Nika was out on a search. She needed to find Samira and apologize. Levi had already confronted her about the sneezing so there really was no point in hiding it any longer. The snake would probably find out sooner or later and things would be much better if Nika apologized before Samira found out for sure. Otherwise things wouldn't go to well. She had her flower bouquet with her as she walked down the different corridors. Maybe she'd bump into Samira along the way. The slytherin always seemed to be around. Nika's lips curled into a smile when she heard Samira's heels clinking on the floor. It must be her.

Then her smile faded. How was she supposed to talk about it!?! As if it wasn't hard enough telling Levi what happened and he was only a friend, Samira is a best friend. Levi is calm and laid back while Samira can get angered easily. So this didn't make things any easier. She put the flower bouquet down on the ground near by while she ran up to the slytherin. She'd grab it later to give to her. "Hey Samira..." She started off a little softer than her normal tone. "I-I-I've been wanting to talk to you for a while." Had the slytherin been avoiding her?

Samira's mind was just starting to drift off when she heard a familiar, and yet different voice from behind. She considered to keep going, but that would be immature, so she slowly turned. The Slytherin eyed her best friend. Well...this was going to be awkward. Luckily, Samira was talented at hiding her emotions, so her face was just an expressionless mask, giving away nothing.

Was Nika finally going to confess? Samira knew Pink was there. Not only was there no one else on the face of the planet who could sneeze that loud, but no one else had bright red/pink hair. Almost unconsciously, Samira pushed the purple extensions Nika gave her behind her dark hair, so they were less visible. Samira wasn't going to say anything about anything. Instead, she just coolly said, "Hello, Nika. What did you want to talk about?" Thank Merlin for her talent of expressionless masks.

Nika turned back to check to make sure that her flowers were still hiding behind the corner. Thankfully she was able to see the tip of a yellow rose. Taking a deep breath she looked Samira in the eyes, which at this point was just about the hardest thing to do. "I-I..." How was she supposed to word this!? It was hard telling even Levi, but eventually she was able to say it all. Even if it was all in one breath at least she got it out. "You know how I set you up with Levi and I said we'd all go and hang out?" She started out with a question and moved on before Samira would be able to reply. "Well I thought I'd come along too in the beginning so that he wouldn't be suspicious then I'd leave." Which actually wasn't completely true. She was planning on staying behind a corner or something when she "left", but eh details, details.

"But I came late." That's what foiled her plans. "You guys were already there and I had just come from the lake. I wanted to leave as soon as I got there, but the only way out was to go past you guys and I didn't want to ruin your moment." Even though she sort of did anyways. "And well... I decided I sit and wait until you both left which I figured wouldn't be too long because why would you hang out in the corridor together... But I think I'm allergic to dust or something... And I sneezed. Twice." And she heard it. It made Levi pull back into the kiss he was about to give Samira. "I'm really really sorry! I wanted to leave as soon as I came, but the only way to the common room was to go past you guys and oh I'm just really sorry Samira! You're my best friend and I don't want you to stay mad at me forever." She'd wait for Samira's reply and then went to go grab the flowers.

"You know how we learned about flowers with meanings for divination well I got you these." She looked up at Samira and held up the flowers waiting for Samira to respond before she said the meaning of each one.

Samira didn't say anything or reveal anything during Nika's apology speech. It was better if she just got it all out then and there. At the end, she just nodded slowly, not looking at Nika. Trying to absorb it all. All she really wanted was for Nika to admit she was there, and maybe apologize too. And that's what she got. Honestly, Samira wanted to be mad at Nika...but she just couldn't. Nika looked so sincere and sorry, how could she not understand? When Nika mentioned Samira was her best friend, the Slytherin's eyes widened a little, but she tried not to let her pleasure show.

Finally, she nodded. "Ok..." she said. "I understand. And I...forgive you." All she wanted was for Nika to confess that she was there, and she did--plus a little more. That's all that was necessary. "It was an accident after all." Accidents happen, and Samira would grow to be bitter if she held grudges, which she wasn't. She looked at the flowers Nika was presenting her in surprise. Her indifferent expression was starting to slide off. "You got these for me?" she asked before smelling the flowers. Wow, Nika must really have felt guilty for ruining the kiss. "Thanks. And, don't worry, I'll have a chance to talk to Levi again." It wasn't the end of the world.

