Seeing Sense (Kira)

[Deleted]

Grey was tense. Not just about the fact that Rae was so ill and he was so worried about her eating. But also because of Patrick. He didn't like the fact that the guy was so being so helpful when he hardly knew her. And why when she said she didn't want them to look did he help? It made Grey a little bit mad, but no. He couldn't be selfish and think like that. He had to be strong and positive for Rae.

He chewed his lip as he watched her. He could tell by her eyes that she really didn't want to eat. But Grey wasn't going to let that stop him. He needed to make her better. To make her see how important it was that she ate. Because he couldn't let her die. He couldn't lose his best friend. He noticed how Patrick was holding her hand. What was that guy playing it? He didn't even know Rae so why should he be comforting her?

Grey knew somewhere at the back of his mind that he was jealous. But he didn't care to think of why. He seemed to act on instinct. Gently touching her knee, letting her know that he was there for her. Just as he had been last time. He smiled as she reached towards the food. He wanted her to eat. He needed her to. That was all that was important right now. That she ate.

He could see the struggle in her eyes and that needed to stop. She needed to feel confident and willing to eat else she would never get better. And she had to get better. "It'll be alright."

[Lotus]

Slowly, Rae finished off her first cracked and she looked to Patrick and Grey to see small smiles on their faces. But she didn't feel a sense of achievement, she didn't feel much other than pain and more pain. She nodded her head at Grey's words and reached for another cracked, eating it slightly faster that time to avoid the terrible, bland taste. She used to love crackers, and maybe she will again when her appetite comes back.

She finished the second and looked back to the plate, wrinkling her nose. There were more. She shook her head and she felt two hands squeeze her where they were holding her. "I can't..." She shook her head again as she saw Grey shift closer. "I..." Tears sprung to her eyes and she wriggled around, trying to get out off their grasps so she could have some space. She felt like she was being smothered. The wriggling on caused her more pain and she whimpered slightly. Did she really have to get better?

She saw the plate put on the side and her body relaxed a little. "I don't want them... They're not nice..." She shook her head and wrinkled her nose again as she remembered the cardboard-like taste. She heard a chuckle and looked up to Patrick and out of the corner of her eye she saw Grey tense, but smile slightly. This was getting weirder.

Her brows pulled together and he brushed her of. "Crackers aren't there for their taste." He chuckled again and Rae started to feel her cheeks warm slightly, as she turned her head down. She knew that, didn't she?

[Deleted]

Grey was so happy. She had eaten! She had actually eaten, not one but two crackers! That was an improvement from last time, it had taken him so much longer to make her eat and even then she barely touched the food. He let himself smile because it meant that she was getting better. It would still take along while but she was getting there and eventually she would be healthy again. Eventually she would be back to her old self and that was the most important thing right now. For him to try his hardest to get her back.

But he tensed. Patrick was laughing. Why would he do that? It was so insensitive. He shouldn't laugh because then he might scare her away from eating again because she would be too embarrassed. It could make her doubt herself even more then she already did. Grey was annoyed at Patrick, he was risking everything. Risking Rae.

But there was nothing he could do about it without drawing Rae's attention. He didn't want to do that. Grey squeezed her hand gently in the hopes that she would look at him. "How are you feeling?" He asked, gently. "Can you... can you tell us what happened?"

[Lotus]

Rae tried to tune out the chuckling coming from Patrick, but she couldn't. It made her feel worse that she'd been so silly as to even think they would taste nice; but hadn't they always been her favourite snack food? She sighed and tried to hide away, but Grey's words brought her back.

Her eyes widened in terror and she looked around the room. She knew no one else was here, but the terror of what had happened to her made her wary, even of her own home. She shook her head and closed her eyes, trying to breathe deeply and calm her racing heart down. She sensed the two of them moving in closer to her and this helped a great deal. Slowly, but far quicker than if she'd been alone she was calm again; well as calm as she could be after what had happened to her. "I..." She cleared her throat and tried again. "I hurt, but I think I feel okay other than that..." She ducked her head down, for fear of looking at either of them. She didn't really want to worry them any further, but doubt did pass through her mind as to if they would actually care how much pain she was in.

