Seeing Sense (Kira)

[Deleted]

grey woke lazily and his head was groggy. He had had an amazing dream. He had been on a date, but it was the most perfect date that he had ever been on. He tried to remember the face of the girl that he had been with she had pretty red hair, he remembered that much. He knew that he knew her well but he had never kissed her before, he had in the dream though. He heard someone snoring slightly and felt them roll over in the bed. A pale arm flung itself across his torso and for a moment Grey held his breath. What if it wasn't a dream? What if it was her? Rae?

He stopped himself suddenly at the thought. Rae? Why was he thinking about Rae, surely she hadn't been the girl in his dream? She was his best friend and hated him right now. He was so confused. He lifted a hand to his head and shifted the person lying half on top of him. He saw a very sleepy Fontanna by his side. It wasn't Rae and he just didn't know why he had thought that it would have been.

Grey shook his head and tried to disentangle himself from Fontanna, but she groaned in protest so he stayed where he was. Grey glanced over at the clock. 2:45. Shit! He hadn't realised that he had slept so bloody long. What time had he and Fontanna fallen asleep? When was the last time he had been at his own apartment. Crap. Grey was starting to lose it.

He looked down at Fontanna and sighed. He would have to wait for her to wake up. He reached across her carefully to the side table by her head and snatched up the remote. He flicked on the T.V to see a news report. Prepared to flip channels until Grey noticed the words on the bottom. Couture Fashion Inquest Today Grey held his breath. Rae... That was when he saw her walk across the screen and into the Justice building before the camera panned across to that arsehole Tristan as he gave a speech. Grey prayed that things would work out for Rae.

[Lotus]

Rae had been holding her breath until she reached the steps of the justice building and as her heel his the marble she let it out. She'd made it through the courtyard safely and she hadn't had to say a word to anyone. She wanted to though. She wanted to yell and scream at all of them and make them see it was Tristan that was the one in the wrong; the liar. She wanted to waltz over to where he was giving his stupid, nonsensical, filled-with-lies speech and slap it out of him. She wanted to hurt him so badly for everything he'd done to her, but she couldn't. She couldn't then and she couldn't know; she was too weak.

She pulled open the doors of the justice building to be met by Ingretta who pulled her into an embrace. All her managers and co-workers were there to support her and there was a slight hint of a smile playing on her lips. She hoped this would go in her favour, she really did. She'd done nothing wrong; other than fall for Tristan in the first place.

She sighed as they were called into the courtroom and she took her place at the front near the judges table. Tristan sauntered in after he, sneering in her direction and she felt the need to throw up. He did that to her and it was terrifying. The courtroom was brought to justice and the trial started. It was going to be a long one too by the looks of things.

Eventually though, four hours later the verdict was carried. Rae should be happy, but her life had still been ruined. The words just kept being repeated in her head; "Mr Parker you are found guilty of lying and causing unnecessary problems with a situation that could have been easily resolved through polite conversation. However, some of what you said was true. We did find in the evidence of Miss Odell a brief that stated clearly what you wanted in your designs, yet the designs were no where near that of what you stated. Therefore, Miss Odell, you are subject to a months suspension from working or going anywhere near the premises of Couture Fashion. This meeting is adjourned."

She stalked out of the court room and into the bathrooms. She had no such brief and there was no way to prove it either because it was in his handwriting. He's so well known in the district anyone could've slipped it into her belongings before the inquest. She wanted to scream and cry, but she needed to save that for her house; where she would be staying holed up for the next month. She stalked out of the bathroom and let Ingretta link their arms together as they walked out of the buildings doors to the camera crews that awaited like swarms of locusts.

[Deleted]

Grey watched the news report for as long as it lasted. He then kept the screen switched on just in case they went back to it. They didn't. Poor Rae. Was all that he could think. He should have been there for her. He should have been there to give her a hug as she came out of that courtroom and no matter what the verdict might have been, it should have been him to promise her that things would be alright and they would work it out together. To tell her how much of an arsehole Tristan was. But he couldn't do that because she didn't want him around.

Eventually Fontanna woke up. That was when Grey had to turn off the television and pay attention to his girlfriend. But he couldn't help but think about Rae and whether or not she was alright. He found himself unable to stay with Fontanna any longer and finally managed to make the excuse to leave. Packing up his stuff and heading out onto the streets. She had been annoyed, that was true, but she also understood that he had a job to do if he wanted to make money.

Grey went and set up his easel in the square. He was near the Justice Building and he could the noise of the crowds. It meant that he had good business. But he had set up in the hopes of seeing and then talking to Rae when she came out. That was all that he wanted right now.

