Welcome

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable.

Her bed was heavenly, and she had the room all to herself, but try as she might she could not fall asleep. It had been like this since she had come to BTA several days before. Her room seemed too big...too empty...she glanced at the empty space next to her and it hit her. Erick wasn't there. He was no doubt tucked into his own bed, sleeping soundly.

After they had kissed (multiple times) and had admitted their feelings for each other, he had smiled in a way she hadn't seen him smile before. He beamed at her with such love and pride that it had taken her breath away. When they had said goodnight, he had kissed her gently and just held her for a moment, as if he was savoring it. She didn't know how she could have ignored his feelings before, and part of her still felt guilty for it.

Thinking of Erick, she sighed and fluffed her pillows for the tenth time before she snuggled under her sheets and tried to force herself to sleep.

[Erick Gilbert]

Walking through the corridors of Black Thorn Academy at night was a risky affair to say the least. Rumour had it that the castle was haunted, but that was highly unlikely. Or very likely, to be honest it isn’t unbelievable in a world of humans with superpowers. Ghosts aside, the main reason that students tended to stay tucked away in their dorms late at night was because of the Titans patrolling the dark hallways. Because they had the night shift for that day, they were extremely foul tempered, and any students they’d find would be taken directly to the headmistress, who would no doubt be angered at being woken up.

These frightening ideas didn’t, however, affect the more rebellious and courageous of students at the school. In fact, one would probably bump into at least two other students while trying to keep a low profile sneaking around the faintly lit academy. After quietly laughing at each other’s panic, the students would move on faster towards their destination, trying with great effort not to be seen.

Just keep telling yourself, Eve’s worth you crapping your pants every time you see a flashlight… Erick Gilbert stepped out of his hiding place, behind one of the extremely large curtains, and walked swiftly up the stairs from the kitchens. Instead of going straight from his room to his girlfriend’s, which would have been more than easy due to the fact that the one Titan patrolling the Poseidon Common Room was sleeping on the job, he had decided to go and grab them some late night snacks, mainly consisting of marshmallows and biscuits, before he surprised her by knocking on Eve’s door.

As he reached the Common Room door, he set the plastic bag of treats down and pressed his hand to the smooth wooden frame of the door and let a few sparks of electricity flow from his fingertips. The door swung open silently and he grabbed the bag and walked inside, the door closing behind him. How the staff had managed to make the doors work was beyond Erick’s young mind, but whatever they had done was very impressive indeed.

Creeping past the sleeping Titan, Erick turned the corner with a sign saying ‘GIRLS ONLY, NO BOYS PERMITTED’ and chuckled as he read a note scribbled underneath reading ‘unless they’re hot and not taken’. Well he fitted to the first description, so he carried on walking smiling to himself.

As he reached Eve’s door, he held the goodie bag in one hand, and knocked quietly. “Don’t make me stand out here forever babe.” He said quietly, but loud enough for Evelyn to hear him.

[Evelyn Stark]

When she heard footsteps outside her door, Evelyn immediately froze. However, when Erick's voice reached her ears, she grinned and kicked back her comforter. Quickly she slipped out of bed, put on her fuzzy, blue robe and opened the door.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her hand on her hip. Without waiting for his answer, she stepped aside and allowed him to come into her room. Once he was inside, she closed the door behind him.

She felt like she hadn't seen him in ages and slipped her arms around his neck, planting a small kiss on his lips. She knew he wasn't supposed to be there but she didn't care.

"Hi," she said with a small smile.

[Erick Gilbert]

With a smile, Erick pressed his lips onto his girlfriend’s softly, and then he rustled the bag in the air and then tossed it onto the bed. “I come bearing treats!” He said, closing the door behind them with his foot. The he pulled Evelyn in closer, twirled her around and leant her against the door. He kissed her neck, then her jawline, and moved slowly across to her mouth, kissing her deeply before he pulled away and looked into her eyes.

“Just being near you thrills me, and I can’t seem to control myself.” He said with a grin, before taking her hand and entwining their fingers. He kissed each of her fingertips before he looked into Eve’s eyes and smiled, his eyes glittering at her beauty.

“I had to come… To come and see you.” He breathed, moving in for another kiss.

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn's head was spinning for Erick's kisses and the smoldering look he have her. She grinned when he pressed her against the door and sighed softly when he pulled away. When he said he brought food, she perked up, but her attention was quickly brought back to him when he spoke of his lack of control.

She smirked. "Erick, when have you ever had control over anything?" she asked teasingly.

She knew why he had to come see her. It had been tough being apart after being together for so long. Now that they were in a relationship, not seeing him left this empty feeling inside, which she couldn't stand. She allowed him to kiss her again before she pulled away and turned to the bag her had brought.

"What'cha bring me?" she asked, hoping onto the bed and grabbing the bag of treats. She was suddenly aware that it was too hot with her robe on and she took it off and dropped in on the floor, not caring that she was now only clad in her, relitively skimpy nightgown.