Yeah she had been hoping to feel different once she had turned seventeen but it was just like any other day, well except for all the gifts that she had received, that was pretty cool. "Oh I hate apparition with a passion. It makes me feel sick but it is the fastest way to get from A to B and when your boyfriend lives in Russia, then I will have to learn to deal with it." Mia just hoped that she wouldn't be in too much of a hurry and get herself lost or even worse splinched. "Thanks though."

Mia nodded her head in understanding. She felt exactly the same. Actually she still felt the same. It was hard and it didn't get any easier as time goes on but she didn't want to say that to Arya. Maybe her friend could handle it better than she could.

Noticing the twinkle in Arya's eyes, Mia grinned knowingly. "I'm so happy for both of you." Summer vacations were definitely the best. Her grin faded a little at the mention of OWLs. "Yeah it definitely sucks." But there wasn't much she could do about it now. "So do you know what you're going to do after you have finished school?"

Nika let out a sigh of relief. Phew. Thank goodness both Levi and Samira weren't going to stay mad at her. She looked down at the bouquet she was holding and slightly smiled. The different flowers she used coincidentally were all yellow and white. It actually went together pretty well the way Nika saw it. She handed it to Samira and then took in a breath before telling her all of the meanings. "These flowers aren't just flowers and I didn't just pick them out because they were pretty." She started off slowly and rubbed her arms. "They have special meanings according to divination. You see this one right here is a Rue flower." She pointed a finger at the small yellow flower. "It erm it means regret. I put it in here because I regret what I did." Then she looked at the flower next to the Rue.

"This one, it's an Olive flower." She spoke as she pointed out on of the white flowers with the yellow center. "It means peace because I'm hoping that we could make peace and stay long lasting friends." She smiled sweetly as she lifted the other white flower. "And this one is the one that means lasting friendship, it's a Pear Blossom. The last flower was obvious as to what type it was. "This one is a rose, but it's a yellow rose." She nodded slightly and then spoke up again. "Yellow roses mean a few things. They can mean Friendship, jealousy, or apology, a broken heart, or extreme betrayal... Well in this case it means apology and friendship." Maybe even extreme betrayal, but she only ruined Samira's first kiss with Levi it wasn't that big of a deal.

It actually wasn't so bad, what she did. But she felt miserable. It was actually a feeling of guilt and her conscience was beating her up for it. She needed to get everything off her chest and tell Samira that she was sorry. Once Nika finished speaking again it felt great. Like she was able to breath again or like a weight was being lifted from her shoulders. She jumped up and hugged Samira.

"I hate it too, the feeling it just." Shudder. "I hate side-alongs, but that's a good reason to learn. Russia is far away." And cold. It was far AND cold, but she supposed if Sabel lived there, she learn to apparate as well.

All this boyfriend talk had her wanting to do something... something out on the grounds. The prefect linked arms with her older friend and started casually walking out towards the grounds. "You know... it's a shame Sabel is always working and your boyfriend stays so far away." Mostly is was a shame Sabel worked so much. "We could've done something together..." Maybe they still could? Arya would have to talk to her Gryffindor about it.

Going by the look on Mia's face, she would all but cry if they canceled OWLs this term. "First I want to travel, with Sabel, and then... maybe work with winged horses. Become a Magizoologist and specialize in studying them." Shrug. She still wasn't one hundred percent certain, but she still had time, right? Right.

Mia nodded her head in total agreement. "I remember the first time Nik took me side-along." She shuddered a little at the memory. "I kinda collapsed when we hit solid ground. It's the worst feeling. Maybe doing it on my own will be different." Yeah that was kind of wishful thinking on her part.

Feeling Arya's arm link with hers, Mia began the slow walk with her friend. It was nice being able to talk to someone who understood exactly what she was going through. "Nik is always working too." She knew he did it because he was so lonely and knowing that still made her want to leave school. "Sabel, is doing Auror training, right?" How did her friend handle that? Being an auror was a dangerous job. Mia was glad that Nik chose a career that had no danger factor to it. But then again if a wand was to backfire or something...Great now she was going to worry about his job. "We should totally organise a get together at some point."

