disrespect but right now what you said hurt and I needed to leave."

"Disrespect is leaving when I am talking, disrespect is not telling us where you went..." he glared at me and stopped. "Go to your room. I'm not bothering with this, I have work."

I nodded my answer and walked up the stairs, my mother was no where to be found. Better this way. I slid into my room and sat at my desk. I knew what to write now at least I thought I did.

The letter:

Dear Hieronymous,

I am not so familiar enough to write you name as such but I am trying to earn that right and one must start somewhere. I am writing in such a way so that I do not disrespect you in any way.

I hope that you are well. As you can figure I was thinking of you, actually I have thought of you often. So I was looking at the stars and was wondering if you also stare at the stars like I do. At least what constellations do you see?

It is a slight comfort to think that you are sharing the same sky as me. So this allowed me to write freely to you.

It's seems that you were in the right telling me that it would be a little difficult for me to adjust to my family. It has been a harsh period and I don't blame them but at what point does one draw the line? It seems that they have grown accustom to me being absence, though I am sure that this is part of the spell that is suppose to help with them forgetting about the magic and all but does that mean that they can forget me too?

It has come up about my social life. I have deferred the idea for them, not a simple task. My mother attempted to "hook" me up with one of her students and my father has taken a different route to the whole thing. I am rather unsure if I have taken the right steps with this but at the same time I am not in the wrong there is a sense that I am lost.

I always feel like I am just bothering you, but I get this feeling that I can't dismiss when I tell you these things. In fact, I feel relieved.

Thank you for simply being there for me.

Sue

P.S. I have been learning the piano again.

I looked at the letter before me and laughed sourly as I realized there were some tears wetting the page. I quickly tried to wipe them off and took a deep breath. I addressed the letter and sealed it with a simple kiss.

It was late and I was tired and I took hold of the sealed letter and hid it under my pillow. I would send it out tomorrow, though who knows if he would even respond... just possibly burn it and move on. I laughed into my pillow as the tears ran down my cheeks. What was I doing?

#6 by Ladygothika87 - Jul 29 2011

Yes, please do continue.

#7 by emichan - Jul 30 2011

continue!

#8 by Xenostatica - Jul 30 2011

(Thanks for the encouragement! This is totally what happen when my mind runs wild with ideas! I just couldn't imagine Grabby being so mean to her that he would divorce her after a kiss and her confession...well a little confession, if you can consider it that, but considering he was listening to students testing and not about his wife's thoughts of him...)


The sleep I had was terrible. I could feel my body ache and my head throb from lack of REM. I was in need of great sleep but with my situation at home I couldn't see myself relaxing enough for good rest. I got dressed and struggled with my hair that I ended up with just braiding it after combing it out. I threw on a pair of jeans and tee shirt grabbed my socks and shoes and the letter from under my pillow. I went to the kitchen and sat at a chair by the table. My parents were not up yet. Checking the clock, it told me that they wouldn't be up for about fifteen more minutes.

As a way to make up for the attitude, that I didn't think I was giving, and the fact that I left without telling them, I whipped up a breakfast casserole that I let bake in the oven. It didn't take long and when finished I left it in the oven so that it would stay warm.

They must of been as tired as myself because I was able to make the breakfast and them not come down to check on me. I grabbed a lose sheet of paper that was by the phone and left a simple message, "I'll be out today, don't worry. S" I was trying to be kind and let them know I wasn't going to be home. At least they would worry less. I then dragged myself outside.

It was slightly cool and signs of the sun starting to come up was peeking over the horizon. It was a sight to see. I just began walking in the direction of the field. It would take while for the library to be open, in reality, it would take a while before a lot of places to be open.

The letter was in my back pocket.

There was no point putting it off. I walked my neighborhood slowly and took in the look of everything. I know I had been here during the spring break time but time changes and looking around I realized that even if things looked the same they were actually changing and that nothing was the same or the way I had remembered it. Once I made it out of the neighborhood I continued down the road, past the library and further still. It wasn't till the sun had been out for a while did I realize that I was standing before the post box in front of the post office and the letter was in my hands. Had I really just done that unconscious of everything around me? I must of known where I was going, I couldn't have not know. That doesn't happen. I opened the box dropped the letter in and turned to walk away when a wash of panic filled the emptiness I had been feeling. I turned back toward the box and stared at it, my heart was now in my throat and I struggled to gain my composure and walk away.

Everything changed and now I was making sure that it stayed that way. I needed to take steps forward and stop looking back and keep thinking that it wouldn't change if I was there because in reality it would have changed, maybe not this way but it would have. With a heavy sigh I made my way back.

As I took in the scenery around me, I could feel myself feel a bit better. I will go home and study for a bit and maybe then I could focus on something else other then being an emotional teenager. The day was half way done and I was feeling great when I walked into my parent's house.

My mother had a student at the piano playing Beethoven and she didn't really notice me come in but when I took my shoes off she was in front of me. She gave me a big hug and handed me two envelopes that were not open. She leaned in and whispered, "Sorry, love you." She then returned to the student and left me to my own devices.

I rushed up stairs excited with the aspects of what the letters had in them. It was weird that they both came at the same time. I mean I sent them out the same day but most of the time when you send letters it takes some places longer. It doesn't matter I was super happy. Jumping on the bed disturbed my cat, who voiced his annoyance and moved to a different spot. I chuckled and cuddled him when he got comfortable again causing him to get uncomfortable and jump off the bed. He was such a grump when his naps were disturbed.

I took a deep breath and looked which should I read first?

Ellen's envelope was a soft pink and had bas relief of cherry blossoms.

Virginia's was bright green and had some drawings soccer balls on the back.

Well I had written to Virginia first so I think I will read that one first:

Hey Stranger,

Hmm, writing is not my strong suite so I will do my best. William is awesome but he is so busy with researching and figuring out what he wants to do that I don't really see him. Donald... well he is Donald. Yeah, I have gotten to play but with no one else around to play with me it seems kind of silly. We went on a family trip which was ... a disaster! I am so glad that I survived.

Being out of school is great, I can't figure out sometimes why you would want to go back but then I remember wild seed so it is not the same thing.

That is a bummer that they are trying to tie you down when you are already tied down... okay sorry, I had to say it. Have you spoke with Grabby? I mean your husband.

I'm sorry that you are spending your time doing piano! We would be outside all the time if you were here. Do you not have any friends, talking to your cat really? And studying when we were trying to escape for our break seems so weird to me.

Sorry there isn't more, just keep writing to me!

Your best buddy Virgina.

Okay, so that wasn't what I thought, though maybe she just restrained herself for fear my parents would open the letter. At least she is getting to play soccer.

I carefully opened Ellen's letter, I like the envelope and her hand writing was so beautiful. I envied her a little.

Ellen's cursive was fluid and loopy as each letter looked like it was evenly spaced and every letter was even in height and capitol letters were decorated. Wow!

Dear Sue,

It is going well. My research is going great too. Being able to have the school's resources allow me to go extremely deep in the information that I need. Professor has been very kind on giving me hand with everything. He seems more relaxed with few students around and he doesn't have to do detention every week.

You should have nothing to worry about, really. He seems different, not softer but something has changed about him. Maybe it was you? Maybe you gave him something to think on with the kiss and all. Write to him.

Your parents are just lacking because of the spells from school, but you knew that. They are just distant because they hadn't seen you in a while and you have changed. I envy your courage to return. It must be hard especially when they don't know what you've been through and they can only guess it can make things even harder.

It is wonderful that you did take something up and tried to get close to your mother again.

Keeping up with studying! That is great that you want to keep your knowledge you worked so hard for.

Forever Your Friend Ellen

Well, that was enlightening. Ellen's letter made me feel a little bit better. I felt a little jealousy ping when she write being able to spend time with him. He has changed? I wonder what she meant by that.

Dang! I am lost in two worlds and everyone else was passing me by!

I felt tears running down my cheek. I cursed softly at myself as I wiped the tears away and took a deep breath. Why was I crying? I pushed myself up, went to my bookshelf and slammed myself into my chair and opened my book.

There was a sound as my mother opened the door, "What is going on? Kitty are you knocking stuff down again?" She stopped when she saw me, "Was that you?"

"Sorry," I smiled at her, "I forgot that I was on the 2nd floor."

"It's okay, I was worried that something broke or got knocked off the shelf," she said backing out and closing the door.

I shook my head and returned to my book, I had placed the letters before me and laid my head on my desk. It felt good to at the very least know that they were doing well, all of them.

#9 by Xenostatica - Jul 31 2011

When I woke up in the morning I realized I had fallen asleep at my desk. My back and neck ached and my arms were sore from sleeping on them, but my mind felt rested. I felt a little bit more at easy. I made a soft sound of amusement as I realized the humor in being rested mentally but physically aching, kind of a reverse. Funny in its own right really.

I glanced over at the clock once I was out of my stupor and realized no one had come to get me. I mean they really hadn't had to as a routine I would get up early for classes so I would be up, but I had slept in. Being almost one in the afternoon, I was shocked.

I got up quickly and dressed, brushed my teach and rushed down the stairs to see what was going on. My father wouldn't be home of course because of work but there was no piano playing going on.

"Mom?" as I reached the bottom of the stairs let out a small cry for her. I began with in the living room. There was no one there and slowly moved through the house worried that I would miss her if she was cleaning somewhere. She was no where to be found. With a feeling of pain I sat at the piano alone. Something soon tugged at me and I began slowly at first starting with simply touching each key, but after a few moments I found myself playing simple songs that she had taught me.

The sound of the music, if you could call my playing with a misplaced fingered key, but all in all for being alone the sound was soothing. I was losing myself in the playing as I struggled to reach deep into myself. Here I was alone and the only thing that seemed to be guiding me is something that I once hated. Funny how something like that works out?

It was recognizable situation that I seem to be doomed to repeat. Was this not the same with the Professor? I didn't like him at all because I didn't understand that I took him at face value instead of thinking deeper on his actions. Here was something I tried to learn when I was little and because I felt I couldn't figure it out fast enough I just despised the tool instead of trying to understand how to use it. I have made some pretty fast judgements on situations and things around me. I needed to stop that. I could miss something truly wonderful if I don't learn to stop drawing conclusions at a drop of a hat.

I was so lost in playing I had not realized when my mother came home.

She cleared her throat so loud that it caused me to jump up and pinch my fingers in the piano key cover.

"Oh I never meant to do that," she said it with a small chuckle. "I have sent a letter to the school to see if we can have your friend visit for a little while."

"What?" I was taken back. "But...but..."

"It's no trouble really, since you are alone in the afternoons and we really haven't been paying attention to you, having someone around that you enjoy seemed like a wonderful idea. Besides your father and I were playing a BBQ so that we could celebrate our anniversary and you would need a friend there because it will be nothing but adults there and you will be required to be there so why not?"

"I am, thank you so much!" I rushed over and hugged her. "I'm sorry that I have been a terrible drag on you and father. My attitude and all has been rather rotten."

"Well, of course," she said wiping her face quickly. "Being without your parents for so long and then having to turn around and have them there everyday watching over you, it can be hard." She stopped speaking and smiled, though it felt slightly forced, "We'll know in a day or so if she can come or not, it doesn't take postage long to get there and back." She went off after that and headed to the kitchen.

I followed after her, "So for the party it will be here then?"

"Hmm?" she said and then acknowledged me, "Oh yes, we will have it here. Close friends really that is about it... they will be excited to see you. I mean with you going to such a fancy school and all."

Oh, she wanted to show me off a little. No, that was fine they earned that right. I grinned, "Oh, so showing off your awesome daughter, huh? I mean your excuse is your anniversary right?"

She chuckled and began getting things ready for dinner, "Oh yeah, cause we are all about our appearances."

"I knew it!" I declared as I walked over to her, "Need help with any of it?"

"Oh no, this is just dinner, but may be you could make your father and me a great cake for the party? It will be on the weekend so that is plenty of time for you to decide something."

"Oh, yeah, I can do that!" I grinned, it had been a while since I baked, hopefully I could remember how. I would need to find a good recipe.

"Great, now let me cook and you go clean your room or something," she shooed me out of the kitchen.

I watched her for a moment and sighed. She was trying hard to just accept me. I was lucky for that though I know how are it is for them to just go with the flow of this.

I returned to my room just as I heard my father enter the house. I wasn't really wanting to go back down there. I grabbed one of the cook books off of my shelf and began planning my grand party gift.

There was a knock later on, "Dinner is ready." My father's voice came through the door.

"Okay!" I answered as I got up and closed the book. There were drawings of different designs that I could try and do so that their cake would look great.

My parents sat quietly and ate. I joined them in silence and savored the me without having any negative feeling towards them.

When they were finished and my mother had cleared the table my father spoke, "The party important to us. SO please be on your best behavior. I know you are a good kid but your attitude is different now that you have been away and kind of taking care of yourself. Your mom inviting your friend to come was her idea honestly. I thought that you should be able to handle the situation alone but she thought it unfair as everyone else there will be adults. So you will help with food and other things. That is all I am asking from you is to not ruin this for us."

My mother and I were staring at him in shock. He had become harsher. I never remember my father wanting to be so forward about my behavior mainly because I never earned the need to be disciplined so.

"Honey," she was biting her lip as she spoke. "That was..."

"No, you need to know what a brat you have been. Leaving the house without telling anyone, fighting with your mother, and expecting that a simple breakfast meal would make up for that?" he was now not looking at either of us. "You needed to know that you have been rather disappointing with the way you have been acting."

I took a breath, wow, this was his honestly huh? "You are right, I have not been the best daughter. In fact, I have been terrible and I am sorry. There is only a few weeks left and I need to be on my best from here on forth." I got up and walked back up to my room. Wow, he was really not holding any punches with me. I was not expecting anything like that when I came back. I was always his little girl and now I was just someone he saw once and a while.

I cleaned my room to keep my mind off of the whole situation and worked at designing a grand cake for their anniversary all the while hoping that Ellen would show up and save me.

I cracked up laughing! It really wasn't her that I wanted to show up like a white knight to rescue me from this disaster that I had plunged myself into. So that whole thing about not always being there if wrong is done...damn it all! WHAT WAS WRING WITH ME! I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it.

I wasn't in a faerie tale with witches, goblins and heroes... OH WAIT! There were witches and things that go bump in the night! Except I was the witch. The knight doesn't come for the witch he comes for the princess, the beautiful and normal one!

My knight, though unconventional by all definitions was my husband. I hadn't uncovered my pillow from my face when my cat jumped right on top to get on the pillow.

"Oh thanks, you want me gone too huh?" I threw the pillow of and he moved over to the side and meowed at me. "Well it isn't like you knew? I haven't finished telling you but... " I looked around carefully, ran and made sure my door was shut and placed my desk chair in front of it. I then ran back to him and laid close to him, placing my hand over his ear, "I got married by accident..." his ear twitched, "it was because I was foolish and thought he needed to be saved..." he pressed his head against my chin and rubbed softly, "so to save me from the monster he swore that I was his bride," he stopped rubbing and meowed softly, "kind of romantic huh? grant it we were, at least I was scared of the whole thing and it wasn't something I had dream of but then what does something we plan for go the way it was suppose to? At the time I thought he hated me and in fact that he did it simply to do his duty as a teacher. In honesty I believe that is exactly how he thought it to be. We simply took it in stride and even with him tormenting me, I think I understand why now." My cat's eyes were closed now and he seemed completely asleep when I laid my head next to him to listen to him purr and take comfort in his sound.

I woke up at my usual time and slipped back into a routine. It was rather difficult after a month it seems to get the whole school out of your system. I was really not bothered by it some much now. I actually took comfort in it. Breakfast with my parents, practice and library in the afternoon.

I actually did this until two days before my parents party. I made a list of items to go get from the store while my mother was away so that it would be little bit of a surprise. I had some cash in a stash I had in my room before I left so I would just tap that so it really would be a gift for me.

When I returned I put everything away so that they wouldn't notice the extra items and then went to my room and worked on the final touches to the cake for my parents.

I stopped for a moment and looked at the calender. It had been a while since I sent the letter. I hadn't received any correspondence from him. Maybe he did burn it once he received it. I sighed at the prospect of that.

There was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" I answered quickly trying to shove all the pictures off the desk where she couldn't see it.

"We'll go tomorrow to pick up your friend, the school sent a letter saying they talked to Ellen and they all agreed to let her come here for the short time so that you two could spend time outside of school setting!" She said as she came in excited that her plan had worked.

"That's great, just in time for your party!" I smiled at her, I was truly excited about seeing Ellen again. I hoped that she didn't mind doing this for me because really she was doing me a favor by doing this. "So tomorrow we go get her?"

"Yup, you got to get up early because it will take us a few hours to get there and back before your father gets home," she said with a smile.

"Before he gets back?" I raised my eyebrow. Had she not told him about this?

"Yeah, it'll be nice for him to see you with a friend enjoying the summer," she said. "He is away on a trip till tomorrow night so that a gives us time to plan the party and all the extra stuff while we go pick up your friend." She left all happy and giddy, humming to herself.

It was nice to see her happy, she was really happy.

#10 by icekat725 - Aug 1 2011

this is really good! I hope you write more =D *is eagerly awaiting the next part*

#11 by Xenostatica - Aug 2 2011

It was still extremely dark when my mother woke me up. She was fully dressed and excited running in and out of my room. She was trying to make me feel cheerful about the trip. She had plans for the whole way up and the way back. She also packed a picnic lunch for all of us, she hoped Ellen wasn't allergic to anything and that she wouldn't mind sandwiches and chips.

Groggy and grunting my answers I made my way through all my steps to get ready to go.

It was five in the morning when we started on the road.

I was surprised when she began talking about the piano. I answered each question she would ask at one point or another. I realized by the time the clock said it was eight that she was not going to let me nap all the way there. She was making sure that I was awake with her.

"There is some coffee in the pink thermos, you sleepy head," she chuckled. "I already fixed it so we could just drink from it when we needed it. You look like I dragged you through the mud so go ahead and break it out and we will share it." She was so chipper that I hadn't really recognized her as the woman I was becoming use to at home.

"Thanks," I grabbed the thermos from the pack and drank slowly. "It's great, mother. Breakfast of champions!" I was so happy with the coffee that I almost didn't hand it over when she tried to take it away for a sip.

We would go through bouts of silence and something would distract one of us and we would end up talking again or we would sing along to a song. Then she became bored it seemed as it was almost ten o'clock and we were close to the school now. She sighed softly and would look around.

Something about it felt wrong so I grabbed her attention, "Okay let's go over some of the piano music that you brought with you!" I knew that there had been a spell our something around the school, because this happened before, the first time they dropped me off. I guess I wasn't affect because of my abilities but I needed to snap her out and be herself.

"We can't do that, you'll get car sick, you do that when you read," she said, her voice was soft now almost not audible.

"I know," I looked around and found a small keyboard in the back. It was a practice board that she would take to the hospital and teach children there. I turned it on and began to play simple notices, it threw me off as it didn't really sound the same as the piano at home.

"Okay," my mom seemed to switch into a teacher like mode, I don't know if that worked because as a teacher she would have treated me as any other student and would have forgotten the connections as a parent or that she just was so in tune with her abilities that it snapped her out of the spell. "You need to give me a D...."

I placed my hands over the keys and found the D and pressed it for her.

"Now let's try a A#," she directed and I complied.

It was enjoyable really because I think this made us both feel like we had something in common. As we went through the scales and then onto simple melodies, her smile returned and she started talking about lessons and students. This was something I think we were both needing.

It was about eleven when we drove around to the front of the school. I stared at the structure because it felt wonderful to be back even if I was leaving just as quickly. The front doors opened and I watched as Ellen stepped out. She was smiling and waving at me. I got out of the car to go meet up with her and heard as the door to my mom's side open and close, but stopped in shock as he stepped out helping Ellen with her bags.

Ellen noticed that I had stopped and grinned evilly at me for a moment before rushing up to hug me, before my mother reached us she whispered, "thought you might have wanted to see him, maybe? so i begged him to help me with the bags..." she let me go and turned toward him, "sir, I very much appreciate you helping, with barely anyone here I feared that I wouldn't be able to get everything down here."

I watched as he had not looked up over at me yet I could hear him mumbling about something but stopped when he caught sight of me. He straightened up and made his face as neutral as he could, though I thought I could see a small grin trying to form. "It is not a problem, Ms. Ellen, it is just the same anyway as I had stuff that needed to be done off campus, so coming down will allow me to leave in less time."

I could feel myself getting red and tried not to stare at him and shifted over to Ellen as she grabbed one bag from him and nudged me to grab some of the others. My mother came up to grab one from him as well.

My mother stared for a moment and a light bulb clicked and she stuck her hand out to him, "Professor Grabiner, a pleasure. Sue seems to have made a mention of you though I do apologize for not remembering."