[Erick Gilbert]

Erick smiled at his girlfriend; she knew him too well. “Well, I managed to hold off on trying to kiss you all that time we were living on the streets. Give me some credit.” He chuckled, before Evelyn left him to go grab the bag of treats. He turned around to face her and suddenly saw what had been under her robe. His eyes practically popped out of his skull for a second, and he walked over the bed, unable to keep his eyes from darting across each area of her body. Erick thought he was the luckiest guy on the planet.

Sitting on the bed, opposite Evelyn, he pulled the large packet of biscuits and the bag of marshmallows from the bag. He grinned, and pulled out two biscuits and a marshmallow, sandwiching it between the two biscuits and pressing it gently to her soft lips. He popped half into her mouth, waited for her to bite into it, the ate the other half himself.

“It was the best I could find in those kitchens, I’m sure Hale’s figured out that I’ve found all the good stuff and she’s moved them. This headmistress is too damn clever, I tell you.” He said, smiling, shuffling around so he could sit next to Evelyn. He lay back on her bed and closed his eyes.

“But it sure is nice to be here. With you.” He said softly, smiling and exhaling slowly before opening his eyes and reaching for a biscuit, then ate it still lying down.

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn enjoyed the biscuits Erick fed her as she watched him watching her. It seemed as though he couldn't tear is eyes away from her, and then she remembered her nightgown and smirked. It had gotten chilly very quickly in her room so she slid under the blanket before cuddling up to Erick, drapping herself half-across his chest.

"It's weird not staying in the same bed every night," she admitted. "Though, I suppose it's for the best now that our relationship is different..."

There were so many things they hadn't talked about yet. They hadn't even really officially called themselves a couple, out loud at least. It was so strange to think she could just kiss her best friend and he would be okay with it. Actually, he probably would be more than okay with it.

To prove her point, she gave him another soft peck on the lips. She was just as bad as he was. She couldn't control herself either.

[Gabrielle Gilbert]

Erick put his arms around Evelyn when she snuggled up in the bed, and pulled her close enough that they would both be able to feel each other’s breath against their skin. He inhaled her scent and exhaled with a soft sigh of pleasure. Everything about Eve made him feel warm and good inside, everything made her seem that little bit more perfect. The way his arms fit round her waist, how their bodies seemed to melt into each other with every embrace. Erick knew that this was the girl he wanted to, and had to, be with. He smiled.

“I miss being able to do this on cold nights, but I don’t miss it being platonic.” Erick grinned, “Even with the change in our relationship, I’d still prefer sharing a bed with you.” Chuckling, Erick pulled Evelyn closer and gently kissed back. Then he moved over a little and pulled Eve into another passionate kiss, not unlike the one at the door.

His hands explored her body, the back of her neck, her cheek, her hair, her back, her waist, her leg. Eventually they settled on her hair and waist, keeping her close to him. The need to breathe seemed to have gone for Erick, he was focused on Evelyn entirely.

When the door swung open, Erick realised he’d gotten suddenly carried away. He quickly sat up, ready to be shouted at by a Titan or even the Head of House. But who he saw at the doorway made his stomach turn even worse than any member of the school faculty would. It was his sister.

“Hello, brother,” Gabrielle Gilbert stood holding a brown suitcase in one hand, and a black leather purse slung over her shoulder. She set down the suitcase outside of Evelyn’s dorm room and stepped inside with a smirk plastered across her face, “Miss me?”

((OOC: Erick probably wouldn’t have told Evelyn about Gabrielle because he didn’t like to talk about his family.))

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn was really powerless to resist Erick at that point. She melted into his arms and kissed him back with just as much enthusiam. The room grew ten times hotter and she allowed her hand to tangle in his hair, while the other gripped his shirt. She was about to throw caution into the wind and just go for it when her bedroom door flew open.

Evelyn immediately thought it was a Titan and she was mortified. However, when she looked in the doorway and saw a random girl she didn't know walking into her room, she grew incredibly confused. When the girl addressed Erick, Evelyn turned her gaze on her boyfriend.

"Um...who is she?" she asked. "And why did she just call you 'brother'?"

[Gabrielle Gilbert]

Gulping, Erick’s eyes darted from his girlfriend to his sister, and back and forth for a while before he pulled his shirt straight and stepped out of the bed. He turned back to Evelyn and gave her a very apologetic look, before he looked back to his sister and put on his best smile. He opened his arms wide and stepped forwards, “Gabby!!” His voice was clearly nervous, and it cracked as he finished his excalamation.

“Um, no.” Gabby stepped around Erick with a face that looked as if someone had just put a skunk in her face. She looked around the room, as if she was inspecting it for some kind of fault, before she shrugged her shoulders and looked at Evelyn. “In case you didn’t know, siblings usually call theirI siblings brothers.” She said, smiling and tossing her hair over her shoulder. She sat on Eve’s desk chair and kicked off her black heels.

Erick sat on the bed and took a hold of Evelyn’s hand, “I should explain… And I’m sorry she’s so… Forward.” His gaze shifted back to Gabby and she smirked. “That’s my sister, Gabby…” Erick shook his head and sighed.

“Gosh Erick, don’t tell me you forgot to tell your girlfriend about lil’ old me?!” Gabby feigned shock with a fake sad face before she picked up a pen from Eve’s desk and started to click it, showing her boredom.

