Well thank the gods. Your reviews finally showed up! After about 2 or 3 days, my plan WORKED! I can update! I have motivation! ...I think...

~Leo's PoV~

My eyes snap open. Wait, this isn't my room... Memories flood my thoughts. That's right, I think. I'm in Ellie's room. I must've fallen asleep. I stretch my aching limbs; I slept on the floor. I sit up abruptly. Ellie. Is she okay?

Blinking, I stare at the empty space on her bed. Instinctively, I run into the main room. Ellie is stretched out comfortably on the lounge, watching Dora the Explorer. What? How can Ellie be awake? What woke her up?

"Uh... What happened, Ellie? How are you awake?" I ask.

"I... don't know. I just suddenly felt like fire ran through my veins and melted the ice, rebooting my heart. I, like, have a bit of a headache, but I'll be fine," she answers, scrunching up her forehead.

I don't know what to say... I mean, what she said about fire... I ask her a random question.

"Why were you watching Dora?!" I ask, confused.

"Well, it's the main reason I'm not failing Spanish," she laughs. "Plus I feel like I shouldn't have to grow up and watch all those boring shows like CSI and Home and Away." She has a faraway look in her eyes, like she's thinking about something, and not telling the whole of the truth.

"You're leaving something out," I accuse.

"Am not," she replies, her face now blank.

"I saw it in your eyes. Before. You're hiding something. Tell me!" I insist.

"No..." she says quietly.

"You got to tell me!"

"I... My headache's getting worse. I'm going to bed." She gets up and heads to her room. I grip her wrist tightly.

"Please...?" I look pleadingly into her eyes, and I see her eyes have tears hiding in the corners. Something is wrong with her.

"Okay, whatever. Come with me..." A lone tear slips down her cheek and I brush it away. She shoves my hand back, and I enter her room.

~Ellie's PoV~

I know I am crying. What kind of idiot wouldn't? I don't want to cry, though. Not here. It happened 12 years ago, for the gods' sake! Why does it still haunt my dreams...?

"It happened when I was about four," I manage to say after a strangled silence. "I was in Australia, with my family. It was summer, winter here though, and it's their wet season. We were on our way back from Dream World, and I was angry with mum for not buying me a snow cone and not letting us stay longer. I was only young, still discovering myself. I didn't yet know my blood, but I knew something was about me..." My voice trails off.

"The earth shook as I screamed furiously. When my mother turned around to scold me, the earth opened up just ahead of us and my twin sister Laney screeched in fear. My mother glared at her and turned around... too late..." My voice cracks an a new wave of years pour down my cheeks. Leo pulls me into his chest, but this time I let him. I need it.

I take a shuddering breath. "Water appeared from everywhere and flooded the hole. My mother could have survived, but she wasn't able to breathe underwater like Laney and myself. Laney may have survived, but something had pierced her heart. Neither person made it..." I can't stop crying long enough to breathe.

All because of you. The words that haunt my life find their way into my thoughts and block out all other thoughts. I feel like I'm choking. "Dora was her favourite show..." I struggle to say. It just hurts too much. As Leo pulls me tighter, the words dissolve into dust and the choking feeling loosens. I just want to stay like this forever.

"My turn?" Leo mumbles into my hair and I nod slightly. He tells me his story of how he basically killed his own mother with his uncontrollable flames. I find his hand and hold it tightly. I never want to let go...

Unfortunately, I have to.

"Guys? Are you ready to leave?" Talani calls out.

"Crap," I mutter and get up, then pause. "Did you really stay with me last night? I mean, I pushed you off the bed, but did you do it on purpose?"

Leo's brow furrows in concentration. "I– I'm not really sure. I wasn't awake long enough to make that decision. I kind of fell asleep there."

"Mmkay." He just sits there, entranced by something. "Hello? Leo, report back to earth!" I wave my hand in front of his face. He just blinks awkwardly. I slap him.

"Ow!" he yelps. "Alright, I'm going..." He leaves, tapping his hand on his jeans.

Yeah, hi. Very happy with tho chapter. Literally written in just under an hour? Impressive? I guess. You never know with me, but once I'm on a roll the wheels don't stop 'til they hit a rock. Except I haven't hit a rock, I'm just ending it here.

Well, yeah, that's it, I guess. Any questions, just ask!