Togetherness. ((Ariane, Kael, Seth, Lynne))

[Aurora Chan]

Aurora smiled. Snow. Aurora loved snow. As a child growing up in Manchester, there had rarely been large amounts of snow during Christmas time, or throughout the winter. However, at Hogwarts, there was always copious blanketfuls of white around the grounds and Hogsmeade too. Perhaps it was lack of exposure or seeing it in person for herself, but ever since Aurora had come to Hogwarts, each time it snowed every year she would feel delighted. It was a novel sight; a new texture, a new object to play with, to learn about. Snow was such a rare occurence in Aurora's life that it took the semblance of especialness, even though she knew well that it was but a hindrance for most people, muggles and wizards alike. Yes, it slowed down transport systems, created accidents; but it was also beautiful and rare, and, even though Aurora wouldn't class herself as a romantic sort of people, romantic.

It was the norm for snow to still be draped around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade in early January. Aurora was certain that by the time they returned to school, the snow would have dried up, leaving clear skies and green grass. She loosened the purple scarf around her neck and continued towards her destination with Ari walking beside her in comfortable silence. Their footsteps marked a double set of footprints in the deep snow, bringing another smile to Aurora as she looked back. This was nothing like Manchester. Aurora could tell even Ari was happy to see the snow. It made a change to the fair weather that she so disliked. Aurora was glad, then, that she had picked Hogsmeade as the place where she would meet her friends.

The idea had sprang, initially, from Aurora, and then Lynne had helped snowball it into a group event. Aurora had suggested, before they had broken up for the winter holidays, to get together at some point before they returned to school in January for a cup of tea or coffee. Lynne had liked the idea, and immediately had suggested she bring Kael along, however much he protested, and that Aurora needed to help her win her brother over, because only a double combination of their nagging would prevail. Aurora, of course, could only agree with such a brilliant plan of action. Then, Lynne had mentioned Seth, having met him recently during a random collision in the corridors of the school. Aurora had jumped at the thought of inviting lovely old Seth to join them, because he was adorable and needed to socialise with others besides his best friend, Chace, and his stuck-up girlfriend, Willow, who despised the likes of Aurora and Lynne.

There was, of course, no doubt that Aurora wanted her best friend to come along too, and she had told Lynne that Ari was much too antisocial to enjoy company that consisted of her own bubbliness, Lynne's kookiness, Kael's grumpiness and Seth's... oddity. However, when Ari had expressed an interest in turning up (albeit briefly), Aurora was more than happy to add one more to four. Harmony had chosen to stay at home because she did not want to interrupt an 'adult's' get-together, even though a) she knew most of them well, since Ari was her sister, Aurora her cousin, Kael her supposed big brother, and Seth her Quidditch teammate, and b) Aurora, Kael, Lynne and Seth could hardly be accounted for as adults. They may have surpassed seventeen years a while ago, but the number meant little, if anything. Ari was the only one with any claim to adulthood.

Aurora and Ari were the first to arrive at the small but cosy cafe. Upon entering, Aurora was pleased to feel a wave of warmth wash over her chilled body. She asked for a table for five and they were seated and given menus for their lunch options. Aurora scanned them thoughtfully and kept an eye on the entrance for the others. The Collins twins would probably arrive together, but Seth would likely be late - or forget the event completely. Aurora had foreseen this (and had been reminded to do so by Harmony, who knew Seth well enough too since he was often late for Quidditch practice), and had sent Helix to his house this morning to remind him. Aurora knew of Seth's sister, Eva, who was a Gryffindor in Harmony's year, but had only thought of inviting her after sending the owl. Then again, Harmony had pointed out that Eva didn't socialise with the same sorts of people as Seth, which had provoked a humorous argument.

Glancing across at Ari on her left, Aurora asked, "What do you want?"

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane tucked her gloved hands into her winter coat’s pockets as she trudged quickly through the heavy snow in Hogsmeade village beside Aurora. They had just apparated here from their home in Manchester and were to meet Aurora’s friends – Kael and Lynne Collins, as well as Seth Wright – in a ‘small but sweet’ cafe, as Aurora had described it. Ariane had never been there, but Harmony had agreed with her older cousin, having gone for lunch with friends. Ariane trusted Aurora’s judgement, although Harmony’s added input helped. In all honesty, when Aurora had initially asked her to join them, she had been dubious. She was an antisocial person after all. However, Ariane had finally agreed to go after some persuasion from Harmony, Aurora’s hopeful looks, and Ariane’s own secret motives.

