solitude {open}

[calcetines]

Angel was lying on the couch, typical behaviour of her since the healer had put her on moderate bed rest. She was terribly lonely, but she had to admit that the quiet gave her space to think. Right now, she had tuned her old Wizard Wireless to the Puddlemere United match. They were going against the Madrid Crusaders this week, right now the score stood at 60 to 90 to Madrid, but it was still anyone's game. Angel had taken up knitting to pass the time, and was currently making a blanket for her bed from mint green yarn.

She figured it would be more of a decorative piece, as it did not look like it would be very warm once she had finished it. "And Smith has scored another ten for Puddlemere United!" the announcer proclaimed. Angel smiled, but they still had not said anything about the seekers. As she knitted, she closed her eyes, visualizing Bradly hovering above the pitch, his sharp eyes scanning for that hint of gold in the Spanish heat... She sighed, she was tired of being alone.

[broadway]

As if on que, Raychel rapped on Angel's door. Since her parents had died, she decided to come see her friend, covering the short walk from her old flat to Angel's. Plus, she hadn't told Angel yet. She wasn't sure if Levi had told her, but she assumed he didn't Raychel also needed to discuss her horrible inferance as to what had happened.

[calcetines]

Wondering who on earth would come to call on a Tuesday afternoon, but glad that she would have some interaction, Angel began to sit up. "Be with you in a moment!" she called loudly enough to be heard by whomever was on the other side of the door. After a few minutes she stood, and then walked (more like waddled) to the door. Angel began to undo the various latches and locks, and then opened the door. "Oh, hi Raychel!" Angel said, pleasantly surprised. "Please, do come in."

[broadway]

Raychel smiled faintly to Angel. Without a word, she took Angel's arm and guided her back to the chair, seeing as she could barely walk. She sat down across from Angel and twiddled her thumbs. She had absolutely no idea how to tell Angel what had happened. The pain in her face was obvious, and no doubt Angel would weasel an explanation out of her. She remained silent, waiting for Angel to ask. Raychel seemed to be waiting a lot lately. Waiting to see her parents, waiting for news.

[calcetines]

Almost instantly Angel could tell that something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on what. There was just something different about Raychel's behaviour, it wasn't like her to seem so pained, act so somber. But she didn't want to pry, for fear of offending one of her few friends. "If you're hungry you can help yourself, I'd get it for you, but I'm not the best candidate for hostessing at the moment." said Angel with a small smile. The announcer then said that Madrid had scored once more, keeping their lead.

[broadway]

Raychel could see the confusion on Angel"s face. She sighed and laid her head in her hands. "Not hungery, haven't eaten much in days." She replied, her voice cracking a small bit. She looked up at Angel, "The Minister himself sent me a letter announcing my parent's deaths." She said, her voice barely audible above the television. She met Angel's gaze. "I think they were murdered."

[calcetines]

Under normal circumstances, Angel would have jumped up immediately to pull Raychel into a strong hug, but as she was five months laden with two babies, so she took a minute to get up. She waddled over to where Raychel sat and wrapped her arms around her friend. "My God, Raychel, I'm so sorry," Angel said, feeling pain grip her chest. Having your parents gone was far worse than them not wanting you. "Let me know if there's anything I can do, okay?"

[broadway]

Raychel hugged Angel back. She nodded slowly into Angel's red hair. She released Angel and smiled faintly. Her friends were very supportive of her. "I'm not going to be living in my flat anymore. I can't legally claim it until next March. I'm going to be moving in with Gabby. Levi offered but..." Raychel paused. "I didn't want to intrude."

[calcetines]

Angel nodded and then laid back down on the couch. The healer said the longer she spent on her left side the better it was for Isaiah and Morgayne. "You're welcome to stay here as well," said Angel. "You could crash here while they're on their honeymoon." Angel was going to be there for Raychel, she had gone through a similar period, only her parents were still alive, but she was such a disappointment to them that they didn't want her.

[broadway]

Raychel smiled weakly. "Thank you Angie." she replied. Up until this point in her life, she hadn't had much time for best friends, or many serious boyfriends for that matter. By far, Gabriella, Angel, and Leviticus, were hers now. She didn't know how or why she had come into such great friends, but she had. She settled herself into the couch. Bringing her knees up to her chest, she sighed heavily. Her eyes flicked to the television screen, catching various glimpses of Bradly and other Puddlemere United players. She smiled weakly as they scored point after point, the Madrid players looking baffled.

[calcetines]

Angel turned up the Wizard Wireless to better hear what was going on. She wished the matches were televised, but the magical community rejected the concept, however, the announcers gave a good enough mental picture. "Let me know if there's anything I can do," said Angel, eyes looking directly at Raychel, but her hands continually moving as she knitted her mint green blanket.

[broadway]

Raychel nodded solemnly. Her eyes locked upon the the television. Normally she wouldn't watch an iota of televised events, but this drew her to it. Maybe she was finding a way to fill the empty void in in her skull. Or maybe she was just lying to herself. She sighed heavily and laid on the couch. She clasped her hands above her head, staring at the ceiling.

[calcetines]

Angel's eyes flickered toward the blank television screen, wondering what Raychel was seeing in it as it currently turned off. She perked up again as the announcer nearly yelled that both seekers were in a neck-and-neck dive, the snitch a few inches away from their fingers. "And Ressel has it! That makes it 240 to 150 to Puddlemere! Ressel has won it for Puddlemere United again!" the announcer concluded. Angel smiled to herself, and then switched off the radio.

[broadway]

Raychel smiled, letting out a sigh. She closed her eyes and began daydreaming. She pictured her first meeting with Gabby, and, with Angel. Her faithful letter that tore her heart out. Levi's protection. She smiled faintly, enjoying the memories.

[calcetines]

Angel wanted to say something, but she had no idea as to what to say, she had never really known anyone that had lost someone as close to them as a parent. There was a knock at the door, and Angel groaned as she eased herself off the sofa. She answered it to find herself looking at the complex manager. "Your rent's late," he informed her. Angel frowned a bit. "Sir, I could have sworn I put it in the box yesterday!" Angel said in exasperation. "Have you checked it?" She then began looking through the piles of papers on the counter, completely baffled, as she had never missed a payment before since moving in.