I know your face. (Nervoux)

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

It was easier than Ocean had anticipated to get into District 8. The fences were taller than in twelve and made out of icy metal, but there were places where the metal sheets met and created foot-thick gaps. It was a tight squeeze but Ocean was a slight guy, and he made it through to the other side without pain.

Once he was in the district however, Oceans task became huge and daunting. He had forgotten how large Eight was, and he was looking for one, specific, probably grieving girl. Ocean's stomach tossed nervously and he suddenly wanted to turn around and run all the way back to Twelve. He managed to keep himself rooted though, replaying the reaping of his brother over and over again to solidify his purpose.

She had known him, probably really known him. This girl, Thalia, with the long dark hair could tell Ocean something about who this boy he was grieving for was really like. Ocean could barely remember his brother, but all his life, he had known he was there, felt a connection to him. It was like when he died, Ocean knew before he watched it on the recap that evening, he had been working in the mines and suddenly, it was like something was missing. There was no pain, just a hollow space of feeling in the left of his chest, where his heart should be. He had dropped his work and rushed home, where his mother was sitting in front of the television, sobbing quietly into her knees.

Ocean wiped tears out of his eyes, furious that this memory had gotten the best of him so easily. He closed out thoughts of his twin, and instead focused on how to find the girl. Ocean was currently following a slightly winding rural street, hoping to find the glittering lights a little ways ahead that he assumed were the center of the district. Guilt and nervousness gnawed at Oceans stomach, partly for leaving when he knew it could be impossible to find this girl, and nervous that he would never find her and have to return home empty handed. Ocean kicked a small pebble violently off the pavement, and stopped in the middle of the street. How was he going to find her? He couldn't very well knock on every door in Eight and it wasn't as if she would just happen to wander down the same street as he was.

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[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

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Where do I begin?
Crying off my face again
The silent sound of loneliness
Wants to follow me to bed

It was peculiar how much a death could mess up the daily patterns in your life. A normal day for the mourning girl was usually wake up, wake up her younger siblings, help feed them all, dress them, and then go work in the fields. That had all been ruined, though, by the death of one she liked to believe she loved. Thalia was now the one that had to be woken up, a gentle hand prodding her shoulder, one that was hesitant and soft, as if the owner of the hand was afraid of what would be happen when she would wake up.

Thalia's eyes fluttered open, as if she had been in a deep slumber and had been startled awake. Little did her sister know that she had just been lieing there, wondering what it would be like to join the ones that had been stripped away from her life so suddenly. Images had flickered before her closed eyelids. Images of her mother being sent flying down to the ground, covered in layers of her own blood; Sebastian, his loving eyes filled with terror as the weapon flew toward his face, his last breath being a startled cry of terror. Along with the images came ideas of ways to end her life, for the longing to be with those two loved ones was overpowering. It was driving her insane.

"Wake up Thalia" the voice whispered, forcing Thalia's gaze to travel up the owner of such a gentle tone. Her eyes fell upon the only one who had the ability to keep her calm: Lila. The weariness in her gaze was clear as she stared down at the girl that had used to be so lively just a few days earlier, only to be replaced by the solemn and weak girl that had been hiding behind the layers of positivity. As much as Thalia tried to deny it, she knew that the melancholy girl had been crouching there the whole time, just waiting patiently for the right time to attack.

Thalia simply nodded, her gaze following Lila as she reluctantly left the room. In some part of the screaming enclosures of her mind, she knew she was being quiet cruel to the lady that had raised her since her mother died, but she couldn't escape the sadness that was wrapped around her like a tentacle. But in some places she was connected to reality, some wheels able to spin in her head and remind her of the work that needed to be done, although they were already growing rusty and beginning to cease their turning. They may have been telling her what needed to be done, but that didn't mean she had to listen to them. She had something else in mind.

With that last thought, Thalia slowly sat up in her bed, the rusty springs creaking in protest beneath her. Her torn, thin sheets slid off of her skinny form as she turned to the side, the soles of her feet moving down to touch the wooden floor. A silent sigh escaped her parted lips, the idea to just stay in bed for the rest of her life surfacing quite a few times. She needed to get out of the house, though, for the torn wallpaper and the broken floorboards only added to the weariness that remained planted inside of her. She needed to go anywhere else, preferrably a place that she felt most at home: The forrest. The many months of avoiding it had ended, for the longing to be somewhere that felt closest to home was overwhelming her. The place that her mother brought her countless times (the consequences of those actions resulting in an "accidental" death) was the only place that she had a true connection with. Well, not counting the graveyard that served as a lonesome memory that she preferred to push away.

Thalia didn't even care to look in the mirror, for she knew she would just see the sickly pale face of a girl that had died inside and a mane of matted black hair. She simply slipped on her worn out sneakers, the soles of the shoes flapping everytime she moved them for they had become unattached in parts. Her hands brushed against the large t-shirt that hung loosely from her thin frame, her black shorts making swishing sounds as her feet led her to the broken window next to her bed. In one quick motion, she had opened the window, carefully moving through it. She knew that going through the door would cause unneeded questions to be asked from Lila, for she did not have to work that day (Lila loathed the idea of Thalia going into the forrest.)

Her feet traveled away from the house quiet, the sound of her sneakers hitting against the ground barely audible as the sound of talking people met the air. Thalia walked onto the dirt road, carefully avoiding the people that shot past her. Her gaze stayed trained on the road as she walked, avoided the glanced that were thrown at her every few seconds. She could feel the other peoples' gazes burning into the back of her neck as they recognized her from the Reaping, recalling the large scene she had created. The thought of that day, though, brought tears to her eyes the moment her tortured mind fell upon it. 'He promised to come back' she thought, torturing herself even further.

Thalia was snapped out of her melancholy thoughts as she bumped into someone passing by, her head finally clearing as her eyes fell upon the forrest that was getting closer. The crowd was thinning out, leaving only a few stragglers here and there that were walking by quickly as they fought to get to where they needed to be. Her weary gaze watched each one of them, her eyes falling upon a boy that was calmly walking down the road. The sight caused her breath to catch in her throat, her steps ceasing as the unbelievable sight processed in her mind.

It was Sebastian, everything from his cropped black hair to his tanned skin as clear as day. Thoughts swarmed her brain, a nagging voice reminding her that it was impossible for him to be alive, for she had seen him get killed with her very own eyes. But still, she clung to the hopeful thought that he had somehow come how to her. Her love had returned.

