Lexi ALMOST tugged away from him again but something stopped her walking away this time. She looked at him and let the tears spill. She let him inspect her hands and winced when he ran his thumb across one of them. Chuckling she said, "I fell down." It seemed a lot less funny though given the current situation. And he was right... she did try to run away. She was trying to run away from Finlay when she had fallen, much like she had fallen trying to run from Sabel at the ball.

"I don't hate you for it, but I am beginning to get rather irritated with the fact, yes. I couldn't let you in, Sabel. I just... couldn't. It felt like you had the capability to hurt me too badly so I couldn't drop that last little wall. And your constant... Oh hell I can't even think of the words to use. YOu just avoid really giving me the whole truth. Until now. This is the most honest you have ever been with me and it took a shouting match in the middle of the corridor to bring it out of you... I would have rathered it be something else entirely, but I will take what I can get," she said rather thickly as the tears continued to flow.

Two years of pent up emotion to do with the boy was leaking from her eyes as they stood there. She shook her head and said weakly, "Are you EVER going to let me in? Will you continue to push me away, Sabel?" She hoped the answer was that he would indeed let her in, but if he said no she was pretty prepared for it at the moment. She curled her fingers back up over Sabel's and just waited... This was either going to be the end of their friendship or a whole new start of it...

"I was careful in my honesty, Lexi, because I didn't want to get into this. You have a tendency to be very sensitive." Using his teeth to tug his sleeve over his hand, he gently wiped the fabric across the surface of her open palm. "I don't know how you think I could have hurt you, but I can understand the need to protect yourself. Though, that last wall you upheld...you have no idea how much it hurt to run into that."

Pulling his hand gently out of her grip, he exchanged it for his wand and cast a bandage charm about her open hand. Somehow, his voice retained it's calmness though the anger was still surging under the surface. "Are you going to let me in Lexi? Because I see no point in opening myself up to you like I have, if you are just going to throw walls up in my face again. I am exhausted and I can't deal with it if that is going to be the case."

Lexi winced again as Sabel ran his shirt over her palm. She gave her shoulders a small shrug and said, "I began to get closer to you than anyone else and then the floor fell out from under me... my world was turned upside down and I felt that if I let you in any further that somehow, for some reason you would end up hurting me like everything else did."

She sighed when he moved his hand out of hers and just as she was about to drop it he cast the bandages on her hand and she sighed once more. Still there trying to make everything better, typical of Sabel regardless of the hurtful words she had flung at him. "I can TRY to let you in. That is the best I can do. I can't promise you that I can let that wall tumble down... it is there to protect me and it is a bit difficult to let it go. But I care a LOT about you so I will definitely try. The only people that I have really let in are Finlay and Dylan... They scare me too," she said looking at him from a totally different perspective now. Could she let him in? Would he run away if he saw the real her? "I am sensitive... But there is good reason for it. You hit the nail on the head when you said I have no self esteem. There is reason for that too..." she trailed off and tugged the sleeves of her pyjamas down over her hands as best she could.

"Does it make any difference for me to apologize again? I truly am sorry for all that has happened. I am sorry that I tried so hard to push you away. I am just sorry, in every sense of the word," she choked out as fresh tears threatened to fall. She bit her lower lip and averted her eyes.

Finishing with the bandages, he cast a cooling charm upon the fabric to try and help soothe the sting. "I'm not asking you to tell me all your life secrets Lexi. I'm simply asking to be more than a handkerchief you can wipe your nose on when you need it and tuck away when you don't."

Once her hands were attended to, he holstered his wand and watched as she covered them with her pyjama sleeves. "Don't apologize again. There's no sense in it. Simply, I ask you to start trusting me. I have done everything I can to try and show you I can be trusted and I can do no more on that end." Sticking his own hands in his pockets he watched her closely, the anger and pain turning numb inside him. "I am working on my tongue; its a long process that's going to take time, but I will try to be more open and honest with you."

"But Lexi," his eyes turned a little more intense, bearing some of the fatigue that had gathered in him, "I'm not going to chase after you any more. You walk away, I won't follow you again."

Lexi almost let her anger boil back up to the surface but she let it go and let out a deep cleansing breath. "I have been making an effort to be more of a friend to you this term than using you as a hanky as you so eloquently put it just now. I have tried, and will continue to try. And I do trust you, but I am still skeptical of people these days," she said, sure it made no sense... but that was the way it was in her head. She gave that head a little shake as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"I never asked you to chase me to begin with and I would be understandin if you didn't. And that is the honest to Merlin truth, Sabel." She didn't know where this left them, but it was better than where they were before.

"Well then, let us both just agree to try to be better friends to one another. Is that something that we can mutually accept?" she said extending one of her bandaged hands for him to shake.

She never specifically asked him to go after her, but not all requests were made by words. And that was one of the ways Lexi operated, by gestures and expressions rather than blatant words and sometimes that was simply stronger. Like the bloody blood on her hands. No asking, but at the same time the cry for help was there.

