The Start of the Storm ((Maryn))

[Kia Brightstar]

She had just seen her father put into the ground. Kia swallowed back tears, her eyes staring at the place where she had last seen the coffin without really seeing anything. How was she meant to handle this? Her father was gone and there was no chance of him ever coming back and the only person she really wanted to be there to comfort her and be comforted by her was her little sister. Her aunt said that she was holding up well, but what was that supposed to mean? That she didn't feel affected by the death of her own father just because she wasn't bawling over his grave like his sister was? "Are you okay?" Adam slipped behind her, turning Kia around and trying to pull her into a hug. "I'm fine," Kia stepped away pointedly, making a silent statement just by her posture and action. Adam opened his mouth and then closed it again, running a hand through his brown hair exasperatedly. "You're not fine," Adam responded patiently. "You're not fine because you're not heartless and only a heartless person would be fine after seeing her father buried." He pursed his lips, watching his cousin with obvious disapproval. "You should've invited your friends to help you out. Do you know how tempted I was to owl Finn and ask her to bring Ciaran so he could be here for you?"

Kia scowled heatedly, keeping her eyes trained on the ground even as she walked away, not noticing her cousin also walking away in search of parchment and her owl. Of course Adam had been tempted to bring Ciaran or Maryn here; Kia had experienced the same temptation twice over, once for Maryn and once for Ciaran. And each time that temptation started to rise up, she quelled it again. Because it wasn't fair for her to lean on them every time things went wrong. If she did that then they'd get tired of her and leave her. After losing her father and maybe her sister, Kia didn't think she could handle losing her friends as well. That would just be too cruel. So she would handle it alone and save her tears and breakdowns for when she was alone and no one was watching. She would be strong, both for herself and for Kae. Because she had to be.

Kia looked up at the building she had stopped outside of, a wry, sad smile forming when she realised where she was. Outside the hospital that she had spent more hours in than her house during this summer. Kia sighed, for once ignoring the sympathetic glances that the nurses shot her way. She had spent so much time there that the nurses on Kae's ward actually knew her name and treated her with real sympathy, not the detached sympathy that Kia despised. It was routine to walk the route to Kae's bedside and sit on the chair and Kia had walked it so many times that she didn't even realise she was there until she had reached out for her sisters hand. "Oh Kae, you would've loved today. Not for the reason obviously, but it was just like Dad would have wanted it. His friends were there and so were Mums." Kia sniffled, wiping away a tear with the hand that wasn't grasping Kae's. "You wouldn't believe how many times I've been told how much I look like my mother, and how sorry they all are that Dad's dead and you're stuck in here."

"Aunt Amelia's still grieving over Dad, which is understandable, but I do wish she wouldn't be so dramatic about it." Kia paused while a nurse came in to check on Kae, continuing only when she had left. "I mean, we're the one who's lost a father. Our family's broken beyond repair, you know, and she's still got Adam and Uncle Robert. They're going to read the will soon. I guess Aunt will get custody of us both but I would prefer having Adam as a guardian, to be honest. Aunt is great, but.." Kia stopped and breathed in deeply, squeezing her sisters hand lightly. "Don't blame yourself, Kae, but she does. I don't know it for sure, but I can see it in her eyes. She wishes that Dad had never been in the car in the first place. I even think she sometimes wishes that you were dead and Dad was in a coma. But I don't," Kia assured her hurriedly. "I just wish that you'd wake up, little sis. There's still so much I have to teach you about being a witch. And you are a witch," Kia stated firmly, ignoring her own doubts. "Never doubt that. You just need to find the magic in you somewhere."

((Unless you have a reason for Maryn to be in the hospital and on Kae's ward, I have a reason that you can use. Adam, being the ever so concerned cosuin that he is, decided to take matters into his own hands and send an owl to Maryn and tell her where he was sure Kia would've run off to: Kae. Good excuse, I know. ))

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn brushed through her red hair that was wavy from the lack of interest for caring that she had developed. Maryn hurriedly dabbed on just a dash of make-up as to look a bit presentable. “Where are you going?” Mercy asked leaning on the doorway. “Out, I’ve got something to do. Umm, watch Tommy, okay? I can’t take him with me for this.” Maryn explained walking over to her dresser and picking out some clothes. Mercy walked over to Maryn. “But I’ve got places to be..” Maryn turned to face her sister, with redness pouring into her face. “Mercy, I don’t know what’s wrong with you or why you are dressing like this and suddenly have outings during day or night considering the fact that you are eleven years old, but I have something I have to do! Okay, so shut up and watch your brother. And when I get back, tell me the truth.” She yelled. Maryn had never yelled at Mercy. She had never been this mean to her sister, but she had to. She had to for Kia. Maryn grabbed a pair of clothes that weren’t pajamas and headed to the bathroom letting the tears fall as she slammed the door. She would be lying if she said that she liked acting this way towards Mercy, but she had to do something. She couldn’t let Mercy do something stupid and mess the family up. She couldn’t.