Seems as though she and Arya had even more in common. "Nik and I plan on travelling as well." But her friend's career choice piqued Mia's interest. "Winged horses? Oooh that sounds really great. I hope it all goes well for you."

"Sabel only took me side-along once. He prefers muggle transportation, and I just hated it so much." So much that it had him worried she might vomit, and the prefect thought she would at the time. "I hope doing it alone will be different though. Can't take muggle transportation forever." Not when she was of age at least. As of now she was perfectly fine with it.

"Maybe it's a distant boyfriend thing," She jested, grinning. They had to keep busy somehow, and she supposed working was the best way. "He was in the auror training, but now he's in ITF." She had been SO happy when he went on to what she knew he'd be best at, even if it was with a bit of reluctance. Not that she didn't worry about him, she always worried about her Gryffindor. "It means I see him less, but I think it's better for him." She nodded her head in agreement. "We can plan something and owl them with the details."

It certainly was nice to have a friend that not only understood what she was going through, but also had the same after graduation plans. "Where are you guys gonna go?" Maybe she could get some ideas from the older girl. "I guess it all depends on how OWLs go, and I hope do get more experience with them over the summer while Sabel works." Else she'd be sulking all summer when he was away.

Seated on the edge of one of the openings, closer to one pillar more than the other leaving plenty of room at her side, the seventh year had her head turned out toward the grounds, watching students here and there walk past. Although thinking more than she was staring, Kaitlynnh didn't allow her mind to drift too far, didn't allow her memory to come into play and bring up things - more specifically, the last time she had hung around the courtyard corridor for any amount of time except to pass through on her way, - that would make this meeting any harder on her.

The Hufflepuff shifted ever so slightly, and turned her gaze toward the ground in front of her as she continued to lean lightly into the pillar on her right, fidgeting with the folded parchment in her hands. It had been a couple of days since she had been bothered by what she thought was a random owl. Two days since she had been utterly confused as to why Orlando would send an owl of all things to her, when he could just find her in class the following day if not before then. Of course, it had made sense after reading his letter. He still wasn't ready to speak to her in person. In all honesty, Katie wasn't sure she was ready either, to talk to him or to Legend, but she had to. It wasn't an option. There was no running anymore. Lando could take his time.. but this meeting was necessary. After all they'd been through, she owed him that much.

Legend was nervous. Extremely nervous. It was not because of what happened days ago, or anything that he may of done. It was simple because Katie had sent him a letter, she wanted to meet up with him. They didn't do that. When they wanted to see each other they just did. The blond ran his free hand through his hair, wondering for a split second if he should just cut it all off and start new. Like a fresh start in general.

His other hand held a small black box wrapped with a simple black bow. Although it was much passed the girls birthday, Legend had only just been able to finish the present. Now seemed like a good time to give it to her. Right? As he opened the door that lead to the corridor he spotted the Hufflepuff right away. He gave her a small smile as he quickly walked over and took a seat right beside her. "Hey, Mae."

Running her fingers through a lock of dark hair, Katie pushed her messy curls over her shoulder and away from her face, her head lifting the tiniest bit to glance up at the sound of the heavy oak door opening, only to reveal the person she was expecting and dreading to see all at once. If it were even possible, as she already didn't feel well and hadn't for the past few days, her stomach dropped that much more. Not managing to return even a weak smile knowing what was to come, her dark eyes found the ground again as she waited for him to reach her.

Once he sat next to her, Katie raised her head and straightened her back, glancing up at him briefly. "Hi." The worn, folded square of parchment was enveloped by her fingers, pressing it into the palm of her hand and out of his reach. Not that she thought he would try to take it. She knew he wouldn't. He didn't need to see it as much as she didn't need to bring it, and truth be told, Katie wasn't sure why she held on to it aside from not wanting to leave it in her dormitory for any of her dorm mates to stumble upon by accident.

After a moment, a small sigh escaped the brunette, breaking the slight, short-lived silence that had fallen between them. Again, her head bowed, dark eyes finding that familiar spot on the ground. "So.. Orlando told me about the other night. Or rather, he sent me an owl." Despite her gaze being directed on the ground, Katie indeed made a slight face at the memory. Blasted owl.

