A weak smile spread over his lips as he wrapped his arms around her. His chin found placement on the top of her head as he held her close against him. There was a strange sense of overwhelming relief, as if he hadn't seen her in years, as if they had just run through fire and ice to reach each other. And it had him silent, simply holding her.

Apparently she wasn't the only one who was hoping to find the other. She gave him a light squeeze, and rested her head against his chest, allowing all thoughts swimming around in her head to stall while he held her. Because a girl needed hugs after a day like the one she just had.

He was somewhat relieved she didn't ask him about his silence. That she let it be, let them be. He could tell she needed this as much as he did, and just held her for a long time, having no inclination or desire to part.

Only after a few minutes did he break the silence, and even then it wasn't with much more than a whisper. "How are you holding up?"

She decided to give him his silence for as long as he needed it while she got the hug she needed. Honestly, she welcomed the silence after all the noise they'd left at the party. When he did speak quietly, she shrugged her shoulders lightly. "The shower helped... and talking to Treyen." Ranting to him was good medicine, and he was a good best friend. "How are you?"

Shrugging a little, Sabel drew back. "Alright I suppose." A small smile flickered across his lips before disappearing as he reached out and guided a few strands of damp hair out of Arya's face. "Glad you're doing a bit better." He really, really didn't like seeing her upset.

Shrugging a little, Sabel drew back. "Alright I suppose." A small smile flickered across his lips before disappearing as he reached out and guided a few damp strands of hair from her face. "Glad you're feeling better." Because he really, really hated seeing her upset.

She kept her arms around him while he worked on her hair, studying his features as he spoke. Something was... different. Like he wasn't all there, or maybe it was something she said? "Yeah... are you sure your okay?" Because it didn't seem so to her.

Another small shrug rolled off his shoulders along with a second attempt at a weak smile. He really needed to work on being happier around her. Or at least hiding his internal thoughts a little bit better. "Yeah. I'll be fine." He just really needed to figure things out. And one of those things was standing right in front of him.

A sudden, painful wrench in his gut had him flinching back, his hand moving away from her to wipe on the leg of his pants. "I'm just glad we're back."

She wasn't believing him, his weak smile, or his words. And his flinching had her worrying more then she'd been before, all thoughts about the school and everything else being pushed to the back of her mind. Right now, he got all of her worry.

Brown eyes on him, she gave him an imploring look, hoping he would tell her what was going on.

He was really starting to dislike that look, or in the very least, fear it. Whenever she gave it to him, he could never seem to deny telling her anything, even when he really didn't want to. Stuffing his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgiting, he gave another shrug of his shoulders and did his best to keep eye contact with her. "We should probably talk...about stuff."

Arya just wasn't liking the vibe she was picking up from Sabel. It was making her entirely too uncomfortable, and anxious. Crossing her arms over her chest, more to hug herself than anything, she nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah.." Just not standing. Her eyes left him to search for a nook in the corridor, and when she did find one, she lightly nudged him towards it.

He didn't hesitate to move with her request, and gave even less thought to pulling his hand out of his pocket and wrapping it around her shoulders lightly as they walked. He didn't like seeing her appearing so alone and uncomfortable, granted it probably was his fault.

Only when she was seated comfortably did he follow, sitting across from her and taking up one of her hands in both of his. "Did...you want to tell me about the party?" After all, she had said they would talk later.

She welcomed his arm around her shoulders, and returned the gesture with two arms around him as they walked. It didn't stop her from worrying or feeling just a bit distant from him at the moment, but it did comfort her some.

Scooting onto the seat, a bit reluctant to pull away from him, she crossed her legs in the nook, allowing him to take her hand. A small nod left her at his words, though it still took her a moment to tell him what had happened. "I just... didn't like seeing you get hurt, especially after what you told me over breakfast." Her eyes never settled on his as she spoke, instead they rested on their hands.

"And then you just forgave her..." She bit her bottom lip. "I just wish you weren't so forgiving sometimes." It was silly and foolish of her, especially since she DID like that about him for the most part. Just not when it caused him harm.

Some sort of wince stole through him at her words. He probably should have guessed that from the beginning. Should have remembered their conversation a little more clearly. And he kicked himself internally for it.

Chewing on the inside of his lip, he watched his fingers trace over the back of her hand for a moment before speaking quietly. "It...was an accident on her behalf, Arya. She didn't mean to hit me. Not like before." His brow furrowed a little bit. "There is a big difference between Lexi's hit as an accident and as intentional. If I held an accident against her, would I not be as good as her when she intentionally hits me?" Another shrug left his shoulders, his eyes flicking up to hers briefly before looking down. "People always deserve a second chance...in my opinion anyways. Right or wrong."

