If someone had told Amelia that the people shooting at them were just a group of boys, she wouldn't have even bothered smashing the light bulbs with a flick of her hand. Even that seemed unnecessary. When Scarlett had raised her hands in surrender, they'd stopped firing almost immediately and approached the group. Amelia and Jake, the two least trusting people of the group, had ripped out their swords and stood in front of the others, just in case. The boy at the front of the group was about Amelia's height, perhaps an inch or so shorter. His skin was pale; pale enough to be a vampire, even though he was clearly a witch. He was handsome, she supposed, but all Amelia could see was a wonky jaw and a boy who spent too much time in the gym. Had she been the type of person who felt fear, she probably would've been intimidated.

"I said…" the boy cocked his gun, keeping it steadily trained on Jake's face; "who are you?"

"Sorry;" Scarlett said in a tone that suggested she was anything but; "it was hard to hear you over the gunfire."

The boy tore his eyes off Amelia for a moment and scanned over Scarlett; "We don't need guns;" he announced, "I'm more than happy to fight you with magic."

"Can we please not turn this into a scene from Harry Potter?" Mark begged.

"We could hand over Samuel's blazer as a sacrifice instead;" Daniel said, grinning at his friend.

Samuel punched him in the arm.

Ignoring them, Amelia, with her sword still in front of her defensively, made a step forward; "We're not scared of you, if that's what you're thinking."

The boy let out of short, harsh laugh. He raised his eyebrows and swung his gun around his index finger. "Did you hear that boys?" he called out behind him, "They're not scared of us." The group of lads began to laugh mockingly, nudging one another roughly.

Amelia rolled her eyes irritably, "Alright," she put a hand on her hip, "you've made your point."

"I hope so, sweetheart." The boy blew her a kiss.

She made a face; "you done?"

He nodded.

"Good, we'll get back to our Mission then." Amelia gestured to Samuel and Scarlett to move forward and shared an exasperated glance with Floria. The corridor was dark now, due to the light bulb smashing, and the others opted for turning around rather than walking through the boys. Amelia followed their lead and swivelled on her heels, giving the impression she was no longer interested in them, which wasn't strictly true.

"Wait." Amelia smirked and looked back to the boy leader, who has now staring at her quizzically; "You're on a Mission?"

"Yes-"

He nodded at one of his friends; "So are we;" he said and paused for a moment before saying; "I'm Jason, maybe we could help each other out?"

Jake looked unconvinced; "How so?"

Jason looked at him like he was an idiot; "Well, we're both looking for the same thing. Let's find it together."

Amelia felt like this was a good time to mention that they were from the future and were mostly like not looking for the same thing, but decided against it. Instead; she held out her hand; "Okay then, let's work together."

It had been Scarlett's idea to search the other side of the school – the side that was for the Vampire students only. It seemed only sensible to check everywhere for a Portal before giving up. Most of the others had gone to search the woods but of course Amelia had insisted on coming. The two of them tiptoed through the kitchen, which as far as they could tell, consisted of five large refrigerators and nothing else. "Three guesses for what's in those;" Amelia smirked as they passed them.

Scarlett looked at her; "Oh my god."

"What?"

"You smiled;" Scarlett said, "it was like your face was paralysed or something."

Amelia rolled her eyes; "Shut up."

The kitchen being obviously empty, the pair moved out into an equally deserted cafeteria. Scarlett strolled down the benches and kept a constant eye on Amelia at all times. Amelia was running her hand along the far wall; "Stop staring," she snapped; "it's giving me the creeps."

"Just making sure you don't murder me while my backs turned."

Irritated, Amelia moved away from the wall and stood in front of Scarlett's path. Scarlett halted and folded her arms. "What?"

"What exactly is your problem?" Amelia demanded.

Scarlett's mouth opened and closed several times before she responded. She looked at Amelia, her sharp features and dark clothing made her look fierce, but Scarlett was sure it was a lot more to do with Amelia being a generally dislikeable person. She couldn't help but thinking Amelia would be perfect for Nate. She sighed and looked over her shoulder, even though she knew they were alone. "He was my brother, Amelia."

Amelia's face hardened. She threw her hands up; "Not this again."

"Yes this again;" Scarlett spat; "If you know anything-"

"We've already established I don't."