She knew they wanted to know what had happened, but at the mere thought of it tears welled in her eyes and slowly cascaded down her cheeks like a silent waterfall. She tried to keep it quiet but she felt a hand under her chin, bringing her up face to face with Grey. He looked so downright worried then more tears leaked out, wetting her t-shirt where they fell. She sniffed and tried to blink them back as she swallowed over the lump in her throat, "I ca-an't tell you. I can't..." She tried to shake her head, but with Grey's firm grip she gave up trying, too exhausted to even care if she moved or not.

[Deleted]

Grey was filled with worry at her words. It didn't matter that she said that she was ok but it was quite clear to him that she was in more pain than what she was letting on. He didn't like that. He didn't like that fact that she was in pain and hiding it from him when all he wanted to do was help. Yes. He knew he had been a jerk and that he had hurt her - he hated himself for that - but that still didn't mean that he didn't care. He did care. He cared a lot about her because she was his best friend. She was important to him that meant a lot.

He was studying her intently, wondering if she would tell them what had happened to her. He was so filled with worry that he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Patrick was sitting the same way, his hand was grasping hers gently and Grey could see him squeezing it out of the corner of his eye. He still didn't understand how Patrick could be so worried and caring about a girl that he had just met, especially as he had told him that he had no interest in her sexually.

But then he saw the first tear fall and that was too much for Grey. He was still so angry at himself and at Tristan and Fontanna but he had forgotten about that momentarily as his resolve crumbled on seeing his bets friend cry. He found himself reaching out and tilting up her chin without even realising what he was doing. He tried to be gentle and tender as he looked at her with so much care and emotion. He was so worried about her. It crushed his heart when she wouldn't tell them because he needed to know what was going on. But he couldn't push her. He gently stretched out his thumb and wiped away the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "It's alright..." He whispered gently, looking into her eyes. "I'm so sorry..."

[Lotus]

"D-don't." She didn't need people apologising to her, she just wanted it forgotten so she could either move on or just drift away. She didn't care which option she went with, but even so, she didn't really see much of a life ahead of her if she chose to stay.

The tears kept streaming down her face, despite Grey constantly wiping them away. Soon enough, she was sobbing while he still held onto her. How could she tell them the truth, when she feared that if she even started to spill they'd come barging in to her home again and torture her till she was begging for death to take her under it's wing. She'd probably drag Patrick and Grey down with her. She shook her head again, as Grey's grip slackened a little. "T-they'll find me if I d-o. I'll hu-urt you." Despite everything, she was still scared of hurting Grey. Heck, she was even scared of hurting Patrick and she hardly knew him; yet he brought a sense of calm with him and she felt safe, even if it was only for a little while.

She wanted to tell them. She didn't want to bare this alone, so how could she tell them? She thought and as she thought, her sobs quietened and her flow of tears slowly become a trickle. She'd calmed down enough to think coherently and soon enough she was looking at Patrick, "Pa-aper and a pen? They'll be in my st-udy." She shook her head at the thought of her study. She hadn't been in there since she'd trashed the place. "It's a me-ess though..." He nodded his head softly and let of her hand before walking out of the room with purpose.

[Deleted]

Grey watched as Patrick left the room before turning back to Rae. He was worried and the fact that she couldn't even say out loud what had happened to her was a little unsettling. He didn't like it at all. He knew that whatever Tristan (He spat his name out in his head as if it was a foul tasting bug that he had just swallowed) had done to her was bad. She had been hurt and he didn't know how to fix it.

He tried to look into her eyes but it hurt too much to see the tears that were on her face. She seemed so small and delicate. She was so vulnerable right now and he wanted to protect her as much as possible. "Rae... I promise you that I'm here for you," He said gently, just as the door swung open and Patrick walked back in. Grey moved back, he hadn't realised that he had moved in so close to her.

