A/N: Hello, everyone :) So, another chapter's up. Pittsie and Nellie are good friends now, although they still keep secrets from each other (Pitts the events at Welton and Nellie her almost-wedding when she was 14). But then, Pitts has a conversation with his father, who wants him to be perfect, and this has a negative influence on him.

dontchasethesheep- Yeah, Virginia is a really nice girl and, to make you happy *SPOILER* *SPOILER* she and Meeks will indeed become best friends. Now, about Nellie's statement, she was referring to her father, who wanted her to marry at 14 and her own resistance. She meant that she's used in people underestimating her and wanting her to be silent and obedient, like that fellow-student of hers.

Disclaimer: Nope, I do not own the Dead Poets Society and the statements at the beginning

"Stories are the wildest things of all. Stories chase and bite and hunt"

(Patrick Ness, "A Monster Calls")

Pitts' POV

The weather became worse and worse as the weeks passed. It was only four o' clock in the evening and I had the impression that it was midnight. The sky was covered with dark grey clouds, the thunder was heard clearly and it was raining heavily. It was also much colder. The yard was completely empty and it looked rather melancholic, wet as it was from the raindrops that were falling like tears from the sky.

I always hated the rain, since I was a boy. For some reason, I had connected it with sadness and bad news and I had the impression of suffocating. Meeks was always laughing, because he loved the rain. He was saying that he had images of sitting next to the fireplace with his family, which was making him feel comfortable.

'I didn't know that rain causes this feeling to you. My, my, you're a romantic soul, Pitts!'

That's why I had a burden in my soul when I walked to the phone that was in the hall and threw a coin inside the machine. I wanted to call my parents and ask them how they were, but I was afraid that I would hear something unpleasant.

'Yes?' I heard my mother's warm voice and smiled. Suddenly, I missed my home, at least my gentle mother, who never scolded me for no reason and who was always comforting me the way only she knew.

'It's me, mother' I answered and she left a sound of happiness.

'My boy!' she exclaimed. 'I'm so happy to hear you. How are you?'

'I'm fine. I love the university, it's really wonderful here and the classes are very interesting. How are you? How is father?'

'We're both very well, only your father has too much work'

Ha! As if that would be a surprise. My father ALWAYS had too much work. In fact, I was lucky if I could see him once in a day. But, still, he wanted to control my whole life, every single detail. My mother was finding excuses, saying that he only cared for my future, but I knew better.

'So, tell me more about Yale' her voice interrupted my thoughts. 'How is Steven? Do you have any new friends?'

I swallowed before answering. My mother wouldn't have a problem if I told her about Nellie, who, I had to admit, was the best female friend I could ever wish for. Caring, sensitive and had always a kind word to say, ever looking for the best in someone.

But, if my mother would learn about her, my father would too, since she couldn't keep a secret from him. And, of course, he would command me to stop hanging around with her, since she would, according to him, "distract me".

'Meeks is alright' I replied in the end, 'He's totally obsessed with the university, you know how much he likes Physics. We have met new people, but it's…it's a bit early to say that we made new friends'

Suddenly I heard my father's voice and, although he wasn't with me, I shuddered, as always.

'Jane? Jane, who is on the phone?'

'It's Gerard, Robert' my mother sounded excited, thinking that my father was missing me too. 'He called to see how we are'

My father mumbled an answer and then my mother spoke to me again, this time with a note of worry.

'Your father wants to say something to you, my boy. Have a good time in Yale and, if there's anything you need, don't be afraid to tell us'

'Of course' I quickly said.

Seconds later, my father took the phone. He was the exact opposite from my mother. He was strict and was always giving you the impression that you had done something wrong.

'Son?'

'Hello, father' I greeted him as calmly as I could. 'How are you?'

'Fine. What do you want?'

I gasped at his words. Should there be a special reason to call your own parents? I shook my head in disbelief and had to try very hard to not roll my eyes.

'Nothing specific, I only wanted to see…'

'Then why are you wasting your time?' he interrupted me, raising his voice. 'You should be learning. Since you chose Physics and you know how hard it is, you should study even harder to have excellent grades!'

