Author's Note: Okay : those mean thoughts and this is just something I dreamt one night after someone I know had died. It was not my friend, but in my dream she died die. Please r/r

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It was early, the sun had just rose into the pale blue sky and everything seemed normal. Well as normal as the day could be. She walked down the cement sidewalk, two hundred and fifty yards from her destination. He had dropped her off only half a minute ago and returned to make the preparations. She sighed as the cold November air nipped at her. She grasped the paper stuffed three-inch binder to her chest and sighed slowly. Not even a day has gone by. :I cannot believe it. It seems like a nightmare.:

***

Cassandra lay in the bed. Ariana was sitting on the edge of the bed with Kemp not to far away. Cassandra felt the light slipping away. Ariana held her trying to keep her warm, knowing her efforts were in vain. She wouldn't cry, Cassandra knew her 'baby sister' was too strong for that, and too stubborn. Nick stood in the corner. He did not feel right being there and he knew Kemp would have preferred if he hadn't been.

"Ariana," Cassandra softly said.

"Yes?"

"Where is my Cat?"

"She's sleeping," Ariana replied gesturing toward the cradle.

"Let me see her." Ariana went to the cradle's side and carefully scooped up the precious bundle sleeping in it. She laid her in Cassandra's arms. "She's so beautiful. I'm sorry my dear little Cat."

"No, Cassandra, don't talk like that. The doctors said you'd get better," Ariana reprimanded.

"Come on Sis, you know I know my body better than any doctor."

"Cass," Kemp said sternly. "Listen to your Ariana, she's right."

"NICK! Will you tell them for me?"

"You'll be fine Cassandra you always are," he assured. Inside he knew the truth, and could not bear to watch the one he finally realized he loved die this way.

"Ariana, tell Cat I love her, always tell her that."

"Of course I..." Ariana felt her exhale. There was no inhaling. "NO! GOD DAMNIT NO!"

"Ariana! Ariana..."

***

"Ariana!" She jumped nearly dropping the binder and catching it quickly. "Ariana, are you alright?" Ariana turned to see Ms. Stone standing walking up to her quickly.

"Oh, hi Ms. Stone," she greeted.

"Did you not hear me?"

"Just now?"

"No, I've called you like five times."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess I zoned out," the teenager replied.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm fine, just a little tired that's all."

"Oh." Ms. Stone gave her the look that Ariana knew meant she didn't believe her. Aine Stone starred at the young woman before her. Ariana could be a mystery sometimes, but she never not answered. Aine was concerned that something had to be wrong, because Ariana always knew when someone was behind her. :And than there was of course that boy who dropped her off...:

"Did you just get here?"

"Yes, I followed you in. Who dropped you off anyway?"

"Oh a friend," she replied vaguely.

"A friend? A boyfriend?"

"Yea right, if only. No he's just a friend, more like my big brother. I was staying with friends last night and he was the only one up in time to get me to school," Ariana explained.

"You parents let you stay with friends on a school night?" Ms. Stone gasped knowing full well that Ariana's parents would never approve of that.

"Well, yes, see I was helping out with some stuff and we were up really late so I just stayed," she lied. She hated lying, especially to Ms. Stone, but the truth was not something she could handle.

"I see, come on, I'll drive you to the front," Ms. Stone said.

"Drive me? The doors are right up those stairs, I can walk that far."

"Alright, have it your way." Ms. Stone began to walk toward the stairs Ariana had been pointing to.

"Uh Ms. Stone?"

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to be late?"

"No, not really, besides I don't teach first period anyway."

"You do realize you're going in the opposite direction," Ariana pointed out.

"Yes, now are you coming?" Ariana hurried to catch up. She couldn't understand why Ms. Stone would walk out of her way. When the two did reach the stairs Ariana began to climb them. "Oh Ariana, are you sure nothing is the matter?" Ms. Stone inquired again as Ariana passed her.