[Lotus]

Just as she pushed open the door, Tristan sauntered out of the door opposite; that left them both standing on the steps of the justice building facing a crowd of eager reporters. Slowly, she let Ingretta slip away as she took a step forward into the crowd of reporters, she had to get her side across; even though Tristan had already won. She was being bombarded with questions and just as she was about to answer one Tristan stepped forward and they all silenced.

"I see very little need of all these questions being thrown in Miss Odell's way." She thought he was actually going to be kind, but her hope was quickly crushed right back down lower than it was before. "Especially when you can hear what happened from the person that will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You see here, Miss Odell was found guilty. She was found guilty of not following the brief I gave to her. She's stubborn and refuses to face the truth of her wrong doings which is why she's been suspended from working at Couture Fashion for the next month; effective immediately."

Rae was feeling herself being crushed from his words. She didn't need him telling everyone, but then she felt angry. She couldn't let him do this to her again so she cleared her throat. "Actually, I would like to answer a few questions. I want to enlighten you all on the fact that Mr Parker here was also found guilty. He was found guilty of the fact he accused me of being the rude, manipulative and aggressive woman because I am none of those things. I was never rude to him, I never manipulated him and I certainly never showed any signs of aggression towards him." She wanted to say more, but she couldn't. Her life would be made hell if she said what really happened in that board room that day. She'd surely be put on a death wish list.

She glanced over to find him glowering at her and she shuddered. "Well, at least Miss Odell here still feels the need to voice her opinion. She never will change, not even in the face of the most prestigious man known. I guess you'd better watch your step or I might just trample all over you." Her eyes flew wide, but the crowds of people seemed okay with it, like it was something natural for him to say. She shuddered and waved him off before turning around and pushing through the crowd. This was too much.

[Deleted]

Grey tried to get some work done. He had hoped the large crowd might draw in some revenue but it in fact did the opposite. People had no time for a street artist when there was something big and gossipy going on. They all wanted to be a part of it. But Grey stayed where he was. He was here for Rae and was determined to see her. As the crowd began to hype up and become louder he knew that the trial had finished. Grey packed up his supplies and waited, watching for Rae to appear.

Eventually he saw her round the corner. Her head was down and she was walking quickly. Grey picked up the pace as fast as he could. He managed to catch up with her. He reached out a hand and grabbed her arm lightly, trying to catch her attention. "Rae...? What happened? How did it go?" He asked, all thoughts of her anger dissipated as the worry filled him.

[Lotus]

Rae felt someone touching her arm and she tried to shake it away, but the voice made her stop dead in her tracks. This would be the one person she could confide in, yet he didn't want her around. He wanted her to stay away from him in case she ruined his life again. He was only here to hear the truth and that was it. She didn't turn to look at him though, it'd hurt far too much. He'd see how tired, gaunt and lost she looked and no way was she letting him see that. She was supposed to be a strong, independent woman.

She ripped her arm from his grasp. "Why don't you watch the news like everyone else and find out?" With that she started walking away again. She needed to get home. She needed to scream.

[Deleted]

Grey stood there for a moment. Stunned. He knew then that it had gone badly. Rae was upset and he wanted to be able to comfort her. But he didn't know if she would let him. But he had to try. He needed to, because somewhere at the back of his mind was the little hope that he hadn't completely lost his best friend and that he could get her back, just like he had been able to do with Fontanna. Grey could do this.

He began to run after her again, well try to run because holding a heavy easel didn't make for the best exercise. "Rae! Wait!" Grey called out, catching up with her. It took him a moment to catch his breath. "Rae... I'm not going to watch it on the news because it's all twisted to the angle that's most interesting... you told me that, don't you remember? I want to hear what happened from you? Just because I screwed up and hurt you doesn't mean I have to stop caring about you..."

[Lotus]

She didn't stop walking, knowing she'd soon be home and Grey could walk away. She shook her head, trying not to let the tears slip down her cheeks. "The last time I checked Grey you didn't care. Besides, who cares if this story is twisted. What's the difference if you know the truth or not? Nothing will change so watch it like everyone else does."

She turned the corner onto her street and sped up, trying to hold in the way she felt. She ran up the steps to her home and unlocked the front door. She left the door open as she stood in the doorway, staring at the mess. Had she really done this? Of course she had. She sighed and walked inside. She turned to shut the door, only to see Grey walking up her steps behind her so she slammed the door and leant against it.

[Deleted]

Grey was a little shocked. He had never said to her that he didn't care. Had he? Not that he could remember he hadn't. But she had seemed to sincere that maybe he had. But he wouldn't have meant it! Of course he cared about her, she was the only person that had stood by him his entire life. He watched her walk away and decided that he wasn't going to just accept that he had lost her friendship.

