TWENTY-FOUR

After a long kiss in front of October's guesthouse, Charlie headed back to the academy at dawn floating on air, a sense of fulfillment pervading his chest. The first thing he did – the second, actually, since he had a regenerating shower, turning every water drop into October's kisses and caresses in his mind – was to knock on Knox and Neil's doors and drag them outside. He just stood in front of them, a hand on each of their shoulders, beaming like a child on his birthday, then he let a thunderous yawp fill the air. At first, since that was not the proper look and reaction for a chastised lad, his best friends frowned; then the truth dawned on them. Shaking his head, Knox gave a lopsided smirk, while Neil jumped cheering and hugging him. When the two childhood friends were left alone by a joyful Puck-to-be, Knox cast a piercing look at the blessed boy in front of him, asking about Nolan. Charlie rolled his eyes and quickly told him what happened; Knox gave him an old spinster-fashioned reprimand for some minutes, and Charlie happily ignored him. He was too overwhelmed by the previous night's event.

The following days passed by in an overall frenzied atmosphere. Charlie – in spite of his busy schedule – couldn't focus on anything but October, Neil on the imminent play and Knox on how to impress Chris, since both Tobie's advice and the step forward in his friends' love life continually nudged the back of his mind.

Charlie was still wincing every time he had to sit, so the Poets had bought him two lifebuoys to keep in his room and in the cave, much to his amusement and poignancy, and to October's pride and affection towards the guys. She was hanging out with them almost every day, taking part in their midnight meetings in the cave, offering high tea in the boarding house and occasionally helping them with their homework, especially Charlie. Due to his detention, it had become harder to meet up. He had his morning lessons, then his afternoon duties, so he was struggling to find time to do his homework and spend time with his friends and October, not to mention he had to necessarily sneak out and evade surveillance. He kept on saying he didn't care about his grades, but that didn't stop them from trying to help him keep up.

A lazy Sunday afternoon, Charlie and October were walking hand in hand along the main street, pointing at the store windows in search of Christmas gifts for their friends, both wearing heavy coats and gloves since the temperature had significantly dropped. A single long scarf was flipped around both of their necks keeping them close and warm. Charlie had dark circles under his eyes due to sleep deprivation, but looked overall happy: as he had already told her, rejecting her suggestion to use his only day off to get some sleep, life couldn't be wasted sleeping. They had chatted about everything and anything all along, including Knox's spectacular performance in Chris' school – something October had found particularly funny – when Charlie told her about Mr. Perry's order to drop the play upon discovering about Neil's deceit. All of a sudden, October's glee died out like a burnt-out bulb. She lowered her head in silence, as if to ponder the situation.

"What is he going to do about that?" she murmured in a sort of resignation, as if she knew the answer.

"Do it anyway, of course" he declared with pride.

"And you're supporting that, whatever the cost?"

Charlie furrowed his brow.

"What cost do you think there will be? We're quite used to our parents' opposition, and we're still alive" Charlie retorted with a shrug. October grimaced as if in pain and stopped; Charlie did the same, trying to read her features.

"What? Are you afraid of the consequences?"

She looked at him with an ever-so-sad expression… Morose, he would say. Her irides misted over for a reason he could not fathom. She opened her mouth after a long moment, clearly to say something, but a snowflake landed on the tip of her nose, melting right off. Another one followed the first, then many more, and soon they found themselves in a graceful gyre of fleecy crystals. They both gazed at the sky in awe, offering their cheeks to the impalpable caresses. Charlie was the first to look back at her, keeping the same spellbound expression. When she felt his pupils on her, she glanced back, silently questioning him.

"I'd give you my eyes just to make you see how beautiful you are" he explained.

She couldn't help but give a soft half-smile, and he kissed it, cupping her face in his gloved hands. The sounds around had turned into a muffled trifle, and a sort of peace was descending along with the snow on all earthly things and into Charlie's soul, hence he decided nothing would spoil that moment.

"Listen" he began, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Everything's fine. Neil will be great, his father will come to terms with this theater thing, and life will go on as usual. Okay?"