"I need to know;" she pleaded; "you don't know what it's like to those someone."

Amelia snapped; "you don't know me."

"Well have you?"

Amelia gulped, her face strained. She folded her arms and began shifting from foot to foot. "I'm an orphan;" she said, in a harsh tone; "I don't have anyone to lose. Maybe that's a loss within itself."

A guilty feeling crept into Scarlett's chest. She'd pushed too far – even if Amelia had offered the information. "I-"

"Don't get all sympathetic. Jesus." Amelia muttered, turning around. She opened the large steel door to the cafeteria and stomped out, even less likely to speak to Scarlett than she was before. Scarlett rolled her eyes in irritation.

Out in the corridor, Amelia and Scarlett looked into a few of the classrooms but as far as they could tell, the Portal wasn't here. The Vampire side of the school was pretty much the same as the rest of it, except smaller and with more blackout curtains. The two of them decided not to disturb the dorms and head back outside, which was probably best given that Amelia was stomping around like she had a death wish. When they'd made it far enough into the woods, the sounds of chatter grew louder. The others were in a clearing and there was a clear divide between groups. Jason and his friends were on the left a campfire and everyone else on the right. Jason looked up when they returned and smiled.

Amelia scowled; "What's wrong with your face?"

He snorted.

"Yes;" Scarlett said; "she's always like this."

Jason raised his eyebrows; "Charming."

Scarlett unbuckled her belt and threw herself on the ground next to Samuel. He was drawing in the dirt with a stick. "That bad?" he said, giving her a sideways glance.

"I just want to get back;" Scarlett shrugged.

"And we will;" he countered, "Floria and Jake have been working on her power, she's regaining control."

She looked over his shoulder to where Floria and Jake were. They were sat opposite one another, deep in conversation and heads pressed together. She nodded to no one in particular, reassured by what she'd seen.

"I asked Amelia about Nate again;" she announced, unsure why.

"And?"

"And nothing."

Samuel nodded; "she probably doesn't know anything. Maybe Floria was wrong."

"No," Scarlett shook her head; "Floria clearly saw something, otherwise why mention it?"

Samuel rolled down the sleeves of his blazer and folded his arms in an attempt to get warm. He fixated his gaze on the fire; "Has Floria told you everything she's seen when she's travelled?"

Scarlett went to shake her head again and then paused. She remembered something. How at the pre Missions party when she was looking for Amelia, Samuel thought Floria had told her something, something he knew. And then she'd tried to ask him again in the hospital. She furrowed her eyebrows and glanced at him. He wasn't looking at her. The campfire was reflecting off his dark eyes. He tensed and untensed his jaw, the smooth skin on his face looking tight. "Maybe the question is, what did Floria tell you?"

Samuel bit his lip. He clearly knew what he was referring too, opting to stay quiet than ask her was she meant. "Sam-"

"It's nothing bad;" he whispered; "Well, you might think it is."

Scarlett reached out and put a hand on his arm. He looked into her eyes. In the darkness their faces were illuminated a warm orange. "We're together;" he admitted with relief; "In the future."

"Oh," Scarlett said, considering it for a moment; "That's weird." She let her hand fall to her side.

"It is?"

She nodded, using all her strength to keep herself calm. "To know what happens in the future;" she smiled weakly, "It's odd."

Samuel looked concerned; "do you mind?"

"Why would I mind?"

He shrugged and dropped her gaze, looking down at the dirt. There was a silence for a moment. Scarlett was screaming internally. In a way, it was nice to know what happened to them, but it was also strange. She and Samuel weren't in a place where they were anything but friends. Knowing that her feelings towards him were going to develop was changing the way she thought of him. It was uncomfortable. It was also exciting. "So what now?" he asked after a while.

She considered this; "Nothing," she said; "We're not there yet. Wherever there is."

"So we wait?"

"We wait." Scarlett confirmed.

And that was that.

Samuel smiled and circled an arm around her.

"Guys." Only moments later, Samuel was jerking his arm away, staring at Amelia who had materialised in front of them.

"What?"

She looked over her shoulder to where Jason and his group were, the movement so quick her waves of blonde hair almost hit Scarlett in the face. When she was sure they weren't listening, she turned back around. She crouched down to their level and lowered her voice; "Why have we teamed up with them?" she asked, sticking her thumb out behind her.