And suddenly, she was sprinting toward him, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes as her sneakers cracked against the dirt road. "Sebastian!" she yelled, her body finally meeting his as her arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace. Her cheek found it's familiar place against his chest, the warmth that seeped through her covering up the broken remains of who she was a few mere seconds prior to seeing him. She didn't even bother to worry about how impossible this all was, for her wish had come true. He had somehow come back.

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[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

Ocean didn't see the girl at first, not until she was a flurry of dark hair crashing into his chest. It was a good thing Ocean was so strong footed, or the two may have gone crashing to the ground. Her face pressed against his chest, and her arms encircled Ocean so tightly that he could hardly breath. A spasm of pain shot through Ocean's chest as he registered the name she had called him. Of course she thought he was Sebastian. He felt suddenly awful, this girl was grieving and Ocean was just going to waltz in a toss her world on it's side. What an asshole.

Ocean let them savor the joy for a moment, tentatively reaching out a hand and brushing her hair back behind her ear. He realized as he did so, how beautiful she was, mangled hair and tear stained face aside. He hadn't really seen another person in almost a week, and it was like jumping into hot water to be so close to someone so suddenly. She was smaller than he had thought, the top of her dark hair just reaching his shoulder, and he realized that if her held her back as tightly as she had him, she would shatter. He turned is awed attention to her features, and the thoughts that kept tearing at his brain was; My brother touched that cheek, my twin kissed those lips. His chest felt hollow and cold, weighed down by grief and guilt. He couldn't stop staring at this girl in wonder.


His body was warm where she touched it, and his impulses urged him to touch her hair again, his hand was more sure this time and he allowed his fingers to weave through the strands. This is Sebastian's girl. His mind nagged, and his fingers snapped back to his chest. It was like a sheet being pulled in half, the company deprived animal in him wanted to let the fantasy continue, but the brother in his heart was pulling him back, and eventually the brother won.

"Thalia?" Ocean said, testing the name out on his tongue. It felt alright, sweet almost. Slowly, Ocean pried himself away from her and held her at arms length with his hands on her shoulders. He tried to get her attention and when he thought he had the majority of it, he spoke again.

"Thalia...Listen, I- I'm not Sebastian." It was excruciating to do this to her, like he was breaking his own bones. He knew what it was like to lose people, and then lose hope. It wasn't easy. "I know this is hard to understand..." Ocean's voice faltered as he watched her face. He moved one of his hands to her, trying to pour his emotions into through the small touch.

"I'm so sorry."

ooc: Your post was so hard to read for me, I miss Sebastian so much. Also, Torn by Natalie Imbruglia is a great song for the situation in my opinion. I'm trying to find something for Ocean....let me know if you have anything.

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[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

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I'm a ghost of a girl
That I want to be most
I'm a shell of a girl
That I used to know well

Thalia stood there for what seemed like hours, letting the warmth from his body flood into her own. The warmth leaked through her veins, trying to work as glue and put together the pieces of her that had been shattered. It wasn't being put back very neatly, though it was enough to keep her from going completely insane from all of the mixture of emotions in one morning.

She could feel Sebastian's fingers weaving through her hair, just one touch enough to swipe away all of the loneliness that lurked inside of her. 'He's back' she thought, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips for the first time. Thalia could feel his brown eyes on her, his gaze sweeping over every distorted feature on her tear-stained face. And suddenly, the fingers that were moving through her tangled mess of hair was gone, snapped back to his chest. The thought caused her to look up in confusion, her gaze landing on his, a thought surfacing through all of the joy. Something was different, something she couldn't put her mind on exactly.

"Thalia?" The voice startled her, causing her to jump slightly as he held her at arms length. That voice didn't belong to the boy she knew, for somehow it had changed immensely. 'Puberty? Yes, that's what could've happened.' She was holding onto any tiny hope that this boy before her was Sebastian. He had to be, or else all of the pain and suffering would come flooding back, crashing into her harder than the first time. She wouldn't allow that to happen, not again.

"Thalia... Listen, I-I'm not Sebastian" The words that came from his lips were barely louder than a whisper as they floated toward her, drifting through one ear and echoing off of the enclosures of her mind. She shook her head quickly, barely noticing the way her breath seemed to move faster and shorter, not allowing herself to believe anything he said. "I know this is hard to understand," he said again, the words finally beginning to soak through her skin. It began to process in her mind that Sebas- this boy was telling the truth, all of the common sense that was left in her weak mind told her that. Sebastian really was gone.

"I'm so sorry"

Thalia shook her head once again, her eyes closing tightly as tears clouded her vision once again. Her lips tightened into a thin line as she fought to keep back a sob, the sound catching in her throat and causing it to burn. Suddenly all of her energy she had used to keep back her cry drained away, leaving her empty as she slowly sunk to the ground. The warmth that had come from him began to fade away, drifting away from the places it held her together, causing everything to shatter once again. It was a heart-wrenching feeling, causing her to feel the same way as before.

Watching Sebastian leave his plate in the Bloodbath, hope flying through her that he would fight to come back to her. That hope, though, was obviously pushed away as he was killed right before her eyes. And now, believing that somehow he had miraculously survived and come back to her, only to find out it wasn't him. Losing all hope was becoming a common thing in her life.

"He's gone" she whispered to herself as she sat hunched over on her knees. Thalia's eyes stayed trained on his worn shoes, her hand shooting up to her chest as the lonely sharp of pain shot through her. Every last happy thought was swiped away from her in such a short moment, causing quiet sobs to rack through her skinny form.

How had it not occurred to her that Sebastian could've had a twin? Sure, he may not have known who is mother was, but he could've had a sibling with him in the Community Home. 'So stupid' Her negative thoughts were not helping, for she still clutched at her heart, hunched over on the ground. She was torturing herself, allowing herself to break down before the boy that had fixed her and shattered once again.

Thalia allowed herself to look up at him, her blurry vision causing his face to be slightly distorted. She slowly brought her hands up to wipe the salty liquid out of her eyes, her gaze making out the melancholy and just as tortured look glinting in his gaze. It hadn't occurred to her that this boy could be feeling the same way as her, or possibly worse. She had only known him for a few days, and this boy... Sebastian's brother, probably knew him since the day they were born. They were twins, and she was just a girl that fell in love with him. That thought didn't make anything better.

