I walk through the gates of Lutwidge Academy, happy to be back. I had spent a summer away from the place I considered home, and I missed it and the people. The first thing I saw was a group of my friends huddled under a tree, catching up with one another. Mia waves me over and they shuffle around so that I can join. A quick scan shows that neither Elliot nor Leo have arrived yet, and I frown. "Where are Elliot and Leo?" I ask them, hoping they know.

I knew it was a bad question when the entire mood changed. Everyone was looking at each other, but not me, and they all had somber faces on. Finally David spoke up. "You didn't hear? Elliot was killed... Leo vanished afterwards..." He said it sorrowfully, but I knew that David hated both of them, especially Leo. I couldn't breathe suddenly and my stomach was threatening to release all of it's contents onto the ground in front of me. David smirked at the group and continued. "How much you guys want to bet Leo finally broke and killed him? I could picture it, what with the way Elliot treated him. Can't say I miss either of them..." Everyone around us laughed but me; I stared daggers at him.

He slid an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. "They distracted you from me..."

I twisted away from him and slapped him. "They're my best friends, how dare you?! And don't act like we're together! I'd never date a creep like you!" Everyone was surprised by my outburst and I stormed away in the direction of Mr. Turner's office, but David chased after me and grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop.

"Just who do you think you are, Ms. Scholarship? You think you're above me just because the Nightray family pays for your education? I'd bet that now that they don't have Elliot's lovesick ass begging them to give you the money to go here with him that you don't even still have a scholarship!" David squeezes my arm and I flinch. His hand is right on some of my bruises, making them scream in pain. The more I struggle against him, the tighter he grabs. We both know he'd never have even attempted this if he knew either Elliot or Leo were here, and suddenly I realize how little strength and power I have.

After a few moments of us staring at each other, his eyes filled with rage and a touch of jealousy, mine with fear, he lets go and walks away muttering to himself. I let go of a breath I didn't realize I was holding in and continue to the Headmaster's office.

Once there, I knock on his door and he opens it, round face filled with a smile. "Daniella! Good to see you, come in!" He says, gesturing for me to sit in one of the chairs. "I suppose you're here about what happened to Elliot..." He says, smile gone. "I'm so sorry for your loss... However, the Nightrays continue to fund your education, so you will still be here." He explains, as if reading my mind. I don't say anything as he rummages through his ever messy desk, searching for something. After a minute or two, he pulls out a small box with a letter taped onto it. The only word on the envelope is my name in perfect cursive.

The cursive I'd know anywhere.

I jump up and rip the letter and box out of Mr. Turner's hand, eager to see what Leo wrote me. I frantically tear the envelope open and unfold the paper. It's just one piece, and the letter is very short, but there was no doubt in my mind that it was Leo's handwriting; he has a very distinct way of writing my name, especially the "D" at the beginning.

Dear Daniella,

I am so sorry I could not write to you sooner. I didn't want to risk it. But the pendant in the box is a gift for you from me. Open the locket and you'll find the song that I hear in my head every time I see you and finally got around to composing. I call it "Daniella."

Meet me at the Stoneway Cafe after classes today, around sunset. I no longer attend Lutwidge Academy and would greatly like to see you again.

Love, Leo

I reread it over twice, each time taking the "Love, Leo" in slowly, letter by letter, magnificent curve by magnificent curve. I carefully open the box and marvel at the beauty that Leo had given me. It felt wrong to open it and listen to the song, my song, he'd written in front of Mr. Turner, so I thanked him and left for my dorm, practically running down the halls, clutching my newfound treasure. Once there, I locked the door behind me.

Slowly and carefully, I opened the locket. The tune was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard in my life ( watch?v=p9JIsgs3dGg), so simplistic yet so packed with emotion... I could feel my eyes filling with tears, and I started to laugh, still holding the locket in my hand.

Flashbacks of last year came to mind. I had almost always been around Elliot and Leo, and the more I had been around them, the more I fell for Leo. He was always so kind and patient, and he could be funny when he wanted to, not to mention how intelligent he was... It'd have been astounding if I didn't fall for him. I never thought he felt the same way... But then there was Elliot. David had been correct there, he was lovesick for me. Just as much as I was for Leo. On the last day of the school year, he'd asked me if he could speak to me in private. It was then he told me outright that he loved me, and then that I told him I didn't return his feelings. I did not, however, tell him about how I felt for Leo. As I walked away and turned a corner, I'd found Leo leaning against the wall, listening in, protecting his master in his own way. "Why don't you feel the same way?" He'd asked me in a hushed tone. When I told him I liked someone else, he looked down at his feet and blushed slightly, knowing it was him.