Scarlett shrugged; "Maybe because there's nothing wrong with a little extra help?"

"I can't tell if you're being serious;" Amelia cocked her head; "or just stupid."

Scarlett opened her mouth to reply, but Samuel cut her off; "What are you getting at?"

"Well, how can they help us exactly?" Amelia shrugged; "They haven't travelled back in time, the way I see it: they're just on a normal Mission and we're holding them up."

"So?"

"So, let's give them the brush off."

"They could be a great help to us, Amelia;" Scarlett argued, unsure why she was bothering.

Amelia looked at Scarlett for the first time since arriving. "Oh yeah? How so?"

Scarlett stuttered. Ah, she had a point there.

"Maybe we should be keeping our enemies closer;" Samuel suggested.

Amelia bit her lip and glanced behind her again. Jason was cleaning his gun, taking it apart piece by piece and scrubbing vigorously. His face was a picture of concentration, his shoulders hunched, his eyebrows knitted together. Amelia only tore her eyes away because she saw a movement out the corner of her eye. She was up and drawing her sword before Samuel had even noticed she'd moved.

"What?" he hissed from behind her. She shushed him.

Amelia, careful to make her footing soft, sidestepped to her left and found herself trying to catch Jason's attention. He was already up and creeping towards her, his face a picture of confusion. He'd left his gun in pieces on the floor and was gathering a small tornado in the centre of his palm. Amelia raised her eyebrows. That's what she would've chosen.

He reached the three of them quickly, all of whom were now standing up.

"We're not alone;" Amelia explained before he could ask. She twitched her head to the left and he nodded.

"We should split up and search;" Daniel's voice came from behind them. He and Mark had appeared from nowhere. Now the only ones not there were Jake and Floria, who were still practicing but now standing, whispering excitedly about something.

Jason shook his head in response; "We go together;" he said; "I'll lead, you follow." He was stomping off before anyone could argue, his green combat trousers disappearing as he walked further into the trees.

Scarlett stepped forward and nudged Amelia and they began to follow; but before they had a chance to catch up to him, Scarlett, Amelia, Samuel, Jake, Floria, Mark and Daniel disappeared from sight.

"Hey!" Amelia yelled, grass-staining her clothes as she pushed herself up roughly. Unstable on her feet, Amelia half ran, half fell towards Floria, who was also pushing herself off the ground. Amelia grabbed the front of her leather cat suit; "What did you do?"

Still disorientated, Floria clutched her head; "I got us home;" she mumbled; "You're welcome."

"No I most certainly am not;" Amelia said with such aggression the other's turned around; "There was something in those woods!" she exclaimed; "And we just left them."

Scarlett was on them within seconds, pealing Amelia's long fingers off Floria. "Need I remind you; that you were all ready to ditch them five minutes ago?"

Amelia shook her hand free of Scarlett; "Not like that."

Scarlett half laughed in her nauseous state. Her head was spinning; "Why do you suddenly care about a few strangers all of a sudden?" she asked; "I thought your sort lit your cigarettes with animals and burned stuff for fun?"

Amelia threw her hands up; "Maybe I do;" she said slyly; "But we have no idea what we were leaving behind now."

They all paused for a moment, catching their breath. They'd landed on the grass where they'd had their first meeting about the Missions. The sun was up. It was the Middle of the night.

"We've been gone for ages;" Jake croaked, limping towards them; "They must think we're missing."

"Like I care;" Amelia muttered, folding her arms. "I'm going to bed. We can find Arthia and explain in the morning." She stalked off, swinging her hips in a way that looked natural and disappeared into the building.

Scarlett sighed; "I do not like that girl."

As it turned out, Professor Winters and Arthia did not deem Floria's powers an excuse for going missing for twelve hours. They were all given two weeks detention to spend studying in the library to research how not to 'screw up their chances of passing the year'. The detention was to happen after the Christmas holidays, which were now only four days away. This meant the school was abuzz with festivities. Ravens' Boarding School catered for 13 to 18 year olds and each year group had a task depending on their skill set. For example the first years were in charge of hanging decorations in midair, and the fifth years were in charge of creating Christmas trees and making the miniature Santa's come to life. One of them had even made it snow in all the second floor classrooms and was now unable to make it stop. Everybody was busy getting ready to go home and handing in their final papers of the term.

