The quaffle dropped to the ground, causing Fabian to sigh in annoyance. Shaking his head at Leanna Peters, the chaser who had been responsible for dropping it.

"You'll regret that." He muttered to the new team member as he flew by.

"Huh?" The fifth year asked in confusion.

"Are you fucking serious?" Lorna Carson exclaimed, staring at the quaffle. "If we can't even hold onto the fucking quaffle we might as well give up."

"It slipped." Leanna apologized.

"Is this your first time playing Quidditch ever?" Lorna inquired harshly.

"…No." Leanna replied.

"Fucking shocker that." Lorna declared. "You had me completely fooled."

"It was my fault." James Potter interrupted, flying into the small huddle. "I threw it too hard."

"Noble, Potter, really, but if we're ever going to be good enough to go against Slytherin each member is going to admit to their mistakes." Lorna replied with a shake of her head. "But if you're going to insist on being partially responsible you both can run laps?"

"All right." James agreed, smiling at Leanna.

Lorna let out a sigh of frustration and sent them both on their way.

"Merlin I can't stand Gryffindors." Fabian commented with a shake of his head. "They're so…"

"Fucking noble?" Lorna offered. "Drives me up the bloody wall. James Potter's the worst of the bunch. You'd never pretend to have thrown a quaffle to hard just to keep some id from crying her eyes out."

"If I did it'd be a bit ridiculous. Being Beater and all." Fabian remarked.

"Can't believe she dropped the bleeding quaffle." Lorna said with a shake of her head. "Fucking amateur hour."

"Well it is only a school team." Fabian observed. "Sort of scream amateur."

"Well, some of us would like to excel past the school leagues." Lorna declared. "Can't do that when you're surrounded by fuck ups though."

"I admire your team spirit." Fabian stated.

"Go lions." Lorna replied completely monotone. "Can't fucking stand half these people. Only manageable because I can order them around whenever I damn well please."

"You're going to do great in professional Quidditch." Fabian said. "Real team player."

"Says the bloke whose motto is practically 'I hate Gryffindors'. Ought to be playing for the Ravenclaw team, shouldn't you?" Lorna inquired harshly.

"Well, their captain is certainly nicer." Fabian agreed.

"Leopold's a little shit." Lorna disagreed. "Fucking pushover."

"The way curse words drop from your mouth is exceptionally charming, Lorna. Has anyone ever told you that?" Fabian asked. "It's mystifying really; you pull it off like no one else can."

"Fuck off." Lorna retorted.

"Music to my ears." Fabian commented.

"Wanker." Lorna said.

Fabian smirked as Lorna went about calling everyone to order and setting up the next practise play. It was nice everyone once in a while to be the one teasing rather than the one teased. As he flew to his directed spot, knocking bludgers between himself and the other Gryffindor beater, Quentin Glass, he couldn't help but think to himself that maybe not all Gryffindors were awful, dramatics and annoying need to be noble aside.

He'd still rather have been a Ravenclaw, and he still didn't much like the riff raff Frank and Gideon had started hanging around, as far as Gryffindors went, but he didn't mind, so much, the Gryffindors in general.

And besides, he totally had non-Ravenclaw, Gryffindor friends. His participation in Quidditch proved it.

Aurora and Dorcas sat in the library, rifling through old school records. Dorcas' carefully kept list sat between them and occasionally Aurora would look up, listing a name and year. They had been at it for well over an hour and the list had only grown. The two were beginning to get incredibly disheartened, and as a result, grumpy.

"This is stupid." Aurora declared, pushing her book aside.

"You're stupid." Dorcas retorted, not looking up.

"That was a weak Alice level insult Dorcas. I expect better of you." Aurora reprimanded shaking her head. "Don't pull that half-assed stuff on me."

"I'm a bit busy right now." Dorcas said. "I apologize if my comebacks are not up to their usual level."

"Better." Aurora commented. "Still not quite up to par, but we're getting there."

