Rowan and Dante's Dorm

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Are you sure.” She asked, looking up at him. “That you won’t leave me first chance you get?” She added, knowing what she did about a certain girl she couldn’t get him to stop thinking about.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I won't leave you at the first chance, " he promised. He knew he was loyal to a fault, but even so he meant it. It would take a lot for him to just leave her. And even then...he wasn't even sure what would qualify as "a lot"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle studied him for a moment before she leaned up to press her lips against his, hoping now was the moment where he’d forgive her enough to do this. Even if it was just once.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan kissed her back, but he knew he needed to be cautious about how much and how long he kissed her. He needed to pace himself and not get as bad off as he had been earlier that day. He couldn't risk it. Unfortunately, it tainted a lot of his enjoyment in the kiss, but he wanted to reassure her more.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle stood, not breaking away from the kiss as she sat down on his lap. She pulled away after a moment, leaning her forehead against his. “We’re going to find a solution for this…” She told him, lightly rubbing his bottom lip with her thumb. “And then we’ll be together like we should have been since the beginning.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"A solution?" Rowan asked quietly, looking right into her eyes so near his own. That warm brown color felt comforting now, possibly because he knew she wanted to stay with him too. He didn't know why, or how they would manage it, but he did want that. But a solution for death...for being a ghost....was there such a thing?

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“A solution.” She confirmed, giving him a smile before kissing him again. He couldn’t ask questions now- not about how they’d manage to find a cure for a death like hers. He didn’t need to know until he was looking into her eyes through the body of his best friend.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

He didn't expect her to have a plan, so he wanted to help find the solution. He has never been great at studying but maybe with this motivation he could help find something. But if there was a way to restore her back to her living form, they would find it.

--End--

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

After his lunch, the last thing Rowan wanted to do was come back and confront Janelle right after they'd finally made up again. This whole thing was a mess and he just...he didn't know what he was doing. He wanted nothing more than someone to just swoop in and handle all of it for him because he was just...done. But he did it anyway, and he knew that he would have to talk about it. He was just desperately hoping that Zach was for some reason lying.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle was laying down on his bed at that point, staring into the computer screen as one of his recommended movies played on his laptop. It wasn’t her cup of tea, but she couldn’t exactly change it to something else so she was just… watching it.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan went over and sat on the edge of the bed, looking over to see what she was watching. He'd just let it run for her and apparently it had been long enough to start something else while he was gone. He was quiet, pensive, not wanting to engage before he had to.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

.

"This movie isn't as interesting as the one we watched the night before." She said after a minute or two of silence, although she didn't look away from the screen just yet. 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"I'm sorry, I thought you'd like it," he said, glancing over at the screen briefly as if to see what she was watching, though he didn't pay attention when he looked. It was just an automatic motion that took nothing from him. He couldn't remember what he'd left on for her, but he knew he had been careful to think of what she might like.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle shrugged, since it was clear at this point that she didn't like it but it didn't matter anymore since he was here. "Did you eat well?" She asked, this time looking away from the screen to look back at him.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Yeah, I guess," Rowan said passively. His mind weighed more with what he was supposed to say to her. What was he supposed to ask anyway? It was too sensitive to just ask outright...

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Good." She replied, giving him a small smile despite knowing something was on his mind. But it was because of that that she forgot all about the movie and instead shifted so that she'd pull him so that he'd lay down before climbing over him. "Because I do want you to be awake for this..." She whispered, leaning in to kiss him lightly. 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan moved as she pulled him, not responding any more than that. Although...he did kiss her back. Maybe he was just being hopeful that his worries were unfounded and that she was normal. Or maybe he was just stalling on it because he didn't want to know the truth.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle forgot about his initial weirdness when he kissed her back, enjoy their kiss much more than she'd imagine she could. Ever since she had regained a few moments of life- before Raelynn snatched it from her- she was reminded of how certain things worked when she was alive. Forgotten, and remembered, what it was like to feel her heart beating against her chest at the hint of danger. That's what she associated Rowan with- or at least her feelings for him. Like a sudden rush of emotions that should have scared her but only worked in exciting her more than what should have been possible. 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan felt his heart pounding hard against his chest and he wasn't sure why. He didn't know if it was because of what he had learned, or rather had been told, earlier that day. Didn't know if it was because, despite all that, some part of him was glad to enjoy this. Glad to enjoy her kisses and signs of affection because he was dumb enough to. But maybe it was because he felt like he was betraying someone for doing this, and didn't know who.