"It's nothing to worry about, I'll be fine," Ariana answered.

"Do me a favor, come see me today."

"I can't, I have some.... things to do after school." Ariana replied and than ran up the stairs. Ms. Stone watched her go. :Something is wrong with that girl. She never has 'things' to do.:

When two-thirty came about, Aine was sitting in her car and waiting in front of Ariana's school. Out of the way, so the girl wouldn't notice her, but close enough to see whom she went with. Ariana came out at two thirty-five and stood there dressed in a relatively formal black dress that she'd obviously changed into. Earlier that day, Aine had convinced herself that something was indeed wrong with Ariana and that it was up to her to figure it out. One of her closets friends did not think so.

***

"Aine, that is ridiculous. Ariana would...well she'd be angry with you for not trusting her!"

"Marie relax, I know Ariana and she is hiding something and its hurting her, I can tell. If I don't follow her today she could get into to trouble and than how would I feel, how would you feel?"

"Aine, I get it, I do, but if you do this Ariana will lose something she's always valued in you."

"And what is that?"

"Trust."

***

:So what if Ariana finds out, I'm doing this for her benefit. She won't be that mad, and we'll work it out,: Aine reasoned. She saw a gray car pull up and Ariana climb into the passenger seat. Aine recognized it as the car from the morning that had dropped off Ariana and knew that something was not right. She followed the car, at a careful length out of the driveway.

Ariana sat with her hands folded in her lap. Occasionally she would look in the rear view mirror to see the bubbly face smiling at her. Somehow it lightened the heavy burden upon her heart. Nick drove in silence, no music, nothing, just the sound of breathing.

Ten minutes into their journey, Nick glanced in the rearview mirror to confirm his suspicions. The same car was still behind them. He thought he recognized it from the one that had followed them in this morning, but was unsure. He caught Ariana looking in the side mirror and than glancing up to look at Cat.

"We're being followed," he announced.

"I know."

"Do you want me to loose them?"

"No, let her follow us." Ariana again looked up in the mirror at the baby's smiling face and smiled back. She couldn't imagine what Ms. Stone was doing following her, but she knew that she could put an end to it when she wanted to. Another ten minutes passed and the gray car turned down a street, followed by the other one.

"Where do you want to park?"

"Across the street."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, park there, let's see if she follows." Nick did as he was told and parked across the street from the green field with marble scattered about it. Already there was a crowd of cars and Ariana knew it would probably grow. Nick parked the car and took the key out of the ignition. He sat back a moment collecting himself and seeing that Ariana was doing the same. She stepped out of the car and in one elegant move removed Cat from her seat and had her resting on her hip. Nick got out and grabbed the bucket for the child and the papers that they would need. Ariana had seen the other car park and Ms. Stone get out. Ariana took Nick's arm and with the other encased the child as they crossed the quiet street.

Aine saw Ariana get out of the car and to her surprise take a child out with her. It was a young baby, no more than a few months old. :Now that's not possible! Ariana couldn't have been pregnant. She's a small girl to begin with, there's no way she'd be able to hide that!: Aine followed the three across the street and into the gravel driveway of the cemetery. :What is she doing at a cemetery?:

Ariana and Nick walked to where a crowd had gathered in white chairs. The front row had been reserved for the family. A preacher from Cassandra's Catholic school days began the service. Ariana did her best to keep Cat quiet while he was talking. Nick was too consumed in his thoughts and afraid of what Kemp might do as he sat next to him. Cassandra's real family sat on the other side of Ariana with her sister right next to her. Many people spoke about Cassandra and how she will be missed and things they'd learned from her. Ariana listened to them all knowing hers might not have as much impact. She didn't dare look to see if Ms. Stone had followed them.

"To speak for the family, we have Ariana Selene," the preacher introduced. Ariana stood with Cat still balanced on her hip. She walked to the platform and took in a breath thinking quickly.