[Lotus]

Rae nodded her head softly before looking away from Grey. He'd drawn closer to her and in some ways it was comforting, but it confused her at the same time. She still couldn't get over what he said to her, she just thought it was real. She's been hurt so many times before, that she just assumed it had happened again and taken what he said as the truth.

Soon, Patrick came back but he looked worried. She couldn't understand why he'd be worried after just going to fetch her a pen and a piece of paper, but she took it off him as he sat down next to her again. Her hands were shaking, but she knew she had to do this. She would go crazy if she didn't tell anyone and she didn't want to suffer any longer. She wanted it to be over and done with already. Slowly, she took her shaking hand to the page and tried to write, but her shaking got to bad she had to stop and close her eyes; trying to calm herself.

She felt a hands on her legs again and she slowly calmed right down; mainly due to the fact that Grey had willingly touched her again. She opened her eyes slowly and her shaking had stopped a little so she began again and this time her writing resembled her elegant hand-writing.

'It was the night you decided to come by and I told you to leave. The one where I asked for my spare key back?' She saw Grey nod so she carried on. 'I went back to sleep and I don't know how much later but I woke up to Peacekeepers in my room. They hauled me out of bed and into the night, knocking me out halfway through the journey so by the time I woke up I had no idea what had happened. I freaked out, as you can imagine. I was in a grey, cramped, concrete room with no bed and no light other than for the blue flickering bulb in one of the corners. I didn't know what day was when so I have no idea what the day is now or how long I've been gone. It was a blur. I was gagged and I wasn't given anything to eat or drink the entire time I was there so I just gave up with it all. They started torturing me because someone gave them my sketches of clothing against the Games. Someone had been in my house, knew where they were and given them to the Peacekeepers. They wanted to know if I was rebelling but I told them time and time again that it was to challenge myself in order to be better. They didn't believe me for ages, until my so called trial. They whipped me relentlessly and I was bound by the ankles to a wooden chair the whole time. A lot of the time they pushed the chair over so I went flying, other times they just hit me, but the worst was the whipping cause they stripped the top half of me then had one Peacekeeper hold me down while the other whipped me. They laughed...' She trailed off, trying to breathe deeply as more tears formed in her eyes. She blinked them back though. She needed to finish this.

'I was dragged out of the room and made to stand in this brightly lit room with people staring at me. I couldn't stand so someone held me up, I wasn't allowed to sit. I couldn't speak, but they said I was innocent so they had Peacekeepers bring me back here and shove me inside. That was it.' She turned the piece of paper around after capping her pen. She watched their faces as they started to read it, but suddenly she felt dizzy. She couldn't quite focus properly on their faces as she swayed in and out of consciousness. She was terrified and the fear was causing all her senses to give up on her.

[Deleted]

=-Grey watched as Patrick walked over to Rae. He seemed a bit stiff in his movements and he couldn't help but think that something had happened or he had seen something in
er office that had disturbed him. That made Grey worry even more about her safety and well being. He already knew something very bad had happened to her and he was so worried about what affect that was going to have. He saw her shaking and without even thinking he was trying to comfort her again. That was all that seemed important right now; letting her know that he was here for her and that she was safe with him. He wasn't going to let her get hurt.

He watched as she wrote. Anxiety spread across his face. He could see the tears forming in her eyes and he knew then for definite that things were very bad. He began to worry that he wouldn't be able to put it all back together again. He had done so much damage to her already that he didn't know if he would be able to make things better this time. Slowly Grey read over everything that she had written before handing it to Patrick. on the outside he tried to remain calm but inside he was angry. Angry at Tristan and the Peacekeepers and the Capitol in general for having done that to her. But he was also angry at himself. It was all his fault. He had left her door open so that he could go back to her again that day; that was how they had gotten in and taken her. Some part of his brain knew that if they had wanted her they would have taken her regardless of the door being locked. But he didn't listen to that. He was so angry at himself because all of pain and torture that she had gone through had been down to him. She was his best friend and he had caused her to be hurt in that way. How could he ever make it up to her now?