Ariane did not doubt her intuition; and her intuition told her that if she wasn’t careful, her important role in Aurora’s life would soon be snatched by another certain individual: Kael Collins. Yes, Aurora had many male friends and some of them were very close to her; take Seth Wright, for example. However, Kael was different. Ariane just knew it. Something was different. She could tell in the way Aurora talked about him, the amount of time she now spent with him – more time than she spent with her. Not that Ariane begrudged her friend this... In all fairness, she had treated Aurora very poorly over the last year, no thanks to a particular Tristan MacCay. However, Ariane was beginning to catch on – before Aurora herself did, most likely – that her friendship with Kael Collins was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Aurora’s eyes didn’t usually light up when she talked about a boy’s name. Her smile didn’t stretch into a fond grin when she returned from a meeting with a boy. She didn’t get so excited about spending time with a boy, didn’t laugh as hard or as cheerfully, without any inhibitions. It seemed, in the last few months, Aurora was happier... and that made Ariane wonder. What exactly had Kael done? Aurora hadn’t been truly content since Daniel, almost two years ago. Most importantly, though, Aurora didn’t talk to Ariane as much. It seemed she had found someone else to confide in, and Ariane didn’t need a second guess to who that person was. In truth, Ariane was a little... jealous? Possessive? Disgruntled? Either way, she needed to stake out Kael Collins herself and judge whether or not he was treating her best and only friend properly. Because if he wasn’t – if he made her so much as shed a single tear – he would be answering to her.

It didn’t really help that Aurora constantly reminded her of the apparent similarities between herself and Kael. Ariane had always been indifferent towards him, and she assumed it was a mutual feeling, but she had never paused to wonder whether or not they had anything in common. All Ariane knew was that she hated socialising, she hated talking to her fellow classmates, so the notion of becoming friends with individuals she shared particular interests and traits with had never entered her mind. The thought of becoming acquainted with Kael, finding out that he was like herself, had never crossed her wonderings. But now it had. And in a way, Ariane felt threatened by Kael’s apparent similarity to herself. There was only one Ariane Chan, and she didn’t want strangers stepping on her turf. It was bad enough Kael was stealing away her best friend; now he wanted her identity and personality too?

In all honesty, Ariane concluded as she sat stoically down at the table in the cafe, she was being harsh on Kael. He was an innocent – unless he was using Aurora, and if that were the case he would never be forgiven. Ariane knew, though, that Kael most likely meant no harm to Aurora. She knew enough about him to presume this... had seen him sitting in class, looking bored; seen him interacting with Harmony. Her sister liked Kael very much, oddly. It disturbed Ariane when Harmony agreed there were certain similarities between herself and the Hufflepuff. She didn’t want to know. Anyway, Ariane was sure Kael didn’t want to ‘steal her personality’... Who would? But she was fearful, and this meeting would sort out, once and for all, Ariane’s judgement of Aurora’s new best friend.

There was the slight issue of Lynne Collins and Seth Wright. Ariane couldn’t claim to be fond of the other two either. Lynne was too much like Aurora – bubbly, chatty, eccentric – and Ariane didn’t want Aurora times two; one was more than enough! Seth on the other hand was notorious for his oddity; they labelled him a geek and pushed him around. Aurora seemed to be fond of him, as did Harmony, since they played on the house Quidditch team together. Judging from what Ariane had heard about Lynne and Seth from Aurora, she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to socialise with them. If Kael wasn’t her target for this lunch meeting, Ariane would’ve targeted him as her get-out clause, because yes, he wasn’t a chatty individual either. However, Ariane was reassured to the fact that both Lynne and Seth were ‘good’ people. Lynne’s cheerfulness and Seth’s girlfriend put her off them a little, but Ariane had sworn to Aurora she would be on her best behaviour with them. They had never done anything to her so she wouldn’t try to judge them without meeting them first... And anyway, hadn’t Tristan taught her that?

