I somehow managed to doze off in the middle of my class and didn't wake up until the bell went. Something I've never done before. I was sleeping so hard it took until the class emptied before I even realised where I was.

Panicking, not wanting to be late again, I shove everything into my bag haphazardly and stumble out of the classroom. When I'm done at my locker I remember I'm supposed to get my uniform from Lee's brother, but realise I have no clue where his locker is. I start looking up and down the rapidly emptying hall seeing no sign of Lysander. Shoot. Maybe I should just go. Maybe he's already at the store... As I'm hesitating to leave I see Lysander out of the corner of my eye coming from around a corner and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"I was worried that you had already left. I didn't know where to find you." I say to him as he approaches me looking similarly relieved.

He looks mildly embarrassed by my comment for some reason. "Yah, sorry. I should've planned that better. I couldn't find you either. Anyway, here," He says as he hands me a small pile of folded clothes.

I take the clothes gingerly, not sure what it is exactly. I unfold them and hold it up. I feel my eyes widen. Oh my god. "This is my uniform?"

He merely nods looking thoughtful.

"But it's so... Bold. I- I mean its- I don't have the confidence to pull this off." He raises a brow at me. "I suppose I don't have a choice though. I guess I should put it on now, I'm already late, I don't want to show up unprepared too. Thanks, Lysander." I fold the semi short black dress over my arm and head for the washroom.

"Actually I have to stop by and see my brother, so I can go with you if you want. It's partly my fault you're late."

I study him for a mintue before agreeing with a smile. "Sure. I'll be quick." I rush into the washroom and change as quickly as possible. The crinoline under the skirt is itchy and I feel exposed with the thin spaghetti straps and my legs bare. I then realise I can't get the back zipped. I grumble. I come out of my stall and look around to see if anyone else is around. There isn't. Great. I look down at my tennis shoes. These look ridiculous with this dress. Darn it. I zip up the back of my dress as far as I can and try to hold the rest closed with my hand. With a sigh I grab my things and reach for the door, but it opens in front of me.

I step back startled. Not her!

"Oh. It's you again." She says as she walks into the washroom. At first she looks like she doesn't care, but I catch a hint of a devious smirk before she turns around and locks the door. "I hear you've been getting friendly with my brother..."

I start backing up sensing that this isn't going anywhere good, but she stalks my every move.

"You stay away from him. You hear me?" Her nose is practically in my face and I can't decide what I feel more: fear or anger. My heart is pounding in my ears and I frown.

"Back off." I stand up a little taller forcing her to step back a bit. I can do this. "And for the record, nothing happened between me and Nathaniel, if that's who you're referring to, but I'm not going to avoid him just 'cause you tell me to. So excuse me, I'm late for work." I make to step around her, but she grabs me by the arm. I instantly feel my courage leave me.

She smiles down at my helplessness smugly. "You better watch yourself." She slaps my things out of my hands. "Oops!" She giggles in feigned innocence and leaves. I see her wave to Lysander before the door swings shut, he looks at her with a cocked brow before glancing in my direction.

I sigh piking up my things. Jerk. I try to hold my dress shut again before stepping back out into the hallway with my eyes glued to the ground.

"Sorry." I mumble to my feet. "Um...I can't- Could you do this for me?" I ask Lysander awkwardly as I turn to show him the back of my dress, conveniently hiding my blushing cheeks.

I glance at him to make sure he heard me. He returns my glance and nods with a small kind smile. I focus all my energy on not flinching as he steps towards my back. I can do this. He won't hurt me. It's just a zipper.

He gently moves my hand from hanging onto the back of my dress and I blush, mortified at this situation: my back half exposed, bra on display, some guy who's a near stranger with his hands at my back, zipper in hand, in the middle of the school hallway! Kill me now.

I feel a couple of his fingers just barely touching my back at the top of the zipper and I repress a shiver. Part of me wishes he wasn't trying so hard not to touch me at all, and another part is glad for it.

