'Deep beneath the cover of another perfect wonder, where it's so white as snow...'
Evra adjusted his headphones and turned up the volume, letting the Red Hot Chili Peppers drown out the argument from outside. He plucked at his guitar strings mindlessly and hummed along to the tune currently filling his head but the music couldn't block out the thoughts which swam round his mind. The Cirque had been still for a week now; it's inhabitants were too shocked to react. The funeral had taken place almost immediately but since then no one was really in the mood for entertaining. Mr Tall just sat in his tent for days on end presumably re-thinking the Cirque du Freak's neutral stance whilst everyone else went about their normal daytime activities with a little less heart. Evra had sunk back into his music and Darren was busy with his new girlfriend.
Evra rolled his eyes and stretched out on his bed as he thought of his best friend's new love. They had been spending hardly any time together since Darren had started seeing Rebecca and when they did see each other, Evra felt like a spy on one of their dates. Lifting one side of his headphones off his ear, he could hear the muffled argument next door. Still at it. He replaced the headphone and tried to ignore the two bickering love birds outside. Darren had assured Evra that all couples have fights sometimes but Evra found it difficult to believe that all couples argued this often. The stupid thing was, thought Evra, that the fights were usually over trivial things like "Why didn't you answer your phone when I called?" or "You're always late!" If it were him, Evra knew that he'd never argue about little things like that because they'd mean nothing compared to getting to spend time with someone you love. Of course, Darren knew better since he was the one in the relationship so Evra knew better than to dispute the point. All couples argued everyday. Period.
Suddenly the headphones were yanked from his head with such a force Evra was sure he'd lost an ear. Darren's angry red face came into view and waved a hand in front of Evra's eyes.
"Hello? Anyone there?" He snapped sarcastically. Evra rubbed his ear and sat up groaning.
"This damn music is too loud!" Yelled Darren as he stormed across the room and switched it off. Evra knew better than to protest. He sat and waited until the boy had calmed down before replying.
"Everything all right mate?" Darren didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, the boy hopped into his coffin and shut the lid. Evra sighed and replaced his headphones, taking care to turn up the volume. A few moments later, there was a flurry of movement from the corner of Evra's line of vision and Darren was by Evra's side again. Evra looked up innocently and widened his eyes in a silent question. He watched his friend turn off his music again before taking off his headphones once more.
"I said is everything all- "
"S'fine," snapped Darren, clearly not fine. Evra caught his wrist before his friends could walk away. He pulled him gently around so he could see his face and then sighed in exasperation when he saw his expression. Darren's eyes were teeming with water which he blinked back furiously. His foul mood was replaced with soft emotions as his eyes locked with his friend's concerned ones.
"All right, its not fine," he sighed shakily and sat down next to Evra heavily. Evra made a sympathetic noise, feeling it was somewhat called for before patting the vampire awkwardly on the shoulder.
"Whats up?" he asked as he sat back and folded his arms behind his head. When Darren finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. Evra supposed his throat was red raw from shouting.
"I give up," he whispered, "I can't do it anymore. It's all too much to cope with." Evra nodded in empathy.
"I mean, first I die, then I wake up as a vampire... I have to get used to me first. I can't deal with her as well." He hid his face in his hands. Evra leaned forward, ready to let his friend confide in him.
"Is it the tail?" he whispered, unsure if he'd crossed a boundary. He sat back hurriedly as Darren shot up.
"No! Nothing like that! I love her tail, I love her... but, it's all too much."
"Too much?" A soft voice drifted in from the doorway. Rebecca stood illuminated in the evening's glow like a sad angel. Her cheeks were wet and she stared at Darren then Evra through bloodshot eyes. Evra mentally took a step backwards and tried to make himself invisible. It didn't work. Darren said nothing.
"Too much?" Repeated Rebecca taking a step forward. She balled a damp tissue into her fist before flinging it across the room in a silent rage. Evra tried again to make himself as small as possible to avoid her fury but Darren made no attempt to hide as the girl strode towards him. She stopped just inches away from his face, breathing heavily, her expression daring him to say something; anything.
"I'm sorry," he said pathetically.
"You're sorry?" spat Rebecca reeling, "Sorry?" Darren nodded.
"So... what? You're giving up on us? Why?"
"I - it's hard to explain. Um. I think I need to spend more time figuring out who I am first. I'm sorry."
"Stop saying that!" snapped Rebecca. A sudden and loud sob escaped her and she clamped a hand over her mouth, looking shocked, to prevent another. Above her hand, her eyes watered. Darren felt a sudden twinge of guilt tighten around his heart.
"Becca, please," he said staring at the floor. The girl removed her fingers from her trembling lips and watched him carefully.
"Please don't do this," she whispered half begging, half hoping.
"Sorry," said the boy, still observing his feet. Rebecca's hand shot back to her mouth but it was too late. Wails erupted from her mouth as tears escaped her eyes and sped down her face. Embarrassed and hurt, she fled from the tent. Darren shut his eyes as he heard her cries of anguish disappear across the field. He had no doubt she would spend the next few hours alone in her room crying until her friends found her and comforted her. He looked up and caught Evra's gaze. The snake boy regarded him carefully wondering if he should say something or just leave his friend alone for a while. He settled for a half shrug.
"What else could I say?" asked Darren mournfully.
"I don't know," replied Evra truthfully, "best leave her for a while though." Darren agreed halfheartedly before sloping off to his coffin. This time the lid closed softly. Evra replaced his headphones and for once Darren was relieved the music drowned out any other sounds.
Meanwhile, in her tent, Rebecca sank to the floor in torment. Her heat physically ached as did her throat from weeping. At first she stifled her sobs, not wanting to be heard but after a while the pain became almost unbearable and she cried aloud. Darren had broken up with her. She had loved him and thought that he had loved her. The girl hugged her knees and buried her head in her arms feeling the tears drop off the end of her nose and splash on the carpeted floor. She was too much for him, too much? Why? What had she done? What had she done wrong? She had never had a real boyfriend before but it had felt right being with Darren. Overwrought emotion overflowed once more as she recalled blissful memories they had shared. She'd never be able to be with him in that way again. To think, they had wasted so much time arguing! Rebecca despised herself for the bitter moments she had started though at the moment she hated Darren more for ending them.
Softly, she placed her head on the floor and let the rest of her body follow it, finding a comfortable position. She was too exhausted and upset to move. Eventually, her sorrow let her find sleep and she drifted into an uneasy slumber, occasionally hiccuping or murmuring.
At her window, a face watched her. The figure's features slid in and out of sight as the branches of an overhanging willow tree outside broke the moonlight. Frosted breath rested on the pane of glass and for a brief moment, a beam of moonlight caught the figure's eye, radiating a spark of red. The figure ducked and crept alongside the caravan, freezing when it thought it heard a noise. Finally it reached the door where it rested a gloved hand on the handle and turned it, letting itself into the silent room.