Scarlett was bent scribbling in a crumpled notebook when Samuel sat down. They were in the cafeteria and it was just before lunchtime and mostly empty.

Samuel picked up his bagel and began buttering it slowly. "Last minute work?"

Scarlett didn't look up; "Yes;" she said; "I've got a five thousand word essay due in on the uses of magic in the human world."

"And let me guess; you only just started it?"

She shrugged.

"Why did you take a Human Relations class anyway?" he asked; peering over her shoulder now; "Everybody knows it's just a fancy word for general studies."

Scarlett nudged him slightly so he moved and turned in her seat. He was grinning at her, his thick hair standing on end and making him look as if he'd been electrocuted. Samuel was wearing his home clothes, jeans and a flannel shirt.

A smile crept into the edge of her lips; "Where's the blazer?"

"I thought you all hated the blazer;" he chuckled; "And now you're complaining when I don't where it?"

"I'll have you know I am strongly attached to your blazer;" she said; "Even if it is a crime against fashion."

"Our whole uniform is a crime against fashion;" he corrected, pointing a finger at her.

That was true. Scarlett looked down at her own uniform. They were supposed to wear a standard issue black skirt, blouse and knee high socks and then a cardigan or jumper with the school crest on it. The crest was an outline of a hand with the school name in the palm, all stitched in red and purple thread. At that moment, Scarlett was fully dressed in the proper uniform, which was unlike her.

"Any way;" Samuel said now, "You didn't answer my question."

"What?"

"Why Human Relations?"

Scarlett glanced back down at her notes. She was making a point that Humans didn't need to be pitied, that their society worked just fine without magic. She was going to counter this point later on and rip it to shreds, of course.

"Well we all live in the same world together; don't you think that's worth knowing about?"

Samuel was crunching on his bagel. He quirked an eyebrow in response.

"Back home I live on a whole street of humans," Scarlett explained; "There's only one other house of witches on the other side of town."

Samuel swallowed; "But we have to hide ourselves for them. Because what- they can't handle the truth?"

Scarlett saw the serious expression on his face and smiled wider; "Have I touched a nerve?"

"Nope." Samuel started buttering his second bagel; "I just wanted to hear you talk about it."

Samuel said things like this in such a natural and off-handish way that it took Scarlett a few moments before she pretended to gag and then hit him with her notebook.

Samuel nursed his arm and finished off his food before spending again; "What you doing for Christmas?"

Scarlett sighed, twisting her pen in her hand. "I'm going home."

"You don't seem excited."

She wasn't. Both Scarlett's parents worked in the Chamber which did the equivalent for Enchanters as what the government does for humans. This meant they were unlikely to be home much during the Christmas break. When she was younger, they made an effort to be at home for at least Christmas day. They'd always eat turkey sandwiches and drink pumpkin spiced hot chocolate. Nate would make paper snowflakes and stick them all around her room so it was like waking up in a winter wonderland. Her parents had never been hands on; the job wouldn't have allowed it even if they'd wanted to be. But Christmas was the exception. That all stopped when Nate started to change. They made an effort at first, but after he died they all grew apart even further and any type of Christmas tradition they had stopped.

Scarlett shook her head; "What about you?"

Samuel threw his arms out and waved around him. "I will be dining in a very old stone hall, with cathedral-like ceilings that snow on command and tasting the finest lunch the cafeteria has to offer."

Scarlett eyed the high ceiling above her and gave Samuel a funny look; "You're staying here?"

He saw Scarlett's expression and smirked. "Don't look quite so sorry for me newbie, I like it here."

"Why aren't you going home?"

"Mum, Dad and my sisters are on some kind of cruise, have been for the last three weeks. They'll be away for Christmas." He didn't seem to mind. In fact, Scarlett looked as if she was more bothered than him. He eyed her warily; "Hey, I know what you're thinking;" he said; "but my family are great. But they wanted to go away and I wasn't going to tell them they couldn't. I don't think they quite understand Enchanting and the like."

"So-"

"Yes, they're humans."

Scarlett cocked her head to the side; "But you're a Warlock. How does that work?"

