Alone in the Dark (Eve/Josh)

[Eve Mallory]

She fisted her hand more against his shirt pulling it as she curled into the smallest ball possible, " Mama screamed." she whispered.

She shook her head trying to shake away the darkness and had to look upwards at the light the stars provided she relaxed a little and leaned into Josh but she was still tense, " Mama was screaming and I tried...I couldn't get out...there was a spring lock on the Chest I couldn't get out..." she said shaking her head as if it was her fault.

"I tried I pounded on the chest and Mama was screaming." Eve was rocking now on her own with her knees pulled up and her arms wrapped around herself her eyes clenched shut. "She just kept screaming." Eve whispered. Her mother had been seven months pregnant and it was much too early for the baby to be born but she had gone into labor anyway. Her screams were ones of pain because of her stomach and she couldn't do anything but scream. Eve had been locked in a chest unable to get out and help her mother, and that was how she believed her mother died.

Eve didn't witness anything, all she knew, and all she felt was anytime the darkness surrounded her she was back in that box, trapped, doomed to hear her mother screaming for help and never being able to get to her.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh held Eve close. "It's not your fault," he whispered. Now Josh understood why she was afraid of the dark. He couldn't blame her. Josh stroked her hair in a caring manner. "You didn't know that the chest would have locked." He helped rock her back and forth gently as he tried to sooth her.

If Eve was only his age, or if he was hers, this wouldn't have happened. He could have helped her mother some how or another, but he knew that he couldn't blame himself. Plus, Eve didn't have anything to do with it. It wasn't her fault. It was just her mother's time. That was it.

[Eve Mallory]

"I can't get her screams out of my head Josh...every time I close my eyes I hear her, in the darkness she's calling for me and I can't get to her." her words were softly spoken through sobs and really there was a defeated edge to her voice as if she thought the problem would never end, and she wondered truly if she ever would be able to close her eyes without hearing those screams.

[Josh Jordan]

"Shh," he said still rocking her back and forth. "It's okay. I promise everything will be okay. If we have to we can find you something to help you sleep at night if you want. Or, you can come to my room every night. I don't mind it. Anything to help you sleep. I promise it'll be alright." Josh hated the fact that what happened still haunted her. If he could help get rid of her fears he would.

"I'll help you sleep Eve. You know I will. We'll find some way so you don't have to hear that anymore."

[Eve Mallory]

"I know." she whispered and finally settled herself in his arms, " I know I'll be alright." she shook her head, " I didn't know before...I...didn't know how, but I do know." she sighed, she was going to have to tell him soon but the ball was coming up and that was soon enough.

"I sleep when you hold me, and I dream easy if anyone can help me I think it's you." she admitted, "You're my white knight after all...my hero."

[Josh Jordan]

Josh gave a gentle smile as she said he was her hero. Maybe telling her how he felt wasn't going to be so awkward. "I'm glad that I can help you sleep. I'm always here for you. You know that." He let out a content quiet sigh.

"Do you want to go back to the room and sleep, or would you rather stay right here and sleep?" Josh would do anything he could to accomadate Eve. If she wanted to stay here the night, he would keep her warm, and if she wanted to go back to his room, he would still keep her warm.

[Eve Mallory]

"I like it up here.." she said, "But I'm not tired...not anymore. I'm sorry you are though arent' you?" she asked she was assuming he wasn't because she wasn't but that was a poor assumption from her. Even though she still felt vulnerable it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Josh was sharing her burden, perhaps in time he could convince her that her mother's death wasn't her fault.

[Josh Jordan]

"No. I'm not really that tired. I couldn't get to sleep earlier." He was going to fix all of her worries the best he could.

Neither would probably go to sleep right away, so what's a little more talking going to hurt? "You know Eva, you should wear your hair down more. I like it because it's really soft, smells nice, and it fits you. Plus, it'll be something different."

[Eve Mallory]

"I was thinking about getting it cut...making it a bit more managable." she said with a shrug, it was sweet of him to get her mind off of what she had just shared, whether that was his intention or not she appreciated it.

"We still have to go to hogsmeade to buy our formal wear."

