Evelyn Gets the Disease of Loooove. Or Something like that.

The thing was there.

It was later at night, the sun already setting down and leaving an orange aura around the campus - the moon already in sight. Most students were relaxing after the long, hot day; either in their dorms, in the library - or, in this case, beside the cool fountain next to the courtyard. Now, accidents had been pretty rare in Beata during recent years, but now and then it was inevitable that certain creatures escaped; including one now that slicked through the flowers and gates of the courtyard. It stayed invisible and hid in the shadows, looking for its first victim.

Evelyn stared into the rippling shallow water of the fountain, the trickling noise of the water soothing her. Despite the heat of the day, the night brought in cold air. It was a refreshing feeling, especially after being stuck in her stuffy dorm all day. She relished in the fact that there was hardly anyone around. She had come to hate Beata. All she wanted to do was go home, even if it meant a regular highschool. It was all too much for her.

Catching the silver glint of coins resting on the bottom, she started digging into her pocket for something. A wish or two couldn't really go amiss...

The book in Colette's hand was a tiny size. Though it was still thick enough to offer a good read, the convenient size made it possible for her to hold it with one hand. She leaned against a lamppost, letting the light it casted give her the ability to read efficiently. Colette stifled a yawn that was louder than one would care to make in public. She thought she was alone, and that everyone else was inside sleeping. It was a Friday night, and sleeping in after a long week was tempting to most. Besides, the timid girl didn't want to give up a chance to be outside and free with no one around.

This creature, that roamed the grounds, fed on love and lust. For a school campus full of hormone driven teens, you'd think it'd be simple for this monster to find, but that wasn't the case; and it would be more than happy to create some of its own. It'd just need a host.
Catching sight of a girl wandering around all her own, the creature snuck up on her and hid in her shadow. With the quick rake of a single claw, it sliced her shoulder - the toxins would spread through her body at an unimaginable rate. With that, the creature fled and hid.

Evelyn gasped, both in surprise and pain, and whirled around to face her. Coins were flung from her pocket and sent flying away, bouncing away with tiny chinks each time they hit the brickwork. Her violet eyes were filled with fear as she turned to see... darkness. What...? She turned again, keeping her hands to her chest. "W-who did that?!" she called out, scanning the courtyard to find someone.

Boy, did she find someone.

She locked in place, frozen, as she caught sight with Colette. The more she stared, the more her pain was forgotten. A happy floaty feeling filled her chest, her breath caught in her throat, and she suddenly felt giddy and dizzy. Irresistibly, her legs began to move and she found herself numbly walking towards the girl.

The coins made Colette jerk her gaze from her book. Evelyn, a girl from her dorm, was walking towards her. It was a strange site, since Evelyn was more quiet and timid than she, yet here she was. Maybe Evelyn got over her social anxiety.
"Hello Evelyn... she said with a warm but shy smile. She reached one hand down and pulled her right thighhigh farther over her leg. She didn't want to seem sloppy and asymmetric, and it had been irking her all day.

At the small gesture, Evelyn turned a beet red and she slowed her walk. This was a bit silly, wasn't it? Evelyn didn't care to stop, though. "H-hello, Colette..." she said breathily as a smile spread across her face. Evelyn, without thinking, stepped closer. Now that they were practically nose to nose, her heart began to flutter and race in her chest and dizziness filled her head. Words left the young girl, an awkward silence encompassing her.

"Umm..."
The girl laughed awkwardly as Evelyn stepped very close to her. She didn't want to say anything, as she was too embarrassed and the situation was too awkward. Maybe this was a new social norm? Nevertheless, Colette's face turned a deep shade of red, for her face was close to Evelyn's.

Evelyn gave a hollow chuckle that could have easily passed off as a sigh. "S-sorry..." she breathed, wide violet orbs staring into Colette's sky blue eyes. "I just thought you looked lonely over here..." Evelyn continued, her delicate long fingers reaching out and gliding softly across Colette's arm. The intoxicating feeling welling up inside her was unmistakable but so alien... she'd seen lots of boys, seen other girls giggle and talk about them when they weren't around, but never felt... well, anything like this. "You m-must be cold..." she quickly said, retracting her hand and hugging it to her chest, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.

"B-but it is summer." said Colette, stifling an awkward laugh. She stood there frozen, no pun intended to what Evelyn had said. She was a little frightened. She saw Evelyn's pink cheeks and blushed as well, simply from embarrassment. Why was she acting like this?
"I should go..." she started, but made no immediate attempt to move.

A pang of hollow disappointment hit her hard, but she forced a feeble smile nonetheless. "Ehehe... r-right," she replied, shuffling backwards. "Um, I'll... I'll s-see you later, then..." she faltered.

Her senses started to come back now, and with it flooded anxiety. I'm being too weird! the girl cried silently. She shrunk slightly into the light jacket of her uniform in embarrassment. Her heart still beat like a drum and the drunken ecstasy that filled her remained, but was contrasted with a sharp self-awareness. The feelings of excitement from when she first saw Colette's face from across the courtyard was now one of panic and her dream-like dizziness had turned to nausea.

Realizing she was just standing her, Evelyn quickly turned around. She didn't dare glance behind her as she walked. Walking where? No idea. The fastest way to her dorm was the other way, but that would involve her walking beside Colette.

By God, she'd love to walk beside Colette to the Winter Dorms. She just didn't want to suffer anymore awkwardness around her this night.

Though Evelyn tried to repress the thoughts of the timid silver-haired girl, it was hopeless. She couldn't think of anything else but her. Evelyn couldn't help but feel...

Lovestruck.

Guilt crept in and overwhelmed her. Evelyn couldn't deny it, as much as she tried. She simply couldn't be attracted to a girl, could she? It was wrong... It didn't take long until her parents were called to mind, and how ashamed and disappointed they would be. It was true that she'd never experienced something like this with any boy... or anyone, really... But...

Evelyn sighed softly, hugging her arms to her chest as she let her thoughts torment her. She'd sleep it off - if she could sleep, - and forget about the whole incident when morning came...

Colette watched as the girl turned from her, and a feeling of guilt washed over her. She had hurt Evelyn's feelings. How rude. Colette felt like a terrible person, and dismissing Evelyn was wrong.
"W-wait! Where are you going...?" she called, starting to walk towards Evelyn. She first started at a slow pace, then quickened. She needed to stop Evelyn, or she'd never forgive herself.

Good question.

Evelyn flinched at her voice, partially because it brought back that rushing feeling, and mostly because she didn't have an answer. "Uh..." Yeah, good start. A Winter mind that became useless as soon as another person was involved. "The d-dorms." she said finally, slowing to a stop and turning around. "It is getting kind of late... ehehehe..." she answered, her nervous laugh awkwardly trailing off.

The dorms weren't anywhere near where she was going, and she crossed her fingers and hoped that Colette wouldn't point that out.

Colette knew, but didn't want to make the girl any more uncomfortable. "I am too. Let's walk back together..." she suggested, equally as nervous. They'd walk back, and then retreat to their own dorms. It was the best case scenario. She smiled genuinely at this, but seeing as Evelyn was walking the other way, Colette got a strange feeling that she was telling her she was going to the Dorms as to play her off. After all, she was walking the opposite way. "You don't have to if you don't want to, though! I-it's fine..." she quickly added. Ugh, she was a burden. A stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid burden.

Internally conflicted, Evelyn tried to push the guilty feelings to the back of her mind. "S-sure." Evelyn said with a slightly shaky voice, equally (if not more) nervous. She walked up to Lette with unsure steps. It felt like her heart was about to burst from her chest.