a snowy morning. [reserved]

[edward adam guildenstern]

Edward pulled out his pocket-watch and checked the time. It was close to the time that Ellyllon got up, according to her dorm mates. Although they were wondering why he cared, Edward just brushed them off. It wasn't like they would understand. No, they are all so ill-mannered and impolite, like many people at this school, he mused. It was odd that such elegant people could be so cruel and mean. Himself as well, he supposed, after last night. Edward fit into that. Perhaps not anywhere near as much as the average Mille-Feuille student, but nonetheless, he showed great rudeness and emotion last night and wouldn't rest until Ellyllon accepted his apology.

Speaking of which, where could she be? He had a perfect view of the hallway from his chair, and she hadn't passed by yet. I wonder if she hates me...I showed weakness in front of her again. For everything I try to do, I always manage to sully it in some way. Edward frowned. He always tried his best to look perfect, act perfect, hell, be perfect, but it seemed he did have his angry points.

Such as stumbling upon Skylar in the bathroom. Yes, that made him angry as all intoxicated people did. At least Skylar accepted his apology and they were on better terms now. Perhaps Skylar did try to kill Edward, but he clearly wasn't in his right state of mind...Edward's frown deepened. What on earth would have possessed that boy to do such things? Well, the more pressing question was why did Edward react how he did? I just...I hate people like that. Yes, people like that killed his father and now he had an irrational hatred, no, fear of them.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, which immediately went back to Ellyllon. He had acted so rude in front of her, he just couldn't bring himself to even see her. That was not something that a gentleman did, no, nowhere near. But Ludvig had accused him of things, even jokingly, and Edward couldn't stand that. He was only trying to help Ellyllon, to save her from, well, her period, he supposed, only to have Ludvig berate him for it. Looking back on it, it was obvious that he lost his temper. Edward couldn't stand having anyone interfere with his chivalry, lest he get that upset again. Not only that, but Ludvig had made a fool of him.

Ugh, Ludvig. Ludvig was now some sort of enemy, something Edward hated. He was sure, in time, that what happened at Yule would blow over. Perhaps he could make a good impression during detention, and Ludvig would leave him be. Maybe that's giving him far too much credit, he speculated. Well, it's not like he knew Ludvig, nor did Ludvig know him...for all Edward knew it was just him being stupid and misunderstanding things again. It probably was.

Speaking of him being stupid, his mind floated back to Ellyllon. He had brought her a small token of apology, a little white ring with a small pink stone in it. Although the gesture itself was romantic, Edward thought he needed to go all out for Ellyllon to accept his apology because he had ruined her Yule for her. He sighed and awaited her inevitable pass-by. Maybe she would even walk in the room to grab a quick tea, but that would be far too lucky.

[ellyllon mary arthur]

[/i] These words had impacted her more than anything else; Edward seemed so concerned with himself and his troubles that he didn't even care to hold his tongue in front of Ellyllon and conceal his rudeness. She pressed her face further into the pillow and let out a sob, concealing her scream in the fabric.

Edward had certainly forgotten himself on the balcony. It was both embarrassing and hurtful; Ellyllon felt wounded that Edward was so unable to control himself in Ellyllon's presence. She supposed that he had flaws as much a she did, even if he had been nothing but perfect in her eyes since the day they met. In her mind, Ellyllon now visualized Edward as a pure white, marble structure blackened by the soot and charcoal from the night.
The girl rolled over, her blotchy red and ivory face pointed upward toward the speckled ceiling above. The girl considered she might be overreacting; after all, Ellyllon couldn't expect Edward to be perfect forever. Even the best of friends were bound to hurt each other sometimes. With a pain of longing, Ellyllon crossed her arms and hugged herself. Perhaps her and Edward would be able to make up over break- this is, if Ellyllon could bear to even look at Edward again.

