Happy 2036

You can do this.

Could she? It was too late to go back on her promise now.

This was it. The New Year was beginning to inch closer and closer with each passing second that ticked in her mind. All sorts of colors would soon dazzle in the sky to replace the stars that were beginning to shine in the soft purple streak in the sky, the sun already kissing earth good night, sinking below the horizon hours ago. Winter blew a chilly breath on the land, bare leaves that hung onto tree branches like it was their only lifeline floated away. Treetops were coated with white hoarfrost, their trunks gray and dull, packed together as though they were cuddling for warmth in the bitter winds. A few were sagging, snow weighing heavily down upon them. Mountains loomed over the dense forest, capped with ice, and the lake surface was completely frozen over, dark and foaming, reflecting the blue moon’s light. A cool breeze carried with it the scent of evergreen and pine, stirring the few patches of grass still left and whispering unintelligible lullabies into her ears.

Snowflakes were drifting gently down the stream in a cautious manner, almost terrified to fall steadily from the sky, swaying back and forth with the wind. One free hand held itself out, catching the delicate crystal as her feet stepped forward, trudging in the snow and shifting the thick pillows of white. It took only a few moments before it melted onto her skin, turning the patterned dark fabric of her sleeve a tiny bit damp. She let out a small sigh, a frosty billow passing her lips as snow floated down from the clouds up above, clinging to her hair and shoulders. Although it certainly wasn’t uncomfortable, the red plaid scarf tied into a ribbon at her neck covered her mouth, she couldn’t help but readjust it.

If it wasn’t tied in a bow rather than in a normal fashion, then it’d get in the way. Even if Kearn wasn’t here with her, she promised to go through with it anyway. A promise is a promise… Grasped between her gloved fingers was a kite, shaped like a swallow, hanging loosely where it was. The string attached to it was filled with something that could be considered Christmas lights turned on, gleaming a warm yellow glow. It was small, almost as though if it were a child's plaything, tattered and seemingly broken in a few places. But it could fly. She knew that. Her twin knew that. And that's all that mattered to her.

The dress she was wearing, courteous to her mother knitting it for her when she visited during Christmas, had a vanilla cream base, barely extending past mid-thighs. On the top-half, an autumn blue color filled itself, a smooth flower-like snowflake pattern embellishing itself into a transition, the bottom portion covered in diamonds like a chessboard and gold and blue flowers. Snowflake-shaped frills came out from the ends, sable black stockings covering the entirety of her legs, displaying no sign of the pale skin beneath them. Her brown boots were loosely tied, almost slumping and threatening to fall. She had stopped wearing a side ponytail some time ago, some time after her had taught her how to braid it. She said it suited her... she wasn't sure, but Kearn and Callum agreed to some extent. Did that mean something? It was something she asked about since Magic tried it back then.

Nowadays, it was twin braids, held by ribbons with a blue moon and stars at the center, which were now hanging on her shoulders, threatening to fall back and fly with the wind.

Her brother's voice rang clear in her mind, a constant reminder that she had to go through with this. Adeline couldn't find any way to say no. Her trip home was something she didn't regret, somewhat. Callum wasn't dead and she spent time with Kearn, but her father on the other hand… It wasn’t happy. The arguments, the shouting and screaming, the constant fighting. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea… no, the idea was good - it was because she was there. Daddy never forgave her after all of this time and his contempt stirred even more after she ran away to attend Beata. A stupid bad luck charm. No, Magic would get mad at her for thinking like that again… She had tried to call him maybe once or twice, but he never picked up, most likely covering her tasks for her or something along those lines, even after she told him not to; heh, no, he was probably spending time with his friends. He didn't owe her anything for before when she substituted in his place after all.

Even if Callum was recovering from his coma, they weren’t necessarily at the point they used to be at, especially since he was so much weaker now and couldn’t walk without the wheelchair. The moment she had stepped off the train, he had called her, telling her the same thing he used always say. Stop playing the hero part and let others help you, you dork. That was only when he believed she was going to do something stupid. As much of an idealist as her friend was that things would go right, that there had to be another way, she couldn't help but be the least bit jealous at his nature. Sure, people said he was dimwitted and foolish and that he wasn't all too great in academics, maybe naive even, but he was courageous and a leader and used his skills and knowledge to make up for his lack of information. There's always another way then letting you get hurt. I can't stand seeing you suffer anymore. Maybe that was why they first became friends. Now that he was awake and slowly recovering, her mind was a little more at ease. That didn't help take away the guilt that game with how she nearly - could've - killed him.