Grey began to follow Rae but his equipment was heavy and wasn't quite able to keep up. The stairs had been harder and that was why she had been able to slam the door in his face. Grey was somewhat shocked and taken aback. But he couldn't let it stop him. He banged on the door. "Rae! Rae open up! I need to talk to you!"

[Lotus]

She jumped slightly from the loud banging on her door and she walked over to it. She rested her head against the wood and sighed. She wanted to let him in, she wanted him back. But she knew she couldn't. She'd only get in the way of him and Fontanna and she would never want to be the cause of such heartbreak to him again. She needed to steer clear of him and that's what she was going to do. "Grey..." Her voice sounded hoarse again so she cleared it before carrying on.

"You don't talk to me and if you know what's best for you, you never will. Ever again. Do you understand? You don't need me, so go back to your life and stay out of mine. We have nothing to talk about." She sunk down to the floor, hitting her head softly on the door as silent tears fell down her cheeks. She suddenly remembered the spare key, but she shrugged. He wouldn't use it; she hoped.

[Deleted]

Grey stared at the door with a blank face but inside he was full of emotions. Why wouldn't Rae even talk to him? Why couldn't they sort this out? Surely there had to be a way to sort this out? But she seemed to adamant that they shouldn't talk. That hurt, it hurt a lot. He didn't know what to do or say. He was hurt real bad and there was nothing he could seem to do because he knew that she was hurting even more.

He sighed and rested his head against the door with a thump. He brought his right palm up and rested it against the wood. "Rae... I..." What could he say? That he was sorry? He'd already tried that and it hadn't worked then so why would it now? He had tried giving her a speech and tried telling her how much she meant but it hadn't worked. She just kept on telling him to leave her alone. Maybe she just needed some space, but he didn't want to do that. He sighed again.

"I'm sorry Rae... I will always care about you... you'll always be my friend..." He trailed off and pulled away from the door, heading home. He swallowed hard, trying to push away the tears.

[Lotus]

She heard his thumping footsteps down her steps and let out a sob, "That's exactly why I can't have you near me. I care too much about you to ruin your relationship again but I can't be your friend 'cause of how I feel..." She whispered into the wood. Why did this have to happen to her?

She stood up and rubbed at her eyes. She walked into her living room to catch the news story about her and Tristan but stopped when she realised she'd smashed her T.V. She sighed and walked back out and up the stairs. She was numb; not really living. She sighed and slipped of her heels before un-tucking her shirt. This month was going to be hard, and she only had one person to blame. Herself for getting into this mess in the first place.

[Deleted]

Grey was oblivious to the rest of the world as he trudged through the streets. The crowd had obviously dispersed from the Jutsice Building because people all seemed to be heading back home. Grey sighed and managed to find his way home. His apartment felt cold and empty when he looked around. It was small but it always had been and that had been fine with Grey, and with Rae.

He dropped his stuff by the door and headed to the kitchen. He had been fighting the need to cry the whole walk home, he was a guy and guys didn't cry, but he wanted. So now he just wanted to curl up on the sofa with a bottle of alcohol and just let it all out. But there was no alcohol. He had managed to drink it all and he wasn't earning enough to actually go food shopping. And he definitely didn't have Rae to come and help him. He sighed and let himself sink to the kitchen floor. Defeated.

[Lotus]

I had been two weeks. Two long, torturous weeks in which Rae had hated and blamed herself a little more with each waking minute that passed her by. She'd had nothing to do, no one to talk to and hardly anything to eat. She was wasting away in her home and no one was going to care. She had no idea what was happening with the news story, and she was pretty sure that was the reason why everyone had been ignoring her. It had been shifted too far out of control.

She'd heard nothing from Patrick, but then she hadn't ever reconnected her phone so who knew who was trying to contact her. Yet he still hadn't come by the house and she knew he knew where she lived. He'd brought her a picnic before! Ingretta hadn't even stopped by and she'd been the supportive one through all of this. She was well and truly alone and even though she'd told Greyson to leave her alone, it hurt her. It hurt her deep down that he had never been back. She guessed it was the end of her altogether. She'd royally screwed up her life and she had no one to blame it on other than herself.

But she wanted Grey. She needed him. She needed him to make it all better. She wanted all this to be better. She wanted to be the Rae he had known, not the one that was hiding away in a wrecked home because she couldn't be bothered to re-fix anything. She knew she couldn't want that though. She knew she had to let him go and that hurt her the most than him not trying with her any more.