The girl slowly pulled herself up, not bothering to wipe away the drying tears that had collected upon her cheeks. There was still a hand of shame clamped around her neck, strangling her, pushing Ellyllon to the brink of sobs again. However, she understood that she would simply have to accept the pain of it all; it was something she was used to, at least.
Having dragged herself to the bathroom, Ellyllon dared to look at her reflection in the ornate, almost too high mirror. The girl nearly laughed as how terrible she looked and quickly resolved to take a shower before going to bed.

With a heavy, wet curtain of dark pirate colored silk trailing behind her naked back, having washed herself and taken some medicine for her subsiding cramps, the girl crawled into her bed with all the strength of a newborn bunny rabbit. She wore nothing but a flowery pink bra and panties set, with pale off white boys boxers pulled up over her bum. Her face was clear of makeup and her hair brushed back neatly, but the trail of tears had not entirely faded from her delicate features. Exhausted, her eyes fell closed the second she hit the pillow. She had barely taken a breath before she fell into a dense, dreamless sleep; her last waking thought was a promise to never go to a school dance again.

*

When Ellyllon woke the next morning, the light in her room was all encompassing and irregularly brilliant. Shielding her squinting eyes from the brightness filtering through the window above her, the girl sleepily roused from her bed. Ellyllon stood, her small, pale body glowing like diamonds in snow, moving to push the lavender and creme curtains over the window. Her vision was slightly blurry as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, observing that it must be past her usual hour of waking, due to the intensity of the morning sun. Pushing her silken, straight locks back from her fair face, the girl breathed deeply. The night before felt like a million days ago and a thousand miles away. Her memories from the dance flooded into the girl's mind, causing a swooping sensation near her midriff and a sinking feeling in her heart.

Her steps were uneven and shaky as she walked to the bathroom door. Ellyllon's thoughts were only on Edward; she brushed her teeth, pulled her long hair back with clips, and dressed absentmindedly, with her friend's face haunting her vision all the time. When she closed her eyes, Edward was all Ellyllon saw. She wanted to both apologize and never see him again. The girl knew she would be a coward to not approach him and apologize for how terrible the night had been. He was her best friend, after all; it wouldn't be right to leave things like this.
Though she wasn't hungry, Ellyllon thought she should look for Edward in the dining hall. Stepping out of her dorm room, an image of lavender, yellow and ivory, she decided to make a stop in the common area for coffee before she went down to breakfast. Her creamy shoes clicking on the cold stone floor, Ellyllon made her way to the commons, her head fuzzy and full of thoughts of Edward. The girl nearly ran into the wall in her dreamy state, her mind consumed with trying to figure out the right things to saw to Edward when she saw him.

The girl entered the empty (or so she thought) room without really looking anywhere inside it. Her eyes were focused on the coffee machine near the far side of the room. Ellyllon began to make a beeline for the area; however, she stopped suddenly whens he saw a familiar figure in her peripheral vision. Her heart skipped two beats and froze, shooting up into her throat and taking the air from her lungs. Almost afraid to do so, the girl turned slowly to face the boy in the chair. Her eyes were wide upon him, her mouth open in fear and surprise; she had not expected to see Edward here at all.
Before she could stop herself, Ellyllon called to him.
"Edward?" she gasped, her fist clenching and going to press against her collapsing chest. Immediately, the girl began to flush furiously and look down, avoiding Edward's gaze. Beneath her jumper skirt. her knees began to tremble; and like last night, she had no idea how to make her legs work. The girl had no idea what to do or say to Edward; she simply stood in from of him like a sitting duck, feeling incredibly awkward.[/ul]

[edward adam guildenstern]

Edward slowly turned to his left and almost gasped. Ellyllon, standing with her mouth agape, was staring directly at him like a deer in the headlights. Well, she looked like that often, but right now even moreso than usual. She looked plainer than usual this morning also, it was almost as if she had been on automatic that morning. Perhaps what I did was worse than I imagined... After all, he had been utterly rude and just plain distasteful that night- even uttering a swear word, which he hadn't done, since the incident in the bathroom. Thank god Ellyllon was not present for that...

