I warned you guys this would take a while. I really don't know what to say other than I'm sorry it took so long. What was it? Four months? I'm disappointed in myself not only for updating so late but also because this chapter didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. As I said before my interest in this story was at its peek a while back and plummetted very quickly. I still don't have much inspiration as far as this one goes because I've been in the mood for writing in other areas.

So moving away from the depressing fact that W.I.T.C.H. has lost my attention for the time being, I have some news! This is most likely the second last chapter of the story because as you can see the story is very near its end.

Alright, I think I've kept some people waiting far too long so get started on this chapter!

14-Improvements

There was a searing pain striking her left eye seconds after Cedric's hit landed. He hadn't let go of the arm that his hand was tightly coiled around, so she only managed to stumble backwards before he jerked her back upright. She looked up at him, one eye clearly noticing his hand curling back into a fist and the other eye still taking in circles of light. She shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself in any possible way for the next hit.

"HEY!"

Cornelia thought she would never be so happy to hear that voice. She turned in the direction of the voice to see Matt and Will accompanying Irma.

Cedric's grip on her arm loosened and she stepped away from him towards her saviours. Will met her halfway. "Does it hurt?"

Cornelia didn't answer. She watched as Matt made his way towards Cedric.

"Did you really just hit a girl?" Matt was shorter and less built than Cedric, but his walk at that moment was something to make anyone feel five inches smaller - even Cedric.

The blonde haired skater began to take some steps back, avoiding Matt. "Back off." He stated and bent over to grab his board. He stood back up, the board held tightly in his hands.

Matt drew up his arms in a surrender and took a small step back. Now it was Cedric's turn for dominance. He stepped towards Matt, swinging the board carelessly. "Not so tough now, are we?" He mocked.

Matt shook his head and dropped his arms to his side. "No. The problem is you're not worth it." He then turned towards the three girls behind him and opened the car's door, allowing them to enter before himself. He decided one final mockery was a safe bet. "I'll see you at school Cedric," he grinned as if they were friends, and took his place in the driver's seat.

"You okay?" Will questioned Cornelia, who was in the backseat with Irma.

Cornelia nodded her head, already feeling her eye begin to swell. "Once we get some ice." She attempted placing a hand over the eye, embarrassed about how terrible it would soon look, but it hurt just to touch.

"We'll get you some at the hospital," Matt told her from the front seat.

Cornelia quickly glanced at him to see if he was smiling or doing anything that hinted he was joking. He wasn't. He was serious. "You guys-"

"Cornelia, I know it's the last place you want to be," Irma said in a very soft voice. The sincerity in her voice was so genuine Cornelia was shocked. "But Caleb needs to know what just happened."

She shook her head, "I never intended for him to find out, you know."

"But he needs to know."

As much as she hated to admit it, it was the truth. They were doing the right thing bringing her to the hospital to see him. She let out an annoyed groan which was basically directed at herself for the stupid actions she took. "Can we at least go to my house first? We can get ice there and I can get some make-up to do something about this eye."

Irma let out a chuckle, "You are so shallow!"

Cornelia would have narrowed her eyes in a glare but it hurt to squint. Instead she avoided looking at Irma and replied. "It comes naturally."

"Caleb isn't going to care what you look like." Will responded from the front seat. She twisted to face Cornelia.

Cornelia covered her face, shielding Will from looking at her. "Please! My house is closer than the hospital anyways! I'll be quick!"

"Relax." Matt answered. He turned onto the main road, "We'll stop at your place."

Cornelia allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief, thankful to have Matt in the car with them. "Thank you."

They pulled into her driveway about ten minutes later. Cornelia led the way up to the front door as the other three followed behind her. She turned her key in the lock, opening the door as slowly as she could. She hoped to make it upstairs before her maid, Mischa, could see her.

"Wait here." She told them before rushing as quietly as she could into the kitchen. She opened the freezer, grabbing a handful of ice and placed it into a bowl. Just as quickly as she entered, she raced back to the front door and signalled at the others to come in. They tiptoed up the stairs and the moment everyone entered her bedroom, she shut the door with a piece of ice on her eye. She almost collapsed at the relaxing and soothing sensation it released.

"This is your room." Matt slowly stated, taking in his surroundings. Will had the same, awestruck look on her face. Irma, however, stood looking slightly bored - after all, she had been in this room before.

"Yeah." Cornelia answered. She pulled open her make-up drawer and pulled out her most reliable cover-up. She needed something really good at its job to cover up the bruise forming over her eye.

"I see you've taken down some pictures." Irma remarked.

