Rosa didn't cry when she heard the news. It was not due to a lack of emotion, but rather a lack of desire to display her emotion. She hated it. She wanted to scream and sob and force it to end. But instead she remained silent and grapsed on to Helena's hand as Mr. Sanders addressed the school.

"We aren't going to tell the world anything. There isn't anything that the rest of the world needs to know. And that means everyone in Cloisterham must carry on as if nothing ever happened," he said. "It must seem rather strange to give such an idea out, but...but we have determined this will be best for our school. And, of course, for all of the faculty and students within this school. I believe you all will agree."

At this point, Rosa felt as if her breath might be permanently caught within her lungs. She felt Helena's hand gently rubbing her hand in an attempt to comfort her, but she couldn't move. She could not manage to release herself from this state. She could think about the situation over and over again, but it would not be enough. All she could do was attempt to trust her senses and listen.

"What occurred with Elliot Drew is nothing short of a tragedy, and it is a tragedy that now has many of its surrounding questions answered," he said. "Never in the history of Cloisterham have we found ourselves in such a position as to have to not only mourn the death of a student, but discover a mystery about their death."

"Oh, Mr. Sanders," Rosa said, finally allowing herself to breathe out for the first time. "Oh, you do not have the faintest idea what exactly you are permitting."

Helena, standing beside her, could only pretend she had not heard the words slip from between Rosa's lips. After this, Rosa didn't seem able to speak again and instead fell into absolute silence. She listened, emotionless, to all that was told to the school. She barely even thought. It wasn't until she felt a gentle shake from Helena that she snapped back.

"Rosa, are you going to be okay?" Helena said, trying to murmur without attracting attention from anyone standing around them. "You're being very quiet about this, too quiet for how passionate I know you really feel about this."

But at least for a few moments longer, Rosa needed to remain silent. She needed to think, needed to at least attempt to sort through the thoughts continuing to spin through her mind.

Rosa could feel her heart dropping within her chest as if it had decided that it could no longer sit still, that it could no longer carry on as if everything surrounding her was normal. But no matter what her heart decided to do, Rosa knew she had no choice but to carry on. She could struggle all she wanted. It would be for naught.

"The solution to that mystery was far worse than any of us had feared. Now we struggle to find a way to have justice that will be suitable for everyone at the school."

Rosa took a sharp intake of breath, violent enough that Helena holding on to her jumped slightly at the sudden change in movement. But both girls forced themselves to remain calm for several moments longer after this slight disturbance.

"All of this has more or less stayed within Cloisterham. Although the business of Elliot Drew has been a massive part of our lives, their name is just a name outside of these walls. But if the story got out...well, it's beyond what I can say."

"You're right about that much," Rosa mumbled, knowing that not even Helena could hear her properly. She wanted this to change. But she didn't want the conflict that would come from calling out. She didn't want to fight any sort of battle to gain what she wanted. She would only lose anyways.

"This is for the protection of our students, staff, and legacy. Cloisterham Academy has historically been a place rather isolated in terms of its inner affairs, so I must assume that we can all agree to carry this onwards as time goes on. Perhaps one day we will be able to explain to the world all that has happened here. But for now...now we must remain quiet. I believe you all must understand that by now. And with that...you are dismissed. You what to do and what not to do."

Thrilled that they could finally leave, the kids flooded out through the doors, emptying the just stuffed auditorium in seconds. That is, everyone beside from Rosa and Helena. The former seemed to be rooted in place, and thus her girlfriend was stuck beside her.

"Rosa?" Helena said.

"Yes?" Rosa asked in response, sounding as nonchalant as she could muster. No matter how lighthearted she attempted to sound, it would never be enough. She could not prevent the cracks of emotion from entering her voice.

"Oh, good. I thought you were permanently frozen," Helena said, making a minor attempt to lighten the mood.

"No, I am not frozen," Rosa sighed out. But a crack at the end of her sentence betrayed all of the feelings that threatened to spill out of her. She was on the brink of shattering, and Helena needed to take immediate action to fix it.