Yeah, clearly this was not good. Legend cleared his throat before resting the box on the other side of him. They were suppose to be friends right? Katie seemed upset or he was in trouble or...something.

The small smile that had been on his face fell once she came right out and said something. Orlando had owled her? He wasn't surprised really. Orlando had taken Katie's side so of course he would send a letter to her. He had taken Katie's side when there was suppose to be no sides to take. They were suppose to be friends. Him. Katie. AND Orlando. "Huh.' He nodded. What was he really suppose to say to that. "Don't worry if he's upset. I'm going to apologize to him."Yeah? Good?

But he knew that wasn't it. The kiss obviously had to play a big role in it. Lando had punched him because of it so it had to be big. "He um...he acted as though I had done something that would upset you. You know that I would never purposely do something to upset you...right?" Or maybe she didn't. It felt like they had already had this conversation before. But this time had actually done something.

Don't worry if he's upset? Katie's eyebrows rose, pressing her lips together firmly as she gave a small shake of her head. Legend really didn't get it, did he? "Yeah, he's upset. He's freaked out and ashamed of what he did." Her voice was unusually quiet for the outdoor setting, lowered and soft, but otherwise showing little of what she felt. It was matter-of-fact, straight to the blunt point, but not harsh. Katie's hands found either side of her on the sill, pushing herself up a bit more as Legend spoke again.

Slowly, Katie nodded her head. Yes, he was right to think that Lando had reacted because of her. But he still didn't really understand, that much she knew for sure. There were pieces missing, like why it seemed Lando had acted out angrily on her behalf. Legend couldn't possibly know. "I know.. not since we were about twelve." She murmured, closing her eyes as she failed miserably to will her emotions into check and not feel so sick about what she had yet to say. When her dark eyes blinked into view again, Katie forced herself to tilt her head and look up at Legend. "I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. He acted on impulse, and in a way that's my fault." She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, struggling on to find the words she needed, her gaze once again wandered from his face to anything else around them. "It was probably in October that he finally started really talking to me again. In a way, I think he blamed me for our break up. But when he finally started talking to me again.. something just broke, somehow the conversation led to him telling me that.. I don't always need to be so strong all the time. I cried for a while, and then he asked me something and I told him the entire truth." Pausing, Katie dared to glance at her side, if only for a moment. "He wouldn't have hit you if not for that. So it's my fault."

Freaked out and ashamed? Legend sighed. He had only punched him. Legend was sure he had done much worse things to tones of people when he was years younger than Orlando. Sure the reason behind the punch hurt, but it was really, still just a punch. "He really shouldn't be. Really...it was just a punch." The punch hadn't hurt him at all. Something else did though. Something that caused him to snap and suggest that things would be better if they were not friends.

Legend realized he was good a pushing people away.

"The entire truth? What do you mean?" He was sure he already told him what happened. Sure it was the short version but it still was basically the same thing. Legend's hand began to play with the ribbon absentmindedly. He would give her the gift after. When things were cleared up between them. "Katie are you even happy with this?" The words had flown of his his mouth so fast he surprised himself that he even said it out loud. He had tried not to make himself thing it never mind say it out loud, yet there it was. Out in the open.

"It's Orlando." Katie answered simply, when Legend tried to make it seem like no big deal. Sure, it was just a punch. Sure, that did seem still fairly petty and stupid. But it was the reason and the meaning behind it, that wasn't okay. It was how Orlando felt, to cause him to punch Legend. Little Lando, who would never hurt a fly. "He won't even talk to me right now. I think he's scared I'm upset with him." Which she wasn't, not really. She was upset with herself. It was her fault, and she hadn't known it was bothering Lando anymore. "He shouldn't have done it. He knows that we're not together, and you're free to do.. whatever you want. He knows. But his initial reaction was to try to.. defend me, I guess." It was odd. Never, ever in a millon years would Katie have thought he would do that to Legend because of her. Never had she wanted that to happen. Orlando, unintentionally in his impulsive moment, had taken her side.