I can almost imagine what it would feel like to have his hand on my shoulder next to my neck. Warm, gentle, maybe a little firm too... Choking me. Knife in my face. Sour breath in my face. Feeling at my body. Too rough.

I suck in a breath when I hear my name. I shake my head to clear the images and realise Lysander is standing in front of me with an expression I can't read.

I clear my throat. "Sorry. I guess I zoned out."

"Y-you were crying... Are...you alright?"

"Huh?" I touch my fingers to my cheek and notice it's wet. "Oh. Uh, it's nothing." Liar.

"Normally I wouldn't get involved... But did something happen?" He sounds uncomfortable.

I take a deep breath as I rub the back of my neck. I bite my lip as I look at the ground. I did say I would talk about it if it came up... I look up at him. Oh hell, whatever.

"Uh, well... I've actually never really talked about it before... Um, it's kinda heavy. Are you sure you want me to tell you."

Again I can't read his expression. "Only if you want to talk about it."

I glance around the hall to make sure we're alone. I don't see anyone. I must be really late. "Want to? Not really. But I probably should. Um. I'll keep it short. It's done so there's nothing you can do. It's in the past so don't worry about it. Uh, I- well just now, that was me remembering sort of. My parents were...um, m-murdered, killed. Uh, they're dead. Yah, s-some guy when we were walking home one night um shot them. Did this," I motion to my cheek. "Uh, It wasn't super long ago, so certain things still trigger memories. I'm not really over it yet." I clear the tightness in my throat and take a deep breath. "So...yah! There you go."

I'm trying my hardest to look as unaffected as possible so I don't make him uncomfortable, but my eyes are really stinging. I don't feel comfortable crying in front of him, I don't know him well enough for that. I look down and shuffle my feet, picking at my nails and blinking rapidly. Trying to shake of the wave of emotion coursing through me. It really wasn't too bad to talk about it. I thought it would be harder.

"What? I- I'm sorry. I meant in the washroom with Amber. It was not my place to ask such a personal question."

my eyes widen. "OH! Um, right of course. I thought- well of course that's what you meant... I didn't mean to lay that on you. I don't know what I was thinking. Um, 'Amber' you said? Uh, it's fine. She just wants me to stay away from her brother for some reason. I've had a run in with her before, but that's been taken care of. Um. Thanks for asking though." Ugh, great. Nothing like a first impression... I can't believe I told him all that! What was I thinking...

He looks really uncomfortable. "Listen, just forget I said anything. I shouldn't have told you that. And like I said it's in the past."

He still looks uncomfortable. "Let's go. I think I'm even later than yesterday."

I start heading for the shop and he follows. The tension is so thick I feel it on my skin like a wet towel. I can't stand it.

"I guess I should have thought of better shoes." I joke, wiggling my foot in front of me to try and lighten the mood.

He glances at my foot and his eyes seem to widen ever so slightly. "I-I forgot... Your shoes are in my locker."

He pulls on my hand so I have to turn around and follow him in the direction we just came from.

He pulls out some shoes and socks and hands them to me. I quickly put them on and pick up my old shoes.

"Here, you can keep them in my locker and get them tomorrow." He reaches for my shoes but I pull them away.

"I'm not putting my dirty, old shoes in your locker! They probably smell bad!" Oh ho, great now I have problems and smell bad. Smooth.

He smiles at me knowingly again and takes my shoes putting them in his locker. "I'm sure it will be fine." I groan, but let him have his way.

Before we head for the shop again he steps back and looks at me.

"That looks good on you. Maybe you'l get into Victorian fashion too."

I blush. "Don't count on it. This isn't exactly comfortable, Lysander." I point to his clothes. "Is that comfortable?"

He shrugs, "To me it is, yah."

"I might just have to wear that then." I joke nudging him. Anything to make him forget what I told him.

He looks at me thoughtfully and then with a sly smile he says, "You might be able to pull it off," Before walking out of the school at last.