This Can't be Happening...((Maryn))

[Charisma Turner G3]

Under the beautiful oak tree by the lake, Charisma sat staring at what was held in her wands. It was a beautiful day out, with not a cloud in the sky, and yet Charisma felt soaking wet. As if she had taken a three hour swim in the lake in the middle of December. Charisma just sat and stared at the letter in her hands as her many fellow classmates ran around on this glorious day. They all seemed so happy. Just like Charisma had been about a half hour ago. Now, it was like her whole world was collapsing.

She had woken up very late and skipped joyfully down to the owlery to see if a letter from her boyfriend, Ethan had finally arrived. She hadn't heard from her muggle boyfriend in over two weeks...it just wasn't like Ethan. But, Charisma didn't worry herself. Ethan's owl was probably sick or something. Yes, that was it! Ethan's owl had been sick and therefore could not deliver any messages. But that was okay, because today, Charisma would receive a very long, passionate letter from Ethan explaining the whole thing. Finally, Charisma's owl, Buttercup had swooped in through the window, dropping a letter on her lap. Charisma looked at it for a moment. The letter wasn't from Ethan. It was from her father. Charisma opened the letter and gasped. The letter read:

Dear Izzy,

I really don't know how exactly to tell you this, but....yesterday, just as Ethan and Mary were entering lunch hour, they were trapped in a very brutal shooting. About twelve people were injured, but thankfully none were killed. Unfortunately, Mary and Ethan were caught in the mess and were dreadfully injured. They were both rushed to the hospital, but I'm so sorry to tell you, Ethan did make it out. He died about six hours after he was admitted. Mary is doing fine now, but I'm afraid she's been paralyzed in both of her legs. It's going to be a very long time before she can walk again. I'm so sorry to tell you this. Remember, I'm here if you want to talk. Don't be a stranger, angel!

Love,

Daddy

Ever since Charisma received the letter, she had been sitting under the tree with absolutely nothing going through her mind. She didn't know what to think. Was this a dream? Was it a trick? Was it a hallucination? Charisma had many questions, but she knew one thing. This defiantly was not happening. Suddenly and randomly, it started to pour. Within seconds, Charisma was soaked. Everyone fled to get inside, but Charisma stayed put. She didn't care. She sat there for hours, doing absolutely nothing. Thinking absolutely nothing. It was certainly much less painful than trying to make sense out of what just happened. Suddenly, she heard footsteps coming from the distance.

[Maryn Livley]

"Kia! Can I borrow your.." Maryn started as she bolted open the door to her dorm. Maryn sighed and shook her head as she noticed that Kia wasn't in the room. "Cia." Maryn said pretty much certain to where Kia was. Maryn giggled. It was kind of funny, Cia and Kia. Maryn smiled. Well, it was funny to her that there names rhymed. Well, Ciaran and Kiana didn't really rhyme, but since when did Maryn call either one of them those names. Well, atleast Maryn didn't call Kia, Kiana. She did call Cia, Ciaran since he went by both. Maryn sighed. Has she ever called Kia, Kiana? She laughed. Nope, defiantly not. Maryn shook her head. She walked over to her bed and pulled off her school shirt and replaced it with her new pink and green striped shirt that Mercy had sent her. Maryn wasn't going to anyone of Kia's clothes without asking. Maryn sighed as she slipped into her favorite warn jeans. Her style was constantly changing, but the jeans always remained. Maryn liked it that way. She smiled to herself as she walked over to her mirror and ran her fingers through her red curls. Maryn nodded as they seemed better after she fixed them and added some hairspray. Then, Maryn slipped on her lime green flipflops and walked out of her dorm.

Maryn eyed all of the Gryffindors in the Common Room as she left. Why did love seem to be in the air? It wasn't Valentine's Day for heaven's sake. So, why did everyone seem to have someone. Maryn sighed. She seemed out of place. Kia had Cia, Charisma had Ethan, Maryn was even sure that Mercy had met someone as well. She sighed. Maryn had never been very good when it came to dating. Well, she was good a dating, all of her other relationships just didn't work out. Maryn had liked Leon ever since she had met him, but he was gone. Maryn often cried just thinking about him. She often wondered if anything beyond a friendship would have happened if he was alive now. But, Maryn was trying not to think these thoughts anymore. Leon was gone and he wasn't coming back. She knew this. Maryn had also liked Stryder, but he hadn't returned to Hogwarts for fourth year. So, next was..Baz. Maryn like him. Of course she did, but what was she supposed to do about it. What could she do?

Maryn flipped her curls away from her face. She had never had anything good come of her "near relationships." One boy had died, one disappeared from Maryn's life, and the other one, well Maryn just didn't know. He was older. Did Maryn even have a chance with him? Maybe not. Maryn knew this and it scared her. She wished that she could just stay clear, but that was hard to. She was growing up, yes, but it was difficult and once Maryn got close to Baz, there was no turning back. She couldn't just run away like she wanted to. Maryn knew her heart wasn't that strong after Leon's death. If Maryn got close to Baz, then she needed it to stick. She just needed it to. Maryn sighed. Dreaming was best. Maryn had always been a dreamer. Maybe if she just dreamed about Baz, then she wouldn't have to get close to him. Maybe. Maryn sighed. Who was she kidding, no one. Maryn glanced out a window as she walked. She look out to the grounds and noticed sitting under an oak tree. Maryn smiled. Charisma. Maryn nodded as she walked towards the castle doors.

Just as Maryn reached the steps to the grounds, it started to poor. Maryn winced. The rain was abnormally freezing. She knew that a few more minutes of this and she would be in the hospital wing for awhile. Everyone outside began to run in. Some already started to try water resistant magic shields. Some worked, but others did not. Maryn pushed her hair behind her ears and ran towards the tree where Charisma was. It was freezing and Maryn was a good ways a way from her friend. Maryn could see that Charisma wasn't getting up to leave. Maryn eyed her with a concerned look. Something looked wrong. Maryn ran up to her breathless. "Charisma, come on! It's freezing and you can get really sick. What's wrong with you?" Maryn asked feeling the cold water on her skin. It was nearly April and getting warmer outside, but this water was so cold, the temperature didn't matter. Maryn eyed Charisma, waiting for her to say something.

[Charisma Turner G3]

Charisma noticed only one small tear slip down her face. Charisma was never much of a crybaby. Even in the middle of her mother's funeral, she did not shed one tear. All she did was put on a brave face for everyone to see. Eventually, she ended up locking herself up in the bathroom several months later and cried her eyes out. Charisma flashed out of this terrible memory just as she saw her friend, Maryn Lively approaching her with a concerned look on her face.

"Charisma, come on! It's freezing and you can get really sick. What's wrong with you?" She said as the rain pounded down on them. Charisma's hand shook. She didn't even know what was going on. How in god's name could she explain it to somebody else?

"I...I...I don't know."She stammered. "I just...got this letter...but...but i don't know what to think about it. I'm still trying to mull it out myself. It just doesn't seem possible. I..I..I won't believe it!" She stammered again with a slight shiver. She knew it wasn't safe to be out in this rain, but she just couldn't get herself to get up, no matter how hard she tried. After about two minutes of sitting in silence, Charisma gingerly handed Maryn the letter.