Kyle sat in a very different Room of Requirement, late into the evening on this Sunday night. He had requested it to be the picture of the night sky, complete with stars and a big bright -- and full moon. But there were no werewolves to be found in this scene, only a gentle breeze and the soft grass under Kyle's back. He was zoning out, debating falling asleep in this picturesque room. He lay there in cargo shorts and his favorite Pink Floyd shirt, its tears now mended properly.

He had been doing this for three nights now. Coming out to think under the magical stars. It was very peaceful and helped calm him down. Things had gone so wrong the last couple weeks. From fighting a Quintaped to fighting Gavin, to of course finding Nicola in the closet with Devlin... everything had gone to hell. He has become nearly a recluse the past few days. The rumors about Nicola and Devlin were pretty bad, and he didn't even know if they were true. To be honest, he didn't want to know if they were true. That sort of thing... haunted Kyle. Even beyond the fact that he liked her -- and was truly not in some mad love like others would suggest, he didn't want to see her with Devlin of all people. He was absolutely no good for her. But Nicola probably wouldn't hear of this. She was as stubborn as anything.

Deciding he needed some music, Kyle asked the room to play some relaxing Floyd. He didn't know how the room got the music source, as it was muggle, but he sure found it relaxing. Anyone who knew Kyle knew his love for that sort of thing. Although some thought it was weird, as muggles were still somewhat frowned upon in wizard culture, Kyle didn't care.Right now, he could forget about everything and life was perfect. Maybe he'd skip his classes the next day and just sleep his life away. Though he had forgotten to tell the room not to let anyone in, he supposed it didn't matter. It was not his to hog as his own.

It had been a few days since that unfortunate day in the closet and the rumours were still lingering, it wasn’t at all surprising to Nicola that they were. When one thought of what was observed there was no denying how bad it looked, but Nicola just wished it had not happened at all. That was the last time she was going to buy something from Devlin, well maybe not but at least for a little while. After that incident she had managed to avoid most people only leaving the common room for classes and meals, it gave her a lot of time to study at least. Gavin had been around keeping her entertained too.

It was time to talk to Kyle though, other than a few words in the hallways or seeing him in classes, she actually had to talk to him and explain herself. Nicola had already explained herself to Gavin, of course not a hundred percent but she was working up to that one. Nicola had yet to figure out how to approach the whole having a crush on Gavin and letting him know. Right now the task to handle was Kyle, the last she had seen of him that night he was blowing up trees, well she was pretty sure it was him. Kyle deserved an explanation even if it meant telling the truth. She would try to avoid the whole breaking the rules and cheating thing if she could.

Nicola had been searching for Kyle, she knew the place to start but she was avoiding the topic so the place she figured he would be was one of the last places she looked. She hiked up the stairs to the Room of Requirements. She even dusted off her jeans and fixed her sweater before finally giving in to walk the paces and think of a place to find Kyle. As expected the door way appeared and in Nicola went.

There was Kyle lying on the ground, which appeared to be grass. There was music Nicola did not recognize playing and he was looking up at a night sky. “Hey Kyle,” she said in that raspy voice of hers, but she was trying to sound sincere or something like it. “Can we talk?” She walked over to him and dropped down to her knees next to him.

The sound of opening doors disrupted the serene experience Kyle was having and by instinct the grip on his wand tightened. When he realized it was in fact Nicola who had come to greet him, his grip relaxed but his tenseness did not. Without getting up to greet her, Kyle just continued staring into the wonderful sky he had projected onto the ceiling. "Yeah, sure." He said simply wondering how long the girl had been looking for him, or how long she must have been avoiding this conversation.

Nicola of course knew that Kyle wasn't altogether happy about the current situation between them. He had been distant, ghostly perhaps in classes and in the halls. Kyle wasn't some preteen girl with a grudge, he just withdrew from everything else when things were really bothering him. He didn't see it as a shun towards Nic, mostly because it affected everyone around him. Kyle had grown to be like this ever since Bailey died, as nobody taught him anything different. If he became introverted, nothing else could happen right? Nobody bothered the quiet kid.