He looked at her smoothly and took her hand with a gentle shake, "Oh? I did not know she would have made mention of a professor when she should only be worrying about having fun." His glaze darted over to me for a moment and his cool demeanor disappeared for a second and his harsh glare startled me, as saying anything about the school to my parents other then simple things could get me removed permanently.

"As her science teacher I am sure that you have much trouble with her," she smiled at him, even my mom seemed to melt a moment from his accent. "She was never good with any of that kind of stuff, art is more her style, even cooking. A great cook..." I was in shock as she continued talking.

Ellen looked over at me in surprise.

I interrupted, "My apologies, sir, I'm sure that my mother could talk your ear off, I mean what parent isn't proud of their children... I am sure that you are busy with your research. We will leave you now and we also have to be on our way as well. Must get home ready for my parent's anniversary..."

He nodded in agreement but his stern look was directed at me and then he returned to my mother, "Yes, you are right, Sue... it was a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I will take my leave now." He turned and walked back into the building.

"Well," my mother fanned herself a moment and turned away with a grin, "Now I can see why you could have a crush..."

Ellen cracked up laughing and I soon followed as it was infectious. We struggled to get all the bags into the car as our laughter seemed to hinder this act. Once we calmed down we got situated in the car. The ride back was fun and we were all laughing and talking with each other. Ellen fit right in and seemed to enjoy talking with my other.

We got back to the house around eight o'clock because we stopped to eat the picnic lunch.

My father was driving up just as we parked.

"Good Evening everyone," my father said with tiredness in his voice, "Hello Ellen, I hope you enjoy staying with us." He then turned and went into the house.

"Don't worry darlings, he always gets like this after traveling even if it is a short trip, let's get everything to Sue's room and I'll make dinner," she said grabbing a bag and following after my father.

Ellen grabbed one bag and I grabbed the other bags. We didn't say anything as we followed after my mother and I shut the door once we were all inside.

My parents were talking in the hall as we got up stairs. It wasn't anything terrible they were actually talking about dinner and the party. When they saw us they moved down stairs away from my room. Ellen's bag was set in front of the door for us to take.

We watched them leave and shut my door once we got all the bags into the room.

Ellen was glowering at me, "Well?"

"Well what?" I raised an eyebrow at her as I moved the items off my desk to sit down.

"Was it worth it?" she said going through her bags and organizing everything around her.

"Worth it?!" my jaw dropped, "I am in shock, embarrassed ... I... I...thank you," I jumped up and hugged her. "Even if my mother ran away with the moment, it was great to see him..." I thought about it even though I got to see him that didn't change the fact that he hadn't written back when he said he would. Heck, he didn't even really acknowledge me when he saw me.

"That's not all though," she held up an envelope, it looked like it had something it in. "There is something in there, not just the letter, I think that is why he gave it to me instead of sending it to you."

I stared at it and couldn't breath, "what?"

"Yeah, I wondered what it could have been in there but thinking about the fact that he can be pretty wicked with tricks and curses I dare not open my friend's letter," she said as she started cleaning an area in my room. "Though I didn't know you talked to your mom about him...pretty daring..."

"I didn't," I said setting aside the letter. "When I wasn't home one day she came in and went through my stuff. She found the yearbook and the notes from everyone. So she was so angry and we had a fight about but my father doesn't know that it was a teacher or that it was him...so I guess his title on the yearbook is science teacher..."

"I could see that I mean he is so calculated and analytical that it makes sense for him," she said as she eyed the envelope. "So did your heart jump?"

"I nearly ran to the car," I laughed out loud, "I didn't know what to do or how he would react."

"Do you think your mom caught him using your name in a none formal manner?" she said thinking about it.

"Oh gosh, I don't know but that caught me off guard, I mean what is he suppose to do with my mom?" I covered my face with a pillow, "Why does he have to be so cool and calm? I just want him to lose it a little with me. You know? Heart jump, get a little unsettled, curious? You totally know what I am saying! Besides embarrassing myself telling you."

"Oh I get you," she chuckled, "I mean he is older then us and he is reserved about everything. Believe me when I say he has changed a little, maybe even approachable for somethings." She thought on it and grinned, "Jealous that I get to see him all the time?"

I chuckled, "A little but really what am I suppose to do seeing him all the time? I mean what would I do at school? Study and maybe practice but that's about it...."

"You could cook for him! Or for that matter cook for me!" she laughed out loud, "I mean there has to be a reason you mom made mention of that right?"

"Don't even think that! I don't even know why she did that! I mean, that could have gotten me into a lot of trouble or not be able to return..." I sighed softly. "That woman, I can't tell what is going on in her head."

Ellen patted my back, "No worries let's have fun and you can show me your great cooking abilities!"

We got up as soon as my mother called about dinner being ready and we giggled as we went down.

My parents were really chatty with Ellen there. They asked her about school and what she was doing at school over the summer. She had a whole explanation ready and explained how she was using a scientific method to show that certain reactions in chemistry could be pictured in mid-mixture proving that they were possible not just theory. My parents just blinked at her and then chuckled about how she should tutor me in those class as I am not good at any of that stuff.

She defended me but not so much to anger my parents, she explained that I had been her assistant during the semester and if it wasn't for my encouragement that she wouldn't have attempted to do the tests so I must be really good at understanding what others needed to get ahead. With this my parents beamed at me because I had actually done something good.

Once dinner was done, Ellen and I did the washing of the dishes and talked about what we would be doing the next day. My mother kept reminding me that I had lessons in the morning and not to forget, but that Ellen could join us or stay in bed and relax since she had been so busy during the summer, she needed a break.

After we finished getting everything together, we rushed back up to my room and we both stared at the envelope. We held hands as we walked towards it and screamed out when my cat decided to ponce onto the desk at the moment that I went to reach for the envelope.

My mother called after us and we shouted about the cat scaring us. I could hear my parents both laughing as we turned back to our mission.

"I think I need to use the bathroom, why don't you read it alone while I go," she said as she went for the door.

"It's across the hall from us, but the second door because the first one is the closet," I said as I nervously picked up the envelope, it felt a little heavy.

"Okay but you have to show me what it is in there," she smiled to reassure me and left the room.

I turned it around to see that he had sealed it with wax, there was a crest on the seal. I was unfamiliar with it. I took note of needing to ask him about it once I write back. Just as with Ellen's letter I carefully opened the envelope. As I peeked in I poured out two small items and a stone, the items looks like small handmade dolls, one was male and the other female, I assumed because one was wearing little pants and the other had a skirt on. The stone was small and smooth, on one side there was a small indentation that would fit a thumb into. I looked at the items and smiled softly at them, what were they? I looked at the letter and watched in surprise as letter began to appear on the blank paper.

His letter:

Dear Sue,

I appreciate the respect that you are showing me. Understand that I did give you prior permission that on a more personal terms that there would be no issue on us being less formal away from prying eyes. I find a letter that is written and can only been see by only the person it was meant for can be one of the most intimate manners of communication and so using our names is only most appropriate.

I do think that your courage in choosing to going home is an admirable one as you are trying very hard to be the daughter that is expected of you but remember when one is trying to live up to others expectation, you can actually cause yourself to miss out on being the person that you want to be. So I do plead with you to not lose yourself in the sense that you need to become the person others are expecting. You are your own person and with one who has shown a large amount of courage and kindness to others, I would not wish that to change.

I am slightly taken back that I would be on your mind when you are searching through the stars for answers or companionship. I am honored to have a place in such a majestic scene. The stars and the sky are endless not to mention that there are infinite possibilities out there, so taking time out of your life and sharing a single moment with me I am at a lost for words.

There are times that you have also crossed my mind, so fear not I have not ignored you in my thoughts.

I do hope to hear you play the piano in the future at sometime.

Truly yours,
Hieronymous

P.S. In thinking about your worries I have included two small dolls and a worry stone. Ask Ellen to explain the mechanics behind them so that you are able to use them accurately.

#12 by Xenostatica - Aug 2 2011

I could feel my breathing slow and I felt my heart start to raise. Did he just write all that? Did he mean it? Liking me for being me? I stared at the letter and read it again to make sure that I wasn't imagining it. He hadn't showed any sign of thinking like that when he saw me earlier. I groped for the words to fit what I was feeling but confused and happy was the best I could do. He even wrote that he thought of me!?

The sound of the door shutting yanked me back into reality. Ellen smiled as she came and sat on the bed with me. "Well?"

I stared at her, "I don't know."

She frowned for a moment, "What's not to know?"

"He sent these dolls and a stone," I said as I slowly handed them to her. "I am losing this fight, you know? Really I had a crush, but when he writes like this I don't think I handle it... I want to know more. I want to know if that means I can have a place in his heart. I mean he wrote that he thinks on me but that could just be because..."

Ellen put her fingers to my lips, "Shh. It means he thinks of you. I would take that and go with it. I can definitely see how that could make my heart skip especially if it is from someone I care about." She turned back to the dolls and the stone, "The stone is easy, I was wondering about these so I looked them up. They are used to rub your worries away. I believe the point is to whisper the worries into the stone and rub the indentation till you stop worrying about that thing or is it you just keep it with you and rub it when you are worried." She got up and went to one of her bags and pulled out a note book, "Okay so those little dolls, depending on where you are from in Central and South America they are either worry dolls or wish dolls. You are suppose to whisper the wish or worry into their ears then place them under your pillow. They will try to help you solve the problem or make the wish come true." She had held the dolls before me to stare at the little couple.

"They are really cute," I said looking at them, "But isn't it mean to give such small things that kind of trouble?"

She laughed softly, "Not about the size, it is about the belief and energy that is needed to fix the problem..." she was still leafing through her notes when she went, "AH HA!" she sat back on the bed, "You at to keep the stone with you and rub it when something is bothering you. It is suppose to help you focus on how to solve the problem and take away the negative energy that comes from the worrying." She gave the items back to me. "He must of thought you needed a little help."

"Yeah, I kind of complaint to him about how hard it has been and how I was thinking I made the wrong choice in coming home," I sighed and held everything together. "You know, my father said he would be content once I was gone again, that they could go back to being normal..."

Ellen looked at me, "DO they know about..."

"NO," I cried out, "They just say that I am growing up without them and they don't know what to do when I am around."

She pushed me over and hugged me, "It's okay, I'm here to help right now and you have done great by yourself! I couldn't do it. You are so much more stronger then me."

I hugged her back, "No, I am not. I just have strength in a different area then you do. I couldn't do all that research at school. I would go crazy!"

We laughed as we shared everything that had happened and I showed her Virginia's letter and we talked about how we should write to her tomorrow so she knew what was going on. Once we decided that we were tired, which was about one in the morning, we both curled into my bed with my cat in between us purring and letting us know he approved of this situation.

#13 by carolynrose - Aug 2 2011

I love your story so far. I couldn't help squealing when Grabiner showed up! Heheh, he's so unbelievably cute. Please continue! I can't wait until your next post. ^-^

#14 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 2 2011

You've done a wonderful job and I can't wait to read more. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to post my own. It's great seeing another take of what happened at the end of the year. Grabiner was my favorite path and though I see things happening a little different, I love reading what others have come up with. Keep up the great writing!!

#15 by icekat725 - Aug 2 2011

this is good stuff right here... *grabs popcorn and waits for next part* this is getting really good, and I cant wait for the next part! *sqee* *stalks forum*

#16 by Xenostatica - Aug 3 2011

The dream that I was having began with me being a young girl playing with my friends as I got older this feeling that I was different so I started to separate my friends and then there is the time I was sitting alone weaving. In weaving the hemp I created jewelry that I believed protected my family and made wishes come true. It had been a fad that the girls were into and just as quickly became out of style but I kept going and making them and giving them away and out. My mother was the only one who kept them and wore them. She probably doesn't remember. As I thought on it I hear someone scream wake up.

I got up early. I felt completely rested. I looked over at Ellen who had curled up with my cat in the opposite direction. She was murmuring in her sleep about the results of something. I didn't bother to listen because I probably wouldn't understand anyway. I grabbed the small dolls that I had put under my pillows before I fell asleep and kissed them as I placed them in a spot in my bead box that sat on my desk. I grabbed my clothes and closed the door so that I wouldn't wake Ellen up as I changed. I went to the bathroom and cleaned up.

My parents and Ellen weren't up yet so I decided I would make a breakfast meal. I walked down stairs and slowly made my way through the house so that I wouldn't wake anyone as I moved around. The silence of the house was an odd comforting now that I had a friend around. I didn't feel like the lack of noise was so strange and unfamiliar. Maybe it was because I felt better about her being there with us. What better way to do so then making a breakfast for her? I worked hard on the breakfast quiche, I also set up the coffee pot and a tea kettle. I worked on chopping fruit when my mother had entered the kitchen.

"Eh? what's this?" my mother said as she sat down at the table. I quickly grabbed a cup and poured her some hot water from the now scream kettle. I added the loose leaf and let it steep for a few minutes before adding the honey and milk. She watched with interest as I served the tea to her.

"You might like it this way," I said as I returned to chopping the fruit down to bite size.

My father came in next and grumbled to my mother about coffee. I pushed gently back into the seat and got his coffee together. He was easy, coffee black with two spoons of sugar. I set it before him and returned to the small platter of fruit that I had arranged with apples, oranges, grapes and cantaloupe.

I pulled the quiche out and here the movement coming from the floor above. Soon Ellen joined the table and set a tea cup before her with some items she could add to it, "Sorry, I don't know how you like it," I got the plates out and put each one in front of everyone, including myself and brought the quiche over from the over and set it on a heat protected mat and then cut each person a piece and served it to them.

The meal got everyone chatting and laughing, waking them up to a good morning was a thoughtful plan and made it easier for us to integrate Ellen in on the morning.

When she took a bit of the quiche, she looked over at me, and grinned in surprise, "This is great! I haven't had this before..."

My father took a bite, "Hmm, it's pretty good, getting closer to your grandmother's recipe but your aren't there yet." Even with that said he had three more slices before declaring he was done and going to work. He soon left us sitting at the table alone.

My mother leaned over and kissed me on the head, "No worries, it was wonderful. He is just hard on you because he loves you. You know that if it was bad or you messed up he would have thrown it out," She got up and took the plates to the sinks, "Oh and you cleaned while you were cooking so the only mess was the dishes. You are so good, getting better. One day you'll be a great wife!" She laughed softly and then turned to Ellen, "You are free to join us as Sue has practice or you can do whatever you feel like, since you aren't familiar with the neighborhood I would stress just waiting for Sue if you have to get stuff from the store because it can be confusing here." She then went humming along as she started on the dishes.

Ellen looked over at me surprised and shock. She said nothing but helped me clear the dishes from the table.

We went to my room after we finished cleaning up.

"You're free to do what..." I was going to say when I noticed her glare.

"What was that about? You wonderful, I never had anything like that!" she puffed out her cheeks to show she was annoyed. "I mean really what does he expect?"

"He expected some one like you, " I smiled, "Don't let it bother you. For him that is a compliment, so I am okay with it. Anyway! Enough of that. Why don't you work on your notes down stairs while I play with my mom and then we will start on a plan I had," I put my finger to my mouth as I said the last bit.

She nodded and grabbed a pen and her note pad and we went down stairs where my mother was waiting for us. The practice last three hours. She was really hard on me for a change. She would smack my hand gently every time I misplaced a finger and then would move them to correct the position. I could hear giggling every time I messed up the tune which then in turn made my mom giggle and in the end we would all be laughing, which is the reason why my practice ran for so long.

At one o'clock as always my mother got ready and headed out wishing us a good afternoon.

"Where is she going?" Ellen asked as she followed me down the stairs.

"She is going to her daily news of gossip in this town," I shrugged as we entered the kitchen, I began gathering the items needed to be prepared for tomorrow. I pulled out strawberries, blue berries, kiwi and some other fruits. "We are going to chocolate cover the strawberries and everything else we need to get patted down and ready. We will make the cake ahead of time so that it is ready for tomorrow."

"What about your parents seeing it?" she asked as I started getting the stove and the pan ready for the chocolate to be melted.

"Oh that's easy. I have that box in the panty that the cake will go in and cool in the refrigerator so that tomorrow we can decorate and icy the cake," I said. "You don't have to do anything just kick back and watch." I began working. Every now and then I would ask her to ready the recipe for me to do the next step. She would oblige and then return to her notes when finished.

At one point she stopped and looked over at me, "What are you going to give him?"

"OH, I was wondering if you were going to ask about that," I said I was pouring batter into pans. "Well, do you know the bracelets you wear till it falls off?"

She shook her head at me, "No... not really."

"Well, they are relationship bracelets, whether you were it with your friends or with boyfriend maybe even parents," I explained, "You usually pick a stone bead that matches with what you are wanted associated with the bracelet, you then weave the bead with hemp threads, colored or not, then you give it to the person who is suppose to tie it to their wrist and wear it till it falls off," I explained as I slipped the cakes in the oven. "So when the bracelet fell off the wish comes true... whatever it was that the bracelet represented."

She raised an eyebrow, "WHAT?! really, you were making charms this whole time?!"

I sat down across from her, "What do you mean?"

"Charms, you know, what we create and put energy too," she thought a moment, "You probably did many for your friends right?"

I shook my head slowly, "There was one or two friends, all the other ones I would undo and reuse the threading and beads... but now that you explain it like that, it make sense."

"You've been using magic this whole time and never realized it!" she was thinking on it and then said, "Can you show me?"

"Well, if you would let me finish, I don't know if it is magic but it is something that I use to do and kept doing until I left for school," I said rubbing my arm, "I wanted to make each of us one and then..."

She raised her eyebrow, "Wow, bold. You're going to make him one too?"

"I wanted to make us a set of chokers, I would show you how to make them and we could make Virginia's together, I would make yours and you could make mine, I would then make the bracelet for him and a matching one for me," I said feeling my cheeks start burning.

"Wow, you would show me?" she was surprised.

"Sure, why not? I mean you are my friend, you can practice on mine and then Virginia's would look really nice, I'll put a clasp on them so that we can take them off , of course," I smiled at her, "I don't know what the rules are about jewelry and stuff so better safe then losing something like that."

Ellen grinned at me, "You figured it out, huh? what about writing him?"

As I looked over to answer my mom came into the kitchen, "What are you doing?" she looked over at Ellen and waved at her.

"Making preps for tomorrow and talking about bracelets," I said shrugging at her.

"Like the ones you use to make? I would love one actually my old one broke, I felt like it was so lucky," she said sitting down at the table. "You know Ellen, she bought all that stuff on her own? She wanted to learn how to do it and her father told her no because he thought it would be wasted. This didn't stop her, so she would get up early go to every house in the neighborhood and offer to do their lawns, chores or any little thing to make a few dollars. By the end of the summer she had made more then enough to buy two weaving tools. She always wanted to have a weaving party," she stopped talking for a moment, "But she really didn't have friends so the party never happened...."

"MOTHER!" I was shocked she had said that and turned bright red.

Ellen laughed for a moment, "Oh ma'am it is no problem, I was the same way... so it is great that we went to this school and allows us to be friends." She smiled at me and continued, "She has been able to teach me a lot and I, her. So I am grateful to have a friend like her."

I jumped up quickly and rushed to the oven to pull the cakes out. My mother's eyes lit up as she watched me set them on the oven.

"Well it was suppose to be a surprise anyway but since you are home, I am working on the first part of the cake," I said solemnly as if she had discovered me doing something wrong. "They have to cool and then removed and put in the fridge, can you make sure that father doesn't eat them? We are going to go make bracelets..."

My mother chuckled, "Good thing you said something to me, I might have take a piece myself. I will let your dad know you have plans for these."

We got up and left my mother to her own devices and went up stairs. I went to the closet that I had told Ellen not to open and pulled out some small boxes. I gave her two and held two of my own before we entered my room.

"Okay so let's begin," I said as I began pulling everything out of the boxes. "This actually won't take us long, just the number we are going to make will keep us busy."

#17 by icekat725 - Aug 3 2011

this is great! Keep it up!

#18 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 3 2011

Even my hubby is loving this and can't wait for more. I swear I'm checking from my phone every hour I'm at work waiting for more. I love how you incorporated the worry stone and wish/worry dolls. I manage a metaphysical shop and it's nice to see something like that in here and used properly. Anxiously awaiting the next installment.

#19 by icekat725 - Aug 3 2011

Every time that I find out that you have written a new part to this story makes the highlight of my day. Im looking forward to reading more of this during my summer vacation

#20 by Xenostatica - Aug 4 2011

As I sat there with Ellen, I showed her,by example,several ways that she could weave the threads into designs. She would often pick up a bead and smile at it before she would attempt to place it into the setting that would be its home after she finished weaving it. She caught on quickly and was keeping up with me. Slowly, we weaved the threads, with each knot and beads placed we'd focus on the emotions that we wanted to convey with the chokers and the bracelets. We could feel the energy coming off of each other as the deeper we focused on our work.

My mother came in at one point and said, "It’s so warm in here, maybe you should open the window so it cools down..." as she went to open the single window before my desk.

"No, thanks," we said at the same time not looking up from our hands and tools.

