Everyone wants to be loved -Nyxie-

[Phoenix O. Night]

<sub>It didn't even register to Phoenix that he had just murmured Rayne's name out loud for her to hear. He was glad she couldn't see his face when she pointed it out - Phee had paled notably and his eyes were wide. It had been an accident, he hadn't meant to. Recovering his composure quickly, he cleared his throat lightly.

"I'm glad you're okay... that's all." Phoenix whispered, pulling away from her yet keeping his hands on her shoulders. He held his gaze on Rayne for possibly a moment longer than necessary. That wasn't all. That definitely wasn't all. But Phoenix didn't want to admit it. But the moment called for it.

"Its just that... y'know..." The teen trailed off, looking at his hand that toyed lazily with a curl of Rayne's hair with interest. Extreme situations like these made you think. They made you come to terms with just how much you cared for someone. Made you realize the gaping hole they'd leave if anything were to happen to them. Phoenix didn't want anything to happen to Rayne. Ever. That was for sure.

Phoenix closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled quietly through his mouth. When he opened them, he looked directly at Rayne.
"I kinda..." What? Like you? Phoenix swallowed an awkward lump in his throat - he was going about this all wrong and he knew it. It wasn't the teen's fault. He had never done this before. His cheeks gained a light dusting of rose and he swore that any moment now his heart thudding in his chest would be audible.

"I don't want anything to happen to you." The teen whispered, moving forward again. The hand that had been playing aimlessly with her sodden, brown tresses snaked its way upwards, into her hair.

"I'm sorry but I... I like you, Rayski." Phoenix closed in the last couple of inches that separated them quickly - quick enough so Rayne couldn't embarrassingly pull away from him in time. He closed his eyes and met her lips with his own. It wasn't anything big. Just a gentle and light kiss on the lips, one that hopefully expressed how much he cared for the girl that had charmed him ever since their detention. Phoenix truely liked Rayne. Almost losing her had left him panicking. He wanted to be there to protect her from the bad in the world.
His only hope was that she felt the same way...</sub>

[Rayne Skye Teagan]

Rayne's heart started beating faster when she realized Phoenix had gotten nervous all of a sudden. it was... random. And it made Rayne nervous listening to his nervous speaking. She didn't know what he was going to say, and it made her nervous... had she done something wrong? suddenly, she wanted to be back in the water drowning... She didn't like awkward talks.

She was just about to tell him just to tell her when he had blurted out he liked her and then kissed her. She hadn't even noticed his hand had sneaked into her hair. It didn't phase her much, neither did the kiss honestly. She liked Phoenix... more than a friend. She was sure of it, but she didn't want to ruin something. Every time she found a guy that she had stuff in common with, one that she could be comfortable around, she messed it up once they went into a relationship. Although none had been like Phoenix is.

She closed her eyes even though it was a quick kiss. She could feel the feelings he put into it. Her heart was screaming to tell him that she liked him back. To kiss him again. But her mind was telling her this was going to end like everything else. That she was going to fuck it up.

Rayne reached up, still looking at Phoenix with a pained expression, and grabbed his hand that was in her hair. She pulled it out and pushed it back toward him lightly. "Nyxie..."

[/b] She whispered, barely audible. She couldn't do this. "I have to go."[/b] She murmured before crawling away from him to her clothes. She threw on her skirt and blouse, not bothering to put them on right. She couldn't walk through the castle right now, anyways. She grabbed her wand out of her robes then swung the rest of her clothes over her arm. Silently thinking Accio Broom She needed to get fresh air through her mind right now. Turning away from Phoenix, she grabbed her broom as it soared toward her and took off. Not turning around to look at Phoenix because she didn't want him to see that she had tears in her eyes.
[/blockquote]

[Phoenix O. Night]

<sub>Nyxie... I have to go.
The words of rejection rang clear in his ears, even after Rayne swiftly took off on her broom. He didn't look after her when she left, he just stared fixately on a spot on the lake. He'd well and truely messed up. He had got so caught up in the moment that the possibility of her turning him down so... so harshly hadn't passed through his mind.

Phoenix bit his lip. The lips that had just kissed Rayne for a short yet sweet moment. It was funny how great he had felt in that moment contrasted so much with how he felt now. And it had all happened within seconds. He lowered his head heavily and closed his eyes. It had been a short, intense friendship. He should of just kept quiet.

The teen could hear some students snicker a short distance off. No prize for guessing that the object of their cruel laughter was Phoenix. He was sat, dripping wet in his boxers. Humilliation stung his eyes with her saltiness. But he hastily chased her away with his shirt. He wasn't about to cry here over some girl... even if it was Rayne. With a tensed jaw, the teen threw on his clothes not caring that he was still wet, causing his garments to stick uncomfortably to his skin.

Phoenix needed to talk to the friend he had been neglecting ever since knowing the Gryffindor. He needed Mack. Running a hand through his hair, he scolded himself one last time for being so idiotic. He'd rushed things with Rayne. And now he was paying for it. Phoenix dragged himself to his feet and stormed off, flipping off the group that had scornfully laughed at him as he went.</sub>