Janelle, for thinking she'd be capable of doing something so...so cruel? For letting her think he was fine when his mind was full of doubts for her? He did hate himself for even feeling the need to ask. Shouldn't he know his girlfriend enough to just know?

Or was he betraying his best friend, who didn't deserve any of this by being a coward and choosing ignorance so he could kiss someone who tried to hurt her? For not being brave enough to confront her possible attempted killer, or rather choosing cowardice selfishly.

Rowan didn't know what to think or what to feel, so he just...made the cowardly decision to betray them both by kissing her back.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

 Janelle raised one hand to pull him closer to her, deepening the kiss rather than letting the steam die out like they normally did. Because she wasn't sure how long they'd have to wait for Raelynn to end up in a hospital- or unconscious again, whatever- and she couldn't afford Rowan's urge to protect and care for Janelle to die out before she had to ask him for help. No, he needed something stronger to keep him interested, and she wasn't against giving it to him at all.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

No longer hesitant but maybe incredibly stupid, Rowan succumbed to her. He kissed her the way he felt like he should have so that maybe he'd just... forget about everything. Forget and ignore. That's why he was doing it, wasn't it? To ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his head that told him he wasn't allowed to do this. That he shouldn't be doing this.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle let out a sound- one she was sure she was allowed to make- before she pulled her lips away from his. "Rowan..." She whispered, pressing her lips against his again before she move her lips down his jaw and then down his neck. "...I love you..." she added, one of her hands moving down his body until she reached the hem of his shirt.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan swallowed, closing his eyes as he tried to figure out what to feel. A part of him was eager to take this treatment- eager to feel her touch and listen to those words without complaint. The other part... he was going to ignore that one. He loved her, so...it shouldn't matter, right? The guilt sat heavier though. Trying to push it all away, he kept his eyes closed and pulled her lips back up to his.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle didn't complain when he pulled her back up, kissing him deeply because she knew even he couldn't resist.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Soon it got to be too much- the guilt. His heart pounding in his ears had to mean guilt, right? He pushed her off of him and sat up straight. "We need to talk." As soon as the words were out, his eyes widened a little. He was really going to do this...ask if she tried to kill his best friend. Curse Zach for putting the thought in his mind, though....he wouldn't be so worried about this if it was a definite no.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"This is actually the bit where we don't talk." She told him, thinking he meant about what they were getting ready to do. Which was why she moved to kiss him again. 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"No I mean we need to talk before...anything," he said seriously, gently pushing her away from him. No matter how hard he tried it was too big to ignore, even if he really really wanted to. And he didn't want to hurt her feelings but, well...it was probably inevitable at this point.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"What do you want to talk about?" She asked, frowning as she looked at him. "Because it's not rocket science, Rowan. I'm sure you've heard or seen stuff relating to sexual-" 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"That's not it," he said before she could continue. "It's..." He paused, trying to figure out the right question to ask. All this time of agonizing and he still didn't know. "You need to tell me about your solution to your...situation." Again he couldn't bring himself to call it what it was, but hopefully, that wasn't going to start an argument this time.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Now?" She asked, frowning because this didn't seem like the best time to talk about. "If you're worried it won't feel the same, it's fine. We don't have to do it but we can do other things-"

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"No, Janelle. I want to know your solution," he said seriously. "You have a plan, right? What do you intend to do?" He was nervous to know the answer but he needed it before he could ever live with himself. That betraying feeling had to end here.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Why now?" She asked, clearly frustrated as she pulled away from him and sat on the bed. "Why would you ask that now, when I'm trying to have a good moment with you?"