Kyle muttered a request to the room that turned the music down so a reasonable conversation could bed had. Twirling his wand in his fingers nervously, Kyle motioned Nicola to come and sit by him. He didn't know what to say. After days of building and releasing anger, of confusing thoughts and conflicting reasoning Kyle still found himself speechless towards the whole closet debacle, and everything else that had created tension between the two best friends. What was happening to them? They used to be able to talk to each other about anything. It was only the other day that Nicola had confided in Kyle the fact that her mother was a squib, a fact that nobody else in the entire castle knew. When did this great schism occur?

Perhaps if Kyle wasn't so boneheaded, didn't have so many enemies, and didn't crush on Nicola in the fashion he did things would be better. Maybe he wouldn't care, or even laugh at her situation with Devlin. Maybe Gavin wouldn't have stolen her first kiss. It was the butterfly effect in Kyle's opinion. One small thing can change the outcome of many. "Ah... so. You needed to talk?" Kyle said after a minute, his voice still in a trance-like state as he now looked at the moon on the ceiling with surprising intensity, avoiding making eye contact with her should he break down and start ranting about how wrong things were becoming, or any other variation of the sort.

“Yeah I did,” she paused, “I do,” she corrected. Nicola moved from her knees to sit with her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped around her thin frame. She was sure he knew what was on her mind and she was sure he felt the need to talk about this. Hormones were silly and that was what had put this kink in the relationship. Stupid hormones and teenager antics and if Nicola could avoid them all together she would, but she couldn’t. Kyle liked her Nicola figured it out of course with the help of him letting it slip he had a crush on her in the past. Why did being attractive to someone make things so complicated? It was bad when Nicola felt she couldn’t tell Kyle what she felt about Gavin when she was afraid of what he would say or do.

After sitting in music filled silence she decided it was time to talk. “You know the whole closet thing wasn’t what you think it was.” Nicola rested her chin on her knees as she thought of how to go on. Nicola had to figure this out because she couldn’t be without her best friend. Kyle was her best friend; she felt she could tell him anything without judgment. Nicola enjoyed their conversation and time together, even if he was overprotective over her. He had to stop being so overbearing when it came to protecting Nicola as she fully believed she was more than capable of supporting herself.

“I was not doing anything bad with him in the closet. All I was doing was freaking out and trying to get out.” Nicola dropped her hands from around her legs and moved into the cross-legged position. “I wasn’t making out with him, I wasn’t kissing him. I don’t like Devlin like that.” How was she going to make that sound anymore truthful than she already was? “I don’t like Devlin like that,” she almost added I like someone else but decided to dodge that for the moment. “Something spilled and we had to get his clothes off.” Nicola felt that sounded like crap and was just a way to cover up a tryst in the closet, but she was not that type of girl.

“Yeah I did,” she paused, “I do,” she corrected.

Kyle arched his eyebrow a little at this statement. What was that supposed to mean? She did, does, what? Kyle sure didn't know, but it didn't help his mood or the predictions about the upcoming conversation. It wasn't going to be pleasant, that was already established.

“You know the whole closet thing wasn’t what you think it was.”

Kyle wanted to turn his head and laugh a sardonic and cruel laugh, but he did not. He cared too much about Nicola to do so. He didn't want to lose her. But did she really expect him to eat that crap up? Wasn't what he thought it was? By the time Kyle walked in, Devlin was in his boxers and Nicola had already taken her sweater off. What did she want him to think it was? Were they going to try on each others clothes for fun? Strip wizards poker perhaps? No, of course not. Because those games aren't played in closets.

“Something spilled and we had to get his clothes off.”