"S-Sebastian never told me he had a...twin" she spoke up to him quietly, a shudder shaking her shoulders once again as she fought back the grief that would consume her. Her black hair that fell down to her waist draped over her shoulders in a tangled mess, shielding one of her tortured eyes from view. 'Come on Thalia, atleast stand up' Her thoughts drifted through her mind silently, the words barely processing among the cries and screams of sadness that echoed throughout her mind. But, she heard it enough to force herself to slowly stand. Her legs shook slightly beneath her weight, though she used the last drops of energy within her to help.

Thalia stared up at the twin, pain all over her body as her eyes trailed across every feature. It was causing her to go insane to think that these features were the same as Sebastian's, only that they didn't belong to him. "I'm sorry" she whispered, her pained words barely audible in the ominous silence. She forced herself to look away from his face, her gaze landing on something that was unseen. Looking at him was too much, for the longing to be with Sebastian was overwhelming. The longing to be with someone whom she had thought had come back to life for just a few happy seconds.

[ooc: Yeah, I've actually listened to that song quiet a few times. It is perfect for the situation, though I have another song too that I'm using to get muse from Thalia xD Unfortunately I don't know a song for Sebastian, though I did search for quiet a while...]

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

Thalia collapsed to the ground, her hand on her chest, as if to hold in her heart. Ocean dropped to knees beside her, his hand hovering just slightly over her back, unsure whether to touch her or not. After a moment, she her sobbing quieted and Ocean pulled his arm back slowly. She looked up at him, with so many emotions in her wet eyes that Ocean wondered how she didn't crumble like dry cake. Her hair fell slightly to the left as she wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

"S-Sebastian never told me he had a...twin" Thalia whispered, her voice carrying in the dead air, her hair fell again, blocking her eye. It wasn't meant to be cruel, and Ocean had a feeling they were more directed at herself than anything, but they felt like someone had slammed him in the chest with a mace.

Ocean's mind spun out of control, questioning everything in his life up until this moment. Sebastian had forgotten about his family, and that in itself was pain beyond what Ocean thought he could bear. He stumbled backwards, somehow managing to get to his feet. His eyes felt hot with tears and he coughed them back furiously. His hands were clenched so tightly that his fingernails bit into the calloused flesh of his palms. He was still facing Thalia, but he was disconnected, unable to link the broken feelings of pain in his chest.

"I'm sorry," Thalia whispered and Ocean glanced up, realizing that she had somehow gotten to her feet and was now watching Ocean with painful, but aggressively appraising eyes. Another lance of pain, like a needle being pushed deeper into his stomach. Ocean shook his head furiously, stepping slightly closer to her.

"Don't be sorry, you have no reason to," Ocean told her, his voice slightly bitter. He took a deep breath, trying to collect his pained thoughts. It was hard to say the words that had nearly shattered him, but he owed it to Thalia, or at least Sebastian had.

"I don't think he knew...that he had a twin. My mother had to separate us so young. Childhood memories only stay if you nurture them." He told her, his voice wobbling slightly. He watched Thalia as he spoke, realizing how strange it must be to hear Oceans deep voice come out of such a familiar body. Just how familiar is it? His mind asked him, bringing light to something that had been lurking in the back of his head since Thalia had first tackled him. It wasn't right to ask, but Ocean almost had to. Ocean suddenly got the urge to put on another coat, but he settled for taking a tiny step backwards. He had never been with a girl like that, and it was slightly startling to think that Sebastian may have.

"Um," Said Ocean, his voice cracking and his cheeks coloring with pink. He cleared his throat again, dropping his gaze from Thalia's beautifully broken face. "My name's Ocean, but everyone calls me Neil."

[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

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Dancing slowly in an empty room
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby
Let you go and let the lonely in
To tear my heart again

Thalia could see the pain that she had inflicted with those few words. Her blurry gaze focused on him as he seemed to stumble back, the disbelief and pain reflected in his gaze causing her to regret even telling him that. The sight of him in so much pain caused her to step forward slightly, her fingers outstretching toward him the slightest bit, as if she could comfort him. Her hand snapped back to her chest, though, for the empty feeling in her chest throbbed painfully, her hand pressed against it being the only thing holding her together. She couldn't last much longer.

"Don't be sorry, you have no reason to." Thalia couldn't help but note the sour tone in his face, the change from the comforting words earlier immensely different. She didn't take it offensively. She had carelessly thrown out the words without thinking, only focusing on her own pain and how much she was suffering. Where was the girl that used to be positive about everything; the girl who put others' feelings before her own. To be honest, Thalia was sure that girl was never truly there. Afterall, she did cry almost ever night, giving away the happiness that was placed so carefully over her when she was around others. She was finally beginning to show who she really was.

""I don't think he knew...that he had a twin. My mother had to separate us so young. Childhood memories only stay if you nurture them." Thalia finally allowed herself to glance back at him, seeing the way he struggled to get the words out. The pain that was showing all over him only caused her to shatter even more, knowing that she had said the words that finally caused him to break too. It wasn't even until a few minutes after they stared at eachother in silence that the words finally processed in her overflowing mind.

Sebastian's mom was alive. He never got to meet her. Suddenly everything began to crash down on her again, the images of the boy standing before the grave, crying as he wondered if it was even his mom. She had comforted him, told him that whoever it was, she was happy to have a visitor. Little did they know that the grief that Sebastian was feeling was unneeded, for the one he thought he was grieving for was not even dead.

Suddenly Thalia felt anger seething through her, directed at nothing in particular. It killed her how Sebastian had spent so many hours, days, maybe even years wondering where he came from; if he was even standing before the correct grave. So many moments wasted. A sob escaped her at these thoughts, her frustrated gaze staring down at the ground as her hands clenched into fists. She didn't even notice as the boy before her took a slight step back.

"Uhm." The voice startled her, causing her to jump the slightest bit on her heels. Her eyes drifted back to his face, pain shooting through her at every moment, like an endless throb. She could hear the cracking in his voice as he tried to force the words out of his mouth. Once again the slight sadness for him entered her, mixing with all of the rage and grief that stormed through her like an endless storm. ""My name's Ocean, but everyone calls me Neil."

Thalia simply nodded, no "nice to meet you's" or "I'm glad to have finally met you's" leaving her lips that were then stained with her tears. She felt no need to introduce herself, for obviously he already knew who she was. And with that last thought, Thalia forced the question that had been settled in the back of her mind to finally leave her dry throat.