Don’t do anything that will destroy you to my condition.

That was the inevitable. If only she could avoid it now.

Holding the kite, her arm outstretched, above her, the fabric fluttering violently, she could only hope that the wind was strong enough. Back home whenever this happened, Callum provided the breeze needed if there wasn't any for the three of them to go off of. But that clearly wasn't the case here. She was on her own. Kearn and Callum would be well fast asleep by now - as short as it was - they had finished their part of the tradition. Now it was her turn. He had given her the other half of his glove, for good luck, supposedly. He was always full of surprises, and it brought the faintest of smiles to her features.

Gifts... she had left her friends at school unexpectedly, leaving their presents for them outside their dorm before leaving to go back to Massachusetts. Would they hate her for missing the holiday with them? Adeline hadn't told them she was back yet, having stayed back home for a little longer than she originally anticipated before lingering around Rosebury at the cafe with Patty. Somehow, she was surprised Magic hadn't tracked her down yet. Perhaps he had and respected her privacy and space or perhaps he hadn't. She wasn't sure. Slowly, the kite slipped out of her fingers, ascending into the heavenly sea and gleaming with the other stars.

The lights were artificial, that was obvious enough, but... Home had too many factories, smog always seemed to take the place of clouds, and it was difficult to breath. It had gotten worse since the last time she had visited before coming back to the academy. Callum had suggested they use Christmas lights to replace the stars, and while the idea seemed silly at first, most kids in the neighborhood had joined in and now it was something the quaint town did all the time. It was something. They made their own stars, their own nighttime, their own hopes and dreams. And he had only done so out of her admiration for the night sky. This was something she was greatly indebted to her friend.

Keeping a gentle hold on the kite's handle and string, she reached for her necklace, the charm glowing a gentle red. The accessory seemed different somehow - it did make her blackout and lose her ability to gain time from other time thieves - and she didn't know how it had reached her house in an envelope. There was no way she had lost it there. Yet, it had been located on top of her desk in a carefully, custom-made letter sealed with an unknown stamp. As grateful as Adeline was to get it back, even her brother wasn't sure where the envelope came from. There was no name, no return address, nothing. You're overthinking it. The same way she had tried to dissect Magic's proposal to her to go to Formal. Why couldn’t she just accept things and stop being so paranoid?

It had been so unexpected.

She hadn’t been ready for it.

And he had asked, as if it was nothing. He didn't look nervous or anything. He was confident and had casually dropped the question. That day they were setting up for Formal, the day he had taken her hand and led her in a dance where they were lost in one another for what felt like hours upon hours, simply going through the steps before managing to transform it into an eternal Viennese waltz. Even if it wasn't much, that had made her so much more happy and embarrassed than she could remember. Now that she thought about it... the entire scenario made her cheeks go red from the mere thought creeping into her mind.

That day... she wouldn't forget it. She couldn't. Too many memories she never wanted to let go, to never let out of her feeble clutch.

The past wasn’t so bad, it was finally brightening up just a bit. But that didn’t mean she would pretend nothing hadn’t happened. Her father would never let her forget it that easily.

The clock in her head struck twelve, and the words softly escaped her lips. "H-happy new year..." This was the start of another year. Hopefully she could get through it without some kind of major accident happening or anything. But that wasn't happening. The signs showed themselves as clear, even with the help of neon lights. Time was depleting all the time and seeping the energy out of her. It’d be stupid to ignore this signs and pretend to be an oblivious fool.

Losing her sense of touch, hunger, ability to sleep. What was next to go? Process of elimination didn't help when anything could be erased as simple as that. Her vision had gotten worse every now and then but recovered with ease; some people had pointed out that her voice seemed a little more hoarse than usual and she had chalked it down to a winter bug. It was like playing a game with her own body, playing to see what was to be lost and never to come back. Adeline wouldn’t deny her minor fright, but all of it would end once the clock struck for the last time and she breathed her final breath.