Pulling one hand out of his pocket, he gave hers a light, brief shake. "Do or do not, there is no try." In other words Lexi Denver, this was the last straw. Taking his hand back he stuffed it in his pocket and gave her a small nod. "I'll see you around Lexi." Because he was fairly certain, he had caught sight of a certain blue-robed someone just about the corner.

Lexi bit her tongue and shook his hand wincing slightly. "Yeah, I am sure you will," she said trying to keep the curtness out of her voice. Turning abruptly she went back to the portrait hole and after arguing with the Fat Lady momentarily was admitted entry back into the common room without a backward glance at Sabel.

Still self righteous as ever... She could try, but she couldn't make promises that she wasn't certain she could keep. That was something he would have to accept or get the hell over.

He watched her go, evaluating the frozen, dense package of emotions that had gathered in his gut. It was a toss up between letting them stay frozen or melting them and simply exploding, or imploding, with them. The straw that broke the camel's back...almost. If they hadn't ended on calm terms, it might have been.

When she was out of sight and then some, he turned finally and cast his eyes down the hall. "I take it you heard all of that?" Yes Stern, we see you.

Kellen looked up from the book he'd been glancing through - Eagle-eye View - and raised an eyebrow at Sabel, "Well, heard is a relative term. My ears certainly picked up a lot of screaming and snappish sounds, but as for my brain registering them? Can't say I did, no." He closed the book with a well-practiced 'snap!' and tucked it under his arm, strolling closer to Sabel with a politely interested expression on his face, "Did you want me to?"

Stern, asking if Sabel wanted for him to have selective hearing? That was a new one. A new proposition he was actually, suddenly very grateful for. A small nod rolled off his head without much hesitation. Right now, he needed a second opinion, no matter how much Stern had heard or not.

"Well then I will add that judging by how it tapered off at the end, there was some kind of conclusion reached. And that, judging by your silence and small, short gestures, you're not entirely sure it was the right one." Kellen had reached his friend's side, and gave the Gryffindor a playful nudge, "How right am I?" Was it in his nature to be modest? Only around authority figures and people he didn't know but wanted to make a good impression on. His friends got the full, dramatic, know-it-all Stern.

"Partially right." The only smile he could manage to give his friend was small and incredibly weak; one that disappeared within seconds of being there.

A slight shake of his head had him wandering towards one of the windows lining the halls, his brow knit a little as he attempted to sort his thoughts. "We reached a conclusion. I just have no faith in it. Or very little would be a better way of expressing it. We seem to go through this every year and it's just..." Another shake of the head as he scrubbed his face with his hand. "I'm exhausted Kellen. I am so tired of everything I just want to hibernate until it's all over." If there had been a pebble at his feet, he would have kicked it down the hall. "I don't...even want to be here. At Hogwarts."

Something deep, deep inside Kellen Stern went 'AAAAAAAAAAUGH WHYYYYYYYYY?' when Sabel couldn't smile back at him for more than a few seconds, but outwardly his face remained slightly smiley and interested. He came to a stop beside Sabel and gave his friend a considering look, "Okay, first? I have no idea who you're talking about." Someone female; that was the extent of his knowledge.

"Second, you need to do this," he stuck his pointer fingers in the sides of Sabel's mouth and pulled upward, "more. Creepy as it looks right now, ew."

He could understand how Sabel would feel exhausted, with classes and duels and all the usual Hogwartian Trauma on top of his mother's condition, but still, "And third, that's friend-heresy. I am here. Arya is here. Raiden is here for so long as he doesn't get himself killed. Like it or not, we're your comfort base. Who exactly is making you feel like leaving?"

"Lexi." The name left his lips with a bit of a scowl in the leftover emotions of their argument. Luckily, it was at about that time that Kellen pushed the corners of those lips upside down, or rightside up; either or.

It took a moment before he pulled his head back with a weak chuckle, rubbing the corners of his lips. "I don't think walking around with my fingers strapped to my lips is going to get me any favorable looks." It wasn't what Kellen meant, but he was allowed to be dead literal sometimes.

As for his last question. A single-shouldered shrug left him as he dropped his back against the wall. "Not who...really...just...everything." His hand made another pass over his face. "I'm tired Kellen. Tired of the stress and the drama and the hell that is going on here. I'm terrified someone in the tournament is going to bite it, and I'll see that day of my summer replayed all over again. I'm exhausted from this 'love' business. And I'm stark terrified of what is going on at home, and beyond frustrated I am here, useless and doing nothing while my family is ... going through that."

"Ah. Well, she does seem to do that to you, doesn't she?" Meaning the scowl, of course. "But there's nothing for it, Sabel. Girls are emotional, and they use said emotions to manipulate unwary gents like ourselves." Yes, he was meaning Neptune. Really, he'd gotten past the point where he tried to convince himself he wasn't talking about her. He was. "Crying's the worst."

As soon as he had his fingers back, Kellen wiped them on the back of his robe. Much as he was sure Dakest Spit would make a lovely potion ingredient, he wasn't in that class and therefore neither wanted or needed it.

