A/N: I've never watched the anime, but from what people have told me I don't know if I'd like to watch it (not a fan of political stories nor mech fighting), so this is my way of making it up. If this story is well received I will add more chapters in the future.

The classroom was quiet as a test was going on.

There was a red haired girl in the same room. In fact, she was sitting in front of C.C. Her name was Kallen, C.C.'s best friend.

Kallen always looked out for C.C., knowing that she dozed off in class quite constantly. She didn't want to be mean and tell her friend to put away her fairytale books in class, but she'd usually pass her text messages on her phone. Being in the back of the room had its perks, such as sending text messages when you weren't supposed to.

C.C. put her book, her favorite book that is, down and reached for the cell phone in her hand bag, which was vibrating like crazy and opened it. As usual, Kallen sent her a text message: U no u cant have those in class.

C.C. smiled humorously, then texted back: And what about texting in class? Lol

Kallen sent a reply a few minutes later. This time the message was straight to the point. It read: Plz try 2 get a good grade this time. I'd like us 2 hang out 2nite. There are some friends that I'd like u 2 meet.

C.C. had known that was coming. Kallen was a good friend and all, but if there was one thing C.C. was not very good with it was being around strangers. She wasn't much of a social girl to begin with. Whenever Kallen brought her to a party she'd turn into a wallflower because she wouldn't be very comfortable. She knew Kallen was trying to help her, but it didn't always work out. And Kallen didn't seem to take that into consideration when she asked her almost every weekend.

C.C. waited a few minutes to reply, not wanting to tell her friend off, so instead she got an idea of her own. In her text she replied: Not really feeling like going out. Watch a movie instead?

Lowering her head to hide her cell phone, C.C. waited for the reply to come, and it did a few seconds later. It read: I suppose we could...which movie? Hope it aint another 1 of those princess films u love to death lol.

The heat rose in C.C.'s cheeks, and if she had been facing Kallen she would have seen the pouty face she normally made in these situations. Instead she had to use the next best thing. She sent her reply: _ Thnx 4 that, but I got a new film based on the book I am reading now. It's new as in came out yesterday, not even I have seen it yet.

Kallen quickly sent a reply: Dont believe u for 1 bit. U read the book so in a sense U no what happens. But...sure, I can do it, let's just avoid getting in trouble, k?

C.C.'s smile grew, and she sent her final reply: Deal!

The ending bell came not too long after that, and C.C. was at her locker, putting her books away for the weekend. Of course, it wasn't the whole weekend she was looking forward to, just tonight when she and Kallen would watch the movie she had been dying to see all day.

The movie was called Raven Knight, based on a popular fairy tale written by a famous author. It was about a girl from one kingdom who fell for this knight from another land. The girl was a maid treated rather cruelly by the lord of the castle. She always wished to be away from her harsh ruler, but could never escape on her own. Then...well, one day the knight came to the castle on errand from his king and the moment she laid eyes on him, the girl knew he was the one who could save her.

C.C. didn't know the rest of the story or even how it ended due to how slow she read, but that was okay. She always enjoyed her books at a somewhat slower pace than everyone else.

But her obsession with Raven Knight was apparent when you looked into her locker. She had various clips of magazine articles pertaining to the books, but there were also some artwork of the characters as well. Artwork of the Raven Knight himself.

Lelouch.

C.C. ran her fingers slowly over the one picture of Lelouch in the back of her locker. She could feel the textures of the picture but she felt she was actually touching him.

"Surprised we didn't get in trouble, you know, texting in class."

C.C. gasped and abruptly slammed her locker door shut, pinching her fingers in the process. She swore aloud and the surprised face of Kallen greeted her.

"You okay?" Kallen asked, putting the strap of her book bag over her shoulder.

Putting the sore tips of her fingers in her mouth in an attempt to numb the pain, C.C. nodded once, secretly hoping that her friend didn't see her locker. "You just scared me, that's all."

C.C. closed her locker door, locking it in the process. "So, we still on for tonight?"

Kallen's face went low, "That's what I came to talk to you about...I have a date. Tonight."

The news hit C.C. like a brick wall, "Really?"

"I was asked out by this one guy soon after class ended, he pushed me and I just blurted out the answer-"

Kallen's words fell on deaf ears, as she realized she had hurt her friend's feelings. C.C. took a step back, "Well...then you go enjoy your date then..."

