((Axel rawr.))
She had to leave. She couldn't stay in the same house as him after what happened. It would have been weird, really weird. So she promised she'd be back tomorrow to get some of her things and left. Unfortunately, there were a fewt hings wrong with that little plan. One, she had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Two, she was still wearing her short and sleeveless dress she had put on for dinner. Luckily she had grabbed a coat on her way out the door; unfortunately, it was Seth's coat she took.
But none of that mattered now. She couldn't think straight, and so she ran. Her feet pounded against the ground. She had had the sense trade her heels for ennis shoes before she left, but that was about the only smart thing she had done. She had almost no money on her, no friends she could go to, and nothing to do. Not only that, but it was freezing outside and half of her legs were exposed to the elements.
Running seemed like the best option. It kept her blood flowing, and it took her mind off things. She wasn't as fast as she used to be, but fast enough. Running as a human was different than running as a vampire. For one, she kind of needed to breathe now.
Someone she managed to make it to the forest, but no further than a tiny clearing a few yards in. There, she collapsed and promptly started sobbing. What had her life turned into?
There was a small whine coming from the trees. A black wolf stepped out, watching Alice with sad sky blue eyes, making its way over. It's giant paws left tracks in the snow behind it. The black creature sat beside her and leaned against her, then transformed into Axel's human self. He wrapped his arms around her and held her while she sobbed, stroking her hair and her back, whispering that it will be alright with a soft, soothing tone.
What had he done? He knew. He knew without even having to ask, that this was about her and Seth. Their marriage was ruined. It was his fault.
Alice wrapped her arms around him, positive who it was. She tried to stop the tears, but found that she couldn't. How could her life turn so bad so quickly? Her life had been so perfect....
"I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to dry the wetness from her cheeks. "I shouldn't be doing this. I'm sorry." She started to pull away, sniffling.
"Don't apologize." He whispered. "I've got you." Axel pulled her back gently. "Let it out. Just let it out." He took his hand and carefully wiped the tears that were falling. But they kept coming. Still though, he would keep wiping them away.
Alice burried her head in his shoulder and slowly shook her head. What was he doing here with her? Should he be her with her? Shouldn't he be celebrating his return with her?
"Why are you here?" She asked softly, pulling back enough to look him in the eye. Now that there had been a tidal wave of tears, then were slowing down. They would stop soon, she hoped. Crying was not something she took pleasure in.
Axel continued to rub her back, trying to comfort her. He knew that question was coming.
"Someone needed me." He said simply. Well, he actually had nowhere else to really be. And he missed the forest. This was where he felt most alive. This was the wolf in him. This was like a home to him. But, he also knew Alice would come here sometime or another.
Alice pushed herself away from him--somehow managing to stand up--and started pacing. Her hands alternated wiping tears from her face to running through her messy hair. There seemed to be so much energy in her, but she was exhausted at the same time.
"But...why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Avalee at your house or somthing? Having a nice little party over your return?" Her voice was sharp, but she didn't intend for it to be. There was an intense hatred towards the girl that she couldn't explain.
Axel shook his head.
"I don't want a party for me. There's nothing to celebrate. This wasn't even supposed to happen." He watched her pace back and forth for some time, repeatedly stepping into previous tracks.
"I've changed. Everything about me has. I don't remember how I felt six months ago."
Alice stopped walking. Instead she stared at the ground and chewed the inside of her cheek.
"You were in love with Avalee. So, so in love. You were so happy with her, it was ridiculous." She closed her eyes. Why was she even saying this. Was she... jealous? No, no. Of course not...
"And I was so in love with Seth. Things were beyond perfect, and now.." She clenched her teeth together until in hurt, refusing to start crying again.
"I do love Avalee. But I'm not sure what kind of love that really is anymore. It's been like six months. I just don't remember what it was like." He stood up and walked over to her, seeing the hurt in her sad blue eyes.
"And you do love Seth. If it weren't for me, things wouldn't have gone downhill like they have. So I've decided that I'm leaving in the morning. I'm going to America. I don't belong here."
Her mind was spinning. He said that if he hadn't come, things would have been fine. Alice wasn't sure, but she thought that was a lie. Things would have ended sooner or later. If she had stayed, she would have just made excuses and Seth would have let her. That's just how he was. Axel just made the process quicker, which was probably better.