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Because I need to know. And I can't do any of this until you tell me," he told her, telling himself not to chicken out and hold true to his question. She had to answer...right? Or else he'd have to wonder why she evaded.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Oh?" She asked, narrowing her eyes as she stared at him. She realized then that perhaps his hesitation and not-really-there attitude wasn't coming from no where. "Why don't you just tell me what you think it is? Since it seems like you've already got an idea."

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

​​​​He hesitated now, swallowed hard, and gathered courage. "Did you try to kill Raelynn?" he asked straight out since beating around the bush would do nothing but play to his cowardice. He needed a real answer.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

​​​Janelle stared at him before laughing, crossing her arms. "That's... wow. That's crazy." She said, laughing still as if she weren't panicking in the inside. How could he know? "Who told you that?" She asked, instead of... anything else. 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan narrowed his eyes, not at all relieved by that response. "Does it matter who told me? Did you or not?" It wasn't quite evasion but still not an answer. He still didn't know if to trust Zach, but...he still didn't have reason to lie except just to stress Rowan out for fun.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"No, it does. Because someone is going around telling you things about me and you're just believing them." She replied, shaking her head as she began to pace around the room. "You never believe me. So who was it? Who was the person you were talking to that said such horrible things-"

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Stop avoiding the question!" he almost snapped, the pressure getting to him. He needed an answer and she wouldn't give one. He wanted so desperately to hear a no, that she didn't try to kill Raelynn, but his heart knew he couldn't expect that answer. The evasion was too great. He turned his voice gentler, hoping to entice her to answer. "Janelle, I will believe you if you tell me the truth. Did you try to kill Raelynn?" ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle couldn't help but to take a step back, her eyes wide because he... he snapped at her. Rowan, who was normally so calm and coolheaded about... well, most things. She supposed she was pushing it with this one though. "I-I...I didn't have a choice."

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"You didn't have a choice?" he repeated, questioning. His heart sunk...that meant she really had tried. He wasn't sure what to feel in that moment. Horrified, disgusted...sad? Any of those emotions was too much for him to handle towards her.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"It was a short window!" She said, her eyes still wide as she moved towards him. "I was angry and confused about your...your dream about her that I was full of so much energy and I knew she wasn't waking up any time soon because of the Book of Dreams! So I touched her and I was inside her head and-"

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"What do you mean the book-" he paused, something clicking with what he already heard from Zach. "Wait, you knew she was cursed?"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"That's not the point!" She snapped, knowing that would only be another point against her. "I was alive, Rowan! I was alive and breathing and... and I wanted to go to you, I really did. But then she pulled me back and I... I lost, and she regained consciousness. I helped her do that!"

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"It is the point!" he snapped back. "What would have happened if she hadn't pulled you back?" Was she talking about the possession that Zach mentioned? Taking over Raelynn's body? Was that the solution she wanted?

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Why does that matter now? She's fine!" She replied, exasperated because he wasn't paying attention to the big picture... even if this didn't exactly mean she was going to give up. "If I hadn't gotten in her head, she would have died anyways."

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Are you even listening to yourself? 'She would have died anyways'- How does that make any of this right? She could have died because of you," he said, looking at her like she was crazy because she quite frankly was acting like it. "And you were going to let her die just to get what you wanted!"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Rowan, you have to understand that I did it for us-" She didn't know what else she was going to say. Didn't know what would make him see she had no choice but to take the chance. All she did know what that she had to do it  which was why she went to hold his hands in hers. 

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Don't touch me!" He hissed, yanking his hands away when she tried to touch him. He was too upset to be placated, which he knew she wanted to do. If this were anything else, he would have just been saddened, falling into his norm of pathetic sadness and guilt. But this...even he knew he wasn't to blame for it. Whatever motivated her - either his complicated feelings and situation with Raelynn, her desperate need to come back to life, or something else - Janelle had tried to kill someone. It was all too much. "And don't you dare blame me for any of this! You tried to kill someone, Janelle! In what world can that be justified?!"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

"Rowan, please!" Janelle said, still a little stunned from when he refused her touch. But not so much that she didn't try again- only for him to move further out of her reach. It hurt, not having him be on her side. "Please, just listen to me-"