"What are you two up to?" Gideon inquired, sitting down at their table and investigating the books. "Aren't these the same books I saw you with before, Dorcas?"

"History of Magic project." Dorcas answered at once. "Remember?"

"I would have thought that would have been due by now." Gideon observed. "It certainly seems like it's been a long enough time to complete it, and Binns is never one for wasting time."

"It's mine!" Aurora interjected, smiling at Gideon.

"You're in History of Magic?" Gideon inquired.

"Uh, yeah." Aurora confirmed even though she was not.

"You two are in the same year though, so wouldn't your assignment be due at the same time?" Gideon reasoned. "That doesn't make much sense."

"I got an extension because…my cat died." Aurora offered, never one for lying. "It was all very sad, I needed some time to compose myself and now Dorcas is helping me."

"I loved that cat, so it's the least I could do." Dorcas agreed, nodding sagely.

"Your cat died?" Gideon asked. "I'm so sorry for your loss. What was his name?"

"Gatsby." Aurora answered. "I should have seen it coming really; he went much like his namesake."

"I have no idea what she's talking about either." Dorcas said at Gideon's confused face. "I don't read Fitzgerald; I'm more of a Salinger girl."

"I have a cat." Gideon offered helpfully, not liking the lack of control he had in the conversation. "His name is Wayne."

"How cute!" Aurora said, overly cheerful. "I bet he misses you, you should probably go play with him."

"Nah, he's showering with Marcus. He won't want to be disturbed." Gideon said, waving a dismissing hand. "I can help you two though, since I'm free for the afternoon."

"No!" Dorcas exclaimed, a bit too loudly causing a blush to spread across her cheeks. "We, uh, we've got it covered."

"It's all very boring stuff." Aurora agreed. "Nothing more boring than…genealogy?"

Aurora sent Dorcas a questioning look, unsure of what the project was meant to be, and Dorcas nodded quickly.

"Fair enough." Gideon remarked.

"In fact, you're kind of distracting us from it." Dorcas continued. "What with you being so interesting and all and genealogy being so boring, we won't get anything done with you here."

Dorcas let out a nervous giggle and Aurora and Gideon both looked at her with concern.

"Dorcas, did you forget to take your potion this morning?" Aurora inquired, faking concerning, unable to take the opportunity to embarrass her friend.

"Potion?" Gideon asked in confusion.

"Uh huh." Aurora answered, nodding sympathetically. "Dorcas here suffers from acute anxiety. It's sad really, she gets herself all worked up over the little things and the only way she can stay calm during the day is if she remembers to take her Draught of Peace. Things like people disturbing her when she tries to do work tend to set her off."

"That's terrible." Gideon exclaimed. "You'd think Binns would have given her an extension on her project for something as horrible as that. That's almost as bad as your cat dying."

"Yeah. You'd think so." Dorcas agreed, kicking Aurora under the table. "But then, Binns is a right arsehole so what can you expect?"

Gideon nodded and the three fell into silence for a while before Dorcas spoke up again.

"So are you going to go?" She asked, raising her eyebrows expectantly. "It's only, you're making me really anxious being here and all and I obviously forgot to take my potion today so I can't have this unnecessary stress in my life."

"Oh, right, terribly sorry." Gideon apologized, not moving at all. "It's only, I was wondering, aren't you muggle-born Aurora?"

"Uh, yes, I am. Why?" Aurora answered in confusion.

"Well, it's just, with your being muggle-born and all it doesn't make much sense that you'd be doing a genealogy project with a wizarding schools' student records as your reference. Since your family is all muggles and all." Gideon observed, gesturing to the book in front of her. "So then, I'm left wondering what you two are actually doing."

"Bollocks." Aurora cursed.

"Bloody Ravenclaws." Dorcas exclaimed.

"Well that didn't seem suspicious at all." Gideon observed.