"I cannot thank you all enough for your support these past few days as Cassandra worsened. On behalf of her mother, her father, her sister, her boyfriend and her daughter, thank you for coming here today. Cassandra was my best friend and my big sister. She was the one that looked out for me, and it seemed for everyone else except herself. In her last few hours she tried to humor us and tell us jokes as only she could do. Cassandra's life was one that followed a different path from normal. She chose to stand out, to be different and she wasn't afraid of it.

"She told me a few days before she died something she wanted to be shared should she not make it. She said, 'Ariana, tell everyone that my life was one that was adventure packed and while it had its sorrows it had happiness.' In her last few minutes she held her daughter tight to her and told her she loved her. Catherine Amaya was her greatest happiness. This little girl will always be a reminder of her mother, and her mother will never be forgotten.

"I had promised Cassandra I wouldn't cry at all today, but I'm afraid I just cannot honor that promise. She once told me, 'crying is a way to feel, it lets you know your human.'"

Ariana stopped and everyone clapped at her. There were tears in the people's eyes and Cassandra's mother had completely broken down. The group stood and gathered around the plot. Ariana placed Cat on the ground next to the hole, holding her tightly. She helped the baby take a handful of dirt and throw it onto the coffin. And so in turn did everyone throw some dirt onto. Ariana watched until everyone had. She placed the flowers she'd gotten on the tombstone, as Nick wrapped his arm around her and the child. Kemp came up to them and surprisingly shook hands with Nick.

"Take good care of your little girl Nick," he said.

"I will."

"And as for you Ariana, don't give up your dreams."

"I won't be doing it anytime soon, thank you Kemp." He turned and walked back to his car.

"Shall we? You don't want to be late for that board thing. I can't believe that bitch of a teacher is making you go."

"She doesn't know, Nick. I didn't tell anyone except Sophia."

"You didn't? You can't handle all this work!"

"Let me, I can mange, it'll keep my mind off of other things."

"Alright, let's go. Does she need to be changed?"

"Yes, I'll do it when we get to the car." Ariana held the child close to her heart and they strolled back to the car. Ariana changed the child and they were on their way.

Aine had watched from a distance every move Ariana had made and heard every word. She could not believe that Ariana hadn't told her what had happened. :She must be going to the school board budget meeting tonight. I can't believe anyone would make her suffer like that.: Aine followed the car back to the school and again watched as Ariana got out. This time she made no effort to hide herself. :Ariana will just think I'm here for the meeting as well.:

Ariana had seen Ms. Stone get out of her car and knew that she was still following her. She saw her come toward her but saw her teacher, Ms. Lapel as well. Ariana prayed that Ms. Stone would get there first but Ms. Lapel won. Ariana was half glad she'd given Cat to Nick to hold for the meeting; Ms. Lapel appeared to be ready to criticize every part of her.

"ARIANA! Why are you wearing black? I thought I said blue or brown."

"It looked blue in the light."

"Why are you wearing a dress and not a suit?"

"I brought a suit jacket to go over it alright? Now we can just get this over with, I've got things to do."

"Why you..." A member of the board approached and Ms. Lapel quickly turned to all smiles. "Ariana why don't you have a seat down there at the end." Ariana nodded and walked over, :typical of her, put me in the corner.:

***

The meeting had been going for over an hour. Ms. Lapel could not convince the board that the science research program needed the money. Ariana needed something to shred. She couldn't believe how stupid one adult could be. The classes had worked hard to come up reasons to why they should be getting more money and Ms. Lapel obviously hadn't even looked at them.

"Ms. Lapel, you have not given sufficient evidence that this program is need of funding. You have some money use it more wisely. We should not spend more money on this program when the sports programs are costing us a fortune."

"I see." :WHAT?: Ariana saw all the other students inwardly gasp. They'd handed her the golden bullet and she tripped over it. Ariana decided it would be best to take matters into her own hands; :after all I already have a beef with the sports program.:

"If I may address the members of the board," she announced.

