Chapter Sixteen

THE ENTIRE NEXT DAY I spent curled up on my couch, starin' out my window, watchin' the sun rise, people pass through, an' then the sun start to set.

Wattie had been by several times earlier that day, but I hadn't been in the mood to talk or even take him up on his several offers to go to the kitchen with him. All I wanted was to just stay motionless an' depressed as I thought 'bout my parents, their deaths, an' my almost successful suicide attempt.

I couldn't believe I'd let myself do that. That was never somethin' that either one of my parents would want me to do, even if they both were gone. I'm sure they both would be pretty damn disappointed in me just for the attempt. An' now, thinkin' that thought, made my mood go even darker.

"Misses Evelyn?" I heard Wattie squeak as he nudged the door open a smidge. "Will Misses Evelyn come eat now?"

"No, Wattie, I just ain't hungry."

"But Misses Evelyn has not eaten today."

"I ain't been in the mood."

"But—"

"Wattie, please. I'm tryin' ta be nice but my patience is wearin' thin."

He was silent for a moment an' had it not been for not hearin' the sound of the door shuttin', I would've thought he'd up and left like a good house elf. "What if Misses Evelyn comes to the kitchen and Wattie makes Misses Evelyn some tea? Wattie could even charm the tea to help Misses Evelyn sleep tonight."

For the first time that day I moved, turnin' to look at him. "You can do that?"

"Wattie does have magic."

"Yeah, I know…but I never thought 'bout that…"

"Misses Evelyn will come?"

"Will I dream in my sleep tonight?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Wattie does not know. It is different for every person."

"Okay," I said, sighin' as I slowly rose to my feet. "I'll bite. An' I guess I am kinda hungry."

Wattie nodded his head an' led me to the kitchens where he told me to sit at the stool while he pattered off towards the back. Exhaustion settlin' in, I laid my head down on my arms and closed my eyes, waitin' for Wattie.

"Fancy seeing you here."

I jumped right back up an' spun 'round, glarin' at the tall boy. "Hasn't anyone ever taught you not ta sneak up on a lady like that?"

He chuckled quietly as he smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I would've thought you'd see me when you walked in."

"Nah I barely remember walkin' in here."

Gruntin', he nodded at the stool next to me. "May I?"

"Sure…Remus, right?"

He smiled once again. "Yes ma'am, that would be me."

"Oh good. I ain't too great with names, so at least I got one of y'alls right. Well, two if ya count Lily, but I'm not sure I could name the rest."

"Lily, right." Remus seemed to think for a moment. "How do you know Lily, if you don't mind me asking?"

"We met last week an' she's been a doll ever since."

"Yes, Lily is quite sweet."

"So what're ya doin' here, Remus? I'd figured that students were 'pposed ta eat somewhere else other than the kitchens."

"We are," he agreed as he thanked a house elf for puttin' a plate full of food in front of him, "but I lost track of time studying."

"Ah. So you're a nerd?"

He snorted, glancin' at me sideways. "You could say that."

"Hey nerds are good! Cute even. I didn't mean it as an insult."

There was a faint trace of color that rose to his cheeks, makin' me realize what I'd just said, an' then I'm sure color rose to my cheeks as well. I mean, yeah, Remus was an attractive young man, but I hadn't been tryin' to hit on him.

"Luckily for you I take it as a compliment. It's nothing I haven't heard from my friends before."

"Speakin' of them, where're they at? I got the impression y'all were inseparable."

"We are, but we aren't. Most the time we're together, but some nights we do our own things. I study, James pines for his Lily Flower, Peter…well, I'm not exactly sure what he does, but he stays occupied, and Sirius usually finds some sort of walking, talking entertainment, although I suspect he's sulking like he's been doing for the past few days."

"Well y'all sound like a lively bunch."

"Eh, you could say that." He smiled over at me before glancin' down at the plate that one of the house elves had placed in front of 'round me five minutes ago. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"Maybe. I thought I was hungry but I guess I'm not."

He seemed to study my face. "Are you okay Evelyn? I noticed right away that you seemed…off, but I didn't want to pry."

Tears threatened the back of my eyes. The fact that a practically random stranger noticed an' cared enough to ask 'bout my well-bein'…well, it didn't help my emotional state. "It's nothin' I can't handle, thank ya Remus."

He didn't seem convinced, but he let it slide, to which I was grateful. "Well, eat. Believe me, you're hungry whether your brain and stomach know it or not." I followed his orders an' took a tiny bite. An' then it was like I couldn't get enough of the stuff 'cause I began to shovel the food in just 'bout as fast as I could swallow.

"You haven't eaten today, have you?"

"No, an' I don't think I'll ever make that mistake again. I'm not sure how I could ever forget just how heavenly this food is!"

Smilin', he took a sip from his glass before he met my eyes. "Evelyn, if you ever need to talk, come talk to me or even Lily. Take it from someone who knows. Whatever it is you're dealing with? It's going to become 100 times easier if you let someone in, if nothing else just to be a wall to throw your words at. Don't self-destruct just because you don't want to be 'weak' and break down. True strength is when you share your fears and your problems with others and get the help you need."

I tried to crack a smile as his words sank in. He was right. That was exactly what I needed, but that was exactly what I couldn't have. "Thanks Remus. I'll be keepin' that in mind an' someday might take ya up on your foolish offer of me whinin' an' complain' 'bout my life to you."

"I'd be honored if you did," he said seriously. "I'm sure there's more to your life than what appears to be on the outside."

"Misses Evelyn!" Wattie squeaked as he finally reappeared, holdin' a glass mug that had steam risin' from it. "Misses Evelyn must not talk—"

"Yeah, yeah I know Wattie, I know." I grimaced at Remus who was givin' me a look of confusion. "I'll see ya later, Remus. Thanks for the talk." I stood from the stool an' took the mug from Wattie. "Oh, an' your arm's lookin' better. I hope you're as good as new soon!"

"Thanks Evelyn," he said, givin' me a small an' almost…pained?...smile. "Good night."

"Night!"

Once I got back to my room an' had told Wattie goodnight I went an' quickly threw on some PJ's, anxious to drink the so-called miracle tea. I crawled into bed, tossed the covers over me, an' grabbed the mug an' all but chugged the thing. Almost immediately I began to feel drowsy, an' within a minute I had to put the mug down 'cause I couldn't see straight or keep my eyes open any longer. An' within five minutes I was out, driftin' into a wonderful, dreamless oblivion.

A/N: Even though my excuses won't cut it and nor should they, I'm terribly sorry this is so ridiculously late! I promise I haven't forgotten you guys or this story! I know this chapter might have seemed kind of redundant and the same as the others, but every chapter has a purpose and I promise it'll start picking up soon!

Anyways, I hope you all had a wonderful New Years!

R&R?

Love you all! Nike :)