"Rosa...what do you need to say?"

"I don't know, I don't think I can speak it out loud here...not here, not now..."

"If not now, then when?" Helena asked. "I know you don't want to, but just...just talk to me, Rosa."

"Not here. There may still be souls about that wish to eavesdrop on everything I have to say."

"I don't know about that," Helena said. "Here. Walk with me. We can talk on the way back to our dormitory. You can tell me then."

Rosa shook her head, doing her best to reject this - but she couldn't help herself as soon as she was given the opportunity. Clutching Helena's hands, she walked along and began to let her inner thoughts compress themselves into words and then float within the air to be heard.

"We're just supposed to carry on as if we never suffered through the loss of Elly?" Rosa murmured out loud, letting her voice increase in volume as she continued to speak. "As if such massive events did not occur here in Cloisterham, as if I did not run away, as if I hadn't killed...hadn't killed..."

"Rosa, please," Helena said, leaning over and kissing Rosa on her forehead. "I know this must be hard for you, but..."

"But what?"

"Maybe we should wait until we return to the dormitory to talk about this thoroughly," Helena said. "I don't think staying out and about here will be helpful. We need to go speak in private."

"Oh?" Rosa exclaimed. She didn't want to consider why Helena had such a sudden change in heart - Rosa couldn't think of a single good reason for it. She didn't want to think of a single good reason for it.But instead of pressing it further, she simply let Helena clasp on to her hand and begin leading her along, back to their dorm room.

Helena released a sigh after shutting the door to their room, closing her eyes as Rosa continued to fixate on her. Neither girl had said a word throughout this entire situation, something that had only increased Rosa's anxiety about what was going on within her girlfriend's mind.

"Okay, Rosa. I'm going to tell you something, and I can guarantee you're not going to like it. But I need you to listen, okay?"

"Of course," Rosa said, shaking her head. She would always listen to whatever Helena had to say, no matter what.

"Okay. Well," Helena said, hesitating for a moment before she finally let it out. "This is a good thing."

"What?"

"This is a good thing, Rosa," Helena said, moving to Rosa until she finally sat down on the bed next to her. "Think about yourself. You aren't going to have to wind up suffering because a mistake was made. A horrible, horrible mistake, yes, but a mistake."

"I'm glad about that, yes, but there's far more to it than that. It's...it's..."

"Rosa, what is it?"

"Well, to begin with...Elly's memory will perish here in Cloisterham's walls. If we allowed the story to spread, then people would remember them, be able to learn from all that happened."

"You want to suffer?"

"Of course not, but-"

"But what, Rosa?" Helena asked, running a hand through her girlfriend's hair. "Right now, that's all there is to it. That's all you have to worry about, because we can get through it this way."

"But it's not...not right for Elly's sake," Rosa sighed. "I don't know. Never mind it, Helena. I suppose I...I need more time for it to sink in."

Rosa was giving in, but only on the outside, inwardly all she could think about was how she wished Helena would agree with her. Or that anyone would agree with her. Perhaps someone would agree later on, but she wanted to have someone to back her up now.

"I hope you'll get through this, and I'm sorry this decision has been so hard for you," Helena said. "But I think it will get better with time. I think we'll be okay. Okay?"

"Okay," Rosa sighed out, letting Helena press a kiss to her forehead and then move away to her own bed. For several moments, she did not seem to have any sort of major reaction to this. She just sat there and sighed, occassionally glancing over at Helena as if the girl might have changed her mind. She had not.

After several minutes passed by, Rosa heaved yet another deep sigh as she pulled out her phone. Helena did not seem to understand. No one seemed to understand her qualms with these rules. No one else seemed to view them as anything but good. Were they truly all so blind? It just did not seem right to her.

But even as she felt alone in Cloisterham Academy, she knew there had to be someone out there who viewed eye to eye with her...or, even better, had a better view on the situation. All Rosa knew was that she could try to reach out to someone else, and it would likely end up turning in her favor.