It was getting late and her stomach growled. She'd only eaten when it had growled at her so she wandered down to the kitchen to the packet of crackers she'd missed when clearing out the cupboards. She took out two and wandered back upstairs, eating for the first time in three straight days. She slipped into her pyjamas as she finished eating and slipped under the covers. Tears streaked down her cheeks for the fourteenth night in a row, causing her vision to blur as the darkness threatened to consume her. She thought she heard her front door unlock but she was too far gone and as she slowly slipped into the darkness, she scolded herself for letting her imagination run away with her.

[Deleted]

Two weeks seemed to have dragged. Grey had tried to forget about Rae and what had happened. But how can yo forget a life time of friendship with someone who knew everything about you? He cared about her and the fact that no one had heard from her in two weeks was starting to worry him. Tristan had control of the news and almost everyday there was some new twist to the story that was being published.

He hated all of it and had tried to talk to Fontanna about his worries. But she always seemed busy or changed the subject whenever he got a chance. He had no one to express his worries too. He wanted to get Rae back but he didn't know how. On top of that Fontanna had been expecting him to spend all of his free time with her. He had barely been able to get any work and he was seriously low on money. He barely had enough to pay the rent and if it wasn't for Fontanna he would have starved to death.

Grey sighed. He needed to make this better. He needed to fix things with Rae. It had been too long without talking to her. Not that he hadn't tried. He had tried to call her but the phone was always dead. So now he was standing outside her house trying to bring up the courage to knock on her door. As well as trying to work out what he was going to say when he saw her because he had no clue how to make it up. He still didn't even know what was wrong.

Grey found the spare key and unlocked her door. He was shocked on seeing the state of her house. Rae had always been so neat and organised! He stepped over the piles of food and stared at the smashed T.V. On realising she wasn't downstairs he headed up and cautiously stopped outside her bedroom door. Should he go in? It wasn't like it would be the first time he had seen Rae asleep or in her pyjamas. He sighed and pushed open the door. "Rae...?"

[Lotus]

Rae heard her name being spoken, but through the haze and the darkness from which she had let herself be dragged to she didn't know who it was. She wiped at her face and opened her eyes slowly. Her room was dark and she couldn't see the person who had spoken, maybe she was dreaming. But then the person shifted and the moonlight illuminated his face. She screamed and rolled over, falling off the bed in the process. She groaned and stood up, shakily.

"Get. Out. Greyson." She sounded fierce and wild, but it was only the hoarseness of her voice at having not physically spoken to another person in two weeks and only using it to scream herself silly. "Now." She walked to her bedroom door and walked out onto the landing. She felt spooked though. Her house didn't seem as empty any more and it wasn't the feeling the Greyson had given it. It had only hit her when she stood on the landing facing the stairs. Like someone was watching her. She shivered and turned back to Grey.

"Out..." Now all she did was sound weak. She was exhausted from her lack of peaceful sleep, her lack of food and her lack human contact. She reached for the banister and gripped onto it, trying to keep herself standing up when all she wanted was to hide away because her clothes were practically falling off her body. "And give me the spare key."

[Deleted]

For a moment Grey just looked down at Rae. She seemed so small and fragile, so thin and grey. It was like she was ill. He hated seeing her like that, he wanted to go and give her a hug, talk to her and then force some food back down her. He had seen the carnage in the house and he could only imagine what she had been doing in here for two weeks. She had been completely alone. But he wanted to change that, he was so worried about her and he wanted to be let back in so that he could help. He knew she needed the help.

He started a bit when she spoke. But the sound of her voice just made his heart sink even lower. Usually she made him smile, made his heart lift up a little but just by talking to him. But her voice was so weak and hoarse that it just made him worry more, it was like she was ill. Was she ill? She looked ill? Grey bit his lip and ran a hand over his face. He didn't want to leave her like this. Alone. She needed someone to be around and he knew it was meant to be him.

Grey turned and watched her at the banister. She was so thin! Why? Had she not been eating? He hoped that wasn't the case but he knew it was. She was starving herself and he knew why. She had done it before, with Tristan. He had broken her so badly that she wouldn't eat for weeks. She would have starved herself to death if he hadn't been there. If he hadn't forced her to eat and drink. But this time she wouldn't let him in, she wouldn't let him help her and he was scared that she wouldn't stop herself from going to far.

He took a step closer, wanting to reach out and pull her into a hug. But she didn't want that and she had made it clear.

He let out a heavy sigh and approached the stairs. He couldn't deny her what she wanted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the key. He went to put it into her hand but as he did so he gripped onto hers, not letting go. He looked into Rae's eyes. They seemed to void and lifeless. His heart sank some more.

