As the lights returned, everyone began panicking hysterically as the faculty tried to calm everything down. After being cleared, Zion took it upon himself to sneak out to the bleachers for a deep breath and a cigarette. He shook his head. “He’s dead. He’s fucking dead. I should’ve known. This school…it’s toxic to everything it touches.” 

They hadn’t technically given Seth the job, but as a senior who maybe had a stronger stomach and a more calm mind than others, he took it upon himself to round up stranglers or those who were planning to disappear. It wasn’t his prerogative to ruin anyone’s night, but he knew the trouble they’d face if they missed attendance and the questioning they’d receive in the morning if they weren’t accounted for. “Yo, man,” Seth called. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble if you stay out here. I know it’s really hard to be in there right now, but...you’re not alone.”

Listening to Seth speak, it felt as if nothing had happened. Like the distance that had been formed never happened. Sure there was’t really a good way to avoid someone when they happen to be your roommate, but he sure as hell had tried. Blinking when he finishes speaking Elian looks at him.”Look I… I’m sorry. I didn’t know how to respond after what happened that night. And I shut you out. It was fucking stupid, and selfish. I just… I didn’t know what to do. Nobody showed up…” Sighing he looks at the ceiling of the gym ”It always worked out in the movies. But I abandoned you too. I don’t even know how to apologize for that.”

For a moment - they were just two kids with crooked teeth and darker skin, trying to fit into a neighborhood that didn’t want them. Seth rubbed the back of his neck before stuffing his hands in his pockets, almost unsure of what to say despite starting the conversation. “Nah, it’s fine - maybe we don’t have to apologize. We’re different now. New. Like two strangers, right?” He took one hand out of his pocket and offered it to Elian. For the first time in a long time, his knuckles aren’t bruised. “I’m Seth, nice to meet you.” 

“It fucking blows.” Letting out a sigh he shakes his head. “It also doesn’t help when Kace West reminds people that he doesn’t like you.” He heard that through the grapevine, someone had asked about him. And the boy who holds no grudges confirmed there was indeed a grudge. “I get that we have to wait… it’s just. Annoying.”

“Forget about Kace. He’s one dude,” Seth rolled his eyes. He was sure there were plenty of people who weren’t ready to accept the improved duo, more than just Kace, but they couldn’t focus on that. “We just have to be confident in ourselves and goodness will follow. Now here’s where we messed up last time...confidence apparently doesn’t equal cockiness...and you know...I guess it’s time ot say something...” He put his hands in his pockets, almost nervous about the words that were about to come out of his mouth. They hadn’t truly spoken in forever, since Seth blew him off and gave him the cold shoulder. “I’m with you.”

It had taken quite a bit of self-encouragement for Raina to actually get dressed and decide to attend the Snowflake Ball. She had so badly wanted to ask someone to the dance, but at the end of the day, she wasn’t confident enough. So, instead, here she was, alone and attempting to feel “normal” if she even could anymore. She just wasn’t sure of anything at this point. 

Her brother was working at Fairfield, both of the people who were in her life the most often only wanted to spend time together outside of the public eye, and all she wanted to do was try and actually connect to people within Fairfield. It was starting to feel as though she didn’t have enough social interaction in her life. She barely even saw her brother, and he was one of her favorite people. If anything, that just went to prove how much she had ostracized herself. 

So, now she was just standing next to a table with a bowl of punch sitting on it. There were beautiful decorations all around her. People were dancing and enjoying the night and she desperately wanted to as well. She wanted to stop feeling sorry for herself. She wanted to stop throwing herself into a pity party. It wasn’t worth it. 

As someone approached the table, Rae sipped from her punch glass with a smile. “Surprisingly good,” she mumbled under her breath. “Sorry,” she followed. “Are you enjoying the dance?”

Seth felt as if this was his year of punishment. He desperately wanted everyone to forget who he’d been all of his life, desperately wanted to make friends and laugh and joke around and not fight anymore. He was tired of his knuckles being bruised. But it wasn’t right - he knew in every story, there had to be a time of recovery. You couldn’t just decide to change and have everyone accept you the next day...

so he went to the dance alone, because who would he have asked? Sure Paige and Elizabeth hadn’t really known who he was, but he didn’t know either of them well enough. “Uh, it’s nice, I guess?” He shrugged. “How about you?”

“Okay but that one right there already doesn’t like me.” Elian points his finger at one of the security members by the door. “And this time I swear I didn’t do anything. Seriously people change, why can’t they just….try to understand that..” Elian was certain the person he’d been speaking with originally walked off. So now he was more speaking his thoughts to nobody in particular. Though if someone responded Elian would continue the conversation as best as he could.

Seth listened and sighed, giving his former best friend a roll of his eyes. He wasn’t harsh or cruel, he just simply stated “People know you how they’ve seen you. You’re trying and that’s great, over time - everyone will see you how they want to, but right now? They’re going to keep an eye on you. I know. They keep an eye on me too.” 

She was tugging on the hem over and over, muttering to herself where she stood in a corner, as concealed as possible. Whitney felt.. exposed. Her knees were visible, her legs were out there for all to see and had it not been for the very thin fabric going from her chest and up to her neck her boobs would be fully out for anyone too see. She still felt like they were. Which was why she was crossing her arms over her chest any chance she got. Had Gunner been here then he would have come over to mock her, the only way he knew how to be an overprotective older brother was to be an ass when she dressed in a manner he didn’t agree with or feared would attract boys. So instead of being sweet and honest, he would make her feel like a small, dirty mouse on the kitchen floor. And while she had hated that, she found herself missing it now. As someone came over though Whit pulled out a soft smile. “How’s your night going?”

Seth had felt terrible for Whitney. In fact, the students going missing was probably the only thing that helped him along his path of kindness. It stopped him from wanting to be an asshole because imagining losing one of his siblings was heartbreaking. You’d think, the more you have the less you care about losing - but he’d die for any one of his siblings, especially the littles...so he chose to try to help her feel better. “It could be better, could be worse,” Seth replied. Freshman and sophomores tended to hype these balls up, as if they were some big, defining moment in their lives, but he knew it was just another day. “What about yours? You ought to be out dancing in such a beautiful dress.”

“Okay this is going to sound kind of bitchy, but am I the only one getting secondhand embarrassment because of some of those dance moves?” She inquires with the shake of her head as she walks over to the punch bowl. She didn’t expect this all to feel so… normal. But somehow it was as if nothing bad had happened the past year. Maybe everything that happened was slowly connecting everyone. She wondered just how long this mentality would last, before everyone would dissolve back into their groups of friends. She wondered if that would even happen.  “I mean good on them though, for going all out and dacncing. Just some of them have such an awkward vibe…”

“The fact that you call it dancing is even cringier,” Seth replied with a roll of his eyes. High school dances were always the same, no matter what prep school you go to or how rich you were - in the end, it all resorted to grinding. “They’re just having lowkey sex in public. It’s weird to even watch...some of them really need a room.”

“Gotta love dances. Time old tradition really. I mean just look at all the people already rushing to find a date.” Pausing for a moment she sighs brows knitting together. “Is it really that bad to just… go alone?”