@Vampy@LiegeLord@The1Rolling1Boy
Despite whatever she may have been thinking at the time, hearing Spirit say she wanted to talk to her alone surprised Cecilia, her voice expressing a delicate sense of surprise. It was also the girl's noticeably cheery nature that stuck out to her, the accompanying playful giggling and nose poke that made Cecilia raise her head further, wipe a few lingering tears away and actually look at Spirit, albeit kinda bewilderingly. She wasn't sure if her demeanor came from a natural liveliness or from lots of experience or from somewhere else. At any rate, Cecilia didn't feel like she was in any position to refuse. She looked away, but nodded her head anemically.
It might not have been plainly obvious, but Cecilia did feel a sense of calm and indeed safety when James spoke and rubbed her shoulder. He of course had a point. Their concern was very much evidence of their kindness and good nature. She however, wasn't feeling very worthy of it right now. James' apology hurt in a profound yet mostly imperceptible way. She rose silently, afraid to see him directly, but not willing to leave on that note. "Don't be... It's not your fault..." she stated placidly enough that even she was surprised and subtly proud of herself.
Before following Spirit wherever she wanted to go, Cecilia looked up at Valencia, a very thin smile on her most collected face thus far. She nodded again, acknowledging what she said. Inwardly however, she knew her friends deserved at least some kind of explanation, and she intended to give it to them, hopefully soon. Cecilia turned a final time to Spirit. "I'm ready..." she said simply, uneasy about what would happen next, but willing to accept it.
Despite whatever she may have been thinking at the time, hearing Spirit say she wanted to talk to her alone surprised Cecilia, her voice expressing a delicate sense of surprise. It was also the girl's noticeably cheery nature that stuck out to her, the accompanying playful giggling and nose poke that made Cecilia raise her head further, wipe a few lingering tears away and actually look at Spirit, albeit kinda bewilderingly. She wasn't sure if her demeanor came from a natural liveliness or from lots of experience or from somewhere else. At any rate, Cecilia didn't feel like she was in any position to refuse. She looked away, but nodded her head anemically.
It might not have been plainly obvious, but Cecilia did feel a sense of calm and indeed safety when James spoke and rubbed her shoulder. He of course had a point. Their concern was very much evidence of their kindness and good nature. She however, wasn't feeling very worthy of it right now. James' apology hurt in a profound yet mostly imperceptible way. She rose silently, afraid to see him directly, but not willing to leave on that note. "Don't be... It's not your fault..." she stated placidly enough that even she was surprised and subtly proud of herself.
Before following Spirit wherever she wanted to go, Cecilia looked up at Valencia, a very thin smile on her most collected face thus far. She nodded again, acknowledging what she said. Inwardly however, she knew her friends deserved at least some kind of explanation, and she intended to give it to them, hopefully soon. Cecilia turned a final time to Spirit. "I'm ready..." she said simply, uneasy about what would happen next, but willing to accept it.