"Why are you even here... Neil?" The question came out slightly harsher than she had planned, though she couldn't help the anger that had suddenly consumed her. The traumatic experience that had just happened to her left her in a state where she no longer knew what she was saying, her words leaving her mouth before she could stop them. It was a weak anger, one that filled up the holes inside of her. It was just an emotion to feel that was different from all of the sadness and grief.

She was angry at Neil and Sebastian's mother, at how she had seperated them without a word to the boy Thalia had loved. She was angry at how casually Neil had walked into the old district, despite the overwhelming sadness that she knew he felt, not thinking about how she would react to seeing him. It left her in a state where she didn't know wat to feel anymore. But, one thing was for sure... She wasn't the same girl that she used to be just one day earlier.

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[ooc: Sorry if this post in confusion. Thalia just started going berserk in my head and crying then yelling. Idk, it's late and school starts tomorrow. Hopefully my future posts will be better than this one.]

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

"Why are you even here... Neil?" Thalia asked me, her voice lingering on my name slightly. I could hear the anger in her voice and the pain struck my chest again like someone sitting on me. I looked at her for a moment, watching the accusatory tone in her pretty eyes burn into me. I could tell she was angry about us leaving Sebastian, and I knew I should leap up to defend my mothers decision but something stopped me like a rope tied around my gut. I think it was guilt, I had grown up thinking there was no other way to have proceeded, but now here I was, away from my mother for the first time and I was suddenly sure that the way we had proceeded was not only one of many options, but the worst one.


I cleared my throat and my voice caught like a lump. It felt the same as when I was a little boy and would cry because I had a nightmare about Sebastian. They always terrified me and my mother would scoop me up and rock me until I fell back asleep. I wondered if Sebastian had ever had similar nightmares, with no one to scoop him up and sing to him when he cried. I suddenly felt awful, and my stomach swayed with the light breeze. We had left him all alone to fend for himself, to live without a family. White hot anger flashed through my head, momentarily blocking out Thalia's face, but now the anger was directed at my mother. How could she split us up? Would it really have been so much harder to carry two babies, rather than one? The anger was so intense that I kicked out, my foot connecting with the ground and making a loud scraping noise.


Pain shot up my foot, and I cursed, flexing my toes inside my heavy boots. I sucked back the tears again, working hard to keep my face from turning that tell-tale red. I glanced at Thalia apologetically, knowing that she must have been startled by my outburst. I wasn't typically one to get so enraged, but the thought that I could have grown up with my twin around was nearly too much. I cleared my throat again, only marginally more successful and ran a hand through my hair to calm me.

"Truth?" I asked Thalia, working hard to keep my voice controlled. "I don't know why I'm here. I guess I just had to know him in some way." I had to fight really hard against the emotion now, my voice was climbing and my nose was thickening the sound of it, "I saw you at the reaping, and I just couldn't not come."

I had calmed down enough to take a full breath, and I twisted my fingers together as the cool air swirled into my lungs. I glanced at Thalia as she processed my words and the turned away. The ground beside the road was grassy and I wandered over to it, falling down and rolling onto my back. The star, twinkling dimly spread out above me and I wondered if my mother was watching them right now. A warm pain, like bitter sweetness grew in my chest and I flashed my eyes shut, unable to think about missing my mother.

"She cried every night. For years I used to wake up and lie with my eyes closed as she mourned him." I said, not truly caring if Thalia could hear me or not. "She wanted to go back for him, almost did a few times. I think I kept her in Twelve, I was too little to take the trip again and she didn't want to leave one son in the orphanage to get the other. And then she was too old." My voice faded out as I thought about this, how much it hurt that I was the reason Sebastian couldn't remember us. I shut my eyes tighter and tried to squish out the negative thoughts plaguing my head.

ooc: So I just realized I did the whole thing in first person....I don't want to go back and edit it to third, because I think it's good......sorry if it's confusing. I'll stay in first now. ALSO: I just realized what song you're using and I love that song.

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[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

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Too afraid to go inside
For the pain of one more loveless night
But the loneliness will stay with me
And hold me til I fall asleep

Thalia regretted the words immediatly as they left her mouth, her gaze falling on the pained face of Sebas- Neil once more. So much pain today, some that was not only directed toward her. Here she was, yelling at a boy who had just lost his twin, her being only a lost girl that had lost a boy she loved. There was something, though, telling her that she had a reason to be angry. Furious, actually. There was no reasonable answer that could explain why a mother would pack up her things and leave one of her little boys... her son. But then again, hadn't Thalia's father done the same thing?

Another blow to the chest, one that made the painful throbbing in her chest explode once more. Thalia could feel her throat tightening, her chest seeming to close in on itself and block any air from surfacing. She was drowning in her own sorrow and guilt, the water that seemed to thrash within her finally breaking and sending tears to the corners of her eyes. The pain that she was feeling was overwhelming, a feeling that left her feeling as lonely as ever, though she was sure the boy before her was in just as much turmoil. He had even left his mother to come and see her, for a reason she didn't know yet.

With that last thought, Thalia directed her pained gaze to him, the tears that had formed in her eyes once again falling steadily down her olive cheeks. She no longer had the strength, or the will, to wipe them away. Her eyes found his immediatly as he looked away, his foot kicking out in a frustration that she knew she had caused. The scraping noise that followed caused her to cringe, the sound ringing in her silent ears. That had to hurt, and the curse that exploded from Neil's mouth confirmed that. Thalia simply stood there silently, knowing that the reason he was so frustrated was from all of the pain that she knew he was feeling. At what, she didn't know.

Her melancholy eyes found his once again, catching the apologetic glance that he threw at her. No emotion was directed back at him. Ony the feeling of overwhelming sadness and grief seemed to make itself known within her, stripping all of the things she used to feel away from her. The old Thalia, one that had existed just a few days ago, would've immediatly bent down and checked that his foot was okay. She would've stepped toward him and not away, a look of worry flashing across her gaze. But, of course, that Thalia no longer existed, a new layer making itseld known. One that was filled with only self-pity.

"Truth?" The tone that was located in Neil's voice was easily recognized as sadness, the anger located somewhere within it. "I don't know why I'm here. I guess I just had to know him in some way." His voice was rising, the emotion that was easily audible within it lifting into the air. "I saw you at the reaping, and I just couldn't not come."