Aurora and Dorcas exchanged looks, only for a second, in an attempt to figure out what to do, and then turned to face Gideon as a combined front.

"Okay, we lied about the school project." Aurora allowed.

"Well that was bloody obvious, wasn't it?" Gideon replied. "Is your cat even dead?"

"No." Dorcas answered. "He is not."

"Shameful, using your cat like that." Gideon reprimanded, shaking his head. "What if your cat actually died now? How horrible would you feel?"

"Not that horrible." Dorcas concluded.

"Dreadful." Aurora answered, hanging her head in shame.

"Good, you should." Gideon said. "Now then, what are you two actually doing?"

The two girls shared a look again, and Aurora opened her mouth to answer, quite possibly with the truth, before Dorcas cut her off.

"Investigating a murder." She answered almost instinctively, eyes going wide.

"What?" Gideon asked his confusion and surprise mirrored on Aurora's face. "Who's?"

"Moaning Myrtle's." Dorcas said at once, nodding to herself.

"I never thought she was murdered." Gideon observed. "Always thought she'd maybe done herself in or something, what with all the blubbering and hateful speak and all."

"Lovely, Gideon." Aurora observed.

"I hadn't given it all that much thought; it just sort of seemed to fit." Gideon said with a shrug. "Some girls were teasing her or something, she's said as much herself, and she always seems so negative towards herself. It wasn't that much of a leap, honestly. Much less of one than murder anyhow."

"Huh." Dorcas said. "That actually makes a lot of sense."

Gideon shrugged.

"But." Aurora exclaimed. "Myrtle told us herself she was murdered, see, and she wanted us to solve it so she could, uh, pass on and being the kind, loving souls that we are we thought we'd take the case under way. You know how Myrtle is though, very private and none too fond of attention so we promised we wouldn't tell anyone which is why we lied."

"Ah, that makes sense." Gideon remarked. "You know, you'd think if you were investigating a murder of one of the ghosts you'd be investigation the Grey Lady's. I always thought there was something fishy about her past, but she won't talk about it."

"Yeah you'd think so." Dorcas agreed her voice slightly high-pitched as she mentally yelled at herself for her stupidity. "The Grey Lady doesn't talk to us though and Myrtle does so it was Myrtle's murder we were saddled with. Poor girl just wants to move on."

"So you're looking at the records to try and figure out who was in the school around the time of Myrtle's death? Get possible suspects?" Gideon inquired looking at the books again.

"Yes!" Aurora exclaimed. "That makes perfect sense! Which is, uh, why we're doing it. Obviously."

"Well, then I suppose I'll let you two get on your merry way." Gideon observed, looking between the two suspiciously. "I'm not really up to finding a long since gone murderer. If you need any help though, feel free to ask."

"I think we've got it." Dorcas said. "Thank you though. Bye Gideon!"

"Good bye Dorcas, Aurora." Gideon replied.

As Gideon got up and left Dorcas turned to glare at Aurora.

"To help her pass on? This isn't one of your muggle teleplays! Ghosts don't pass on." Dorcas exclaimed.

"Well sorry! I thought we were going to tell him the truth not investigate some fake murder." Aurora replied. "No one would believe Myrtle was murdered anyhow! Gideon was probably right about her death and now we just look stupid."

"She could have been murdered!" Dorcas disagreed, indignant.

"You know who had been murdered? The Grey Lady. Why couldn't you have said the bloody Grey Lady if you wanted to be murder investigators so bad?" Aurora asked, smacking Dorcas' hand in annoyance.

"Myrtle was the first one who popped into my head!" Dorcas explained. "The important thing is he left, okay? He might think we're weird now and never want to date us but that's not all that important, okay?"

"I wasn't all that concerned about that." Aurora said. "Seems as though you are though."

"Shut up! I am not." Dorcas argued, turning pink. "I just didn't want him to know what we were up to is all."

"Yeah, because then you think he'd think you were weird or some rubbish that only makes sense in that deluded little head of yours." Aurora muttered, looking back down at her book.