"The usual way;" he purred, "My bio Dad was a Witch, my real Dad bought me up as his own."

"But Warlock's are immortal; they're made if everyone in the family is magical in some way" Scarlett pointed out; "That's the only difference between Witches and Warlocks. The only reason Witches aren't just Warlocks is because of us breeding with humans. My Grandma was a human, so the Witch gene got passed down to me and Nate."

Once again he threw his arms up, acknowledging his surroundings; "Hence why I'm here!" he grinned; "I was a medical marvel didn't you know?"

Scarlett frowned at him; "Samuel-"

"Alright, alright;" he waved his hand dismissively; "My Mum was supposed to be a Witch, she never developed any powers."

"She was a placebo?"

"Yes." Samuel studied her; "Blimey, do you always look so hot when you're talking biology?"

Scarlett hit him with her notepad again.

"Samuel?" she said after a moment, her tone elongating his name.

"Yes?" he replied in the same drawl.

Scarlett's eyes drifted down to the table; "You can come with me;" she suggested; "You know, if you want."

"For Christmas?"

"Yeah;" she shrugged; "My parents are never there, you could keep me company."

Samuel's face broke out into a wide grin that made his eyes wrinkle. Scarlett rolled her eyes; "Don't get any ideas."

Samuel tried to pull a straight face; "No, no, of course not."

"It's just because I can't get the tragic image of you eating in here on Christmas day out of my head."

"Yes."

Scarlett was still looking unimpressed. She folded up her notes and got out from under the bench. "I going to finish this report in my library;" she announced; "Where there aren't annoying boys with questionable fashion taste perving over me."

Samuel was still smiling as she walked away.

"I'm kinda unimpressed to be honest." Floria's mouth was full of toothpaste and her words came out muffled. She bent over the sink and rinsed her mouth. Her back tattoo was looking prominent through her lacy blue dress. Next to her, Scarlett was attacking her hair with a brush; "How so?"

"Well, nothing has happened;" she spat out her water; "These famous Missions have amounted to nothing more than a swim in the sea and a past version of the school."

Scarlett shrugged; "It does sound pretty lame when you put it like that."

"It just seems a bit weird that we need these to pass the year, but they're so easy to pass."

Scarlett winced as she tried to untangle a knot. "Well, we need them to pass Magic in Combat."

"Which is basically the same as passing the year; everybody who passes Combat gets the good jobs."

Floria was now leaning against the sink, waiting for Scarlett to finish. "You want to work in magic then?"

"Don't you?"

Scarlett bit her lip. She didn't know what she wanted to do. She just assumed she'd end up working in magic. "Sure;" she said carefully, "But if you don't work in the Chamber or in defence or HR or publishing, there's not a lot you can do."

Floria pulled a face. They both knew as well as each other Scarlett was being ridiculous. "Enchanters and humans live together, I get that;" she said; "But you know that they are separate worlds. You could be a shop assistant and live in magic if you wanted."

Scarlett was going to agree or say anything to change the subject, but she saw Amelia in the reflection of her mirror. She came through the bathroom door and even though it was packed with girls, Amelia sensed Scarlett's gaze straight away.

"What?" she scowled.

Scarlett raised her hands defensively and Amelia disappeared into a cubicle.

Floria and Scarlett shared a knowing look. "We used to be friends, you know;" Floria whispered; "me and Amelia."

Scarlett snorted.

"I mean, she was always like that – but she's definitely got worse these past few months."

Scarlett's eyes drifted towards the cubicle Amelia had gone in to. "You know you said you thought she had something to do with Nate?"

"Yeah."

"Did she say something or-?"

Floria shook her head; "No. When I travelled back to his death, a got trapped in this kind of continuum-" she paused; "-Well any way, I saw all these snippets, like a montage of all the months passing by. I didn't know when it was, it must have been a while ago, but I could've sworn I saw him watching her."

"When he was alive?"

Floria frowned; "What else?"

Scarlett dropped her gaze and Floria gasped; "Please don't tell me you're still pursuing this creepy ghost thing?"

"The Bound curse;" Scarlett corrected, somewhat defensive; "We all see spirits here, how is this different?"

"Because it's a myth;" Floria was raising her voice now; "The curse suggests there's something wrong with this building, that they're not ghosts at all but these strange undead beings. It makes no sense."