But he was leaving?!
"What?! No, you aren't! I won't let you, okay? You know I won't."
"You can't stop me. I'm going and that is that. I don't care what you are, I will make sure I leave and give you guys the lives you want." Axel didn't even realize he had his hands clenched. He didn't want to leave but he knew it was best.
"No."
Alice moved quickly, and instantly she could feel strength pumping through her. She had pinned him against a tree, pressing him in place with her own body, her face close to his.
"You can't leave me. Not again. Not after what happened with Seth." It was a low blow, but she hoped it would work.
Axel was suddenly up against a tree with Alice pushing against him, holding him in place. She was stronger than he remembered, but he could bust free if he really had to.
"This is for the better." He said. He let his voice drop to a whisper. "I'm telling you. I'm no good."
"I don't believe that for a second. I've seen the bad, Axel. I've been the bad. You fell in love with Avalee. You used to love me. You made me forget Seth and save me from killing myself when he left. You. Are. Good."
Axel closed his eyes and thought back to everything that had happened. Memories were flashing through his mind. Feelings were being fitted like pieces of a puzzle. And then he got the picture.
"I think...I love you." He said softly. "I think I have always have, but never realized it until now."
Alice lifted one hand to his cheek and realized how close she was to him. Her body was pressed against his in a...distracting way. And what did he just say?
"You do?" She breathed?
Axel opened his eyes and nodded.
"I do." He said.
She swallowed slowly, her eyes scanning his face.
"How do you know? And...why?"
"You bring out the best and the worst in me. We understand each other. We know what pain really is. And I realized that you're the missing piece of a puzzle that is my heart. It's not complete until you're there." He had a hard time explaining what he felt, but Axel tried.
"Do you understand?"
She paused, letting the words sink in. He loved her, he really did. And she realized that she loved him. A lot.
But she needed to check something.
"I need you to do something...if you could," she started softly. Biting her lip she leaned forward and whipsered the same request she had asked Seth earlier.
"I thought you'd never ask." Axel said with a smirk. Only, he slid out from where he was and pinned Alice to the tree. His lips crashed onto hers without hesitation.
*Wow,* she thought idly.
When the kiss ended she pulled back ever so slightly, and brilliant eyes searching his. How did things get so turned around today?
"Are you still leaving?" She asked meekly.
Axel rolled his eyes.
"You think I was actually going to leave? Well...I thought about it until you pushed me into the tree. And then the kiss definitely said I was staying." Axel grinned.
Alice returned the smile. She ran her fingers through his hair to smooth it. Her smile slowly faded, though, as she realized how cold she was. Not cold as in vampire cold, but it was freezing out.
"Uhm, well that's all nice and everything, but is there somewhere we could go? I can't go back home." She took a small step back and motioned to her bare legs, the dress barely concealed by the coat she wore. Her pale skin had darkened slightly since she became human, but right now she was so cold she felt like she matched the snow.
"Well...everything was given to Avalee. And I can't just go taking it back. I've been living on the streets, got a little money saved up. But nothing that can afford even a stay at an inn. So, I don't know." Axel shrugged and let his eyes drop to her legs. He took off his coat and gave it to her. It was long enough to go to her ankles and thick enough to warm her legs. He crossed his arms and pushed his foot against the tree.
Alice pulled his coat tightly around her, wanting him to stay warm but knowing he would probably refuse to take it back. She stepped closer to him in an attempt to lend her meager body heat to his. Realistically it most likely worked the other way.
"Well, we can always sell these."
Her fingers went to her necklace. It was a string of diamond hanging loosely around her neck. It would be worth plenty; she could get more money tomorrow, but it would do for tonight. The necklace was her own, not a gift, and she really didn't care about getting rid of it. Honestly, Axel probably would have been fine outside overnight. He could turn into a wofl and stay warm. Alice probably would have been fine, too. Her vampiric ability to resist temperature changes still seemed to stick with her. She just didn't want to stay out here, and she especially didn't want to leave Axel.
"Come on," she said, taking his hand and pulling him towards the direction of Hogsmead, "We need to sort some things out, and a warm environment will make it more bearable."
Axel took her hand and gently pulled it away from the diamond necklace.
"No, your not selling your necklace. We'll manage." Before he knew it, he was being led towards town.
"I suppose you're right. I'd rather speak in a place where I can't see my own breath."
