Thea's eyes fluttered open at the sound of pebbles clattering against her window. At first, thinking she was dreaming as it had felt like a century ago that she had last heard that sound, she kept her eyes closed tightly. If it really was a dream, she hoped she would not wake up, seeing as that sound brought back quite the pleasant memories.

But when she heard the clattering again, the sound as real as it could be, she sat up in her bed.

It was dark out still, dark enough for her to not be able to read her clock, but not so dark as to indicate that it was the middle of the night. The inky black night sky had a hint of purple in it, the evidence of a small bit of light as the sun began to make its way up, made it clear that it was nearly dawn.

Clattering again.

She pulled her covers away, stood up and took a step forward before pausing. She wasn't scared, no... because she was certain she knew who was throwing the pebbles, but she was suddenly nervous and confused.

Why was he coming here? Why now?

However, it seemed she had taken too long to react, because before she could make it to the window, she saw his head pop up and peek into her bedroom.

She hesitated once more, her mind racing in both surprise and worry, before rushing over to the window and lifting it open with a little bit of struggle. "What–"

"I thought you didn't hear," he said quickly, sounding a little out of breath from the climb. Of course he should have been, since climbing up a tall, two story home would have been difficult for any sixteen year old boy. "So I came up anyway."

She had so many questions, but pushing it all aside as she was more worried for his safety, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him, helping him over the window sill and through the window. When he was safely on the floor of her bedroom, he collapsed, taking a few deep breaths and wiping the sweat off of his forehead.

"You can't do that anymore, you know... you're not a kid..." she said to him, crouching down next to him and hugging herself. Of course, she knew that wasn't entirely true. Sure, he wasn't a kid anymore, but he was still the most able bodied, athletic boy in the entire school. He was on all the sports teams and was clearly extremely fit... it was why all the girls liked him so much.

She also assumed it was the reason for why they weren't really friends anymore... why she had nearly forgotten the sound of tiny pebbles clattering against the old glass of her window... why she thought it was a dream.

Why would he want to continue to climb through her window and spend time with her? Sure, it was what he always did when they were kids, but now there were so many other prettier, smarter, more popular girls who wanted his attention. She was just... boring old Thea.

Though those thoughts did intrude into her mind, she pushed them aside instantly. That wasn't really what should have been at the forefront of her mind at this moment. How could she allow it to be?

Suddenly she didn't know what else to say to him, the mind fog from just waking up fading away and reality hitting her hard. She was speechless now, not knowing what she could possibly say to him after the horrors of what had happened today.

Almost as if reading her mind, he looked up at her when she started to think of it.

When the image of his sister infiltrated her mind.

Amara.

She could see the pain in his eyes... the pain and the sadness.

She had to say something. "I..."

He looked away immediately, crossing his legs on the floor of her bedroom.

"I'm sorry..." was all she could ultimately muster up.

Though she was trying to be kind, her words seemed to have upset him as she saw him begin to shake.

She blinked a few times, holding back her own tears, knowing well that her crying wouldn't do anything to help the situation. What she also knew though was that despite once being the best of friends, they had barely talked in years... they were practically strangers now. However, in this moment, it felt like none of that mattered. Like those years without him had never happened.

Like they were kids again, and they were best friends again.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close to her, and the second his head pressed against her chest and he could hear her unsteady heartbeat, he started to cry. The boy who she never saw cry, despite knowing him all her life... was crying.

His crying was loud and painful and she knew quite well that her brother, whose room was right next to hers, could hear it all. Frankly, her whole family could probably hear it all, but she knew no one would interfere.

They would pretend they couldn't hear anything.

This time, her family wouldn't care that a boy was in her room this late at night.

Not when everyone knew what had happened to his sister today.

Especially not her protective older brother... not when Amara was one of his closest friends... she imagined he too was in his room, not getting any sleep this night, maybe in tears himself.

Everyone was too sad tonight to care about any silly rules... any modesty... anything so minor and pointless when compared to the tears of a boy whose sister had just been murdered.

She didn't know how much time had passed when he finally settled down and pulled away, but the front of her night dress was soaked with tears and the sky was now a lighter purple, the sun higher, its rays leaking over along the horizon.

He wiped his face with the back of his sleeve and looked away, suddenly looking embarrassed.

"Aa–"

"I'm leaving Abureth," he suddenly said in a whisper, cutting her off.

She raised her brows. "What?" Her voice sharp but low.

"I can't stay here and do nothing."

Now she narrowed her eyes. "Stay here and do nothing?" she asked. "What is it you expect to do by leaving?"

"I'm going to fight the State... I'm joining the Crows."

She gaped and her eyes widened. "What?" she spat. "What... what about your parents?"

He refused to look at her. "You know I couldn't care less about them."

"Don't be stupid," she argued. "You could die if you join the Crows... and you're too young!"

"I'd rather die then just sit around–"

"Are you crazy?"

"Yes," he looked at her now. "Yes, I am. They killed my sister... for no good reason other than the fact that she stuck up for herself. I'm not going to let them get away with this–"

She grabbed his face and made him look at her, noticing for a second that his face felt different in her hands. It had been years since she had touched him like this and it felt different... foreign. She could now feel his strong jawline as well as the coarse hair struggling to grow on his cheek.

Another reminder that he was different now.

"I understand but there are other ways to fight the State... I'll help you. We'll find another way... but don't join the Crows. Your sister would never have wanted that for you. Never."

He kept his eyes on her, looking at her in silence for a long moment.

"We used to do everything together... we used to help each other with everything... so let me help you with this," she insisted. "We'll find a way to fight the State a different way... just don't join the Crows. Don't die."

The way he was looking at her made her think that maybe he was considering it. Maybe she had succeeded in stopping him. Maybe he would still stay with her, despite how justifiable his anger and pain was.

However, he simply smiled at her before putting his hands over hers. After a moment of just holding them, he moved her hands away from his face and stood. "I should go."

She stood too, stumbling a little. "But–"

He reached out and hugged her tightly... tighter than he ever had. His hold was firm and his body was warm against hers and the one thing she knew she could feel was the fact that he seemed determined.

He had made his decision already.

And after he climbed out her window that day, she never saw him again.