A crisp breeze swept through Brandon's hair. Confused, he snapped open his eyes and bolted upright. Where the hell was he? Wait...had he really spent the whole night here, at Lake Roccaluce? Looking down to his left, he saw Stella, still lying beside him. She slept on. Brandon smiled at how peaceful she looked. It was amazing, really, how he'd managed to sweep her off her feet. Of all the guys she could have fallen for, she'd gone for him. The tingling sensation of pins and needles shot through his leg. Jumping, he rose to his feet, although the lack of feeling nearly made him fall back. Hobbling down to the lake's edge, feeling like he had a lump of stone for a foot, he cupped some water in his hands and splashed it over his face. The deadness in his leg subsided and he breathed a sigh of relief. He turned back and sat beside his girlfriend. He couldn't wake her though. She'd missed curfew, as had he, but at that moment she just looked so...perfect. She looked pure, natural, any word like that that you could come up with, would describe Stella. He stared at her for a long time. All too soon, she began to shift. Stretching out, she rolled over, her eyes slowly peeling open, glazed with sleep and tiredness. She looked up at Brandon, who still watched her.

He smiled warmly. "Morning."

She smiled back, sighing contentedly. "Hi." Her voice was a whisper.

Their eyes locked together, and Brandon finally realised what people meant when they say the eyes are a window to the soul. He could stay there forever, but then he was overcome with awkwardness. Coughing he glanced away looking instead at the surface of the water, which glittered softly in the morning sun. Stella raised her head, frowning at him.

"Sorry, they must have been quite...weird." He told her.

"What?"

"Well, I can't imagine that it wouldn't be slightly strange to wake up and see me sitting there staring at you." Brandon explained, smiling awkwardly.

"Brandon," she said, "I would love it if I could wake up every morning, just to find you by my side. There's no me without you."

Brandon raised an eyebrow. "Now who's being cheesy?"

Stella grinned. "I guess we bring that out of each other."

"I guess we must." Brandon laughed.

Stella sat up, scanning her surroundings for the first time,,properly realising where they were. "Did we...we didn't."

Brandon nodded. "Oh yeah. The entire night."

Groaning, Stella flopped back into the grass, combing her hair with her fingers. She had black smudges under her eyes from her mascara.

"We should probably head back then?" Brandon suggested.

"I suppose." She mumbled. "But I've got History of Magic class! Can't we just stay here? Just for a bit longer? She pleaded, turning on the puppy dog eyes.

Brandon smirked. "Yes, your highness."

Stella closed her eyes.

"I was being sarcastic!" Brandon poked her in the side. She jumped, but Brandon carried on tickling her. "Ever heard of it?"

"Alright, alright!" She shouted. "Stop tickling Brandon! STOP!"

Brandon stood up, pulling Stella with him. He wrapped his arm around her neck, kissing her head. "C'mon, I have training with Codatorta, and he is not gonna be pleased when I come in late."

She rested her head on his shoulder, intertwining her fingers in his as they strolled through the woods, arms swinging gently. Yes, they were late, but at least they were heading back. They didn't exactly have to rush. Life is short, and you need to make moments like this last.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Sneaking round the back wall of Alfea college, Brandon and Stella had picked up the pace a bit. Stella gathered herself together, holding his head in her hands and pecking him quickly on the cheek.

"Alright, cya." She rushed, turning away and jogging along the wall.

"I'll meet you here after school?" He called after her.

"I'll try." Stella shouted over her shoulder. "I'll probably be tied to school grounds for a month..." She hesitated. "I'll text you?"

"Sure!" Brandon said, raising his hand in farewell.

She turned back for a brief second, waving and flashing him a smile, before she vanished round the corner. Brandon broke into a run, making the journey to Red Fountain. No amount of training could prepare him for the scolding he was about to get...

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Brandon crept into the arena, his fellow Specialists already in the ring with Professor Codatorta. No one appeared to notice his arrival. He slunk round the rows of seats and down the steps, approaching from the rear of the class. Sky looked up and caught his gaze. He winked and put his thumbs up. Brandon rolled his eyes. He'd never hear the end of this now. Reaching the class, he secretly praised himself for getting in without being seen...well, except for Blondie over there.

"Hey, lover boy?" Sky came over to him.

"Go ahead, Sky, laugh it up." Brandon invited.

"You might wanna check what you're wearing."

Just as Sky finished speaking, Codatorta, who had his back to his pupils, began to talk. "You know, Brandon, if you wanted to sneak into my class unnoticed, it would have been better if you had actually bothered to change into your uniform."

Brandon felt the eyes of everyone staring at him. His cheeks flushed. Riven, of course, burst out laughing.

"Er...sorry, professor." He tried.

"Would you care to explain to me and the rest of the class why you're late?"

"Well, I-" Brandon started.

"Oh, and whilst you're at it, you can also enlighten us about where you were last night." Codatorta added.

"Um..." Brandon fell silent.

"He was out with his girlfriend sir!" Sky piped up.

Codatorta turned round, eyebrows raised. "Yes, I thought so."

"Get in there, Brandon!" Riven yelled, gaining him a laugh from the other guys. It also got him a stern glare from his professor. He coughed. "Sorry, sir."

"So, Brandon." Codatorta continued. "You're in detention for a week."

Brandon hung his head. "Yes, sir."

"And, you can clean the dragon pens out everyday after school for 3 weeks, starting today."

"Today?" Brandon complained. "But, professor, I have to be somewhere.!"

"Where?"

"He's gonna meet Stella, sir!" Sky shouted.

"Shut up Sky!" Brandon argued, thumping him in the arm.

"Well then, tough." Codatorta said. "Now go get into your uniform!" He shouted suddenly.

Brandon jumped. "Yes sir!" He ran off out of the arena. He could hear everyone's laughter behind him.

"Now, listen up!" Codatorta yelled. "Unless you want to join Brandon after school..."

Everyone instantly shut up.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Up in his room, Brandon hastily pulled on his blue uniform, fastening the green clip of his cape on his left shoulder. He picked up his cell from the desk, seeing a message alert. Clicking on it, Stella's message flashed onto the screen:

Hey, can't meet up 2night...dtention 4 2 weeks! Might txt u l8r?

Brandon smiled. At least he wouldn't have to say no to her. He found it so hard. He began to text her back:

Me 2. Dragon pen duty 4 3 weeks, dtention 4 a week...must get to class. Talk 2 u soon :)

He was just about to leave the room when his phone bleeped again. Stella. Seriously, the girl just got placed in two weeks of detention after seeking out at night and missing curfew. She was clearly not in anyone's good books, especially Griselda's, yet she was still texting in class. She really was something, that girl.

Awww, tht sucks :( I feel like I haven't cn u in 4evrrr!

Brandon didn't even bother replying, just walked out of the room, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.