She stared at him with that kind of desperation written all over her face, and reluctantly nodded. He pecked her lips, brushed away some flakes from her hair and pulled her to resume their walk.

Just like the day of Todd's party, Mr. Keating's car was full of overexcited boys. The only one missing – apart from Neil, who had been rehearsing since the afternoon – was Knox, caught off guard in the academy hall by a rather daring Chris, popped up by surprise. The mere fact she was there meant she had, if nothing else, a tiny grain of care towards him; so, if he had been able to play his cards right, they were probably walking their way together to the show by then. At least, that was what Charlie was hoping while absentmindedly caressing the red lightning bolt recently painted on his chest. As the lights moved quickly outside the window in an indistinct whirlwind of colors, so a rush of different emotions swirled inside him. On one hand, the happiness for one of his best friends. On the other, the concern caused by the drastic change in October's mood. And, above all, the excitement for Neil. But the latter was the most important thing, he thought, all he had to focus on at the moment. Anything else would surely work itself out.

The group met October near the building entrance. Wrapped in her white coat, she looked like the Winter Queen from a fairy tale, her dark hair standing out in the paleness. The Poets greeted her cheerfully before entering, leaving Charlie behind. He kissed her knuckles, looking at her with appreciative eyes, and then her cheek, before turning towards his teacher.

"Captain, this is Miss October Bailey" he introduced her, gushing with pride. If the man was taken aback by the fact she wasn't in her school years, he gave no sign. Rather, he reached out to shake her hand with an open smile curling his lips.

"John Keating" he said. "It's nice to finally give a visual identity to a mental image."

"It's a pleasure for me" October beamed back, almost transfixed, finally able to push her anguish aside for a while. "I've heard a lot about your lessons, I couldn't wait to meet you."

The two engaged themselves in an enthusiastic conversation under the overjoyed gaze of Charlie, who took the opportunity to smoke a cigarette before following the others inside. They took their seats, hardly waiting for the play to start. And then it did. They had to wait until the first scene of the second act to finally see their friend. The stage was set up to resemble a forest, and myriad lights were rolling by as dancing fireflies. Neil suddenly emerged from behind a bush, clad in plain cedar clothes, wearing a crown made of twigs and berries. There were twigs on the back of his hands, too. Charlie jerked up in excitement.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Cameron shoved him back into his seat, his eyes glued to the stage like everyone's. October shook her head and Mr. Keating shushed him. A girl joined Neil on stage and they began delivering their lines, inducing both awe and laughter in the audience. Charlie was wholeheartedly taken with his friend's performance.

"He's good, he's really good" he whispered to Mr. Keating, who gave a thumbs-up.

The play went on, until Neil poured dew from a blossoming branch into a leaf, holding it over his head, never tearing his eyes off it. His expression was so intense and passionate that Charlie felt his heartbeat increase. He thought about his friends and their achievements in their daily little fights. Every step taken until that point in their life had been based on the carpe diem philosophy regardless of the rules, the society, the expectations. They had made it in their own ways, thanks to Keating, thanks to themselves. If the world came to an end that night, they could all congratulate themselves, honestly. Including himself. His own achievement was right next to him. He slowly turned his head towards October, and his heart clenched. She was in tears, a broken smile on her lips. Once again, that subtle and mysterious sorrow was pervading her otherwise peaceful traits. He didn't know how to help her, so he just stared at her somehow otherworldly figure. There was too much purity in her, too much emotion in him, too much pathos all over the place. He took her hand and stroked its back with his thumb, trying to reassure her with his mere presence. October squeezed his palm, casting a shiny glance at him before bringing her attention back to the stage. The emotional turmoil, enhanced by the sweet mystical music coming from flutes and harps, was suddenly too much to bear. He felt overwhelmed. Urged by the wave in his chest, he leaned over October's ear.

"Sibyl?" he whispered.

"Yes?"

She heard his deep sigh before his next words.

"I love you."

A/N: Here we are, guys! We can consider the chapters from here on out as the second part of the story. I hope you'll stick with it until the end :)