Hey! Bit of a longer wait, sorry! I think this chapter is a bit longer to make up for it.

You'll have to forgive me if the quality isn't up to par. It's almost midnight, and 100% of this chapter was written tonight.

The quote from this chapter is from the movie 'Lilo and Stitch' It's not my favourite movie, but the quote made me laugh.

No one got the Star Wars quote last time, so here it is: "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" (Courtesy of Chris in the chapter, and Leigh/Leah/however you spell her name in the movie)

I have very sad news. I do not own Strange Angels. :(

I couldn't help it as I laughed out loud. "Take that, Chris."

The handcuff fell off my wrist. I rolled myself up and surveyed my room. Pretty much still destroyed from the very-not-genius that was Graves's idea.

Hm. Would it be more fun to sneak up on Christophe, or let him come back and I wasn't here?

Sneaking up, I decided. Couldn't let him think that I hadn't escaped right away.

Actually almost skipping, I swung my room door open and stepped out into the corridor. It was, for once, empty. At least this wing wasn't covered with the portraits of djamphir who had done something that was once considered important and nobody cared about anymore.

Portraits creep me out. Don't get me wrong, I love drawing portraits. But there's something about painted ones. They… I just don't like paint. Maybe it's because I'm much better with a pencil than a brush, but I still don't like them.

Actually, it's probably because of that 'story,' The Picture of Dorian Grey.

Yeah. Not a story, I'll tell you that much.

Shuddering, I pushed that particular memory aside. Made myself focus on how great it was going to be to see Christophe's face when he saw me out and about.

I wandered down the hall into the main part of the Schola, wondering where he would be. Then I thought of Graves, and let me tell you, that was like a blow to the stomach.

I never meant to hurt you, I whispered in my mind.

I decided that would come first. Graves. My best friend, Goth Boy… if that Peeta guy was the Boy With The Bread, and Harry Potter was the Boy Who Lived, then Graves was the Boy Who Smoked Cigarettes, Annoyed The Hell Out Of Me, Was Probably The Only Asian I'd Ever Seen With Green Eyes, And Saved My Life.

What did that make me then? The Girl Who Messed Everything Up?

No. I told myself with some difficulty. Remember what Shanks said. You're refusing to lead him on, and that's good. That would hurt him more.

I hoped he hadn't gone for a run. I'd have to sneak out to find him, and then I'd have the whole Tri-State area to search.

No. Better to look for him here first.

Alrighty. With that decided, it was just a matter of, you know, finding him.

I decided to head down to the wulfen dorms. If he was here, that's probably where he'd be. Except there was one problem. I had no idea which dorm he was in.

Well, there was only one thing left to do. Find Shanks.

The caf. I thought immediately. It was lunch time, and Shanks never missed a meal.

I made my over to the caf, strode through the doors and scanned the faces. All of them were handsome, the djamphir in an elegant, Greek god sort of way, and the wulfen in a moonlit-night way.

There was Shanks, sitting with Nat and Dibs. I made my way over to them, picking my way around groups of boys.

"Hey." Was my oh-so-creative opening sentence once I got to them. "Shanks, I need-"

Nat interrupted me. "You and Christophe were getting pretty busy there, huh?" She grinned devilishly. "He let you out of the handcuff?"

Shanks hollered with laughter. "He handcuffed you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes Shanks, and no Nat. I got out."

Nathalie cocked her head. "How did you…?"

Grinning, I brought the key out of my pocket. "Christophe forgot a critical piece of information."

She laughed, and I turned to Shanks. "I need to talk to Graves. Which dorm?"

Shanks sighed. "You're right, and you know I'm on your side, but he's not in a very good mood right now."

"Shanks, please."

"Alright, alright." He conceded. "Just… uh. He might not be very receptive."

"I get it Shanks. Please, just take me to him."

Shanks nodded. "'Kay. C'mon, it's this way."

I bit my lip and followed. Now is not the time to back out, Dru!

I walked with Shanks down a few hallways, stupid creepy portraits staring down at us, until we stopped in front of a door labelled 438. "Mine, Graves, and Dibs' room."

I nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem. Oh, and Dru?" He paused. "Make sure he knows that you're not going to leave him behind. I think that's what's scaring him the most." Then, with a final encouraging smile, he walked away.

I knocked nervously. "It's unlocked Dibs." Graves's voice floated out, but it wasn't the same. It was flat. Dull.

"It's me." I corrected, figuring I didn't have to say 'Dru.'

There was silence, then the door swung open. "Hey." He said quietly.

"Hey yourself." I answered. "Can I come in?"