Thalia took several minutes to process what he had said, the words spilling into his head and mixing with all of the other confusing emotions within her. He had sen her on the television, the day she had shared her very first and last kiss with Sebastian. Even the thought caused her lips to tingle, almost feeling the slight brush of his lips against hers. Stop it

. The look of his eyes gazing into hers. Stop it. His mouth forming as he promised to try and fight for her. So much pain. She was torturing herself.

It took her a while to realize she was gripping her chest once more, simply standing there as Neil walked to the edge of the path. Thalia's gaze followed him as he seemed to collapse down on the grass, the soft blades of the grass rustling as he rolled onto his back. She could see the way his eyes rested on the stars above, a look of deep longing etched across his features. Sebastian had that look. The look that he used while staring at the grave of his "mother".

Her feet lead her to him, her ears just catching what he said as she approached him. "She cried every night. For years I used to wake up and lie with my eyes closed as she mourned him." It took Thalia a while to realize who he was talking about, his pained voice obviously speaking of the mother she had directed her anger at a few minutes prior. "She wanted to go back for him, almost did a few times. I think I kept her in Twelve, I was too little to take the trip again and she didn't want to leave one son in the orphanage to get the other. And then she was too old."

Thalia slowly sat beside him, one leg crossing slowly over the other. Her eyes left his pained face as she focused on the soft blades of grass that blew in the slight breeze, the cool air pressing against her face and sending thin strands of hair around her face. As she let Neil's words process in her head, she realized the guilt he was feeling, the emotion easily heard in those words he had spoken. He was blaming himself for his mother leaving Sebastian, although it was clearly not his fault. In a way, she didn't even have a reason to be mad at his mom.

Thalia, without thinking, let her hand drift to his, her finger tip gently brushing against the top of his hand to show that she was listening. In one quick motion, she pulled it back, pain ebbing within her once more. "Don't blame yourself," she murmured to him, her whisper carrying on the slight breeze. Her voice cracked slightly in the middle, as if she had just spoken for the first time in days. "I'm sorry for sounding... critical of your mother's decision. I know she had a reason." She refrained from asking what the reason was, in fear of causing more pain to surface within him.

In a slow motion, she brought her knees up to her chest, her chin resting on the bony tops of her knees. Her gaze remained on Neil, watching every emotion that crossed his face. "I'll tell you about him if you'd like... it'll be hard though." Thalia didn't even say Sebastian's name, knowing that everything would crash down on her at once and block her from Neil, for it had happened everytime her mind rested too long on a memory of him. Such as the last time she had seen him, with a knife to the- Too much pain.

[OOC: Like I stated in my PM to you, I'm so sorry for the long wait. School and soccer has started and it's already beginning to make me busy. Oh, and I also love that song, it's one of my favorites (:][/blockquote][/justify][/color]

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

I heard a rustling beside me as Thalia sat down, and I resisted the urge to glance over. My stomach felt oddly unsettled and I squeezed my eyes shut to try and stop the world from whirling. Something soft touched the back of my hand and I froze, my heart jumping instantly into a gallop. I fought back the urge to turn over my hand and keep her fingers there, forcing myself to stay motionless. Her hand pulled away and I let my breath go, turning my face to look at Thalia.

"Don't blame yourself," She told me, her voice barely louder than the breeze cooling my cheeks. I watched her closely, watching as the emotions played across her face like a movie. "I'm sorry for sounding... critical of your mother's decision. I know she had a reason." I wanted to scoff, but all my body could process was a slow nod. She chewed on her tongue slightly and I wondered what she wanted to say.

We sat there for a moment, both watching each other's face for signs of pain, or weakness. I could see myself reflected back in her irises and realized I looked like hell. I had lost a significant amount of weight in the past few day, slimming my already slight frame. My cheeks were pink from the emotion, and my eyes were still rimmed in red. My nails were filthy and I'm sure I didn't smell like a rose, but Thalia didn't seem to notice. She just watched me.


Slowly she pulled her legs into her chest, resting her chin on her knees as she watched me. I could sense some announcement coming, the way her pupils grew and the way her breath grew deeper.

"I'll tell you about him if you'd like... it'll be hard though." She said, her voice so frail I thought it might shatter if I breathed too deeply. My brain jumped out of my head, rolling down the street like a wild tumbleweed. My heartbeat was suddenly so strong I could feel my whole body pulsating with it. I thought I would fall apart, one person can only hold so many emotions at once. I was still watching Thalia, trying to keep myself contained. She was right, this wouldn't be easy for either of us, but I think we needed it.

I tore my eyes away from Thalia, and something in the air died, a sort of buzz faded. I wondered swiftly if she noticed it. I sat up, brushing the grass off my arms and took a deep breath. I seemed to be breathing more in the past half hour than I had in the last year. My eyes caught Thalia's hand, still dangling from her wrapped arms. I slowly reached out my hand, just touching the back of her hand like she had brushed mine. Not so much to cause her pain, but to reassure.

"I would very much like that. If you can." I said, my voice thick with emotion. I glanced up at her face again and felt the buzz, like a sugar high in the back of my skull. I clasped my hands together, unsure whether I could keep them to myself. I needed contact to feel complete, but that wasn't something I could find here. I knew what my touch did to Thalia just by looking at her. She knew I was Neil, but it was easy to forget, to pretend for a moment.

I thought of all the questions I had accumulated over the years, the questions I swore I would ask when I met Sebastian. There were ones about his memories, ones about his life in Eight, some about his likes and dislikes and others about his questions. In the light of his death, sitting here with his left behind love, most of my questions seemed naive and juvenile. When I managed to form a full thought, I asked the only question that really mattered to me.

"Did he hate us?"

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[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

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I'm a ghost of a girl
That I want to be most
I'm a shell of a girl
That I used to know well

Doubt entered Thalia's head immediatly after the words left her mouth. How would it even be possible for her to speak of Sebastian, when she couldn't even let her mind linger on him for a few mere seconds. Trying to speak of him would force her to sink back into her memories, remember his pained voice as he spoke to her, and his lost expression as he wondered who his mother was. But, something told her she needed it. It would allow her to actually get all of the emotions out of her that had been building up for years, or atleast some of them.