"You may," one answered before Ms. Lapel could shut her up.

"May I point out that you do spend nearly six hundred thousand on the sports program alone? If I may be so bold, why not take some of the money out of the sports funding and place into a funding for Science Research." One member stood, obviously a sports supporter.

"Miss, I'm afraid you don't realize how important it is that we fund the sports."

"I realize it may be very important, but what about scientific breakthroughs? Are they not important as well?"

"Yes, but still you all have so few of them, and honestly the sports teams are what everyone wants to see."

"That's because you've brainwashed them! Might I point out that this board spoke at a recent freshman orientation and said that you wished to have these students do great things and become scholars! How can anyone become a scholar when they're playing sports? If you were to take away say one hundred thousand from the sports budget they would still have more than enough. Why do they even need six hundred thousand anyway?"

"The sports are a key part of high school."

"I realize this, but education is also a part. What about the students who don't want to play sports what about the ones that are dedicated to science? To progress?"

"What do they give back to this school?"

"The school? Why don't you think on a bigger picture, like oh I don't know how about the world? How about the young woman three down from me who is trying to find a way to help people who are obese? What about the young man who is searching for a reason why children are born with some disabilities? What about this other young woman who is studying earlier detections of cancer?"

"Well these are remarkable endeavors, I don't they alone could make it happen?"

"I don't know about that, but they're at least taking the time to try! Instead of wasting away doing sports or sliding back and hoping to get into college on a sports scholarship. This school used to pride itself on the intelligence of its students and now you tell me that we are supposed to be dumb jocks? I'm sorry but I cannot accept that," Ariana snapped.

"She has a point," added a female member of the board to the one standing.

"Fine we'll vote!" The board began to converse in whispered conversations. Ariana held her breath and out of the corner of her eye saw Ms. Lapel who was fuming mad. She made no effort to sit down. The other students were mouthing praise to her.

"Ms. Lapel, we've reached a decision."

"Yes?"

"We will grant Science Research two hundred thousand dollars to be given immediately from the sports budget. Good luck with your research students," one of the women announced.

"Thank you very much," Ms. Lapel replied in shock. The students started to cheer and everyone crowed around Ariana to praise her.

"Wow, who would have thought you'd be the one to speak up!" Alex exclaimed

"Yea, well she only got to say it because she talks faster than I do," Chris mumbled.

"Well if you all excuse me, I really need to be getting home," Ariana said.

"Oh come on, we're having a celebration in the cafeteria."

"No thanks, I'll pass. See you all tomorrow," Ariana called over her shoulder. She removed her jacket and began to walk to where Nick was seated. Ms. Lapel intercepted her.

"What were you thinking? You could have lost all our hopes with a stunt like that!"

"Yes, but I didn't. As a matter of a fact I got you two hundred thousand dollars."

"With a reckless move..."

"Reckless? We practically wrote you the proposal and you ignored us. They gave out an opportunity and you say, 'I see.' I'm sorry, I saw the chance and in the end it all worked. No hurt feelings."

"That doesn't explain why you can't follow simple requests, like wearing the proper colors!"

"Oh will you let it go! I'm sorry alright."

"Sorry isn't going to work, I should give you detention and than report your behavior..." Just than Nick appeared with a fussy Cat.

"She's all yours." He said giving Ariana the baby.

"Well I should have known," Ms. Lapel smiled.

"You know what, Ms. Lapel, I'm not sorry. I have been through the worst kind of hell today. My best friend died last night leaving me a child to take care of. You want to know why I'm wearing black, because I just came from the funeral where I've been all afternoon! So you know what, you got your two hundred thousand dollars, now why don't you shut the hell up and leave me alone," Ariana snapped. She turned on her heel. She could hear cheering for she'd been the first to tell off the wicked witch. She didn't care about the cheering all that mattered wasn't getting home to be with Cat in some quiet.