He sighed at the list of details Sabel gave. Really, he couldn't defend any of what Sabel was exhausted at, but at least he could think of something for that last bit, "You're not doing 'nothing', Sabel. Maybe from your perspective it feels that way, but... well, I've only met your mother once, but she seems like the kind of lady who'd want to know that her son is able to have the occasional laugh. And that he's getting along with his friends even when they're entering suicidal competitions and insisting on staying platonic and getting their faces attacked by jockish Hufflepuffs. I mean..."

Oh, fine, he'd do the one-armed shoulder-hug again, "I don't think she'd want you to shut yourself up and always be sad."

A fainthearted chuckle left him despite everything; despite feeling like he couldn't express another moment of laughter or smile, or even anger. But then, Kellen always had the strange ability to drag out a bit of humor or happiness no matter the situation; it was as if he purposefully fished for it.

"Sometimes, Stern, your not helping, helps." If that even made any sense. Another pass of his hand over his face and he paused, frowning at the blood on his sleeve. "You are weird like that."

For you, Sabel Dakest? Kellen had a fine variety of specialty lures in his arsenal, all designed to attract a specific emotion so he could hook it and bring it to the surface. He really should have considered getting his own show.

"I am," he made no attempt to disagree with Sabel. "Fortunately, my weirdness seems to shine a light of hope into the spiraling darkness that is your emotional soul. Or something like that. I could eat a banana split right now. You?"

Lexi giggled again quite loudly as Finlay carried her down the corridor toward her common room. He was so strong and lovely. She had almost forgotten that she had even had that row with Sabel earlier. Meh.

"Finn, you are too much," she said with a little giggle snort as she snuggled into his chest, arms wrapped around his neck.

Oh. Her giggle was just so cute. Finn was quite glad that he knew the way to her common room, but he was just hoping that he wasn't going to get lost getting back to the ravenclaw common room, because that would be pretty bad.

"Only to please you love." Mmm. There were people in the corridor. It would probably be better if she got out of his arms, but he really didn't want her too.

Lexi kissed his neck quickly before anyone could get a good look at them and she clung to him a little tighter not wanting to let go. "You are too kind, sir," she giggled again.

Following Finlay's gaze she saw Kellen and Sabel. MEH! Oh well. She didn't dare let it dampen her mood. She had opened up to Finlay and it had felt great. As they stopped in front of the portrait she ran a hand up through his hair and whispered, "Give us a kiss goodnight, kind gentleman?" She smiled brightly and closed her eyes.

Mmmm. That was nice. "I am to please." Finn grinned at her, as he glanced at the other two guys. Meh. They could go away it was a free country hehe.

He laughed at what she said, leaning against the wall a little, smiling at her. "You don't have to ask Lex." He chuckled, before leaning in to kiss her softly, lingering a little, before pulling away and grinning at her. "I really don't want to go." He admitted quietly, smiling at her. They could stay here for a while right?

Another small chuckle left him as he shook his head. "And you could write poetry to fill a tattered book." Must have had something to do with his previous schooling.

It was about that time that he noticed a certain Gryffindor being carried by a certain somewhat familiar Ravenclaw. And they were gushing romantic sentiments like a poorly designed Disney movie. And the Aprecarium had problems with him hugging Arya. Ridiculous.

Pushing away from the wall he gave Kellen a firm nod. "Sounds like a plan." Clapping his friend on the shoulder, he turned them both down the hall and away from the scene that was practically sprouting pink fluff all over the floor.

Hehehehe. Lexi was all giggles and rainbows and glitter now. She was over the moon with happiness. She sighed happily as Finlay kissed her and she looked up into his eyes and smiled. "I don't want you to go either. YOu want to stay out here a while. We can sit and talk maybe..." she said but really meant that they could kiss some more. Heh. She didn't think Professor Antares or that Arithmancy lady were going to jump out of the shadows and give them detention... Maybe.

She paid no mind to Sabel and Kellen or their idle chatter. She had eyes and apparently ears only for Finlay Carmichael. Indeed.

hehe. Lexi was all giggles now, and Finn really did think that was good, at least she was happy. "Staying out here sounds good." He nodded, letting her get down out of his arms. They couldn't sit together if she was in his arms after all. "Talking sounds good." He smirked, grabbing her hand, and tugging her down to a more quieter section of corridor, so they could "Talk." What they could talk about he didn't really know, but he really wasn't in a mood for talking.

He sat down, stretching his legs out infront of him. He didn't think that it was that much warmer in here, they were in a castle after all. But at least it was warmer than outside really.

LExi gave another little giggle as Finlay let her down and dragged her down the corridor. Hehehehehe. "Yeah, we should talk for a while then maybe I can escort you back to YOUR common room," she said poking her tongue out at him. She knew he tended to get lost a lot in the castle. Poor lad.

Following suit Lexi plopped down beside him and stretched her legs out. She gave a little sigh of relief and snuggled into Finlay a bit. He should like REALLY put his arm around her... it was cold after all. Hehe.