Scarlett threw down her hairbrush and started packing up her towel and bag. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Fine, fine;" Floria replied, her voice high pitched. The pair gathered up their things and made for the door, stepping out into the corridor. The girl's dorms were just at the end of the corridor and up and spiral staircase into one of the turrets. They walked slowly. The sunlight shone through the windows, signalling that it was bedtime. No one had been along to shut the blinds yet. Not that it mattered. The sunlight only weakened their powers; it didn't kill them, unlike the Vampires. "So, Christmas with Samuel?" Floria said breezily, breaking the awkward silence.

Scarlett deferred Floria's implications. "I just thought, why not? There's no point him staying here."

Floria smiled; "right."

"How about Jake, huh?" Scarlett gave her a sideways glance; "He has the hots for you."

"Jake has the hots for everyone."

"He does?"

Floria let out a harsh laugh; "Sometimes I forget your new here;" she said; "he has a reputation."

"And what's that?"

"That he's stuck-up, sexist and sleeps around;" Floria sighed; "And what I've seen so far only confirms that. All brooding and mysterious, it's annoying."

Scarlett pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. They reached the end of the corridor and took the stairs. Floria stuck out her bottom lip; "Me and him – we couldn't be more different."

Scarlett's voice echoed up the steps. "Whatever you say."

The boy's dormitories were also in a turret on the third floor, but were at the other end of the building to the girls. Inside, their rooms were circular and slept up to eight in a room. Samuel was one of the unlucky few who had large steel bunk beds in his room. Like the rest of the school, the walls were a hard stone that was cool to the touch. The chequered windows often let in a draft in the winter, but Samuel had boarded it up long ago. Mark lazed on his bottom bunk, feet dangling over the side as he watched Samuel pack his bag.

"Have you got protection?" he said, his voice teasing.

Samuel shoved his clothes in with voice; "Oh shut up."

The door creaked in it's usual way and Daniel entered with two cups of coffee, handing the other to Mark. He eyed Samuel's bag; "All ready for your romantic little getaway then?"

Samuel let out a groan; "Excuse me while I go and drown myself in the bath."

"Go luck with that;" Mark smiled; "We only have showers here."

"Unless you want us to hold your head down the toilet;" Daniel suggested; "That could work."

"Guys."

The pair sipped their coffees with innocent expressions on their faces.

"We're just friends;" Samuel persisted.

"Oh we know;" Daniel said; "We just like to watch you squirm."

Scarlett's house was just about the biggest thing Samuel had ever seen. It was centuries old and gothic, the type of thing he'd imagined Amelia loving. It was on a busy street but far off the road. Large gates protected the land and there was a long driveway before they reached the house. From the outside it was an old dirty grey colour, the type that made it look weather worn and unkept. The inside was scarily similar. It was warm and clearly lived in, but the faded wallpaper and antiques gave it the impression of a museum.

Samuel wiped his boots on the mat and closed the front door behind them. "It's er-"

"Just like being at Ravens'?"

Samuel laughed because it was.

Scarlett gave him a knowing look. She left her bag by the door and walked past the large staircase and into the kitchen. It was spacious and traditional looking, with a steel table and chairs in the centre of the room. Samuel flung himself up onto one of the counters and watched Scarlett open the fridge. It was full of packs of easy to make food and the essentials, but nothing that gave the impression they cooked a lot. She pulled some eggs out of the door; "How do you feel about pancakes?"

"Awesome." He said. "I feel awesome about pancakes."

She made pancakes from scratch, the way they were supposed to be made, and got to work mixing the batter.

"I can help?" Samuel asked, "Or shall I just sit here and look pretty?"

Scarlett whisked harder; "Are you capable of either?"

By the time they sat down to dinner and were pouring syrup on their pancakes, the pair had settled into a comfortable atmosphere. Scarlett didn't feel a special need to talk when Samuel was around, he wasn't the easiest to be around, talking obsessively and then going for long periods when he didn't say anything, but Scarlett found it easy. They ate in silence, both enjoying their food in a mutual appreciation. When it was over, Samuel had insisted on washing up and she'd watched him from behind, his tall body hunched over the low sink. When he was done, he turned around, wiping his hands. "So;" he grinned; "Are you going to give me a tour of your humble abode?"