Maryn walked into the hospital in her jeans and green polo type shirt. Her hair was now pulled back in pig tales and her face was as pale as ever. Maryn shuttered lightly as the coolness of the hospital hit her. She had been here before. Actually, she had spent the last summer in the very hospital that she was standing here. This is where Nate was originally sent for treatment, but now he was in a recovery center. She instantly knew the floor number of the ward that Kae was in as she had remembered the floor numbers from last year. Well, staying in a hospital all summer can make you quite bored. Memories flooded her brain as she walked into the elevator and headed to Kae’s floor. Maryn knew Adam was right about Kia’s whereabouts. He knew Kia better than anyone after all. Plus, Maryn knew a few things about her best-friend as well. Like that Kia would be spending any time she could with Kae. She loved her sister a lot. Maryn sighed. If only she could feel the same about her sister for the moment. Why was it so hard to be mad at Mercy? Why did it hurt to be mad at her? Maybe because Maryn loved her so much. After all, Mercy was Maryn’s sister.

Maryn walked through the ward that Kae was in silently. It wasn’t the same one that Nate had been placed in. Then again, he was in the cancer patient ward. She sighed looking around. Maryn didn’t particularly like hospitals, but she didn’t mind them. After all she lived in one for a summer. But still, memories loomed around her. “Umm, do you know where Kaelyn Brightstar’s room is?” Maryn asked the nurse at the main counter for the ward. She nodded and pointed to a room just a few steps down for Maryn. “Thanks.” Maryn said nodding. Maryn then walked towards the door, but stopped herself. “Umm, is Kia in there? Umm, Kae’s sister?” She asked the nurse at the counter. First the nurse gave her a confused look, then nodded. “Yea, she’s in there. Came not too long ago.” Maryn nodded and then opened the door and entered.

Maryn tried to be as quiet as possible as Kia was talking to Kae. Maryn had never met Kae before. But, she had heard a lot about her. Seeing her lye there, Maryn got a pit feeling in her stomach. She just wanted to Kae to wake up. To wake up and be there for Kia because she was the only one that could really help her. But, there was no telling when or if that would happen. Maryn took a few steps closer to Kia. “She’s a witch.” Maryn said softly. “I’m not sure I know of a person that could have survived it all being a muggle.” She said thinking to Nate. Then again, that was a completely different situation. Nate’s cancer had been caught early. Kae’s accident had come out of no where. “Umm, Adam sent me an owl. Told me where I could find you. He’s worried about you.” Maryn said walking closer to Kia. Maryn took a deep breath. “And so am I.” She added. Maryn then fell silent waiting for Kia to respond.

[Kia Brightstar]

"I miss you Kae," Kia squeezed her sisters hand gently, silently willing her sister to just open her eyes or respond in any way. "I miss you and I really want you to wake up. Because it's not fair. Damn it, it's just not fair. It's not fair that Dad's dead and it's not fair that you're stuck like this and have been for weeks but you know what's really not fair? It's not fair that Dad can see Mum again when I can't. It's not fair that you don't know abaout any of this while I have to sort everything out. It's not fair that you and Dad have some form of peace when I can't even remember what peace feels like." Kia rubbed at her eyes angrily, refusing to let the tears fall down her face. "Why should I have to take over the arrangements for the funeral, when it shouldn't be my responsibility? I'm surviving on what-if's and maybe's and why's but I can't live like that anymore, Kaelyn. You hear me? So you wake up and you wake up now. Don't you dare leave me alone, because you know I can't handle it. Have I ever been able to handle being alone?" Kia sniffled miserably, her eyes still haunted by the pain that hadn't left her face since she had first heard the news about her family.