"I still care about you..." He whispered softly to her. He lent forward and kissed her forehead, just how a brother would. With that he turned and left her house, he studied his feet as he walked. Feeling a sadness come over him like a huge wave.

Grey didn't want to just leave her like that. He knew he needed to check on her. He felt bad for doing it but Grey left the door on the latch, that way he could get back in.

[Lotus]

Rae had seen the way Grey looked at her and she felt tears spring to her eyes, but she brushed them away quickly. He was only here out of guilt, nothing more. Yes, he said he cared, but that was it. The Grey she knew would never have given her back the spare key. He would have kicked up a fuss, but he didn't. He just turned and left, despite the kiss he gave her, but even that was emotionless.

She gripped onto the key tightly and she waited for her front door to click shut. When she heard it she thought her body would relax but it was still on edge. She needed to try and relax somehow. So slipped the key in her pocket and walked to her bathroom, switching on the shower. Stepping in she felt her muscles instantly relax, but her mind wasn't calm. It was all over the place, once again. She just wanted all of this to come to an end. She wanted her old life back, but she could never have any of that again.

Stepping out of the shower, she dried herself and slipped back into her clothes. Just as she exited her bathroom she heard her front door click shut again. What now? She felt her body start to shake and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. She walked to the top of the stairs and called out, "H-ell-o?" There was no answer and the uneasiness she felt in her own home before had dissipated. She was truly alone, again.

She wandered back to her bedroom, and as soon as her head hit the pillow she felt into a sleep caused by pure and utter exhaustion. She wanted it to last forever, but like everything in her life at the present she was woken by loud banging on her front door. She groaned and rolled over, only to hear people in her house. What was going on? She sat up in bed as people in white burst into her room. "Miss Odell, you're coming with us." It was a gruff voice that spoke and she didn't recognise it. Then she took in their uniforms. Peacekeepers.

That was the day she disappeared.

[Deleted]

Grey was full of worry as he walked away from Rae's house. He wanted to help her, to hold her hand and tell it would all be alright. To reassure her. To force her to eat something and then promise to kick Tristan's arse for hurting her again. Grey hated that guy so much. He hadn't at first, he had been happy for Rae because she was happy. But as their relationship had gone on Grey had begun to distrust him. He had never said anything though. He wished that he had, he might have saved Rae from all of the heartache that she had gone through. He was so worried about her. She was going to end up killing herself. He couldn't let that happen. But she wouldn't let him in and he still didn't know why.

Grey had tried to focus on work for the rest of the week. He had tried to be a good boyfriend to Fontanna. To put Rae out of his mind. But that was impossible. Every time he sat down to paint he thought about her favourite colours. Whenever he doodled, it was her. Whenever he ate he was just reminded of what she was doing to herself. It got to a point that he couldn't just let her carry on like she was.

This point happened when he was at Fontanna's. They were sitting down, eating a meal together. Fontanna was talking but Grey was worried about Rae. He couldn't shake the feeling that something bad had happened to her. But he hadn't been able to find out. She didn't want him near her. She had disconnected her phone and no one he had spoken to had heard from her either. Grey looked up at Fontanna, everything had gone wrong the night of that party. The party where Rae had stopped talking to him, where he had hurt her badly, where he had gotten back together with Fontanna. The party that he couldn't remember. He needed to know.

"Fontanna?" He asked at a lull in the conversation. She looked up at him over her glass of wine.

"Yes baby?" She flashed him a smile, Grey's response was weak.

"That night, when we got back together...what happened with me and Rae?" He asked, he was nervous all of a sudden. His hands were beginning to sweat and his heart beat had sped up. He didn't know if he wanted to know the answer or not. It made him feel a little bit sick. A flash of what could have been anger flew across Fontanna's face. But as quick as it was there, it was gone. Her face softened and she smiled gently.

"Why do you worry about her? She's nothing now. Gone. Ever since she did that appalling thing to Tristan Parker! Well, she's nothing... it's a good thing she's gone. Tristan did everyone a favour, she was only going round hurting people and well... he was very grateful to have our thanks on the matter." She flashed a sweet smile at Grey before returning to her food.

Grey looked at Fontanna, unsure about what to make of what was just said. What did she mean by gone? Rae hadn't gone anywhere! Had she? And how on earth could she say that she thank Tristan?! That man was awful, he had broken Rae and it had taken Grey so long to get her back. How could she thank a man that Grey hated so much. Worry began to build up inside him.

He out down his fork and looked at Fontanna. "What do you mean by gone? What did Tristan do to her?" He asked slowly, he didn't want to get angry at her if there was nothing in her words. He hoped that that was the case. He was wrong.