"Oh okay, so then no dinner for either of you?" she asked as she went back to the door.

"No, we are going to be up late, I will make something if we get hungry but breakfast was enough for me," I said breaking my glaze to look up and smile at her.

Ellen joined my actions and smiled at my mother, "It’salright, we want to get this done before I go back to school."

"Oh well enjoy yourselves," she said and shut the door.

We giggled to each other when she left and then we returned to our project.

When my father got home he came to see what we were doing but soon got bored with the whole thing and left to go eat dinner.

My parents went to bed earlier then normal so that they could be ready for the party the next day.

Once we were sure that they were not going to wake up anytime soon. We snuck down stairs and raidedthe kitchen for fruit and water. After the small snack I pulled everything out of their hiding spots and set them before us on the table.

"Now we will organize the cakes and then decorate them," I whispered to Ellen as I began removing the cakes from the cooled pans. There werethree layers and each onewas a different color. I was matching the frosting to the colors of their wedding so the bottom was black for my father's tux, green was the middle because that was the other color that decorated everything in their photos and then my mother's symbol was the white frosting. We slowly applied each color to the levels then arranged them with a fruit filling separating the cake’s layers. We then applied fruit to the top and down the sides making the blue berries and mandarin oranges represent falling stars, and the strawberries were the two loves meeting under the apple sliced moon that topped the cake. By the time we were done it was about three in the morning. We carefully placed it into the box and into the fridge so it wouldn't melt.

Returning to my room we sat quietly looking out the window we opened.

"The cake is pretty," Ellen said staring at the stars.

I sighed softly and started to pet my cat, "itsokay... not the best, they could have bought better."

"What? NO there is so much meaning in the cake, an understanding of love and connections," she said her eyes reflected the stars from the sky. "You seem to be in touch with that feeling, you are ...married," she whispered the last part, "So you know that longing..."

"No, it isn't the same, they care for each other and say that often," I pulled my legs to my chest. "I was put into a position that neither of us could fight. I'm sure somewhere inside he doesn't see anything else but a student that needs guiding."

Ellen sighed, "I don't think that at all, I just think he is so use to having his heart closed off and now you are here, not being afraid of him, standing before him, willing to argue with him and showing him that you can care for him. I'm sorry what man couldn't resist that?!" She threw herself back.

"He can resist it," I said smiling, "He is strong, powerful and has dealt with things that we can only imagine...so a naive girl tellinghim, I love you ... seems like he would take those words as foolishand cruel joke meant to get a reaction out of him. Even if I mean it with all my heart I think he could still turn his back on me." I was now rubbing the stone gently and staring at it, it resonated with warmth.

"I think you need sleep, he cares about you more then a student, but you’rejust going to have to go at his pace, as I think he is slow to realize it himself," she yawned and curled up with that cat.

"Let's go to sleep, we'll be busy for tomorrow," I said burling up next to them.

Ellen beat me to wake, and woke me up when my mother started calling for us. We rushed down stairs as not to upset her on her special day.

"Okay girls," my mother commanded. "We will be busy and the guests start showing at 3. I bought you matching shirts to wear so everyone will know who you two are." She brought the bag out and handed each of us a polo shirt with our names embroideredon them. "Okay go get ready."

We rushed upstairs got cleaned up and dressed. We wore jeans with the polos and put our hair up so it wouldn't get in the way. We then returned to my mother who barked out orders to us until people started showing up.

After everyone had arrived and was served, Ellen and I disappeared into the kitchen to eat, and to leave the adults in peace out on the patio.

"Wow, your mother seems to really care about how people see her," she said chugging down a bottle of water.

"Yup, we are free labor and since we look good that makes it easy for them to just ignore us or say how wonderful that we would help my parents out," I sighed as I put a wet towel on my head.

There was clinkingof glass as cheers and congrats were made to the couple. That was our queue to take out the cake. We carried it together and made the grand entranceand stood beside it as my father made a speech about how family and friends are important and that their marriage couldn't have made it without the support of others. They cut the cake and we served it out to everyone. When everyone got one my mother guided us all into the house before the piano.

Clarience stepped through the crowd and pulled me with him. I looked over at Ellen shocked. He wasn't supposedto be here.

"Tonight, we will play together for Sue's parents to show our appreciation of their talents and skills of making a wonderful marriage last," he bowed and I curtsied,then sat at the piano with him. "Just follow me and you'll do fine."

I sighed and began mimickinghis fingering on my end of the piano. It felt like the song lasted forever and every now and then I would miss the key and the crowd would laugh but continued to listen to us. When we were finished we got back up and stood before the people this time we both bowed. As I went to leave he grabbed my arm and pulled me in to try and kiss me. I panicked and ducked. He landed a kiss on my forehead which made everyone aww, except for Ellen who could see my eyes swell with tears. I held it back and recovered slow and moved from him.

"I just wanted to show her that I appreciated that Sue assisted me with playing the piano for your gift, "he grinned at my father who nodded.

The party continued, but Ellen went to my mother and talked to her for a moment and then grabbed my arm and pulled me outside. Once we reached far enough away that no one would hear I let myself cry. She just put my head on her should and stood there. She hummed as the tears stained her shirt.

Clarience came outside, "Ellen is it? What’swrong with Sue? Oh was it her first kiss... I am so sorry about stealing it but I...."

"Shut up," she said. "There is someone else that she is in love with. You are so lucky he isn't here, he would haveshowed you what it means to embarrassand try to ruin a girl." She moved me gently, "You better go back inside and enjoy your lime light before I let her beat you so bad you won't be able to play any more...." she returned to me and whispered nothings at me.

I looked over at him, "You better leave me alone now, you got a kiss and I have no interest in you. You show yourself before me without my mother around, I will show you a darkness that will make you wish for death!" My glare must havescared him because he rushed back into the house. I slid to the ground. "He won't have me now, a broken promise...."

"You didn't break anything and I will explain what happened. You write the letter and make the bracelet for him," she explained helping me up. "Then if there is anything that needs answering will explain itbecause I was there." She smiled at me and wiped my tears with her shirt. "Let's go in, we can just hide in your room and work on the project."

We slid past everyone and my parents didn't even bother to look for us when it was time to clean. We could hear them talking and laughing as we worked on our chokers.

Neither my mother nor my fatherbothered us the rest of the time that Ellen was there. This was good because we were able to finish the items the day before she had to go back.

"Okay let's write a letter to Virginia together and send it off today," Ellen said and that is what we did. We took turns writing the stories that went on during the week and what the reaction was and the items the Grabiner had given me. She couldn't be left out of the loop as she was our friend. We placed the choker in the envelopeand sealed it together and walked it out to the mail box. With a high five we returned to the room and grabbed the bracelet for my mother.

She was inside doing lessons. She was trying not to pay any attention to us, but couldn't ignore us when we walked up beside her. We both hugged her and when she turned to us, we held up the bracelet and placed it in her hand and left her to the lesson with the little girl.

In the room we laughed softly and then turned to each other, "For friendship, love and protection," we handed each other the chokers and put them on. We looked at each other seriously but soon fell off the bed laughing because we couldn’treally keep a straight face as we were so happy to finish everything and get to spend time together.

"Now, I will work on my notes and you write him a letter, an honest letter with all your feelings and then include the bracelet," she said and handed me some paper she had that was a soft purple color and on the envelope there was a moon and stars embossed on the front. I smiled as I took them from her.

She got comfortable on my bed and began reading a large note book I hadn't seen before. "Write... so I can give it to him."

I sat at the desk and nodded to her before I took a breath and grabbed my pen. I sat there and started to shake a little.

"Don't worry he will understand," she said not looking over at me.

I laughed weakly and put the pen to the paper. I could feel something flowing out of me and I began writing:

Dear Hieronymous,

I will begin with thank you for the items that you have given me. The worry stone with its warmth and the indentation in it allows me to hold it and feel as if everything that is wrong slips away. The worry/ wish dolls have allowed me to sleep with peace of mind. Thank you for caring enough to send peace of mind for me.

To inform you the truth about my mother remembering you is from the yearbook I brought home with me. She went through all my stuff and found the book to see what she could find out what happened through the year. When she found all the comments it cause her to freak out and so that's why she "knew" who you were. My apologize for the mess up.

I am torn right now because of a situation. While having to play a duet with one of my mother's students, he had the nerve to try and kiss me in front of everyone. My anger flared but I held back and said nothing, I managed to dodge the kiss enough that it landed on my forehead. Thanks to Ellen I was able to get out of the house where everyone thought it was cute and she let me cry. I felt as if I had done something wrong because I couldn't prevent him from defiling me in some manner. This was the same boy that my mother wanted me to be with during the summer. I don't have a clue that would make a timid guy take things into his own hands.

I have not really spoken to my parents since then. I feel that if I did talk to them I would hold them responsible for the whole mess and take it out on them. With the rift that is growing between my parents and myself I could see this being the final straw. I have chosen not to put myself into this position.

And again I have written to you simply to express the emotions that I should be able to hide away. Please understand that I do not do this so that I can have you fix my problems but to know the kind of things that bother me or break me a little inside. I want you to know the good and the bad about it. I should not be ashamed to tell you things but even right now my cheeks are red and I am embarrassed just doing this.

As you can tell that I think of you more and more and now that I have the stone it is something physical that I can hold to it allow my hands hold onto something of your warmth.

Yours Truly Sue

P.S. I have included a small item for you to hold onto as thanks.

My hands shook as I placed the letter in the envelope and then added the bracelet. I sealed the envelope and kissed the flap.

Ellen was now watching me and with a warm smile held out her hand to take it from me.

"How are you going to give it to him?" I asked as I handed it to her.

"I am going to put it in this book and give it to him right before you," she said slipping it into the notebook that she had been reading. "This is his personal notes for the project I am working on and he wanted me to review it. So you can see him get it, not because you don't trust me, but so he can sense it there in the book. Your energy is different from mine so he will be able to tell," she stretched and laid beside my cat.

My jaw was on the ground, "You...YOU.... oh god..." I shrunk in the chair and cuddled myself. "But but..."

"Don't worry, it will be great, besides he is suppose to be there waiting for me to arrive tomorrow," she smiled, "Never know if I have things that he needs to help me with...like a piece of that cake or something?"

I grabbed a pillow off my bed and smashed it into her.

My cat jumped out of the way and took off out of the room. Ellen wiggled from under the pillow and took the other pillow and slammed it into my face. We continued this way until we were totally exhausted and there were feathers everywhere and my mother was yelling down stairs that we had better not broke anything.

#22 by Xenostatica - Aug 4 2011

We got settled into bed as we were going to be leaving early to get her back to school when she said she would return.

After an hour or so everyone was asleep, everyone except me. I slipped out of bed slowly and tipped toed down stair. I worked quietly as I put together a dozen cupcakes together so that Ellen could take them back with her. I originally was only going to make six but something in the back of my mind made me think she was going to need more then that. I made everything from scratch and piped everything once it cooled and put them in a disposable cupcake holder. My mother had a few left around from back when I did bake sales for school. Once safely in the fridge I tired to return to bed but could make it up the stairs and ended up sleeping on the couch.

My father woke me up at one point before he left for work. He helped me upstairs and left me at my door before leaving.

Ellen woke me up when my alarm started going off, "Time to get ready and go. What's the matter? You look like you didn't sleep at all. Are you okay?"

My mother came in as I was getting dressed and called Ellen downstairs. I worked as fast as I could to get ready and was soon knocked over on the bed as Ellen hugged me hard.

"You didn't have to do that!" she cried into my shoulder as I patted her on the head.

"Yes, I did. You need something to snack on when you are working on your project so why not cupcakes? I made enough so that you could share, cause I know someone will want one so you hide the six for you and..." I was getting tired as I talked so I got up and finished dressing and then went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair.

Once we were finish, my mother packed the lunch, Ellen made sure she had everything and we packed everything up we left.

My mother made me sit in the back and her and Ellen talked as I soon found myself sleeping.

The trip felt like it went fast then it had when it was just my mother and I. No dreams came to me and the sleep was restless but I didn't wake up till my mother announced that is would only be an hour till we got there.

I grabbed the keyboard again and sat there waiting for the moment of when her mood would change.

It was like clock work, thirty minutes away form the school she began lethargic and wasn't smiling anymore. Ellen was surprised by the reaction she had.

"Sue..." she looked back at me.

I nodded slowly and began playing chopsticks at the wrong setting on the keyboard.

"No no no... set it to the third switch not the second one," she snapped out of the spell and directed me. "Okay now try."

We spent the last thirty minutes trying to figure out what scales would be good for a melody for a school song and how one should sing when accompanying a piano.

Ellen watched in surprise as I worked through the spell with ease. Not that it was really easy, it was just I figured around it.

Ellen watched as I distracted my mother all the way to the entrance of the school.

As we came to the front of the school I was extremely surprised that not only was Hieronymous was standing there but also Professor Potstdam. They were standing by the curb talking to each other about something important as both their faces looked stern.

My mother pulled up right near them.

Ellen got out and greeted both of them. Their faces changed, well Potstdam's famous smile appeared and Hieronymous' face just switched to a calm look as Ellen came up to them.

I got out of the care slowly and went to the trunk. I began pulling the bags out and putting them on the edge of the curb. My mother joined me and we both grabbed bags to carry over to the group. Ellen was carrying the cupcakes with her.

"Good Afternoon Professors," I said with a soft smile.

"Hello sunshine," Professor Potstdam said coming over to me. She gave me a big hug and whispered, "good going..." She then straightened up, "Ah the mother of one of my favorite students. It is a pleasure to meet you."

My mother couldn't help but smile, "Oh my, thank you so much. It is very pleasant to meet you as well."

Ellen walked to me and grinned as she nudged me in the side, "look" she whispered as she went for one of the bags.

I looked over to Hieronymous and realized there was a soft smile on his face as he opened the notebook for a moment and then quickly shut it. His stern face reappeared just as quickly as our eyes met. He walked over and reached for the bags that my mother was holding, "I'll take these ma'am. It was a pleasure to see you again." He stepped back as he held the bags in one hand and the notebook in the other.

Professor Potstdam reached out and took the cupcakes from Ellen, "I'll take these so you can carry the rest of your bags and give everyone your good byes. Sue, we will see you when school begins, it is only two weeks away so I hope you are ready to get back to your books."

Ellen allowed the professor to take the cupcakes, "Ma'am Sue made these so that we could share them..." she made a gesture that seemed to signal the three of them in it.

Potstdam nodded and smiled, "Thank you so much Sue. We will leave you two to say good bye," she turned and walked back toward the school and stopped by Hieronymous and he took it as a signal and followed her back to the building.

Ellen turned back and hugged my mother tight, "Thanks so much for taking me to your house and letting me spend time with Sue."

My mother smiled and tears ran down her cheeks, "If you need anything just tell Sue and we will get it for you dear. It was wonderful for you to be with us for the short time you were. I will consider you a daughter now."

Ellen smiled and nodded at her and then she turned toward me, "Thank you for sharing everything and being my best friend. I will work on the weaving and this choker, I will never take it off... I will be happy when school starts."
Her eyes started watering.

I pulled a handkerchief out of my pocket, "Here, don't cry. I'm not going to be far behind you, only two weeks and we will be causing trouble and studying. Enjoy the cupcakes. I'll let you know what Virginia says in her letter. SO I'll see you later." I hugged her tight.

We watched her turn and walk back to the school. When she disappeared behind the door we took that as our signal that it was now time for us to take our leave.

The ride home was a silent one.

#23 by icekat725 - Aug 4 2011

noo...cliffhanger! D': Oh well, i can wait long enough for the next installment *goes into kitchen to nibble on toast* om nomnomnomnom :3
this toast and the story are both awesome =D

#24 by callas - Aug 4 2011

Sitting on the tip of my chair...checking a lot if the next part is up...feeling 16 again

Keep up the good work.

#25 by kittwampus29 - Aug 4 2011

Oh my gosh this so awesome! Thank you so much for writing this. I cannot wait for the next part. I absolutely L-O-V-E Grabby and I was sad that the story got cut off when the game ended so this just perfect! *Fan girl squeal* Keep up the good work!

#26 by Xenostatica - Aug 5 2011

The silence was met with us not stopping to eat the picnic that was packed.

My mother began looking ill. Her skin started to look pasty and her breathing became irregular. She was moving slightly sluggish and at one point,as she drove,she started to fall asleep. Thankfully,I was paying attention so that I could grab the wheel and get us out of situation, however, as I struggled with the wheel, she was startled awake, and took it back and continued home.

As we parked there was Clarience, he was sitting on our porch.

"Oh dear, did I not tell you no practice love," my mother struggled to get out of the car. I rushed to her side and gently pulled her to her feet.

"Oh ma'am, it's okay, your house is walking distance from the place I am staying so there is no trouble, are you okay?" he hesitated from moving to her when he saw me watching him.

She pushed off of me and tried to walk on her own when he rushed over to catch her. "I'm just feeling under the weather," she explained. "If you want to practice, Sue can help you out and you can teach her..." she started coughing as she finished her sentence.

I never seen someone get so sick so quickly, she was now sweating as she reached the door she dropped the keys.

"Mother," I grabbed the keys and unlocked the door when I went to grab her, Clarience pulled her away, "Give her to me so I can put her to bed..."

"Dear, let him take me in," she batted at my hands. "Go ahead Clarience, up the stairs and to the right." She was now leaning against him.

I growled and followed them in and went up stairs. He put her in the bed.

"Okay, Ma'am, you're in your bed, do you need anything else?" he asked softly and brushed her hair out of her face.

I glared at his action, this was making me uncomfortable. I went to grab him and he moved away, "I can go myself. Ma'am I will come back to check on you." He then left.

I rushed down stairs and locked the door. I grabbed the phone and called my father, explained what was going on. He directed me to call the doctor and to keep an eye on her. I followed the orders he had given me. I gave the doctor a call after hanging up with my father, the doctor said that he would be on his way and that when he arrived that he would knock on the door as not to wake the patient so that I should listen for him.

By the time the doctor got there my mother was a little more comfortable with the wet cloth on her forehead. He took it off, checked her vitals, throat, mouth, ears, nose and breathing. He then declared that my mother had a bad flu and just to keep an eye on her. I paid him for coming and returned to her side which I stayed by till my father got home. I gave him the note that the doctor had given me. He read it and nodded and then went to my mother.

After a while he called for me, "She wants soup, maybe a broth, we don't have any but there is some bones in the freezer, make it from scratch, this will give her time to rest," he then shut the door behind him as he returned to her side.

I spent the next six hours sitting by the stove and kept an eye on everything, adding items when I needed to and skimming away the froth that happened when cooking the broth. It was well after midnight when everything was ready. I served a bowl and took it up the stairs to give to my father.

"Thank you," he said as he took everything from me.

In my worry I slid down the wall next to the door and soon fell asleep.

At one point my father walked past me to take the bowl down stairs and I got up out of instinct and followed him down so that I could talk to him.

"Well, how is she?" I yawned and sat at the table.

"She is resting, I called all her students and cancelled for the next week of her piano classes," he said standing by the coffee maker and struggling to get it working.

I walked over and moved him slowly out of the way, as I took his struggle that he wanted some coffee and worked to make him a good brew, "Anything else?"

"I have work in thirty minutes," he said glancing at the clock. "Take care of her, anyone comes to visit send them away."

I nodded as I listened to the machine turned on, "Okay,go get ready and I will have something for you to take and eat on your way to work."

He left me there.

I grabbed a small pan and slid some bread into the toaster. An egg sandwich would work. I scrambled to have everything ready for him.

When he came back to grab everything,I had his lunch packed, the egg sandwich and the thermos of coffee were ready.

"Thank you, don't let anyone up to bother her, if they want tell them to come back when I get home," he said and grabbed everything before leaving. He slammed the door on his way out, I thought,more to let my mother know he was not going to be home now.

I went to my room and climbed into my bed and curled up to sleep, I stared at the stone and held it tight as my eyelids closed and I soon found the sweet comfort in the darkness of my mind.

The sound of someone banging on our door woke me up. I got up and ran down the stairs trying to get there before they woke my mother up.

"Okay, okay..." I opened the door and Clarience was standing there with flowers. "Eh, what do you want?"

"These are for your mother, I just wanted to see how she was doing and sit with her for a while, maybe let you rest," he said holding the flowers out as a peace sign, every time he looked toward me he now cringed.

"Sorry, you are not allowed in. Come back later when my father gets home, you can see her then," I did not touch the flowers.

"Why not just let me in a moment, then I will go," he pulled the flowers away and gave me a look of disappointment.

"I gave you my answer," I moved away and shut the door. I could hear him cursing and making noises. I peeked out the window after a few minutes. The flowers he had were on the ground crushed and stomped on.

I sighed softly and went to the kitchen to clean.

There was a ping in my chest as I felt like something was wrong. He had been twitchy and cowardly to start and as he has come around he has become more and more aggressive. He didn't look directly at me, it was like he was staring at something else.