"Rae's office. Why did she trash it?" A voice cut through his reverie. Grey heard the sound of paper rustling slightly and he turned his head to face patrick who was looking at him pointedly. He had been talking to him. Grey watched his hands as the paper was screwed up and thrown in the bin with disgust and anger before he turned back to face him. That was when Grey realised he hadn't answered the question.

"How bad is it?" He asked, only slightly aware that he had avoided the question. He had an idea but he didn't know.

"Come see for yourself." Patrick responded, standing up and heading to the door. Grey stood also and glanced back at Rae, he chewed his lip and ran a hand over his face. He didn't want to leave her, unconscious, like this. Especially after she just told him what had happened. But he needed to see for himself. Besides, it would only be for a minute and then he would be back. He turned and followed Patrick out into her office.

His eyes widened at the site of the room. Everything was completely destroyed. There were pieces of torn paper everywhere with scraps of designs on them. Whole sketchbooks had been ripped and dumped. The manikin in the corner which occasionally had mock ups of her designs on it was on its side on the floor with a pool of fabric surrounding it. Grey ran a hand over his face. He had seen this before, after Tristan the first time. She had thought none of her stuff was good enough so had gone and destroyed the lot. It had taken him a while to get her to start working again.

"She's had a break down. Lost all confidence in herself and thought that she was no good." He said monotonously to Patrick before turning on his heel and heading back to Rae. He didn't want to be in here any longer then he had to.

[Lotus]

Rae woke with a groan as she rolled over and hissed in pain as her back rubbed up against the bed. She pushed herself up onto her elbows to find her room vacated. She sighed and laid back down slowly and carefully, "Guess they finally left..." She whispered to herself. Maybe they had finally realised she was a lost cause and they'd given up on her. Maybe Grey had finally realised his mistake of trying to care for her again and gone back to Fontanna, despite the few things she'd taken in about what he'd said about her.

She ran and hand over her face and groaned, just as her bedroom door flew open and Grey walked in. He was still here and he looked worse than before she'd collapsed. Her eyes darted behind him to where Patrick was standing, but they both seemed on edge. What had happened? Where had they been to cause this reaction?

She looked up at the ceiling as she gave up trying to decipher them. She didn't really care if she was honest. She was too exhausted to try to care. She didn't care about herself, let alone other people. Although, she knew she still cared for Grey. She cared for him a lot, yet she would never admit that. It would ruin everything.

[Deleted]

Grey felt stressed and full of worry. He just didn't know what to think or do right now. He couldn't even imagine what was going through her head right now and that just made him even more worried. He knew that she was in pain, not just physically but mentally too. The way she had trashed her office just told him everything he needed to know about how she felt about herself and that made him both upset and angry at himself for having done this to her and he just didn't know how he could possibly fix it.

He walked over to her bed and sat on the edge of it. He was vaguely aware of Patrick behind him. He was annoyed with himself for not being here when she woke up. He should have been here because he didn't want her to have to spend a moment alone. He gently reached out and took one of her hands in his. "Rae, how are you feeling?"

[Lotus]

Rae pushed herself back up so her back was resting gingerly against the head board and she saw Patrick take his seat from before. Both of them on either side of her. She turned her attention back to Grey and shrugged her shoulders which only made her whimper in pain, "Okay, I'm in pain..." She groaned out as she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She realised then that her voice hadn't cracked or stuttered and she mentally praised herself a little; maybe that would stop them worrying about her so much.

She felt Grey's hand around hers and she looked down to where his fingers had entwined with hers. She wanted to smile softly, but she knew it was only in order to comfort her. It meant nothing more, she knew that. She had always known that. Her gaze flickered back to Patrick and he was starting at hers and Grey's entwined hands with confusion. She didn't understand why and her brow furrowed as she tried to understand.

