Alex collapsed down to his hands and knees grabbing his head and banging it into the gravel pathway. "Look I made a mistake when I broke up with you. i have regretted it ever since." He looked up at her, little bits of gravel falling off of his face. "You have put me through hell this 'just friends' stuff. I just want you back. I still do. Don't you?"

More than anything... she thought to herself, but would that even be possible after this? She'd want to take things slow... would that even be fair to him? She rubbed her temples... this was giving her a massive headache... all she needed was a vision like one of the ones her first or second term, and she'd die of an annurism.

"I don't know anymore, Alex..." the words 'I hope your delusions keep you warm at night' kept running in her head... The pain she felt wasn't towards the words themselves, but the mere fact HE said them to her. As cutting as she was with people, she reserved her gentleness with him... it hurt he was so mean to her... he was one of the very few people she trusted... and now...

"I just don't know." She said as she continued walking away.

Jack had basically been pushed away from being with Bella. Zero seemed a bit tense and overprotective of Bella. Jack had never actually met Zero and him and Bella had never properly spoke about him before.

"Right. The boyfriend." Jack repeated to himself, looking down at the floor.

He looked at Bella, a look of apology in his eyes. He didn't want to mess it up between the two. This had ruined a very good day.

Alex fell over on his side and curled up in the fetal position. "She doesn't know. She doesn't know. She doesn't know." He began to chant softly to himself as he wept and rocked in the middle of the path.

Cassandra turned and saw him rocking on the floor. She sighed and walked back to him. She knelt on the floor by him and moved the hair out of his eyes. "Do you know that I cannot see my future without you Alex?" she told him tenderly. "I love you more than life itself, you are the only one I've bared my soul to, myself to..."

She gathered his hair tenderly away from his face. "I'm asking for a little more time, for the both of us. I need to speak to someone, get some guidance, and then, we'll talk. You were the one who broke up with me... the least you can do is give me the time I require," she said, her voice was clam, sweet and tactful.

Alex looked up into her eyes, still rocking slightly, "Time you require," the longing very clear in his eyes.

OOC: this is what I wanted to post but Cassadnra said i would scare her away and it's really not fair to Joss Wheden to butcher his stuff.

Alex shy's away as she gathers his hair, a distant look in his eyes. "Hey, hey, hey! No touching. Am I flesh? Am I flesh to you? Feed on flesh. My flesh. Nothing else. Not a spark." Alex then begins to nods. "Oh, fine. Flesh then." Alex cuddle back up to her. "No more mind games." He shakes his head looking deiscusted at eh ground, "No more mind."

Cassandra nodded. "And time you may not think you may need... please..." She smiled as she looked into his eyes, "When have you even heard me beg?"

Alex slowly stopped rocking, but stayed curled up, "Never...well...not...never." Alex smiled mischieviously.

"So... it that a yes, you'll give me time?" She said returning the same mischievious smile.

"Yes...Take your time," Alex whispered." I'll be waiting."

She leaned over and pressed her lips on his forehead. Caressing his cheek she pulled her lips away. "Are you going to be ok?" She asked concerned.

Alex breathed deeply, enhailing her cent of lilacs. He sighed contentedly, "yes I just need to meditate."

She nodded to him and left the gardens.

"Meow meow meow." Tabby Cat ran through the gardens as quick as she could

Alex wiped his tears away, stood and walked back to teh Common Room.

There was something relaxing about tending to the gardens, a simple tranquility that was bequeathed to him by the myriad of growing things. The rich earth slipped through his fingers and brought a warm smile to his lips as he transplanted the last of the silk road lilies. Apedemak packed the dirt with his bare hands before watering the soil around the delicate looking flowers.

Walking through the gardens, lost in thought, and no real destination or direction specifically planned, Diabolica soon spotted Apedemak and smiled. He looked quite placid and happy, so much so that part of her didn't want to bother him. After a moment of silent contemplating, she decided to, at the very least, go and greet him, and silently loped up behind him.

"You indeed are quite a skilled herbologist and gardener, Apedemak..." she said softly, smiling and watching him work.

Apedemak's golden eyes sparkled with a pure joy as he looked up to see her. "My lady, it is always a glorious pleasure to see you." He brushed the dirt from his hands and clothes as best he could as he stood up, assuming his normal rigid posture. His smile gave him away a moment before he moved; as Diabolica moved closer he sprung forward wrapping his arms around her and spun her up into the air before gently lowering her down into his embrace. "Hello beloved." He whispered in her ear. "It is very good to see you."

"It is absolutely divine to see you again, my love. I've missed you greatly." Diabolica grinned happily, overjoyed at his very presence. The warm spring breeze blew through the gardens, rustling some of the plants and flowers in a pleasant and calm way. She beamed. "It is very good to see you as well. How have you been? I did not mean to interrupt your gardening... I just merely was going for a stroll and felt it necessary to at the very least, greet you. Couldn't pass up the opportunity."

"Beloved, your presence is never an interruption." Apedemak stole what began as a quick kiss but lingered to become a more ardent exchange. "I was quite well to begin with and have become far better because of your presence. How goes the day for you?"

He's perfect. Positively amazing. Diabolica thought, blushing happily. She returned the kiss and gazed into his golden eyes, smiling broadly. "I am glad. My day has been well so far; though ever since I fortunately came across you during my walk, my day has brightened considerably. Have you been enjoying your gardening on this fine day?"

Apedemak nodded while looking at the gardens around him. "I have always found a tranquility away from the things of men; but, I have recently found that it is more keenly felt when I tend to the to the things that draw life from the living earth. There is a newness to them, their stories are so new and budding with potential. These lilies," The Sudanese boy motioned to the the huge white flowers with crimson throats that he had transplanted; "have been singing to me about the joy and anticipation they feel about being able to bloom again and feel the warm sun upon their petals and leaves." His golden eyes turned back to focus upon her, they glittered brilliantly.

Diabolica nodded slowly, carefully listening to his words. "It really does seem you have a natural gift for it... I don't know many others who are so skilled and passionate about herbology and gardening...or anyone who hears the plants and flowers themselves sing, that I know of. I'm quite glad you enjoy it so much." She smiled. "I do remember you telling me that you had never grown anything prior to attending Hogwarts... had you shown interest in herbology before, or is it a completely newfound hobby?"

Cassandra walked into the student gardens. She smiled seeing Apedemak there, but her smile soon disappeared as she saw Diabolica... because anywhere Dia was... Xana was soon to appear.

"You requested my presence Apedemak." she said nodding her head. It wasn't a question, merely a statement.

"It is wholly new to me, I have never tended to plants before; and yet it is strangely familiar in many ways." Apedemak kissed her again, merely out of simply joy.

The Sudanese boy turned and reluctantly released Diabolica so that he could bow to Cassandra. "Yes Prefect Trelawney. As I mentioned in Professor Erickson's office, I would like to share my Soul Mirror with you."