Thalia glanced back at Neil to see that his gaze had fallen, allowing her the perfect chance to let her eyes wander over his expression. They were so familiar. Each line that crossed his face were almost a perfect match to Sebastian. It left a deep ache in her heart that longed for the boy, though there was an odd sensation in the deepest pit of her stomach. It was as if her mind somehow believed that this could still be Sebastian, even though that emotional spur had ended several minutes earlier. It was easier to forget, though, for atleast a few seconds.

Her gaze slowly began to pull away from him, only to stop as she felt his fingers brush lightly against the top of her hand. A shiver ran through her as she felt it, images and memories flashing through her mind immediatly like a TV screen. The sight of Sebastian grabbing ahold of her hand as he told her not to leave him, then quickly apologizing. It left her breathless; the dull thumping of her heart moving faster and louder than before. As much as it pained her, she had the longing to keep his hand there, for the familiar feeling it gave her had almost... stiched a broken piece back to her. As messed up as it sounded, she wanted to feel Sebastian's hand on her hand. Neil's just so happened to be the closest thing to it.

"I would very much like that. If you can." The words rang in her ears, barely audible over the hard beating of her heart. Thalia could hear the emotion building up just in his words, the sound thick and overflowing in her head. It echoed in her head, almost shielding her thoughts from being heard. Her eyes lingered on his gaze, seeing the melancholy gleam in them. This would be just as hard for him as it was for her.

She could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he thought of the question he wanted to ask. Patience was the only thing she could give. In the back of her mind, she knew that if she was in the same situation, she would be just as lost as he was for words. Afterall, what did someone ask about a twin they had practically never even known before? The thought kept her quiet, the sound of his voice splitting through her concentration once more.

"Did he hate us?" Somehow, the words didn't surprise Thalia. In some ways, she had expected those words to leave his mouth. She could hear the worry and the grief in them, the sound almost breaking her even further. They sounded too fragile to be coming from him, yet they fit the moment perfectly. Her gaze fell from his and lande don the blades of grass as she searched her memories for an answer.

"Hate you?" Her words were quiet once again, though they seemed to ring in her ears. "I don't think so. I think he was just lost; confused, she said, the words filled with so much pain that she feared she would break. Somehow, though, they were already beginning to empty all of the emotions that had been building up within her. "Honestly, he had no reason to hate you. He thought his-your mother was dead, and he..." She immediatly stopped the next words from leaving her mouth, knowing that they would completely crush Neil. Who was she to tell him that his own twin didn't even remember him? [/blockquote][/justify][/size][/color]

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

I don't know why I asked that question. I know in my gut I am going to hate any answer I hear. I have to fight tears thinking on the fact that he never knew I existed. Thalia never said it, but I could see it in her eyes, Sebastian never knew me and I would never really know him. All I had now were the memories that got foggier and foggier each time I tried to remember them. I feared the day they left completely, more than I like to let anyone know.

I focused on Thalia and couldn't help the pang of disappointment that she wasn't looking at me anymore. I wondered if she tried to hide her pain, if she still was. Her agony was so obvious in the way she held herself, as if her body was running on the pain instead of blood. It occurred to me that she might resent Sebastian for not coming home, but thought better than to ask. The individual strands of grief were hard to separate. Like a tangle of yarn at the bottom of the knitting basket.

My brain was still spinning, but with the opportunity to ask questions it was trying to steady itself, focus on what was real and get the answers I needed before I let myself fall apart completely. My mother had always said I wore my heart on my sleeve and I had thought it a compliment, but here now I realized what a burden it was. Even if I had been able to construct walls with my emotions, they would be weak from disuse and crumble easily. I couldn't keep my grief to myself, trapped in my body. I needed an outlet. The questions would have to do for now.

I feel my stomach rumble and realize its been nearly a day since I've eaten. I resist the urge to laugh at myself, even when my world seems to have spun to a halt, it refuses to give up. I pat it a couple times, trying to delay the cramping I know will soon come. I look back at Thalia and smile gently, knowing that my questions are hard.

"What was he like?" I ask, my voice catching. I wonder if that's too general, if Thalia will even be able to make it through an explanation. It's hard to process that not long ago he was a whole person, with love to give, and a life, and maybe friends and school problems. My skinny frame shudders as it tries to process the pain that Thalia is going through, the pain I have only begun to scratch the surface of. Spontaneous as ever, I scoot closer to Thalia and hesitantly, drape and arm over her narrow shoulders. She seems so small, though I know she isn't and I feel an almost brotherly need to protect her. Almost brotherly, but not quite.

The unfairness of everything just seems to come crashing down all at once. How could this girl be subjected to so much pain? Why was it Sebastian drawn in the games?Why, why, why? The questions blurred the edges of my reality and I suddenly need to take a deep breath. I make a silent vow in my head to make Thalia better, some way or another I will make her feel healed.

ooc: Sorry for the delay, I just had like no muse at all. I couldn't even look at my keyboard. I'll be quicker next time...pinky promise. Also I edited it once in case you read it and were like....what?

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[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

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Dancing Slowly in an empty room
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby
Let you go and let the lonely in
To tear my heart again

Thalia dreaded the next question. As much as she tried to help it, after each question was answered, she'd try and heal herself once more, or atleast shut the feelings away for the time-being. She'd stuff almost every drop of grief and anger away, until the next question would tear away the sruface once more, causing all of the emotions to rush forward in a frenzied state. With each question, she was being shattered once more. It was torturing her, and was sure to send her into a small state of insanity (if she wasn't in one already), though the comfort of Neil being beside her to experience the same pain kept her rooted to herself.

It was peculiar to think the way Thalia was, though in a way it made sense. She was experiencing too much pain for just a small girl, so much that she was sure she would explode, though Neil seemed to take some of the pain from her and leave her with an okay amount of hurt. It was as if they were sharing their pain; helping one another out by answering and asking questions. And, as much as Thalia disagreed, she knew somewhere that answering these questions were the best things to heal her.

Thalia kept the thoughts in her head as her eyes traveled up to Neil's face, seeing the conflicting pain easily on his face. She couldn't help but feel guilt at how she must have caused some of his grief, for the last answer she gave wasn't the best. She could see it in her eyes; she saw the way he knew his twin didn't remember him. In a few ways, she knew that she wouldn't be able to live if she had found out that one of her siblings didn't remember, though of course there was an immense difference between twins. Thalia had always imagined that twins had a telepathic bond, or atleast that's what she thought when she was... happier; full of life. That thought seemed to be just a whisper of her former self, though, for now she was stuck thinking rational thoughts, leaving her thinking critically of how she used to be.

