Aelin didn't return to class after her meltdown. She didn't get back up with that spark in her. No, instead she just sat there, staring at nothingness. What was the point? Everything great in her life was taken away. And every time she let herself hope, it would only break her heart even more.

People would walk by, not caring about how her world was just shattered. She wished she felt something. Anything at all. But everything seemed dull, gray, pointless.

Somewhere, she heard the bell ring. But it was drowned by the vastness her mind. She watched as kids walked to whatever the heck they were doing. No one came to get her. People gave her disgusted looks as if she were some sort of street-rat, not the heir of a powerful company. No one cared for her, so why should she care for them?

Aelin looked up to find that green-eyed boy - what was his name? Oh yeah Rowan, staring down at her. Aelin just stared right back at him with an expression that seemed to say, What do you want?

He only stared back with sad, longing, eyes.

And within a blink of an eye, he had lifted her up, bridal-style and whispered, "come to my room, you need help."

Of course, she needed help, but no one bothered to give it to her. What did Mr. Emotionless Bastard, know about helping others?

She closed her eyes and locked every memory of Sam, into a deep, dark, almost unreachable part of her as she drifted into nothingness.

(Later)

Aelin gradually opened her eyes to find herself lying on a bed in a room similar to her own. She laid there, savoring the pine and snow scent. It reminded her of home.

She got up and looked around, almost everything was white or green. She found Rowan looking at her with concern.

"Thanks," She said, for she truly was grateful.

Rowan just gently sat her down again and gave her a mug of hot cocoa.

"I don't want your pity," Aelin defended.

"This isn't pitying, you would've have gotten sick in the cold outside, then I wouldn't be able to finish our project."

Rowan sat down on the other side of the queen sized bed with a notebook.

"Where are you from?" Rowan questioned.

"I'm from the pits of hell."

Rowan gave her a look.

"Oh fine," Aelin huffed, "I'm from Colorado."

Rowan scribbled in his notebook and asked, "What are your parents names?"

Oh man. Aelin had locked up so much about herself and her haunting past and had a hard time revealing any of it.

"Evalin Ashryver and Rhoe Galathynius."

"Any lovers?"

Aelin had enough of this. She couldn't stand being interrogated by him any longer. Even if it was for the project. He kept hitting all the wrong buttons.

"I have to go," Aelin sighed as she got up and hurried out the door. Unfortunately, Rowan followed her.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"That's none of your business," Aelin snapped.

"What's your problem? First, you run out of the classroom out of nowhere. Then, I find you crying, screaming, and tugging your hair out. When I try to help you, you just walk away. Get your stuff together."

That was the last straw. Aelin's boyfriend had just died several hours ago and this idiot wasn't helping.

"The love of my life just died! What do you want me to do? Jump in joy! Do you have any idea what it's like to lose someone that means the world to you? My parents died when I was eight in a car crash and I've lived with my cousin ever since. Then, I met Sam and I allowed myself to open up. You don't understand, do you? No one does!" Aelin screamed with all her might as huge tears rolled down her face.

Rowan froze. He looked at her with a predatory gaze and didn't blink.

Aelin ran to her room, which was in the same wing. She ran in, slammed the door, and sobbed into her pillow. She wanted out of this hell.

(The next day)

Luckily, Aelin's class was in the afternoon. This encouraged Aelin to sleep longer than normal. It also caused her to run into her classroom with damp hair, in sweats and her eyes bloodshot.

Yeah, she was a hot mess.

She strode straight past Rowan without a glance. She was irritated at him. Not at him, really. But at the questions, he asked. It was like he knew what she was going through.

Dorian saw her and his eyes widened, "Are you okay? I saw you run out of the class so… "

"I'm fine really," Aelin said. She didn't want to get him involved in this mess.

"You should probably know that everyone was snickering after you ran out. I'm sorry, I did too. Everyone did.

But that guy named Rowan. He stood up and yelled at us for laughing. The teacher told him to calm down, but he didn't.

He stood up for you. He even got detention for it."

Aelin sighed. Somehow, someway, Rowan got himself tangled in her life. And she knew that it would take more than a fight to get rid of him. And she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to.

It turns out, her prediction was correct because after class Rowan walked up to her and dragged her aside. He was strong, but so was she.

When they reached outside she started to punch and kick him.

"Woah, calm down fireheart!"

"What the hell? You drag me out of school and you expect me to be polite!"

"I just wanted to talk to you."

"Fine, you have 5 minutes."

"First, I'm not sorry that I asked you those questions. Second, of all, I'm not going to be polite with you. I'm going to give to you straight. Finally, who died?"

"Fine, my lover, Sam died. He was on a plane to come to me and it blew up. Even though I loved him, I ignored him. And now his death is all my fault. I miss him and I'm in a stage of mourning," Aelin thought for a second, she didn't know why she was telling him this, "Since I'm offering you a piece of my broken heart, you need to give me a piece of yours."

"Fine, but I think we should go settle down someplace."

"There's a Starbucks nearby."

And that was that.

(At the coffee shop)

Rowan took a deep breath and let it loose slowly and he began, "Her name was Lyria. She was the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. She had gorgeous, thick, dark hair. It's what caught my eye when I first saw her selling flowers. She loved lilies, in fact, she had one in her hair. It was love at first sight. I asked her out and everything escalated from there. I was truly happy. She was the one I wanted forever, so I proposed and she said yes. I was the luckiest guy on Earth.

But, all good things must come to an end. And so did this. You see, my adopter, Maeve didn't like me in serious relationships. She wanted me to serve her. Like a slave. I accidentally told my friend Lorcan about Lyria. And that idiot told Maeve. I didn't know that she knew.

One day I told Maeve I was going to the library to study for my tests. What I didn't know was that Maeve had gone to Lyria's house and killed her right then and there. When I went back home Maeve whipped me harshly, stating that I had betrayed her. Luckily, I was able to call the cops on her and now she's behind the bars. But, I'll always miss Lyria. She didn't deserve this and I didn't deserve her."

Aelin was speechless. Rowan had been through so much. And all along she had thought he was cruel. When really he was an amazing guy that had been through a living hell.

Rowan cleared his throat and gave Aelin a sad smile. "I understand what you're going through, but talking about it helps, however hard that is."

Aelin found herself giving returning the melancholy smile.

"Let's heal together."

"Together," he responded.

"To whatever end?"

"To whatever end."

Author's note: Well… this isn't my best work, but it's not the worst. Don't worry, you'll see more of Aedion. And things will start to get better for both Rowan and Aelin. There's more room for humor. Review!