[Josh Jordan]

"I think it will look good anyway you wear it, although don't get it all cut off. I kinda like it a little long. Maybe to your shoulders?" He was trying to steer the conversation away from her mother because he didn't want her to be sad.

"And that we do. We're going this weekend. I'm pretty excited about it really. What about you?"

[Eve Mallory]

"Maybe." she answered in reference to the length of her hair.

"Yes I'm very excited." she wanted to see the dresses and what would fit her, perhaps she wasn't *that* excited but she sounded it for Josh, she was hoping rather than expecting to find a dress that would look decent on her.

[Josh Jordan]

"I'm pretty excited about seeing you all dressed up, not that I'm not excited to see you everyday because I am, but you know what I mean," said Josh slightly stumbling over his words. "Anything you pick out will make people's jaws drop, including mine. I'm sure of it." He gave her a wink.

"And I know what you're thinking Eva, and I know that I've said this before, but you're not too skinny! You give yourself less credit than you deserve! I personally think you're amazing."

[Eve Mallory]

"Of course you do." she smiled lazily, "You've seen the bad end of my right hook one too many times to say any diferently." she laughed then nudged him, she smiled while looking up at the stars, " Remember my mother?" she asked although it was a silly question, "She was beautiful...she was...so pretty." she sighed thinking about it, "Maybe when I'm older...full grown you know...maybe I just have more growing to do."

[Josh Jordan]

"You're hits do hurt sometimes, especially when you pinch! I think I still have a few bruises from last time you did that."

Josh rested his chin on her shoulder as she looked up to the stars. "Of course I remember your mother, and yes she was pretty." He leaned closer to her ear. "But you're just as pretty now and maybe even more," he whispered. Josh didn't see any other girl that guys thought were pretty, except for Eve, and of course he had noticed Genevieve, but in all honesty he thought Eve was better looking. Then again, his opinion was pretty biased.

[Eve Mallory]

There was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes when he talked about her hits hurting. She knew the power she packed.

"You're very sweet Josh...and I don't know how to handle those compliments any more than I ever did." she sighed he had been complimenting her a lot lately and it made her blush the way he woudl tell it she was a paragon of womanhood, she knew however that he was being sincere with her and perhaps that was what was even more frightening.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh tilted the side of his head so that it would rest on Eve's cheek as his chin still rested on her shoulder. "I only tell you the truth and I also tell you these things because I want you to believe it. I would never lie to you on anything," he said again in a whisper. It didn't matter if they turned eighty, and had wrinkles along with white hair, Eve was going to look good to him no matter what. He wanted to share good times with her all throughout their life and not just during school years. Josh pushed that thought from his mind. He was not yet the age to really start thinking about things like that, but he couldn't help himself."

[Eve Mallory]

Eve struggled with his compliments but was getting better she liked spending time alone with him like this she was beginning to realize all the things about Josh she never had before, along with feelings she wasn't sure he'd respond to. Had his muscles always been so defined? Were his eyes always so dark and enchanting? His lips so...tempting? Dangerous thoughts to be sure but she couldn't help thinking about them.

"It's so pretty up here at night." perhaps she could change the subject.

[Josh Jordan]

Josh had the strongest urge to kiss her underneath the stars. It would be perfect, but he didn't want to scare her. "Yes yo, yes it is," Josh caught himself before he said 'Yes you are'. He was distracted, and Josh didn't usually get too distracted. He was usually focused. It was Lance's job to get distracted.

"I love it up here at night. We don't have to worry about other students coming up or anything. It's like our secret hide-a-way, even though I'm sure a few other students use this too."

[Eve Mallory]

She laughed, "There's a bit of difference for what they use it for and what we're using it for." she smiled, the other kids came up there to make out...and if rumors were true do much more than that. Josh was innocently holding her...dang it.

[Josh Jordan]

"Hm," said Josh. "Well, that's true, although you know," he let it trail off and wiggled his eyebrows playfully. He wouldn't mind kissing her straight on, but the question was, would she?

"However, we all come up here for some peace and quiet time, and well that is what we are getting. We should do this more often. It's nice."