'But…' I tried to calm him down, but I couldn't hide my despair. Even if I was away, my father always managed to control me and order me what to do.

'No objections, young man!' my father yelled, ignoring my mother's protests at the background. 'Your grades at school weren't the best, as you may recall! But, since you were in Welton, it was out of the question to send you somewhere else, where you could improve your grades and apply for Yale later. So, don't let me down!'

There was nothing I could do. If it was my mother, she would never say that to me. She would be kind and she would understand. But, no, my father was the same. I had feared that, but I hadn't thought much about it. I wanted to say these things to him, but, realizing I had lost the battle, I decided to give up.

'You're right, sir, I'm sorry. I'll go to study at once' I lied and couldn't recognize my own voice.

'You better do that' he continued. 'Because don't expect me to support you if you fail and…'

I couldn't hold on anymore and hung up, but continued to stare at the phone, still hearing my father's voice. "If you fail", how many times I had heard this sentence. That was the reason why I couldn't defend myself. Because I was afraid of failing, of disappointing everyone.

Nellie's POV

There wasn't much to do on such a rainy day. Virginia and I had spent the morning in our dormitory, talking and reading, but in the evening we decided to walk in the university.

'Stupid weather!' Virginia complained loudly and some students looked at her. 'And I wanted us to go out tonight. To go somewhere to dance'

'That would be great, Ginny, but let's not think about it' I comforted her. 'We'll go dancing another day, it's not the end of the world'

'Nellie Russell, always trying to make the best out of the circumstances' she commented. 'You're right on that case, of course. Nagging around won't make the rain disappear'

'That's right!' I approved and smiled. 'Try to enjoy it. I always loved the sound of the rain falling'

'The only thing I love about the rain is the hot chocolate my mom always prepared' Virginia, despite her previous words, continued complaining. But I was used to that and that was what had made her a very good friend to me. She was saying what she was thinking about, not interested in what people would say about her.

But then my eye caught Pitts and my smile faded from my face. He stood by the phone, looking tormented and angry. I had never seen him like this and I was scared that something bad had happened.

'I'll be back in a minute' I told Virginia, who nodded.

The more I approached him, the worse he looked. He was giving the impression as if he wanted to slap someone or yell at someone. Used as I was in the always calm and polite boy I had met in the library, I didn't want to wonder what could possibly bring him in this situation.

'Pittsie?' I uttered and he looked at me. 'Is everything alright?'

For one second I had the feeling that he wanted to tell me something. To burst out, to speak about what was torturing him. But then he forced a smile and tried to sound more relaxed.

'Yes, Nellie. Everything's alright, don't worry'

I understood at once. With one sentence, another clue of his character was revealed to me. He belonged to the kind of people who never speak about their problems, because they don't want to be a trouble for their friends. He suffered, but still he was silent.

But I also knew that I shouldn't pressure him, at least not yet. This wouldn't be good for him. So I simply nodded and smiled back to him.

'Okay'

'I'll se you tomorrow, after lessons, then' he quickly said and, after caressing my arm softly, he walked away. My eyes followed him, attempting to destroy the wall that was suddenly built between us.

'What is only wrong? What could make you so silent and closed in yourself?'

Pitt's POV

If Nellie lived in the Middle Ages, her title would be Lady Eleanor the Compassionate. She had realized at once that something was wrong with me and she wanted to find out what. I wanted to talk to her about everything, my father, Welton, the Dead Poets and how everything ended. After Neil's death and Mr. Keating's departure, I hadn't spoken to anyone, neither did the others. It was a silent agreement between us, to hide it inside and try to move on.

I had thought I had it under control. The change of environment had started to influence me in a positive way, but the pleasant conversation with my father (note the sarcasm here) had brought everything back. For one second I almost gave in to the need to confide everything in Nellie, but then I stopped myself. Who was I to bother her with my past? Probably she would think that I'm a crybaby, still sticking to memories of events that were long over.

I had to confront these ghosts on my own. End of story. At least I would try. Because I knew that, no matter how much time would pass, this story would never disappear from my mind, from everyone's mind.

A/N: Okay, everybody, that was it for now, hope you liked it. In the next chapter, spirits are lifted up, because our four friends go dancing :)