That proved to her things weren't okay like they had tried to pretend and make so after breaking up. They weren't mending anything. Nothing was fixed. The group, their friendships, were still suffering. Nothing was okay. That was why she had asked Legend to meet her. She needed to be honest.. and she needed to try doing whatever was best at this point. No matter what the end result was or how much it hurt. Katie couldn't pretend anymore, couldn't put on an act and pretend to be okay when she wasn't.

"I mean.." Katie stared ahead of them, this time not wanting to see the look on his face or in his eyes, already knowing it would be hard enough to hear him react. Knowing it would be hard enough to get through this, and continue on to her main point. To suppress memories, and emotions, and the tears that wanted to swell in her eyes as she thought about why she had to tell him. "He asked me if I still love you, and I told him I never stopped." And then, he blurted out something unexpected. Something that Katie wasn't even sure she could make sense of, as it was such a vague question. Taking a deep breath, Katie kept her gaze straight ahead. "I don't know what you're talking about, but probably not." She nearly whispered, "I haven't been happy for a while now."

It was Orlando. So Legend guessed it was suppose to mean something and it kind of did. Orlando wasn't a violent kind of person. He was quite and shy and..Orlando. So maybe the punch was much worse than how he saw it. "Why would you be upset with him?" That really made no sense. Unless Katie would be mad that Orlando punched him but Katie never got mad at Orlando.

"I know." Legend had long since realized that the younger Gryffindor had simply acted upon his actions to try and protect Katie. Once again taking the girls side instead of his. It made Legend wonder if he had any friends left who would actually stick on his side if he needed them. Danny, Jae, and Orlando wouldn't. Mat probably would but he could not remember the last time he had seen him. Clearly he had another group of friends. Cy had left a while ago. And his other friends? Well his bond with them had not been as strong.

As Katie continued to talk, Legend bit his tongue, determined to stop himself from saying anything.

She still loved him? No...she never stopped loving him? Maybe in the past this would have brought a smile to his lips, but at the moment his emotions were somewhere else. He had no clue how to react. Everything was just confusing. "I feel the same way." He murmured with a nod. "I...really didn't stop loving you."

So she hadn't been happy? He knew it was obvious. She had never seemed that excited, happy, or whatever other word described the emotion. "I could kind of tell. I....haven't been happy around you...for a while." Even though he tried. He really did.

When Legend spoke again, asking what sounded like an actual question, Katie didn't even need a second to think about why Lando might think she would be upset with him. It was simple. "Because he hit you." She murmured, staring at the opposite side of the corridor still. Really, it shouldn't have been so hard to guess. She was fairly confident that would be the reason Lando may or may not be scared to talk to her, which meant Lando knew she wouldn't have liked what happened either. So why didn't Legend get that?

He knew. Katie had gotten the feeling he had, judging by what he had said before about Lando acting as if he had done something wrong and him not purposely doing things to upset her. She said nothing though, nor did she nod or show any other visible reactions to this news. The seventh year didn't know what to say. She wasn't going to continue that part of their conversation by telling him whether or not she was or had been upset about anything involved. It was done. There was no point to that. The point of bringing it up, of meeting here in the first place, was to tell him what she felt he needed to know. And that was it.

Aside from a bit feeling sick to her stomach for multiple reasons, Katie otherwise felt rather numb, like she had just told him the time of day or what the weather was like before them, instead of admitting feelings she had been hiding inside for quite a while now. It was his response that she hadn't expected, once again. Katie froze at his words, unsure if she had heard him right. What was she suppose to say to that? Lysander Chosen had become a distraction for her, completely leading her off where she was suppose to be going with this talk. What she had decided was necessary to do. This wasn't the point either. Quite the opposite, really. And that wasn't a good thing. "You.." The word left Katie's lips and trailed off into silence, leaving her once again without a properly formed thought as she allowed herself to lean heavily against the pillar at her other side. Why did he have to go and say that? Why did he have to make it harder for her to talk? This wasn't part of her plan.