“...I’ll have whatever you’re having.” Ariane shrugged at Aurora’s question after they had removed their coats, gloves, hats and scarves, and had sat down with the menus in hand, waiting for the other three. Ariane hoped they wouldn’t be late; she liked to be punctual, and if Aurora wasn’t with her, she would have stood up and left if her company had been more than ten minutes late. Seeing Aurora’s exasperated expression, Ariane rolled her eyes and turned her indifferent stare on the menu again. “Fine... I’ll have the salad... and the spaghetti bolognaise.” Ariane had never been fussy with food. Just as she put her menu down decisively and Aurora said she wanted garlic bread and several bacon butties with chips, Ariane heard a greeting voice and looked up to see the Collins twins. Ariane took in the happy visage and the apathetic expression indifferently, before nodding at Lynne and Kael. Her hand did not venture a wave, nor did her mouth open to greet them. Instead, she watched Kael sit beside Aurora and Lynne next to him, leaving the seat between herself and Lynne available – meaning Ariane would be sitting next to Seth on this round table. Well, at least she wasn’t going to be next to Lynne and have to make awkward conversation.

[Lynne Collins]

Lynne stood, breathing heavily, in the middle of her bedroom and glanced around, feeling satisfied as she took everything in. There was a certain element of heartbreak to this holiday that had not been present for any other – the weeks following Danny’s first departure to Russia hardly counted when her heart had merely suffered his loss and not his utter betrayal – and it had caused her to start the complete change of her rooms. The kitchenette attached to her room had undergone only small changes, because it was most important to her, but her bedroom had been painted, her wardrobe, bed, chest of drawers and bookcases moved around and everything that reminded her of Danny Lowell had been packed away and hidden from view. She had only just finished the changes and it already brought a small measure of relief to her. Lynne had always been neat and orderly, though most people expected her to be otherwise, so it hadn’t been hard to gather everything up and Kael had helped with much of it but she had kicked him out for the final few hours in which she had boxed up every reminder of Danny. She still hurt (though now the pain was as much physical as emotional) and she still hated him and loved him but now there was the clear reality of moving on. Using magic would have been too quick, too easy, but Kael had laughed instead of complaining when she told him that she was going to do everything the muggle way. Sometimes she really didn’t understand her brother at all but she really was grateful for him.

Half an hour later, after a quick shower, Lynne left her room to knock on Kael’s door insistently. Today was a special day; the promise of it hung in the air. It had to be a special day. Not only had she succeeded in pushing her past away, albeit just the tiniest bit, but Kael had also agreed to emerge from his dark and gloomy lair – though his bedroom was actually quite neutrally decorated and the walls were nearly completely covered by tall bookcases – for a few hours! Aurora had suggested it originally and Lynne had agreed enthusiastically. She didn’t want to look at Hogsmeade and wince with remembered pain because of all of the times she and Danny had spent there during their younger years before Russia, before Adrina. Good times had to replace the past. And Seth was coming too, which would make it even more fun. Lynne liked Seth. He just had an air of adorableness that she couldn’t resist. Maybe all of this could be enough, Lynne thought hopefully. Maybe Kael and Aurora and Seth could be enough. Maybe, with them, she could stand against the haunting memories of him and learn to be strong. Truly strong this time, not just exaggerated smiles and hidden insecurities. Maybe she didn’t have to leave after all.

“Kael!” Lynne shouted through the wooden door intolerantly, her mouth pursing with poorly concealed impatience. “We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry up. Put your quill down and step away from the parchment. If you have even one smear of ink on your cheek then I swear I’ll murder you,” she threatened seriously, jumping in surprise when her twin opened the bedroom door abruptly, completely clean of ink smudges. “You’re ready then,” she grinned cheerfully. “Good.” She didn’t know Ariane at all though, Lynne mused as she jumped down the stairs in front of Kael. They were in the same year and Ariane was the Gryffindor prefect but that was really all that she knew. Well, she also knew that the other girl was quieter than herself but that wasn’t really a great achievement. Mostly everyone was quieter than Lynne. Aurora was equally bubbly though, she supposed. Poor Kael was going to have so much fun. As was Ariane, from what Aurora had mentioned to her. Seth would probably deal well with them. He was odd enough to, which was always a good thing.

“Hey,” Lynne caught Kael’s hand just before they apparated away, smiling at him pointedly. “Cheer up. I’m alright. It’s over. You don’t have to play the protective big brother.” Spreading her arms, Lynne spun in a circle, demonstrating that she was still physically whole. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m okay. So smile already. This is meant to be fun.” Before he could reply, Lynne stepped away and apparated away neatly, waiting for Kael to reappear at her side in the streets of Hogsmeade before striding away. It didn’t take long to walk to the café so they arrived on time, despite Lynne’s previous complaints about Kael slowing them down. Wordlessly, but still with the smile on her face, Lynne watched Kael take the seat next to Aurora before sitting down next to him. Maybe...maybe she could keep pretending for just a little bit longer. Just until Kael stopped worrying about her. With that thought in mind, Lynne fixed a happy grin to her face and turned to Aurora animatedly. “Kael is so slow,” she declared gleefully. “I honestly thought that we were going to be late, you know. I was so close to just pushing him along the streets. Anyone would think that he didn’t even want to come. Which is just silly, right? Who wouldn’t want to come to a café and be stuck sitting between us two?”