But she was even more scared to know what would happen when she couldn't hide it from her brother or Callum anymore; no, they probably figured it out. That was why Kearn had clamped onto her shoulder that day - he couldn't give up any time anymore (he knew better than to leave mother alone), but he was slowing it down as much as he could, trying to make it lag in hopes of delaying it enough so that she'd change her mind and take the storage from somewhere. Stealing from another living creature was too cruel, though. She could never do it, hurting something else, someone else, for her own benefit and survival. And she could never let Magic find out, most of all.

Death was inevitable. There is no escape. To say sorry about it was an understatement. Magic would never forgive her when he linked it all together. Would he ever let her out of his sight again, to heal or help someone else? There wasn’t a problem with it… To play hero and sacrifice your life for someone in need.

Everyone, everything - they were always to come before herself. Always.

Her pallid finger let go of the string, allowing it to sink further up into the clouds and reach for the stars. Fireworks burst into the air, streaming colors in a flurry of light, making makeshift points of light as they cascaded, crackling and popping like popcorn in a kernel. They splattered against the ebony canvas like bright, vibrant paint, boisterous even. It was like watching a multi-colored spider weave its fluorescent web across the moonlit sky, smoke beginning to thicken in the atmosphere.

Adeline let out a small cough - out of habit - that shook her entire figure, the bird controlled by a leash shaking violently in the wind above, and she straightened up, regaining her posture and held it tight, as though it were the only thing that mattered. Her final life-line.

Don’t ever let go of the kite. Those stars that we make contain our hopes and dreams.

Don’t die, Adeline.

Magic wasn't even aware of the fact that Adeline had returned. He hadn't really bothered to check her dorm either. He was a bit mad that she left without telling him first, but he soon got over it. She needed space just like he did. He probably would have done the same thing if it was him going home instead of her. But it wasn't even possible that his mother would invite him home for Christmas. She hated his guts and he hated hers.

Today he was heading out into the forest to avoid the lively campus. He didn't want to be around all of the noise. The fireworks were going to be bad enough. Even with the headphones that Lamia got him, he still didn't like them. There was also the fact that a good many students were going to be drinking tonight. He wasn't going to be one of those students. He gave that up a while ago, but he still did it from time to time. Only when he really wanted to.

As he walked along the path a pop of a firework caught him off guard causing him to jump at the noise. Maybe he should put on the headphones now. He grabbed them from around his neck and lifted them so that they sat on his ears comfortably. That was better. Shoving his hands back into his pockets he continued his walked. He didn't exactly know where he was going but he would soon find out whenever he stopped walking. He just wanted to get as far away from the school as possible.

When he got clear of the trees, he saw that he had managed to get himself to the Lake. The only other time he had been here was from Aspen's birthday. He should come here more often. The night sky reflecting on the surface of the water was a beautiful sight. He didn't care that it already reached midnight. He let out a content sigh as he looked out at the water. But there was something unusual about the reflect. He spied a kite, and artificial lights. Looking up into the sky he noticed them leading to a person who stood a good distance away.

Removing his head phones from his head, he tried to hear if he could tell who it was if they were saying anything. When all he got was silence he decided to move closer. He froze when he saw who it was. "Adeline.." He whispered softly. When had she returned? He was afraid to go up to her. There was probably a reason she didn't tell him she was back. She probably wanted to be alone. Should he leave? He didn't know what to do. Maybe she would notice him? He let out a sigh, and turned away from the girl, deciding to just enjoy the view. If she wanted to join she could, but he didn't want to make it awkward for the girl. If she wanted to be left alone he was going to do that.

Every gust of wind seemed to be getting stronger, dead wilted leaves crunching and rustling against the bracing cold. Was there an air manipulator around? It was so sudden, so abrupt, and her eyes wandered over her shoulder as her hands wove the kite string around themselves, just in case she was careless and let go by accident. Nobody else would be out this far in the forest at this time. All of the students would be partying and having the time of their lives celebrating the new year ahead of them, breaking curfew and any rule possible within the twenty four hours of freedom they had. This was the only reason why she had gone out through the serpentine paths of the dense, dead forest and towards the lake - it was going to be isolated without anyone else around. But she was wrong. Of course she was wrong. There was always someone everywhere you went at this campus; tracking down another person was as easy-peasy. Except, this wasn't the student she would've expected.