Aine had witnessed Ariana's little outburst and was quite taken back. :Ariana would never speak that way to a teacher, regardless of her feelings toward them.: She followed Ariana outside and saw her standing near the top of the stairs she'd left her at that morning. This time she saw Ariana tense up as she approached.

"Yes Ms. Stone?"

"Hello Ariana, that was quite a presentation you gave in there."

"Why thank you, course I'll be spending the rest of my life in detention but it was worth it," Ariana declared. Ms. Stone laughed.

"No you won't, I'll see to it."

"Thank you." Cat started to whine. "Shh...its okay baby doll they're gone now."

"Who is your dau...friend?"

"This little cutie, she's my god-daughter Cat."

"Whose daughter?"

"Cassandra and Nick's."

"Oh, they named their kid after an animal?" Ms. Stone said surprised.

"No, her name is Catherine Amaya, we just call her Cat. It's easier."

"Catherine Amaya, lovely name. Did you pick it out?"

"What if I did?"

"At least no one will be able to tease her with a strong name like that," Ms. Stone pointed out. Ariana nodded shifting the child's weight on her hip.

"Can I ask you something?"

"I suppose."

"Why were you following me?"

"You call me running into you this morning and seeing you tonight following you?"

"I saw your car, it's not very hard to miss."

"It's been here all afternoon," Aine lied.

"Yep, sure it has." Ariana agreed.

"You don't believe me?"

"Well I don't know, I only saw it say a good twenty minutes from here in a parking lot across the street from a cemetery that I just happen to be at."

"You were at a cemetery?

"You know what, just drop it. I don't care."

"What were you doing at a cemetery?"

"Forget it."

"No I won't just forget it! Ariana what is wrong? Why won't you tell me?"

"Just leave me alone, I have to take care of my god-daughter."

"Ariana I know what happened, yes I'd lied to you. I followed you to the cemetery. What did you expect me to do? I've been worried sick about you all damn day!"

"Than call."

"Right, so you can evade me more?"

"I would not evade you, I would tell you when I was ready," Ariana snapped.

"Ariana, listen to me, you can tell me anything, I would never judge you or overreact, I promise. Now whose daughter is she really?"

"You don't believe Cat's not my daughter! One, its physically impossible, and two check the birth certificate!"

"Fine, than why didn't you tell me that Cassandra died?"

"Because I couldn't!"

"Why not? Ariana I don't know how to get you to trust me if you don't give me a little leeway."

"Trust? Trust is the last thing I've got in you right now. I can't believe you can't trust me enough to let me do things my way!"

"Ariana I thought we were close, I thought I'd already proven you could trust me with anything."

"You did, and you know what, you got close enough."

"Apparently not."

"That's not true. You want to know how close you got? Close enough to hurt," Ariana cried. She clung to Cat and stormed down the stairs. Aine could do nothing but watch her leave.

***

The next morning the sun came up and the clock struck five. Cat woke up crying and Nick took care of her. He let Ariana sleep a little while longer. She'd been up half the night working on papers and trying to get his daughter to sleep. At six he got Ariana out of bed and she went about her morning routine. The three left the house at a little before seven and got to the school about seven twenty. Ariana was exhausted but would not let anyone help her.

Throughout the day she fought to stay awake. She was dreading ninth period. She would have to face Ms. Lapel and there would be no one to protect her this time. :I doubt my classmates are going to risks their butts for me. Nobody's that stupid.: Before she knew it the bells had sounded for ninth period. She walked into the library to see the normal people just leaving.

Slowly she went to the door that led to the labs. Chris came up behind her and held the door for her. Ariana saw Ms. Lapel in her office and hightailed into the other room. She sat in the back corner away from her usual spot. She didn't want to be anywhere near that woman. Ms. Lapel came in as if nothing were the matter.

"Miss Selene are you here?" She called as she took attendance.

"Yes," Ariana replied. Ms. Lapel looked up.

