How far

It was lunch time and Ciara was siting at hufflepuff table. She just sighed.All these rumors about her friends, were getting slowly out of hand. She never went into details in them, she just listened what they said. One person even tried to get her info about Kole and Elle. To be honest even she didn't know much there. "Girl, if you are so darn curious, just go ask from them. I don't know your damn every single detail too. Yes i hang with them at times. Doesn't mean they tell me everthing," she ended up screaming at that one girl, it was her housemate, older year. She just sighed when that person left her alone after this.

"Crazy day," she ended up mumbling and just eating her food. She just wished to have some poeple she could talk and not just about rumors right now. She wondered what her friends were up to. Lot of them seemed to miss classes these days. anyways she wasn't one to skip them. She kept going even to them on her bad days. She was just annoyed now. So she just kept putting the food into her mouth.

Hayden looked forward to lunchtime every day; it was his second favorite time of the day. As he approached his friend Cia, he noticed that she was visibly upset. Despite her troubles, Hayden wore a smile as he slid into the seat next to her.

"Hey, Cia," he greeted her warmly, his expression showing genuine concern. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his brows furrowing with worry as he looked at her.

Cia's face looked like someone had ruined her day. Hayden was quick to offer his help, "You look like someone pissed in your cheerios.” Hayden's protective instincts kicked in, and he felt the urge to defend his friend. "Did someone do something to upset you? Do I need to hex someone?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

When Cia heard familiar small smile appeared on her face. She just sighed at what he asked from her now. She took a deep breath, yes she was bit annoyed here.

"Oh it was this one girl. Just I met this few people awhile you were bit away. And they seem to have lot rumors. And thsi one girl just kept asking me details. I kind of ended up yelling at her I don't know more than her," she said witha sigh.

"I hate to go into other people business to much," she added. "And no hexing anyone but I'm glad your here finally, Hay," she added anded up giving the guy the hug. Her best friend.

Hayden shook his head in mild exasperation. "People can be so darn annoying sometimes, but that's why you've got me," he quipped with a playful laugh as Cia embraced him. "I'm sorry I was gone," he apologized sincerely before scooping a generous helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate and digging in. He then turned his attention back to Ciara, curiosity evident in his expression. "So, aside from fielding rumors about your new friends, what have you been up to?" he asked inquisitively.

"Yhey can be yes," she agreed with it and just starred at the food. She really wasn't that hungry anymore. So she just took this one apple she found and took bite from it. "It's okay, I understand family," she said with a small smile. "Oh and nothing much really. Just trying to get to know more people, studying, going to classes, sleeping and eating," she said and took another bite from the apple.

Hayden glanced at Cia with a playful smirk on his face. "That doesn't sound like much of a good time," he teased lightly, not wanting to delve into the details of his absence. He quickly changed the subject, curious about what Cia had been up to in the meantime. "So, did you make any new friends?" he asked between mouthfuls of food, eager to hear about her recent experiences. "Any of the replace me?"

She just rolled her eyes there now and took a bite from her apple. She ended up studying it even. "Well not that much of fun yes," she agreed with it. "And yes I did make some new ones." she said with a smile. She didn't feel so lonely with them. At times they were too much yes for her. "None of them will replace you, ever. Your are still my only best friend," she said with a smile and looked at him. This guy had been there for the time when she needed it the most.

Hayden playfully nudged Cieara in the side, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Good, you better not replace me," he teased, before glancing down at his empty plate. "Looks like lunch is done. Now what should we do?" he asked, tilting his head to the side as he pondered their next move.

He stood up from the bench, holding out his arm for Cieara to take. "This place blows, let's bounce," he declared, eager to spend some quality time with his friend and catch up on everything he had missed since they last saw each other.

Ciara chuckled. "How I could replace you? Someone who has been so loyal to me always?" she asked with curiousity. Yes Maddie at times did remind Ciara Hayden of her personality but it wasn't the same. She finished with her apple there now. "No idea, I had no plans at all for today," she said with a small smile.

She looked at the hand there. She smiled. She placed hers on his and stood up from his seat finally too. "You lead," she said with a smile. "HAs I have no ideas where to go," she added.

As Hayden and Ciara left the great hall, their arms entwined, a thought occurred to him. "Outside or inside?" he mused, his gaze alternating between the door in front of them and the stairs that led to the vast expanse of the castle. Without waiting for Ciara's reply, he strode towards the door that led outside.

Stepping out into the crisp air, Hayden took a deep breath and closed his eyes, savoring the sensation of the cool breeze against his skin. A broad smile played across his face as he exhaled. "Fresh air," he remarked, his voice laced with contentment. He turned towards Ciara, his eyes alight with joy. "There's nothing quite like it, is there?"