Or maybe she should've figured he would be the one out here. The academy was bound to be loud and rowdy at this time. If he was out here, that meant those headphones weren't working were they? Don't be silly. She was jumping to conclusions again. Magic could've easily heard her outside in the absolute middle of nowhere with his hearing or he had been taking a walk and saw her kite... hell, it could've even been both. So many different reasons that she'd never be able to pinpoint. A shaky breath escaped her, as though it had been caught in her throat and had fought every inch of the way to not be blown away, fingers clutching the smooth shining surface of her pendant. What should she say? Did he want to leave?

Adeline winced, the torrent of words flooding through her mind that wanted to voice themselves out. The way her hands were fumbling as they tried to tuck her necklace underneath her scarf away from his view was messy, nervous... too hasty. A tinge of red rose on her cheeks and she wasn't sure if it was because she was cold or embarrassed or catching a fever. This was such a bad time to see him. She couldn't focus or concentrate on anything. There were too many things that she wanted to say and wanted to tell him but she was hesitant to say them as they kept themselves bottled up inside, waiting to overflood and reveal themselves when she least expected it. Calm down, you idiot. What an overstatement. It wasn't like she was panicking or anything.

Something was bound to happen sooner or later and it'd all slip out, but that time wasn't now. That weird sort of relief that didn't shy her away from saying anything quite yet. After everything that had happened between just the two of them... yes, it'd be better to keep quiet about that particular subject.

So what should she say then? Her eyes were still glued to the ground, the ball of her right foot digging itself and trying to burrow a way of escape or anything. The words hung in the air. "U-uhm..." Clenching her eyes closed, Adeline took a deep breath and looked up, instinctively smiling. Right, pretend nothing had happened. Pretend nothing was wrong. A strange flighty feeling welled up in her chest with a maelstrom of other emotions, something that made her want to run and forget this silly little confrontation. But if she did, Magic would find out something was up. He'd probably ask her about it later. Agh, she couldn't ever flee from him, could she?

"H-hi Magic." Too quiet, far too quiet. She couldn't hear herself over the roaring of the wind. Her hand clenched tighter around the kite handle. Her greeting sounded so plain and boring. Should she add something else? Adeline opened her mouth again but found herself shutting it before saying anything. If she kept going, she'd probably say something stupid again like she always did. Might as well stop herself now.

Magic let out a deep breath, watching the fog his breath create float away. He had always liked the cold. He never cared for any of these holidays. Basically any holiday was just another normal day to him. Eve never bothered to do anything, she would do something small for Vincent, but even then that wasn't much. Birthdays? Nothing. Thanksgiving? Nothing. Christmas? Nothing. New Years? Nothing. The only thing the days had in common was her drinking a lot more in normal in 'celebration'. It was dumb.

A sigh escaped the boy. Even with the gang they couldn't do much. Money went other places, and they did a little but Magic would mostly refuse anything people tried to give to him. Saying he didn't deserve it, he would tell them to give it to people who needed it more. He appreciated that they spent time together but that was like every other day usually. Though the holidays usually created more noises from everyone which eventually caused him to retreat in the back rooms only to be seen by a few members.

He was pulled out of his thoughts, when he heard Adeline say something. It was hard to make out. He almost didn't hear it because the girl was far too quiet, and the wind was far too loud. She was either talking to herself, or she gave him a greeting. And he assumed from the fact that she was looking his way, that she said a greeting. He decided to walk over closer to the girl so that way she could hear him. When he was close enough he stopped and turned back to the lake. "Hey." He simply said. "Happy New Year."

Adeline tore her gaze away from him, turning back to the kite that she was leading. Maybe she should bring it down now - it'd been quite awhile. Maybe it was getting too strong and it'd float away when she least expected it. But even still, all of that sounded like an excuse to get out of the promise that she had made. That wasn't fair of her at all. It was selfish to even think that way. What was the point in all of this happening if she was going to back out of it last minute? What was the point in having Callum arrange this every year for her if she didn't want a part in it? Their own little tradition for the town to gather on this day at this time. She didn't want to lose the kite and yet... With Magic here, she found herself shrinking under anxiety. If he didn't think she looked stupid before, he most certainly did now. No self-respecting student at their age would be found with a kite and playing around like a kid who got a new toy plane, running about without caring whether they disturb other people or not.