Katie frowned deeply, letting it go for a moment. But only a single moment, before shaking her head. "Why? He didn't hit you in the head, did he? No potions in your drinks that you know of?" Whether or not she was being serious, even Katie wasn't sure. Then again, she wasn't sure of much anymore. A sigh escaped her lips, eyes closing shut again out of slight frustration, utter confusion and too many other mixed emotions that she couldn't seem to calm. This wasn't going well. Not that she had thought it would, but it really wasn't going well, and she really felt the need to escape before it got worse or angry tears could swell in her eyes. Instead, stupidly, she stayed put. "You don't need to say that. I think we've covered the beginning of why we're here, because of Lando and because why that happened." Because he had moved on. Why was he saying this now? "Then why are you around me? You didn't have agree to be friends again, Legend. I wasn't forcing you."

Yes? They had already gone over the face that Lando had hit him. Why that would upset Katie he had no clue. Katie wouldn't be upset by a simple punch no matter how uncharacteristic it was of Orlando. No. Legend was the one who was suppose to be mad at the younger boy. But he had long since taken that anger out. Now he was only sorry.

It felt as though the temperature had just gotten colder and his mouth had gotten dry. He already knew that Katie wouldn't believe what he had said. Really...why would she when the whole point of Lando hitting him was because he had kissed Neptune. So he understood, he was just waiting for it. The look of disbelief to pass on her face and for her to roll her brown eyes at him.

The sentence that came was just as bad though. Legend lowered his head. His gaze falling onto the stone floor that still had a shine to it, showing in no way that the castle had been built thousands of years ago. "No...he didn't...just in my stomach. And no..no potions." Legend's voice cracked, struggling to maintain the cool sound that it held moments ago. "Whether you think I needed to say it or not...doesn't really matter. I felt like I needed to say it." It might have sounded harsh but it was true. It was something that Legend did need to say.

"Yes. I kissed Neptune. Other than the fact that she basically...asked me to...I don't know why I did it." Neptune was confusing, and he was confusing and Katie was confusing and so was Orlando. His whole world just confused him. "She doesn't like me....I mean..." He trailed off. Neptune had a crush on him, sure...but she was in love with Jimmy. Legend just couldn't explain this because the whole situation was confusing. "I don't love her. She's my friend. Really good friend, who acts like a friend and makes me happy. And she was unhappy! I wanted to make her happy again so I did what she wanted and I kissed her." Did that make sense? He wondered constantly if other people would understand it. Sure Legend understood it but he doubted that anyone else would look at his logic and get it. After all he was no Ravenclaw. "But really that had nothing to do with how I feel about you. Yes. I still love you. And I know if might sound stupid to you, I might do other things but that doesn't mean I don't love you Katie. To be truthful sometimes I wish that I didn't love you so I wouldn't be so depressed about the fact that we aren't dating." Why was he around her? Legend sighed. He thought that was kind of obvious. "Because I miss you. And I rather be unhappy around you than not see you at all."

No, he hadn't been hit in the head. No potions, either. Legend was just trying to torture her. Despite the fact Katie would have rather not have known he felt that way after the.. incident, or felt like she would have rather not have known, there was a part of her that had to respect that. It was the same thing she was doing, wasn't it? Why she had asked him to meet her here? So that she could be honest and tell him what she needed to say, what she thought was the right thing to do. That didn't make it any easier to hear, but.. it was what it was. Like it or not.

And Katie did not. Why was he telling her this? She didn't want to know anything more than she already did. She didn't want to know how he felt about another girl or why he kissed her. Katie didn't want to talk about it at all. This was not why she had wanted to meet with him, she didn't want to know in great detail what happened or discuss it or anything. In fact, she wanted to drop the entire subject right then and there, but Legend continued to speak and for the life of her, Katie couldn't make a sound, couldn't snap at him or tell him to just stop or even get up and leave. It was as if something was holding her into place.. maybe it was herself. Maybe she was her own worst enemy. When he tried to say that Neptune didn't like him and trailed off on second thought, the young woman let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and turned her head enough to sort of glare at him before redirecting her gaze once again, further away. The tears she had known were coming and had tried fighting off had swelled in her dark eyes, just waiting to spill over as she took a shaky deep breath, still trying in vain to soothe herself. "I don't want to know this! You can be with whoever you want and if she makes you so happy then be with her, Legend!" Finally, she snapped. It wasn't the usual angry Katie snapping, but more of a desperate, at-the-end-of-her-rope-with-nowhere-to-go cry. Rubbing the sleeve of her robe roughly over her cheek to wipe an escaped tear, and then mimicking the motion on the other side of her face as another fell, Katie sighed. "How am I suppose to feel when you kiss her, and then tell me that you still love me? That you have feelings for both of us? I don't want to know that. Don't tell me that." That made it feel.. fake. Like the time they had been together wasn't real at all, or that how they felt wasn't as strong of feelings as they'd thought before. At the very least, Katie didn't want to feel as if that had all been a joke or another stupid teenage error.