When I finished cleaning everything I sat at the piano and slowly played whatever came to mind. The sound should keep my mother at ease and she could rest comfortably as she recovered.

My father came home early. He went straight to my mother. He came down after an hour or so.

"Any visitors?" he asked as he sat down at the dinner table. I had just finished putting a dinner together and was warming up the broth for mother.

"Yes, but I sent him off," I said surely of my actions.

"Was that why the flowers where crushed?" he asked lazily, his head in his hands and his eyes closed.

"Yes," I served him a plate. "I will feed mother, you rested." I took the bowl and went up stairs.

When I entered the room, she looked tired but she looked better, "Is that for me?"

I smiled and nodded as I came and sat beside her. I laid the tray with the bowl before her. I would let her attempt on her own before I tried.

As she lifted her spoon I noticed she wasn't wearing the bracelet. I looked around the room and didn't see it. I got up slowly and went to her jewelry box. "Mother, where is your bracelet?" I asked curiously.

"Oh, Clarience liked it so much that I gave it to him..." she said slowly.

Someone's person item, that could be bad...

"I'll give you and father another one, they match though not as special as the one you gave Clarience but it will do," I left the room.

Why did she do that? She never did anything like that? My room was sparkling clean. I walked over to the jewelry box and pulled out two bracelets. I had made extra but I couldn't figure out why, but I had. I looked at the bracelets and sighed, this must of been my reason.

#27 by Xenostatica - Aug 5 2011

I struggled with myself a moment. None of this made any sense. I snapped to when there was knocking on the door down stairs.

"Ay yes, you can come in," I could hear my father say.

I moved quickly and quiet into my parents' room. "here we go mother," I quickly placed the bracelet on her wrist. "never take this off, never give to anyone else, please listen to what I say."

My father knocked on the door, "We're coming in..."

He came in slowly and Clarience followed with a new boutique of flowers. He was just far enough behind my father for me to notice his look change from dark and frightening to smiling.

"Visitor, darling, "He said walking over to my mother. She had finished the bowl so father took the tray and handed it to me. I took that as my queue to leave.

I took the tray down stairs and said nothing. I cleaned the bowl and tray and set them to dry. I sighed as I struggled with myself. I did not want to go back up there but something said I needed to return.

I walked up the stairs and heard coughing. I rushed ahead fearful that it was my mother but my father was leaning against the wall outside their room. He looked like he was getting what my mother had. I moved next to him and attached the bracelet.

"What is this..." he seemed to be fading just as quickly.

I struggled and pulled him with me.

When I opened the door my mother looked happy and health. Clarience was sitting in the chair laughing with her.

I raised my eyebrow and said slowly, "Father has caught your illness... I'll lay him next to you, he can't stay up like this."

Clarience watched me as I moved my father to the other side of the bed and laid him down slowly.

"Clarience, you should leave now," I said busy tucking in my father.

My mother sighed, "But he is such good company..."

I glared at her a moment and she stopped, she turned to the boy who was grinning at her, "You should go my dear, you can come back and visit again." She went to reach for him and he cringed a moment and got up quickly.

"You are right ma'am," he smiled and bowed. "I will come again." He turned and walked out of the room.

I followed him down the stairs and made sure he stepped out the door.

"Do not bother coming back," I said and slammed the door.

I walked back up the stairs. I know there is something wrong with him. I searched for words and couldn't figure out what to do. I just needed to keep them away from him. I struggled to figure out what was going wrong.

The mail! I ran to mailbox quickly, I did not want him to catch me outside and alone. I grabbed everything and ran in. I searched through the bills, advertisements and invitations for parties. There before me almost like it was glowing was Virginia's letter. I hugged it tight and ran to my room.

I focused on the letter but was interrupted when my mother called me. I moved quickly and entered the room.

"You were so rude," she said with anger.

"I am sorry," I said slowly. "Father is ill and I wanted him to rest with you."

She looked different. Something was wrong. I ran over and hugged her tight. "I love you, I love father, I will protect you two I promise, no harm. I was so worried that you wouldn't get better and here you are, just rest I will take care of everything..." I could feel like something was slipping away from her and her arms were now around me.

"Oh... your father when did he?" she eyed him slowly and sighed, "works too much and gets sick, it looks bad." She reached for the phone and called the doctor. "He says do as you did with me, seeing as how it worked and all." She rubbed and stretched, "SO..."

"I already started it, you will be fine in a few days," I said. "You rest now, sleep and dream of happy things." I got up and left her with my father who was snoring now.

I sighed and grabbed the letter, I need not to think on everything right now.

The letter:

Wow,

Just wow! This is beautiful. Thank you so much. I could feel Ellen and your great wishes and cares for me. I am wearing it now as I write to you. It is wonderful. I wish that I could have been there with you two. The party didn't sound that fun.

Oh and this about your cooking?! Why have you not fed me your awesome cakes?! I am so jealous. Your hunny bunny better not get one before me! I mean it friends before boys and cakes before your hubby! Okay not really but come on.

I am ready for school now. Donald is driving me nuts. Do not worry I wrote to Ellen as well so that you both can have my time and my lovely lyrical sentences!

Do not worry as much as I hate to say it, but I am sure that he is thinking of you. Giving gifts are not taken lightly especially when it helps people. Understand that this is weird to write but I am doing it because it is you. So no worries.

Your best friend ever,

Virginia

#28 by carolynrose - Aug 5 2011

Ahhh, I can't wait to see what happens next! It makes my day every time you update.

#29 by Xenostatica - Aug 5 2011

I hugged Virginia's letter tight as I curled in bed. I felt like something terrible was wrong and even the comfort of my friend's words was not penetrating my spirit that felt drained and tired.

My cat curled up joining me in the center of the bed. His warmth and sound was the only thing that allowed me to sleep. Had it been two or three days since we took Ellen back? My mind slipped slowly into a deep sleep.

I woke up slowly and rubbed my eyes, my cat was gone and the piano was sounding down stairs. I looked down and realized I had slept in my previous day's clothing. I ran to the bathroom and washed up, slowly the warmth seeped into my body and the aches and pains melted away.

I dressed slowly trying to piece together my mind from the previous days. Something had been wrong but my mind was not focusing on it. The piano playing was beginning to bother me.

I walked down the stairs and my mother was playing the piano. My father was sitting in a chair with a book in hand.

"You are okay?" I asked as I moved closer to them.

"Of course , why would you ask that?" My father placed his book in his lap.
"Your mother wanted me to take the day off so I did, she was just playing to let my nervous relax, with you sleeping in and all I'm surprised you even got up today," he lift the book back up and continue where he left off.

My mother stopped playing for a moment, "It was a pity Ellen couldn't have stayed longer but I understand a smart girl like her has to return to her work." she then started to play again.

Something was really wrong. I noticed that their bracelets were off again.
I walked over to my father, "You weren't suppose to take the bracelet off," I moved over to my mother after that, "I told you not to."

"Oh dear we don't have to, besides tit clashed with my outfit," she said as she didn't stop.

"Where are they?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"In the room on the night stands," she directed me.

I ran up stairs and went to their room. She had been right. They both laid there. I grabbed them and stumbled down the stairs. I had tripped on my own feet and rolled down the stairs.

"OUCH!" I rubbed my head and back as I got up. I limped over to my father and slipped it around his wrist and clipped it on. Taking a moment to breath I waited for my mother to pause and then put the bracelet back on.

"Oh dear, you okay?" she said suddenly, she was looking at the back of my hand that had been holding her wrist, there was a large scrape across the top.

"Yeah, I fell is all," I said slowly.

My father got up and looked at it, "I'll get the med kit." He walked to the bathroom and soon came back with a large box. "Okay, let's see..."

I held out my hand for him and he treated the wound gently.

"There you go, no infection will happen now," he smiled as he walked away to put the med kit back in the bathroom. He said nothing else when he returned to his book.

I rushed to him and grabbed his hand away from the book, "Promise me you will never take that off. It means the world to me if you didn't. It's makes me feel like I can protect you from anything."

He sighed and looked away from our hands and smiled, "I promise."

I turned toward my mother, "Please... this is important to me...."

"Oh mail should be here," My mother said getting up to go out for it.

"I'll get it as soon as you promise," I said smiling.

She eyed me warily and sighed, "I promise even if it clashes with my clothes or if I snag it I will get it repaired."

I took their word on it and like I said I would I walked out the door to the mailbox. I didn't check anything, just grabbed it and headed for the door. I stopped for a moment and looked around. I had this eerie feeling that something was wrong. I ran back into the house, "Mother, how long have I been asleep?"

She stopped playing for a moment and smiled, "Oh you silly, three days almost, when I called the doctor he said it could have been from exhaustion so to let you sleep. It's getting so close for you to go to school and well you should be lazy for a little while, you have... a week I believe."

I stared at her for a moment in shock but recovered slowly trying to recalculate everything that had happened. We return, mom is sick, one day, day two father gets sick, day three, four or five?! I can't think of anything. I look through the mail but it only confirmed my mother's answer, then I stop. His letter is there, everything else that was wrong seemed to have melted away and I only saw the letter. I handed my father the rest of the mail and slipped my letter into my back pocket.

I was heading for the stairs when there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it," I opened it enough for me to see Clarience standing there with a wicked grin.

"Hello, Sue, could I come in?" he asked politely.

My mother yelled at me about who it was.

"Oh someone wanting to talk to me," I yelled back and pushed through the door and then shut it behind me.

"Aww can't..." then he stepped away as he looked at me, his nose wrinkled.

I glanced at him, "What's the matter?"

"Disgusting, you smell," he hissed and moved away from me.

I had bathed and there was no perfume on. "What's that got to do with anything? I told you not to return here. I made myself clear. You do not belong here. I don't know what you are or who you really are but you do not belong anywhere near me or my family," I stayed on the porch.

He glowered at me, "You are so clueless aren't you. All they need to do is take those silly things off and they are vulnerable again. SO easy to convince them, not like you or your friend..." he was trying to get close to me again but something was offending him and his face twisted. "You think you can hide at that little school wild seed, most of your kind can't handle it. You fall, the power takes you and people like me find you..." he went to reach for me but pulled away and cursed, "You were suppose to have taken that off!"

I touched my choker, "This doesn't come off, a promise made to someone I love dearly. Whatever you did to my parents won't work again." I was holding the rock in my hand and rubbing it.

His eyes widened and he snarled at me, "You smell like him... you're foolish prey if you think that he can help you. What did you do? Huh? Did you go see him? I thought I took that smell away with that kiss but it is so strong," he turned and vomited for a moment, but it wasn't normal, in fact it disappeared when it touched the ground.

I glared at him, "I don't know what you are talking about! You don't belong here!" I was standing on the threshold of my house when I could hear the neighborhood dogs starting to howl. "This is my parents' home and a thing like you desecrating it will not occur again. I forbid you from entering here even with invitation. I swear it."

His eyes flicked as he focused on me, "Using your threshold as a barrier is pretty wise, but try and actually face me. YOU got lucky... I don't know how you didn't fall for the trick. Your kind always falls to me."

"You don't have anything to offer me," I stared at him.

His grinned widen for a moment, "I have answers..." His body was shaking and he seemed to be having trouble focusing on me. "Why do you have that smell!!! You were alone, you are alone. They will forget you! They always do and when they forget no one will be able to help you when I come."

I sneered at him, "They can forget me, they can lose me, they can claim they never had me, never knew me, never loved me, but I will know the truth! I will know they loved me and cared for me, helped me grow to who I am now and that is more powerful then you realize! Family, friends, even lovers, they can try to forget but those memories will still exist."

Everything around me was spinning now. I couldn't focus on him well, I felt like I was being drained and darkness was filling my eyes. I fought back and it felt like I was losing. Sharp pain entered my mind and I struggled with what felt like bindings around my soul.

Suddenly I heard my father's voice and felt myself fall. What was going on?

When I woke up I was in bed and the doctor was looking at me. "Oh good you're awake, you just had a little anemia, made you weak, need to eat more iron, dark greens, liver, things like that," he turned to my parents and began speaking quietly to them.

I knew it wasn't that. What was he? What had happened that I needed to fight back? I watched the interaction between my parents and the doctor. They seemed genuinely worried but relieved when he explained to them what to do. Soon they walked the doctor out of my room.

My mother soon returned and was smiling, "Well that is good, you were just neglecting yourself. My fault really but that is okay." She stopped a moment and hesitated, "Oh you were gripping these when we found you..." she handed me the unopened letter and the stone, "Well you should rest now..."

I stared at the items and hugged them.

#30 by icekat725 - Aug 5 2011

hmmm...I wonder who this Clarience boy really is...Possibly... Damien in disguise?

#31 by Kabutos_daughter - Aug 5 2011

OH god this story is sooo good! I've played the Grabby path so many times and I still love it >w< You HAVE to keep writing it! D:<

I dunno about Damien being the piano boy it sounds more like the genie thing that attacks us when we try to rescue grabby o.o the way it makes you feel weak and fainish. ;D who knows maybe Grabby will come to the rescue!

#32 by icekat725 - Aug 5 2011

Kabutos_daughter:

OH god this story is sooo good! I've played the Grabby path so many times and I still love it >w< You HAVE to keep writing it! D:<

I dunno about Damien being the piano boy it sounds more like the genie thing that attacks us when we try to rescue grabby o.o the way it makes you feel weak and fainish. ;D who knows maybe Grabby will come to the rescue!

Really? But isnt the Manus not supposed to attack a member of the Grabiner famliy? Since Ms. Potsdam supposedly convinced the Manus that Sue is a member of Prof Grabiner's family since they had gotten married.
Hmm...well, then im not sure. We'll just have to wait and see what happens (on another note: "manus" means "manuscript" in norwegian o.o and also...the suspense is KILLING me! *stalks email inbox for notification)

#33 by Xenostatica - Aug 6 2011

I took a deep breath and laid back. What had happened? I thought back and scenes flashed before my eyes but I could really tell. Professor Potstdam had talked about during the semester about there being other things out there, but I thought the spells she cast on us before we left were meant to protect us.

My thinking was broken with the sound of my door to my room slamming open. My father came in with his face stern and irritated with my mother following after him.

"Father?" I asked startled and holding myself back from screaming or shouting my hands instinctively went to the letter.

"Give it to me," he growled.

"What? It is mine," I said staring at him and switching looking back and forth.

"Corresponding with your professor like this is wrong, give it to me," he held out his hand.

I stared right at my mother, "Why don't you read it out loud for all of us, so we can actually hear what my professor has so irresponsibly written to me."

My father looked at me in surprise, "WHat?"

"Read it out loud, I haven't read it and I am dying to know what was so wrong with what I did," I glared at him now, "You say he did something wrong show me what it was! YOU DON'T TRUST ME SO SHOW ME!!!"

#34 by icekat725 - Aug 6 2011

Things are firing up in here and theyre about to boil over....Keep it up! =D

#35 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 6 2011

Ah! Yoi're teasing us! Lol I really hope the next part comes soon. You really left us wanting more. Great job!

#36 by Xenostatica - Aug 6 2011

He jumped away from me as I shouted, he took the letter opener off my desk and tore at the letter clumsily. He stared at my mother before opening it and pulled out several sheets of paper.

The letter:

Dear Ms. Sue,

I appreciate you taking the time out of your break to write to me worried about your friend. I know that her staying at this school does not allow one to truly get away and have solitude but this was why she was allowed to spend that week with you.

I have heard over and over again about how your cooking was delightful and I must confess that the cupcake was delicious. I appreciate your kindness of giving Ms. Ellen several so that she could share.

I have included the lists for your school supplies for the next year and also the letter that your parents are suppose to sign for your permission for taking trips this year.

Sincerely
Professor Grabiner

My father looked over at my mother with a look of guilt.

My tears weld up in my eyes as I struggled to hide my disappointment but relief of the letter, "Are you happy?!" the tears steamed down my cheeks, "You see what was so inappropriate was that? TELL ME!"

My mother backed up slowly, "Nothing..."

My father handed to me the letter back to me, "Please, I'm sorry."

My tears weren't stopping now and neither was I, "This whole summer it has been about prosecuting me for anything, I could do nothing right, I learned to play the piano, I cooked, cleaned, stayed out of the way when you wanted to do things, I EVEN PLAYED WAITRESS AT YOUR ANNIVERSARY! Was there any chance that you were just going to accept me for what I was?"

My father stepped toward me and my mother grabbed his arm to stop him, "We were just worried that you would do something..."

"Oh I have done a lot of things but nothing is right so there was no reason to share with you any of it," I said trying to wipe my face. "This teacher was nice enough to help me with my friend! It had nothing to do with my crush on him! Now you know don't you! He was helping so that I wouldn't worry. I worry about everyone instead of myself which can lead to neglect of my own needs. When you asked I told you, I didn't hide anything that needed to be known, and I gave you all of my trust... it looks like I didn't get that in return..." I tried to get up but my legs were still weak. My father went to give me his hand and I knocked it away. "Sign the paper for my permission and get out!" I struggled by myself and got to my feet and stumbled to my desk where I pulled out the pen for them.

They said nothing as they signed the paper and left quietly.

I sat at the desk and cried myself back to sleep. I was so despicable at the same time so weak and helpless.

The dreams flooded in and I couldn't fight them.

The first, there was Clarience standing before me and he was tugging at something. As I focused there was a string attached to my throat. As he tugged it got tighter around and I was soon unable to breath. He held scissors before me and told me to cut the string if I wanted to live. I knocked the scissors away and began pulling the string. It was red... it was attached to someone else... I could feel them tugging back. I looked back at Clarience and he was struggling to grab the string but he would get a slice on a part of his body every time he tried to cut it. I was soon rolling on the ground fighting with him to get the scissors.

The next was me wondering somewhere. The lights were beautiful. As they lit the way I realized I was in the forest, there was a lake near by and the lights were dancing to music that I couldn't hear. Wisp-o-will, I turned to run from what I just saw but was blocked by something and could hear laughing as I ran away.

The third, there was darkness and I could feel someone holding my hand and pulling me one way and then another had my foot and pulling me that way, each limb was being tugged into a different direction and as I struggled the more they tugged and then before me stood Clarience. I gasped as he had a hand on his shoulder but it was not a true hand it was like a form made of a shadow... I fought more and more as I realized he had something in his hands that glimmered.

I woke up screaming. I jumped up trying to figure out where I was and soon began to focus on the sound of knocking that was coming from my door.

"Sue?" my mother was calling to me.

"I'm fine, don't bother, I had a nightmare," I picked up my chair and looked around my room. My worry/wish dolls were on the floor, I must have knocked them off of the desk as I dreamed. I slowly picked them up and placed them back in their box. Those were not good dreams.

I grabbed the dream dictionary off of my shelf. The wisps I had already knew from my white magic class about them and if Clarience was actually a shadow man I was in deep trouble but what was that string that seemed like it was attached to someone else.

I dropped the book when I finished the description, "Red string of fate..."

I looked over at the letter that Grabiner had sent me and I had to rub my eyes as I looked at the forms and the letter, they had changed. Something was different about these letters. I was unsure if my eyes were still playing tricks on me. I grabbed the letters, I didn't want to see what my parents had signed so I stuck it back into the envelope but the other two had writing on them.

I took a deep breath and tried to figure out if I wanted to know what he written, what my parents had read before had broken my heart. I had been hoping for maybe a confession or something to that. I struggled slowly to turn to the first page, my hands were shaking as I searched for the beginning.

Dear Sue,

The items were just simply to help you focus. They really are simple items that parents often give to their children to relax them enough to help them sleep but I am glad that they were able to help you.

I would have actually known if you had slipped up and informed her anything dealing with our world. As you know from stories when one of the wild seeds do something like this they would not be returning and knowing your roommates you have been told what truly happens. This is why we do certain things, to prevent accidental crossover. I am glad that you were willing to tell me what really happened. I appreciate your openness.

I will inform you that your dear friend, Ellen, through no choice of my own has constantly explained what happened. Even after reading your letter she has chosen to repeat that it isn't your fault. Is it truly so hard to believe that a truly honest and attractive woman like yourself could draw attention to yourself? Understand that you do stand out, even I knew this on the first day that we met. You are a wild seed and fit the horse hall appropriately. Your spirit is like a beacon to many, especially those who feel weak or wish guidance.

Do not truly worry about that kiss, even his attempt to make it more then it was would have not broken anything that is our connection. Your honesty of not having any emotion for him prevents any damage to this situation we are in. Fear not.

Your parents are lost right now. You have become a woman that they were not expecting. You are far more mature then they probably were expecting when you returned. This could have been because of situation at school or that you have come to realize who you are, that doesn't matter. You are strong and understanding. Your willingness to take the punishments that they don't mean to give you show that your kindness is never ending. I hope that you try talking to them as you might regret it later on. Take this as advice from someone who is speaking from experience.