Oh. He had gotten closer to her and mentioned the occasion that happened only once a year. A small part of her appreciated the fact that he was still willing to make conversation with her, but at the same time, he was too close. She could hurt him. But she couldn't bring herself to widen the distance between them. Her hands were beginning to pull the string of the fabricated bird down to the ground until it was fluttering violently at her feet, fingers clamping the handle. This was okay, right? Kearn said an hour. It's been an hour since the avian first took flight. Or did he say two hours? Everything she could remember was a complete mess, jumbling back and forth with its own hop-skip-and-a-jump. Her mind was screaming at her to just ask and call home, but she knew better - they were most definitely asleep at this time. It was two over there... yeah, they couldn't stay up that long. She was too nervous with only Magic and her outside in the forest. Outside. Alone.

No. No need to panic. Absolutely no need to panic yet. It was perfectly normal to be nervous after their situation, right? The last time they had seen each other was the Formal and well, before that was when they had been setting up and he had asked her to the dance. Magic had asked as friends. That's all it was. Nothing else, nothing more. She was surprised he hadn't asked someone else - there had to be someone much more deserving of him than she. And then she left without anything so much as a note for the holidays. Probably would've been better to say something verbally, but at the time, she couldn't find the opportunity to slip it into a conversation or even the courage to mention it. It made her feel guilty, her heart sinking to the depths of hell.

Swallowing down her anxiety, she managed to look up at him long enough to say something that would get rid of the gnawing remorse that wanted to sprout and bloom into a dark flower inside her. "I-I'm really s-s-sorry I didn't tell y-you a-anything... a-and uhm..." Her voice trailed off into nothingness when she faintly noticed the headphones wrapped around his neck from the warm yellow glow emitting from her kite. It was the headphones she had given him. Adeline's lips thinned and she had to force herself not to reach for her necklace again. She turned her eyes towards the swallow's tail. "You're u-using them." That meant they were either working or he had them only so she wouldn't feel bad that they hadn't worked. More likely the latter. Most definitely the latter.

... It was a bad idea to bring up the gift, wasn't it? Adeline readjusted her scarf, almost wanting it to cover her mouth so she would shut up and stop saying anything stupid while mentally kicking herself. Stupid. Idiot. Stupidstupid.

Magic blinked. Them what was them? He thought for a moment then it hit him. She was talking about the headphone. God he was such an idiot. "Oh yeah. I have been using them quite often, but I have to take them off everyone once an a while." He shifted slightly so that way there was distance between them. "They work pretty well. Though I'm not quite used to normal hearing and I miss a lot sometimes." He said reaching up and rubbing the back of his head slightly.

After that he shoved his hands back into his pockets to keep them warm. "And I'm not mad about you not saying anything. Well I was then I realized I probably would have done the same thing. So I have no right to be mad." He said in a tone the conveyed he was being truthful. "How was your trip anyway?" It must have been nice to actually spend time with family members that didn't actually hate your guts. She probably saw some old friends or something. Probably a lot better than his trip back home.

Okay, yeah, there we go. He was using them often but that was only because she gave it to him at a time when he couldn't return them to her. Haha, funny, there was no way they actually worked at all. Most definitely not. It was something polite not to throw away something someone gave you and that's the only reason he was hanging onto the headphones right now. Nothing special, absolutely nothing... Wait, what? They worked? She bit down on her lip harder, face flushed with an even brighter red. Magic was messing with her or something, right? Most things she wound up trying didn't work out very well, if at all. It sounded selfish, but she felt the heavy pressure of failure rising away from her shoulders since the headphones were functioning properly. Adeline let out an internal sigh of relief, her fingers uncurling themselves a little from the steel bridle. "I'm glad..." Her head lifted itself towards the stars, the millions of fireflies dancing in the murky abyss with snow fall. It was too easy to see her faint breath, even in the dark. Was it that cold?

When he mentioned her previous statement before, Adeline braced herself for any scolding or harsh words or anything. It was only natural for him to be mad at her... besides, he must've been expecting her to return the favor after he brought her home with him to Chicago. Her gloved hands had turned into a ball behind the kite's fabric and found herself offering Magic a tiny smile that only widened itself a tiny bit when he said that he wasn't angry. Maybe she was jumping to conclusions too quickly again. Hopefully it wasn't a suspicious smile or anything, but it was too shy, too fleeting, and she found her eyes focusing back up to the night sky. They could have casual talk for awhile, couldn't they? Yeah... she'd be a terrible person to walk away right now. Notthatshewantedtooranything. Sure, it hadn't been very long since she left and came back, but she missed being able to spend some time with others.