"She's gone. Quite literally. She got what she deserved really. I mean, if you saw some of the designs she had then you would understand too! I mean, it was like she hated to Capitol! Tristan was just doing his duty as a citizen."

Grey began to feel anger building up inside himself. "Oh. And you've seen these designs?" He asked her bitterly.

Fontanna looked up and blinked at him. "Of course! Tristan came to show them too me, he wanted to know if they were actually her work. He wanted to know her personality." She said sweetly, it made him feel sick.

"So he asked you? Why would he need to ask! He bloody knew her once for crying out loud before he broke her heart. And you just told him that they were hers? What did he say to that?! What has he done with her?!" He snapped.

Fontanna abruptly stood up and stared at Grey. "HOW DARE YOU INSULT ME LIKE THIS?! I did you a favour! I did the whole Capitol a favour! I helped get a heretic locked up! I saved you from that pathetic, scheming, evil girl who wanted to corrupt you! She nearly did and if it wasn't for me saving you then you'd be locked up too!"

Grey stood up also. He stared at Fontanna. His hands balled in fists. "WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!" He shouted. He felt sick. What had they done to Rae? What was she going through? How was he not there to help her? Why would Fontanna do this to his best friend?

She simply shrugged her shoulders. "How the hell am I supposed to know?" She said, her voice was too calm.

Grey stepped away from the table. Fuming with anger. He hated Fontanna for what she had done. He was scared to think of what Rae was going through right now because of her. No. Not her, him. It was his fault that this had happened. He should have tried harder to get her back. "We're through." He spat back at Fontanna before turning and leaving her house.

He ran through the streets and headed towards Rae's home. He didn't know why, she wouldn't have been there. But it was worth a try. He pushed the door open, after two weeks it was still on the latch. That made him even more worried. Walking through her house at a brisk pace Grey's worry began to rise.

The house looked much the same as when he had last seen her. It was still a mess. But it was an empty mess. Cold. It was like no one had been in the house for days. That made him worry even more.

Grey exhausted all of the rooms and cupboards. There was no sign of Rae at all and no suggestion of where she might be. That was when he did something stupid. He went to the Justice Building. But as he was heading there, his head down and walking as quickly as possible, he barged into someone.

Grey reeled backwards, stunned at what had just happened. He looked up to see some guy glaring back at him. The guy looked vaguely familiar, they seemed to be the same age. But Grey just couldn't remember where he might know him from. He would have apologised but his worry was clouding his thoughts. He felt sick with anxiety and he was just so angry at himself. At Tristan. At Fontanna. It hadn't even really sunk in what he had said to her. His mind had totally been focused on Rae.

"Watch it you jerk!" The guy snapped. Grey's head shot up and he looked at the guy again. He hadn't hit him that hard. So why on earth was he being so snappy? He was confused.

Grey opened his mouth to mumble out an apology. He didn't have time for this, he needed to find out what had happened about Rae. He was scared.

"You just going to walk away from me? Like you did her? You ass!" The guy said again. Grey's brow furrowed as he looked back at the guy.

"What are you on about?" He asked. He was worried and scared, he didn't have time for this. He was already angry. But he was also curious, he wanted to know what this guy was on about. He seemed more and more familiar.

"Don't play the fool with me jerk. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Grey just looked at the guy confused. "Rae. At the party?" The guy said, slower this time. His tone was angrier. Grey didn't even know him but he seemed really annoyed.

His words made Grey stop and think. Rae?! Party?! Had this guy been there? He must have. Maybe he knew why Rae had been upset with him. He knew that that was irrelevant now that Rae was missing but maybe if he knew what had happened between the two of them he could fix it when he found Rae again. He would find her.

"I'm sorry... I don't remember anything about that night... what happened?" Grey asked the guy standing in front of him. His voice was sad. It hurt to think about how he and Rae had been, Grey blamed himself for her being missing. If he had been around to look after her then she might still be here. But he hadn't been and now she was gone.

The guy looked at him skeptically but began to speak anyway. "Well. You were getting off with some girl in the corner or whatever and Rae came up to you, you basically had a go at her. Being a right jerk, you told her you didn't need her. That you didn't want her around cause she ruined everything. Then she left." He looked at him with daggers in his eyes.

Grey took a deep breath, a wash of sadness and hurt filling him. He didn't believe the guy, he hadn't said that to her. Surely? But what if he had? That would be why she had said all those things whenever he tried talking to her. He now knew why she hated him and it made him hate himself even more. Everything that was happening was his fault. All because he had been so desperate to get Fontanna back when she wasn't even worth it. But he had learnt that too late.