Alice looked back at Axel and smiled.
"I been here quite a while, I don't have a problem with selling some necklace if it means I can be warm."
((Skipping to later.....))
The room was small, but it would do. There was a little fireplace, a wardobe, a small table with a chair, the bed, and a bedside table. Other than that, the room was bare. There was nothing on the walls or floor--save for a rug near the bed. The Hog's Head may have gotten cleaned up a little, but they were by no means a very nice place to stay.
Still, it was warm, and that was really all that mattered currently.
Alice strode into the room without hesitation, flopping onto the bed and staring up at the ceiling. Her dark hair was splayed around her like a dark halo. She still had both Seth and Axel's coats on, and she suddenly felt too hot in the little room.
Axel stood near the window, watching as Alice layed down and stared at the ceiling. A smiled formed on his lips. He couldn't help it. It must have been the way Alice looked. He didn't even know why he was smiling. But something brought him back to reality and he lost the smile. This wasn't right. She was newly divorced. He had just came back to town. They shouldn't be sharing a room.
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, then sat up. Her face was neutral, but on the inside a million thoughts ran through her mind. Today had been... completely unreal. A huge part of her felt terrible for what happened with Seth. They loved each other a lot... just not in the way that made it possible for them to live together as husband and wife. The things she had put him through must have been torture, and she knew that she could never forgive herself.
At the same time, this somehow felt... right. Meant to be. It was completely ridiculous that anything should feel right now, but being with Axel just seemed warm. Welcoming. He wasn't judging her for what had happened. He cared about her, obviously, or he would have left when they were in the forest. He could have gotten away if he had been a wolf. She wouldn.t have been able to catch him.
And yet here he was.
She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "This is going to be complicated, you know that, right?"
Axel nodded and pushed himself from the wall, walking slowly to the bed and sat down on the side, his feet on the dusty wooden floor.
"I know." He said softly over his shoulder. "This is gonna be hard. I think its best we don't let our emotions get too attached right now. Not when we're both vulnerable." Axel pushed his hair back only for it to fall back in place. "Do you understand?"
Alice nodded slowly, her eyes on the floor. She really wanted to move closer to him, hold his hand, and lean her head against his should where he could tell her everything would be okay.
But that was something that just wasn't going to happen right now.
"Yes. What...what do you think we should do about... each other and Avalee and... Seth?" She struggled to put her words together, which was odd for her.
"We let whatever happens. You should know that nobody will be given my heart anytime soon. I don't want a relationship. They're so complicated and you get hurt in the long run. So Avalee, I don't know. She may either choose to wait and see how I feel or pick up on that Phoenix dude. As for Seth, he's too emotionally stricken to bother with a relationship right now. ((Or is he? o_O)) So that leaves...you." He laid down on his back, and looked at her.
Alice stayed where she moved, unmoving. This wasn't what she wanted to hear, although it was probably for the best....
"Me..." What did she want? Did it really matter? She lived her life, so wasn't it other people's happiness that mattered? "I can... just wait, I guess. See what happens with Seth and... you. I don't want things to be complicated anymore." Her voice was soft and slow. She didn't want to lie to him, but she couldn't tell him how she really felt. He just said he didn't want a relationship. She didn't want problems, that's what she wanted. But all relationships can with problems, right?
Axel sat up and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know how to explain this. I'm sorry. I'm just so confused right now. I love you, but I love Avalee too. And I just can't sort it out right now. That's what I mean by not wanting a relationship. I want one when I know what I want. Or in this case, who." He brushed his hand against the soft skin of her cheek.
"But I really care for you. Like a lot. And I don't want you to get attached in case things go a different way. You're...special, Alice. You really are." Axel didn't even notice that he was going on and on. He just wanted to make sure Alice understood because he liked where they were going, but wanted to prepare her for what could happen.
((HHeeeey, Axel should tell her about Seth and Aves. She "doesn't know".))
Alice turned to face him, trying desperately to keep her face plain. What he said made perfect sense, but at the same time it wasn't what she wanted. She hadn't realize how used she had become to having her way, but she did now. She was spoiled and she knew it.
"I understand," she started softly, "I love you, too. I know I shouldn't, but I do. Some people may not like it, but they don't matter to me. I want you to know that I will always be here for you, no matter what you choose. I'm not that kind of person."