"Please wait for me in my office." Everyone looked sadly towards her as she marched down the steps into the office. She could swear she heard the funeral march being hummed by one of the guys. :Probably Chris, well he's just a boy. I can handle her. After all, I told her off once, how hard can the second time be? Unless of course she's enlisted help...:

Ariana entered the office to see Ms. Stone sitting across from Ms. Lapel's desk. :Oh shit, she doesn't even like Ms. Lapel, that's got to say something for how pissed she is at me. Why God? Why don't you just shove the gun down my throat will you?: Ms. Stone did not look up as she heard Ariana freeze in the doorway.

"Ariana, I see you know Ms. Stone," Ms. Lapel said as she pushed past Ariana.

"Yes."

"I am appalled at your behavior last night," Ms. Lapel reprimanded.

"Really?'

"Don't play smart with her, young lady," Ms. Stone cautioned in an icy tone.

"You stay out of this one, I'll deal with you in a minute," Ariana snapped to Ms. Stone. "As for you Ms. Lapel, I'm sorry you aren't the one whose going to be credited with having a big victory and getting all that money, but you know what I wasn't going to let everyone suffer because you can't read a proposal. Everyone worked their butts of getting that information for you, we all put aside our work to do it and you didn't even read it! I did what everyone wanted to do and didn't have the guts to."

"So what, play martyr?"

"No, play the game of common sense." Ariana answered. "Now I'm sorry if you don't like the way it got done, but the point was we have the money, actually you have the money to do with as you please. But do us all a favor the next time you want our help make sure you actually use it."

"I don't think you've realized how much trouble you're in and you're classmates as well."

"That's low Lapel, even for you. Don't punish them because you hate me, if you do, I don't think having tenure will matter," Ariana threatened.

"What about your child?"

"You mean my God-daughter? You leave her out of this, Cat is an innocent little baby whose mother just died and whose father is crushed. I'm doing the best I can to raise her! And I'm still able to do my school work!"

"Leave the child out of it, Anna," Aine warned.

"Aine, I thought you were my side."

"I am, for the reprimanding part, but Ariana's right, the other students and the baby are not at fault for Ariana's problems."

"Oh Aine, please, give me a break," Ms. Lapel laughed. Aine stared her down and she quit laughing.

"Fine. Have it your way. Ariana you have three months of after school detention starting today. Good day Aine." Ms. Lapel left the office followed by Ariana who had heard the bell. She was shutting down the computer when Aine came into the room.

"Can we talk?"

"About what exactly?"

"What ever it was you were just dying to say in there?"

"I'm not dying to tell you anything right now, I'm dying to be left alone."

"I thought you hated being alone."

"Being alone is better than being with people you love who have hurt you."

"I'm sorry if I have."

"You don't have to apologize to me, I don't deserve one. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a child that needs to be attended to."

"Where is Cat? I'd like to see her."

"She's with Nick. I have an hour to my self."

"Why don't you come down to my classroom? I could use some help."

"You won't say a single word?"

"If you insist."

"Fine." Ariana led the way down to the classroom in the far building. It took them about ten minutes to walk there. Ariana sat her stuff down and looked on the table where she found a poor drawing of the room was supposed to look like. She was secretly glad she could come down here; it always made her feel at ease. Ms. Stone had stopped down the hall to talk to someone and left Ariana to her own devices. Ariana grabbed a chair and began to hang the stuff from the ceiling.

When Ms. Stone came in she nearly fainted as she saw Ariana on top of chair that was balance on a desk. She began to say something when Ariana cut her off, "Not a word, remember?"

Ms. Stone sat down at her desk to tidy it up and go over lesson plans for the next few days. She kept an eye on Ariana making sure the girl didn't fall, knowing she'd never forgive herself. Aine pushed the grade book and lesson planner to the corner of her desk and looked at the freshly printed page underneath it. She'd started to read it when Ms. Lapel had called her, and she was interested in finishing.