Cornelia turned to see just what Irma was looking at. The brunette was staring at Cornelia's bulletin board, where she placed several memorable pictures or her and Elyon. There used to be pictures of her and Irma (those being the pictures Irma was referring to) but she had taken them down. She bit her tongue, not wanting to reply rudely. "Matt, Will, do you mind waiting in the car? I won't take long and-"

"No problem!" Matt answered. He and Will left the room quietly, leaving only Cornelia and Irma.

Cornelia placed the piece of ice on her eye back into the bowl. She dried off her face with a towel and began to apply the cover-up. She then began to speak to Irma. "I've still got the negatives, if you liked those pictures."

Even Irma's snorts were sarcastic. "I don't want them. I was just commenting on how they're no longer there."

"Why do you insist on using that tone on me?"

Irma wasn't hesitant to reply, "It comes naturally."

Cornelia grimaced at her own words being used against her. She wanted to badly to snap at Irma, but she didn't. She knew that if things were ever going to work out with Caleb, she would have to at least make up with Irma, and now was the time to do so. "Listen to me closely," she began. "Because I am about to do something I never do and for that you better accept what I say. I never apologize first because my whole life that's what I've been taught. By my parents, by my friends and everyone else. I've been taught that I'm too good to apologize for something."

She half-expected Irma to interrupt, so when the girl stayed silent she continued.

"Believe me, I know I'm not perfect. But I think I'll be a little closer when I learn to apologize for my mistakes, and I'm starting with you." She paused, letting the adrenaline ease for a moment. "I'm sorry for what I did. I was terrible to you and I hurt you. I regret it as much as I regret…being with Cedric. No, I regret it more than that. And I know you probably don't want to forgive me but I think it's for the good of everyone if two girls, psycho as you know we can get, start to stand each other again."

For a moment she sincerely thought Irma was going to give her the finger and storm out of her bedroom. Then, in a quiet voice, the brunette replied. "I'm sorry too." She brought her eyes up to meet Cornelia's. "I'm sorry for…everything."

That was enough for Cornelia. Irma had never been good at apologies, so just getting that out of her, with the amount of sincerity in her voice, was enough. "I forgive you." Cornelia responded. She turned back to face the mirror and continued to apply her make-up until the bruise was slightly less noticeable. When she turned back to face Irma, she couldn't help but break into a grin. "Don't ever tell anyone that I apologized first."

Irma let out a chuckle, shaking her head. She rose from Cornelia's bed and joined her on the way out of the house. "Don't ever tell anyone I'm actually starting to like you again." And just like that, Cornelia knew things were only going to get better.

… …

She couldn't deny just how nervous she felt entering Caleb's room. Her make-up had done a decent job but with the bruise growing every second there was no way around him seeing it. She just didn't expect it was the first thing he'd notice when she walked in.

"What the hell do you have a black eye for?"

Had her answer not been so serious she would have laughed at his tone. With evident curiosity, he also sounded slightly amused.

She shrugged her shoulders, pulling a chair up beside his bed and replying. "Don't scold me when I tell you."

He released a sigh, giving her the sense that he already knew. After all, he did send Matt and the others after her so he must have had some idea. "Was it a good idea calling Matt?"

She nodded her head at him, "I'd probably have two black eyes had they not shown up."

He no longer sounded amused. Serious Caleb was back. "What did you do?"

"I went after him." She answered him honestly. If she had learned anything she knew that lying to Caleb would do her no good. "To tell him I'm pressing charges."

Caleb stared for a short moment before responding. "You shouldn't have done that. He really could have hurt you."

"I know, I know. Will already gave me that lecture." She said softly, "But you were sitting here in the hospital and he just got away with hurting you!"

"And look what revenge got you!" He countered swiftly, barely leaving her time to absorb his comment before adding. "A bruise on your eye…your really pretty eye, if I may add."

She smiled at his comment, sensing butterflies. That was one thing about him she didn't think she would ever get past: Everything he did gave her butterflies.

"Why'd you do it?" He asked her.

Cornelia opened her mouth to reply, then closed it with no words escaping her lips. She knew exactly why she did it. It wasn't just about telling Cedric what he had coming. It was because he had put Caleb in the hospital. It was because…she shifted in her seat, twisting her fingers together before locking eyes with Caleb. She reached forward to push his hair from his face, lightly resting her hand above his eyes.

In a soft, sincere voice she said the words that had been building inside of her since the day she met him. "People do crazy things when they're in love."

She had always imagined that when she said those words to him that she would wish to take them back; save herself from being hurt and maintain the independent exterior she had been working on. But now, looking into his eyes and witnessing his reaction the only thing she regretted was not telling him sooner.

As far as the next update goes, once again it won't be for a while. The next chapter hasn't even been started but I've got it all planned out. It's my free time problem that's keeping me from working on this and also insiration loss. I have so much inspiration for everything except this story! So most of my free time goes into my other work and once again, I find myself apologizing sincerely for that.

I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Reviews are appreciated!