A/N: Quick Authors note, I'd like to dedicate these chapters of Emerlyn's adolescent years to Sarah, who was a big support and helped me through rough times. I would tag her but she would like to stay in the shadows =)

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DECEMBER 05 1996 (Emerlyn is 15)

"Come on." Tom slightly pushed the tip of my shoulder. "This is your chance to have Mattheo ask you to the Yule Ball.."

"Are you gonna be here?" I slowly adjusted myself to the ice beneath me. 

"I'll be outside the skating rink...don't wanna be the third wheel.."

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"Oh, Emerlyn!" Exclaimed Mattheo skating slyly next to me, I was still adjusting to the slippery cold ice. It felt as though the ice was bound to crack if I placed a slight bit of more pressure. 

"Mattheo, I didn't know you would be here?" I studied him, and like usual he was perfect. His hair was beautifully done framing his head, and his majestic features decorated his face flawlessly.

Every time, his eyes were on mine. I felt a warm feeling rise on my cheeks. 

"Me neither.." he let out a quiet chuckle, his fingertips slightly clapping against my shoulder. The gesture was light but the feeling was ever-lasting. "Would you perhaps like to skate with me?"

"Sure.." I would love to. "But...I don't really know how to.." He noticed the fact my hands were still tangled with the fence of the rink.

"You'll be fine." 

We skated around for a bit, my hopes skyrocketing. I knew that Mattheo would ask me to be his date for the Yule Ball. 

A dirty blonde-haired girl skated in his direction towards us. "Mattheo!" she let out a relieved chuckle, embracing him as he hugged her back, inviting her to his embrace.

The smile on my face slipped, and my eyes saddened as realization slowly intoxicated me. Mattheo was never flirting, he was just being kind. 

"I'll be back...alright?" He turned his gaze towards mine. "I want to spend some time with my date."

I faked the brightest smile I could, as their backs greeted my face. That smile didn't stay for long, I began backing, backing, backing away until I lost my balance and my back crashed onto the wall. 

My eyes threatened not to spill any tears. There were too many people, but I couldn't resist the overwhelming feeling of heartbreak. He was mine. Mine.Mine.Mine. 

But we never dated.

As the warm tears stuck onto my thick lashes, I spotted a brunette boy my age skating in front of me, as he offered a helping hand. "Are you alright?"

We shared a brief eye contact till I turned away, getting up myself. "Yea...I'm fine.." My voice was broken like glass. 

"No you're not..." he skated beside me. "I witnessed everything..." 

I began skating away, however, he was quicker. My legs were shaky, my eyes were blurry; his hands circled around my lower back as he surrounded himself toward me.

"You don't know how to ice skate properly, let me teach you and you can share your problems."

His warm fingers mingled around my thin gloves, as we both skated repetitively around the ice rink. Secure and safe. 

"There's nothing really...honestly..." I sniffled. "I really fancy him, and he's my childhood best friend..and.."

"Your hopes were crushed?"

I slowly nodded. 

"Honestly, you're too precious for him." He stated. "You deserve someone who loves you the way you love them, if not someone who loves you even more."

These words were truly rare to hear. "What's your name?"

"Emerlyn, you?" I swallowed a chunk of heartbreak away. 

"Jalen.." 

"Wasn't your name Axel or something like that?" Our fingers were still intertwined. 

"Yea..but I prefer Jalen.." something about his voice was calming, it was like the calm splashes of the rain meeting the ground. 

I had seen Jalen around quite a few times roaming around Hogwarts, he was a year older than I.

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DECEMBER 17

I knew this was quick to say, but Jalen was contagious, he was addicting to being around. The attention he gave me was none like other, no girl had received his attention as I had, it was an undesirable, exotic feeling having someone desperately passionate for your attention. 

Something, Mattheo could not even accomplish. 

"Emerlyn, be careful," Tom warned. "You haven't known that guy for that long, and now you're going to the Yule Ball with him?" 

"I'll be fine.."

"No, Tom is correct." Mattheo protested as Serena's head was buried into his lap as he stroked his little sister's hair as she slept peacefully. "You don't know that guy properly."

"Look if you could get a date, so can I!" 

"Don't need to be so bitter!" He matched my tone. "Besides, didn't you have that dumb rule from last year, you were only going to kiss Slytherin guys?"

"Ax- Jalen, is in Ravenclaw!" 

"That was last year, I changed this year!" I continued. "Besides, I haven't kissed him!"

"Can you both shut up!" Tom ripped the volcano of raging growing between Mattheo and I.

DECEMBER 25.

The Yule Ball had gone ecstatically so far, from the thought of not finding a date for the ball troubling me constantly, I had found a fabulous date. I had begun to fancy Jalen, although I wasn't completely over Mattheo either. 

With an empty plate in my hand, I began looking for food, my stomach grumbling in hunger. Jalen was right behind me, as someone called him behind. 

"Ubel!" It was a guy I was not familiar with, I slightly turned my head around to get a glimpse of who it was. It was a blonde guy. 

Jalen gave a grimace of disgust utterly turning around to face the blonde guy. I suppose that guy was in Jalen's year, a year higher than me. 

"Honestly, I lost all hope you'd ever find a date..." the blonde- guy teased laughing at his own sentence.

I turned my face around- I was too hungry to deal with this right now- and continued shoving food on my plate.

"Are you here to waste my time, Malfoy?"Jalen spoke infuriated. 

"You know...I feel pity for whoever that girl is...hopefully she finds someone better " I heard him speak, and they continued muttering but at the same time argued non-stop. 

"If you don't get out of my sight right now,  I guarantee you, your nose will be broken!"

After having enough, the latter quit talking to him and left. 

"Gosh, he is such a git..." Axel declared breathing beside me. 

I didn't know who that blonde guy was nor did I want to know.

AFTER WINTER BREAK.

Axel had gone to visit his family for the winter break.

 I wondered for a moment what it would've been like to have a family that desired your return. A family that would bake you cookies for chrismtas or even take a piece of their time and create a gift for you, even if it was a small gift.

I began wandering the halls of Hogwarts, the tower where most Ravenclaw students would be located despite being a noticeable Slytherin, yet Axel was invisible.

Axel hadn't returned. 

He had left.

A/N: No, it's not over yet. I'm scared I'm writing Axel's character bluntly I want to write him beautifully even if he is toxic. So don't be shy and leave some feedback for me.

- Evelyn =) 

(I think this is my signature sign now)