Where Colour Doesn't Bloom

~Chapter 3~

A/N **Please realize that this chapter does have mention, and actions of self harm. If you prefer not to read about such subjects, you have been warned.**

Elani sat on her bed, staring at the scars on her wrist, sunlight shining through the thin curtains over the window.

She didn't ask for these scars pockmarking her body.

She didn't ask to know Aveline, or her darkest secrets.

She didn't ask to be this committed to a person.

But here she was, wanting more. Elani wanted to know more about Aveline. She wanted to help her, but how? Elani wanted more than just that. She was hungry. Hungry to touch more than just fingertips. She wanted to hold Aveline's hand, feel her smooth face, touch her soft lips.

Elani grimaced, exhaling softly, as another cut was drawn across her wrist. She picked up her pen, trying to distract herself with her homework. Nothing could be done about what was happening. Aveline hardly even wanted to speak with Elani. There was no way she was ever going to change anything in her life for some stranger.

Elani eventually got bored and began to doodle, her thoughts wandering along with her pen. Flowers began to bloom across the side of the textbook page, complete with filigree greenery and wispy butterflies. She winced, as she felt the sting of an even deeper cut slice her wrist. Elani's pen stopped abruptly against the paper, blood dripping, as a new idea came to mind.

She picked the pen up off the paper, and began to draw across the cuts and scars on her wrist, hoping Aveline would see them. Once again, her visionary ideas began to splay across her canvas, in the form of butterflies, of all shapes and sizes, in magnificent diversity.

°*°       °*°        °*°      °*°

Aveline dropped the shaver into the tub, startled by the sudden appearance of pen markings on her wrist. She stared, watching the lines form beautiful pictures. Aveline slowly realized who was drawing this. Elani. Words wrote themselves on the inside of her forearm, in a soft, curving font.

D-o-n'-t    k-i-l-l    t-h-e   b-u-t-t-e-r-f-l-i-e-s.

Aveline picked the shaver up out of the water, and set it on the side of the tub. Her heart began to beat faster. She needed to go see Elani, now.

Aveline stood up, opening the drain on the tub, and pulling on her clothes. She ran out of the bathroom, pulling her shoes on quickly. Aveline jogged past Nora. She was so confused, what was pulling her? She wanted Elani, she wanted to look at those effervescent turquoise eyes, coruscating with chartreuse flecks, and her light, glowing, freckled skin. Why was she longing still for Alaric, when he had let go? Why was she still holding on to the past? Aveline didn't even know where she was going, she didn't know where Elani's dorm was, something was just leading her there. Aveline skidded to a stop, and burst open the door to the left.

Elani started, broken out of her peaceful silence. Her eyes widened, and she stood up, immediately running over, standing on her tiptoes and wrapping her arms around Aveline.

"Thanks for the butterflies..." Aveline mumbled into Elani's warm neck.

"......sure," Elani spoke gently, "anytime you need it," she tugged herself away from Elani against her own will.