He loved her. And missed her. And they had clearly all come to realize on their own that being friends wasn't working. Legend had successfully taken her off course with her planned out talk, and Katie had never felt more lost than she did in this moment. She knew what she thought was for the best. She also knew it felt as though they were in, or beginning, to run in circles. Maybe they always had been, and she just never noticed until now. Katie burried her face in her arms for a long moment, at a loss of what to say and finding it hard to pull together thoughts, the tears continuing to make salty trails down her face until she pushed herself upright again and turned her head to look at Legend. "I can't.. I can't keep doing this, Legend. I can't. This wasn't the point!"

Legend had hoped that Katie would have understood. It was confusing but he still hoped that that she would have understood. But no. She didn't get it. She didn't understand that the happiness he was talking about was a different one than being with her. She was only trying to ignore what he said, so she couldn't possibly understand. It just wasn't going to work.

"Fine." He whispered. The word had been forced out. What he had really wanted to say was that he wanted to be with Katie. Just...not depressed. Not hiding stuff....not like this. But she couldn't see it and he couldn't explain it. So there was no point in saying anything else. "I don't ...fine." He didn't have feelings for Neptune. Not that he knew of, no. Because he didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about liking someone else. All he knew was that he loved Katie. Yet everything could not just be simple with them.

She couldn't do this. Even though she had not said what this was, Legend understood. She could not keep pretending to be friends, not when she was unhappy. Not when he was unhappy as well. That meant that they wouldn't talk at all. They wouldn't be dating. They wouldn't be friends. They wouldn't be anything. "Alright." His voice was small. Just like how Neptune had wanted the kiss. Katie had wanted not to be friends. And if the end of their friendship would make her happy. He really couldn't deny her it. His hand reached out for the small box, holding it out for Katie to take. "Here, it was for your birthday. I know it's late but I wanted to make it myself. And it was much harder than I thought because of the sand and melting it and- just...here."

Katie knew instantly by his words that Legend had just shut down on her. He had given up. Before, she had just wished he would stop. That he would stop talking, and stop telling her about anything involving Neptune, and just.. stop. It was a little too late, but he had. Now that she had been reduced to crying and didn't know what to do, he had decided to not only drop the other girl topic but to drop it all together. That was just fantastic.

She had sworn to herself she wouldn't cry anymore after her and Orlando's talk. She had sworn to herself she wouldn't cry anymore over Legend, or any other boy for that matter. And here she was with tears streaming down her reddened face, thoroughly confused and frustrated and lost. Again. This was exactily why they had needed to talk. Exactily why. Because they could never make anything better, no matter what it depended on. This was it, wasn't it?

Knowing this, only made Katie want to cry harder. Still, she tried not to. Still, she tried to calm down and take slow, soothing breaths and tried to wipe the traces of tears from her face. It was no use. "I didn't want it to be this way, you know. When I agreed to forget about.. everything, I lied. I tried to forget in the beginning.. and then.. I realized, even if I could, I didn't want to. I thought it was what you wanted, and that it would make things better for the others. And that eventually, I would be okay too." She murmured slowly, trying to keep her voice steady. Looking at Legend only make things that much harder, made her not want to speak. Her dark eyes found the ground again, her hand raising to wipe a stray tear from rolling down to her chin. "But I'm not okay. Our friends are not okay, Orlando proved that much. We're not .. even.. friends anymore. It's all been strained and pretend, and it's not getting better. It just.. hurts more and more.. all the time. I.. just can't," her words came out barely above a whisper at the end. "If you've moved on that's... great for you? But I haven't. And right now, I don't think I can.. not when.." Not when he was around. When she was trying to pretend everything was normal between them, and it obviously wasn't. "And that makes it.. very hard.. having to hear things around school, or through an owl from a mutual close friend.."

