AN: I wrote a lot this weekend, probably a good few chapters ahead, so I am still planning to update this daily... I'm tempted to just unleash a wave of chapters but I need to go over and check them all first... Let's just say that there's a party soon and some detective work coming up... *trails off mysteriously* :) Hope you like this as much as I'm enjoying writing it! Review if you do or have any comments and questions :)

Rythian frowned, shaking his head at her. "Duncan and Lewis will want to ask you questions at lunch..." Rythian warned as Echo paused.

"Good point. I'll just say you pointed out some powder in my hair or something..." Echo trailed off as she raised her hand in the air, Zylus heading over. Rythian leaned towards her slightly.

"Yes... But they might tell Alex..." He whispered as Zylus approached them with his notes, examining the remaining liquid and the solid left from the experiment.

"Excellent! Perfect, even! Class, we have a winner!" Zylus announced as the class clapped politely, Duncan looking shocked as Zylus gave them a science pencil each. Echo looked at hers, stunned.

"I didn't know it was a competition, sir..." She said bewilderedly as Rythian started to clear the equipment up. Zylus shook his head at her.

"And that it why you don't turn up late to class!" He said jokingly as he marched back to the front, addressing the rest of the class. "Those of you who are still working, you are not allowed to leave this room until I see some form of a result. Once you've tidied up your equipment... You can go and have an early lunch! That will be some good motivation for the rest of you!" He smiled over at Echo as she hurriedly started cleaning the equipment, Rythian already having put away the scales and the Bunsen burner and pipe.

"You knew it was a competition? Did you want to beat Duncan?" Echo asked as Rythian washed up the vials, passing them to Echo to dry.

"Yes... But I wouldn't have rushed you or made you go quicker if it looked like they were ahead of us... As it turns out, we had a break and still won!" Echo smiled widely to Rythian's response, cleaning the equipment before her face turned to a frown.

"What did you mean when you said about Lewis and Duncan telling Alex?" She asked slowly as Rythian rolled his eyes.

"Well, I don't think Alex would take it kindly if he was told that I was playing with your hair in science and then we paraded off together afterwards..." Rythian said as Echo looked at him in disbelief.

"But that didn't happen!" She said, feeling foolish as he raised an eyebrow to her. She sighed. "I see your point... Although honestly, I'm not too fussed." Rythian looked at her with interest as he handed her the last container.

"Really? Poor Alex..." He muttered as he gathered up all the clean containers, putting them safely under his desk as Echo grabbed her bag.

"Also, why is it poor Alex?" She asked as he slung his bag over his shoulder, the pair of them walking out as the class glared at them whilst Zylus handed them a sheet of questions as homework. Rythian closed the door behind them against the hostile glares and looked at Echo in confusion.

"You really don't know?" He asked her as they walked towards the common room together. Echo shook her head.

"I know he's been acting weird around me ever since I mentioned Hector, but I don't know why!" Echo said, slightly irritated as Rythian shook his head in disbelief at her.

"So you can tell when someone is innocent and force people into making friends... Yet you have no idea when someone is developing a likening towards you?" He asked her as Echo opened the double doors, her ears and face burning. She hadn't wanted to assume anything but... Well.

Rythian and Echo walked across to one of the sofas near the fire escape, the furthest away from where the others sat for lunch and sat down, Rythian waiting for her reply. Echo furiously waited for her cheeks to stop feeling hot before she spoke.

"Well... I just didn't know for sure. You can't know for sure that it's that either!" She accused as Rythian leant back into the sofa, closing his eyes as he relaxed.

"True... I mean, it's no where near the looks Ross gives Kim, or Hannah gives Lewis sometimes..." He opened an eye lazily to see Echo looking at him, unimpressed.

"I noticed them, idiot, I'm just not to good when it comes to myself... I'm about a year and a month out of practise after all!" She laughed as Rythian sat up, shaking his head slowly.