"Then, you should know something." Axel pulled his hand away and sighed. How could he put this? He didn't want Alice to hurt Avalee because the old Axel certainly would have tried to hurt Seth.
"Avalee and Seth...er...kissed. That night when we all accidentally met up, except for him." He couldn't look at her. He had no idea how she'd react.
*Avalee and Seth...kissed. They kissed. Kissed. They kissed.*
That ran through her mind for it seemed like an endless time. Then in really felt like it hit her. Seth and Avalee kissed.
*That hypocritical bastard.* She didn't say it out loud, but her expression said it all. She wasn't really mad at the girl at all, but she was pissed at Seth. He had gotten so angry when he found out that she kissed Axel, but he couldn't even tell her that he kissed Avalee? How unlike him.
Alice snapped back to reality, realizing that she was still here with Axel.
"Oh God, I'm sorry. Uh... thank you... for telling me."
Axel leaned over and lightly kissed her cheek and then pulled her into his arms, so that his arms were around her waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder and couldn't help but notice how delightful her hair smelled.
Alice closed her eyes, suddenly overwhelmed by different things. She could smell Axel with perfect clarity; so well that she could picture him. He felt like he was radiating heat around her, and it felt so wonderful. He said he didn't want a relationship, but he kept kissing her. He told her not to get attatched, and he was wrapping his arms around her and being so sweet. She could feel his soft hair against her neck, and she turned her head towards him and opened her crystal blue eyes.
"Please don't hate me for this," she breathed before pressing her lips to his. Somehow she managed to turn herself around so she was completely facing him and her arms were wrapped around his neck.
Axel found he was face to face with her, his sky blue eyes locked on her crystal blue. Beautiful blue. He smiled and twisted a piece of black hair around his finger, then let it go.
"Please don't hate me for this,"
Her lips, for once not icy and cold, pushed against his, and for a moment, there was bliss. But wait.... He put enough space between them so he could look at her. He stroked her cheek again, supporting her with the other hand.
"I could never, ever hate you." He whispered.
Alice pulled away and turned to face the wall. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, and she didn't think she could hold them back. She didn't even know why she was crying. He said he could never hate her, but that's not what was wrong..
"I'm sorry," she whispered. She feared that if she spoke any louder her voice would break.
"Alice...." Axel shifted so now he was facing her. He took her face in his hands and wiped the tears with his thumbs. "Why? Why are you sorry?" He kissed her forehead. "What's wrong, Alice?"
She pulled away and turned again; she couldn't look at him, not now. She didn't know exactly what was wrong. All she knew was that today she had been rejected by her own husband and seemingly accepted by Axel only to be pushed away again. She just didn't understand it.
*Stupid human emmotions.*
"It's nothing. I just... got something in my eye."
Axel frowned.
"Now we both know that isn't true." He didn't understand. Was it something he did? Did he say the wrong thing? "Alice, please...."
Alice sniffled again and wiped more tears from her face. Why was she crying so much today? She didn't think she could ever cry like this.
"I just don't know what's going on, okay? All I know is that everybody seems mad at me, and it's bothering me a lot more than it usually does and I'm crying and I just feel so lost." She quickly rolled over so she was lying facedown on the bed, hiding her face.
Axel laid down beside her and rubbed her back, his mouth by her ear.
"I'm not mad at you." He said softly. "I know things seem crazy. Things are crazy. But you know, it happens. We can't control it."
"That's the thing--I should be able to control it! I've be in control for two centuries, and suddenly everything's different again. I can't take it." She stayed where she was, but she balled her hands into fists and pressed them against the side of her head.
*And I'm alone.*
When she was changed into a vampire, she had no idea what had happened. There had been a male vampire who saved her from her sire, and she had grown to love him. But then he was murdered. She was left to find her way through the world all alone, until she found Seth. Now she was back to nobody.
Axel pulled her fists from her head and pulled her up.
"Look at me!" He said. "Look. at. me. You are not alone. I'm here, and I'm here to stay. I will never let you be alone." Axel pressed his lips to hers before she could fight his words.
She had one moment of surprise, then she relaxed against his touch. Did he mean his words? God, she hoped so. She didn't think she could stand it if he didn't.
A few moments later when she pulled away from the kiss she brushed her hand against his cheek.