Graves stepped aside. "Sure. It's not overly impressive, but…"

I followed him into the plain-ish room. Five beds, three of them obviously used. Each had curtains that you could pull around them, and I was reminded of a hospital. "We need to talk."

Graves sat down on one of the beds and I plopped myself down beside him. "What is there to- ugh." He sighed. "Yeah. You're right."

"I'm always right. Have you learned nothing?"

"I've learned a lot of things about you, Dru."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I jerked back like he'd slapped me. Immediately he looked guilty. "Shit Dru, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

I shrugged and pretended like it hadn't hurt. "It's fine. Look…" I struggled for the right words to say. "This isn't going to change anything between us. I still want to be best friends. If you don't want to…" I took a deep breath as I realized that I really might be looking at a life without Graves. A life without my rock, a life without the Boy Who Smoked Cigarettes, Annoyed The Hell Out Of Me, Was Probably The Only Asian I'd Ever Seen With Green Eyes, And Saved My Life.

I made myself continue. "If you don't want to, that's up to you. Just know that I'm always going to be here for you, and I'm never going to leave you behind. If you want me to go, I will. I'll go to another Schola. I'm getting sick of this one anyways. Bruce will murder me, Hiro will bring me back to life and murder me again, but-"

Graves cut me off and I realized I was ranting. "Wait, what are you talking about? Are you crazy? You're not leaving." Now he was the one getting himself worked up. "And of course I want to be best friends, I'm not going to be an asshole that can't handle your decisions. I want you to be happy. And honestly, what are you talking about, leaving? Are you fucked in the head? Of course you're not leaving. Really Dru-"

I laughed. "Okay, bud. Don't worry. If you insist," I sighed melodramatically. "I'll stay."

"Damn straight you will." He confirmed. "But if you ever put me in handcuffs again, I will put you in handcuffs."

"Christophe already beat you to it." I grumbled under my breath.

Graves heard. Thankfully he laughed, even if it was a little forced. "But I see he let you out rather easily."

"Oh no." I grinned at Graves's confused expression as I lifted the key from my pocket again.

Graves smirked. "You see this?" He held his hand about knee height in the air. "This is you." I made an Unimpressed Face. Then, holding his hand considerably higher, he added. "This is your badness level. It's unusually high from someone your size."

I reached over and smacked him upside the head. "Shut up, mister."

He laughed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now go find your lover-boy." He playfully shoved me off the bed.

I caught myself easily, decided not to push him and try to stay. Counted myself lucky he'd received me this well. "Yeah, yeah, yeah." I mocked him.

He grinned at me and I grinned back. "See ya."

I steered myself out into the corridor, closing the door behind me. Now to surprise Christophe.

Figuring it had been long enough that I could reasonably expect him to be back at my room, I headed in that direction. I. At least, he'd better be.

I was right. I got to my room and Christophe was sitting elegantly on the bed, facing away from me. Silently, I snuck up behind him and launched myself onto his back like I was a little kid. Hey, might as well. He could handle it.

Christophe muttered something in a foreign language that sounded like a swear before he realized it was me. He laughed and pulled me so I was lying in his lap. Pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, lips soft and still managing to make my skin tingle. "You had me worried, milna."

"Ah, you know I can handle myself."

Christophe smiled down lovingly, eyes warm and soft. "I was foolish. I forgot you had the key."

I grinned broadly. "I told you I could kick your ass."

"Once, and only once." He leaned down and kissed my lips, lingering longer and playfully nipping my lip. "Where did you go?" He murmured as he pulled up.

"I talked with Graves." Something in Christophe's expression changed just slightly. "What?"

Slight pause. "Nothing."

"Oh, come on. I know you better than that."

"I'm just not thrilled-"

I cut him off as I realized something. Something that I didn't like. "That's why you handcuffed me." It wasn't a question.

Christophe's expression changed again, looking apologetic. "Dru-"

"You don't want me talking to him. You didn't want us to make up."

"Dru, kochana, I-"

I detangled myself from his arms and stood up. "What the hell Christophe? Ugh!" I strode towards the door. "I trust you. I've trusted you for a long time. Eventually, you're going to have to trust me."

I didn't even close the door behind me as I left.

So, there it is! I really wanted to show that I don't think Christophe is perfect, and I know he can be possesive, but that's part of his character and while it may not be the prettiest side, I can't just leave it out. Thus, end of the chapter!

As I said before, every single word of this chapter was written in the past three or four hours. Forgive me if it sucks? (And let me know what I can do to do make it better!)

For any interested, I've updated Darkest Hour. Also, how many of you would be interested in another chapter of Eyes? I need suggestions for what to put in future chapters of that, so let me know!

Remember: Lilo and Stitch quote!

Review?