"No one asked you, Aurora." Dorcas grumbled, glaring at her own book. "Now get back to work, please."

Hiding behind some bookshelves nearby, Gideon furrowed his eyebrows. He was positive Dorcas, and Aurora by extension, were up to something and he was going to figure out what it was. Even if it meant that he was going to have to pretend to investigate and care about Moaning Myrtle's alleged murder.

"Do you miss it?" Maureen asked, laying across her bed and staring up at the ceiling.

"Miss what?" Alice asked in confusion, looking up from her homework to stare at the pretty ginger.

"You know." Maureen said suggestively. "It."

"…Pardon?" Alice asked unsurely.

"It." Maureen stressed. "I know you know what I'm talking about."

There was a moment of confused silence as Alice stared Maureen in the eye, odd due to Maureen's upside down face, and tried to make sense of what the girl was saying. Maureen raised her eyebrows and mouthed 'it' again at Alice, trying to further convey her point.

"Oh." Alice said finally. "It."

"Yeah." Maureen replied, sitting up and moving to a cross legged position. "Because I miss it, like crazy. And you and Gilderoy broke up a bit ago so I imagine you miss it too-."

"Woah, woah, woah." Alice exclaimed cutting Maureen off. "Gilderoy never did it. Merlin, no. Avada Kedavra me in the face why don't you. Ew."

"Oh." Maureen said in confusion. "But you have done it, right?"

"Uh…yeah?" Alice replied unsurely. "Look do we really need to talk about this because I'm trying to do my homework and we aren't even really that close."

"I've done it tons of times." Maureen continued, ignoring Alice.

"I know." Alice said.

"We're kind of the same Alice." Maureen observed.

"I don't really think so." Alice argued. "I don't think we're even remotely alike, actually. For starters you're about twenty centimeters taller than me."

"I'm not talking physically." Maureen said with a laugh. "Merlin, we're not physically alike at all. Don't make me laugh."

"…Thanks." Alice replied.

"What I meant, was that I think we both kind of have the same life philosophy." Maureen explained.

"Again, no. I don't think that's true at all." Alice disagreed. "Like, not even a little bit."

"Oh, I know, I suppose I ought to say we used to considering. But you remind me a lot of a younger, pre-Circe me." Maureen amended.

"Well that's not very comforting at all." Alice observed. "I really don't think you understand me at all there Maureen."

"So you don't believe in free love?" Maureen clarified.

"Not…really?" Alice answered awkwardly. "I'm sorry, is there a point to all this?"

"Well I did." Maureen continued. "And I miss it. I'm sure you know what I mean. For Circe's sake if you and Gilderoy weren't doing it then it must have been ages since you have done. You poor soul, you must be dying."

"I'm all right, really." Alice replied.

"See, we get each other Alice." Maureen said. "We're both experienced women of the world and we're both currently without. See, it might be for different reasons, I'm abstaining and you well, you're you, no offense dear, but you're the only person I feel I can really talk to about all this."

Alice stared at Maureen for a minute or so, as Maureen looked at her expectantly. When it became clear that Alice was not going to reply, Alice had no idea what she was meant to say, Maureen continued.

"Well it's only, I love Circe's Children, I really do, and they've done a lot for me, helped me get my act together and all that, but sometimes I just think, what's up with this rule anyhow, you know? And I mean, who am I harming if I'm off doing what I love?" Maureen explained. "What would you do if someone tried to stop you from doing it?"

"Uh, break their nose?" Alice offered unsurely. "I've just discovered I'm quite good at that."

"I'm being serious, Alice." Maureen said with a laugh.

"So was I…" Alice muttered to herself, shifting on her bed. "Look Maureen, I don't know what you want me to tell you, but I'm of the opinion that if you want to do something and it's not harming anyone or breaking any laws you can go ahead and do it. If this Circe cult, uh group, thing is trying to tell you how to live your life and you don't agree with it then you don't have to be a part of it. Who the hell does Circe she think she is anyhow, telling you who you can and cannot sleep with?"