"Thank you. For coming here with me. For not leaving. For coming back. For helping me when Seth left to take care of his mom. For... everything."
"You're welcome. Just remember that I'll always be here. I left once, but I'm not leaving you again. This is my promise." He held out his pinky.
Alice couldn't help but smile as he help out his little finger. She quickly lifted her own and wrapped it around his.
"You don't have to promise me that, Axel..." She said slowly, not letting go of his hand. But oh, she wanted to believe in what he said so much.
Axel kept his pink intertwined with hers, still just as serious as before.
"I want to." He said. "I don't have to, but I want to." He bit his lip as he looked at their joined hands.
Alice also looked down at their hands. She felt so warm around him, like he was her own sun. Like earlier, she had the sensation that this was wrong, that she should be trying to talk to Seth, but this just felt so right to her. So...well, perfect.
"Axel...I don't want to be kept waiting, I really don't. You know how impatient I am. This... this is just going to work if you keep me waiting for a long time."
Axel wanted to be with her. He did. But he didn't want Avalee to hate him. He did care for her, he really did. But what they had wasn't built to last. He let go of her hand and lifted her chin, closing his eyes and breathing slowly. He thought about what could happen, and what would happen, and then he pressed his lips against hers.
She returned the kiss, and for a moment she allowed her self to pretend that she was in a different situation. That today hadn't happened, and they were together like they used to be--like she wanted them to be still.
After a moment she pulled away, hopefully staring into his eyes. "So what does this mean?"
"This means," Axel breathed. "that I love you."
Alice watched him for a few more moments, then her face lit up with a smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug. This was wrong to do so soon after what happened with Seth, but she didn't care.
You couldn't tell your heart what to do.
Axel smiled, and brought his arms around her, returning the hug. He buried his head in her neck and could only keep smiling. He told himself he didn't want a relationship, but the truth was that he did. For a long time.
"I'm so sorry. So, so sorry for what I did to you after he came back," she whispered in his ear, running one of her hands through his red hair.
She was apologizing for what she did? What did she mean? By marrying Seth? Yes, that must have been it.
"I'm sorry, because I'm the one who left you. I let you down and I will never do it again."
Alice squeezed him slightly then pulled away. She was so happy right now she could barely stand it. She wasn't alone after all. She shook her head and looked down to her lap, spacing out slightly.
"I can't believe this is happening; it's just so... unreal."
That was whe she realized that she was still wearing two coats over her skimpy dress. "Oh gosh."
Axel smiled and gave shoulder a light squeeze.
"I'll be right back." He whispered. He exited the room and came back sometime later with a bottle of liquor.
"To new lives." He cheered then took a swig from the freshly opened bottle. He made a face then offered the bottle to her.
She took the bottle and took a sip from it after repeating, "To new lives."
She laughed afted she took the drink. The alcohol burned her throat, but she was used to it and she didn't make the face Axel did.
"So, what now?" She asked, holding the bottle out to him.
Axel shrugged as he accepted the bottle. He took a big swig, this time downing it without any expression. He used to depend on alcohol once upon a time. But since he came to Hogwarts, he used it less and less.
"What do you want to do?" He asked, watching her.
Alice shrugged as she stood, walking over to the table and pulling off her two coats. Her black dress clung to her and still looked stunning with her disheveled appearance and lack of jewelery. Her pale skin was a sharp contrast to the dark fabric.
"You forget, I've already done it all. There has to be something you want to do?"
Axel's eyes widened a little when Alice took off her coats. He pressed his eyes closed and took another big drink before handing over the bottle.
"There's really nothing specific. I don't care."
She accepted the bottle, putting her free hand on her hip and watching him.
"Come on, I have no idea what you've been doing in the past six months, but it doesn't sound like you've done anything fun. What do you want to do? Run, eat, stay here and talk about anything?"
Axel jumped and flopped onto the bed face down in the pillow.
"Let's stay here." He suggested, his voice muffled by the casing. He lifted his head enough for his words to get out clearly. "Unless you have another suggestion."
Alice crawled onto the bed beside him, laying on her back.
"Nope, this is good. So, how's life been? Before you came back, I mean."
"It's been...well, nothing special. I've been all over London though. Unfortunately I was living on the streets, but I did see a lot of pretty sites." He turned to look at her and smiled. "And what about you? I know its been rough lately, but anything exciting?"
Alice snorted.