Before going to her contacts, Rosa looked over Helena one more time. Part of her wished she could just change her girlfriend's mind and be over with this negativity and uncertainty. The murder was solved. Everything should be better. Everything should make sense. Yet, somehow, everything was just as maddening as ever.

Instead of dwelling on this any longer, Rosa picked up her phone and quickly scrolled through her contacts. She found her target and quickly called, her fingers slipping all over her phone as she called. Raising the phone up to her ear, Rosa could feel her pulse starting to race. Finally, the call collected and she could breathe easier.

"Have you heard?" she asked as if it was a proper greeting.

"Heard what?" Paula asked in response.

"Evidently not. You see...today in Cloisterham they revealed what...what someone told me...they're not telling anyone about what happened with Elly, or... I did not have any desire to believe...who told me, but I chose to...yet I still contained hope that those words were somehow false."

"Oh, God," Paula exclaimed, letting out a sigh. "Well, that's not good. Except it is good for me, and I...but beside that, I can't see anything good that'll come out of that."

"Oh, that is precisely what I say!" Rosa exclaimed. "However, not any other soul here at Cloisterham seems to agree with me."

"Well, I'm sure there's someone around there who agrees with you. You just found out today, right?"

"Correct."

"Then, Rosebud, all you have to is wait for it to turn out in your favor. I'm sure it will eventually. It always does. Anyways, I'm surprised no one has leaked anything out yet. Kids these days can get around information faster than you can blink."

"I believe Cloisterham has been frantically censoring any tidbit of information that might manage to escape these walls. They truly do not wish for the world to know. Just because they have revealed this...this horrid regulation today does not mean they have not been enforcing it prior to the current moment."

"True, true. Now, I have to say...you called to tell me something I already knew."

"You did not already know that such regulations had been placed upon Cloisterham Academy's student body."

"Ah, but I guessed it, Rosebud," Paula replied. "Like I said, none of this information has come out. But I already guessed this much, and that's all I know about it. You can talk to me about it all you want but I don't have any answers for you."

"Well, I...I thought you might be aware of a greater depth to this information we have received as we are only students and you are an adult...you know of Mr. Jasper, and he is specifically involved."

"What else could I know? I'm sure you thought about it. I'm sure someone at the school knows far more than I do about it," Paula replied. "Hell, I'm not even at the school. Nowhere near it. I just think you need to look past this for the moment and wait for it to work for you."

"But that's beside the point. I do not have any desire to wait. No, I have a simple desire to understand what is occurring here. Why they wish to silence us."

"They don't want to silence you, I'm sure. They want to keep you all in a soundproof room where you can scream as much as you want and no one will hear you, horrible as that is."

"But why?" Rosa said, unable to keep a whine from entering her voice. "Why do theydesire to muffle us in such a manner?"

"Easy. They don't want people to find out that this prestigious arts boarding school is where one student was murdered by a seventeen year old girl and one of the teachers was a pedophile-"

"He fell in love with me and no one else. That would not make him a pedophile, it would make you an ephebophile, the age groups are entirely distinct. Besides, it was not as if he lusted after anyone else-"

"Rosa. What are you going on about now?"

"I don't know," Rosa admitted. "I don't know anymore. I'm...I'm overwhelmed. I thought all would be far more pleasant now that the mystery has been solved, that the confessions have been made...but..."

"Oh, Rosebud. I'm sorry to hear that."

"I shouldn't have called you to begin with. I apologize. It was selfish of me to do so."

"Selfish? Rosebud, why would you think that?"

"Well, it was clearly a waste of your time - I drilled you on a matter I knew you would have little knowledge of. Or, at least, I should've known you would have little knowledge of."

"Ah, don't apologize for anything like that. All I have to say now, really...I just want to see you again," Paula said.

"You will," Rosa replied. "You are coming to Cloisterham soon again, I am certain. If you do not arrive soon I do not know what I shall do."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"But...I must ask...how soon will you be coming here?" Rosa asked. "I do not feel as if I can stand this waiting for too much longer with all that is occurring...I mean, we know now that I will not have to suffer for my mistakes and that is indeed good, but..."