Her body slowly jumped as she heard a rumble in Neil's stomach, one that sounded exactly like the growl that had shook Sebastian's stomach in the graveyard. Lost in her memories, Thalia slowly reached down into the pocket of her shorts, her shoulders sagging as her hands found a slightly stale piece of bread, tears forming once more in the corners of her eyes. Her thumb brushed slowly across the slice, a large part of her wishing that it would be the pice that she had broken with Sebastian, though she knew that was impossible. But, for now, she could atleast give a piece to the thin boy before her.

In a slow motion, Thalia took the stale bread out of her pocket and offered it to Neil, her hand trembling slightly as she noticed how familiar the sight looked. For a moment, she was almost trapped in her memories, as if she was back in the graveyard, reaching into her tattered pants for the piece of bread, for she wanted immensely for Sebastian to like her. That moment seemed far away, though it was clear enough to break pieces of her once more, the same way she was breaking the bread in half to Neil. "It's kind of stale, but it tastes okay after a while, she said softly, her voice so small, as if any tone louder would just ruin the melancholy moment between them.

Her sad eyes caught his as she placed it in his hands without an answer, her gaze catching the same reflection of emotion in his. Thalia was beginning to find it easier to think of him as Neil, and not as Sebastian, though for some reason... some of the emotions stayed. She found herself wanting to reach and grab his hand once more, in an attempt to heal herself, or atleast that was the reason she wanted to give herself for thinking such a thing. Her heart still belonged to the boy that had died in the Hunger Games, though that didn't stop her from developing atleast a few feelings for his twin. How cruel that thought sounded, one that left her full of guilt and shame for herself. It didn't occur to her that maybe... it was okay to move on.

"What was he like?" The question fortunatly swept her away from her conflicting thoughts, forcing her mind to focus on an answer for his question. Thalia's mind seemed to move at an extremely fast rate as it searched for every memory of Sebastian, every thought that she had ever thought of him. Each moment she landed on sent her breaking even further, though it seemed to break at a slower rate, if that made any sense. Instead of just collapsing in on herself, just a few pieces fell. Only a few.

"I loved him, obviously." She hated herself for using the past tense, for the ending of the word tasted sour on her tongue, causing her to feel even more guilty. "In a few ways, he was rather protective. It was as if he didn't want me to leave him, or he just didn't want me to get hurt," she said, an even more sour taste forming on her tongue. If he hadn't wanted her to hurt so badly, why had he forced so much pain on her? Why was she so broken because of him? Such stupid thoughts... blaming her pain on a boy who had died.

Thalia opened her mouth to continue, though she found herself at a loss for words as Neil suddenly draped his arm over her small shoulders. The warmth that was sent through her gave her strength to proceed in what she was saying, as much as she hated to. She found his eyes for one more moment before looking back down, trying to find any more things to say to him. "He was nice, though I could see how sad he was sometimes, though I know he tried to hide it infront of me. He was so caring..." The words were becoming harder to spit out, though he voice seemed to be in a daze.

Thalia found herself incapable to continue, her head dropping over as her cheek landed on his shoulder, her eyes closing for a few moments. "If it helps any, I know he wanted to remember you. Don't think that he just shut away his past. She didn't know if the words would help Neil any, though she knew they were the truth. She knew Sebastian probably spent years trying to find out where he came from. The moment she met him she could see how he strained to remember his mother. The moment she developed a bonding relationship with him; one that was already beginning to slip away.

[ooc: UHG! Don't worry about your delay, I think I got you back with this one xD I promise the next posts will be faster. Oh, and sorry if your confused on this post, Thalia's kind of going crazy on me right now...][/justify][/blockquote][/color]

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

"If it helps any, I know he wanted to remember you. Don't think that he just shut away his past." Thalia whispered, her head resting on my shoulder. I gave a small smile, the emotion not quite reaching my eyes. I took a deep breath and glanced around myself, trying to put a happy Sebastian into some situation here. It was easier to imagine happy Thalia, and so I did that too, imagining her laughing as she walked down this road with my brother, perhaps holding hands. I knew it wasn't a memory, but it felt like one, the way it blurred around the edges and the sounds of Thalia's laughter seemed like they were being heard through thick foam.

"You have no idea how much it helps." I told her, breathing deeply. I hadn't realized how much tension had been in my body until I allowed myself to relax. I had been so nervous, so terrified that Sebastian had hated me, or didn't care if I existed. I suppose it was the entire reason I had made the trip in the first place. Now all I had to do was learn about him, and perhaps help heal this girl that he had left behind so broken.

I lifted my free hand to my mouth and took a small bite of the bread Thalia had dropped into my palm. She was right, it was stale, but I could tell that when this bread was fresh it had been heavenly. I ate the entire piece of bread before I realized it, and smiled at myself. It seemed nothing could stop my stomach.

The silence of the night seemed much more inviting all of a sudden, and also much colder. I shivered in my light shirt and wondered if Thalia was as cold as I was. Probably not, I was always told I had the amazing ability to be a human heating pad. My back groaned from supporting Thalia's weight, but I refused to move, this moment was so nice, the first in a long while.

"I think he would've wanted us to be happy..." I said, the words coming out uncensored. I didn't really feel the need to think about my words anymore, I just let them come from the heart, like I usually did. "...I mean, I remember when we were kids, he was always the nicer one, the one willing to share..." I ignored the stab of sadness in my stomach and continued. "He was always willing to give me what I needed to be happy, even as a three-year-old. My mother should have kept him..."

It was too hard to talk about that. It was something I had thought often, but I had never voiced it before this moment. It was strange that I was more willing to share myself with this girl than my own mother, when I was known for having an open heart. My mother still knew me better than anyone, but Thalia knew me now too, on a more raw level.

As I sat there with my arm around Thalia, I became aware of a hunger very separate from the one that got me the bread. It was small enough to push down for now, but I could already feel it growing and I was filled with a sudden and very unfamiliar fear of my own emotions. I knew that I should move away from Thalia, untangle myself from the sweet smell of her hair, but something kept me glued there, holding onto her like a rock in the strongest river current. I wasn't leaving any time soon.
ooc: oh man I don't really like Ocean right now... ah well

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[Nervoux]

Thalia Rose

[/size][/color][/center]

Broken pieces of
A barely breathing story
Where there once was love
Now there's only me
And the lonely

Thalia's eyes closed as her cheek remained on Neil's shoulder, her hands resting limply on the ground. As she sat there in the silence, she could feel his muscles slowly relaxing. It soothed her as well, resulting in a long sigh of relief to flow from her wet lips. Her heartbeat seemed to slow down, along with the memories and thoughts that slithered through her mind like a snake. The thoughts that were replacing them, though, were rather disturbing.