[kael]

Lynne was trying too hard to be her old self. It irritated him. Kael hadn’t realised just how fragile his twin was, and that only increased his annoyance. So instead of just being furious at Danny for hurting Lynne and being angry with Lynne for letting it go so far without realising that the relationship that wasn’t even a relationship was bad for her, Kael was also irate because of his own obliviousness. Blocking out the world wasn’t a bad thing. He preferred life that way. It meant that he could choose who to let into his world and who he just didn’t notice at all. Except for those who wouldn’t take no for an answer, like Aurora, and people whom Lynne decided to drag into his life, like she was trying to do with Seth Wright. Kael had, however, sworn to always notice what was going on with his twin’s life. Things hadn’t worked out that way. He had been too busy with Adrina and Gia and the novelty of having something of his own, something that wasn’t overshadowed by Lynne’s vibrant presence, that he had barely noticed Lynne’s fading smiles and the absence of her laughter. Kael sighed, snapping his quill with his tightened grip. He felt guilty and that only annoyed him even further. Lynne’s life was hers to live but he should have been aware enough to guide her. That was his job; he was the older brother.

Would today be good for her? Kael certainly hoped so. Aurora would be there, and he had few doubts about her capability to cheer Lynne up and force her out of her masked melancholy. Apparently Seth would be meeting them at the café as well, and he had seen Lynne’s interactions with the Hufflepuff. She had been smiling and laughing with him, chasing an imaginary dragon around Hogwarts. And Lynne claimed that he was the imaginative one. Sure. Ariane was going to be there too, according to Lynne, but Kael didn’t pretend to know anything about the Gryffindor except that she was one of the prefects. Did it matter? They would either get along or not. Knowing odd facts about the girl would make little difference except to perhaps draw the trivial conversation out a little bit longer. Mostly silent, Kael followed Lynne through the house, a small smile still flickering at the corner of his mouth at her surprise about him actually being ready to leave when she wanted to go. Today was an important step towards getting her mind of the ex-Ravenclaw idiot. Kael was hardly going to give Lynne surplus time to dwell on him just because something was itching to be written. If she needed time to herself, she could have it later. Kael knew his twin; she wouldn’t want to be upset when she was meeting her friends. It betrayed too much of how she was really feeling and Kael had just learnt exactly how much Lynne relied on masks and pretences to get herself through life. It was going to stop. It had to. He didn’t want to lose the true Lynne. He wouldn’t know what to do without her.

“You’re not alright,” Kael snapped at the empty space where his sister had been standing before she had apparated away. Defeated, he sighed, raking his hand through his hair agitatedly. He couldn’t fight against someone who wouldn’t even stay still long enough to listen to him. Unsmiling, he apparated to join Lynne and walked alongside her without conversation as they made their way to the café Aurora and Lynne had picked out for the five of them to meet at. He was worried about her but he couldn’t protect Lynne from her own heart and memories. He could hunt Danny down and hurt him for hurting his sister but what good would that do? Lynne still felt deeply for him, she had admitted that much, so hurting him would only hurt her more and she was hurting quite enough with Kael adding to it. “I’m not that slow,” Kael commented mildly, leaning back in his chair indifferently as Lynne donned yet another overly happy smile to complain about him to Aurora. “Tone it down,” he suggested to Lynne in a nearly silent murmur, wishing for something to fiddle with. He wasn’t used to not having a quill to twirl between his fingers and Lynne’s antics made him desperately need one to occupy part of his mind. She was over the top and someone was going to notice. Unless she wanted to explain herself, it would have to be halted and corrected without delay.

[Seth Wright]

He was late. LATE. Again. AGAIN. Seth almost splinched himself apparating to Diagon Alley after tripping out of the shower, flying across his bed and losing himself in his run-down wardrobe. Yes, he had eventually managed to pass his apparition test - but with much difficulty. Now Seth struggled no longer, but when he was panicking he was prone to making mistakes. "Breathe, Seth, breathe," he ordered himself, hurrying along the street.