Grey brought her attention back to him though with a slight squeeze and she looked up to meet his worried, angry gaze. She shrunk back a little. "Yeah?" She thought she'd missed something important that he'd said, or she could just be losing the plot. Either option was viable.

[Deleted]

Grey was watching Rae's face intently without even realising that he was doing it. It was as if some part of him was instinctively drawing him to her and he just didn't understand it. But he assumed it had something to do with the amount of worry he had given her. He was trying to see for any sign of discomfort or sadness in her face, more so then what she had already experienced. He knew that she had gone through a lot and his brain was trying to work out the best way to remedy all of the mistakes he had made. But one thing he did know right now was that he liked the feeling of her hand in his, it made him feel like he was protecting her and maybe even taking her pain away.

He noticed the way she glanced up at Patrick and it put him on edge. He didn't understand why but he knew that he still didn't trust him even after all of his help. He didn't know him and he didn't think that Rae knew him that well either. She had only known him for about a month. It made him uneasy just how close he had managed to get to her. He didn't like it. He found himself squeezing her hand gently, trying to draw her attention away and back to him again.

But then the way she looked at him had him stumped. She expected him to say something and he just didn't know what. He fumbled around in his brain for something to say because it felt like she shouldn't know that he was feeling jealous. Jealous? What? No. He wasn't jealous because there was nothing to be jealous of. Was there? No.

"er... did you want to try eating again?" He stumbled out in an attempt to cover up.

[Lotus]

Rae watched Grey's face with intent as he seemed to struggle for something to say to her. She didn't understand why he seemed so flustered when he talked to her. She sighed and shook her head at his question though. "Not really..." She scrunched her nose up and cleared her throat, she didn't want her voice cracking again. She looked away from Grey and looked to the night stand where the glass of water was sitting. "Could I have a drink though?" She looked up and he utterly looked shocked, but she couldn't smile. She knew she was quicker at this than last time, but she didn't want to put Grey though that again; well not as much as last time anyway.

She took the glass from his hand and took a sip, but instead of giving it back to him she placed it in her lap. She looked to her window and noticed the sun slowly going down and she yawned a little bit. She turned back to Grey and Patrick and nodded to her door. "You can go home now. It's nearly night."

[Deleted]

Grey couldn't hide it. He was shocked. He had been down hearted at the fact that she hadn't wanted to eat again but thinking back to last time and how she was so much worse this time he had just accepted that they would have to take it one day at a time. But the fact that she wanted to have a drink was quite shocking really. But it was a good thing because he wanted her to get better quicker. He felt like it was the most important thing in life right now; to make sure that Rae got well again. So he found himself smiling slightly at her. This could only be a good thing.

But then his heart sunk again. He had never had any intention of leaving. He didn't know or care about what Patrick was doing but he had planned to stay all night and sleep on the floor by her bed just so that she wouldn't have to be alone again. But now she was wanting him to go. He didn't want that to happen though. "Rae...? I was planning on staying the night... until you get better again because I don't want you being on your own."

[Lotus]

Rae took another sip and sighed at Grey's reply. "I just don't want you to think you have to be here. I'm capable on my own for the night, it'll only be sleeping after all. After everything I just didn't want to make you feel obliged." She looked up and saw his face. He looked heartbroken, yet she couldn't understand why. Normally she could read Grey like a book with his emotions, but now it all confused her. He had so many different emotions running at once and it felt like they were all directed at her. But whatever they meant she had no idea.

She turned to Patrick as he cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I go? It's just I've got someone waiting back at mine and they panic if I'm gone too long." He smiled softly and reached out to tuck a strand of her behind her ear, but Rae just stared. "I'll be back in the morning after I explain everything to my partner okay?" All Rae could do was nod her head with a shocked look and he smiled softly, before nodding at Grey and walking out, but not before he glanced back with a sad smile.

She turned back to Grey and sighed, "You can go like him too. I know you'll have someone waiting for you."