Aine continued to read from the paragraph she stopped at. It was something written by a teenage girl on her life changing. It had been posted the night before at two in the morning and Aine had found it later. She'd read all of the girl's writings and believed she knew the girl well enough to know when she's was desperate for ways out, but something always held her back. Aine ran her finger over the author's penname, :aselene, boy is that original? She'll never figure out how I've discovered her secret. She'll surly hate me if she knew.: A crash broke her thoughts and she jumped up.

"Ariana!" Ariana sat up from the ground.

"Ow," she moaned rubbing her head. "Damn that floor is hard." Aine saw the chair had fallen off the desk and Ariana with it.

"Are you alright?"

"Ow, yea I'm fine, go back to reading whatever it was that you were reading, the silence was nice."

"I finished," Aine replied.

"Goody for you, remind me why I am doing this again?"

"Cause you're helpful?" Aine inserted.

"Yea right, okay got any more paperclips?"

"No, you used them all?"

"Did you not look around your room?" Aine glanced around and saw that everything was hung exactly how she'd pictured it in her head. :Wow, Ariana sure does do a good job and it's only been a half hour.:

"You ready to talk?"

"Give it up, now do you anything else that needs to be done?"

"Well you could put the chair and desk back?"

"I was planning on it."

"No I guess not, are you sure your head is alright?"

"As far as this week goes, its nothing."

"It must be pretty hard losing your best friend."

"She was more than my friend, she was..."

"I know you're big sister," Aine finished. "You and Nick planning on doing anything, I mean regarding Cat?"

"Yes, he's going to keep her and I'll just help and watch out for her and be the cool aunt."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll do a fine job of that," Aine assured. Ariana looked at her for a moment and wondered how it was that every time she'd swear she wouldn't talk; Ms. Stone would have her talking. :Well not this time.:

"Thanks for the vote."

"Did Ms. Lapel say you had detention today?"

"I'm sure she did, oh well," Ariana sighed.

"I'll take care of it and the rest of them too. I don't think its fair to punish you after the last few days you've had."

"Thank you," Ariana said for the first time meaning it that day.

"You know Ariana, it's not your fault that Cassandra died, its natural."

"You know nothing about her death."

"I know enough that you would never hurt her or let anyone else do so for that matter, but that you're still going to blame yourself for it."

"Drop it," Ariana said through gritted to teeth. She tried hard not to let the emotions get to her. Aine watched her struggle. She knew she'd hit a nerve.

"Fine." Ms. Stone paused glancing at the clock and seeing only a minute or two had gone by. "Well I'm sure you don't want to be late to see Cat."

"No I don't," Ariana replied moving to gather her stuff.

"Oh Ariana." Ariana turned to face her again, "do me a favor and come by here tomorrow, please if it's not to much trouble."

"I'll see what I can do."

"And Ariana, I'm sorry I didn't trust you, looks like you're fine after all." Ariana was stunned that Ms. Stone had apologized to her. She stopped where she was.

"I owe you an apology, not the other way around. I am sorry I said what I did last night. Nothing excuses it, and I'm equally sorry if it upset you," Ariana answered. Aine simply left it at that. She walked over to Ariana and hugged her tight. Ariana relaxed for a moment and felt entirely safe, like the last few days had been just a bad dream.

"You were right, I did hurt you, and I'm sorry for not realizing it sooner, but you hurt me too. I only want you to be happy, and I was very worried about you. I hope you can at least understand that."

"I do understand, I don't deserve to be worried about I..."

"That's not true..."

"Yes it is, Cassandra always worried about everyone else. If only I had worried about her a little more, I am responsible for her death, I was there, I felt her go, I should have been able to do something," Ariana broke down. Aine held her and whispered to her.

"You did all you could by being her friend, and you're right, Cassandra will never truly die. She will always be guarding Cat."

"I wish I had someone like that."

"You do."

--THE END--