There is no reason for embarrassment. We are corresponding as any other people who wish to learn about each other would. Do not regret telling me anything that is bothering you, but do understand that I may not be able to answer all of your problems. I will promise that I will listen to you no matter what though.

I appreciate the charm that you have made. It is actually a very interesting thing that you have made me. I believe that you have found a niche that you can expand on. I have decided to you this item as a bookmark. It would be interesting if you tried to study on this and write a paper on it. Actually I am not as familiar with this type of magic I will inform Professor Potstdam your interest in this and I am sure she would be glad to guide you.

I do have to say that your knowledge of baking is amazing. I understood that you tried to explain to Ellen how to make my favorite tea. I will have to say that I appreciate you trying to take care of me even when you are far away, but please do not ask her to try to make tea again. I did not know that you could set tea leaves on fire, though this might have happened because she tried to do this in the lab late in the evening when we were waiting on a reaction that we were testing. Tea does not taste the same out of a beaker. In the end we had the cupcake and some cold chi that I had made earlier. I realized that you made each cake specific to each of us. Ellen's was bright yellows and pinks, Professor Potstdam was decorated with flowers and purple, while mine was deep browns and reds, I assume you would think I would not eat such an item decorated in very expressive manner and I appreciate the modernist decorating you did on my cake. The detail was beautiful and I understand that you had done this in the middle of the night I appreciate your kindness to create beautiful works of arts to match our personalities.

As you can see that I have allowed my pen to run away with my thoughts. Now that you can see that I have been thinking of you, I will say no more.

My thoughts are with you,

Hieronymous

I was on the second page when I finished reading his name. My heart started pounding, he had changed his ending!!! What was this all this writing?

Suddenly something hit me hard. His letter had been in my back pocket when Clarience had come. I flashed back and my head started to pound as I heard his voice say it, "you smell like him!!" I struggled with the sudden realization. Hieronymous?! WAS HE TALKING ABOUT HIM?? Why would Clarience know?! I mean after all that I know he wasn't human but but but...

I looked out of my window to see that the moon was shining bright. I stood up and walked over to the sill where I leaned against the side. The kiss was suppose?! Did he know about ... I began pacing back and forth in my room. The knock on the door snapped me back.

"Yes?" i struggled not to sound freaked out by my sudden realization of my situation.

"I just wanted to apologize," my father said from the other side of the door.

"Come in," I said slowly, the two words felt like they took a while to be completed.

He walked in slowly he was carrying something in his hand, it had been wrapped in black gift wrap paper and had a bright red bow on it. "I have not been kind to you these weeks and now that you will be going back in four days I have not tried to fix what I did wrong," he held out the present. "We missed your birthday and didn't even bother to send you anything or even write that we thought of you..." he struggled with his words. "Look, you really don't need us anymore we have come to accept that..."

I looked at him in surprise, I hadn't tried to unwrap the gift in my hand, "Children will always need their parents even when they hate them. Even at their worst a child will still look to the parent and hope for something from them even if that parent is cruel and terrible, we all look for acceptance, some of us just find it somewhere else in the end and stop looking for it," my comment hurt, I could see his shoulders slump.

"We had just expected you to be like your old friends, happy, fun, sneaking out to party and have boys over," he said softly and struggled with his hands, he was unsure of what to do with them now that they were empty, "but you were special, something different and we didn't appreciate it. Your friends and even your teacher understands you better then we do... I'm sorry."

I put the present down and walked over to him and hugged him tight, "I'm sorry that I was not what you expected, but I appreciate that you understand that I am different and that I need this school to help me. Thank you for not trying to talk me into being something I am not."

He smiled softly, "It's just a little something..." He turned and walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

I took the present and sat quietly and fought with myself about opening the item before me. My cat made the choice for me as he played with the ribbon he tore the paper a little. I took that as a sign an slowly pulled away the paper. Next was the cardboard box that hide the item from me and I slowly opened the box. I then pulled out a small box that I open revealing a ring with a sapphire set in the middle. I stared at it for a moment and then slipped it onto my right hand.

The warmth that came off the ring told me that they had really hoped this would make me feel what they couldn't say. I smiled softly and got up slowly to go down stairs.

As I got down stairs I could hear my mother in the kitchen and my father was sitting in his car reading, they were doing exactly what they would do for the rest of their lives. I smiled softly and realized that this was really what they would be doing and they were so happy.

#37 by icekat725 - Aug 6 2011

*does back flips* this. is. AWESOME. =D but still...I must know who this Clarience-douche boy is! *happily waits for the next installment of awesomeness and suspense and mysteriousness*

*disappears into a puff of smoke because im a NINJA*

#38 by carolynrose - Aug 6 2011

Hehe, even with how fast you update, I still find myself anxiously waiting for the next installment. I just have to know how Clarience fits into all of this and what his problem is with Sue and Grabiner.

#39 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 6 2011

I LOVE it! Lol I'm reading this at work and couldn't stop a little giggle coming out when I was reading his letter! Everyone just looked at me like WHAT??? I can clearly imagine Ellen trying to make grabby tea and catching it on fire!!

#40 by Xenostatica - Aug 6 2011

(It is actually really hard for me to write his letters. First off I have to fight off the desire to make him gush over her!!! Simply because he would not to such a thing but wouldn't it be sweet to make him lose control over the woman he could be his soul mate!!! <3 I am such a hopeless romantic.)

I smiled and walked past both my parents and went out the back door to look at the sky. The silence of the night made my mind clear, which could be a bad thing as something suddenly occurred to me.

I ran inside to my father, "I will need to overnight a letter... would you take it to the office on your way to work? I must have it get to the school in time and begging someone to take me is out of the question."

He looked at me startled, "Yes..."

"Great!" I ran upstairs and slid into my chair and grabbed some paper.

My cat jumped into my lap which gave me some comfort because right now I was scared. When I faced Clarience I must of not used any magic because no one has contacted me or anything in that manner. The problem was that what if Clarience slipped past the spell because he had been invited before the spell was cast!

Hieronymous,

This is urgent. I have a trouble realization that has come to my mind. Even in the situation dealing with the school and us being sent home with the protection spell could something get past it?

I write this in fear of something terrible thought. Clarience was not human. I can tell you that, I am not so familiar with what is out there to tell you what he is. His sense of smell was affected by your letter that I had hid in my back pocket which caused him a terrible discomfort. I am making no sense and I must apologies because right now I am rather hysterical.

He knew a way around the spell, my mother said that he had been sent here to be in summer school, many schools were out before I returned to my parents home. She had already been teaching him... do you see what I am saying? He had already been invited in!! He had passed the threshold of my parents' home and had passed in and out with no trouble.

I have face him alone. Please understand it was an emergency, my parents were being affected by his nature... I don't know if that is the best I can do but they were sick. He even wiped that memory from them. As I write this, all is coming to my mind as is making sense. No one noticed him till he was in the peripheral vision, he was like a shadow and was only truly noticeable when one focused on him.

I took away the permission of entering the threshold, with my parents in their own world of the spell I was given lead of the house and so the power to take away permission. Though I am not so sure it actually works that way but he believed it so it must worked for now. He couldn't touch me because of the charm that Ellen made for me, it protected me from his touch and when he attempted to... bind my soul... is the best I can describe it, your letter and the stone allowed me to focus and fight it.

Sue

I signed the letter, sealed the envelope with a kiss in hopes that it would help get the letter to him faster and maybe he wouldn't be angry with me.

I ran down stairs and handed it to my father, "please don't forget. I need this to reach the school, it is too important and I can't..." I could see as he took the letter that he was wearing the bracelet and I calmed down, "It must get there because I need a question answered."

My father nodded and put the letter in the book. "I never forget my book for work and so I will leave it in here. I will go to bed and make sure I get up on time... though an awesome coffee cake for breakfast could possibly..."

I smiled, "You are right if you are going to make the messenger work hard, you must pay a good price." I walked to the kitchen and began to work on the reward. This would help anyway I need to not think about any of it. There were going to be three days left but I needed this to get to him in time.

#41 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 6 2011

I completely understand what you mean. I am a hopeless romantic as well. You've done a great job in his letters. I can't say that I practice the same restraint in my story. I fully plan on having him fall head over heels in love with my Sue! You definitely have a talent for captivating us with your story.

#42 by callas - Aug 6 2011

Just when I thought the tension couldn't get higher, it just turned up a notch.


I just love reading this.

#43 by icekat725 - Aug 7 2011

I agree with you when you say its hard to write his letters. I mean, im not even sure how to write things in a formal manner. At all.
but your doing a great job =D
and this is really making my night (its...2:30 am here in norway o.o)

and the tension has risen to over 9000- *gets hit on the back of the head with a book by my friend* ...dammit, i shouldnt mention the over 9000 joke when she is here.... TT-TT

#44 by icekat725 - Aug 7 2011

Ladygothika87:

I completely understand what you mean. I am a hopeless romantic as well. You've done a great job in his letters. I can't say that I practice the same restraint in my story. I fully plan on having him fall head over heels in love with my Sue! You definitely have a talent for captivating us with your story.

Write it. Write it and i will love you forever (as a fan o.o)


*akaward silence*

the akaward silence strikes again!

#45 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

After I finished the coffee cake I felt terrible, weak and exhausted. I wiped my forehead and felt myself sweating. I coughed softly and was feeling woozy as I tried to get back on my feet.

My mother had just come in to grab a snack when she noticed me and ran to me. Her voice was becoming simple sounds and I couldn't distinguish the letters from each other. She forced some medicine down my throat and called for my father to care me to my room.

Once in the bed I could feel some of my sense come back and I sat up slowly, I managed to tell them, "I am really okay, probably just a summer cold, I mean I did manage to drop my immune system enough... the medicine should help. I'll sleep for now. Father please deliver the letter..." I slid back into the bed and tried to fall asleep.

They had left me at one point in the night.

I was surprised that when I awoke startled from the dreams I was having. I reached under my pillow and realized the dolls weren't there. I struggled to get up and make it to my desk. Quickly I grabbed his letters, the stone and the dolls and went back to my bed. As I settled in I could feel the stress on my body slowly lift and my body seemed to cool itself.

The feeling of my friends and husband was thinking of me in their own way I felt a wash of warmth slid into the coldness and I fell into a deep slumber.

I awoke to knocking on my door. My mother was calling me and I got up and opened the door. I still had a fever but I felt more together now. "Yes, mother?"

"There is someone here from the school..." she said slowly. "Professor Potstdam is her name..."

I struggled to get clothing on, "What time is it?"

"It's about six in the evening..." she said unsure. "You father sent the letter out this morning, that is some service. I will need to remember them for Christmas when I need to send presents," she laughed nervously. "She wants to take you back tonight... your father isn't home yet so..."

"I will talk with her, but it might be important for her to take me tonight," I said slowly, "It might be because of the work I have been doing with Ellen, mom if that is the case this is important... I will see if we can wait till father comes home so I tell you both bye appropriately." Once dressed I took a few breathes the fever was still lingering and made me uncomfortable.

Professor Potstdam was sitting on the couch quietly waiting. She was bubbly and happy as ever but a sense of sternness was flowing off of her.

"Professor," I said softly, "Would you like some tea?"

"Oh dear that would be lovely," she said turning to me and answering, her eyes widen as she saw me.

I nodded and walked past her to the kitchen, "What brings you, ma'am?"

She answered from her spot, "Your paper that Professor Grabiner sent to me was a wonderful study and I wished to get you started sooner then when school started. Ellen was excited once she read it and supported the idea of bringing you earlier, so I have come on behalf of the school."

I sighed, he had let Ellen and Potstdam read the letter, that was not good they were all worried. Another knock at the door snapped me out of my worry.

"Sue, could you make more tea?" my mother asked as she came into the kitchen.

I held myself together and smiled at her, "Sure, there is still cake, why not take that out?" I added more water to the kettle.

She took it out and there were several voices. My mother was the loudest talking about how gifted I was and how she always new I would do great things.

Professor Potstdam came into the kitchen and stood next to me for a moment before I realized that she was there, "Here..." I could feel her hand wipe my forehead with a napkin or cloth, but the feeling seemed to make the fever go away. "You should feel a bit better now..." suddenly she said in a happy voice, "Where are you napkins dear?"

"Oh right here," I handed her a hand full and smiled. "Thanks..."

She returned to the living room.

I looked over at the clock my father would be home soon.

I put several cups on the tray and added the tea to the kettle before taking it out there. The steeping would need to be for a few minutes before drinking but it would take me a little while to get over there.

#46 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 7 2011

Professor Potsdam to the rescue!!! Yay! I was kinda hoping it would be grabby but it's nice to have another face from the game. Can't wait for more!

#47 by icekat725 - Aug 7 2011

Woot! =D enter: the most epic professor/headmistress ever! If she were to enter a competition for the best headmaster of a school, she would tear out Dumbledore's beard and hang it on a wall as a trophy =D

...yeah, Ms. Potsdam is major win.

=D

#48 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

As I entered the living room I noticed the two young men with Potstdam now sitting on the couch. They didn't look familiar but they were very nice looking with suits and hats that were off and sitting on the table.

My mother smiled, "Sue, these gentlemen will be taking your stuff to the car after you have packed up."

I took that as a signal to get everything together for the school. I pulled all my bags from under the bed and began packing. It was actually not hard to decide what was going with me because I knew since I got home what was going back with me. I carefully packed everything that had been unpacked, all my robes, the books, and my jewelry making kits, both of them, I was careful about how everything went in. His letters were carefully placed into one of my books. I looked around and sighed as I watched my cat yawn and stretch out on the bed and meow at me.

"You can take him if you want..." Potstdam voice came from behind me.

"What?" I said in surprise. "I don't know...my parents and ..."

She put her hand on me and smiled, "Go ahead take him, he is a familiar to you so I would suggest it. Besides leaving them with him they might have more trouble with this."

I smiled weakly and went to the hall closet and grabbed his kennel and went into the room and set it out for him.

"If he gets in then he wants to go," I said turning away from him and didn't call. I could hear him as he went in. I looked over at Potstdam and she was smiling softly.

"He can't stay in your room yet but we can make him extremely comfortable when he is there... maybe he can stay with someone that might enjoy his company," she said it in such a kind manner.

I took the carrier and my bags down the stairs. I set them by the door.

My father had come while I was packing. He was sitting and talking to the men about the times and history and much of many things that I am sure that didn't interest them, but they were kind and drank the tea and nodded at him to show they were listening. When he noticed me he got up and rushed over to hug me.

"Congrats on you doing all that work," he was grinning wide and his had patting my back was a sign he was content with the events.

Everyone stayed for dinner and my mother made a big meal. It was kind of Potsdam to allow us a meal together even with her joining us everyone seemed to be in grand spirits.

After the meal and a sweet dessert the men packed my things and my cat.

Professor turned to my parents, "I truly apologize for taking her so early but one must do much now to get ahead in this world. I can't let one of my best not be recognized for her greatness because of a summer break." She shook my parents hands and hugged my mother for more of an effect and then went to the car.

I took this as my time to say my good byes. I hugged my parents tight and kissed them both on the cheek. I had been expecting them to protest, give way to anger or say something unkind, but none of this occurred. I took this as a sign that they were letting me go. Tears ran down my cheek as I walked away from them and got in the car. I had tissues on me just in case and was glad to have planned ahead.

#49 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

I sat quietly as we left town. I had know clue what to say or do with this sudden appears of Potsdam.

"It was right to have written the letter," she said suddenly. "The men found many trances of troubles and spells cast around the perimeter of your parents' home. You had taken great care I see and made as much protection in the house possible."

I sat unsure and spoke with a little fear in my voice, "I didn't know I was just... I did what I could. I had no way..."

She smiled at me softly, "My child you most likely didn't know you were even putting up such protections for your parents. You are truly so kind and worried about others that you forget yourself. The fever and sickness that you had when I came was you losing energy as the creature was testing the boundaries of your spells. It was still around though not visible to you. I believe when it sensed the men that it left."

"Why?" I asked twisting my hands over and over.

"Because you are a beacon, my dear, and given that you are of the house of Grabiner that makes you more of a pleasant prey," she said as she explained it to me. It was as if this was a bit fun for her, "I knew you had potential of being something more. Now you must understand that I needed to do this."

I looked at her, "What?"

"Your husband was quite worried about you," Potsdam smiled at me, a warmth that seemed to touch even the darkest parts of my soul, "He would have come but I needed to stop him as I don't believe that he would have been as controlled as I. You see your parents were quite pleasant when I informed them of your greatness but I have a feeling that you confiding in him about the true nature of how they had been that he might not of held back. Though I wonder if that is because...never mind dear my mind runs wild with much and I get lost in thought." She sat quietly for a while and we both took the silence as a comfort.

She had stopped him from coming for me, I smiled at the thought though I think she might be exaggerating on the whole experience it was still nice to think that he wished to protect me.

"I believe, Hieronymous will not mind taking your friend," she said suddenly. "It would make it easier for him to adjust if he had someone around that he could just be comfortable and would allow you to visit him with easy. Yes, I will make that arrangement when I get back." She was smiling to herself as she thought on it.

"I wouldn't want him to be bothered with my cat," I said with a little shock in my voice. "I know my cat isn't super active or ...."

"Silly girl, who do you think was protecting your parents when you were away?" Potsdam said and stroked my hair softly.

"But now that he is with me..." I gasped at the thought.

"Do not worry my child, they are fine," she said thinking on it. "The wards are now up and they will be safe. This situation though has made me take a second look at the wild seed's protection for their families. You were correct in worrying about the protection spell and it not working. I believe we found something that figured a way around this and I need this to be fixed." Her face was serious, "You have made for an interesting student so far and you haven't even started your next semester yet!" She had a hardy laugh and slapped me on the knee, "You will keep this lively for all of us involved, you truly are of the horse hall!"

#50 by callas - Aug 7 2011

One tension goes down ... and there's a new one...
When are they gonna meet again?

Keep it up.

#51 by icekat725 - Aug 7 2011

*sqees uncomprehensable words* this is awesome! I wonder how Prof Grabiner is gonna react when he sees Sue again...

#52 by carolynrose - Aug 7 2011

Heh, everything is so cuute. I can't wait to see Grabiner and Sue's "reunion"

#53 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

I was surprised by her reaction to everything that was going on. I had feared that she would be angry or annoyed. I was a wild seed and this made me wonder if they were prepared for this crazy mess that had become my life. I was in a mess of confusion as we made our trip home.

This had become true. Home was school and school was now home. I felt completely relaxed with the situation and not disappointed.

"Oh how appropriate that you have that ring!" Potsdam said as she looked over at my right hand. "You parents were wise to give you such a stone. You are associated with protection and healing, your powers have seemed to follow that light and now you wear such a symbol on your right hand."

"My parents gave it to me as a late present," I said as I looked at the ring on my hand. "I doubt they knew what we associate it with."

"Child, parents are careful in what they buy their offspring. I tell you now that your parents were careful in picking that ring. Whether it is your birthstone or that they associated its beauty with you doesn't not matter. There was a special meaning," she was very clear in speaking about this. "Your parents knew this symbolized you and you wear it now. You are probably a woman who shied away from such items and yet you wear a choker of protection and now a ring of such a manner, my dear child, things happen for reasons." She shifted in her seat and reached over to the ring and touched it gently, "May nothing happen to these symbolize."

I smiled, I remember when I was young my mother told me to touch things that I was looking at so that I would not to wish bad on them. Evil eye or something like Ojo... but even here people follow that thought. I felt comfortable with the thought that someone else knew of this and did something to follow the superstition as well. I smiled at her, "thank you for that..."

She smiled back as the answer. She then looked out the window. "Oh good we are almost at the end of our journey for now. Ellen will be up worried about you," she said absently. "You should go rest, you are still recovering from the illness and right now you look as if the fever is coming back. I will get something together to give you when we get back and bring it in the morning. No worries."

I chuckled, "I feel as if I couldn't sleep right now. I mean my cat will need comfort after this ride..."

"No worries, Ellen will take you and you rest," she said sternly.

I was surprised with her voice, "Yes you are right."

I leaned back for the rest of the drive and listened to the silence of the car. I enjoyed the peace of mind that I had right now. Everything seemed to melt away and I could dream comfortable, but shot awake.

"Professor, what is the red string?" I turned toward her.

"Ah yes, it is fate's string for loved ones, Asian cultures believe that the ends are connected to those who are destined for each other," she said as she also seemed to have relaxed and was leaning back with her eyes closed. "Why?"

"I dreamed of it," I said slowly, I was unsure if I should tell her but I needed someone with knowledge of this, "In the dream, that creature was trying to cut it away and I fought it. When I tugged the string someone tugged back but I didn't see the person it was attached to..."

"Of course not my little duckling," she said with amusement in her voice, "If he is not near you, he will not be visible, you can only sense each other, not see each other."

"Will I know if that person is near?" I was nervous asking her now.

"Oh you'll know..." she chuckled, "He will show himself... though don't be surprised... the other person might be unwilling to accept this fate. Not to blame them. The world likes to catch us off guard. Enjoy the fact that they are near enough to have them tug back on the string."