[Deleted]

Grey wouldn't deny that he was pleased that Patrick was leaving. He felt a bit more relaxed with the knowledge that he would no longer be in the way. Maybe he would grow to like him but right now he just didn't trust the guy. But then, he had only met him twice. But the way Rae seemed so adamant that he would only want to stay because he felt he had to hurt a little. He was going to stay because he wanted to and for no other reason. He cared about her and he wanted to make sure that she was alright.

He opened his mouth to say something but she got there first. The only thing was, her words completely shocked him that he forgot what he was meant to be saying. What did she mean about him having someone to go back to? She was the only person he cared about now. Especially after what Fontanna had done. But he was aware that she was the only person he had always cared about. "Rae... I don't have anyone more important to go back to then you. Heck. You're the only person I care about so I'm not leaving you alone right now." He said stubbornly.

[Lotus]

Rae simply stared at him, blinking her eyes. Had he really just said that? Had he really just said that he didn't care for anyone other than her? That couldn't be right. He would still try and find Fontanna after all of this was over. He would still go back to her and she knew things would have to change again. She couldn't get used to having Grey around because she knew as soon as Fontanna was back, Grey and her would be over; again.

She looked down at her hands and sighed, "Be stubborn then and waste your time on someone like me." She turned her head away from him slightly and fought back the tears that were threatening to fall. How could Grey say that to her? Was he just trying to get her hopes up to knock them down again? Is that all anyone really wanted to do to her? Why couldn't he just be like Patrick and leave when she told them she'd be okay? All of this was making her head dizzy and she felt something rising in her throat.

Her eyes widened in panic and she jumped up and fell out of her bed. Crying out from the pain she caused herself. She tried to stand but just fell back down again as she had to cover her mouth. Quickly she tried to crawl to her bathroom, but suddenly someone had picked her up and was carrying her there. The person sat down on the floor, lifted the toilet seat up and held back her hair just as she threw up everything she'd just eaten; leaving her retching as no more would surface. She felt the warm body of Grey behind her and she suddenly tensed.

[Deleted]

Grey was shocked at Rae's reaction. He had never expected her to say something like that. He was aware that he was being stubborn about staying but that was only because he cared. But what shocked him was how she thought that he was wasting his time. He could never be wasting his time with her, she was his best friend.

But then she went and did something that just confirmed to him how much he needed to stay and watch over her. He was up in a flash the moment he realised what was happening. It made him worry even more seeing her like that but the moment she started to crawl he knew that he couldn't just let her carry on. So he bent down and gently picked her up, she weighed nothing she was so skinny. He tried to help her as best as he could. When he thought that she was done he knelt down beside and gently rubbed her back. But he felt her tense up and that made his brow furrow.

"Rae? What's wrong?" He asked her gently, drawing his hand away in case he was hurting her.

[Lotus]

Rae shook her head, feeling tears fill her eyes as she squeezed them shut and tried not to look at the worried face of Grey. She shifted on the floor and whimpered from the movement. She felt hot and sticky but wasn't sure if that was just a result of throwing up or if something was really wrong with her. She shook her head again and swallowed deeply, trying to ride herself of the vile taste in her mouth.

"Nothing..." But that was a lie and Grey moved closer, wanting to know. The first tear fell and she hid her face, leaning on the now closed toilet seat. "I'm so sorry... I never meant to make such a hash of things in my life that you would have to come and save me again. I never meant to ruin your relationship with Fontanna again. I never meant to get caught by the Peacekeepers. I never meant to anger Tristan. I never meant to break down. I never meant-" She was cut off though by a sob that racked through her whole body.

Her head slipped off the toilet and she plummeted to the floor. How could she do this to Grey again? Wasn't the first time bad enough? What was going to happen with him and Fontanna now? Would he ever go back with the woman he wanted so desperately in his life? She didn't know. She didn't know any of the answers.

