Through chaos comes progress

[Alana Finch]

With her legs swinging back and forth as she sat on the bed, Alana watched Chaos Zhefarovich as he packed his belongings to head home. They’d just finished breakfast, and his uncle would be arriving soon to take Chaos home so that he could ring in the new year with his family. The week had gone surprisingly smooth. Of course, they’d argued. Really, it would be unnatural otherwise. But, they’d also actually had a decent time together, especially on the day that they’d gone to the beach alone. Alana had arrived home that evening surprised that she hadn’t felt like drowning Chaos not even once. They had even wished each other a good night before retiring to their respective rooms to sleep off their tiring day at the beach.

“Chaos, I have something to say to you” Alana finally stated, her voice low as she hopped off of the guest bed to shut the door. Merlin forbid that her dad walked by now and heard what she had to say. She’d never be able to live it down. Moving back to her spot, Alana settled in a bit more comfortably, one leg hanging off the side and the other tucked in front of her, her back leaning against the footboard. “No, don’t stop packing. Just listen” Alana implored, not wanting Chaos to actually watch her as she spoke. If he did, she might not get the words out. The Slytherin girl stared down at the bedspread, a small blush crossing her cheeks though it was a bit hard to see as she’d gotten a bit of a sunburn across them. She remained silent, playing with a small string, even though she’d asked Chaos to listen. This was going to be way harder than she’d anticipated.

 

[Chaos Zhefarovich]

There was a lot that could be said about this week. Leaving Alana's almost seemed to make him silent, sad to go. Chaos Zhefarovich was really having feelings for Alana Finch, and it was frustrating since she was getting along with him more, but he was sure that she was dating someone else. Out of respect, Chaos kept his nose to himself. Chaos was doing his best to make sure to hold his tongue when necessary, which only worked when he was around Alana, but not so much around his family, which earned him a few disciplinary earnings. As he folded his clothing, he could hear Alana swinging her legs. It was a little distracting, but he was getting work done because his uncle was going to come and get him, and then take him home. Benjamen was definitely one that would come once time. He was someone that others could rely on.

As soon as Alana said that she needed to say something to him, he stopped packing and leaned up to listen better. The door was shut, so now he was suspicious. Chaos heard her say that he shouldn't stop packing, but to listen. Chaos sighed as he continued to fold his clothing and stuff them into the suitcase. Just by being organized, almost as a flaw to him, he had to have everything in a certain way. "Okay, I'm listening, and not looking at you, since I believe that it is what I assume you want." Chaos settled down on the bed, wanting to look at Alana despite what she said, but he refused. He placed a pile of shirts on his lap, and folded them, wondering what she had to say to him before he left. It must have been important if she shut the door.​

 

[Alana Finch]

With a quick glance up, Alana confirmed that Chaos was doing as he said. He was concentrating on his packing, which he was making quick work of. Over the course of years, Alana had learned that Chaos was a bit obsessed with things being neat and orderly. It was an odd quirk for someone with his name. "Thanks" she muttered, taking a deep breath before she continued. Alana moved her hand to her leg, glad that she was looking and feeling better with this time off. The semester had been draining, and the Yule ball had been the obvious highlight of a difficult semester. Asa was a great distraction, and even if she knew that was all he'd ever be, Alana was grateful for him, if not a little confused by how everything was playing out in her life.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking this semester, and um, I wanted to uh...say sorry to you" Alana's voice dropped as she spoke the final words. "I know you didn't ask for this arrangement, but I've been taking it out on you for years anyway...and it wasn't...isn't right." Alana still didn't want to marry Chaos. Right now, she didn't even want to ever get married. But, she wanted to tell him she was sorry. "So yea, that's what I wanted to say." Feeling awkward, the Slytherin dropped her gaze and felt like she should leave, but she wanted to give Chaos a chance to say whatever he wanted to. She felt like she owed him that. "Do you have anything you'd like to say?" she asked stiffly, bracing herself for anything really.

 

[Chaos Zhefarovich]

Chaos did want to look at her while she spoke, but he did not. He wondered what color she was turning. He was listening to her words, which made him stop packing completely. He was way surprised when she said that she was sorry to him. Chaos wanted to say something but she continued to talk, saying that she was taking out this arrangement on him despite that it was not his fault. Yes it was not right, but it was a way for her to deal. Chaos was used to receiving a lot of the negative attention because that was his personality. He finally looked at Alana to see that she was not looking at him. He didn't know if she was at first anyway. Sighing, Chaos muttered, "Alana..." He needed to find his words.