"Oh..." Grey breathed out, studying his feet. He was lost. Not entirely sure what he had been doing. Just filled with sadness and hate. He had lost Rae. But he could find her again. He had to!

"When did you last see her?" Grey asked the guy. He stared back blankly at him for a moment, disgust clear on his face. "When did you see her last?" Grey asked again, his voice desperate. Maybe she was alright, maybe this guy had seen her recently.

Instead he reached up a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. His eyes shifted. "A few weeks back, I was going to check on her... but I thought she needed time, and then the whole news things came up and I didn't think she would want anyone..." The guy mumbled out.

Grey stared at him for a moment, his heart sinking. He hadn't seen Rae. She was still lost. Grey glanced at the guy. "I've got to go!" He shouted out to him before running. Heading towards the Justice Building. He needed to find Rae.

It took five hours before Grey was able to see someone. Even then the man had not been helpful. He just kept saying that Rae was participating in official government business which meant she would be away indefinitely until her help was no longer needed. Somehow Grey didn't believe them and his worry only grew stronger. He needed to get her back, but he didn't know how.

So he waited, he waited for as long as he could in the Justice Building. Asking questions of people and trying to get answers. Eventually two Peacekeepers were called to take him home. They escorted Grey back to his apartment. They didn't say anything. Grey was sick with worry. He wanted to know where Rae was and to talk to her. To make sure she was alright and to tell her how sorry he was. To make things better between them. To do good. He wanted it all so bad. But he didn't know if he could do that. He didn't even know where she was.

[Lotus]

Rae hadn't know when one day turned into another. She hadn't know what was going on most of the time. She had just known the cramped room she'd been kept in and the people who kept coming to hurt her and interrogate her. She still didn't understand. Today though, she was finally escorted from her smelling, rotting confinement and into a large room where she was made to stand in the middle. There were government officials sitting all around her, glaring.

Her hands started to shake and she felt sweat adding to the grime already encrusted on her body. She was thinner than when she came in and when she felt her knees collapsing under her from the exhaustion her body felt and the pain she was in, a pair of hands gripped her arms to stand her upright. Her head lolled to the side, but shouting made her become far more alert. She barely knew what was being spoken of, but it would all make sense. She was finally being allowed home. She was finally allowed to go and live her life; well, what she had left of it.

She was taken from the room and barrelled into a car with blacked out windows which took her to her home. There she was escorted by Peacekeepers to her front door, and they pushed her inside before turning to leave. Closing the door behind her, her legs gave way and she crumpled to the floor, tears rolling down her cheeks as she whimpered in pain. How could her life go so wrong?

Slowly, she lifted her head slightly as she felt a presence with her in her home. She saw feet and screamed. Why couldn't people leave her alone? "P-Please? D-on't hu-urt me..." She pleaded as more tears rolled down her cheeks and she started sobbing. She didn't want this any more. The person moved forward and she cowered away from them.

"Rae? Shh, it's Patrick." Rae lifted her head, but still cowered from him. Patrick? Patrick who? Then she remembered. From the party, the guy to make her feel better. The one who cared enough to cheer up. "You need to stay still. I'll go get someone to help okay? I'll be as quick as I can." With that he sprung up and sprinted out of her front door before she had the chance to protest.

[Deleted]

Grey had been lost. He had stayed at home just staring at the wall for hours. He had wanted to drink, but he had nothing to drink. The money he had been earning that had all gone towards bills and essential food. The rest he had put aside to pay back Rae with. Rae. He missed her and he was so worried. Now that he knew that she was gone and that she might not be coming back he felt empty. He knew now why she had been upset with him. He knew how he had hurt her and that made the feelings so much worse. He had wanted to make things better. To comfort her and make everything alright. But he didn't even know where she was and he was just so worried about it.

Grey couldn't take it much longer. Just sitting around. He made himself get up. He had to do something. He thought about going onto the streets to paint but he had left his easel and supplies at Fontanna's. His hands curled into fists at the thought. No, he couldn't go back there yet. He was still too mad. He needed to let off steam.

Grey moved into his room and changed. He needed to go for a run and let this all out before he lost it. He just didn't know if it would work. He took to the streets and kept his head down as he ran, he tried to think about anything other than Rae and Fontanna. But it was so hard. His mind just kept wandering back to Rae in the hope that she might be alright.

"Greyson! Greyson!" A voice called out. It was faint and distant and he thought he was imagining it. "Greyson!" There it was again, louder this time. He slowed down to a jog and looked up.

