The next morning, Ren woke with a disappointing find. There were no arms wrapped around her, nor were hers wrapped around anyone. Sitting up in a small panic, Ren looked around, but it appeared Audrey was no where to be seen. Burying her face into her hands, Ren felt a wave of stupidity encompass her. It was just a dream. Just another one of those stupid dreams that feel so real you think it really is. Everything seems real, the senses hit the mark perfectly, but it's still just a dream. "God damn it." Ren exclaimed to herself, flopping back down onto her bed. Curling up into a tight ball, Ren wondered if she would ever get a chance with Audrey, she wondered why things had to be so difficult, and why everything always seemed so difficult all at once.
Sitting back up, she shook her head, as if trying to get all of these thoughts out of her head. Realizing it didn't work, Ren sighed, slowly getting out of bed. She couldn't even get away from the pain in her heart in dreaming anymore. It was haunting.
Out in the Common Room, Ren noted no one that she particularly wanted to talk to. In short, neither Layla nor Audrey was to be seen. So Ren returned to her bed, picking up her copy of Les Misérables and began reading. Maybe reading would allow her to escape reality for some time. No use. For the first time she could ever remember, she couldn't read her book. It was too painful to try to read, it only reminded her of her deceased mother.
Frustrated, Ren threw on some fresh clothes and trudged down to the Library. Hopefully she could find something to occupy herself there. But deep down, she knew she was only emerging from her dormitory in hopes of finding Audrey. After wandering the aisles of books for a good amount of time, Ren finally settled down with a book she found in the Foreign Language section, finding a secluded table toward the back.
Becoming so immersed in her reading, Ren didn't even notice the presence of another until she felt a hand on her shoulder. Jumping slightly, Ren spun around to see Audrey. "Hey." Audrey said, not removing her hand. She looked cold, and her cheeks and nose were red, as if she was outside, but her eyes were warm all the same.
"H-have you been outside?" Ren asked, shivering at the touch of her cold hand.
"Yeah, it's so pretty, I couldn't resist. It snowed last night, so everything is so fresh." she sighed, sitting down next to Ren.
"I guess I didn't notice." Ren replied apathetically, biting her lip.
"Come on." Audrey said brightly "Let's go outside."
"You just came from out there."
"I know, but I only came in to get you." Audrey said, a red tint shading her already blushed cheeks. "Even if it is nice out, it's still boring being out by yourself." Audrey told her upon seeing Ren's questioning look.
"If you want." Ren replied, closing the book and standing up. Though she appeared apathetic on the outside, she was smiling deeply on the inside, glad that Audrey had found her.
Walking around to the furthest edge of the lake, the two finally sat down, exhausted. "You're right." Ren said catching her breath "It is pretty."
"See?" Audrey teased "And you were reluctant to come out..."
"I only came out because you wanted me to." Ren replied truthfully. Audrey said nothing to this, instead looking to Ren fondly. Blushing and looking away sheepishly at this, Ren squirmed slightly feeling uncomfortable. She suddenly remembered her dream, wondering how Audrey felt about her. Neither of them said anything for a moment, instead sitting and listening to the stillness of everything.
"I take it you're feeling better than last night?" Audrey asked delicately.
"I- yeah." Ren answered, not quite knowing what else to say.
"That's good. I was worried about you."
"Oh."
"I wasn't sure if you'd appreciate my company when you woke up." Audrey continued "So I left when I woke up." Sitting there slightly slack jawed, Ren sat staring wide-eyed at Audrey, this time really not knowing what to say. "What?" she asked concerned.
"I- I thought that was a dream." Ren said reluctantly, blushing as she said this.
"No." Audrey replied simply, shaking her head. "Why would you think that?"
"I just... didn't think you would ever do something like that."
"I did."
Ren said nothing, instead awkwardly looking away. She felt her cheeks blushing an even deeper shade of red as an awkward smile swept across her lips. Shivering as a gust of wind blew across the lake, Ren looked curiously to Audrey. It was starting to snow.
"You cold?" Audrey asked. Ren nodded shyly. Cocking her head slightly, Ren tried to read what Audrey was thinking, but she got nothing. She didn't even realize Audrey's hand covering her own until she said something. "Your hands are freezing."
"I guess I didn't notice." she replied, quivering.
"Come on, let's get inside." Audrey motioned to dark clouds on the horizon, blotching out the sun. "It's going to snow harder, maybe storm."
"Right." Ren sighed, feebly standing up, getting more nervous by the second.
About half way back to the castle, Audrey wrapped her arm around Ren's shoulder, pulling her close to her. Ren just about melted, growing warm out of pure embarrassment; she no longer felt cold, but still shivered. Thinking of nothing else to do in response to this, Ren nervously wrapped her arm around Audrey's waist, getting as close as she could.
Walking into the Great Hall together, Ren and Audrey walked right past Layla, who was on her way out. She stared piercingly in an almost jealous manner at Ren. Looking over her shoulder, concerned about what was on her sister's mind, Ren hesitated for a moment before catching back up with Audrey, who was waiting just a few paces from her.
By the time they returned to the Common Room, Ren had nearly forgotten about Layla until she noticed her walking down the stairs, headed for the door. Though she didn't look directly to Ren this time, Ren still saw her hostile glances out of the corner of her eye.
"Why are you mad at me?" Ren inquired of Layla that night as they retired for bed.
Layla stopped what she was doing to throw her a dirty look. Letting out a breath of resent, she shrugged.
"If nothing's wrong why do you keep looking at me like there is?"
"It's not you." Layla replied, sitting under her sheets and blankets.
"You can tell me."
"You'd get mad at me." Layla hesitated.
"You can't be one hundred percent sure of that." Ren said, slightly agitated Layla was being so private.