Scarlett shrugged; "It's nothing special."

"It is to me."

She rolled her eyes and gestured for him to follow. They made their way up the stairs in silence, the only noise coming from the creaking stairs beneath their feet. Scarlett hesitated before she opening her bedroom door. She'd never paid much attention to her room and it was only now she was seeing it from an outsider perspective. Her walls were covered head to toe in posters and newspapers and tickets. She never took anything down, only added to them. It was a mess. She opened the door slowly and stepped inside sheepishly. She could see Samuel out the corner of her eye, trying not to laugh. She looked at him and it set him off. He pretended to be blinded, sticking his hand in front of his face; "It's too much;" he laughed; "I just can't take it-" He turned and left the room, heading for the stairs only to pop his head back round the door and laugh again. He was being an idiot, but Scarlett couldn't help but thinking for the first time that she found him cute.

"It's just a good job we're friends Alderwell;" she smirked; "Because you're a pain in the ass."

Amelia shuffled across her bedroom lazily, reluctantly changing her pyjama bottoms for jeans. Today, she was grateful for her little bedroom. She hated the dorms and loved her privacy. It was a mess, an abandoned room, but it was hers. Well, it wasn't just hers anymore. "Are you seriously going down there for Christmas dinner?" Nate was lying on his side of her single bed, under the duvet.

"Unlike some people, I actually have to eat;" she argued.

"But we're having a pyjama day."

He was scowling and pouting at her, with was both infuriating and cute. Not that many people would ever describe Nate as 'cute'. She was in the minority.

"And we can't have a pyjama day if I don't go and steal some popcorn;" she said; "you're the one who's insisting on the popcorn."

Nate considered this. "Well, don't be long."

"Oh, possessive;" she winked.

He laughed. Amelia always thought Nate's laughs were not quite sincere. But when was the last time anyone but Nate had laughed around her? "Don't make me kill someone for your return."

Amelia cocked an eyebrow. "Don't even joke."

She blew him a kiss sarcastically and left the room. She practically skidded down the corridor, enjoying their emptiness. Amelia had spent every Christmas at Ravens' since she'd arrived here, and this was the first one she'd actually spent with another person. Well, a kind of person. She slowed down her pace as she entered the cafeteria. Inside there were only a few students, most of them lower years. She recognised Floria, who was eating alone, and Mark and Daniel who seemed to be engaged in some kind of water fight. As discreetly as she could, Amelia ate her meal fast and slipped some packs of popcorn into her pockets when no one was looking. As quickly as she'd arrived, she slipped out of the room again and eagerly returned to what was waiting for her upstairs.

Floria only looked up from her meal when Amelia walked by, looking suspicious. She couldn't actually tell if Amelia was up to something or acting like her normal self. She decided not to notice today. She nursed her poor excuse for a meal, poking her slices of turkey with her fork. She scowled.

"I know;" a voice said, "Pitiful isn't it?"

Jake slid his tray down across from her and slipped into his seat. He was wearing jeans today and a blue button down shirt, which she got the impression was about as casual as Jake went. He settled into his seat, a half smirk, half frown plastered across his face. "Merry Christmas, Marty;" he said, tipping his glass towards her.

His eyes surveyed her, taking in her oversized sweater and messy hair. Floria was one of the few people who could pull off this look flawlessly and she'd always known this in a modest way, but something about Jake made her feel self-conscious. She was still scowling when his eyes trailed back up to her face. She wondered if Jake flirted with himself in the mirror every morning, or whether he was one of those types who flirted with everyone he met. Probably both.

When she didn't respond, he titled his head a little; "Not feeling the spirit?"

"Well, why wouldn't I be?" she said sarcastically; "Being stuck in this cafeteria with you and this food is exactly how I like to spend my Christmas day."

Jake pretended not to be offended even though he was, it was written all over his face. "You should feel honoured;" he laughed; "I know there are several ladies gagging for my attention today."

"Why don't you go bother them then?"

"Because this is more of a challenge."

