The Only Thing I'm Missing

by Chrome Hearts

He was always the mysterious one; the one whom people were always cautious around. She was the outgoing one; quick to make friends. But, with an unlikely turn of events, she retreated into an impenetrable shell. He was the only one who could help her. She built a protective wall around her heart to stop herself from getting hurt. He broke it down.

9. Eight: All Too Well

Title; The Only Thing I'm Missing
Repertoire; 08 All too well
Authoress; Chrome Hearts
Fandom; My Candy Love
Main Focus; Lysander x Candy
Rating; K

A/N: I'm finding it very hard to focus on this chapter as I'm spending most of my time listening to Best Absolute Perfect (B.A.P) and resisting from getting up and dancing… Which is quite hard considering how absolutely amazing their newest album is.
Right, enough blabber. On with the chapter!

Disclaimer: ; All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

The next few days passed as a blur; it was like whenever I was with Tyson, time didn't matter. Nothing mattered, as a matter of fact. It was just the two of us. And I loved that.
I loved the fact that we could be together, while still remaining best friends. And, most importantly; he gave me space. Something that, nowadays anyway, was a rare indulgence amongst new couples.
After a light kiss on the cheek, our goodbye parting, I headed in to Maths Methods with an open mind.
Taking my usual seat by the window, I pulled out my work book and carried on with the activity we had been given at the conclusion of the previous class.
Lysander, as expected, came quietly into the room about twenty minutes into the session, and, as usual, took up his seat one away from mine.
However, he was different. Almost like a completely changed person.
He remained silent, as per usual. However his face was ghostly pallid and looked drawn in. Large black bags hung beneath his eyes, and immediately, I could tell that he wasn't sleeping.
His hair was a disheveled mess; lacking its usual, vibrant silvery shine. His usually immaculate Victorian clothes were unkempt and messy.
I hadn't seen him since the last band practice I attended, well over a week ago and, he looked fine then. His usual, aloof self.
I sighed, sliding my book across to the empty space next to me before taking up the chair.
"Lysander," I murmured quietly. "Is everything alright?"
Lysander remained silent; bent over his work without a pen in his hand.
Reaching out, I gently touched his shoulder.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want; that's your choice."
Lifting his head, Lysander stared at me through his messy silver hair.
"Didn't I say that to you?" he said quietly, his voice husky as though he hadn't spoken in days.
I flashed him a small, reassuring smile. "I believe you did. Just know if you want to talk – I'm here."
I turned my gaze back to the worksheet as I completed one equation after the other; it was becoming far easier now thanks to Tyson tutoring me. Maths Methods and English were the only non-music based subjects he took, and, to my surprise, he was quite bright at maths.
Lysander sighed sadly and I looked up at him once more.
Opening his mouth, he sighed again, hesitating.
I waited patiently in silence. If something was bothering him to a scale so great l I didn't want to force him to tell me.
"Chantelle broke up with me," he said quietly and I widened my eyes.
What? When did that happen?
"Lysander," I said softly. In all honesty, I didn't know what to say, but, I knew, I was expected to say something. "I'm so sorry."
He shook his head. "Why would you be sorry? You didn't do anything."
I chewed my bottom lip. "Were the two of you together long?"
"Seven months," was his distant, reply; his voice quavering slightly as though he was only barely holding himself together.
I nodded my head softly. Not because I knew what it was like to be in a relationship for a long time, and to have the other person completely shatter your heart. But because I understood the pain he felt and what he was going through. Most importantly, his unspoken request for the subject to be dropped.
He picked up his pen and began to work the first equation out – even his writing, once fluid and cursive, now scratchy and sharp, had changed in this small amount of time.
It was like he was just a hollow shell of the person he once was; completely withdrawn from the world.
I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth and propped my head up with my hand.
"No," I corrected kindly, tapping at his workings out with a pen. "Lys, now you are the one who is forgetting about the constant."
"Pardon?" he asked, his voice distant as though he had been spacing out.
"See," I replied, circling the small letter amongst the jumble of symbols and numbers that was the equation.
Furrowing his brow, he studied it for a moment before quickly correcting his answer.
"You're right," he said slowly. "But I thought you hated Calculus?"
"I do," I answered simply.
"Then how did you-?"
"Tyson," I replied with a smile.
From behind his veil of matted silver hair, Lysander frowned.
"Oh, that's right. Your boyfriend."
Although I still wasn't accustomed to hearing the word 'boyfriend' when used in the same context as something relating to me, I nodded and, smiling once more, turned back to my work.
Something told me that Lysander didn't wish to peruse any more conversation.
Moving one hand off the table and under my desk, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and flicked open Tyson's contact, quickly tapping out a message.
'Ty, why didn't you tell me Lysander and his girlfriend broke up? The poor guy is a mess.'
My response came just as quickly as the text that I had sent:
'Because I was worried that if I told you… I would lose you.'