[Deleted]

Grey was a little shocked and full of worry. Why was she saying these things? None of what had happened was her fault despite what she may think. Tristan and Fontanna were awful people and it was them that had done this to her. And him, he couldn't forget that this was his fault too. Had she not heard what he had said about him and Fontanna? How he had dumped her because she had been so cruel and heartless to hurt his best friend in this way?

He edged towards her and gently slipped his hands under her armpits. He gently pulled Rae up off the floor and onto his lap. He got the feeling that she wouldn't want to move too far at the moment. he gently stroked her hair in an attempt to comfort her but he was pretty sure that it wasn't good enough.

"Rae... You've done nothing wrong because none of this is your fault. Tristan and Fontanna." He gritted his teeth in anger at having to say this. Taking a breath to calm himself back down. "Tristan and Fontanna are awful people... You didn't ruin my relationship with her, she did when she decided to hurt you. You're my best friend Rae and I can never forgive someone for hurting my best friend in the way that she hurt you. I promise that everything will be alright now." He said, trying to soother her as best as he could.

[Lotus]

Rae slowly took in what was being said to her, but she shook her head. She looked down to his arms, where they were wrapped around her. She felt a mess compared to him and as she looked up to him properly she truly saw how sincere he was being. She wasn't stupid to constantly carry on about things being her fault. She was silent after awhile and Grey knew that.

"Why is it always me then? Is it fun to hurt me?" She shook her head and ran a hand over her face. "How am I ever going to earn money again Grey? I can't do anything..." She groaned and ducked her head down. "I need the money to pay my bills. I need to the money to fix up this mess of a house." She looked back up to him and tried to joke with him for the first time in a month. "I threw the remote straight at the television and it smashed..."

[Deleted]

He felt so sad when she spoke. But he was also a tiny bit relieved. She was opening up and speaking about how she felt, despite the sadness and anger hearing it brought him. Hearing her voice was a good thing; a positive thing. He smiled gently down at her. Even allowing himself a small chuckle and shake of the head at her last comment. He could just imagine her chucking the remote at the T.V and the image made him smile. It was odd.

He stroked her hair gently as he thought about the best way to respond. "It's not your fault... they were awful people and they chose to become attached to you, I wish I had been able to tell before... but now its too late.." He paused for a moment and looked down at the girl in his arms. His bets friend. "As for money... well I have some set aside to pay you back with for helping me out when I was being pathetic over Fontanna so now I'm going to repay the favour... I'll stay with you for a while and I'll work and earn some money to pay the bills...I'll clear up the house and take anything you need from mine and bring it here, including a new T.V" He said with a grin.

[Lotus]

Rae shook her head softly. She knew he'd been sling to what Fontanna really was, but she was someone that had made Grey happy and who was she to deny him his happiness. She was stupid to try and talk him out of it, but she now wished she'd tried that little harder so he wasn't hurting this way anymore.

"You'd really do that for me? You don't have to... I can probably find some job somewhere..." She trailed off. She knew she would never be able to get much a job anymore. She'd never been that great before, but now after everything that had happened she was sure as anything that she was never going to get any custom. People obviously hated her for what Tristan had told the news about her. He was one of the most influential men in the Capitol, so there wasn't really much chance of them believing her side of the story.

She felt one side of her lip twitch up slightly and she looked down. "I might smash your's too though..."

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He looked at her worriedly. He could see the sadness in her eyes when she mentioned work. They both knew after what Tristan had done to her she'd find it hard to find any work to do with fashion again. It was wrong. She had done nothing wrong and she was an amazing designer. As far as he knew no one had ever complained about her before. Only Tristan. Grey still didn't understand why he had done that. He had already ruined her life once when he dumped her so why did he have to do it again? It made Grey angry to think about. But he needed to think about making Rae happy right now. He knew that staying with her was the best possible thing though.

A smile formed on his face as he saw her tiniest smile form on the edge of her mouth. That was good enough for him. "Doesn't matter.. mines crap already!" He responded playfully, hoping to cheer her up and make things better. "And yes.. I would do it without even being asked twice Rae."