He paused before groaning, "I know what I want to say but I can't word it." Chaos continued to stuff his suitcase before shutting it with a slam, only to make sure it closed since he did stuff it before. He locked it, and settled onto the bed. "Alana, I li-" Chaos shook his head, before he continued, "I accept your apology. I just thought that it was because of me. After all, definitely not Prince Charming. More like Ivan the Terrible." Chaos folded his heads together, and wondered if this meant that she would try to get to know him. Then again, he wasn't the best guy around. There were millions better. And he knew it. Maybe that was why he was in an arranged marriage. He couldn't attract a girl on his own due to his violence (not toward them) and his mouth.​

 

[Alana Finch]

Alana kept her gaze down as she spoke, but she could tell that he'd stopped packing. The room became silent, eerily so in the moment that she'd finished until Chaos let out a heavy sigh and muttered her name. She lifted her gaze in that moment, her red eyes on the teenager as he spoke. Chaos always seemed to have difficulty figuring out exactly what he wanted to say. It was something else she'd learned about him over the years. In writing, he lacked that awkwardness. Alana remained silent, leaning further back into the footboard of the bed, crossing her arms as she watched him finish packing. It was much more forceful, and she wondered if her apology had angered him. She didn't know why it would, but this was Chaos she was dealing with. She rarely understood why he did anything.

Finally, Chaos accepted her apology. Just like that. Alana's brow creased in confusion. "Who' s that?" The teenager shook her head, not really caring. "Well what you did didn't help anything" she admitted, not skirting around it any more as she once had. She dropped her gaze again, not really knowing what else to say. In her mind, her apology changed nothing. She still didn't want to marry Chaos. If she had to do so, it would be begrudgingly and only because the penalty of not doing so was death. Thankfully, it wasn't a decision she needed to make now. The room was too silent. "Don't let my apology make things more awkward. Otherwise, I'll take it back" she smirked, trying to ease the odd tension in the room.

 

[Chaos Zhefarovich]

Chaos briefly remembered that Alana was not from Russia. So, his little reference she would not understand. Chaos sighed and shook his head, "You don't want to know. Just a terrible ruler that killed his own son. Sounds like my uncle but it isn't him." Chaos wanted to make that clear. The man existed a long time ago, and while his uncle was old, he was not that old. Chaos sighed and he thought about it, and what he said. He did not want to spill over what happened. After all, she was getting sweet and lovely with another boy. At least, from what he knew. But he was going to keep that to himself. He did not want to start a fight when they were getting along, despite him being jealous over someone else winning Alana's affections.

"Yeah, that is true. If anything, it should have made things have a very fiery start," Chaos joked with half a smile on his face, before he realized how inappropriate that was. Chaos then added quickly, "That was rather cruel. Pretend that was not said if it makes you scared or whatever." Chaos set his suitcase on the floor, and placed his hands onto his lap. He shook his head, "I will not make things awkward. I also apologize for any sort of rude behavior I have exhibited toward you. Scaring you, getting on your nerves, whatnot." Chaos shrugged his shoulders, looking down at his lap with his purple eyes. He wanted to talk more, but he remained silent. He was going to dig himself into a hole if he opened his mouth. He was learning from Havoc.​

 

[Alana Finch]

Alana stared at him blankly, wondering how he could think that it was ok for him to joke about the incident. Before she could comment, Chaos was apologizing, having come to his own conclusion that what he'd just said was cruel. "You don't scare me" she stated emphatically, not wanting him to think he had any sort of advantage over her. Sure, he was a foot taller than she was, but she had a wand and he didn't, a great equalizer in her opinion. Anyway, Chaos had never been threatening towards her. Really the only negative feeling that she felt towards him lately was annoyance or mild anger when they argued. So when he began apologizing for those things, her red eyes widened. It was like he'd been seeing into her mind and reading her thoughts.

She stared at him, but Chaos had his gaze on his lap. "I think..." she paused, standing up from the bed. She was heading out of here after this was done. Sure, he didn't want to make things awkward, but it still was a bit of an odd situation that she'd put them in. "You actually weren't that annoying this week. You should keep that up" she stated, her tone serious though her lips kept twitching as she fought to keep a smirk from crossing her face. "See you after the school year finishes?" she asked, slowly reaching her hand forward and leaving it hanging in mid-air for him to shake.