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn's head was spinning again, but not in a good way. The warmth she had felt before was replaced by a shocking coldness and she turned her increasingly angry gaze on Erick. After everything they had been through how could he have failed to mention he had a sister?

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her arms crossed. Part of her knew he must have a good reason why he didn't tell her. But she would have much rather found out at a different moment in time. She felt awkward and exposed and made sure to pull her comforter around herself to cover up.

She didn't know where to look or what to say and settled for staring at the ground with her jaw clenched. There was so much tension in the air; and it wasn't the good tension that had been there only moments before.

[Gabrielle Gilbert]

Gabby was enjoying making Eve feel awkward and out of place. It wasn’t that she had anything against the girl, aside from the fact that she was the reason Erick hadn’t come home, but it was nice to see someone else be put on the spot and to feel bad and left out. Just like Gabby had the whole time Erick had been parading around with this pretty brunette in New York. She watched Eve’s questioning gaze reach Erick, and Gabby just had to smirk. Now Erick looked upset and there seemed to be a fight going on inside his head. That was even more enjoyable to see than Evelyn’s feelings.

“Yeah, Erick, why on Earth didn’t you tell her?” Gabby uncrossed her legs and stood up, “Oh, wait, I think I know!” Gabby pressed a finger to her lip as if she was thinking, then she played with an object she didn’t even care about before setting it down and looking to Erick. “Too ashamed to tell her about how daddy dearest used to push us to work super hard in school, and I was the only one you could actually talk to?”

Erick closed his eyes. This situation had gone from amazing, almost life changing, to horrifyingly awful. When he opened his eyes, they reach Evelyn’s and beneath her anger he could see clearly the hurt this was causing her. He swallowed, and then looked over to Gabby who seemed to be full of glee that Erick’s relationship was suddenly being put on the line with her arrival. He squeezed Eve’s hand and looked into her eyes again. Oh how it hurt him to see what he was making her feel; he didn’t mind the anger when he teased her, but this was a very different kind of anger.

He took in a breath, “Complicating things with a sister would have made you want me to go home. If you thought it was just me and my parents, I figured you wouldn’t have tried so hard to make me go home to them, especially when I told you what they were like…” Erick knew it was pathetic, and he wished he’d told Eve now. It had been on his mind the entire time that they had been friends, and now that they were more than friends he had wanted to tell her all that much more. Gabby’s arrival at Black Thorn had suddenly pushed the explanation forward.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you threw him to the street right now… What’s your name again?”

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn could tell Erick's sister was enjoying her reaction too much, so she closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath and looked back at Erick. She could sort of follow his logic, but that didn't make what he kept from her okay. However, she would not let this stranger she just met manipulate her feelings and turn her again Erick. They had been through so much already, they were gonna be happy damnit!

She squeezed Erick's hand before looking back at his sister. "Erick is right, I would have pushed him to go back home. But him staying was his choice to make, not mine and, while I would have preferred he told me before now, I didn't actually ask if he had siblings."

She and Erick would discuss his huge secret when they had alone time. She wasn't going to do it now, in front of the sister who was clearly angry with him and probably wanted to hurt him. She still felt hurt, but she felt more protective of Erick than anything else.

[Gabrielle Gilbert]

“You’re too good, Eve.” He wished Gabby would just go away so the two could talk. It would be so much easier. But she was there, and she probably wasn’t going to move until he did. He sighed and held Evelyn’s hand, looking at Gabby who seemed to be disappointed that Eve hadn’t suddenly jumped out of bed and screamed at Erick.

“Right.” She looked at Erick and smirked, “I bet you haven’t told her a few other things, have you?” Now Gabby was trying to get Erick in deeper crap that he already was. He didn’t have many secrets, but one that Gabby could hold against him would be perfect to say right at that moment.

Erick sighed, “Gabby. Leave.” Now he was sick of his sister, who he hadn’t seen for years. What had happened to the days when they had gotten along? “And go wash your face, you look like a racoon.”

Walking over to the door, Gabby smiled. “That’s kinda the point, bro. I’ll let you guys talk about things, but don’t you think for one second you’ve gotten rid of me,” She looked at Eve, “I’m here to stay.” Gabby pulled the door open, picked up her bags and walked out of the room, closing the door and leaving the thick tension behind her.

[Evelyn Stark]

Evelyn let out a shaky breath as Gabby left. She got up and securely locked the door. She paused for a moment, her hand on the lock and her forehead lightly resting against the doorframe. What just happened? One moment she and Erick were finally moving forward and the next...

She turned back to Erick, crossing her arms in an attempt to get warmer. She was shaking and there were goosebumps on her arms and legs. She didn't move closer to the bed, not sure of what to say to Erick or do next.

She should have locked the door.

Knowing she needed to say something, she finally did. "So...she seems - interesting..."

The air was so thick with tension and Evelyn was still finding it difficult to focus her gaze on Erick. She chose to look at her feet instead. They were a bit blue from being cold.

"I know we don't know everything about each other. When we were just friends, there were certain things we didn't really need to tell the other person...I will say, I don't have any major secrets and I kind of thought we had gone over the major things about ourselves..."