The Selection (1x1 with AnnaCat17)

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"I was searching around, and eventually someone notified by of a woman of the last name Winters." Eleanor wanted to be close to him, so she tucked herself into his lap, wrapping her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "She was in the rehab center in town. I found out what happened to her and my father, and why she gave me up. We've been talking and we're getting along good."

"Yes," Jakob said instantly. "I can definitely understand that now." He watched him taking the arrows out, admiring his form as he went.

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo held on to her as he tried to keep his outside calm despite the storm that raging inside him. "Ok. That's good." He bit his lip as he tried to think and understand what all of this meant. "So are you... Are you going to be rejoining her family?" The words felt thick in his mouth but he knew he couldn't keep her if she wanted to go. He knew he had been upsetting her with his behavior and especially after everything that had happened the previous night he couldn't blame her if she decided to go back to where she was meant to be and to finally have a mom. "As long as you are happy Ill support whatever you decide to do."

Matteo played with the feathers as he walked back over to him. "So what do you think youll do when you leave her? Youll be a three so maybe you could teach music since you enjoy it so much." he picked up a second bow so they both could shoot and loaded an arrow.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"No." Eleanor snuggled against him. "I want to stay with you. She may be my mother, but she can't take care of me. She and I both know that. I'm much better in your hands. Besides, I love you the most."

"Yeah?" Jakob puffed out his chest in pride. "Maybe. I've wanted to be a construction worker or something, but that's for Sevens so a music teacher it is." He grinned, watching him load up the other bow.

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo closed his eyes and kissed her forehead. "Ill always be here to take care of you Ellie. Im not going anywhere." He gently stroked her cheek as he released a shaky breath. "So your mom, what kind of stuff are you guys doing together?" He tried to sound cheerful. he wanted to support her and their relationship but deep down he wanted to lock Ellie away somewhere the woman couldnt reach her or hurt her again. She had given Ellie up. What right did she have to sweep in now of all times?

Matteo held the bow close to his chest as he suddenly spun around in a few circles to knock himself off balance, keeping his eyes closed. He stopped spinning and tried to take aim at the target without looking but when he fired it went too far to the right and hit Jakob's target. Matteo quickly opened his eyes and huffed as he saw how he did. "Well at least I hit a target and not you." He chuckled and looked happily back at Jakob. "You know if you were a construction worker you would have to cut all of your hair off so be grateful you can't do that."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Eleanor smiled, relaxing against him, enjoying his affection. "Well, we can't do much, but we play chess and other board games sometimes, or we just talk."

Jakob shook his head, chuckling. "I don't think I can trust you around a bow," he teased. "You're going to end up hitting someone one day." He shook his head. "Yep. I'm keeping my hair, thank you very much." He smirked playfully at him, liking how things were more relaxed with him.

[AnnaCat17]

"Good. Maybe now I wont have to panic call Victory and Solace at 2 am every time you have a question about your period or something." He teased as he rubbed her back. "Im happy you are happy, Ellie."

"Oh I have. A lot actually. Why do you think despite all the new rules the guards are so far away?" Matteo chuckled happily but as the wind continued to breeze by them, running its fingers through their tangled hair, he heard the groan of the storage shed door as the wind blew it open and shut and all of the happiness quickly fell out of him. He put his bow back, trying to keep his back to Jakob so he wouldnt see his suddenly grave expression. "Im going to have to make you play your guitar for me some time. Gabel played the piano for me on our date and it almost killed me it was beautiful."

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Eleanor giggled, burying her head in his shoulder. "I didn't know what was going on, okay? I thought something was wrong with me, and all the best questions come to me at night!" She smiled, hugging him tightly. "Matteo and I fought. So I'm not completely happy. But I'm glad we're okay."

Jakob smirked, but then his amusement faded as he noticed the change in Matteo. "Maybe," he said, but he knew he would if Matteo wanted him to. "I never heard Gabel play piano."

[AnnaCat17]

"And you think I did know?" He said with a smile, tickling her side. "Im going to be dead honest, sweetie. it may be hard to believe but I've never had a period so i don't really know what's going on with one either." He kissed her cheek happily but his smile drifted off as she mentioned Matteo. "You two have fought before. He just has a lot on his plate and with Pavel sick he doesn't really have anyone who can really help him out with this." He didn't know Ellie hadn't been told about pavel's cancer, having assumed Matteo would have told her. He had been upset when he found out the previous night about Pavel's illness, but it was overshadowed with his fear for his best friend.

"He is really good. You two should start a band." He smirked over his shoulder at Jakob. "Depending on how the selection goes, maybe you two will even end up together. Granted speaking no one here flirts at all I would pay to see any of you try to seduce anyone else. I feel like Im hitting on my pillow most of the time." He chuckled and stuck his tongue teasingly out at Jakob.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Eleanor laughed, but then became serious. "Pavel's sick?!?" She stared at Romeo in horror, her face loosing some of its colour.

Jakob laughed, his face tinted pink. "Please! All of them are falling head over heels for you. I doubt they even notice each other like that."

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo pursed his lips but nodded. "He has lung cancer. They are treating it but he isnt doing well which is why only Abril and Matteo have been allowed to see him. I guess he was trying to keep it a secret."

Matteo shrugged and went back to playing with an arrow. "All the same, none of you know how to flirt. Im going to have to give lessons to you all before i send you back into the world to fend for yourselves or you all will be single forever."