"No, Rosebud, I understand. But I can't say I know. Not yet. You'll just have to wait and see what happens, just I like will."

"But..."

"But nothing, Rosebud. I'll see you when I do."

"Goodbye, Paula," Rosa said, deciding to drop the matters before they ended up flaming into something worse. She released a sigh as the call ended, and then gently tossed her phone on the bed. Then she peered over at Helena, not saying a thing and simply waiting for her girlfriend to turn and look at her.

When her girlfriend did not turn around to look at her, she decided to take matters into her own hands and simply spoke, knowing that Helena would have to give some sort of reply.

"Should I call Mr. Greggs?" she asked.

"Mr. Greggs?" Helena asked in response. "He's your guardian, right?"

"Yes."

"Why would you need to call him?"

"He is a lawyer. Perhaps he better understands the current situation surrounding Cloisterham Academy and these new restrictions. Perhaps he can support me-"

"Rosa, you've already broken the rules by telling Paula about this. You shouldn't be getting a lawyer involved in the situation. I don't think you should be trying to challenge this, especially so soon. These wounds are still fresh for you, and you might be making rash decisions because of it."

"Oh, of course. But perhaps I should leave Cloisterham. The world has every right to know about what is occurring, and if the regulations of Cloisterham Academy prohibit me from carrying out this, then perhaps-"

"Rosa, please."

"I am being serious, Helena," Rosa replied, her face beginning to flush from both a quiet anger and a sheepishness over her behavior. "I cannot abide by such rules when they hold back the truth from all who seek it."

"Rosa, please stop. I know you're upset about this, and I know you have a good point. But you need to stop for a moment and breathe. Nothing will change what has already happened, as much as you might want it to."

"I know that, Helena," Rosa exclaimed, feeling her flush continuing to deepen and grow. It's more complicated than wanting this information out. I don't want to be in hordes of trouble, not at all! But there's a great depth to why I desire to have this information spread throughout the world."

"And what would that be?" Helena prompted. Just as she expected, Rosa was silenced for a moment as she was forced to think through what she desired to say next.

"I want Elly back," Rosa finally admitted. "There is much I have attempted to do and learn about to uncover all information surrounding their death...and now it is said to be solved. But it is not enough."

"You've always wanted more than just to have their death solved. You wanted justice for their life as well."

"And with these new rules that shall not occur. I will not stand by this, I cannot, not when...not when there is so much that shall be lost by refusing to tell the world who the murderer was..."

"Try not to think of it that way."

"I am trying, but all I know is that the news would be absolutely sensational if it emerged, that much is certain," Rosa sighed. "Could you believe it? A chorus teacher in love with his student. That student who ran away just to return and reveal they had killed their former enbyfriend. And that is only my miniscule view of the story."

"I could imagine it, and it seems like it would be horrible for all of us," Helena said. "There would be reporters asking you about your involvement with Elliot, or with me, or with Jasper...endless thoughts of how Elliot was murdered, everything that had to do with Mr. Jasper and his obsession for you."

"Oh, my," Rosa exclaimed. "I do not believe I could possibly survive in such a situation. I feel as if I could swoon at this very moment from imagining what it would coax out of me."

"And we don't want that. But I want you to keep talking. You seem to feel much better after you talk to me."

"What am I to say? I don't feel any better at the current moment."

Helena, despite this negativity, allowed a small smile to curl across her lips. "Then

"Well, I...I believed I would no longer have such pain from Elliot's death within me as soon as the murder was solved, but now it is said and done and I do not feel so much better."

"And that's why you should think about the good things that are coming out of this," Helena said. "You're focusing on the worst part of it. And I think that you have a valid point."

"I certainly hope so. But even if my point is valid, it is not taken into consideration."

"Perhaps. But you should think about something else," Helena suggested. "I know there a million untold stories floating about in your head."

