Someone to fall back on

[Patricia Styx]

Patricia made her way up the castle grounds again to the main entrance. Just outside the big oak doors she stopped herself, she needed to take a few deep breaths before continuing. At the other side of the door she could here faint noises of people talking and laughing. The feast must be over she thought to herself. A feeling of dread hit her full force, she didn't want to go into the crowd of people. Her face clearly showing that she had been crying and her dress was dirty with being outside. Finally plucking up the courage to enter the castle she opened the doors and tried to avoid any gazes people were giving her. Lifting her head momentarily she scanned the crowds in search for Ruki. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now but she had to find him, to apologise to him. Not having much luck she lowered her head once again, letting a few tears fall from her eyes as she made her way to the staircase.

 

[Isabella Chaos]

Isabella had been in the Great Hall enjoying the Halloween festivities with the rest of the student body. She was completely ecstatic because it had been an extremely fun feast, so far none of her Halloween feasts had disappointed her and she hoped they would stay that way in the future. She was also especially happy that she had won 'Cutest Costume' when she hadn't even been trying for it! It only made her think that each of her outfits, even costumes, were getting better without much effort and people were definitely noticing her. Unfortunately the feast had finally ended and they were all being shoved out the double doors, some idiotically trying to fit through the double doors all at once. When she finally she got out into the entrance hall, her chocolate brown eyes did a sweep of the place in observance and something caught her eye.

A few people had been looking in that general direction anyway, so it only caught her attention more. It was Patricia, and she was crying? Why? Patricia was a happy girl with generally no problems at all, why could she possibly be crying, and on Halloween night specifically? Isabella remembered when she and the Hufflepuff girl used to hate each other, well she hated her moreso, but back in first year when there had been the whole Aiden-Alyssa-herself love triangle, Patricia had been there for her when no one else had. Isabella decided that she needed to return the favor, and be there for her Hufflepuff friend. (She could no longer say 'only' Hufflepuff friend because she had to admit that the only boy Alexander was now somewhat of a friend). Isabella turned to Thomas and kissed him goodbye, and told the rest of her friends who were going to the dungeons with her, that she'd meet them up later and waved goodbye to them as she took a few steps towards Pat in the opposite direction. "Hey Pat!" Isabella called after her softly as she followed her up the staircase. "Pat!" she called again a little louder now that she was away from the large crowd.

 

[Patricia Styx]

Feeling the happy peoples gazes burn into the back of her head Patricia kept her head down, determined to get to her dorm room as quickly as possible. The sound of people's laughter ringing in her ears hit Patricia lick a kick to the gut. She resented how so many people could be so cheerful right now when there was so much pain and sadness in her life. Her cheeks now burning with a mixture of anger and embarrassment she felt her tears flowing easily down them.

As she began to ascend the marble staircase she heard someone calling her name, stopping she turned to see how it was. Somewhat surprised Patricia saw her former enemy, now good friend, Isabella Chaos calling her. Dropping her head again she felt like running on hoping to pass it off as simply not hearing her. But Patricia had pushed her friends away for too long now, she had to make amends somewhere. Letting her shoulders fall she let out a shaky, "Hi Bella." once again whipping her tears away.

 

[Isabella Chaos]

Isabella's eyes were furrowed together with confusion and concern as she followed Pat up the staircase and finally saw her turn around to face her. Tears were streamed down the girl's face and this only deepened her concern for her. Sure they hadn't spoken that much but it didn't change the friendship they had formed in the first place, after being able to get over their pettiness (mostly on her side). "Hey, what's wrong?" the Slytherin girl asked Patricia as she tugged on her red cape to conceal herself in her costume. Isabella looked behind her to see who was passing by them and snickering at Pat, so Isabella quickly snapped at them and told them to go away. She turned back to Pat with anxiety pooled in her chocolate colored eyes and waited for a response.

 

[Patricia Styx]

At Bella's words Patricia took a heavy, shaky, sigh. She didn't know how to say the words, it would make it more real than it already was. Hearing a snicker from one of the passing students Patricia glared at them, however she was glad that Bella was there to stand up for her. Seeing Isabella turn back to her Patricia stared at her for a long moment before she felt the strength in her legs go again. Quickly she held on to the banister for support and sat down on the stairs before letting the words out, "My brother just died." She buried her face in her hands before letting out another wail, this is what she couldn't do in front of her father.

 

[Isabella Chaos]

Isabella waited patiently for Patricia to speak up, the girl was clearly distraught and emotional, so she understood that it would take a little while to compose yourself to speak. So far, Patricia's entire body language was worrying Isabella so she grew anxious as she waited for Pat to speak but as soon as she did, a whole whirl of emotions hit her by the time her Hufflepuff friend had uttered the word 'died.'