"Greyson!" Someone called again, he turned round to see the same guy from before jogging towards him. He looked out of breath and worried. But all Grey could think of was why he was talking to him again? How did he even know his name because he was pretty sure he hadn't told the guy. He stopped in front of him, his eyes were wide and he was breathing heavily.

"yes?" Grey said, perhaps a little too snappy but he was worried and upset. He didn't know what the guy wanted.

"Rae... she's. Home... come with me." He said between pants. Grey looked at him in disbelief. The guy was kidding. He couldn't have been saying that. Could he? Oh God. What if Rae was home? Rae was home! Rae! He could see her again. He could make things up to her.

He found himself smiling. "She is?"

"Yeah," The guy said, he turned his back on Grey and headed back in the direction he had come from. The guy waved a hand towards himself. "Come on!" He called out. Grey didn't need telling twice. He jogged after the guy, anxious to see Rae.

He didn't know what to feel. He was happy. That much he was certain. But anxiety was also in him as well as sadness. What if she wouldn't forgive him? She had been starving herself before, how would she be now? He chewed his lip, completely worried about all of the bad possibilities.

As they approached her house Grey ran on ahead. He pushed open her door and burst into the house. But then he stopped. What was he going to say? Would she even want to see him? He didn't know. But then he saw her. Slouched up against the wall and looking so frail. "Rae..." He breathed out, rushing over to her side and gently resting a hand on her arm.

[Lotus]

Rae waited, propped up by the wall but even though she was sitting still her world kept spinning in and out without her having any control over it. She groaned and closed her eyes, but that only made her relive everything she'd been through in that cramped little room. She shook her head but that just made the dizzy feeling worse and as it steadily got worse she felt sick. She'd thrown up once or twice in her little confinement, but never had she felt this rough.

Suddenly she heard pounding feet and then someone by her side. Who was that? She heard the voice and it took every ounce of her strength to put a name to it. Grey. She sighed and opened her eyes. Grey was here and everything would be better. Wait! "Gr-ey?" She croaked out, fighting off the nausea. She shook her head and stood up, shakily running to the downstairs bathroom. Why was he here? Why had he come back? She couldn't take this any more.

She crouched over the toilet, yanking the lid up and wretched; the bile scorching her throat on the way up. She was shaking and tears streaked her face. How could this be any worse? She felt a presence at the door, but she was too weak. She didn't want this any more. Slowly, she pushed herself away from the toilet and lowered her head to the floor. Closing her eyes, she let her body relax as she succumbed to the darkness that had been invading her mind every since she was put in her grey, box-like room.

[Deleted]

Grey was shocked. No. Horrified. To see Rae how she was. What had they been doing to her? She had never been this thing before. She looked almost grey, her face was gaunt. She seemed ill, really ill. Grey's happiness at having her back was filled with worry for her health. He didn't know what to do or think. He saw how she shook when she stood and he wanted to support her, but she pushed past.

He heard the guy coming into the house but he ignored him. He followed Rae into the bathroom and watched her with worry etched onto his. He didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. But when she collapsed on the floor he knew he needed to do something.

Gently Grey picked her up. She was so light and small. It made him worry even more. He gently went and tucked her into her bed. He watched her to make sure she was breathing before sitting down next to her. When she woke he would make her eat and drink something. Then he would apologise and make it up to her somewhere. Then he was never going anywhere again.

"I'm so sorry Rae..."

[Lotus]

Rae didn't know what had happened. She felt something soft underneath her, but she vaguely remember collapsing in the bathroom. How had she got here? She felt dips in the bed, one either side of her. Who were they? Not more people to make her life a misery!

Slowly, she opened her eyes. It was midday and the light was streaming into her room. Everything was a mess. She remembered the state of everything. She remembered how she'd thrown all of the clothes she'd designed into a pile on the floor, she remembered all the ripped photos strewn around the room and she remembered the smell that radiated from it. It was a living hell hole and she'd caused it. She knew she smelt too, but that didn't matter. She didn't care. She wanted out and that was it.

She felt people shifting around her, but she didn't glance around. She was too exhausted to try.

[Deleted]

It had been a tense few hours. Grey had sat by Rae's side the entire time. The guy, who Grey had learned was called Patrick, came into the bedroom also. He had spent some time looking through the piles of stuff that was on her floor. Grey could see what it all was. It was all her work and then photos. The work made him sad but the photos made him angry. Angry at himself and Tristan. She had ripped up every photo that she had had of him and of Tristan. It was all Grey's fault and he knew it.

He felt Rae stirring and looked down at her. He carefully reached out a hand and brushed back the hair from her head. Patrick shot him a glare but Grey tried to ignore it. Why was he being like that? He didn't fully understand.

"Rae...? Are you awake?"