There she was, just beginning to heal the broken fragments that Sebastian had left her in, already developing peculiar feelings for someone else. Frustration rose and fell between her sadness, along with the slight hope that came when her gaze managed to catch the eyes of Neil that were so similar to her old love. Those two words, how strange they tasted. A guilty feeling shot through her spine, her cheeks flushing a brilliant red as she imagined Sebastian looking down at the scene below him. Her and his twin, in a position that completely suggested the wrong message. But, if it was the wrong message, why did she feel so okay with it?

Thalia drifted out of her confusing thoughts as a shiver grew through her own skinny form from Neil, just beginning to notice how cold he must be. She, herself, didn't feel too cold, for the heat that radiated from him sent warmth through her. Her hand slowly moved to his, her finger brushing against the cold grass as they found his. They felt cold to touch, the feeling like slight needles pricking into her skin. It reminded her of the days she spent in her mother's shop, sewing the fabric and crying as the needle found it's way into her soft flesh. Her mother would then wrap her in her embrace, whispering comforting words and soothing her only the way a mother could. But, of course, that love ended too, leaving her just as broken.

The thought caused her to drag her hand back to her side, a weight seeming to fall heavily into her chest as sadness creeped back inside of her, seeming to flow with the blood that rushed through her limbs. "I think he would've wanted us to be happy... The words caught her off guard, though they didn't surprise her like they should have. It an immensely peculiar way, they caused her to relax more. "...I mean, I remember when we were kids, he was always the nicer one, the one willing to share... He was always willing to give me what I needed to be happy, even as a three-year-old. My mother should have kept him..."

Thalia wasn't expecting those words. They seemed to jab at her stomach continuously, causing her hand to grip his arm tightly. There was a melancholy feeling that seemed to expand after his words, a sadness in her growing for Neil and for the love that she had lost. She hated to hear him wish to be the one left behind; hated to hear how Sebastian was in his younger years... when he was so whole, when she had seen him so broken. It wasn't fair. Nothing was fair. The world was a cruel place, where love always had a horrible ending, leaving her in a state where love was something she didn't believe in.

Her head slowly rose from his shoulder, coldness already beginning to spread goosebumps across her flesh. Thalia's hand slowly reached out for him, her cold fingers gently pulling his chin to face her. Etched across her expression was a delicate look, a melancholy gleam of understanding held deep within her brown gaze. "Don't say that," she whispered, her breath creating a light fog in the cold night air. "If she hadn't taken you, I would've never met Sebastian... and you wouldn't be sitting here with me right now." Her voice was stronger than before, though it was quiet, as if at any moment, it would crack and shatter all of the pieces that had just recently been put back together.

"Don't think that you're not caring like your brother. If that was the case, you wouldn't be trying to heal an insane girl like me..." With those last few words, a pathetic grin fell upon her lips, though the smile did not match her sad gaze. An ache still existed within her, though she knew that no matter how much she would try to make it disappear, it would always remain. That was fine, though, for it was a way to remember what she had lost.

Thalia's hand slowly fell from his chin, falling back into it's place on the cold ground. Her gaze, too, left from his familiar face, resting on her knees. She opened her mouth to say more, though no words would come. She had lost all of her energy to try and comfort the boy beside her, for who was she to try and heal a boy when she wasn't even healed herself? But, of course, her old self still managed to shine through the new Thalia, the side where she had to help others, though there was a major difference. Instead of hiding her pain in the presence of others, she was allowing herself to be healed along with them. Healed, by a boy she feared she may be developing a feeling for that she didn't even belive would last.[/blockquote][/justify][/size][/color]

[Dancin]

Ocean Neil Miller

Emotional roller-coaster would have been a good phrase to describe me in that moment. Every movement Thalia made, every thought that flitted through my mind sent a different emotion shuddering through my body. Thalia seemed at a loss for words for a moment and then her she lifted her head slowly off my shoulder, gripped my chin with cold fingers and pulled me to face her; I was suddenly trapped there, in the gaze of her fierce brown eyes.

"Don't say that," Thalia whispered, her voice gravelly with emotion. "If she hadn't taken you, I would've never met Sebastian... and you wouldn't be sitting here with me right now." I hated to admit how much that fact made me feel, though I suspected that Thalia at least had an inkling of the tingling I got when her skin touched mine.

"Don't think that you're not caring like your brother. If that was the case, you wouldn't be trying to heal an insane girl like me..." She said, her voice powerfully quiet. A small smile fell on her face, making her pretty face dazzle. I couldn't help but return the expression. Her hand fell from my face, and her gaze dropped too, the magic broken. I watched the place where her hand had fallen to her lap, wanting with all of my heart to grab it, but I resisted.

"Well, I'm glad you think so, but I'm not really that good of a person...." I said, forcing a smile onto my face, the moonlight caught Thalia's face and bleached her skin. I stared for a moment at her mouth, glistening with saliva and moonlight, and then jerked out of my hypnosis feeling guilty as ever. A great slumbering beast in my chest shook it's head fearsomely, growling with hunger and I touched the back of Thalia's hand with my fingers again to please it.

I looked up at the moon and thought about the stories I had heard as a child to cure me of my fears of darkness. Sebastian had never gotten those stories, and now that I was here, I wondered if Thalia had ever heard them. She deserved to hear them, just like Sebastian had. Good people deserved stories.

"Have you ever heard the story of the Moon-mouse?" I asked her, my voice careful not to break the delicate bubble of contentment around me. I wanted so much to act on my impulses, but I knew that the rejection that would surely come would shatter me, and at this moment I didn't want that. It was so easy to steal these few moments of undeserved happiness.

My hand on the back of Thalia's tightened, entwining itself in Thalia's thin fingers, and pulling the hand to my face. I carefully, slowly brushed the soft skin of her hand across my cheek, enjoying their warmth before I let our hands fall to my lap. I stared guiltily at my lap and waited for Thalia's anger.

"Sorry..."

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