"I just.. can't pretend it's okay anymore, Legend. It's not healthy for us, or for our friends. It's not making it better. I miss you too, I miss you even now.. because it's not the same. I feel like I lost my best friend and my future, all at the same time, and I can't get it back. I don't know how to fix it." Katie shook her head, unruly curls bouncing around her face as she willed the tears to stop coming, to just stop. She didn't want to cry anymore. Didn't want to hurt anymore. Though her vision was blurred, which she tried to clear with her sleeve once more, Katie slowly reached out to accept the small black box, ever so hesitant as he spoke. Her dark brown eyes fixed on the little black bow on top, and then flickered up toward Legend and down again rather quickly. "You made it?"

Flipping the cards nervously in her hands, Louisa made her way toward the courtyard absentmindedly. She wanted a victim friend to trick. Nope, we're not talking Enya ways of tricks.. it was an assignment and something to busy herself with instead of thinking about Johnny. More importantly, it was legal.

Louisa took a twist and stood still looking for any potential person to do a trick on. Someone with a happy mood... someone she knew or recognized... someone who'd appreciate her lack of experience and clap for her at the end... someone-

OOC: For Syd

Legend had no clue what Katie was saying. His mind was elsewhere, not at all focused on her words. His own thoughts were the subject of his attention. His thoughts about how it was not fair that Katie got to decide to end their friendship and how it would only make things worse. Sure, mending their friendship (or lack of) would be hard and take time but wasn't that better than just giving up? Did Legend Chosen ever give up? No. Did Lysander Jedidiah Hayden Shiloh Merric Chosen ever give up? No.

So why was this any different? Sure Orlando was upset but that didn't mean they should end their friendship. It meant that they should FIX it. Orlando could be the shrink or something. They couldn't just give up, that was a childish move, and they were both adults now. "That is because....you aren't suppose to fix it. We are. Giving up won't help anything Katie. We've been friends for like...12 or 13 years. Do you honestly just want to go and...give that up." He sighed. Dating had been a big risk. But the one thing Legend never wanted was for their dating relationship to ruin their friendship one. "Hmmhm yes. I made it."

Without any warning (or thought at all) Legend leaned forward, wrapping his arms around the small girl in a tight hugs. "Listen. I'm not going to let you until you just forget about this whole not being friends thing. And you know I don't like hugs, cause you've given me enough to know my reaction! But- that's besides the point. My point is we...are friends...and if we end our friendship now...no matter how...nonexistent it might seem at the moment....it will really be nonexistent. And we will probably...never speak to each other again....and I would give you the option to choose but I don't want that and I'm always right and you're not cause you're a girl, so just agree with me."

Did she want to give up? No, no she really didn't. Katie didn't know what to do, though. Didn't know what to do at all anymore, and that wasn't.. normal. That wasn't HER. This wasn't her. An eleven, twelve, thirteen year old Katie wouldn't have given up on anything, especially not her friends. A younger Katie would have faught for what she believed in and what mattered most. In fact, she had always made it quite clear that no girl was going to take her spot within their circle of friends. No girl was going to replace her when it came to her guy friends. And.. now? What had happened to that?

Before she could get any words out, and what felt very sudden to her as she hadn't expected the motion, Legend had leaned foward and wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight. It was surprising, but it was welcomed almost immediately as she relaxed the tinsiest bit, enough to return the embrace and hide her face in his shoulder as she listened to him. Legend didn't want to not be friends. He was trying to make it better. When he even went as far as to say she knew he didn't like hugs, with her eyes closed, it was like turning on a video of memories throughout their childhood in her mind; she had always known, it was a tool a much younger Katie had used against him time and time again. And then, there was that one summer when she was about.. seven? That she had kissed him on the cheek right before leaving. The memory brought a weak little smile to her lips, a huge improvement from her tears. Slowly, very slowly, Katie nodded her head. "I don't want to not speak ever again.." Her words came out in a mere whisper. She didn't want to lose him.

The little black box was still being held tightly in one hand despite the hugging, some very small subconscious part of her not wanting to drop whatever was inside.