"Untold stories?" Rosa echoed, sending a small smile over. "Perhaps. But many of them are from being formed enough to be labeled a story. Nevertheless, I suppose...no, no. I require a moment to bask in silence before I speak any of my own thoughts..."

"Then take your silence."

But it was only a matter of seconds before Rosa spoke again.

"Mr. Jasper must miss his nibling," Rosa murmured.

"What did you say?" Helena asked.

"Nothing, it's just...it's just that Mr. Jasper must miss Elly to some extent," Rosa said, raising her voice only marginally louder. "He adored his nibling far more than anyone else in Cloisterham. Even moreso than I. And as much torture as I have endured with their disappearance, it seems as if...it seems as if he must've felt more."

"He confessed to Elliot's murder, Rosa," Helena said. "I can't help but wonder if you keep forgetting that, or something - you always seem to push that aside."

"Mr. Jasper clearly feels guilt over such thoughts and desires," Rosa sighed out. "And though nothing shall ever make up for all that he has done to cause harm and destruction, we must take that into account."

"You're right, but what makes you feel that way?"

"I...I don't know. I know Mr. Jasper said he would...he had thought about murder before, but he did not say he fully desired to pursue such a thing, he was...he was not himself, he..."

"Rosa, do you know something I don't?" Helena asked.

"I am not at liberty to speak of it," Rosa replied, a beat faster than she should've spoken.

"You've been talking to him."

"Been? Well, I spoke to him once on the final day he spent here in Cloisterham, but aside from that I have not...I have not spoken to him at all. But I did...I did, and it was..."

"Rosa, what happened?" Helena asked.

Rosa did not respond at first, instead only continued to flush and become more and more flustered. Finally she let it burst out in the form of words, unable to keep it back any longer.

"Listen, I do not see why we should discuss Mr. Jasper now that he is forever absent from our lives! If he was still here we would have no reason to speak of him in such a manner. There is no reason why should be speaking of him in this situation. It is a foolish thing to do, an absolute waste of both of our times, and-"

Rosa looked over towards Helena, breaking herself out of her tangent. Now she knew there was no way she could get back on it.

"This is not what I mean to say, I..."

Helena released a sigh - by trying to guide Rosa to her point of view the girl had ended up breaking herself apart within her thoughts.

"What are you trying to say?" Helena asked, injecting levity into her voice.

"I...I suppose I...I simply miss Elly, more than be expressed through any articulation. Strange how words seem to fail me now when I require them the most."

"I think you're explaining it fine," Helena said. "You don't need to make it into anything complicated to explain it all. I understand you better than you might think."

"Mm," Rosa sighed out. She believed Helena, she understood Helena, she loved Helena. But, at least for the moment, that wasn't what she needed. The dilemma was that she could not seem to figure out precisely what it was that she did need.

"I want you to talk to me," Helena said. "Everything works out better when you talk to me. That's what I'm trying to say, and I want to make certain you're listening. It works out."

"Oh, of course," Rosa sighed out.

"Of course it does," Helena replied. "You need to talk to me. You always tell me how much you trust me. So trust me now, and talk to me."

Rosa took in a deep breath and then spoke, unsure of what would spill out from her lips.

"I miss Elly. Perhaps it is simple as that. I miss them, and that is all I must say instead of trying to discuss the thoughts floating through my mind."

"I know you miss them," Helena said. "But I also thought that you were past having it as such a horrible gaping wound in your heart. I thought that I would be enough in this situation."

"Oh, Helena," Rosa sighed out, realizing that she had accidentally hurt Helena in the process of getting her own feelings out. She wanted to reverse this damage as quickly as possible, knowing that if it remaind it would only sink in and expand. "Of course you are enough. But it's...it's not you that's the problem, it's got very little to do with you, would see..."

"I don't see how I can't be a part of what's helping, why it's still...why you're still so broken up."

"It's because it's not you, Helena, and it never has been. There's a gap where Elly should be," Rosa said. "A confession cannot fill that. A million confessions will never fill it. Even you can't fill that gap, as you are not Elly. And we cannot pretend that such a gap has been or will ever be filled."