Kallen put a hand out to her friend to stop her from running away, but all she grabbed was air. C.C. was already turning to run, she took off without looking back.

They say that there is a place where when one is feeling depressed or just need to get away from the world you have your own 'happy place'. To some this is a room that can be sealed off from the rest of society, to others it's a magical world in a book, or a place in their imagination. This escapism keeps the person from feeling worse.

For C.C. it was a combination of all three.

After running home after her friend dumped the plans she had been looking forward to doing that night, C.C. ran to her room, shut off the lights and turned on the black light that led to her wardrobe closet. Her father had gutted the room, intending to turn it into a closet for his little princess but when she got older C.C. had asked for the closet to be made into an art studio instead. So, she got a closet that was now the size of a garage. This was her happy place. Decorated with effects that made it look like it was from one of her books, fake plants on plaster castle walls, a wooden well that led to nowhere, and in the far corner of the room there were paintings of various creatures from fairytales, but the one C.C. was working on was one she had been doing for over three months, and it was nearing completion.

Holding a platter that had all the necessary colors she needed and dressed in her painting clothes, C.C. steadily brought her brush to its mark and colored in what she was painting. The background would be finished tonight, and then she'd have to touch up the foreground, but that wasn't as bad as many would think. In fact, it was her favorite part. Working on the characters was always the best part in her mind.

Using the illustrations from the books she read as reference points, C.C. tirelessly made each and every detail as perfect as she could. Her skills were superb, easily making her a great artist in school.

That is, if anyone knew about her talents. All the paintings she did never left the studio, she was afraid of what people would think of them. Not only that, but because she was afraid people would view her as obsessed with a world that doesn't exist. Not even Kallen knew of this.

C.C.'s disappointment from hours earlier, when Kallen bailed on their movie night to go out with a boy who asked her out was still smarting. C.C. didn't get over things like that easily, she hadn't since elementary school.

Setting her platter down on the table next to her painting, C.C. decided it was time to call it a night. She put all the necessary materials away and made it back to her bedroom. After a quick shower and dinner, she made it back to her bedroom. For the next hour she read more from the latest book in the Raven Knight series. The part where she was at was when the Knight was to whisk the princess, who was also his secret lover, of his kingdom away from the enemy troops. Take her away from all the terrible atrocities that was befalling her kingdom and keep her safe. The Knight would end up being successful, and the Princess, while losing one world, ended up being in a better one with the Knight by her side.

Once she finished the book, C.C. set it down on her bedside table, reciting a passage from the book as she did so. The passage was what the knight said to the princess just before they left the castle, and the kingdom behind. 'Take you away from all the tragedies that plague you. Remain by my side and be like two angels in paradise, eternity is all we have.' C.C. got out of her bed, walking over to her studio door. Painted on the wooden door was the entrance to a stone garden. Everything was as intricately detailed as any of her paintings. To her, this was not just a door to another room nor just a painting. It was a real entrance to a place she adored. Where she wished she could stay forever...

"Being alone would not work though..." she painfully admitted, walking over to her actual closet door that held all her school clothes. On the door was a portrait of a man she had painted not that long ago. A man clad in black armor from head to toe, but with a slot for the eyes showing. "You'd be there for me, I know you would," C.C. spoke softly, putting a hand on the helmet covered face of her secret crush. "I wish I could hear you say 'I would for the rest of eternity, I will be with you for the rest of our days.'" C.C. smiled, but she fought back the urge to cry, "Nobody here seems to care. Kallen certainly didn't care when she-" She stopped, "No...never mind her. I just want someone who can help me. Help me find where I belong. I don't belong here, not in this world at least."

She turned to walk back to her bed, she got under the covers but remained sitting up, taking one last glance at her closet door, into the eyes of the Raven Knight.

"'Raven Knight Lelouch, I wish for you to come to me. Make this lonely heart beat again with your love and devotion,'" C.C. finished her personal soliloquy, something she had made up herself and that didn't come from any book she read. She reached for her bedside lamp, turning it off, and she was now in complete darkness save for the moonlight coming in through her window.

As she closed her eyes, C.C. said one last thing, "Good night Lelouch." And she closed her eyes.

To Be Continued...?