The sound of the vehicle turning off caught me off guard.

"Oh we are here," she said getting up.

I followed suite and got out of the car. The darkness that was around us was not fearful but something of enjoyment. I looked around and noticed we were not in front of the school.

"No worries," she said as she saw my face.

"Sue!!!" Ellen ran up and hugged me tight. "Let's go in." She dragged me away and through the halls.

I was unsure of where we were and tried to look around.

"No," Ellen said and continued to pull me along. "We have to get you to bed. You are burning up. I didn't know it could get bad...." She was soon fighting with a key and opening a door.

I smiled at her, " Professor Potsdam had put a spell to get me through the whole trip back but I think..." I was now slurring my words.

"Now, now," she had a bowl of water ready and she wiped away my sweat. "I know about everything it is okay. Just sleep. Here," she handed me something and a glass of water, "Take this and sleep. It is already early morning but you need sleep."

I took what she gave me and felt myself slip into a peaceful darkness. I was lost in it. The calm of it was wonderful. I felt no danger as I wandered through the darkness that I had been forced into.

"Sue?" Ellen's voice called me.

"Yes?" I got up slowly.

"You need to get up, it's almost noon and you can't sleep the whole time in that darkness, it can be bad," she said as she put something on my bed. "Let's go take a shower and go see Potsdam when we are done."

She helped me up and led me to the bathrooms and I managed to get cleaned up and dressed. She had actually joined me in the showers and talked to me about how her research was going and about setting the tea on fire, which caused me to burst into laughter. I apologized soon after and she finished telling me about everything that had been going on.

"When we got your letter..." she stopped a moment.

"We?" I was drying off when she said this.

"Well, Grabiner was with me in the lab when the letter came," she said it carefully. "You scared him..."

"Scared him?" I pulled the towel off my head, I was feeling good.

"Sue, you know that we don't do magic out where people could possibly be seen and when he read about you protecting your parents, well that cause him to get alerted because no one had said anything about anyone preforming such acts outside," she was close to me. "You were casting with no way of setting of the warning system. You had gotten around the system and if that was the truth then you were in danger..."

I stared at her as she said that, "But I never..."

"No, not conscientiously," she said. "That is a bad flaw in the system. I mean you did everything for other people so what if other could do the same? There was a terrible trouble with that!"

I smiled weakly, "Who knows... it was..."

"Sue, you are doing okay because Potsdam came in as you slept and cast some green magic on you," she said slowly. "when we go you will probably have to take medicine for the problem. You were casting so much magic you were draining yourself. Do you get what I am saying?"

I shook my head at her.

"It was killing you because you were using your spirit to keep everyone safe!" she yelled at me, "You were killing yourself! You didn't even realize it because you put those...."

"my parents," I said softly. "Look Ellen," I hugged her tight, "I didn't know that it was that serious."

She was crying on my shoulder, "Why do you not... the whole reason you are married is because you put someone before you!!!! You have done it again... you won't learn will you!!!"

I sighed, "I promise to be more careful, i just act because I think people can't help themselves so someone must. I'm sorry Ellen I think about everyone else before myself but I don't think about what happens if what I do takes me away from those who love me..."

She was wiping her face now. "It's okay," she forced a smile, "You are just you and it can't be helped but please please please think about this. You risked everything again for someone else."

I nodded and she took my hand as she guided me to Potsdam's office.

#54 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

When we entered her office, there was the sweet smell of desserts coming from behind her door. Ellen knocked and she bit us to come in.

"My little ducklings, come sit," she was extremely calm. "Have some tea, Sue you will need to take this..." she got up and handed me a small bottle, "Add it to your tea as it will taste terrible straight." She returned back to her desk after grabbing a cup of tea and a small dessert on a plate.

I followed her instructions and took a sip, I started coughing.

"I guess it still tastes terrible even in the tea..." she smiled sweetly at me, "I would then suggest drinking it quickly and finishing it all so you can take a bit of a dessert to take that taste out of your mouth."

I took hold of my nose and chugged the whole cup down. My facial express must of been funny as Ellen busted out laughing and Potsdam seemed to be holding back from laughing as well but her shoulders moved up and down silently.

"Good," she said when I grabbed for a cookie and chomped down on it quickly. "That should renew most of what you lost while keeping your guard up this whole time."

I looked at her as I choked down the dry lump in my throat, "Most?"

"Yes, well it will all come back being around those who care about you," she said gesturing toward Ellen and smiled, "This is a slow process as you wasted a lot of yourself caring about others. I am sure by looking at Ellen that she has given you an earful already but I will have to stress it to you about the danger you had been in." She took a breath, "Also I won't be the last one to talk to you so I warn you be ready for a harsh conversation after this," she then gestured and I heard someone clear their throat.

I knew better then to turn around for the moment and gulped rather loudly. I recognized that clearing sound and I was in deep trouble. He was stand behind the chairs and away from me.

"You had diminished all of your energy and was actually using your life force to keep everything up that you had weaved for the protection spells that surrounded your home," she smiled weakly, "You had some how built on top of that which I had begun. You were fixing and restitching on top of spell and spell. You even managed to weave even more inside the house. Speaking with Professor Grabiner I have found that none of us had taught this to you. In the face of things that is amazing that you had managed to do this on your own, but also in looking at the facts that you couldn't stop makes me worry as well. This shows that you have a grand talent but that you are still very much weak to know how to control it. This is understandable because you are still a student and no one expects you to have a great knowledge of everything. I do admire the fact that you realized you needed help and was willing to get in trouble to fix something that had happened. Please understand that I am not getting angry at you. You are not at fault for this. In fact, we can say that this is my fault, a lack of checking has made a possible opening in protecting my students." She looked rather said, "This could have ended worse then it has. With a student like you, we are thankful for it happening to you..."

Ellen gasped, "Professor..."

"It was better this way as you were smart and quick on your feet, had it been someone else I fear that they would be dead right now," she said this with sadness in her voice.

"It has happened before," I said slowly, her eyes snapped at me quickly. "It would have looked like the student was just playing with their magic, but it had said that he had done this before..." I took a deep breath, "I know he could have been lying but..."

"It is true that is possible," she said stopping me. "We may have not known and that is the worst part about all of this. I will be working on fixing this and several others will be helping me with this." She had gotten up and moved over to some books and pulled one out and looked at it, "Sue you will be taking special classes with me from now on."

Ellen gasped, "What?"

"Ms. Ellen please understand that you skills are closely related to Professor Gabiner's skills and Sue's skills have fallen more to my side, this is not a terrible thing," she said walking over and handing me a book, "In fact it is a wonder that such a girl was not noticed before. Your skills at making charms and protection spells are amazing, I don't even know if I could have done what you did at your age," she was excited now, "So these classes will happen away from the usual school times. This will cause some talk but this is the risk from preventing you from possibly killing yourself."

I stared in surprise," I didn't..."

"You are right you didn't do it on purpose and I am glad you didn't because we would be having a different conversation right now," she smiled at me. "So now that this is what is happening. We are done..." she nodded to the person in the back of the room.

"Ms. Ellen, you can take the rest of the day off," Professor Grabiner said as he came to stand between our seats. "Sue will be with me for a time and so will need you after our talk, I assume." Ellen had been looking at him when he spoke and I opted to watch Potsdam instead who was grinning at me with something like a mother would at her daughter who had done something irresponsibly and was going to have to wait for the punishment.

I gulped as Ellen got up and left. Professor Grabiner had taken her place in the seat and when the door closed Professor Potsdam now sat straight and looked like she was going to prep herself before a long speech.

#55 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

"Hieronyous, please understand that for the sake of not sounding terribly worried about how you will handle this, she did not do anything wrong." Potsdam said with a grin on her face. "You wife is still quite young, though skilled, you would not have known this would happen if she returned home. She is brilliant witch already and needs guidance and help."

I could hear his sigh, "This is why we should make it so that the wild seeds are to stay here at the school. We need to watch them. If it had not been Sue and the student had died, what then? We are luck that..." he stopped a moment and looked over at me with a stern face, "That she was willing to tell me anything. She could have kept it to herself! Even I had not thought it was anything but a little boy pining for something he could not have..."

I was surprised by his comment, pining boy?

"I understand that Hieronyous, but everything is working out. Sue here is extremely skilled and simply needs to learn control, that is more I can say for you when you were that age..." she had rested her head on her hands.

"We are not talking of me right now," he growled at her. "This is serious. I would have lost everything if her light had gone out... I was not there to do what I had promised. Did you not think on this?! Allowing her to go home could have..."

Had he just been worried about losing his magic, I felt something sting in my chest and a sigh escaped my lips.

He looked over at me a moment and then continued, "She maybe skilled but really this shouldn't be a surprise that this happened. I mean how are the parents to know the danger of something disguising itself as a child? Her mother teaches how is it odd to be asked to do something like this over the summer?" He moved slightly in his chair to place his elbows on his knees. "She was lucky that she recognized that something was terribly wrong. If it was a shadow man then she is lucky that he had not tried something in front of others."

"Hieroynous, you are being childish, shadow men do not do things before people," she sighed, "Though he could be something just as dangerous. His focus was on Sue, he made that clear. Though your "smell" had been detouring him from focusing enough to use his magic on Sue, there is the point that he had been able to not set off our sensors or our watchers. We must look into this mess."

I was feeling a bit of out of this loop as the conversation was really had nothing to do with me really.

"You will be permitting her to take classes with me correct?" she asked him directly.

"Why would I be the one who says yes or no to this?" he grumbled at her.

"Because of the letter that is now in my possession," she said holding up the envelope. "I know for a fact that her rather read what this actually said because he talked to me before I went to her room. He still allowed the mother to sign it."

I gulped. I had not read what it actually said.

"It is a release," he said as if it was no big deal. "She does not have to ask to stay here now. They have given their full permission."

I sat straight up. They had given up on having me home?! My father had read it to me as a permission slip for trips. I slumped back into the chair. He knew what he signed and still got my mother to sign it as well.

"So that means as her husband, you make the more important discussions for her," she said with a rather wicked grin. "Surely, you knew that is what was going to happen as she is not eighteen yet."

He sighed and shook his head, "She can take the class if she wishes. I will not make the discussion for her." He waved his hand at her.

"I will take the class," I said quickly, he shifted surprised at my quick reply. I was feeling rather angry with him right now. He had done this without even consulting me and yet he had not thought on what that meant?!

"Yes, well, You two have a lot to work out," she said the grin never left her face. "You are both dismissed."

We got up in sync of each other and walked out. I didn't know what to do right now.

"We will go back to the room and speak," he said as he walked a specific direction. "Students to not need to hear anything we have to say."

I followed behind, deflated. I couldn't figure anything out to say to him really. I was lost in what I needed to do.

We entered the room and I was met with my cat wrapping himself around me. "Love!" I picked him up and cuddled him.

"He is not so unpleasant," Hieronyous said as he went and sat at his desk. "he seems rather comfortable here and talkative... though I am not so sure I want to know what he speaks of."

"Thank you for taking him," I said, as I sat at the small table in his room. I placed my cat down on the floor and he went and hopped on the bet where he promptly went to sleep.

He sighed as he moved his chair and faced me. "What was going through your mind? You could have..."

I was staring at him surprised he was growling at me as he spoke his accent was rather heavy as he spoke this way.

"You were truly foolish, I would have thought that this marriage would have taught you more then with the way you reacted!" he was now leaning on his hands again. "Do you realize what could have happened if you died?"

I took a deep breath, I had to handle this delicately as I was not Lilly and I believe that is what he was seeing before him, "I didn't know what was happening. I was lost. I told you that in the letters. I was dealing with my parents. I am not familiar with all the creatures that can be here and I doubt you are as well. Did you expect my parents to know a bad guy from a good? They are not even to know of this world and yet you expect them to protect me?!"

"No, I expect nothing from your parents, they are simple," he said nonchalantly, "I expect you to know better. You may have figured it out but that did not mean you need to challenge it."

"I didn't," I sighed, "It came to me... you don't get it. This was my parents they were sick! Terribly sick! What was I to do? let it take them. They have no place in this world, they are different and they know that but that doesn't stop me from loving them!"

"I don't mean it like that," he took a deep breath in surprise of my reaction. "Look, I should..."

I looked at him, "what? I did everything that I have been told and followed the rules. I never broke any as long as I knew I needed to do the right thing."

"I should have made you stay," he growled as he looked at me.

#56 by Xenostatica - Aug 7 2011

I gulped and got up quickly. I had not been expecting that.

"I've always believed that it is better if the wild seeds should be kept here and watched. If that would have happened then this would not have occurred," he said shaking a little.

I sighed, "Oh..."

"You almost lost your life," he said getting up slowly and began pacing back and forth, I noticed he was holding a different book from usual. "You may not understand the importance of your life right now but you are not the only one that you are living for now."

I felt a tugging at my throat something was tightening and I struggled a little and coughed.

"What is it?" he had moved close enough to me that I could feel his warmth on my skin.

"It's just I am tired," I said and held my throat.

"Yes, this is true," his hand was closed around something that was dangling out of the book. "you have to understand that I was only trying to protect you... the permission was not hidden."

"You are lying," I hissed at him suddenly anger filled my mind, "My father read the permission slip explain about trips off campus and that they would need to give it to me..."

He blinked at me, "No, the letter was not glamored or anything. Sue there is no reason to try and trick them. You didn't belong there. You had been doing your best but even I could tell from your letters you were spending too much crying."

"Why would my father lie to me?" I was shaking with anger. "WHY? Are you saying that they would willing give me up?" I looked him in the eyes waiting for his answer.

His eyes that had been stern now melted away and were now showing me a something of kindness, "Yes, I believe that they knew in their heart that you had become truly different. Understand that you are different and I don't just mean as a student. You are a young woman ... you have been married and you have experienced things that they couldn't imagine..."

I got up and walked out. I didn't want to hear it. I felt my heart sank as I thought on everything. When I heard this door open I ran.

I hide away in my dorm. Ellen was waiting for me.

"Sue?" she said as I slammed the door and locked it.

"Did you know?" I growled at her, "did you know he was going to send that part of the letter?"

She looked at me rather sadly, "yes, I told him too..."

I stumbled back and landed on the other bed. "Ellen?!"

"Sue, you couldn't survive there, you almost didn't!" she said trying to stay calm. "You didn't need to be going through that. You did nothing wrong but they tried to treat you more as a burden then as a daughter... Sue that is why I didn't go home and asked them to forget me..."

"Why? They signed it freely!" I began weeping before her, "They told me it was something else and then signed it. I never read it! They they... they threw me away..."

"No! no...Sue they just knew they couldn't handle it anymore," she had come over and was petting my hair. "They couldn't possibly do it for as long as they did. Holidays, sure, you only saw them for a short time but the summer? It was too long and they could tell there was a difference from us then them..."

#57 by Xenostatica - Aug 8 2011

I sighed, "I blamed him..."

She smiled softly and hugged me, "Sue, you got to understand there was nothing underhanded happening. He was truly worried about you."

"Oh yeah, great way of showing it," I wiped my eyes and sighed. "I guess I would need to apologize to him... Ellen what if?"

"What if's don't get anything done," she said as she pushed me out of the room and locked the door.

I tried to bang to get in and panicked when I saw him come down the hall. I took a few breathes and waited for him to come to me.

Before he could say anything I blurted out, "I am sorry... I ...Ellen told me everything and I am sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. In all actuality I should be thanking you because you saved me..."

He was taken back as I had been rather loud. "It is okay Sue, I should have been clear in what I was saying, if you please," he made a simple gesture to follow him.

I nodded and followed after him. We returned to his room and as I sat in the chair I got whacked by my cat who was sitting on the table waiting.

He let out a low chuckle as he thought it was rather funny that my cat would pop me for something I had done.

"I was afraid," he said as he stood before me. "I feared that I had made a mistake in allowing you to return home. You have a lot to learn and yet you are so advance even now I worry about what lies ahead."

"You can't expect me to just sit and learn, experience comes from learning from situations as well," I said lowly, "I didn't know. I had just figured that I could handle a guy wanting my attention... though he wanted to cut the string... he tried to erase you in a way I guess..."

He cleared his throat, "String? erase? What do you mean?"

I deep breath and explained the whole battle that had occurred. I went as far as I could without going into my dreams. I was worried what he would say.

"Where does the string come in?" he asked as soon as I finished.

I sighed and could feel my cheeks flush, "I had a dream... actually there were three dreams..."

I went into all three and explained them carefully because I didn't want him to get the wrong idea. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to think that I expected him to be on the other end of the string.

"Well, these are interesting," he said and thought on the information that I had just given to him. "The string, it is an Asian belief but you didn't know that before so it is unusual that it expressed itself in such a manner. You might have had that dream because of what that creature had said about erasing the scent..." He was enthralled with the idea, "My family is not a secret to other beings so the thought he might be familiar to my "scent" is not a far stretch, Sue. You did marry into a powerful family and that comes with some unfortunate issues so not surprised. I will have to think on all of this... why not go and rest for now. It has been long for you..." He walked over to the door and opened it for me to leave.

I laid against the wall and sighed softly. I couldn't bring myself to tell them that I was wanting him to tell me that it was him on the other end... I let myself lay before his door.

I could hear my cat meowing gently to him and then I could hear him, "I couldn't do it... I couldn't tell her that I needed her... that I had wanted to...I will resist it right now, no, you may think she needs that but she can't... she won't..."

I got up quickly and the bits I had heard were not something I was suppose to know. I turned bright red and ran back to the room and banged for Ellen to let me in.

I ran to my bed and hid my face from her.

"Sue?! Was he that mean?!" Ellen said rushing to my side. "I am going to go tell him something, you are still recovering..."

I popped up from under my pillow, "No!!! I just..." I could feel myself turning bright red and my cheeks burned.

"You are burning up, I'll go get the Professor!" she went to the door.

"No, Ellen I am embarrassed ... I overheard him talking to someone about me and I wasn't suppose to..." I nodded at her, "You do understand right?"

Her eyes got wide and she ran over and hopped on the bed, "So?"

"I don't know," I busted into giggles. "If it was something that I think maybe he is the one...the string..."

"You had a fate dream!!!" Ellen started to dance.

"No no... it wasn't like that," I recounted the dream for Ellen.

"Okay and how is that not a fate dream?" she asked annoyed.

"Because I don't even know if he had tugged back," I said sadly. "You see I chickened out and didn't ask if he dreamed of me..."

"Oh Sue," she chuckled. "I am sure there is something to this, ask him!"

"Later..." I said slowly. "I need to rest everything around has made me tired... maybe I will find a way to the kitchen and cook for you..."

Ellen grinned, "Thank the stars!!! I need real cooking!"

#58 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 8 2011

That's awesome! I loved her overhearing what he said. It had my heart melting!!

#59 by carolynrose - Aug 8 2011

*squeals* A part of me just wants Grabiner to tell Sue everything he's feeling, but of course that would be out of character for him...

#60 by icekat725 - Aug 8 2011

I agree with carolynrose! =D
this is getting better and better every time you update

#61 by callas - Aug 8 2011

It just gets better and better. Yay!

#62 by Xenostatica - Aug 8 2011

I woke up early. There were three days left till school began,and my system and mind were already trying to get ready for the change in schedule. I decided that I would make some delicious treats for everyone,so I went to the kitchen to see what I could do without getting into trouble.

"Sue," Professor Potsdam said as I entered slowly, "SO glad that you came early. Let's get started on some simple spells for general protection." She was sitting beside the chief chef in the kitchen. The older woman was rough and broad in shoulders, she seemed rather harsh in features,but her smile was soft and warm.

"Use the kitchen as ya’ like," she said to Potsdam. "The girl I have heard about? If so I will be extremely delighted to taste test the broken one, heck I need to have someone cook for me for a while and why not one who is willing."


"I wanted to make some fruit tarts," I said softly, "It is a refreshing breakfast treat,sweet but healthy in a little way... energizing."

"Ay that is a nice thoughtful treat," the cook was sitting back and watching.

Potsdam got up, "I will guide you through the steps to make sure the magic weaves slowly."

I was not allowed to touch anything before I put a little energy into each ingredient. I slowly cast,moved, and then mix the item. I went through these steps for each tart that was made. By the time everything was ready and decorated,I had made about 40 tarts. Each tart was different fruits and decorations on them. I assumed that they would go to specific people.


"Good, good," Potsdam said as she looked over everything. "Now to finish it off, each with a weave closed off... slowly focus on someone that would help you with this. Feel their arms around you and helping guide you to close the weave."

I focused on the closing and tried to think of Ellen to begin with and I could feel the energies trying to close, but this wasn't working. Potsdam said to think of someone stronger if that person wasn't working. I sighed softly and blushed as I thought of him, his arms around me, encouraging me with soft words and energy. Suddenly I felt everything release and I slumped back.