Edward winced visibly. It was obvious that even looking at him strained Ellyllon. It was evident that he really did hit home on her that night. It's not like she would understand why... She would probably laugh at me if I did tell her why. He shook his head to banish such thoughts from his brain. No, dwelling on this won't do. Edward decided that affirmative action should be taken lest he lose a friend- and he would never let that happen.

"Good morning, Miss Ellyllon." His usual charming, laid back demeanor was completely absent, instead replaced with a face of complete stone. "I understand you are probably very upset with me, no, I know you are. You have every excuse to be." The compulsion to add in a little compliment or joke was inwardly tormenting Edward, but this occasion called for seriousness.

"I acted quite out of turn and, well, I am sure you are aware of that." His face remained completely serious. "You must understand that...some things are difficult for me to handle and the Doctor hit one of my weak points. No, I had no excuse to act in the way that I did," That much was true, "although I hope that you can at least understand it from my point of view."

"I ask that you accept my sincerest apologies." Edward felt around for the small box with his hand which was in his pocket. He had that ring for the longest time, he bought it in Colchester when Ellyllon wasn't looking to give to her at a later date. It appeared the date had come, but now was not the time, perhaps. "I understand that acting that way was rather idiotic. Foolish. Immature." Edward fought the smile that threatened to creep up on his face. Just the fact that Ellyllon hadn't run away from him completely upon seeing him had lifted his spirits completely. "I apologize."

[ellyllon mary arthur]

[edward adam guildenstern]

Edward held a hand to his forehead and sighed. Ellyllon was so emotional, and so distraught. He had no idea how to handle it, as the people he met generally got over things rather quickly. I suppose Ellyllon isn't that type of girl, he reasoned. Throughout her speech, she looked as if she was on the verge of tears, no, she was actually crying. Despite his apology, he could tell she was extremely upset by his actions. Most people would have brushed it off as Edward being irritable as he once and a while was, but Elly had never seen him like this so it must have been a shock for someone like her.

It's good to get that over with, though. Now she's seen me at my worst, and she still wishes to be friends. Edward felt relief rush through him, quickly receding and being replaced by a calm contentment. She was being far too formal for his tastes, despite the fact that he himself often spoke that way. At times like this, these intimate moments of emotion, that kind of manner of speaking put him ill at ease. He shook off a couple shivers.

"Miss Ellyllon," his expression was one of very slight bemusement, still confused by the girl's emotions. Rather than being angry, bitter or just apathetic, she was extremely upset. That was a new one. "I am aware of my actions and how they affected you." Though I wish you would not be so offended, I suppose I brought this on myself.

"I have a little something for you." A small smile graced his face. "I had been saving it for another occasion but I see it might be, shall we say, a peace offering?" He fished around for the little white box that contained the ring. It really was nothing special, quite simple in design. "Please, I ask that there are no hard feelings on your end, as it was me that acted out of turn. The lady shouldn't care about me as much as she does." He held out the small gift to Ellyllon. It was a joking statement, but to Edward, it resonated with his true feelings. He was not used to this kind of behavior. Not only was Ellyllon very shy, but also very caring. It's so very strange to me.

It was an odd occurrence for someone to genuinely care. "I am sorry for being a bit awkward today." Edward said casually. "I am not used to people caring about what I do, really...facing consequences for my actions are not something I am used to." He nodded gravely, the smile still tugging at his lips. It was an odd contrast. "If you are willing to listen, I can offer my reasons for why I reacted like I did."

[ellyllon mary arthur]

[edward adam guildenstern]

Ellyllon gave him a peck on the cheek and withdrew just as fast, and Edward's eyebrow raised. One gloved hand rose to the cheek confusedly where she had given a polite kiss, before falling back onto his lap as if in shock. She is getting more and more confident in herself. An action such as this was surprising yet fit oddly with what he knew of Ellyllon. The strange look on her face as she withdrew added to his conclusions; it was a mixture of surprise and bashfulness. He could not help but let out a small chuckle at the situation as a whole. "Miss Ellyllon, your cheeks are flushed," he teased, "it's just a peck on the cheek. "

"As for my, uh, recklessness?" He hid his hurt behind a small smile. "Don't be so worried! It is not something I do often. As I mentioned, Ludvig had hit a nerve." As Skylar did in the bathroom a month or two ago. She need not know about that. "That does not happen often. So cheer up, please?" The smile turned into a hurt pout and Edward's eyebrows furrowed, his hurt finally showing through a seemingly teasing display. Edward leaned back in the chair, the only one in the room, oddly, and closed his eyes before continuing.