Ten minutes later, he remembered they were meeting in Hogsmeade.

Talking to himself in frustration and disbelief, earning his dashing and awkward figure several odd looks from passerbys, Seth ran down Hogsmeade village after another dodgy apparition. He checked, of course, that he hadn't left any piece of him behind, and then entered the cafe Aurora had told him to meet her, Lynne and Kael at.

Seth had been looking forward to today a lot. But of course, he had promptly forgotten to wake up this morning, resulting in Eva dragging him out of bed, shoving him mercilessly into the shower and turning the cold button. Resulting in Seth's high pitched, girl-like scream. Which, unsurprisingly, left Eva smirking in amusement and Seth scrambling for the knob and yelling, "THAT WASN'T HELPFUL, EVA!"

Seth supposed he was glad to his sister for waking him up in the first place, though. And now he had worked up an appetite for lunch, having had no breakfast, so he was looking forward to this neat place's menu. Dashing into the cafe, Seth quickly spotted his friends and tried to walk towards them briskly. Almost tripping up a waiter along the way, of course. "I'm so sorry," Seth apologised profusely as he fell onto his chair, breathing hard. "I just... well... I uh, kind of overslept." Laughing nervously as his finger scratched his head of messy dark curls, Seth buried himself quickly into the menu. "Oh, this looks good. I'm starving," he grinned in anticipation.

After they had all ordered, Seth looked around the table at Aurora, Lynne, Kael and Ariane's individual faces. Aurora was, as usual, bright and cheery. Lynne, too, seemed upbeat. No surprise there. Similarly, Kael was not difficult to decipher - he was in his usual mood of I-couldn't-care-less-just-don't-get-on-my-nerves. Seth flashed him a brief smile, but quickly looked away in case he had done something wrong (even though he'd done nothing but smile). Finally, there was Ariane, who looked as per usual utterly stoic and rather not wanting to be there. "I didn't know you were coming, uh, Ariane," Seth said to her. "I'm Seth, by the way." He wasn't sure if Aurora's cousin knew who he even was. He was much too insignificant, right?

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane secretly observed the twins: from the equally bubbly Lynne to the subdued and moody Kael. They were like two sides of a coin - rather like Aurora and herself. And yet, they were also part of the same coin. They were evidently close - Ariane had noticed that in the last seven years, because even though she didn't speak to them or anyone else for that matter, she was very observant of her classmates. However, right now, despite Lynne's smiles that mirrored Aurora's own, Ariane could tell it was not right; their siblingship wasn't the same. Something had changed. Ariane frowned imperceptibly. She would not let it concern her, nor would she mention it to Aurora, because knowing her best friend she had either already noticed and did not plan on speaking of it, or she was unconsciously pushing it out off her radar. Aurora had had enough to deal with with just Ariane's recent unbalanced moods... she didn't have that much time to deal with anything else, although she wanted to and would've if she could've.

Ariane barely processed Lynne's words despite them entering her conscious. Instead, she focused on staring hard at the menu, even though she had already chosen what she would order. She didn't want to have to make conversation with the Collins twins. Thankfully, Lynne only wanted to speak to Aurora, and Kael, like her, wasn't the most social individual ever. It was ironic, then, that Aurora was so close to him now - it was like she attracted silent and stoic people such as herself and Kael. Then again, there were friends such as Lynne who balanced it out for Aurora, as well as the clumsy Seth Wright. Ariane frowned again as she turned her wrist to glance at her watch. He was late. Aurora had already anticipated this and Ariane was patient, but she was slightly irritated nonetheless. She didn't appreciate it when people weren't punctual.

Finally, Seth arrived. He looked harassed and hurried, and no doubt it was an amusing sight for Aurora; Ariane caught her smiling, stifling laughter as he sat down. Typical. Ariane could ever read her best friend's humoured thoughts. Sometimes, Aurora was very predictable. Ariane looked the other boy over sceptically, though her face remained blank, and remained silent as he acquainted himself with everyone on the table. A waiter arrived to take their order, now that they had all arrived, and Ariane quietly told him her choices. After he had left, Ariane, relieved of her saving grace - the menu - began to stare instead at the knife and fork lying side by side, glinting silver in the lighting. She was looking at them rather avidly when Seth's voice cracked through her thoughts and she looked up, blinking. Their eyes connected. "...I know," she told him flatly, with little emotion in reply. After another awkward silence, she added, "Aurora told me."