"Good, you did great, now the spells are tied off and will not continue to drain you," she said. She had placed three tarts on a tray with three tea cups. "Take this for Ellen and Grabiner, plus yourself. They should be in the lab right now..." she gave me directions and before I left I turned toward her, "Don't worry these will be going out to everyone that is here right now, they don't have to know it was you. Chief finished hers so I assume that it tastes fine."

I nodded and began the mission I was given.

I made it to the lab after a few minutes of wandering. I laughed at myself when I knocked on the door.

Ellen answered and grinned at the meal, "Oh already?!"

"Yeah, first lesson was this morning," I said weakly as I brought it in and placed the tray on an empty table.

"Oh she is a tough teacher and here I thought Grabiner was going to be difficult like that," she grinned and crumbs fell from the sides of her cheeks as she ate the tart, "Oh this is delightful, it is like a warm hug that a parent gives a child..."


I chuckled," well there is a lot of magic in them. I'll leave the tray here for Professor and he can have the treat when he gets in." I looked around and grinned, "I am going to go wander the gardens..."

"Oh there is a piano out there that is made from an old oak tree... maybe you could find it and practice on it, since the professor isn't around right now and you have to recover from the creating that you just did, go relax," she said finishing off her cup of tea and the last of her tart.

We talked a little longer and she then directed me where the oak piano was in the garden and urged me to go.

I agreed to do so and found myself following the directions that she gave me. I looked around and followed the corridors that were marked with symbols and weird writing that made for some kind of a guide. I was confused and was lost in the area but soon found the garden. As I entered slowly into the garden area I could hear music playing. It sounded sad and lonely. I listened quietly and had closed my eyes when I followed the sound but soon found this was a mistake because I ran into a tree. I rubbed my forehead and looked before me and there was the piano. I looked around, it was as if I had been swallowed into a different place because I couldn't see any point of the school's building but,I was not fearful as I knew the school was around. I sat quietly and touched the piano. It was so different;it felt like energy was flowing through it.

I looked around and made sure no one was around. The music had stopped so I guess the person was gone. I slowly placed my fingers to the keys and played out the scales. The piano was tuned and sounded lovely. It was like an organ but not so demanding but not as weak as a side show piano. I stroked the piano and could feel it wanted me to play it. I’m not so good, I thought, but you don't seem to care. I popped my knuckles and adjusted myself. Slowly as I pressed the keys, slowly the notes released their sound and slowly the motion of myself and the piano began to create the song that was trapped in my mind.

There was sound of someone who came near and was sitting on the bench with me but I dare not look to the person for fear that I would break the enchantment that was built between the piano and me. The accompaniment was that of a flute. The sounds soon wrapped themselves together as if they had become one sound. Every now and then discord would happen as I was not familiar with the song my hands played. My heart was beating fast and my mind running wild with pictures flashing, none that I would linger on too long. The flute stopped playing just as my fingers played out the final notes.


"I've never done that before," my lips felt dry and I licked them gently, my heart was still pounding as the song was still alive inside.

"So you have not played a duet with someone like this before?" I froze as he spoke. "I believe you said that you had to play a duet with that creature..."


"It was forced," I said slowly turning toward him and my heart leaped into my throat.

"Is it so easy to force you to do something?" his eyes were lit with curiosity;it was not like anger... "And even then he tried to kiss you..."


"I did fight that," I said softly, "It was not by my choice or my intention to have..." I covered my mouth with my hands. I didn't need to let him make me say it.

I felt as his hands gently pried my hands off of my mouth, "So you would hide yourself from me as well? I thought..." his hands were now caressing my face and hair gently.

"No, I am not hiding myself, I simply do not know..." as I tried to explain, I was soon silenced. He had gently pressed his lips to mine, I struggled in shock as this was not like him but I lost my senses as I gently placed my arms around his neck as he continued the kiss. I felt dizzy and didn't want it to end.


He suddenly pulled away from me, it was like he had snapped back to reality, "Sue, my oh...I apologize, I don't know what came over me. Forget this happened. I lost myself in the music. I just thought something else ... someone else..." He turned away and left me sitting there confused.

I could feel the tears falling down my cheeks as I mouthed “someone else.”I ran from my spot and tried to find the dorm. I was soon lost in the school. I didn’t really want to find my way to any place but near him. It was later in the afternoon when I reached my dorm. I was alone so I just let myself cry. He was so confusing. There was the getting angry because there was someone else who had played with me before and kissing me,then he tells me to forget it because he thought I was someone else?! What kind of jerk does that?


I went to the bathroom to take a bath and relax for a while.

When I returned to the room Ellen was laying on my bed, "What happened?"

"What do you mean?" I asked drying my hair.

"When he came in he was flustered and blushing, I didn't think he could blush, so I am assuming that you did something," she said as she sat up on the bed.

"Nothing..." I said I was trying to be strong. "There is a summer cold going around maybe it is..."

"Sue... don't bother, what happened?" she was now glaring at me.

"He kissed me and then rushed off saying he thought I was someone else!" my bottom lip was quivering as I spoke. "Heal most seemed jealous about me playing with Clarience and we started talking and he kissed me..."


"What kind?" Ellen raised an eyebrow.

I blushed bright, "A kiss..."

"Oh that is not how you are going to be with this was it a peek on the cheek? No, you wouldn't blush for that. On the forehead? No, that would only make you blush lightly. On the lips, but quick? That would make you turn red,but not really... was it something like this?" she grabbed me at the shoulders and threw me down, her hand was caressing my cheek and leaned in.

"No!" I got up quickly and tried to cover my lips.


"Bingo, I bet it was long too, so sweet and breath taking!" she sighed as she said it.

"How the heck could you?" I was surprised with her descriptions.

"I read a lot of romance novels believe it or not,but still... what are you going to do?" she was sad at my look.

"I'll just avoid him, you still have to see him and it won't be an issue, maybe I could talk to Potsdam to let me into the room to see my cat when he is away," I shrugged. "I just don't want to see him now that I know that he thinks of someone else when he kissed me..."

"Sue, we have more lessons tonight," Potsdam knocked on our door.

"Oh Ma'am Sue is feeling a little down right now," Ellen had answered.


"Good we will use that tonight," she pushed passed and grabbed my arm and pulled me off the bed and tugged me along with her.

I was silent as she talked of all the things that she has planned for the opening of the school year and how everything was going with parents and children as she keeps a better eye on them for right now.

"Hieronyous, good evening," she said to him with a softness to her voice.

"Good evening..." I looked up at him and smiled weakly, "Sue." He then rushed off.

"Interesting reaction to you Sue," Potsdam noted. "I think I will use that for tonight's works."


I made a noise to let her know I was listening.

"You know you only have a day or so left to spend time with him alone, he will be busy with school and classes after this..." she said as we reached her office. "Maybe you could play the piano for him, I know he said you had been taking lessons..."

He had talked to her about me...

"We will be focusing on the string," she said with a grin.

"The string?" I asked slowly.

"Yeah, let's see if we can flush..." she turned and looked at me, “Are you okay, Love?"

I felt like I was pale, "I don't want to work on that... would we be able to work on more weaving ...maybe with jewelry?"

"I suppose but it would be good to figure out your string, especially since you have seen it, has it affect you in your everyday life?" she asked as she began pulling things from her desk.

"Like my throat tightening when someone is around or this weird feeling with my heart..." I said it slowly as I moved a chair near her.

"Yes..." she was watching me as I collected some items together.

"Umm... well... it's all been nervous really," I said slowly.

"I'm sure he has kissed you," she said it so bluntly.

"Well, I um, ugn..." I was struggling to try and get on word out.

"Yes, that answers the question;you share a closer link now..." she said softly. “You should really not worry on anything I'm sure his reaction to your letters and all are within reason."


"Yeah... I'm just a replacement," I whispered.

"Yes, yes... of..." she turned me toward her, "No you are not. You are not a replacement. If you were that, we would be having a lot more issues then we have right now."

I was taken back with her reaction, "That's what he said... that he mistaken me for someone else...."

"He is trying to stay face," she said it and placed her head in her hands. "He lost control, I am sure he is just relieved that you are okay and... maybe a little jealous. A boy did kiss you on the forehead... Ellen said it was something everyone else was hoping for more. So maybe that was bothering him... you should talk about it with him."


"No, I would rather not," I said as I turned back to the work at hand.

"Sue, this is something you can't really allow to happen, you must get this cleared up to think yourself as a replacement can lead to a terrible disaster," she said as she started her needle work.

"Maybe that is what he wants; he wants me to disappear..." I sighed.

"If that was true he would not have done everything he has, my dear really, you must talk to that man, he is still young and foolish as well," she said as she worked some beads into the piece she was doing. "It comes down to this;you need to teach him to love again..."

"I don't even know what that is..." I gasped at her as I pricked my finger and cursed myself.


"You do, you saw the string, understand and listen to your heart my child," she got up and put her stuff down. She walked over and picked me up and dragged me out of her office. "I will not teach you again until you have listened to me. So consider yourself ousted. Go to him and I will know trust me." She shut and locked the door.

I was sitting in the middle of the hall and there were other students sitting outside who were now staring at me, I smiled weakly and ran back to my dorm. What was I suppose to do now?

#63 by Ladygothika87 - Aug 9 2011

Omg the kiss!!! That was so awesome!

#64 by Xenostatica - Aug 9 2011

I got up slowly and dusted myself off. I needed to not seem like I was disgruntled about the whole situation. I had this strange urge to play that piano again. I could escape away from everyone else.

I left the office and walked down the hall. I had to remember where it was. I ended up getting lost as I seem to have been doing lately. I wandered in a kind daze and slowly trying to figure out what was going to happen to me.

In my daze I stumbled into a garden. I blinked and realized that I had found the garden by accident or maybe you only find it when you can't be looking for it.

I walked the same path and found the piano there. I walked around it and looked at the design. It was not something I would be familiar with but I had never heard of the fae ever making instruments other then flutes and pipes.

I sat in front of the keys and stroked it slowly before I could feel myself drawn to the start the song. Slowly, ever so slowly I pressed the keys, each on climbing the next and soon my heart was playing and my hands were following. The song I played was so sad, my heart did not beat quickly and my tear flowed from my eyes. It was like I was playing how I felt.

I felt like someone had come to listen. I could feel the disruption in the air as my music filled the garden.

"Do you know the story of the instrument that you are play?" Hieronyous was standing behind me away from me more like it.

"No," I said slowly as I didn't stop. "though if I am bothering everyone playing I will stop..." I pulled my hands away from the keys and kept my back to him.

"It isn't like that," he said quietly. "This piano doesn't play for everyone." He moved closer to me and sighed, "The story is:

There was a faerie and a human. They had been together since they were children. His family was a followers of magic and they were not well off so he often played together. When he got older he was a brilliant musician but could not play the instrument he loved expect at the church. So he learned the piano by going to the church. In fear of losing her friend and the man she loved the fae made the instrument for him in this tree. When she gave it to him he loved it and played everyday on it.

One day he didn't show up. He kept not coming back so she went to see him. She discovered that he had married a well to do woman. The woman was extremely christian and so he had become the piano player for the church.

She went to see him in human form and talk to him about the piano and how he needed to play it. She could feel his spirit slipping away because he wasn't able to do what he loved. He explained that he could not see her any more because he was married and the woman would harm her. She persisted and every day would come to see him.

One day he agreed and went to the piano and played her a melody that came from his heart. He realized he missed it so much, he made a promise to her that he would come one day a year and play for her.

He kept his promise and once a year would come to see her and play the true music he loved. His wife became curious and followed him one day. When she discovered the fae she accused the husband of cheating and lying. He explained that the fae was his friend and she had made the piano for him and it was the first one he truly loved playing.

It didn't matter to the wife that he wasn't doing anything she took him away. They left the fae alone, but she would wait every year for him to return and keep his promise.

She received word one day that he had wasted away and left the wife alone. In her mourning she played the song that was in her heart and wasted away slowly never leaving the piano alone..." He stopped talking a moment and sighed, "The piano is only supposedly heard by the one person that is in your heart..."

I didn't move or say anything. I had realized that I was in love with him but maybe he hadn't and now he stood behind me.

#65 by Xenostatica - Aug 9 2011

"So what you are saying is that you wouldn't have even considered kissing me again if it wasn't for this?" I signaled the piano before me with my hand. "That someone else that stays in your mind will forever be there and there would be no possibility for me..." I got up slowly. I could almost see the fae as she go up from the piano and looked over the hill for her love.

"There was no one else..." he said it carefully, "Yes, I had a love in the past and she is gone. I still blame myself for that. This is why you do not need to be any closer to me then you need..." He stopped as I was now facing him. "Sue, this is not easy..."

"You are right, this is not easy, this is not easy for your wife," I said making the words harsh. "You can still have your memories without letting go of everything good, but when you do that you have to be willing to grow."

He was unsure how to respond to me.

"You should recognize something, I am sure that if you didn't care for me more then just a student then you would not ave come, "I said softly my eyes were watering.

#66 by Xenostatica - Aug 9 2011

He sighed softly, "Yes.. this is true...it is possibly..."

I felt something tighten around my throat and my breathing softly It was like in the dream that where I was fighting for my breath and preventing Clarience from cutting the string. "Doesn't your throat tighten? don't you lose a little control when you see me? Doesn't something happen for you?" I coughed a little, it was as if the string was tightening around my throat.

"Yes..." he said it slowly and turned away from me. "It does ..." He walked away from me and out of the garden.

My tears fell down my cheeks as I thought about the answer but I couldn't call to him. Something was wrong and I could feel something wash over me like a cold breeze on a fall evening. I struggled to keep from blacking out and moved out of the garden and could see his back, I managed a whisper, "Wait..."


I could hear humming when I gained some kind of conscientiousness. I could see Professor Potsdam moving back and forth. I wasn't in the dorm room. I tried to get up but felt myself just move a little.

"Oh dear, don't try and move," she said coming to my side and removing the cloth from my forehead.

My cat came up and was rubbing my hand gently. His soft fur and reminded me of home. I couldn't really do much but I tried to wiggle my fingers to scratch under his chin.

Ellen came in and hugged me gently. "Oh, what did you do?"

I smiled at her weakly, "killing myself slowly..."

She punched me slowly and I grinned wide, "You still can't move much... you are lucky you can even open your eyes... though...." she got in really close to me, "being in his room must be nice..."

My eyes widen and looked at her in shock I mouthed slowly, "what?! why am I not in the nurses offices?"

"He wouldn't take you there...something about it being his fault," she shrugged at the explanation.

"Ms. Ellen stop arousing the patent," Professor Potsdam had come over and replaced the cloth. She returned to the table, she was mixing items and it smelt rancid. "It seems that when that thing managed to kiss you it connected to you and every time it sensed you near the one he had smelt on you he would pull the string on your end and because you would fight back it figured that if it did it enough that it could get you to cut it..." her face was sad, "you are so much stronger then others my little duckling..."

I looked over at her, "what ...." my voice came out hoarse, "what will I need to do? This has got to stop... I don't know how much longer... i thought the pain I felt was..."

She came over and held a potion to my lips, "You drink this, rest, enjoy being pampered by your husband ..." this last part she whispered, "and feel the strength come back to you."

Ellen was leaning against the post when Hieronyous came into the room with a tea set. "Sir, you have a nice room, here."

He raised his eyebrow at her, "Ms. Ellen, please refrain from making comments kind or not to me about my personal style." He was getting stuff together.

"She has taken the potion, make sure she has a little something to eat and drink, then make her sleep," Potsdam said to him as she had gathered all her items. "Ellen come help me today, there is much to do as there is only a day left before the little ones start coming to start the year."

Ellen hoped over to Potsdam and took the items that she could and before leaving she gave me a wink.

Hieronyous shut the door after they left. He brought a tea cup for me. He placed it on the nightstand next to the bed and then returned to the table with the tea. He said nothing to me.

I tried to push myself up and had managed to get my weight on my hands and slowly shuffled myself up into a sitting position. My movement was limited but as I went for the cup, I was startled to see his hand block me.

"I would rather not have you burn yourself, you have managed enough damage to your body and a cup of hot tea spilled on you does not need to be added to the list of abuses." He set his tea down beside mine and picked up my cup slowly. "We will do this slowly as you don't need to rush."

I sighed softly trying not to cry, "I'm so sorry for causing this trouble and taking your bed and your room for my cat and and and..."

"Shh..." he said as he held the cup to my lips and trying to slowly allow the liquid into my mouth. "I am slightly relieved that this happened now..." he had a slight devilish grin, "You can't run from me now when I need to talk to you."

I chuckled as I left the liquid go down, it felt great. It was like I had never had tea before and this was my first experience of such a beverage. "It's tastes wonderful..."

"Yes, I thought I would add something to it to the tea to help it go into your system," he explained as he set my cup down and took his and sipped slowly. "Not bad, it isn't the same as yours of course but close. It is missing something though..."

"I don't think so..." I said watching my cat as he curled in my lap, I tried to stroke him but only managed to wiggle my fingers again.

"It is missing love..." he said it slowly from behind the rim of his cup.

I shot a glance at him and blushed, "No...it could be something like that..."

"It could every well be," he said in a matter of fact voice. "I'm sorry. Really truly sorry. Again I have failed at protecting you..."

"No you didn't..." i said as I stared at my cat trying not to look at him. "You have again saved me from true troubles and maybe even death again..." I sighed, "I wish I wasn't such a mess and a good person...because really who does this kind of thing?"

He set his tea down and took my up again, "You need to finish this and then I will bring you a little something to eat and you will then need to rest. The medicine is slow to take affect when you are awake because it doesn't want to do it's job with a chance of making you pass out."

I nodded slowly, he must truly think I am the worst. I have done everything wrong and nothing to show for it.

"That ring... your parents gave it to you?" he asked as he brought the cup to my lips again, this time I drank deeply. I wanted to finish quickly so that I could get out of his hair. "Yes... I think they gave it to me as the last present..."

"Don't think that way," he said quietly. "They haven't forgotten you. They're memories weren't erased, you can still write to them. We just made sure that they didn't regret the decision they made... comforted them in a way."

I could still write,this made me feel better. Something inside myself made it feel like I hadn't lost anything. "That is comforting to know," I said with a smile.

"Yes, I thought it would make you feel better to know that," he sipped quietly and watched the cat for a moment. "You cared the stone and the dolls with you this whole time..."

"Yes, it gave me strength," I answered honestly. "Hope..."

He was startled as I finished the word, "Hope?"

"Yes, you allowed me a new beginning, guiding me and protecting me," I said listing off everything that I thought about.

He was silent as I spoke.

"You have given me more in these three months then my parents have given to me in a while," I stopped a moment, "Not as a parent but as someone I truly care about."

I stopped when he placed the cup before my lips.

"You have made my heart race and my mind go wild, you have made me want to be an even better person and help those around me," I said between cups and finished the tea.

"I can't say you haven't done anything for me, Sue," he said it as if he was calculating what he wanted to say and how it would affect me. "You have shown me that there is warmth even for someone as harsh as me..."

He got up and went back to the table and brought back a small plate of fruit that was cut into small bite sizes and he put an apple to my lips.

"I have a lot to learn but please now that..." he shoved another piece of fruit in my mouth to keep me quiet. I glared at him as my mouth was soon stuffed with different fruits, my cheeks puffed out because of the fruit.

He chuckled softly and went to his desk and looked for something, he returned with a gift wrapped in black paper and a red ribbon.

I struggled but managed to chew and swallow everything to manage out, "Did you talk to my parents?"

He looked at me puzzled.

"They wrapped the ring they got me in the same kind of paper," he looked at me curiously, "Red and black are my favorite colors... red stands for some pretty intense emotions but they can be the opposite of each other from love to anger... just as black can be a beginning or an end..." I looked at the present.

"Well, you can get it when you can open it," he said with a grin and moved the present to the nightstand. "Now you need to sleep..."

I could feel my lids getting heavy, "that isn't fair, that you can use magic on me... especially when I can't on you..."

I was dosing off when I heard him whisper softly, "That's where you are wrong... didn't you know you cast the most powerful spell of all on me and I can't do anything but accept it because I love you..."

It wasn't fair I couldn't respond to him because I had no control as I felt the comfort of a safe darkness slipped over me.

#67 by carolynrose - Aug 9 2011

*runs around in circles, that was the most amazing update ever!!! I could hardly keep myself from squealing at every paragraph

#69 by icekat725 - Aug 9 2011

This is the end? TT-TT no...it was getting so good! D=

#70 by callas - Aug 9 2011

Nooo, don't end yet. You can go in a lot of directions from here on.
And like icekat wrote: 'it was getting so good!'

#71 by Xenostatica - Aug 9 2011

Well I left it open because I really want there to be a sequel to the game....and if that were planned then the marriage would have to be addressed... mind you I am wishing for a sequel.

#72 by callas - Aug 9 2011

Well, guess I have to wait for the sequel then.