Kyle was amused, but he could not get himself to laugh. His expression remained grim. "Okay. I believe you." He said, not knowing what else to say. Something spilled? Like what, super deadly poison acid? It would explain the blood, but Kyle didn't know what sort of weird stuff Devlin was into. Kyle wanted to believe her, he really did. He was a hard person to read, unless of course he was pissed beyond belief then generally it was noticeable. But unfortunately Nicola had known him so well she could probably tell what he was thinking or feeling, and right now he was thinking malarkey. How could that story be true? How?

"It doesn't matter what it was, Nicola." He stated simply, "You can do what you want with who you want. I really... I don't care." He said, though it was hard for him to do so. It was partially true as well. She was going to do what she chose to do, nothing would stop that. It was this attitude that caused her to become friends with him in the first place. "I'm sure you've hung out with Gavin since that duel too. It doesn't matter. Actually now that I think of it I did too... ugh." Kyle said, in disgust with himself. That misty afternoon with Gavin and Fauna sure was... interesting.

This nagging feeling that he didn’t believe her hung over Nicola’s head. She doubted she would have believed herself hearing the words that came out of her mouth. Something spilled was a ridiculous story, but it was the truth but Nicola couldn’t tell what spilled. Nicola didn’t want to get Devlin in trouble; she trusted Kyle wouldn’t say anything but Devlin trusted Nicola not to speak either. Nicola was going to get Kyle to believe without telling anything about the buying of homework off to Matthews.

“You don’t believe me,” Nicola mumbled. It was so much easier talking to Gavin about this. He didn’t seem to care this much, well if he did he didn’t show it. Gavin found the humour in the situation and for all Nicola knew didn’t believe it and just thought the situation hilarious. Here Kyle was being a grump with that grim look on his face. He didn’t have claim over her and she could not help that he was an enemy to the people she associated with. Kyle should know she made friends with who she wanted to, she became his friend despite the fact she was friend with Michael.

“You do care Kyle otherwise this wouldn’t be such a big deal.” Nicola sternly spoke her eyes showing her annoyance as her arms crossed. “You obviously care and think that I was doing something in that closet with Devlin. I wasn’t and you know you are a real ass to think otherwise.” She looked away from him for a second. “I would think you would give me the benefit of the doubt. I am not a girl who just goes around snogging and doing Merlin knows what else in a closet with anyone.” Nicola moved hr arms to the ground and pushed herself to her feet. “I don’t need your permission to do anything, but it is stupid if you think I would do that with Devlin of all people. I don’t like him because I like someone else.” Nicola racked her fingers roughly through her hair in anger. “And since you asked yes I have hung out with Gavin since the duel because he is my friend and I intend to spend more time with him.” Nicola spoke with frustration. “You know neither of them seem to be so angry that I am friends with you, it appears you are the only one with the problem Kyle.”

Nicola started to walk towards the door and looked over at Kyle again. “Why is this such a big deal to you Kyle?”

"You don't believe me,"

Kyle didn't know how to respond to this. It pissed him off that Nicola could read him that well. Sometimes he wondered if she was proficient in legillimens. "No, Nicola. I do. I said I did." Kyle said with a sigh. He didn't know what else to say. He honestly didn't know what to make of it. Nicola wouldn't lie to him would she? With something that serious... somebody was a lot more likely to lie, even to their best friend.

"You do care Kyle otherwise this wouldn't be such a big deal."

Kyle groaned. He hated how when Nicola was right, he never thought of a viable excuse whereas if it were anyway else he usually thought up something clever or witty. It didn't have to even make sense, his sardonic way of talk usually got the job done well. "I don't care Nicola. I'm not your mother, it isn't my place to whine about who you associate with. I learned this --" Kyle paused, trying to think up a sensible way of putting what he was going to say into words. "I learned this the night I dueled Gavin." He said, breaking eye contact from the starry ceiling for the first time in the conversation. "I used to care, but it was futile. Caring too much just sucks." He said bluntly, "Besides those people I hate -- they're the people you know. You were right to say that if you weren't friends with the people who disliked me then I'd be your only friend." Kyle said with a sigh. "When all else fails, apathy is the answer."

