Retreating on Labyrinth Gardens

Thyme Barrington

January 18, 2009 6:14 AM

Retreating by Thyme Barrington

There was still snow on the ground when Thyme retreated to the Labyrinth Gardens after she returned from midterm, but she didn't care. She also didn't care about the fact that she was far from properly dressed for such weather. Thyme took turn after turn, finding herself getting further into the maze, before finally plopping down in the snow, her cloak strewn about her.

Believe it or not, Thyme was actually glad to be back at Sonora. Well, maybe not glad, exactly, which would convey some sort of happiness and Thyme was never happy any more nor would she ever be again. Still, it was better to be at school than at home where everything reminded her of Tea. Her twin had never attended school here, and thus there were no reminders.

Furthermore, there was the whole forced happiness of the holidays. Thyme officially despised Christmas. There was no reason to celebrate, no present that could ever give her what she truly wanted. How could she ever feel festive again? The whole thing seemed like a travesty, a mockery, a play being put on. At least Thyme hoped that's what it was for everyone else too.

Her family rarely even looked right at her except the littlest cousins, either. This could be in part because Thyme had a constant sullen expression on her face but it was more likely because of her face that was exactly like Tea's. She was a reminder for them. She should have just stayed at school in the first place.

Settling back against the wall of the labyrinth, Thyme sighed and opened up her journal. She put her quill to paper and tried to write but nothing came out. She couldn't even bare to think of her holiday to write about it or anything else for that matter.

Tears clouded her vision, but then she heard footsteps crunching in the snow. Thyme quickly wiped her eyes. She really didn't want to be caught crying.

11 Thyme Barrington Retreating 101 Thyme Barrington 1 5

Jae Dimitri

January 18, 2009 11:12 AM

Misery is not the answer! by Jae Dimitri

Jae's break had been kind of sad and kind of happy. Jenny had caught six mice and left them outside the door, which Jae knew only meant that she liked him and didn't want him to die. It wasn't very nice for the mice, but the boy had tried several times to explain to the cat that he didn't eat mice and it hadn't worked, so there was no point in getting mad at Jenny when she was only trying to help, right? He had gotten a really spiffy peace jacket for Christmas from Aunt Cheri, all tan with a patched, multi-coloured peace sign on the back, and a new earring from Aunt Marla. Those were the good parts. The sad parts had happened when Shadow and Ren, two of their dogs, had gotten out of the fence. Ren had come back hurt, and Shadow hadn't at all--Aunt Marla had said the coyotes had probably gotten Shadow. That was at the beginning of break, and then on the second-to-last day before Jae was supposed to come back to Sonora, his horse had broken his leg and had to be put down.

But he was back at Sonora, and had decided to go to his favourite place. The Labyrinth Gardens had always attracted Jae in his free time, partially because there were so many different things there. The plants and animals were all so original and neat, and fun to watch. Especially the gnomes, which Jenny always tried (and failed) to catch. He had found a swing once, and a beaky statue during DADA his first year with Caedence, and sometimes people too. Jae thought more people should look at the Gardens. Maybe that would make them more peaceful instead of arguing all the time, like he'd heard in Pecari that morning.

The blonde dreadlocked boy pulled on his new jacket over his Beatles t-shirt and headed towards the Gardens. He didn't want to put on his robes yet; classes hadn't started and Jae still hadn't gotten used to wearing robes even after all the time he'd spent at Sonora. His wand was stuck in his front left jeans pocket, and he was all set for adventuring.

The Pecari wandered around the Gardens for a few minutes, and would have wandered longer except that he came across a girl. He didn't know her, but he did notice she looked sad. Her eyes looked a little bit watery. Uh-oh....

The fourth year sat down next to her and gave her a big hug. "Are you okay?" he asked earnestly. She felt really cold too, and Jae felt compelled to comment on that as well. "Do you want to borrow my jacket? You feel really cold."

0 Jae Dimitri Misery is not the answer! 0 Jae Dimitri 0 5

Thyme

February 18, 2009 11:49 AM

Nope, its just the inevitable conclusion by Thyme

Thyme had to admit, the hug felt good, even coming from someone she didn't know. The truth was that she had felt more and more isolated since Tea died. Her family was destroyed and couldn't bare to look at her. Coming to Sonora really hadn't helped matters either, even if it was less stressful than being home. She didn't have friends and some of her roommates weren't the nicest or most sympathetic people. That was why Thyme tried to avoid crying in her room and sought out other more private places, such as the gardens or some isolated corner of the library, neither of which was completely satisfactory either, since there was a still a chance some of the less than friendly members of Sonora would show up.

Not that Thyme tried much to make friends really. She had always been shy and let Tea do all the talking. Thyme had always preferred to think out her words, finding it easier to come with a more interesting or intelligent or just plain better thing to say if given time to think of it. Speaking situations didn't lend themselves well to this. That was why she had always preferred to write, which she had a gift for. Plus, Thyme was just so apathetic now...and afraid. Afraid if she did care about anyone, she'd just end up hurt again.

She looked up at the boy, with red-rimmed eyes. Thyme knew him from class, but hadn't taken the time to learn most people's names. She remembered the other Crotali in her year along with a few other students here and there but for the most part she hadn't bothered. Not because Thyme thought they were beneath her or that names and people didn't matter, it was just the general apathy she was feeling again.

Thyme considered his question. Of course she wasn't okay. She never would be again, but Thyme really didn't want to tell him that because most people just generally didn't really want to hear the answer to that question when someone wasn't. On the other hand, she didn't want to lie either. It would be stupid to, since the answer was fairly obvious. She shook her head, afraid that if she spoke in reply to that question, she'd begin to really cry. Or possibly yell and even swear.

"Do you want to borrow my jacket? You feel really cold."

To this, Thyme nodded and said softly, "Thank you." Really, that was pretty nice of him. Gentlemanly even. He seemed like he might even actually genuinely care. "Um, I'm Thyme."

11 Thyme Nope, its just the inevitable conclusion 101 Thyme 0 5