"Not really. I guess I'm just not suited to live in small towns any more. Everybody still thinks I'm vamped out, and most of them stay away from me. Don't really have any friends around here."
"Oh, but I'm your fwend." Axel said in a childish voice. He laughed and took her hand. "Oh, that's right. When did these human things start happening? You cried before. You never used to do that."
Alice's gaze fixed on the ceiling, and she again forced her face to remain neutral.
"I'm not exactly sure," she replied honestly, "It was after the wedding, and I just woke up one day and was different. But I'm not... exactly human. Sometimes I get really cold, or I get my strength and speed back. Stuff like that. Like earlier when I pushed you against that tree, I was stronger than a human should be." She shrugged.
It bothered her that she didn't know why she was changing. It also bothered her that her body couldn't seem to decide if it was human or vampiric.
After the wedding? Like after....
"Ew." Axel blurted. "But um...that's cool." He reached for the bottle, surprised at how much they already had. He was feeling buzzed. But hey, why not have a little fun, right? He started to chug the burning liquid. Oh he'd pay later, but right now he didn't care.
Alice suddenly blushed, which was definately something she didn't used to do.
"Oh, wow. Okay, that's not what I meant," she countered, even though he wasn't far off...
"I was just kidding!" Axel said, laughing. "Here, take this away before I get drunk and start taking off my clothes and running around downstairs." He pushed the bottle and its remnants into her hands.
Alice grabbed the bottle from his and finished it off.
*Well that didn't last long.*
She smiled and rolled onto her side, stretching her long legs. "Can't have you running around naked, can we?" She asked softly with an odd tone to her voice.
Axel just laughed and looked at her, starting to play with her hair.
"Your hair's so soft." He said with a smile.
Her smile didn't fade. She stared into his eyes ((which are what color?)) and pulled her hair over her shoulder so it was neater than just splayed every which-way.
"Natural water. Rain makes your hair really soft. Though, of course, we haven't had rain in a while." She made a face. Since becoming "human" she had to produce her own body heat, and she never really felt comfortable.
"Really? I guess I'm going to have to go stand out in the rain sometime and bring some shampoo with me." He pulled his hand away from her hair and brought it to her cheek, stroking it with his fingers.
"I think a lot of people would find that very amusing," she said softly. His skin was so warm against her cheek, it was distracting. She felt herself start to blush and she wondered why.
"Is that so?" Axel asked. "Yes, I guess that would be rather amusing. A redheaded man standing outside lathering and rinsing, repeating." He paused. "You're blushing."
Alice nodded slowly, her smile turning into an embarassed grin.
"Yeah, I have blood now, so unfortunately that happens."
Axel traced the flushed areas with his index finger.
"I think it suits you. I like you with blood."
That made her blush even more, and idly she wondered what she looked like flushed. She hardly ever looked in the mirror as a vampire, and that habit stayed with her now. She wondered how she looked with blood coloring her face--and not blood from a meal.
"I suppose that's good, since I've got a whopping two gallons of it." She grinned at him, still slightly nervous for reasons she wasn't exactly sure of.
"That's quite impressive. That's like two jugs of milk." Axel said with a grin. "So do you eat human food now?"
Alice nodded.
"Yup, all kinds. But not very much. I still like the taste of blood, too, but I don't feel the need to start stabbing things with my teeth. That's another thing--my teeth went away."
Axel frowned.
"Aww. Well...I can at least make you some extra rare hamburgers sometime." He suggested. "Say, that can be a date. Dinner, and...and a night on the town or something. How about it? Not tonight though. I don't want to start going public yet, if you don't mind. I want things to cool down with Avalee."
She reached for his hand and twined her fingers with his.
"Of course. And... I'll have to go back to the house tomorrow and get my things..." Alice spaced out again, thinking about how awkward that trip would be. Especially when Seth could smell Axel on her...
Axel nodded, his eyes glancing at their hands for a second.
"Seth won't be there." He said quietly. "Trust me. He'll probably be here in Hogsmead or out on the grounds, but he won't be at that house until he needs to be."
Alice nodded slowly, realizing that he was probably right. Seth probably wanted to be in their house as much as she did.
"Yeah, I guess I can understand that. Saves me an awkward conversation, I guess..."
He didn't say anything back. Axel didn't really know what to say. He gave her hand a squeeze.