Despite the fact that she was here to comfort Patricia, Isabella couldn't help but feel her heart drop into the pit of her stomach. All the people around, a special school event, and the death of a loved one. It was all to similar to something that had happened to her almost a year ago at the Yule Ball with her mother. It was still hard for Isabella, it hadn't even been a year yet, but she bit down on her lip to stop herself from showing any personal reaction and to stop her eyes from watering.

Immediately Isabella went over to Patricia and threw her arms around her and hugged her tightly as she said, "Oh Pat, I'm soo sorry!" She knew these words were so cliche and that she didn't like it when people told her them much. She personally hated it when people apologized to her for her mother's death because secretly she felt guilty all this time, she felt like it was her fault, and she didn't deserve to be forgiven for it. But for Pat it was completely different. She was truly sorry that something like this had to happen to a good person like her. Unable to say something in the moment, Isabella just continued to hug her friend in hopes that it would be somewhat comforting.

 

[Patricia Styx]

GAH sorry >.<

As she continued to sob Patricia felt Bella put her arms around her. Patricia dropped her head on Bella's shoulder - a shoulder to cry on. Memories of their past came into her head, how they dispised each other in first year - such foolishness. And then how they were able to get over that childish behaviour in the North Tower that night, where Patricia had done what Bella was doing for her now - comforting her. Patricia knew that she had put her friend in an awkward situation, it was one thing to comfort someone over a relationship but to comfort someone over a death, it was something completely different.

Despite the cliche words Patricia welcomed them. Even though they wouldn't bring Jospeh back - she knew not even magic could do that - she liked to hear them, especially after the hard truth she got from her father. Sitting up a bit, still shaking, she looked a Bella and muttered the word, "Thank." she didn't really know what else to say. Whipping away her tears she took a deep breath, trying to get control over herself, "Sorry about this, I didn't mean to drop that one you - or anyone for that matter." she added, her voice was low but still auidable.

 

[Isabella Chaos]

[I am so, very deeply, extremely sorry!!! I hope you understand my excuse of catching the RP bug, then getting super busy! ]

Isabella ran her hands up and down Patricia's back in an attempt to sooth and calm her as she hugged her, so she wouldn't cry anymore, especially not in public, and then released her. As Patricia then began to apologize for springing this upon her, Isabella immediately shook her tightly curled hair side to side to dismiss her apology. "It's no bother," Isabella said right away with a firm look in her eyes so that Patricia knew she was serious. "Pat, even when we were enemies, you were there for me when no one was," she stated calmly, a small smile tracing her lips as she thought fondly of how young and immature they had been a mere three years ago. "How can I not be there for someone as kind as you?" she said, her smile growing bigger just slightly.

Isabella had just been trying to lighten up the mood a little bit. The last time she had gone to someone for comfort after her mother had just past away, was Abbey, and things hadn't exactly turned out good and in the end Isabella had just ended up feeling worse! She took that experience as a learning one and told herself that if anyone were to ever approach her with news of a loved one just dying, she would do her best to be supportive and just there for the person, instead of letting her immature teen angsty feelings get in the way. "I really am sorry, Pat," she repeated in a whisper again. "I know it's not easy, but someone as strong as you will get through it," she told her with a hint of a smile. She believed what she said, that someone as strong as Pat would be able to get through the grief and heartache with a smile and cope with it better than she ever could. Isabella always liked to put up a tough exterior, but when it came to emotions, Isabella was weak. She was as fragile as a porcelain doll, she just had trouble dealing with complex emotions that accompanied death.

 

[Patricia Styx]

(That damned RPing bug Don't worry, I completely understand)

Despite her best efforts the tears kept flowing from her eyes, but at least she was getting better control over her breathing now and was finding it easier to talk. Listening to Bella speak Patricia couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "Oh wow I had almost forgotten about that time." she said truthfully, her and Bella now were pretty decent friends, to think of a time when they hated each other was almost foreign to her. "Thank you." she said as Bella expressed how she couldn't be there for her, it was amazing how much they had grown up in three years.

Patricia lifted her head slightly, glad to see that whatever people remaining had stopped looking at her now. Tonight had been bad enough for her, the last thing she needed was to be made a freak show for people's amusement. Patricia listened to Isabella's words and nodded in agreement, she didn't know how she was going to be able to get through it but she was going to try, so much had happened to her this year so far and just when she thought she was getting over it this happened. Hopefully she'd find the strength to get over this bump in the road too. "Thanks Bella, you're so much better at this comforting thing than dad was." Patricia said, absent-mindedly calling Professor Styx her dad. It was only after she spoke the words did they register with her, she let out a small gasp and covered her mouth, but it was too late.