"Trust me, I know." Layla replied crossly.
"Seriously, what did I do?"
"I told you, it wasn't you!"
"But what's wrong?"
"Nothing! Just- never mind." Layla exclaimed, shutting the curtains around her bed violently.
"Fine! Hole up! Be a bitch like that. See if I care!" Ren said bitterly, throwing herself onto her own bed. Why did such a nice day have to end like this? She didn't understand why Layla wasn't talking to her. She rarely talked at all to her anymore. But it wasn't like it was her fault. She was always holding herself hostage in the Room of Requirement, or off with James or her new friend Ella. She never took time out for Ren anymore; it was like she was avoiding her. She didn't even talk to her in class much anyway. But if she was going to be like that, Ren decided that she could play a long too. Maybe if she stopped trying to get through to Layla, then she'd see how much that she misses Ren's company.
The next day, Ren woke up with the same heavy feeling as the previous day. Though this time not for the same reason. Looking over next to her, she saw Layla was gone already, as always. Probably with James, or on her own in the Room of Requirement. Frankly, Ren was feeling so rejected, from what the two had said to each other the night before, she didn't even care.
In the Common Room, it was quiet. For a moment, Ren thought no one was there, until she spotted Audrey sitting in a corner reading. "You're not off with your other friends?" Ren asked, approaching her.
"No." Audrey replied. "They left a while ago, having a snow ball fight or something like that."
"You were waiting for me?"
"Yeah. You could say that."
"Oh." Ren felt herself blush, trying to fight the urge to break down on Audrey and tell her about Layla. She honestly wanted to, but she couldn't think of a good way to say it. "You haven't seen Layla today have you?"
"Yes as a matter of fact." Audrey said, her voice solemn. "Left about an hour ago. It looked like something was wrong, but I didn't bother talking to her. I don't think she likes talking to me much."
"I see." Ren didn't know what to say at this point; standing there awkwardly, her hands shoved in her pockets. She wondered if maybe Audrey had anything to do with what was upsetting Layla, but she doubted it. If that was the case, she would have told Ren. Or so Ren would have thought.
"Why do you ask?"
"Oh… well, I don't know... she and I had a bit of a spat last night." Ren said gravely "I just wondered..." Without realizing it, Ren's eyes were watering.
"Come here." Audrey said, patting the space beside her on the couch. Ren was obliged to sit down, glad to take the pressure off her feet and sit next to Audrey. "What's bothering you?" she asked, wrapping an arm around Ren.
"I don't know what's up with Layla." Ren sighed, leaning into Audrey. "She won't tell me anything. I tried talking to her last night, and she insisted that she not tell me. Said something like 'you'd get mad'." Tears were now falling down her cheeks, but Ren didn't care. She didn't even bother whipping them away. "I don't know why she won't talk to me. I didn't even do anything. Now she refuses to talk to me at all, about anything, and I just don't know what to do."
"Maybe she just needs some time to cool off." Audrey said calmly, whipping Ren's tears with her own hands.
"I hope so." Ren said, calming down, wrapping her arms around Audrey. "I'm sorry... I just-"
"Sorry for what? Sorry for worrying over your sister? That's not something to be sorry for."
"I- I guess you're right. But, I mean, I'm sorry I've been breaking down on you a lot."
"Ren it's fine." Audrey replied, holding her close, running her hand through her hair. "You've had a lot happen recently. I can understand."
"Thanks all the same though." Ren said, not wanting their embrace to ever break.
"Hey," Audrey said softly, tracing her index knuckle lightly over Ren's bottom lip "I'm here for you. I can't deny it, there's something special about you that I like."
"What do you mean?" Ren asked, intrigued.
"I'm not sure." Audrey said, shifting slightly in an uncomfortable manor. "I mean, when you told me that... when you said you loved me the other day, I felt a little strange about it. Uncomfortable, I guess; but, after thinking about it a few days... I guess what I'm trying to say is I- I really like you."
"You- You do?" Audrey nodded, fondly brushing Ren's bangs out of her face. "I'm so glad." Ren exclaimed, burying her face in Audrey's shoulder as she tightened her embrace "I was so worried after I told you. I didn't know what you thought... I just felt horrible... "
"Don't." Audrey whispered gently. Ren let go of their embrace, nodding in understanding. Reclining on the small couch they were seated on, Audrey held out her arms, motioning for Ren to join her. Ren obliged, lying down next to Audrey. "From now on," she said, pulling Ren into her arms "I don't want you to hesitate to tell me anything."
"Ok." Ren said blushing as she felt Audrey's hand on her back, compressing them closer together. "I love you." she said, wrapping her arms around Audrey's torso, closing her eyes.
"I'm glad." Audrey replied, giving her a squeeze.
Neither of them heard the portrait door swing open or close. Nor did they hear the shuffling of a pair of feet on the soft carpet. But Ren did feel a pair of eyes on her. Opening her eyes, she sat up, looking about the Common Room. "Layla!" Ren exclaimed in a surprised manor, finding the owner of the eyes. Audrey sat up, slightly startled, looking in the direction Ren was turned.
Layla said nothing. She simply stood there stone still for a moment. Her facial expression was that of perplexion; but upon seeing Audrey, she quickly screwed up her face, turning away. "J'en ai ras le bol!" she exclaimed. Eyes looking watery, she stormed up the stairs, slamming the door to their dormitory.
It took a moment for it to sink in, but Ren quickly figured out that it was something about her that was upsetting Layla. But as Layla had said, it wasn't her, it had to be Audrey. "Mon dieu." Ren exclaimed, sinking back down. "Pourquoi…?" Feeling a fresh wave of tears overcome her, she buried her face into her hands. The only thing she knew to do now was cry into Audrey's shoulder.