That was the last time I'd seen either of them. Looking back, I hated myself for my last words to Elliot before he died being that I didn't love him in the way he loved me, but at the same time I knew that I couldn't have known. I closed the locket and opened it back up in order to restart my song, and as it played I wiped away my tears and imagined seeing my face in Leo's glasses once again.


The day ticked by slowly, and when my last class ended, I practically ran out of the class and off of school grounds. About a block away from the Stoneway Cafe, I stopped running and forced myself to catch my breath. I looked at my reflection in the window and pushed my long, brown hair back so that my part disappeared. I patted my cheeks a few times to give it a bit of flush and smiled at myself before walking the last block. When I turned the corner, I scanned for Leo's familiar long hair and big glasses, but don't find him.

A man with long hair, though it was shorter than Leo's, and black eyes with flecks of gold in them smiled at me and waved me over. If that Leo? I think to myself. No... It can't be... But his smile... It's the same... I warily walk over and sit across from him. "Leo?" I asked, already knowing.

He laughs his laugh, the one I've memorized, the one so unique to him, and shrugs. "I am Leo, but not the one you knew. I am the improved Leo, trust me, you'll see. I ordered you your favourite: raspberry scone and earl grey tea, steeped strong."

I smile. "You remembered..." I whisper slowly. We'd only been here once together, and that was a year and a half ago.

"Of course I do!" He says happily, looking me in the eyes. I'm taken aback by his sudden outgoing attitude and confidence. "I remember everything you tell me." He says softer, still looking me in the eyes. "I've missed you, Danny... I never got a chance to tell you how I felt about you, and honestly, if Elliot were still here, I still wouldn't..." His face turns somber and his eyes grow watery. Instinctively, I reach out and put a hand on one of his cheeks. He leans into it and smiles. After a moment, he turns his head and places a hand underneath mine, as to not let me move it, and he kisses my palm.

Blushing, I ask him, "So this is how you've improved yourself? You've come out of your shell more?" We both chuckle a bit ad he turns his face back to mine, still holding my hand.

"I guess you could say that... There's a lot of ways that I've changed, Danny, and it's all for the better. I've found where I truly belong. I've found my family." He tells me. I smile and laugh slightly, surprised. He nods in response, and then thanks the waitress as she brings out our order. "When we're done here, I would like it if you would back home with me for a while. I live nearby, so we'll be able to visit one another often." He says, kissing my fingertips between pauses.

I rather liked the more outgoing Leo, though unlike the old one. He still had my favourite qualities, after all. Improved indeed... I thought as I lifted my cup up to my mouth. We sat together and caught up as we ate, at which point I ask him about Leo's murder and he told me everything he knew regarding it. From what he knew, they'd been at a party and a man had lead Elliot away, where he proceeded to kill him and end the legitimate Nightray bloodline. I had wrapped my hands over Leo's laced ones and told him it wasn't his fault. He smiled sadly up at me before standing up and offering me his hand. I let him lead me over to nearby carriage where a man with spiked hair and a red robe was waiting.

"Thank you, Fang." Leo said as the man opened up the door for me and him. It was a short, quiet ride, the majority of which was spent navigating along a narrow path in the woods. Halfway through, Leo reached for my hand and laced his fingers into mine, blushing slightly, all previous confidence nearly gone, replaced with the Leo I knew like the back of my hand. I reach up and kiss him lightly on his cheek, to test his reaction, and he blushed further, though pleased, and turned his head slightly away from me, shy once again. It was almost as though someone else had been in Leo's body earlier doing all the talking for him.

When the carriage stopped, the man named Fang opened the door back up and helped me and Leo out. The first thing I noticed was the pure size of the house in front of me. Not even the Nightray manor was this large. Leo lead me inside, where I became even more astonished. "Leo...?" I asked, not knowing what else to do.

He walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his head on my shoulder. "Apparently, I am from nobility..." He whispered in my ear. "That is all I can say as of this moment, however. Follow me." He said, unwrapping his arms and heading up a set of stairs, me trailing behind. I was lead into a bar room, where Leo instantly went around the bar and started pouring some scotch into two glasses. I was surprised when he handed me one, but did a toast with him anyways and gulped it down.

Leo kept pouring and we kept drinking, barely talking, but not needing to. "Last time we did this, Lord Nightray had to come to school grounds and bribe the school to keep us..." I slur after the fourth drink, tongue already feeling heavy. "Elliot was so mad at us... We tried to get him to join us, but he refused... Remember that?" We both laugh and continue drinking. Leo comes back around and sits next to me, pouring us glass number 10.

"I wanted to kiss you so badly that night, but even drunk I was too scared..." He tells me, leaning towards me. "Is it alright if I do it now?" He asks quietly, forcing himself to look me in the eyes. That kiss was the last thing I remembered from that night, and it wasn't until the next morning that I realized just how much we drank.