✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚

I watch as snow drifts down from the grey clouds, icicles starting to form on my windowsill. I spent the last hour arguing with Reece about going home for the holidays.

All I can think about is the Christmas ball, thankfully we both worked out a compromise. Since the ball was Christmas Day, we would leave for home the day after and spend the rest of the holiday at home.

Now that that's worked out, I lay still in my bed. My warm blankets bury me, I haven't wanted to leave my bed at all today. The disease is making me bed ridden.

After Halloween, the cold weather came up and bit us right in the nose. November flashed by, I felt myself growing more tired by the day. Maybe I'm turning into a sloth, that would be ridiculous.

I watch the snow fall when I hear Charlotte enter my room.

"Rue, Sirius let me in. I wanted to find you after I didn't see you at breakfast this morning or dinner last night."

From looking at where the sun is I guess it's about late afternoon. I haven't bothered to check the time in what feels like days.

"I'm fine. I'm not hungry." I sighed, pulling the blanket up towards my chin. I heard Lottie sigh.

I haven't spoken to her much since my outburst on Halloween, I haven't spoken about what had happened on Halloween at all. The fact of the matter is Aries Harbour has a crush on my twin brother. Who knows how long that's been going on.

In sight of things, I've came to the conclusion that Aries is okay. She doesn't seem to be plotting revenge on me, or anything of the sort. Having crushes is normal, and frankly, I have bigger problems to deal with. Hopefully she'll be good for Reece. I'm starting to think she will.

Forgetting Lottie was still here, I looked up at her,

"I'm fine okay?" I smiled weakly. She didn't seem convinced. I watched her as she sat down on my bed, pulling out a small envelope with a red heart on it.

"This is the second thing I've received from my secret admirer. It reads, 'I, frozen yet fragile like snowflakes resting on pine trees, melt everytime you look at me.' Isn't that romantic?" She squealed.

I took the envelope and note and examined it in my hand, "Yeah it is pretty romantic I suppose."

She nodded, "I wonder who it's from."

"Well it could honestly be anyone. Sirius, maybe. Theodore has always seemed quite fond of you."

Lottie looked puzzled, "Theo? I thought we were just friends..."

I shrugged, turning over onto my side. Lottie clicked her tongue and left, leaving me to get back to my staring.

I watched the sun set when I heard a knock at my door, I didn't say anything as Reece walked in with a plate of food. He seemed sober, his hair was styled instead of let loose. He seemed to put our fight behind us.

"I brought you...some food." He set down the plate on my bedside table and swallowed.

"I'm not hungry." I stated, he looked at me not convinced.

"Just eat. For me." He said, crawling into my bed and laying next to me. I looked at him,

"Reece. What if I can't get out of this bed anymore?"

I heard him chuckle, "Ruthie I think you already can't. You've missed a few weeks of class, everyone thinks you're dead. Something is definitely wrong."

I looked out the window, the snow has stopped falling. "I just- can't, I don't know how to explain it."

"You're depressed. Mentally and physically exhausted." He stated. I felt my eyes lock with his, a mutual understanding passed between us. I knew he's been through this before. Not eating. Not sleeping. Not getting out of bed.

"How do I get out of it?" I whispered, tears threatening to run down my face. Reece drew a long breath.

"You just gotta find the will to be alive again. Your disease is what's holding you back right now. You've finally understood what I've been trying to get you to understand."

I felt tears roll down my cheeks as I finished his thought, "I'm running out of time."

He wiped the tears off, nodding slowly. "Yeah." He whispered. "I have an idea what can help you." He started, grabbing the plate from the table.

"I don't think I can physically eat right-" I started, before Reece shoved a spoonful of mashed potatoes in my mouth. The warm, buttery, soft food exploded my taste buds.

"Wow." I swallowed. Reece nodded,

"Yeah I know. Food works wonders, because food gives you energy." He said, matter of factly. I hate how he's right. I took the plate from him and started to pick at my food slowly.

"So. Have you decided on what to wear for the dance?" He asked me. I looked up and shook my head.

"Well maybe you and your friends can look around Hogsmeade. There's a dress shop there right?"

"Yeah, if they don't hate me already." I retorted. Reece assured me they didn't, they were just worried.

"You know Rio's been asking for you. I told him you had to go home for a family emergency about your condition."

I sighed, I hated not being able to see him, but at the same time I didn't want to. I know he would just tell me comforting words and hold me, but somehow I feel worse thinking about it.

"Thank you." I said, setting the empty plate on the table. Reece continued to lay beside me until I fell asleep. The next time I opened my eyes, it was the crack of dawn.

Reece left a note on my side table, he explained before I got mad that he had a date later in the day and wouldn't be able to bring me dinner so he asked Sirius to.

Reece? Go on a date?

Reece never went on dates with girls, he only saw them at parties and then spent the night with them. He only ever went on a date if he actually liked the girl.

Interesting.

✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆｡˚
ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟡 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕠𝕠𝕟
__________________________