I'm sorry about the whole 'I love you' thing in the last chapter. I know that Van never actually said that but I figured, hey. You can't really have fluff without those words. Sorry if it ruined it for you. Anyway here's the next chapter. I hope you like it.

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Vanyel awoke, wrapped in Tylendel's arms. He smiled and stretched slightly, trying to wake himself up. 'Lendel's arms tightened around him and he grumbled faintly.

"No," he said stubbornly. Vanyel's grin widened and he turned to face his love.

"We really need to get up, love. They'll be wondering where we are. And if anyone else catches us… they'd be hell to pay."

Tylendel frowned. "You are far too logical at this hour of the morning, ashke. But, unfortunately, you are right." Slowly, he stood and stretched, then proceeded to straighten his clothes and tidy away the blanket. Vanyel helped.

Though the sun had risen, only a few rays of light had managed to get through the dense canopy of the grove. It was a cold morning and there were tiny droplets of water scattered on the leaves that covered the trees. All was calm and quiet but for two slim teenage boys who were just finishing packing away their mess.

"Ready love?" Vanyel called softly, his breath visible in the cold morning air. The tall blonde boy smiled.

"Of course, ashke. You go first."

"Alright." Vanyel smiled and then swooped in for a quick kiss.

"See you soon," he said before disappearing into the dense mass of trees. Tylendel grinned.

'Last night was a brilliant idea,' he thought happily. 'I can't wait to do it again. The look on Vanyel's face… He's so gorgeous. I love him so much…'

While Tylendel was contemplating the success of the previous night, Vanyel was making his way through the dew-ridden grass towards his room. He was thinking about Tylendel and was trying to think of a way to repay him. Something even more romantic…

So lost in his thoughts was he, that he didn't notice the approaching shadow. A rough hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his thoughts.

It was a tall, long-haired Bardic trainee. Vanyel didn't recognise this young man but he quickly masked his confusion, adopting his usual expression of indifference.

"Excuse me," he said.

The Bardic trainee smirked coldly. "No."

"What do you mean, 'no'? You have no right to speak to me that way. I don't even know who you are," Vanyel said, starting to lose his patience.

"I have the right to speak to you any way I please," the Bardic trainee countered. "You are nothing but scum. Your own parents didn't want you and as for your personality… Well, you are an arrogant, full-of-himself asshole whose only defence against the world is a flock of dim-witted admirers."

Vanyel stood, completely dumbfounded by this unexpected attack. Shields weakened, the truth of the Bardic student's words began to sink in as he continued.

"I mean seriously. What have you got going for you? You have a family who disowned you, an aunt who doesn't really want you here and thinks you are a nuisance, and you have absolutely no friends. You don't even have a real place here in Haven. You are alone and always will be. You are vermin."

The Bardic student stopped speaking, sneering slightly at the paleness of Vanyel's face.

"You are not welcome. Leave!" he said before turning on his heel and walking back to the Bardic Collegium, leaving Vanyel pale and shaking in his wake.

Vanyel stood there for a few minutes, thinking about what the stranger had said.

'It's true,' he thought, anxiety rising in him once again. 'No one wants me. I'm worthless. No,' he thought stubbornly. 'It's too easy to slip back into this frame of mind. I can't do that again. It's not healthy. What about Tylendel?' his reasonable side thought.

Vanyel's hand rose to his neck where he fingered the ring 'Lendel had given him the previous night.

'Well, he could really love me… I hope loves me. But… he might just feel sorry for me. He might not love me at all.'

Thinking of Tylendel, Vanyel remembered where he was. He hurried inside and sat down on the couch in the common room. There he continued his musings.

'What if he's just pretending? Maybe he just wants to hurt me. Everyone else did.'

These things were fresh in his mind as Tylendel rushed through the door, rubbing his hands together to warm them.

"Gods, it's cold out!" 'Lendel exclaimed. He moved swiftly towards Vanyel on the couch and sat down next to him. He was about to embrace him when Vanyel jumped up, eyes bright.

"Van – what is it?" Tylendel asked, confused.

Vanyel looked around frantically avoiding Tylendel's eyes. "I…" he stammered.

All of a sudden he dashed for the door and slammed it behind him. Once outside he ran. Just ran. His thoughts were so mixed up and he needed to sort them out. Preferably somewhere quiet.

'Ha,' Van thought grimly. 'I never thought I'd ever need to think that again. How… ironic. Just as I fall in love, I have to run away from the person I love.'

Puffing slightly, he kept running.

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Tylendel stood staring at the slammed door.

'What the…?'

He walked quickly to the wooden door and opened it cautiously. There was no sign of Vanyel anywhere. 'Lendel retreated back into the room and sat down heavily on the couch.

Vanyel obviously just needed time to himself or… something. Tylendel sat there thinking.

'Was there something I did wrong? I… I don't think so. Maybe… Maybe Van's having second thoughts. Maybe he doesn't want us to be together anymore. I don't see why, especially after last night. I thought we worked it all out then. Obviously not. Maybe… Oh, this is silly!' he thought quickly. 'Any number of things could have made him run out like that. I'll leave him to himself for awhile and then talk to him when he gets back. It'll be fine. Everything will work itself out.'

Partially content, Tylendel grabbed a book and settled back into the couch, reassuring himself that it was probably nothing. Yet, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that this was serious.

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Please let me know if there were any major mistakes. And PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!