"Circe turned lost sailors into pigs." Maureen clarified.

"She sounds like a right hag." Alice observed. "I mean, I don't know if you want a bird that turned people into pigs a role model, you know?"

"You say it like it's a bad thing." Maureen remarked.

"Oh bother. There's some great illustrious thing about being turned into a pig in this Circe cult, uh group, thing isn't there?" Alice inquired.

"And when you join the wanted upon the island Aesea, Circe will judge you worthy or unworthy and, if you are found to not me of her cause, then a pig you shall become." Maureen declared, her voice taking on a mystical quality. "I mean it's like you didn't even read my pamphlet."

"I'm illiterate." Alice deadpanned. "So what you're saying is that if you, uh, go ahead and continue with your practise of 'free love' you'll get turned into a pig?"

"Uh huh." Maureen said nodding enthusiastically. "Same with drinking, smoking, all those frowned upon things. Aesea is a place only for the best of the best. I don't want to be turned into a pig."

"I don't really think that's how the story goes-." Alice began, eyebrows furrowing.

"Furthermore, I don't want you to get turned into a pig Alice." Maureen continued a concerned look on her face. "Like I said, you remind me of a younger me, lost, confused, giving it out to every guy with a fast broom, sweet eyes, and a little bit of muscle. I want to help you."

"I, wha, pardon?" Alice spluttered. "I don't. What?"

"I understand Alice; this is what we call 'denial'." Maureen said getting up and sitting next to Alice, putting a sympathetic hand on her's. "You know, deep down, what you're doing is wrong, but you're too afraid to make any changes. I'll help you though. I'll be your guide. It's not so hard, once you get started."

"Did, did you pretend you were upset about not being able to have sex just so you could try and get me to join your weird little cult?" Alice asked in astonishment.

"It's not a cult, it's a group set to try and bring understanding of what is to come." Maureen corrected. "I was only trying to get you to understand that I was where you are once, that I understand, so you could feel like you trust me. I'm sorry if I offended you."

"It sounds like a fucking cult!" Alice exclaimed getting up.

"Language, Alice. Swearing is looked down upon by Circe; you won't be allowed to join the chosen on Aesea if you continue this way." Maureen corrected.

"Good! I don't want to turn into a bloody pig!" Alice declared.

"Then you'll join?" Maureen inquired. "The only way you won't get turned into a pig is if you reform your ways."

"Are you listening to yourself?" Alice asked. "You sound crazy. You're speaking nonsense. You don't even make sense!"

"I think you're getting a bit excited, Alice dear." Maureen said, attempting to get Alice to calm down. "There's no need to be offensive, I'm only trying to help."

"I just wanted to do my bloody homework!" Alice exclaimed standing up and grabbing her books. "I'm going to the library. Have fun with your pigs."

"Don't worry Alice!" Maureen called after her as she stormed out the door. "You'll see the light someday!"

"Do you think we'll turn into pigs?" Alice inquired suddenly, sitting at a desk and scribbling down lines in her detention.

"Pardon?" Frank asked in surprise, sitting on one of the desks and looking up from the book he had been reading.

In an attempt at more responsibility Dumbledore had added overlooking detentions to the Head Students responsibilities, an act that he would possibly regret in later years, and thus Frank sat, reading quietly as Alice and a third year sat writing lines, wishing he was back up at his dorm with Gideon and Fabian.

"She said, 'do you think we'll turn into pigs'." The fourth year, Marlene Albatross answered helpfully. "Which personally I think is a completely rubbish question because it has no evidential basis and it seems to come completely out of nowhere."

Marlene Albatross, Ravenclaw, was a loud-mouthed know-it-all who often got in trouble for her 'difficult' attitude towards others. Though smart, she spent most of her time in and out of detention due to her inability to be quiet, be it over someone picking on someone else or, as it was in this case, a seemingly stupid question. Marlene did not have many friends.

