She walks like summer and talks like rain -- Late Fall/Early Winter 2018 (DONE)

I felt like I was miles away, lost in my thoughts.  My father had my mother in hi grasp again.  I had no idea what she was doing.  That man was a monster and she was so sweet.  No one except a handful of people really knew my real last name was Riddle, not Winters.  I did not need any of that to go against me.  I looked up from staring down at my hands folded in my lap, sitting by a little fire I had burning to keep warm on this bitter cold afternoon.

I wrapped my arms around myself as I walked through the snow.  I knew if any of my cousins saw me outside in this weather they would yell at me.  I was havin ga hard time finally seeing Don and Leo together.  Leo and I broke up almost a year ago... this was silly.  They were an item for a few months now... it should not bother me as much as it did.  I saw someone from the corner of my eye and I had to take another look in that direction.  We made awkward eye contact and I could not help but smile and look down.  It was Tommy and the only reason it was awkward was because neither one of us had expected the other to look.  I meandered over to him and saw he was by a little fire.  "Well... looks like you've got quite a set up here," I said, though he looked quite distracted.

I smiled at her.  She looked a little down.  "I try," I responded.  I would keep with the small talk, but I knew there was something going on with her.  "Everything alright?" I could not help but be worried a bit. I heard everything that Quinn had gone through in the past.  I knew a lot from what RJ has told me about Leo, Sedona, and Quinn.  I felt bad fort aht love triangle and that someone as kind and gentle as Quinn got tossed aside.

I was grateful that he had this little fire out here.  I warmed my hands as I thought about how I wanted to answer him.  Shrugging, I decided to go with the truth.  "Not exactly... but I'll get there.  I'm just being the typical girl," I said, shaking my head a little.  I was sure Tommy would just think that and dismiss my feelings.  It was what most guys did with women in general.

I looked at Quinn and shook my head.  "Just because you have a hard time with everything," I said gently.  "You don't always have to pretend that it's okay all the time.  You are allowed to be upset about things," I informed her.  There was no reason to pretend things were always okay.  I knew Quinn and Leo had been pretty serious.  I put a hand on her shoulder for a moment and then I let it drop.  I did not want her to think anything of it...

I was not quite sure if I believed him.  I mean, I knew I did not always have to keep it together, but I was not about to let it all show, either.  I rolled my eyes at Tommy.  "If only it was as simple as that.  something tells me that you are no friend of simple, either," I added.

I raised my eyebrows at her.  "What makes you say that?" I inquired.  She was right o course... but it was not something that I made well-known by any means.  If the other students found out about who my father was... it would be horrendous.

I rolled my eyes at Tommy.  "You're out here in the cold brooding," I pointed out.  "Since we both know the cause behind my strife, what about you?  Care to share?" I asked.

I could not help but chuckle slightly, knowing Quinn was right.  "Oh... it's nothing," I said hoping she would just let it go.  I did not want to get into everything.  I knew I would nto tell her the whole story and I did not want to worry about what lies I wove.  And I really did not want to lie; it would make me no better than my father.

I rolled my eyes and rubbed my hands over my arms.   "I don't believe that, Tommy," I said ismply.  I figured that he really would not open up to me... it was not like we were close or anything.

I saw her shiver slightly and made the fire a little bigger,moving closer to her to help her keep warm.  "Quinn... it's really nothing," I tried to convince her and even myself.  There was just no way that I was okay with Mum being back with my father.  Even after I told her about the way he had threatened me numerous times.

Why did guys have to be so difficult?  I put a hand on his shoulder.  "I don't believe you," I countered.  "I really don't need all of the details.  But talking about it -- even if it's vague -- it may help."  I looked at him and smield as reassuredly at him.

I looked into her brown eyes and felt comfort.  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.  "Well... my mum is with a guy that is no good," I said vaguely.  "It's actually my biological father... and he's horrid."

I stared at Tommy.  I knew that he only had his mum.  I did not think anyone knew who his real father was -- at least except maybe Ryan who was his best mate.  "Oh, I'm sorry, Tommy.  I can't imagine," I said, leaning closer to him.  It was mainly to keep warm, but also to comfort him the best that I could.

I felt my heart stutter when Quinn rested her head on my shoulder.  I put an arm around her and rested my head on hers.  "I've known about him for a little while now.  I never thought that my mum would go back to him... she used to always move us around to stay away from him when I was younger.  I just don't have any cluse as to why she would do this," I said, shaking my head.  It just stunned me as to what was going on at home.