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

Free-Period Study sessions with Castiel was certainly something I spent all week looking forward to – not.
Since going out with Tyson, Castiel had been asking me a constant stream of questions about said topic whenever he got the chance.
As a result, I spent as much time avoiding him as possible. Creeping in through the far entrance, I turned my head to look at the wall in hope he wouldn't recognize me.
"Janiel!"
My face fell, a sturdy frown covering every inch of my face.
I sucked in a deep breath and ignored him, moving to an empty table on the opposite side of the room.
Sure, I was going to suffer the consequences for ignoring him later, but right now, to be away from his constant, highly repetitive and extraordinarily annoying questions was sheer bliss.
Unfortunately, it was short lived as a loud thud and annoyed sigh from beside me signaled that Castiel had dropped his books onto my table and had shattered any traces of hope for peace and quiet that I desperately clung to.
"So," he said arching an eyebrow. "You didn't hear me call out to you?"
Of course. "Nope."
Castiel made a face. "It almost seems as though you don't want to talk to me."
"Well spotted," I mumbled, flipping the cover of my Forensic Science book open.
"Come on," Castiel pouted. "I'm your brother. I want to know if Tyson is treating you like a princess."
"Why?" I sniffed. "Because if he isn't, you'd go out with him instead? Tyson is fine, Cas. Now I'd appreciate it if we could have a different conversation once in a while."
Castiel made a face, thinking of a way to cleverly overcome the request.
"And," I added quickly, "nothing about Tyson in general."
I knew my brother all too well.
"Fine," Castiel sighed as he chewed his bottom lip, deep in thought.
"How's Jo Jo?"
I spluttered for a few seconds before quickly attempting to regain my composure. I hadn't expected that.
"She's…. Fine. Why do you ask?"
Castiel diverted his gaze and stared out of the window on the opposite side of the room.
"No reason," he said softly.
I winked at my brother. It was my turn now to fire the unending string of comments at him about the object of his affection.
"No, really. Why?"
Castiel sighed. "She," he paused for a moment thoughtfully. "She is in my music and performance: group elective. I never really noticed she was until recently – I mean, she usually sits up the back on the complete opposite side of the room to me."
I nudged him in the side encouragingly.
"Why don't you ask her how she is then?"
Castiel frowned. "I can't. I've never talked to her before. She's not my friend."
"She seems pretty well informed about you, though," I laughed. Castiel made a small noise in his throat out of surprise.
"About everyone, actually," I added as an afterthought. With that computer of hers…
A small nock at the door made me glance up and, much to Castiel's horror – and my amusement and delight – Jo Jo entered the room.
"Looks like you get your chance after all," I snickered quietly, waving to the blonde haired girl who returned the gesture happily.
She passed the supervising teacher a note and, with a quick smile in our direction, she turned and left.
"Janiel Maalik," the supervising teacher called and instantly, I locked my eyes onto her.
"You are required in the Student Council room as requested by Nathanial."
I sighed, pushing myself reluctantly to my feet. Didn't that boy attend any classes?
"What does that cream-puff want?" Castiel growled and I shot him a reassuring smile.
"Probably misplaced his bookmark or some other high scale midlife crisis."
Without another backwards look at my brother, I headed out into the brightly lit hallway.
What could Nathanial possibly want now?

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

"Yes, your majesty?" I asked sarcastically, curtseying slightly as I stood in front of his table.
"Do you know why I called you here?" Nathanial asked coolly as he looked me up and down, his expression unreadable.
"To launder your royal socks, sire?" I suggested with a shrug.
Honestly, it couldn't have been that important as to why I was there – if it was, he would have had the sense to avoid all pointless questions and cut to the chase about making wanted posters for his missing bookmark.
Nathanial let out a low laugh. "No," he said simply before lapsing into irritable silence.
I stood awkwardly in front of him for a few moments before letting out a shrug.
"If it's nothing, my lord, with all due respect, I'm leaving. I have a life in which I must return to."
"You're not leaving just yet, Janiel," Nathanial said slowly and I frowned.
"Are you going to tell me why you called me out here then?"
"Yes."
He arranged some loose papers in front of him before looking up at me once more.
"Remember our little bargain that we made?"
All too well. "I try not to."
"Good," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "Well let this serve as a reminder. How are your plans going with setting Amber up with your brother?"
Completely nonexistent, actually.
"I haven't seen the right opening to begin working on that."
Nathanial cupped his chin between his index and forefinger and pondered this momentarily. Seeming to consider it as a logical reason in its self, he nodded.
"I see. Well, you must make it happen. Don't wait too much longer now."
I saluted him.
"Aye aye, mon cappytan. May I leave now? I have a mountain of homework that is need of my love and attention."
Not to mention it would need a good scrub over to remove the crude drawings that Castiel certainly would have sketched over its surface.
"You may," Nathanial said softly. "But remember this, Janiel: Not only are you my errand girl, not only must you listen to my every request, my personal dog, if you please, you can't forget about your brother and Amber. And you will make it happen."
"Your dog?" I scoffed as I headed towards the door. "Funny, I always pinned you as a cat person."
What I had got myself into, I didn't know.
But, it was about to go a lot deeper. And snowball completely out of my control.

~The Only Thing I'm Missing~

A/N: I think it's safe to say that this was a filler chapter, or something along those lines. I just needed a chapter –this one, in particular- to work as the foundation structure or skeleton for what is to come.
Hope you enjoyed reading this~
Also, here's a little bit of a tidbit for you guys. I'm sure you all probably realized it by now, but;
Castiel's name refers to the Angel of Thursday in occult lore.
Janiel's name refers to the Angel of Tuesday (and the east wind.)
And finally, their last name;
Maalik refers to the Guardian or Angel who guards the entrance to Hell which sort of acts as a paradox with Castiel's general attitude and behavior.