"Please don't take what I'm about to say in the wrong way." Edward was finally able to vocalize what was nagging at the back of his mind the entire time.

"I know you've seen a side of me you haven't before." His eyes opened and the playful sparkle was gone, leaving nothing but a serious look on his face. The moments he was this serious were rare, but now was one of the times Edward knew he had to be. "I'm sure you have a side like that as well. Everyone does." His lips formed a small, straight line. "I only ask that you do not dwell on it. You do not cause such feelings of anger to arise in me, so..." He trailed off before continuing. "Like I said, you will not see me like that very often. It must have given you quite a start, though." His serious demeanor evaporated as quickly as it had come. "I don't seem the type to get that angry, do I? I wonder what you're like when you're upset." It was not something Edward preferred to think about, due to the total ridiculousness of the idea. He stifled a laugh. An angry Ellyllon was absolutely absurd, yet completely probable.

Ellyllon brought to attention the odd state of the room, seemingly devoid of chairs. It was a rather curious sight. The laugh threatening to spill from his lips finally got too much for Edward to handle, so he held a hand to his mouth and chuckled for a few seconds. A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes as ideas raced through his mind. If she is getting more confident, I suppose she won't mind. "I see. There's an easy solution to that problem." A hand quickly short from his lap to Ellyllon's hand, hoping to pull her and send her tumbling onto his lap.

[ellyllon mary arthur]

[/i] as the girl dropped her bag unconsciously. Forgetting to breathe, air locked in her lungs, the girl almost hesitated and turned slightly to move away. She couldn’t fully commit herself to do so, however, and landed in Edward’s lap almost perfectly, her bum resting upon one of his thighs, her legs in a jumble and resting off the side of the chair awkwardly. A tiny hand went to grasp whatever was closest to her so the girl would not fall, which happened to be the front of Edward’s shirt. The girl’s eyes had closed tightly upon impact; her skirt and the light petticoat beneath it rustled before drooping to the side, the hem resting a little above Elly’s knees and then falling in a lavender and tiger lily yellow cascade to the floor.

Slowly, she opened one steely blue eye, and then the other. Cautiously, her gaze drifted up to meet Edward’s, her breath shallow and her expression a mix of fear, bashfulness, and excitement. A rosy blush adorned her cheeks, making them glow.

“I.. Edward..” She choked out, before realizing she was gripping his shirt with nervous ferocity. With a small squeak, she quickly let go, letting her hand rest in her lap; her shy eyes soon followed.

“I’m sorry,” the girl murmured, her voice barely a whisper. She felt frozen, completely taken aback by Edward’s action, and yet so completely happy she almost didn’t know what to do with herself. Was this simply a platonic show of affection, or something more, inspired by the kiss she had given him just a few minutes ago? Her face warmed at the thought, wondering, if maybe, finally, he was returning some of her feelings.
She nearly slapped herself, and resolved to shake her head subtly, her straight wheat-colored hair shimmering around her. No, of course he wasn’t suddenly, as if by some miracle, feeling the same way as she did. Ellyllon was simply hoping far too much.