He hoped she bought that crap. Kyle tried his best to make up the most realistic excuse that would coincide with his personality, hoping that Nicola would think it was true. Though the more he thought about it, even as he thought it up the more attractive the entire mentality was to him. Nicola was going to associate with whoever she wanted, Kyle wouldn't stop that. In the end he was going to be left behind, because of his conflictive nature with so many others.

"I would think you would give me the benefit of the doubt. I am not a girl who just goes around snogging and doing Merlin knows what else in a closet with anyone."

Kyle was hurt, in a genuine way. She had come in acting nice, even trying to be compliant to his sour mood. Her mood had changed to quickly to anger, compiled with ranting. This did not bode well for him. "Nicola..." Kyle said quietly, "I don't think that of you. You know that. You do." He said making eye contact with her. To the mentioning of permissions on who she was allowed to hang out with Kyle just nodded. Though he raised his eyebrow at the mentioning of someone else, a whisper in his mind made him think this guy could possibly be him but... there was also significant doubt. Perhaps it was Gavin... or really Devlin. The potential negatives outweighed the potential positives.

"Sounds about right." He said in response to the other boys not acting with such anger and distaste for Kyle as he did with them. She just didn't understand it, the convoluted relationship Kyle and the other boys had with each other. As long as she befriended them, Kyle could not fully explain it and therefore just wouldn't try.

"Why is this such a big deal to you Kyle?"

Kyle stood up, the magical breeze coming across his face in a very comfortable way. "Nicola..." Kyle said wanting to tell her his real reasoning but not finding himself to be able to. "...Forget it." He said quietly. "Just forget it."

"Do you want me to walk to back to common room?" He asked wearily.

“Yes I can hear you Kyle, I know you said you do believe me, but do you really?” Nicola just didn’t like the vibe she got from Kyle. She knew him too well; sometimes she couldn’t read him though and sometimes like today she could. Maybe because she knew if their places were switched she would not believe it either. She was in a closet with a practically named Devlin; it was obvious what everyone would think.

“No it isn’t your place to whine about who I spend time with,” she looked at Kyle trying to keep herself calmer not wanting to make this situation any worse than it already was. “But you do care Kyle otherwise you wouldn’t have been hiding from, barely speaking to me. You made me feel like I was doing something dirty or wrong. Like I should be shunned for what I did.” Nicola didn’t mean for that to come out as cruel as it sounded, so she closed her eyes attempting to keep the anger from her tone for the rest of this conversation. “I don’t want you to ignore me each time you see me with,” she almost let the words boyfriend slip out of her lips, “my friends that you don’t like.”

Her fingers nervously played with the hem of her shirt. “You are my friend Kyle, I love spending time with you. When things are less dramatic you make me laugh, you get me. I can tell everything to you without fear of judgment. You’re my best friend Kyle.” She looked at him hoping her tone was as calm as she thought it was. “I hope you will always be there, even when I do hang out with people like Gavin and Devlin.”

“I believe that you don’t think that of me,” she nodded her head, she believed he didn’t think badly of her or that she was some slag of a girl. “I like knowing that you don’t think me a slag.” Nicola closed her eyes for a second, knowing that she had to tell him about Gavin. She had wanted to avoid that topic and her feelings for Gavin but she felt like she had to tell him.

“No Kyle, what is it?” Nicola bit her lip as she looked at him unsure what to say. She shrugged her shoulders when he mentioned walking her back to the common room. “I can get there on my own, but you can if you want.” Nicola no longer felt like she was talking to a brick wall at least. She took a step towards him and looked at Kyle, “But you should know that Gavin is my boyfriend.” Nicola felt like if they could just get everything out in the open now the faster things could get settled. She didn’t want to have another conversation with him and have things blow up in her face again.