Floria rolled her eyes. She seemed to do that often when around Jake. He dropped her gaze, smiling into his food. He cut his food delicately, his long fingers softly pressing his cutlery into his food. He scraped a slice of Yorkshire pudding onto his fork, but didn't eat it. Instead, he looked back at Floria; "Want to do something today?" he asked, "I'm bored and you look like you could be fun." He hesitated. Was he nervous? "That is, if you put your mind to it." Nervous, maybe; but still an asshole.

"I would but I am otherwise engaged." For the first time, Jake's expression briefly flashed other than self-satisfaction. He remained quiet as she began to move. Floria threw her knife and fork down onto her tray. She got up to leave.

Jake didn't stop her.

IT'S CHRISTMAS.

Are you awake?

I thought you never slept late. I will not hesitate to enter your bedroom.

How am I supposed to jump on you and be annoying if you're not in your room?

Where are you?

Have you left me alone in your house? How do you know I won't steal everything you own?

The six texts lay across Scarlett's phone. She'd opened and read them all but had not bought herself to reply. She was sitting on the edge of Nate's bed, repetitively stroking his duvet. Nate's room was large and empty. When he was alive he'd never made much use of the space. He owned a bed and a wardrobe and nothing else. He'd covered the walls with whatever and whenever and like Scarlett, he never took anything down, but unlike Scarlett, Nate's room was in an order, everything was just how he'd intended it to be. His room was a dull colour, browns and greys and in recent years, had reflected the mood. Scarlett avoided his room most of the time, but on occasions like his birthday and Christmas, she'd forced herself in here.

"Scarlett;" Samuel's voice was in the doorway; "Do you mind if I come in? I mean I don't have to but-"

She nodded without looking at him.

He appeared in front of her vision, not touching her or doing anything she might not want him too, but instead sitting on the floor, facing her with a smile. He was in a pair of flannel pyjama bottoms and a baggy t-shirt, his hair a complete mess. In another other situation she would've thought this incredibly sexy.

His deep eyes studied her; "Tell me something about Nate;" he said softly, "Anything you want."

She swallowed, eyes looking away to the bay window that was shining sunlight onto Samuel's hair. "He always told me everything was going to be fine;" the words came out of their own free will; "Like all the time- it was his saying. When I was young and afraid of the dark, when I was afraid of the monsters, he'd say it. At the time, I thought he was just being the brave older sibling." Her voice was trailing away; "It took me a long time to figure out he didn't need to be brave. He wasn't afraid of anything."

Hesitantly, Samuel moved closer. He started playing with the tassels on her slippers. He didn't try and sit on Nate's bed. Scarlett was grateful for that.

"Have you noticed-" Samuel said softly; "that you only say negative things about Nate? You know, you don't have to justify loving him. He was your brother. I'd be worried if you didn't love him."

The silence that followed was deadly. Samuel's statement hit Scarlett like a slap in the face. Her eyes began to glaze over and she remained fixed on the window.

After a while, with a dry throat, Scarlett spoke. Her voice came out in a way that draws attention to how quiet it had been before, cutting into the air like a razor blade.

"When he told me everything was going to be okay, I always believed him;" she continued; "even when I was old enough to know better. Nate always protected me. Nate was my favourite person in the world, even when I knew there was something wrong with him; I clung on to him right up until he was gone."

Scarlett shivered. It was just hitting her how cold Nate's room was. They hadn't bothered heating it since he died and now, it was almost as bad as being outside. "I hate it in here;" she admitted, pushing herself off the bed and over to the radiator. "Before it was just painful, now I hate it;" she was spitting the words; "I wish I'd never found out about the Bound curse. I'm never going to be able to move on now. I hate-" She shook and leant against the wall. She wasn't crying, but her body was shaking as if she was.

"Hey;" Samuel said with furrowed eyebrows. He was off the floor and reaching her within seconds. He engulfed her, his arms alone bigger than her body. "We've discussed this. There's nothing to suggest the curse is real."

Scarlett buried her head in his chest; "But-"

"No buts;" he interrupted, his tone firm; "I mean it this time Scar. We're forgetting about this." At the sound of his voice, Scarlett looked up and examined his face. It was firm and stubborn.

"From now on, the Bound curse doesn't exist. We're excepting it as a myth. Got it?"

Scarlett nodded. She dropped her gaze to Nate's room. She wasn't ready to say goodbye yet. But she'd made a step forwards.