"We still have to prove Aunt Amelia wrong, you know? Can't let her get away with saying that my little sis is a squib. You want to hear a secret? Her parents thought she might be a squib when she was young. She showed no accidental magic, none at all. And look at her now, working in the Ministry. She's such a powerful witch, and you will be too. But you can't learn magic if you don't wake up." Kia paused, looking down at her hand hopefully. Had that been a slight movement from Kae, just the smallest pressure on her hand? Kia held her breath, staring down at their intertwined hands. It was only when she needed to draw a breath that Kia let go of the hope that had tightened her grip on Kae's fingers. "The nurses told me to talk about some really good memories with you, they say it'll help you to wake up. The only time I can really remember is the time we had that picnic with Adam the year before I left for Hogwarts. I still can't believe he knocked into that bee's nest. No one else except Adam could pull that off, right? Trust him to try and show off on his broom but almost die from being attacked by so many bee's. He's such an idiot, isn't he? I know you remember when he fell into that lake because your cap flew away and he was trying to catch it. We never did get that cap back, did we? But he still bought you a cap that was almost identical to the one you lost."

Kia stood and moved over to the window, looking out at the cars and the people. "Adam's here whenever I can't be, you know? I've cut down on my gymnastics hours - from five hours a day to two hours. Serenity wasn't happy with me, but I think she understands. She's been here to see you as well; she came with me after my gymnastic lesson last week. Your dance teacher has been to visit too; she came three times just last week. And all the girls from your class have been in too; most of them in tears. There were even a few boys, but I don't think Adam was very happy with that." Kia smiled weakly. "He got rid of them as quickly as he could without appearing rude. He's going to have a long talk with you when you wake up, Kae. Mainly about why you didn't tell him you had a boyfriend. I did tell him that he was being an idiot. You're only nine, and they were so shy it was funny."

Kia looked up from her seat at Kae's bedside. "Maryn." Kia blinked in surprise. "Why...you're here? Oh. I should've guessed that Adam would send either you or Ciaran. I knew he'd send someone and I should have known you would have been his first choice. He still remembers you from that meeting in Hogsmeade." Kia drew a ragged breath, letting her tears fall when Maeryn admitted that she was wrorried about her; the first tears that Kia had let fall since the time she had first heard about the accident. "I wanted to handle it alone," Kia admitted through her tears. "I didn't want you to think that I was pathetic and leave me. I told myself that I had to be strong, for myself and for Kae." Kia wiped away a lone tear that was still trickling down her cheek. "If she doesn't wake up soon, she'll miss her tenth birthday party." Kia stated, more tears threatening to fall. "I'd planned this big party; Adam was going to help me. Dad had actually taken the day off work, but he wouldn't tell me what he'd gotten her as a present. He wanted it to be this huge secret and I was so frustrated but so happy that he was getting back to normal and not blaming Kae anymore."

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn eyed Kia with a feeling a sadness over taking her. Maryn only ever lost one person that was close to her. Leon was a close friend. Maybe the closest guy friend that Maryn had ever had. When he passed, she didn't really know what to do to herself. Dressing herself for the funeral seemed like such a complicated task. She didn't talk to people for days. She threatened not to go back to Hogwarts several times. But, that didn't make things any better. It didn't make her feel any better. Maryn learned that time could only help heal her heart and still, it wouldn't be the same. It couldn't. It would always have a hole in it. Maryn just had to figure out how to keep it small. Maryn looked to Kia and then Kae. Kia had lost her mother and now her father. How was she handling this at all? Maryn looked to Kae's angelic face. The only person in the world that Kia wouldn't right now, she couldn't have. Maryn couldn't help but think that it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that Kia who had done nothing could loose so many people in her life. Maybe Kae wouldn't die, but still, she was temporarily gone when Kia needed her most. Maryn eyed the sleeping child wishing that Kae would wake up. Wake up for Kia.

Maryn nodded as Kia spoke about Adam. "Well, since it was between me and Ciaran of course he picked me. He's seen the way that you and Ciaran look at each and it freaks him out, I'm sure." Maryn smiled just a tad looking at Kia. She wished so badly that she could make her friend feel better. But Maryn knew that it would just take time. And really, Kae was the only person that could help make Kia feel back to normal. It was weird, things were so different a month ago. Kia wasn't hurting. Her dad was still alive and Kae was running around like a normal kid, but no longer. A lot could change in a month. Lives changed in a month. It just happened and no one could stop it. The month that Leon had died had been the hardest month in Maryn's life, but she slowly got used to life without her friend. Still, feeling better made her feel guilty. Maryn drifted further and further away from Flo and May to the point that she couldn't bare to look at them. Death had a way of changing people. Sometimes for the better and sometimes, not.