Except he asked about her trip.

Her mouth hung open as she searched for anything to say. Telling him the truth was out of the question. Just tell him, moron. No, no. All it would do was cause an unnecessary burden to fall on his shoulders. He had this grand impression on her family that they were completely alright and that everything was normal and you know... happy loving families. That was partially the truth, at least. The only thing blocking it from being completely honest was her. Because she had... well... Kearn would be reprimanding her if he found out she still thought like this. But she never understood why he kept telling her it wasn't her fault. It was. Simple as that. There was no other way to see it. If they just removed her out of the equation, then it'd be perfect.

"I-It was nice." A passive answer, unsatisfying to anyone's curiosity that would only bring more questions if anything. There was some truth to that answer. The gentle smile stayed etch upon her features as she thought back to the brief times she managed to be with her twin and a friend that she thought was long gone only to fight to keep it there when the crushing reality weighed down on her. Right. Her father still hated her. There was still one situation she wasn't sure if she should mention or not...

Magic would kill her if he found out she had seen Warren. Again.

"Hmm.. Thats good." He figured there was something she didn't want to talk about since her answer was a bit vague, but then again she never gave a clear answer did she? Whatever it wasn't his concern. She would say something when he pulled it out of her or when she felt like it. Which would be a while.

Looking down at the ground below him he shifted the snow to clear a spot for him to sit down and relax. He figured they were going to be out here for a while, and he didn't really care about getting any close wet. He was wearing jeans so it would take a bit for any water to get through the thick fabric. Once it was clear enough, the winter boy sat down, and leaned back on his hands looking up at the night sky. He wasn't going to ask about the kite thing. He figured it was some kind of tradition or something.

He flinched slightly when a firework flashed in the sky. So they could see them from here still? At least the sound wasn't too bad. He was glad to be away from all of the hustle and bustle of the campus as everyone celebrated. He shifted slightly and felt the soda's he shoved in his jacket pocket. He had completely forgotten about those. He pulled them out and set them in the snow, revealing one to be grape flavored, and the other to be sprite. He brought them both for him to drink on what was supposed to be a lonely night, but since he was with Adeline now, might as well offer. "Would you like one?"

At least he didn't ask about it. If she had to say anymore, a few events would spill and this would be like the airport again... except without anyone else around. There was no need for Magic to get angry again over something so trivial, over someone as pathetic and lowly as her. It was useless, anyway. Not like he could do anything about it once he found out. If he finds out. Right. She could still keep secrets, let everything be locked away inside her like a safe with an unbreakable password that not even the world's greatest hacker could crack. A treasure chest without its key in sight. This was pushing her luck too much, but as long as the next sense wasn't something obvious that she lost, then he'll never know. Her ability to speak, her ability to see, her ability to have emotions, there were too many to account for. Whichever it was, hopefully it would play to her favor.

Once Magic sat down, Adeline didn't try to follow his lead, her eyes falling back to the kite, the stringed lights blowing violently against the wind, their warm glow flickering off and on with each passing second. There wasn't any need to sit down, and besides... it'd be bad to let the kite fly away. She had to send it back home later, after all. But even if she was standing, it was nice enough to spend time with him, to talk to him. Maybe it was better that she avoided him now. When the time came... yes. It'd be better to part ways as soon as possible. It'd hurt less for both of them. It'd be better this way. He'll question her for awhile, but it was like she said before, Magic would forget her in time. Someone else will come in with ease and replace her. Death wasn't terrifying, not anymore. When that came... Maybe she'd tell him. Maybe she wouldn't. Make up your mind. This was too complicated.

Soda? Adeline tilted her head curiously when he offered it to her before looking back at her kite. She couldn't exactly let go of it. Didn't you need two hands to open a soda can? One to hold it and one to pop it open? It wasn't that she didn't want it, it's just that there was no need to drink it. In this weather, it was so cold that she was surprised it didn't freeze to solid ice yet. That, and... it wasn't like she could get thirsty. It'd be such a huge waste to give it to her. Refusing would be suspicious, but what exactly was she supposed to do again? Holding a kite required one hand.