It still didn't feel good, the knowledge that he had in a way, completely sidelined his promise to her, and that he was in a way, making excuses for it. "I'm sorry..." Because really, what else was there to say?

She let out a small sigh to release some of her frustration at herself. "I know, that's why I didn't want to tell you. It was stupid to get upset over that." She sighed again and was tempted to pull her hand back so she could curl up in a ball, but reasons had her keeping it between both of his. "You don't have to keep defending her." That was the most frustrating thing. "I know they deserve second chances.." But not thirds, and fourths. She kept her eyes on their hands, not willing to meet his eyes.

A slight frown crossed her expression as she shook her head slowly. "Don't apologize... it's not your fault." Even though she was still hesitant to look up at him, she did squeeze his hand in hopes to give him some sort of comfort.

He didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. No matter who it was, they deserved a second chance, another chance after that. Lexi was his friend, and he had no desire to give up on her after all they had been through. He just hoped Arya wouldn't make him chose between them. And perhaps that was why he said nothing in response. There was no question on who he would chose, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be painful as all else. But he had no idea how long that choice was going to last, and that thought alone had his insides twisting painfully.

Another slight shrug rolled off his shoulders, his thumbs stroking the backs of her hands. "I made you a promise and...I almost broke it." Or he did. He really didn't know.

"You didn't... not really." Least she didn't think he did, she just didn't like the feeling it gave her. More than anything it was confusing, and she didn't see how it could be remedied. It was easier for her to just drop it until it happened again, but she knew that would solve nothing, and would only make things worse. Arya bit her bottom lip, briefly allowing her eyes to settle on his before returning the to their hands. "I'm sorry...for acting that way."

He was instantly shaking his head. "You don't have to apologize for how you feel." That wasn't right. That didn't make sense. Nothing seemed to make much sense. Perhaps it was best they just forgave each other and put it behind them.

Hesitantly, he glaced up at her from under his eyebrows, not sure what thoughts he would see running through her eyes, or if he would see any.

Arya really just wanted hugs from him right now, all the apologizing and the feeling swimming around inside her had the girl wanting hugs. But she wasn't sure he would give them up. Which was weird because she never had worried about him rejecting her hugs. But something was different this time, and she wasn't sure what.

Nibbling on her bottom lip, she peeked up at him, a bit hesitant to move over into his arms. It couldn't hurt to try for hugs, right? Or maybe it could.

She was willing to try.

Peeking up at his eyes, she sloooowly moved over into his arms.

Once again a weak smile touched his lips as she shifted over. It was a little unsettling how uneasy she appeared at even considering the movement, and he wasn't sure he wanted to think on it. So, instead he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. The last thing he wanted to do was let go of her, and what scared him most was that he had to. And despite all his want to deny that fact, he couldn't.

Arya was more than glad he didn't push her away, not that he'd ever done so before, but something about him wasn't right and had her on edge. Wrapping her arms around him, she rested her head on his shoulder and let her eyes slide close. She was certain that there was something that was bothering him, something he wanted to talk about with him, and she decided not to think on that for a moment, to just be held.

There was nothing better than holding Arya. And nothing worse than knowing it would be one of the last times he could. Whether that last was temporary or indefinitely, it hurt the same. But it was those thoughts that accompained both periods of time, the segment of absence in both that gave him the most pain, the most fear. And how he was supposed to talk about it, he had no idea. He had no want to.

But he had no choice. While he wanted to keep her his for forever, it was a want that was likely based in fantastical reality.

"...You...must be excited for next year." The words came out slowly and carefully along with a gradual breath, fear and apprehension rising in his gut as numbness set in with the images of a future projection. One without him in it.

She was perfectly fine with not talking, with not thinking about the things that troubled them both, and with simply listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing as she rested in his arms curled up against him. But somewhere in the back of her mind she knew they had to talk about what was to come from his graduating.

Still, it was a moment before she responded to his statement, never opening her eyes or removing her head from his shoulder. "...Not sure after what's been happening all term, and what had been said at the party." She was speaking Ministry wise. A small shrug left her shoulders. "Not to mention you won't be here..."

The words had him recoiling internally, wrapping his arms tighter around her in an attempt to sheild her from the fears that resonated in them both. Somehow, a weak smile managed its way onto his lips, turned his tone a slight bit brighter. "You'll be fine without me." Happy without him. It tasted like a lie.

"...I guess." Was her only quiet response. She wouldn't deny that what he said was true, she would do fine and probably have a great fifth year without him, but it didn't change the fact that she didn't want to have to go at Hogwarts on without him. It just wouldn't be the same.

The thought alone was enough to put tight knots in her stomach, and keep a smile from her face. She slipped an arm around his front and if possible snuggled closer to him. "I'll miss you some kinda terrible though."