Maryn shook her head looking at Kia. "You don't have to handle this alone Kia." She said looking her friend in the eyes. "You shouldn't have to. Why would I leave you Kia? You're hurting and you feel alone. I've been there." Maryn paused. "The situations were different and your heart probably hurts more than mine did, but I've been there and you made me feel better, remember?" She looked at Kia and then glanced to Kae. "Don't do this all alone. Let me help." Maryn said looking to her friend. Maryn looked to the ground for a minute, then back to her friend. "We can still have the party, maybe here in the room. She might not be here awake, but maybe the party can be more for you. Because your the one hurting right now. Kae, well, is it horrible to say that she's the lucky one? That she doesn't feel any pain mentally or physically? It that a bad thing to say?" Maryn asked not really knowing how Kia would feel about that. Maryn stood silent waiting for her friend to respond.

[Kia Brightstar]

She couldn't handle anymore; she just couldn't. It was amazingly selfish to wish that she could share the blank darkness that Kae had succumbed to, but Kia couldn't help but to think it inevitable that she would want it more than anything. And it was the one thing that she couldn't tell Adam, which made it seem a million times worse. Because she could tell him anything and everything and had done since even before her mum died. To not tell him something seemed almost like a betrayal to the closeness they had shared for over a decade; a closeness that not even Kae had been able to penetrate simply because it had existed for so long. But there were just some things that couldn't be said, no matter who it was directed to. She had proved that she was pulling away from her cousin, from her family, less than an hour before, when she had fled to the hospital rather than let him comfort her and make her feel better. But part of her didn't want to feel better, because that was acknowledging that her father was dead and her sister was trapped inside what seemed like an eternal sleep. They weren't there, but Kia was absolutely fine. It just wasn't fair, and she couldn't face it; she wasn't strong enough anymore.

Kia couldn't help but to blush when Maryn joked about Ciaran; just the lightest shade of pink dusting her cheekbones, but it was more of a reaction than anything else had gotten over the past month. "It took me the longest time to admit to myself that I liked him; like, really really liked him." Kia admitted, letting go of the secret that she had refused to share even when she and Maryn had been grumbling about boys in the common room so many months ago. It seemed so wrong to talk about it with her sister in the state she was, but maybe it was the first step to Kia regaining her own life and stopping living each day according to how Kae was doing. "Kae was my excuse for not telling him; I used looking after her to justify my own fear of being rejected because that's just what I do. I can never stand up and face my fears, unless they're really small ones. And now I couldn't tell him even if I wanted to." Kia smiled sadly, something close to heartbreak shimmering behind her eyes. The guilt of being the only real survivor of her family was still too fresh, too raw for Kia to do anything but look after her sister. How could she offer that sort of person to the one boy she had ever really liked, or to anyone?

"It hurts more than anything, even more than when I was told about my mothers death. Because this time, Adam can't lie to me and smooth things over and twist the truth so that it doesn't hurt as much. Is there even a way to make having no one left feel better? After all, that is the truth, I've lost everyone." Kia added, completely serious. The last thing she wanted was to let Maryn - or anyone - see her as she was right now, so weak and defenseless, but maybe it was what she needed. It was the truth anyway; she was a complete and utter wreck and had no ideas on how to fix herself. "I think a party would be a good idea," Kia agreed slowly, showing her acceptance of Maryn's help to get through this. "She always loved birthday parties, even if they weren't hers. She just enjoyed dressing up and having fun with her friends." Kia paused, thinking through the statement before nodding. "It's not a horrible thing to say, at least I hope not since I've been thinking the same thing. She is lucky. Because she doesn't have to deal with this."

[Maryn Livley]

Maryn looked to Kae after a moment. Wake up. she said inside her head looking to Kae. Just wake up. Kia needs you. But, Maryn knew that it wouldn't do any good. Kae was the only one who could lure herself out of her deep sleep. She was the only one that could open her eyes to the world once again. If only Kae could wake up, Kia would be better. Maryn couldn't help but tell herself that she wasn't hurting Kia any. She wasn't good at this. She wasn't good with death, with this. She never had been. The only death Maryn had been put through was Leon's. But, what made her guilty was how fast she had gotten over his death. How fast she had let his memory slip through her fingers. That was the only reason that she had kept her distance from May and Flo, but now it was too late to fix anything. It was too late. Maryn looked to Kia. How could she help her friend when she was barely able to help herself those many months ago? Maryn sighed wishing to herself that things weren't the bad. But the were. And all the wishing in the world couldn't change the truth. Still, Maryn found herself doing from wishing. Wishing for a time turner so that she could go back and make things better.