Her hand reached up, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. The arm fell limply at her side. "I-I.. well..." Why couldn't she say that she can't open it? No, it'd be so mean to have him open it for her. It'd be worse to have him hold the kite for her. Agh, too much. Too difficult. Putting the kite on the ground and stepping on it would ruin the shape, the fabric, and maybe even its entire form. "Y-yes, but uhm..." Great, now she was leading him on. So stupid. So bad. Why was she so bad at this? How the hell did she even manage to keep secrets again?

He blinked. Why did she say but? It was an easy yes or no question. "You don't have to take one if you don't want one. Just thought I'd offer since I had em." He said. It was a simple answer, she could be honest with him. At least about something like that. "You don't have to take one just because I offered." He clarified a bit. He was going to give her a choice of which one she wanted, but he really wanted the grape one so he picked it up, opened it, and took a swallow.

He deiceded to change the subject. "It's a nice night isn't it?" He said his eyes focusing on the stars above. Occasionally his gray-green eyes would look to a firework that randomly appeared in the sky.

Oh, now she felt bad, her heart plummeting. She really was stupid if he misinterpreted that. The words came out almost too fast that her mind didn't register that she had said anything until they had already gone and voiced themselves verbally. "A-ah, no. Th-that's not wh-why. I-I j-j-just uhm..." Her voice faltered again. It always chose the worse times to fail on her when she needed it most. Closing her eyes, Adeline took a deep breath to calm the sudden pounding inside her chest, a mental count to ten proceeding. She just needed to calm down a little, that's all there was to it. Once she was sure she wouldn't be on the maybe starting to panic side, she spoke up again, albeit in an almost incoherent mumble. "I m-meant yes..." Sort of. Not really. What did she mean, actually? She didn't know herself. That was pretty bad, but she never knew what she wanted. There was no need to know.

Tonight? Adeline hadn't tried to force her gaze away from the stars, almost as though she had been enraptured by them and couldn't look at anything else. It really did look pretty tonight, like it did every other night. The way they looked and shone brightly, invoking the hopes and dreams of everyone around. Nostalgia... No, not now. A small sigh escaped her as she dismissed her thoughts - this wasn't the time to dwell on the past and everything she had done wrong. There was no time for that now. "It is.... I-It's r-really nice." This was something she would miss whenever... She tore her eyes away from the lit points of guidance used by ancient sailors of the past, turning away from Magic. Crestfallen was evidently written over her face.

Stop. Stop. She shouldn't. Any smile she tried to force immediately died, only the corners of her lips slightly turned upward. This wasn't... Lighten up unless you want the cat out of the bag. Another shaky breath later, Adeline found a smile again, one that lasted for a little longer. She should stop doing that. She really should. It was supposed to be cold. The stars looked like diamonds encrusted in the sky and she wished she didn't leave her telescope back at the cafe with Patty. Winter stars always looked beautiful and the snowflakes, individually shaped with their own special pattern, were glimmering stars falling from the heavens and above. If only... "I-It's cold, i-i-isn't it...? M-maybe you should h-head back." It was cold, right?

He felt a tad bad for saying what he did, but it was slightly true. He didn't want her accepting things just because he offered them to her. He let out a sigh, he was such an idiot. "You can still have the Sprite if you want it." He said, in a normal tone.

When she had brought up it being cold, and then talking about how he should head back, he clenched his teeth slightly. He could only guess that she didn't want him around anymore. "It's not anything I can't handle. And there is no way in hell that I'm going back there while all that craziness is going on." He said. He shifted, and then stood up making sure that his drink didn't spill. "But I can tell when I'm not wanted. I will go somewhere else then." He said, dusting himself off, then turned to walk to the further side of the lake, and started to walk away.

"I-I'll... uhm..."

She'll what? Take the soda can anyway? Let him keep it? Either way, he had gone through the entire hassle and mess that was her stupidity just to ask her whether she'd have it or not. It was awful to say no, but it was such a waste to use it on her. Adeline shifted uncomfortably in her place and would've wrung her hands if she could. "I'll t-take it..." Cautiously, she reached for the can and once it was in her grasp, she looked away from him again. That was much more complicated than it should've been. Any other person wouldn't have made such a big deal over whether they'd drink soda or not. Why was she always adding on stupid details that were so unnecessary? No wonder people hated her. She hated herself already. The can slipped into one of her pockets, to save for later. Maybe she'll drink it later... whenever that was. Maybe it'd be nice after a cup of tea? Oh well.