"Actually, that's a lie," Aurora interrupted with a chuckle. "She's always known who you are, Seth. Ari knows everyone. She's observant like that... so beware. Plus, she's a prefect." Ariane's best friend rolled her eyes jokingly, catching her eye and smiling.

It was Ariane's turn to roll her own eyes, so very similarly dark to Aurora's own. She wanted to remain silent, but the whole table's eyes were on her and she felt obliged to make an effort to socialise if she were to join them for lunch today. "I don't... talk. Much." Her hands twiched under the tablecloth and she forced them still. "So... Sorry if I don't contribute. Aurora can talk for me most of the time." It was Ariane's attempt at a lame, humorous joke and she gave a small, almost apologetic smile. She was who she was - and she couldn't change that.

[Lynne Collins]

Smiling in genuine delight – and oh, but how odd that felt after the heartbreak and feigned happiness that Danny had forced upon her – Lynne hugged Seth warmly. She didn’t know quite why, and she certainly wasn’t oblivious to the darkly suspicious and distrustful stare that Kael pinned Seth with upon perceiving her affection for Seth, but she truly adored him. Not in the same way that she had adored Danny; Lynne wouldn’t put herself through such pain again and she had simply never thought of Seth in such a way. He just...made her smile even when she felt it was impossible. He brought out the genuine child in her, and a truthfully childish Lynne was so very different to the confident and bubbly Lynne that sauntered through Hogwarts without seeming to care about homework or nasty gossip or detentions. He also reminded her of Kael, which always helped a lot in making Lynne enjoy someone’s company. It wasn’t obvious – Lynne was probably the only one who even saw it. She did, after all, know Kael better than anyone else. Not even their parents knew their son as well as she did. They had always been Kael-and-Lynne, almost a one piece unit. They had always worked best together and no one else had ever been able to interact quite so effortlessly with either of them. Adrina had tried, and Lynne would have scowled at the thought of the Gryffindor if her eyes hadn’t instinctively flicked to Kael’s sombre face. Kael had been hurt by Adrina but he had also liked her. It wasn’t his fault that the boy Lynne loved had been obsessed with Adrina.

So, slightly discomfited but smiling brilliantly as always, Lynne poked Seth teasingly. “Did you really oversleep or just forget about us? We don’t accept false excuses, you know. Kael gets irritable when he’s kept waiting. I know, you would surely think that he’s used to being kept waiting when he has me for his twin sister but he’s still as impatient as ever.” Cheerfully engrossed in talking to Seth, Lynne remained oblivious to Kael sending an exasperated look at Aurora as if asking exactly why he had to be invited and ordering for both of them when the waiter arrived and Lynne had only a blank look as her reply. Feeling somewhat sheepish, Lynne flushed lightly, offered a dark glance to Kael when the corner of his mouth twitched in repressed amusement and then turned to Ariane with an audible huff. “Can you put him in detention?” Lynne asked, teeth flashing momentarily in a grin. “Kael bullies me terribly and I’d feel much safer if I knew his bad behaviour was being punished.”

“I find it hard to believe that I’m the bully when I distinctly remember you and Aurora forcing me into a tuxedo, top hat and mask at Halloween. Who was I anyway, Tuxedo Top Hat?” Kael’s eyebrow shot up towards his hairline when Lynne abruptly dissolved into helpless giggles, grabbing at her glass of water after a few moments when the laughter refused to stop and her stomach started to hurt. Patiently, sighing irritably as if he had to do this every day, Kael guided the glass to her shaking hand and gently patted her back gingerly. “This is why I never make jokes,” Kael informed the other three occupants of the table grimly. “If she’s so out of control after a simple mistake then I’m sure you can imagine her reaction to an actual joke. She just needs to calm down. A lot.” Discreetly, Lynne jabbed her elbow into Kael’s ribs for his lie even as she smiled gratefully. The truth was that she hadn’t laughed, truly laughed, in so long that she had been unable to stop when she actually found a reason to laugh. Admitting the truth would invite questions that Lynne didn’t want to answer. It was easier to lie and let people think that she simply had an uncontrollable laughing problem at times. Kael’s face was dark with half-hidden irritation when he jerked his head at the food that had arrived and, for once not complaining at her brother’s bossy and protective streak, Lynne meekly demonstrated obedience and started to eat in silence, letting the conversation flow around her without offering her own contribution unless directly addressed.