Maryn's eyes widened as Kia admitted to liking Ciaran. Deep down, Maryn could always tell that her friend was lying when she said that she and Cia were just friends, but all her theories had gone unproven until now. Again with the wishing. Maryn wished that things were different so Kia could be with Ciaran. But, things weren't different. Maryn sighed wondering if Ciaran was any better at this than Maryn was. Maryn thought about sending him an owl for a moment, but decided against it. Maryn looked at Kia as she talked about Ciaran. Maryn could tell by the look on her face that she really cared for him. "He cared, Kia. I can tell by the look in his eyes. It's the same look that is on your face now, when you talk about him. And maybe now isn't the best time to tell him, but one day you can." Maryn paused. "It isn't too late. I don't think it will ever be." She told her friend as she let her mind think of Ciaran. He was the type of boy that Maryn had always pictured Kia with even though she had never told Kia this. Maryn remember seeing Ciaran look at Kia for years even though Kia never noticed. Maryn couldn't see him going away even if Kia wanted him to. he didn't seem like a give up kind of guy.

Maryn felt like crying when Kia said that she had no one. Did she? Maryn knew that she could always be there for Kia even if Kia didn't understand now. And there was Ciaran and Adam. Maryn knew Adam to be the kind of guy that loved Kia too much to ever really leave her. Maryn sighed again wishing that this could be easier. Maryn couldn't find the words to talk about Kia not having anyone as she said. So Maryn just let that slip. She didn't know what to say to make it better. Maryn smiled a tad as Kia talked about a party for Kae. "Then she should have a party. I'll help." She commented smiling just a bit. "And if she isn't awake for it, you can tell her all about it when she wakes up. And I wouldn't mind throwing her another that she can remember." She said lightly meaning what she said. Maryn nodded as Kia said that her statement wasn't a horrible thing to say. "Yea, but when she wakes up, she will still have to deal with things." She added not knowing what else to say. So, Maryn just let the silence hand between them.

[Kia Brightstar]

Wake up, Kia begged silently, her eyes staring at Kae's face pleadingly. Just...wake up. I can't do this alone anymore. Please. It was useless, she knew that. It wasn't possible to will someone into waking up, especially when sleep was so much better to what awaited her upon waking. But she couldn't help but to try. No matter what would happen upon Kae's awakening, Kia wouldn't have to shoulder the burden alone anymore. "It's so selfish to want her to wake up. She has friends waiting for her, but she also has an Aunt who blames her for the death of her own father. I shouldn't want to put my sister through that. But I do. Because I can't handle this by myself anymore. It's never been easy for her and a lot of the time, I've only made things worse. I hated her and then, as if to make it up to her, I acted like a mother to her." Kia shook her head in tearful regret; regret that had come too late to change the damage she had done to Kae, but perhaps in time to undo the responsibility she had put onto her own shoulders. Common snese told her that she had been spending too much time in the hospital and ordered her to get up and leave, now, while Maryn was there to help her. But it was too hard and felt like an act of betrayal. So Kia did nothing but grip her sisters hand tighter.

"One day," Kia agreed dully, not believing in her words at all. In her mind, it was already too late because she really couldn't imagine even considering telling Ciaran about her feelings while Kae was still in a coma and the doctors couldn't predict when she would wake up, or even if she would ever wake up. "I'm not the same girl who started to like him, Maryn. I'm completely different and I can barely remember what I was like. I remember being thoughtless and careless and out of control unless you stopped me from going on my latest bout of mischief. It's only been a month and already I can't imagine not having the worry of Kaelyn not waking up hanging over my head. Even if she does wake up, she might not be the same girl that I once knew. How am I meant to deal with that? I'm fifteen and I feel as lost as a child who has lost sight of her parents on a crowded street. But this time, there's no kind stranger to help me out. I've never felt so alone."

Kia was often thought of as being thoughtless because words left her mouth before her brain had time to catch up and think them through. But her brain often caught up just after the words had left her mouth, as it did now. Kia grimaced, mentally smacking herself for being so cruel before setting about making it right. "I was wrong," Kia admitted quietly. "I don't have no one. I have you and Adam; my two closest friends, and it was selfish - so selfish - of me to say that I have no one. Because you've both been here to help me through this, even though I kept pushing Adam away and I would've done the same to you if my brain hadn't started working again." Kia released her sisters hand, smiling up at Maryn and feeling thankful that she had her as a friend. "Lucky girl. She gets two birthday parties. Do I get the same honour?" Kia paused before standing up. "Come on, I'll treat you to some lousy hospital food. The canteen isn't that bad and you might find a boyfriend. Love blooms in the most unexpoected places, after all. Or we could try the café around the corner. They probably have better food and I could do with some fresh air."