WHO: @rhiannonindigo WHEN: Thursday, June 3rd, 6:45PM, three days before the gallery fire WHERE: A private study lounge
Alek hadn't actually slipped away into one of the library's isolated study lounges to get any studying done. The expected date for her departure was only days away and perhaps as a first in her family, she would be officially unofficially dropping out that day. Just before exams, even *more* of a point of disappointment for her family, she was sure. That is, if they ever managed to get past the fact that she had vanished from the country entirely. In truth, it was one of the only places she knew she would be able to get some peace after ending her relationship with Isaac. And with her departure approaching faster with every passing day, she was finding it harder and harder to hold in her emotions. Or perhaps it was simply becoming easier to give into them.
There was a table in the center of the room and Alek was sat delicately in one of them just opposite the door of the lounge. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her cheek was resting on her knees, the sounds of her sniffling sounding magnified in the quiet, empty room. It was hard to believe her life had led to this very moment. It was hard to believe that she had ever made the decision to come back to America only two years ago in the first place; realizing the hard way that if she didn't keep that safe distance, it would only be a matter of time before her family was digging their talons back in.
Having spent nearly an hour in the lounge already, Alek hadn't expected anyone to arrive, typically the rooms needed to be booked for use and her time wasn't quite up yet. So, when Rhia opened the door to spot her, Alek's eyes shot up to tend to the tears on her face. "Sorry," she sighed, immediately reaching across the table to grab her phone. "Is it 7 already?" She asked, trying to appear casual, as though she hadn’t been found crying.