But if the sequel doesn't mention the wedding, it could be because they are keeping it a secret at school.
And afterwards you could continue this story?

Anyways, very good writing. I enjoyed every word of it.

#74 by carolynrose - Aug 11 2011

I just wanted to say that I have loved reading your story.I thought the ending was absolutely wonderful, but I don't think I'm the only one who wishes that it would continue. There's so much Grabiner romance left to be told.

#75 by SillyWriterGall - Sep 19 2011

Xenostatica:

lol... maybe. i really didn't want to stop. i am totally lost on what to do now that i finished this. I don't know... it would be awesome to do a whole set for all three years but the I would be writing 3 books and not a short fan fic...though was this really short?!

And what the heck was in that box?! *ninja* Grabby is so sneaky... not even the writer knew what he had in that box!!!

Hi, you dont know me but I followed youre story and I would like to make fanart of it scratch that I already did and made some fanart for the possible sequel if you would like to see it send me your link or email adress or just mail me back and ask for my deviant account ^_^ :3 i went a little wild though xD

#76 by coco96 - Sep 19 2011

SillyWriterGall, I found your picture, and it was really...interesting, in an awesome and slightly perverted way!

#78 by SillyWriterGall - Sep 20 2011

Eheheh thanks ^///^ Im slightly perferted.

And my mind went wild with much worse images I can asure you, but I always put myself into the world of the story.To picture a good scene ^__^ so im working on more subtle scenes.

Like when they share a look, or when they meet again, I want to create the perfect look they share as described in your story.

Youre really helping me kicking it up a notch and I love doing this. I was always someone who loved illustrating stories 8D.

And most of all I really can draw it up easily colouring will be a challenge for me but im willing to try.

Btw do you know by any change if I could upload my art here ? here is the link for a scene after your story end the Grabiner Sue story ofcourse

http://sillywritergall.deviantart.com/art/D-awww-259296095

#79 by Xenostatica - Sep 21 2011

We, females, are extremely underestimated with our perv manners. Males think that it is all about them and I want to say that I am totally a pervy and wanted to get even more emotional. XD

Those sense would be awesome because, there is a special moment that makes you wonder what he really is thinking!

I love that someone would honor me by drawing parts of my otaku girl insanity and writing about a hot teach...

XD Challenges are awesome and would love to see color.

I usually just use drop box to do my linking for my work.

#80 by Xenostatica - Sep 22 2011

(Okay, SillyWriterGall convinced me to add another day before school. This last day is a little racy but totally PG-13, I made sure of that so I could post it for you all to read. If there is any issues just let me know! But like I said thank her for getting this little extra...)

Sue got up slowly when she woke up. It must of been rather early as she could still hear the birds singing outside his window. Her eyes were locked on the box that was sitting on the bed stand next to her. The box was sitting there just beckoning her to open it.

She took hold of the box and stared at it in her hands. This was it, the same size as the one her parents gave her! This had to be a ring, he had confessed to her and this was him taking his feeling serious! Her hands shook as she untied the ribbon slowly. It took her forever just to get the nerved up to open the lid once the ribbon sat neatly in her lap. Holding her breath she creaked the box open slowly and in an instant there it was... her eyes widen and realized that there were keys seating on the cushion of where a ring would be.

The two keys were tied together with a red string. She sat there staring at the items that were before her. The larger of the two keys was old, the discoloring and tarnish gave her some clue to it being used but other then that it was just a key, the only thing that made her have any idea what it could be for is she remembered back at the town library that the head librarian had a set of keys and one key that was explained to be the oldest was used to open the archives in the basement of the library. If she knew anything about Hieronyous was that he loved books and this had to be for a library that was hidden, mostly there was a door here that would lead to it.

The second and very small key appeared almost new. It was shiny still and had barely any marks on it. She examined it closely and to her it was like the one she had for a diary at one point in time. She had kept the book of her secrets for a short time, but got rid of it once her mother had broke the lock trying to force it open. So this must of been a key for something like that.

As she pulled the keys out of the box, she realized that the keys were tied together on the string to be turned into a makeshift necklace. The note that was tied to the string fell from the box and with a quick motion she caught the note and opened it:

It is a large step one must take to get to know each other and take on each others burdens. We have done this backwards and taken the largest step first and now having to learn how to take the smaller steps to gain knowledge of each other. You know so little as I keep it well hidden for many reasons, Potsdam has undoubtedly given you much knowledge but she can not know it all. There are two keys one will take you to a hidden room. Follow your instincts and you may find the treasure that the second key will open.

She slipped the necklace over her head after finishing the note and adjusted the keys so that they sat comfortable on her chest, though they were cold even after she had held them to examine them. With a shiver and slow steps she began moving around the room.

She was still not fully recovered and right now she felt like she was running a fever but her curiosity was pushing her hard to find out what was given to her. As she moved along the wall, she found an area that was on the other side of the bed that had been covered with curtains. With a careful hand she pulled the curtain away to reveal a door. BINGO! she mouthed as she took the large key and fit it to the lock, with a smooth click the door was easily pushed open, before her laid a set of stairs that went down.

Her cat lead the way down, it was almost as if he had become familiar with this place already and was guiding her down. At the bottom was another door that was locked and again she used the key to gain access. Her cat rushed in before, made a few strange meows and then met her back at the door almost as if he was saying the coast was clear. She followed him in and almost felt defeated right away, the walls were covered with books that reached to the ceiling, the room was rather small but on one wall was a desk covered in papers and the rest of the space was taken up with scrolls and books, they littered the floor and piled on top of each other. How was she to find out what it was he was hiding in here?

With a deep breath and slow determination, she began her search.

Going slowly up and down the ladder that was in the room she scanned all the books she could see. This must of taken hours as she was becoming weaker and weaker as she struggled through all the titles that laid before her.

It was to the point that she couldn't climb the ladder anymore that she moved to where the desk was and instead of sitting in the chair she slid against the wall. It was in this action that she began to cry. Her cat meowed to comfort her, but this only upset her more as she couldn't understand him as he seemed to be babbling. She slammed her back against the wall as she tried to take some deep breathes. As she struggled to push against the wall to get up, she felt it shift. It was only a single block but it had moved. On closer inspection she found that the stone was not heavy and almost appeared to be easy to pull out of the wall. She struggled to get her fingers to have a good enough grip and pulled. Out popped the stone and there hidden away was a small treasure chest.

With a careful but excited action she took the small chest into her hands and slipped back onto the ground. The 2nd key fit perfect into the lock that was on the outside of the wooden chest. Upon opening it she discovered some small nicknacks that would be associated with a child's most precious items, most of the items were unfamiliar to her, but she wasn't surprise, what did wizarding child play with or love? At the bottom of the chest was a very small book, it was palm sized and felt weird with its weight.

With a deep breath she began leafing through the pages and with a gasp stared at it. This was his journal!? Why would he? She stared at it and then slowly began reading the pages. Events that happened in his childhood, the first day of school, and his first love... she struggled to breath as she had been holding it when she had stumbled on Lily's name... he called her Lily, must of been his nickname for her.

Something made her flip to the back as something felt off with book cover in the back. She flipped to it and noticed that there was a patch stitched into the leather, the sewing wasn't very good and she was able to pluck the thread easily and the patch fell away and two rings landed in her lap. The two bands sat there and she was scared to touch them. She left them in her lap and flipped back to the place she had left off. As she got lost in his words about his love, she was soon grasping the two rings in her hands and tears were falling down her cheeks, when she got to the incident that led to the beautiful girl's death, Sue struggled with herself on whether she should keep reading, but in an instant she felt a pang of jealousy for this no longer living girl and felt her tears turn into rivers as the feeling of guilt washed over her. She pushed on reading... she lost track of all things around and soon lost consciousness. A she felt her lids start to close she cursed herself for pushing to hard and not having the energy to escape this situation.

At one point she felt someone's arms around her and her body moving. She peeked a moment in sleepy curiosity to find him carrying her up the stairs. His face was serious. She struggled to snuggle her head into his shoulder as they reached the top. She heard other voices when he stopped moving and was explaining something. Her hand hurt as she was still grasping the rings tight to her chest.

She had flashes of people doing stuff to her but nothing really was clear as she was just so tired. At one point she was cold and explained that she was but was met with chuckles and explanations that she needed this bath as she had a high fever and it needed to be broken and not just with magic but her body itself had to heal itself. The medicine that was forced down her throat made her cough and cry out.

After the torment that she hadn't seen she was put somewhere that was really comfortable. She could even hear her cat purring as it got comfortable on her.

She had been warm and comfortable when she felt herself feeling better. She felt like someone was petting her hair at one point. With the feeling of warmth and her body was feeling restful enough to allow her to open her eyes, she found herself in an unusual position. She was holding onto a bare chest and she was not in her robes, in fact, her left hand that was laid so comfortable on the person's chest was dawning a ring on her ring finger. HER LEFT HAND?! She tried not to move as she glanced at the ring sitting on her finger now. The platinum metals shone almost white but it was the gem that made her gasp for air, the star sapphire glimmered brightly no matter how she moved it. This had to have been expensive, what the heck did she have it on her hand?! She shot up quickly when she realized her right hand was no longer holding the rings.

"Oh no..." she started to cry.

Hieronyous quickly shifted and put his book down and pulled her towards him, in a quick swoop she was now facing him as he placed his forehead against hers. He was checking her temperature.

She turned bright red when she realized that he was who she had been laying on and he had no shirt on. She couldn't say much and her tears were soon wiped away.

"Oh thank goodness, your fever has broken," he got up slowly and went to the table that had some bottles on it. "We'll go ahead and give you another dose of medicine so that you keep the fever down and you don't relapse."

He wasn't facing her when she looked down and realized she was not in robes, in fact, she wasn't even in her own pajamas?! She was wearing a plaid top that was far too large for her... and her hair was damp. She touched her hair gently as she tried to remember anything that had happened. Which then let her to stare at the ring on her left hand now.

"It is for protection," he said as he came back to the bed and sat on the edge, "You are more trouble then I thought and this way something can watch over you at all times... I mean, so that you have a protection spell around you. It isn't like this is suppose to mean... it is a symbol that you can put faith in and..." he was becoming a bit flushed. "It is a promise that I will protect you." He then took a spoon that was in his hand and poured an large amount the liquid from the bottle on to the spoon. It wasn't even liquid it was more like a jelly substance though Sue had no idea how one could pour jelly.

As she went to say something in protest, he shoved the spoon in her mouth and eyed her evilly to make sure that she swallowed the horrible jelly that was in her mouth.

"About the pajamas and me ..." he had gotten up and went to put the bottle back. "Potsdam explained that body heat would help with breaking your fever, but I thought she was just wanting something else... don't worry, she was the one who bathed you so that the fever would break originally. You had fallen asleep on the floor of the library and the cold stone probably didn't help with the weak immune system you have right now." He was not moving from the spot at the table, he was holding onto the edge, "you wouldn't stop crying and begging... Sue I don't know everything that happened, I know you told me much but..." he was trying to handle it calmly, "You were begging to not be left alone, it was striking."

Sue looked down and didn't know how to answer the question he wasn't asking, "I'm sorry, I again have caused you such trouble, I'll just ...um... if you get my robes I will just change and go back to the dorm with Ellen, I'm sure she is lonely and I can keep her company."

"Virginia has returned there is no worries about that," he turned away from her for a moment.

She took this chance to try to get out of the bed but soon found herself stumbling and being caught by him. She turned bright red and realized that she could feel the cool breeze on her bare legs and the shirt was now slumping off of one shoulder. "I just don't want to keep bother you..."

His eyes met hers and then he turned away as he picked her up with easy and carried her back to the bed as if he was a groom carrying his bride over the threshold of their new home. "You don't really have anything to go back to your friends in... while breaking your fever, you went through all your robes, Potsdam was changing you every half hour and that didn't include the sheets and bed covers. Please understand that it is our fault that you are like this right now and we are doing our best to correct it... don't you see you took in all the illness that your parents were inflicted with and now your body is trying to beat off this hex, no matter how powerful one is taking on two hexes kills most wizards... it is a wonder that you survived and didn't become deathly ill before then."

"I was ill before coming back, but I had to keep a front up for my parents," she smiled weakly as he adjusted the covers over her. "I knew that when I came back, when Potsdam got me and brought me back, I knew that I could let my defense down because there is someone here that would take care of me no matter what... a selfish idea I know, but I believed in my husband and knew he could..."

"Sue..." he kissed my forehead gently. "You need to rest..."

"These are yours?" she held the fallen portion of the pajamas to signal what she was talking about.

He coughed a moment, "Yes, well there was nothing else of yours that would suit the purpose of comfort and warmth." He seemed surprised that she would ask and tried to continue to explain, "I figured that something that was soft and lose would make you feel better...plus being engulfed in the familiarity of me might have helped... but you were still crying, it was when you began crying out about being alone and begging someone not to leave you that ... well, that maybe if you had a body close to you that you would become comfortable and sleep soundly and since I can read and take notes in bed without much trouble so the classes are planned."

Sue smiled at him, "I'm glad you could get your work done."

"Sue, what cause this reaction of yours?" He was on the edge of the bed and his hand was now stroking her cheek.

She turned away from him, she couldn't explain it... there had been nightmares and her parents gone. Her parents had always adored her but these last times, winter break, spring break, and the summer. Clarience, she had more nightmares dealing with him, but he had almost broke her, beyond that, he had almost killed her. "It is just loneliness," she answered honestly. "I'm sure you can understand that, Hieronyous. It is a penetrating loneliness that haunts me in the nightmares."

He looked deeply in her eyes and she wanted to turn away, it was like he was actually trying to discover what she was hiding. His hand had moved to her neck and the soft rubbing motion was relaxing her, the tension she had originally felt was now going away and he pulled her close to him and he whispered in her ear, "You don't have to tell me the truth now... it seems your mind only rests after the truth is reached in your bouts of talking in your sleep, please just tell me so that I don't have to go that route, because if I have to then there is no telling what you will say..."

Sue pulled away but his hand now held her close to him and she could feel his breath on her neck. She shivered with thoughts of what could happen and as she felt his lips touch her neck she let out a low sound of shock but enjoyment.

"Hieronyous, I love you," she spoke softly, "But I don't have the words to explain what it was that the creature had exposed me to, a darkness that even a man of pure evil couldn't understand... it would have broke me... I was so scared..." She wrapped her arms around his neck and began crying, "Please don't make me talk about it now, I just want warmth... nothing of that cold darkness..."

He wrapped his arms around her tight. She could feel every muscle in his body tense up and he reacted to her telling him what little she could explain. He pushed himself away from her, unwrapping her from him and pushed her back into the pillows. His lips touched her for a moment but in that sensation she could feel nothing but a burning desire.

"You would still love someone after you read the truth?" he had pulled away and sat on the edge of the bed with his head now in his hands. "The secrets... the hatred..."

She stayed against the pillows and spoke softly, "Yes, we all have darkness and pain in our body and soul... it is up to ourselves and those closest to us to guide us to become whole again ..."

He turned towards her and shifted himself into the bed. He pulled her to him and moved her till she was leaning on his chest right where she could his heart beating so fast and in his other hand was a book. "You need to rest, we have had much happen for both of us and we need to rest before the school year starts, it would not be so bad to have you hear with me another night." He turned his attention to the book in his hand while his other hand busied itself with stroking her hair.

She curled up against his chest and listened to his heart beat gently making a music to put her to sleep. It was at that moment that she noticed as his hand at one point rested on her should that he had the charm she made him, that originally was in his book, now wrapped around his left ring finger twined in a manner of a ring and was attached to a platinum band that seemed to be there as a symbol he could put faith into. She smiled softly as she floated into a deep and peaceful sleep.

#81 by coco96 - Sep 23 2011

Aww.... The ending is so sweet...

However, I should point out that Grabiner's first love is called Violet. But everything else is just perfect!

#82 by callas - Sep 23 2011

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for writing further on this story.

Now I finally know what's in the present.
And Grabby without a shirt.
and .... so good.

@ coco96: Lily is a nickname for Violet

#84 by coco96 - Sep 23 2011

Oops... I misread it a bit... Sorry...

woohoo

#85 by SillyWriterGall - Sep 23 2011

coco96:

Oops... I misread it a bit... Sorry...

were all human so that can be but now i feel the need to inspire her for another chapter xD

#86 by Abigail Swift - Oct 2 2011

w..AAAAAA..OWWWWWW....kaahhbleequeeeh!

Err. I don't even know what I just said... sorry!

Anyways, just finished reading this. Totally awesome Wish you could write all three years... But, yeah, lot of work..

Thanks for what you did write! I'm loving it

#87 by callas - Oct 6 2011

I like you story so much I really want to see it in a VN.

I would love to have your permission to use your story so I can make an Visual Novel of this with Ren'Py.

Please pretty please may I?

#89 by SillyWriterGall - Oct 7 2011

callas:

I like you story so much I really want to see it in a VN.

I would love to have your permission to use your story so I can make an Visual Novel of this with Ren'Py.

Please pretty please may I?

OMG I WANNA ORDER THE FIRST ONE AS SOON AS IT IS FINISHED 8d

#90 by icekat725 - Oct 7 2011

SillyWriterGall:

callas:

I like you story so much I really want to see it in a VN.

I would love to have your permission to use your story so I can make an Visual Novel of this with Ren'Py.

Please pretty please may I?

OMG I WANNA ORDER THE FIRST ONE AS SOON AS IT IS FINISHED 8d

I SECOND THIS!! =D

*flails arms*
c:

#91 by hanako - Oct 7 2011

Fangames are fine. Selling fangames is not.

(Although I think you knew that already! But just to say it.)

#92 by callas - Oct 7 2011

hanako:

Fangames are fine. Selling fangames is not.

(Although I think you knew that already! But just to say it.)

I'm glad I can finally share something myself. So definitetly not for selling purposes.

It will be some work (80 pages text without coding), and it's my first Ren'Py, but I will try and make something nice.

I'll post it as soon as it's finished and approved by Xenostatica.

#94 by SillyWriterGall - Oct 8 2011

Omg i definetly want to see that game 8D and even awesomer is i dont have to buy it xD

:3

#95 by SillyWriterGall - Oct 8 2011

Btw I updated my tumblr account please take a look ^__^

Re: :3

#96 by icekat725 - Oct 8 2011

SillyWriterGall:

Btw I updated my tumblr account please take a look ^__^

*dies of severe blood loss* .... *comes back to life via the forces of sheer awesomeness* DFBHGWERJKGFBJKOEHGKFBGEJK I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!

#98 by SillyWriterGall - Oct 9 2011

which one are you looking at 8D

#100 by SillyWriterGall - Oct 12 2011

8D yay im looking for new (smutish) idea to draw those two any suggestions (A) get as dirty as you want

#101 by callas - Dec 3 2011

Okay, for the one's still interested, I found some time to finish the VN of Xenostatica's story.
It took me al lot of work and I got on another project before I could finish this one, but here it is. Sorry for the wait.

Just download and unrar. (download is 64MB)


http://www.mediafire.com/?tghole8tgt4na9w


This is for Windows, if anyone wants Mac, just let me know.

Hope you like it.

#102 by KarenCrystal - Dec 7 2011

I love this story!!!

#103 by Sabina - Dec 21 2011

I really enjoyed this story. It was a nice denouement for Grabiner's path. Good work and my thanks.

Also! I downloaded your VN, callas, and I'll be playing through it this weekend. I went through a few screens and it looks promising. Thank you, too.

#104 by mizumori_fumaira - Feb 26 2012

i really enjoy this story!!! too bad it has ended already!!

Xenostatica, thanks you made my day a lot of fun... i was lack of magical diary ff when i found yours, and its really great!!

Callas, i want to see the vn, so now i download it! thank you that you've made this!

#106 by Hopeless Romantic - Jul 28 2012

Wow! I love your take on the Grabiner story line, a lot!

I've just purchased the game and have put all my extra time into it, 30 hours give or take. lol Its been like my other job! No sleep for me! I came across your story after I'd totally fallen for Grabiner and I couldn't stop reading, I was late for work, opps, and read the rest when i got home.

And Hanako, I love you!!

WOW!!

#107 by anastasia.stephenson - Sep 4 2012

i read all but two pieces of your story last nigh and i was sick from school today so I finished it today and I LOVED IT!! I wish it never had to end. I love Grabiners story and when I find good fanfiction I am like YESS!!!!!!

#108 by cae - Sep 25 2012

THIS is all sorts of awesome. I thought Grabby was in character almost (if not all) of the time. And the depth you gave to the other characters, while keeping them in the realm of reality to the game was great.
I love that you didn't go way off the deep-end with other magic stuff, and incorporated things like charms and magic in making foods and things for others.
I also loved the cat. It makes me miss my kitties (because I'm in Japan, and they're in America ) so it made me happy to see Sue with her kitty in the end.

And Callas... I LOVE the VN you made for the story. (Playing through it right now.)

Haha... the car scene was cute, it made me giggle.

Good work, both of you!