That wasn't what she meant at all. Not at fucking all. Why was she so awful at this? It was only possible that he could get a fever or get sick or anything. She wasn't trying to get rid of him... If he had gotten sick with the flu or something because he had been talking with her so late at night, it'd be because he felt obligated to stay and keep her company. That was all. Nothing else. It wasn't that she wanted to part ways just yet... But, maybe this could work in her--- what the hell was she thinking? That was absolutely rude. Impolite. Unspeakable. You really are an idiot. Of course she was. She was so... ugh. Awkward would be an understatement. A really big understatement. She was completely terrible at this.

Once Magic had turned and began elongating the space between them with his own steps, Adeline shook her head feverishly. "Th-that's n-n-not why...!" She was going to regret this. This was going to hurt them both more in the future. This wasn't a good idea. Her mind was screaming and telling her to shut up, that she was being moronic again, that she was doing something she'd never forgive herself for. "I w-want to t-t-talk to you, but..." But what? What was she going to follow up with now? She didn't want him to get sick? She didn't want to be selfish? Too many ways to finish this sentence up, the phrases flooding into her head, but she didn't use any of them.

"I don't w-want to hurt y-you."

It was vague again. He could take it as her gift messing up or that she had said something stupid again or anything. She was always so unsatisfying, never giving anyone the answer that they'd like. It was something simple that would satisfy their curiosity for a little while before they came back again... if they ever did. Her fingers had absentmindedly loosened themselves from the kite's bridle and the swallow flapped its wings, flying away, only to descend halfway through its flight, catching itself somewhere in the forest. Adeline didn't notice. Smile, smile a broken smile. A breathy laugh bubbled up her throat. "Ah... I-I'm s-sorry. I'm r-really stupid, you know?"

Magic paused in his walking away, and looked over his shoulder back at her for a second, before turning around, facing her once again. "How could you hurt me?" He understood that there was the issue of her gift, but they had been close numerous times, and it was never of an issue then, so why would it be an issue now? They weren't even that close.

He shifted in his spot when he heard her insult herself. "You aren't stupid." He wasn't going to sit there and listen to her insult herself. He moved a bit closer, but still kept a good distance. "Look. I have had a lot of things on my mind lately, so sorry if I took your words the wrong way." His brother being back, new years, chirstmas, all of it just brought up bad memories, and it wasn't good for the winter. Most of the memories were of his mother, and her constant reminders of how he wasn't wanted. He clenched his teeth at the thoughts but quickly shoved them away into the back of his mind. They weren't important now.

It was only expected that he'd ask her that question. After all, she wasn't very specific with how she'd hurt him. Maybe she could say that it was because her gift, that she'd stolen time from him before - there was that one time while she was unconscious back in Chicago after the destruction of the airport. Granted, she returned it back to him to heal that stitch before he knew that a thief had snatched it away. But she did take it. Or she could try to explain the whole situation to him. That linked back to her gift though, that time was seeping away and running short on years and days with every second that flew by. Adeline shook her head again, dismissing it with a smile. "I-It's n-nothing. N-never mind." Ignorance is bliss. It'd be better for him to think she died naturally or anything except the real reason why. There was no reason to burden him by explaining herself. It'd hurt less this way. This was her problem alone... it was selfish enough that she had involved him in the first place.

Of course, he also had a lot on his mind. How stupid was she? It wasn't like she hadn't received Vince's text when he asked for her to be there when he told Magic that he had gone back to the academy. There was a deep regret lingering in her that she couldn't have helped because she had gone home and her apology was too simple, too plain, and felt too formal - almost like she hadn't meant it. It'd be bad to bring that situation up too, wouldn't it? "I-I'm sorry a-about th-th-this." Her lips thinned, feet shuffling themselves absentmindedly. "I d-didn't t-take into consideration y-your problems." She really was selfish at the end of the day. She tried to help, to do everything she could, but anything on her mind was always about herself. Self-centered, egocentric, selfish. Selfish, selfish, selfish.

Her father was right to hate her. He really was. He had every good reason to and she was surprised that Magic didn't say he hated her right in front of her face yet. Maybe he would. He probably would.