C 10

 Indianna walked into school with Brooke, neither of them were in good moods today, but whereas it was obvious with Indianna, Brooke still tried to fake it and pretend she was fine.

I fell down the stairs- That was what Brooke was telling people if anyone asked why she had a black eye and her arm in the cast. I tripped and just fell, silly me, she was going to say.

Brooke had dark bags under her eyes, most of the people that lived in the pack house did. They had been kept awake the whole night by Brooke's screaming.

No one blamed her. She couldn't help her nightmares. She wasn't choosing to relive her darkest days.

Harry had been by Brooke's side the whole night. Comforting her when the nightmares finally woke her and calming her down.

Ace had gone to Greyson's room, limping slightly. His injuries were still healing. Greyson's room was where Indianna now slept, wrapped in one of his jumpers. She was wide awake, holding an envelope in her hand. Ace didn't question it when she hid it quickly under the pillow.

"Hey," he had said.

"Can't sleep?" Indianna asked, pushing her brown hair from her face.

Ace shook his head. "I wanted to ask you something," he said.

"Ask what?"

Ace took a deep breath. "Where is his grave?"

Indianna froze. Ace waited a few tense minutes before she turned to him. "It's not hard to miss," she said quietly. "It's in the back garden, under the oak tree."

"I wish I could have been there," Ace murmured. "At the funeral. I wish I could have seen him one last time."

"You wouldn't have wanted to see him," Indianna said, closing her eyes, trying to forget the last image she had of Greyson.

"I would, just one last look at my best friend-"

"No," Indianna said sharply. "Rogue... Rogue defiled him, Ace! He tore him to shreds! All that was left of Greyson was flesh and bones! You wouldn't have wanted to see him like that."

"But you did. You saw him like that."

"I didn't want to go," Indianna whispered. "As soon as I saw his body I fled. He was unrecognisable. I've not been to his grave since."

"I'm so sorry, Indie," Ace sighed. "I can't imagine what it's been like for you."

"I hope you never have to experience what I have. When you find your mate, you cherish her and love her more than you have ever loved anything in the world," Indianna said and looked up at Ace with teary eyes. "Promise me?"

"Of course," Ace promised.

"Indie!" Brooke said, breaking Indianna from her trance.

"S-sorry," Indianna said and shook her head. "I zoned."

"It's fine," Brooke smiled. "I'm sorry about last night. I feel awful for keeping everyone aw-"

"Don't," Indianna said. "No one blames you. We're just glad you're okay."

"I don't know if I ever will be," Brooke murmured. "Not really."

Indianna took Brooke's hand. "Neither do I."

"B-Brooke!" Brooke tensed when Brandon walked up to her, his eyes wide. Raiden, Tai's brother was by his side. "God, Brooke, what happened!"

Brooke took a step back from Brandon. "He happened," was all Brooke said before turning round and walking away, pulling Indianna with her.

They met everyone else at Kal's locker. Indianna smiled slightly when she saw Kal and Kimberly hand in hand.

Brooke walked over to Harry and lied when he asked if she was alright. He narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head.

Indianna leaned back against the lockers and her eyes looked across from her. The metal locker had a dent in it. Greyson had punched it once.

It was still unoccupied. It was still his locker.

Indianna looked to the locker on the left and saw Tai opening it. A flyer fell out of it and landed near Indianna, but Ace beat her to it when she went to pick it up.

"You dropped this," Ace said, walking up to Tai.

It was a flyer for a Christmas fair. Christmas was for celebrating, family and happiness.

Indianna didn't have much happiness in her life.

"Thanks," Tai muttered and snatched the flyer from Ace, scrunched it up and chucked it in her locker.

"Tai!" Brooke called. "This is Ace! He's been ill for a while, but he's better now."

"Barely," Harry muttered.

"You're the one who woke up," Tai said, repeating what was said the day before.

"I was in a coma," Ace explained.

"That's shit."

"Quite peaceful actually," Ace said. "It's nice to meet you, Tai."

"Is it?" Kimberly asked.

"Yes," Ace nodded. "Brooke tells me you have a brother."

"Yeah, a twin," Tai said, answering Ace's question before she could stop herself. She didn't tend to tell people much about herself. She coughed and shut her locker.

"He's friends with Brandon," Brooke said quietly.

Tai shrugged her shoulders and finally noticed Brooke's injuries. "What happened?"

"Fell down the stairs," Brooke lied, "silly me."

"That's not clever," Tai said.

"She's always been a clutz," Kal said. Kimberly rolled her eyes, and Indianna was surprised when she didn't make a comment. Kimberly opened her mouth, but took another look at Brooke with her cast and black eye and pressed her lips together, deciding on a not so nice look instead.

"Right, well, bye," Tai said.

"See you around?" Ace said as Tai turned.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," she shrugged and walked off.

"Rejected!" Kal sang.

"I need to touch her," Ace said suddenly.

"Woah there, I know you've been unconscious for a month and all, but I'm sure I can find a magazine that will calm your urges," Kal said quickly. "And a sock."

"You're disgusting," Kimberly muttered.

"No, I..." Ace sighed. "Never mind."

*