"She has a point you know." Frank remarked nodding towards Marlene at Alice's annoyed expression.

"If you'd only let me explain Mar-whatever it is, I have a perfectly good reason for asking." Alice said.

"Marlene. Marlene Albatross. And I hardly appreciate your tone." Marlene declared importantly.

Alice gaped at the young girl.

"Excuse me?" Alice declared in shock. "You're two years younger than me, how about a little respect?"

"Two years younger than you but three years smarter. Not to mention ten centimeters taller. What are you anyhow, related to a pygmy?"

"What!" Alice exclaimed.

"Oh Merlin, you don't know what a pygmy is, do you?" Marlene said with a shake of her head. "Read some bloody Greek history texts, why don't you?"

"I'm living the Greek history texts, I'll have you know." Alice said. "I know what a pygmy is. I was just in shock at how rude you are. Not to mention condescending."

Marlene smiled as though this were a compliment.

"I don't think you can read Greek history texts." Frank pointed out helpfully.

"If you'd only let me finish my initial point." Alice said. "It all leads back to the pigs."

"Is this about Circe?" Frank asked knowingly.

"See, now he reads his Greek history texts." Marlene said, smiling admiringly up at Frank.

"Merlin, you two want a moment to snog or something?" Alice grumbled as Frank smiled back at Marlene. "It is about Circe though. About that cult thing going around."

"Circe's Children?" Marlene asked knowingly. "I've heard all about that, it's been all in the papers. I'm surprised that you were even aware of its existence."

"You don't even know me, where are you getting all these impressions that I don't read or follow the news from?" Alice inquired with annoyance.

"Oh, I know you." Marlene replied smugly.

"I don't think you're giving Alice enough credit there." Frank observed.

"What?" Alice and Marlene both asked in surprise.

"I'm only saying, I don't think you know Alice quite as well as you think you do if you think she's that incompetent." Frank explained. "She's actually fairly intelligent and observant most of the time. When she's not asking if we'll all get turned into pigs."

"That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me." Alice replied.

"That's just sad." Frank said. "That wasn't even that nice."

"Why don't I just leave the room so you two can snog then?" Marlene grumbled, glaring at her desk for a moment.

"The pig thing makes sense though!" Alice exclaimed, not having heard Marlene. "If you'd only let me explain. See Maureen has been hassling me about that Circe cult thing and she seems insistent upon the fact that I'm going to get turned into a pig."

"Aren't you one already?" Marlene muttered.

"Worse things could happen?" Frank offered with a shrug. "You're not starting to believe her are you?"

"Rationally? No. When it's three in the morning and I can't sleep? Yes." Alice answered.

"You're not going to turn into a pig." Marlene said with a roll of her eyes. "That's ridiculous."

"Yes, but when we die and ascend to Aesea and are judged as tainted then we might get turned into pigs, see?" Alice explained eyes wide as though she were dishing out a conspiracy theory.

"I think you need to spend less time with Maureen." Frank commented. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

"Like you know what happens when we die." Alice scoffed.

Frank shrugged and looked back down at his book.

"Finish your lines." He ordered. "This is detention not chat time."

"What?" Alice asked in confusion. "You don't. You don't know everything."

"I respectfully disagree." Marlene commented. "Some of us do know everything."

"Both of you finish your lines and stop talking." Frank repeated.

"All I'm saying is this Circe thing isn't necessarily wrong. I mean, I think its complete crock, but for all we know it could be true. It's not idiotic to consider it really." Alice continued. "It's an interesting theory at least, as Ravenclaws don't you have to appreciate that?"

"Shut up and finish your lines, Alice." Frank warned.

"Why?" Alice pressed.

"Because he doesn't want to talk about it obviously." Marlene remarked causing Frank and Alice to look at her in surprise.