The girl looked up now, her eyes finding Edward’s. She smiled shyly, without parting her small lips, her cheeks still glowing.
“I, uhm, suppose an extra chair is, erm, no longer necessary?” The girl squeaked out, biting her lip as she finished her sentence. [/ul]

[edward adam guildenstern]

Edward shifted in the chair slightly to allow Ellyllon a more comfortable position before a grin spread across his features. "Miss Ellyllon...although my shirt is constructed rather well, such a tight grip may lead to slight damage." He winked as Ellyllon let go with a grasp, a small laugh falling from his lips. One hand moved to his hair, gently unknotting a small knot that had somehow affixed itself there, the other moving to the arm of the chair, resting there delicately. Ellyllon was not an uncomfortable thing to be on his lap, as she was already quite thin and the slight petticoat beneath her dress alleviated any uncomfortable pressure that might of been there.

"Sorry?" Edward raised one thin eyebrow quizzically, eyes still trained on Ellyllon's. "What for?" His smile turned into a mock frown. "You're quite aware of your size, it's not like you would hurt me in any way." One corner of his mouth became upturned, setting a smile upon his face once more. Edward leaned forward suddenly yet slowly so as not to startle the small girl sitting in his lap. His hair shifted forward with his head forming a curtain that shielded the side of his face, his lips a few inches from the girl's ear yet none of his body touched her other than his legs, still beneath her thin frame. "I don't think a chair is necessary, do you?" He smirked before withdrawing just as fast as he came, another lighthearted laugh passing through his lips. "Although the state of this room is...odd. It may require further inspection..." He trailed off in thought, the hand on the chair moving to his chin in contemplation before something hit him.

There was a multitude of problems that accompanied an attractive girl sitting on one's lap, but none seemed to present themselves as Edwards eyes grew dim and his body sagged slightly. "I recall telling you that I needed to...explain my actions, oui?" One gloved hand flew to his mouth suddenly, realizing his accent had slipped through again. A mortified look crossed his visage before an embarrassed grin replaced it. The grin slowly faded, replaced by a thin line. "I will try to abbreviate it as much as possible as it's not something I enjoy talking about," Edward stated simply. "Although I now know it is vital that you are aware of some things. I remember that I explained it just moments ago," he paused, "but I feel you deserve a more in depth explanation." Edward gave a slight nod before continuing. "I feel as though I may have...oversimplified matters. It goes further beyond being unused to facing consequences for my actions," he began, "it is much more personal than that."

He began slowly, unintentionally drawing out his syllables; his tone was laced with regret and realization. "What Ludvig said hit a nerve, as I explained earlier, but...I will explain why now." His eyes still avoided Ellyllon's out of embarrassment, but perhaps something else. "He accused me of being involved with both fainting incidents, despite witnesses and evidence to the contrary...and I had no clue Hecate was even at Yule that night, much less fainting and turning up mysteriously under tables." His tone was still filled with embarrassment, but changed to be more casual in nature, as if to offset the seriousness of the situation in a vain attempt to make the girl on his lap more comfortable.

"I wouldn't dream of hurting either you or, well, most other people really," he continued, "And I was understandably irritated." Although he and Ludvig were on better terms now, the memories of the night still bothered Edward. "I was growing tired with Hecate's presence, what with her falling all over the place all night, and well...my mood was quite sour, as you well know." His tone remained casual, but Edward's face was contorted with seriousness. "I had fetched his help for you after you fainted, only to be accused of drugging you and making Hecate faint. " He snorted. "It is no excuse for my actions and reactions, but I enjoy helping people. " Edward's voice became small, almost timid in nature at the recent confession.

"Dr. Ludvig accusing me of hurting a girl I care for..." He shook his head irritably. "Although it may or may not have been in jest, I took it in a very personal way, and in addition to everything that had already transpired..." He trailed off distantly, "It caused me to act out in an almost childish manner in front of you, something I hoped you would never see, but unfortunately now have." His eyes returned to Ellyllon's. "Again, it is no excuse for my actions, as there is none." His head tilted to the side slightly, one hand moving to tug absent-mindedly at his collar. "But I hope it serves as an explanation, so as to put your mind at rest that I do not fly off the handle for no reason." His smile returned, hoping to make the girl feel more at ease. "So...that's the long version," He said simply. "Let us hope nothing similar to this happens, as acting out in front of you was quite the embarrassment."