"Hm... Oh, seeing as we have another 5 minutes before I need to scamper..." He said, checking the watch on his wrist, "... I reckon we have time for a magical game of cards."

Echo widened as Rythian brought out a pack of playing cards from his pocket, with the Swedish flag on the back of each one. She looked at him thoughtfully.

"Sweden, huh?" She commented as Rythian nodded, shuffling the cards thoroughly before placing them between him and her.

"Pick a card, any card..." He said quietly, looking at her mischievously as Echo picked a card at random, glancing at it. Ace of Hearts.

She put it back in the pile, Rythian reshuffling it as Echo watched him closely. Rythian widened his eyes at her.

"Do you not believe in magic?" He asked in a hurt voice as Echo looked at him, rolling her eyes.

"Not this kind... And now you've distracted me..." She realised as Rythian laughed, shuffling the cards once more before stacking them neatly.

"Now, Echo, I'd like you to spell out your name; your card should be on the 'O.'" Echo smiled as she spelt out her name, hovering slightly before turning other the last card.

The Ace of Spades.

She looked up at Rythian, confused, who merely tutted.

"Oh dear... Wrong Ace. Try again." Rythian looked at her innocently as she rolled her eyes, turning the top card over again.

The Ace of Clubs.

"Okay, this is worrying... Where did that Ace go?" Rythian pondered aloud as Echo laughed, turning over the next card without being asked.

The Ace of Diamonds.

"Well, Echo, I apologise, it seems I don't have your card... Unless it's in your pencil case..." Rythian smiled innocently as Echo's mouth dropped open.

"No way..." She said as she opened her bag and drew out her pencil case, opening it quickly. There, amongst her pencils, was a folded up card.

"Ah, I knew it was here somewhere!" Rythian commented as Echo opened it up, feeling the excitement bubble inside her as she saw the card there.

The Ace of Hearts.

She looked at Rythian in awe, who had the deck of cards in his hands. "If you want to search for the Ace of Hearts in this pack, go ahead." Rythian laughed at the shock on Echo's face as she took the cards, shuffling through them.

"Alright, I am starting to believe in magic again... How did you do that?!" She demanded, satisfied there weren't two copies of her card in the pack as she handed them back to him, confused. Rythian shrugged innocently.

"Magic... I can also see into the future..." He trailed off in a mystic voice as Echo laughed, nudging him playfully.

"Right, so you know if I'm about to hit you on the head or not then?" Echo smiled sweetly as Rythian paused before leaping up from the sofa, away from Echo, both of them laughing as Rythian put his cards back in his bag.

The doors opened on the other end as Duncan and Lewis entered in a detailed conversation as they headed towards the sofa, not noticing Rythian and Echo at the other side of the common room. Rythian looked at Echo in panic, who hadn't noticed them walk in.

"Meet up later?" Rythian asked quickly as he picked up his bag and walked through the fire exit without waiting for Echo's reply. Echo stared after him as the door shut, surprised by his sudden departure.

"Hey! Echo!" Lewis called as Echo turned to see Duncan waving her over, realising the cause for Rythian's sudden absence. She picked up her bag and walked over, smiling.

"Hey guys! I'm guessing you got the right colour then?" She asked teasingly as Lewis rolled his eyes.

"I got distracted, it was my fault. You didn't mention you were amazing at science!" Lewis pointed out as Echo shrugged self consciously.

"Well I don't know if that's the case..." She replied, embarrassed as Duncan motioned for her to sit next to him, Lewis moving on the floor.

"Are you kidding? You managed to do an experiment in record time whilst Rythian wasn't talking to you, that's pretty impressive!" Duncan commented as Echo's face fell slightly.

"Unless, of course, he was talking to you... And you're close friends because he was playing with your hair..." Lewis said causally as Duncan looked at Echo suspiciously.

"And if you're close friends, he must have talked about that day. You said you'd spy on Rythian; what have you got for us?" Duncan asked seriously as Lewis nodded, a hint of fire in his eyes as they stared intently at Echo, waiting for her answer.