"No, because you're in detention and that's what you're meant to be doing. You too, Marlene." Frank corrected. "I get enough trouble out of Fabian all day, is it so much to ask to want to sit for an hour and read a book peacefully?"

"Sorry." Alice apologized. "I didn't mean to offend anyone, I was only curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat, Alice." Frank said tiredly.

"Yes, and then he went to Aesea and was turned into a pig." Alice concluded. "I've heard the fable."

"Don't make me give you another detention for lip." Frank said with a shake of his head, smiling despite himself at the joke. "Bloody Gryffindors."

"I'm going to finish my lines now." Alice declared loudly, making a show out of picking up her quill again.

For the rest of the detention they sat in silence, nothing but the scratch of a quill against paper and the occasional turn of a page to be heard. As the hour concluded Frank collected the lines, glancing them over as Marlene bed her farewells.

"I really am sorry." Alice said, causing Frank to look up in surprise from the pages. "I didn't mean to upset you or anything; Maureen's just been on me a lot about it lately."

"It's fine." Frank said, turning around to collect his things. "Don't worry about it."

"Why did you get so upset though?" Alice asked before she could stop herself.

"Alice." Frank warned. "Don't worry about it."

"Sorry." Alice apologized again. "I have an issue understanding social conventions sometimes. I'm just going to go before I say anything else really horrible or prying."

"Alice." Frank said, causing her to turn around. "I don't think we're going to become pigs. The ridiculous notion of that aside, the group that has come up with that idea preys on young people, taking their money, time, taking advantage of them really, and I hardly think that's a good basis for any sort of answer."

"Yeah, me too." Alice replied. "I just can't shake the horrible idea of becoming a pig for the rest of eternity. It's enough to make you want to quit bacon."

"Well being a pig wouldn't be all bad." Frank observed. "Pigs are kind of cute."

Alice raised an eyebrow.

"I reckon you'd make a cute pig, anyhow." Frank said.

"I, I, what?" Alice spluttered blushing slightly.

They stared at each other for a few moments awkwardly, before Frank cleared his throat and made a step towards the door.

"Well, I should be going." He said. "Fabian gets kind of upset if I don't spend enough time with him and he's got that match coming up so he needs more attention than usual."

"I should go too." Alice said quickly. "Maureen probably wants to tell me about how kissing boys and dating is going to get me turned into a…pig. Try and convince me to give it up, you know."

Frank nodded, heading out the door before turning around suddenly. Alice, who had been following behind him, walked into him at the sudden unexpected stop. Apologizing profusely she attempted to take a step back before Frank grabbed her arm causing her to look up at him, her breath catching slightly.

"Don't give up kissing and boys." He said.

"I, uh, won't?" Alice replied.

"Okay, good." Frank stated. "Just, uh, making sure you know. That you don't succumb to Maureen."

"Right. Of course." Alice agreed. "Makes perfect sense."

"I'm going to go now." Frank remarked.

"Yes, good plan." Alice agreed.

Frank nodded slightly to himself, leaning forward towards Alice for a moment before quickly shaking his head and taking a step back, turning back around.

"Good bye." He said.

"Good bye." Alice replied furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

Alice paused in the doorway for a moment, trying to puzzle out what had just happened, because she was almost positive Frank had almost just kissed her, and even worse, she was definitely positive that for whatever reason she had wanted him to.

Frank, upon getting back to his dorm and finding not only Gideon but also Fabian inside, leveled a glare at Fabian, ignoring the happy greetings.

"I hate you." He declared, causing Fabian to raise his eyebrows in surprise. "I hate you and your stupid smug, always right face."

"Alice?" Fabian asked knowingly.

"Fucking Alice." Frank agreed, dropping onto his bed.

"Did you kiss her?" Gideon inquired.

"No." Frank disagreed, a look of relief washing over Fabian's face if only just for a moment. "But I think I wanted to."