"Yes Nicola, yes I believe you. You're not that kind of girl, I know that." He said with a sigh, though the more he said it the more it made sense. Nicola may associate with people Kyle didn't like very much, but she wasn't like that. She didn't go hooking up with random guys in closets -- it just didn't make sense. He trusted her, because she was the best friend he had.

“I don’t want you to ignore me each time you see me with,” she almost let the words boyfriend slip out of her lips, “my friends that you don’t like.”

"Damnit Nicola." He said, showing a little anger. "I'm not ignoring you. I get it, you're friends. I've accepted it. But don't expect me to give you my blessing. I'll stay out of your hair in that aspect, don't worry." He assured her with a wink though with a slight smart ass tone.

“I hope you will always be there, even when I do hang out with people like Gavin and Devlin.”

Kyle sighed. "The cessation of hostilities with those two can only last so long. But for you, I can try." He said wearily. He would try. Nicola was worth it, he couldn't let his personal vendetta against the other boys ruin the great thing he and Nicola had. Kyle didn't even know how to respond to Nicola's comment about being a slag. He didn't and that was that. "You're not. I know." He said simply.

“No Kyle, what is it?”

Kyle groaned. "I don't know. Can't explain. I don't know. Please forget it..." Kyle said, almost pleading with Nicola. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but that just didn't seem like it was going to happen. He didn't want to ruin things more than were already being ruined. Their relationship was damaged already. He didn't want to completely destroy it. "I'll take you," Kyle nodded at Nicola, looking around the magical scenery a little more before heading for the door.

“But you should know that Gavin is my boyfriend.”

Kyle, already a little ahead of Nicola as far as leaving the room goes stopped dead in his tracks. The breeze going through the room died. Kyle's expression remained calm, though his eye twitched a little. He turned around, about to ask her to repeat herself but he knew what she said. How the hell was he to respond to that? Was he supposed to be overjoyed, leap into her arms and congratulate her? Of all people... Gavin Snark. But to be honest, Kyle was being a selfish jerk. He may hate Gavin, but he wasn't considering how Nicola felt. Gavin clearly meant something to her.

So Kyle, because he cared about Nicola and ultimately her happiness would just have to suffer seeing her in Gavin's arms. As long as she was happy, that's what counted. "That's... great, Nicola." He said with a weak smile. "I'm happy for you." He added though he knew that if Gavin did anything to hurt Nicola, Kyle would be there to break some deserving bones.

As long as Kyle, and Gavin for that matter, didn’t think her to be the type to snog any boy regardless of who they were in a closet was all she needed. Nicola was not one to care what people thought of her, but when that person wasn’t a stranger it bothered Nicola. Kyle was her best friend he shouldn’t think of her that way if it wasn’t the truth and she wanted to make sure that he knew it wasn’t. Now that he knew it was a bit of a weight of her shoulder.

“Kyle I don’t expect to get your blessing, and I am not looking for it.” She wasn’t fishing for his acceptance but I she got it then having her friends would be that much easier. “Just don’t ignore it me it all I ask.” Nicoal felt like she was repeating herself, as if she were a record constantly skipping over everything else and just repeating what she had said before. Nicola was going to give up if she had to repeat herself again.

“Thank you for at least trying, it is all I ask.” Nicola would prefer not to see her boyfriend in a duel with Kyle again any time soon. It would be a repeat of the same incident and she didn’t want that. Nicola was moving towards him as he said he would take her. Nicola felt like the wall was going to go up again when Kyle let the fact she was dating Gavin register. Nicola had not even realized that she was holding breath as she waited for a reaction.

A heavy breath escaped and a deep inhale when he finally said something, it was a much better reaction then she thought. “Thank you Kyle.” Nicola just wanted to hug him for a reaction like that, but of course she held back. Nicola had expected the worst, but didn’t she always? Nicola didn’t want to push him by asking if he really was okay with it, she just figured it was better to leave things as they were. Why push him? “Well shall we go?” Nicola asked unsure if Kyle wanted to be alone or not any more.