Weeks had gone by and Ali had been spending most of her days in her room. The only times she went out of her domain was to eat or to practive her fire dancing. That was one of the few constants in her life.

With nathan being gone though Ali had taken up a new talent. She had bought numerous candles and would listen to music while manipulating the small flames to produce patterns that flowed with the beats. It was quite beautiful given the small scale of her display.

Hunger set in so Ali cleaned her self up to look somewhat decent before leaving her room. She wore a red tank top, orange shorts and put her hair in a ponytail. At least now if she were to run into anyone they hopefully won't think she's a hermit. With a rassuring nod to herself in a mirror she stepped out into the hallway.

"It's been too long and I'm lost without you. What am I gonna do? Said I been needin' you, wantin' you. Wonderin' if you're the same and who's been with you. Is your heart still mine? I wanna cry sometimes.I miss you..."

The slow lyrics to a slow song, on another slow day. Everyday had been dragging on and on for months for Ms. Arielle Monteiro. It had been a bit over 2 months since she had last heard from Aiden. The guy had meant so much to her and he truly had been her first true love. She could clearly remember that day in the park when they first met. That spark between them when her eyes met his. While his tiger eyes would normally install fear into most who gazed into them, they only made Arielle fall harder for they were so unique. After they had become a couple she had been on cloud nine. Every other night they were going out. Whether it'd be ballroom dancing or just at his place laying in his arms. Everything was so perfect. Then it all went poof. Not a phone call, not a letter, nothing. She remembered their first night together when they promised to never hurt each other...that promise had been broken. Broken just like Arielle's heart and pretty much her spirit.

The girl hadn't been herself since Aiden disappeared. Add on top of that the night she had with Geo...her head was literally jacked the hell up. She didn't know what to do. Her daily routine pretty much consisted of helping Sam and Shawn in the office, eating and then going to sleep. Even her dreams were haunted as she's had one of Aiden appearing to her once again, reassuring her of his affections, on more than one occasion. Part of her thought she should move on....but then there that part that still wants to hold on to that hope. Even today, sitting in her white spaghetti strap shirt, a baby blue mini skirt and around her neck dangled the silver chain Aiden had gotten her and she sat on her bed staring at the window, hoping for his silver jaguar to pull up to the mansion gates, like a knight on his steed. She was a beauty and he was the beast...so why couldn't they have a happily ever after?

Whatever the reason was, Arielle couldn't ponder upon it any longer. At least not on an empty stomach. The brazilian slid off of her bed and she entered the hallway and on her way down it, not really paying attention as her mind was still on Aiden, Arielle bumped into another young woman in a red tank top.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Ari apologized. "I should have been paying more alert. I didn't mean to do that," she said. "My head is kind of cloudy now so..yeah. By the way, my name is Arielle," she said. The least she could do was introduce herself.

Just as she was closing her door Ali was bumped into. Taking a step to keep her balance Ali looked to see who had ran into her. The person responsible was a shorter bronze skinned girl. She appeared just a few years younger than Ali, but that shouldn't be a surprise as most of the mansion residents were younger than Ali.

Ali gave the girl a smile and raised up her left hand as if to help keep the girl calm.

"It's alright Arielle. I wasn't exactly paying attention either. Lot on my mind lately."

Ali looked to the floor for a moment as her mind was flooded for a brief second with memories and wishes involving Nathan. THen like the snap of someone's finger she put on a smile and looked back at the girl.

"My name is Alithana but you can call me Ali. I was just about to get something to eat if you'd care to join me."

"Oh....OH...." Arielle's eyes widened once she realized how this woman towered over her. Seriously, she had to be nearly a foot taller....not to mention how she looked older. Not terribly older, just a few years maybe. Arielle admitted that the lady was pretty. Then she introduced herself and invited her to grab a bite to eat.

"Oh, yeah sure. I was heading down there myself. I wouldn't mind some company," Arielle smiled back. "Alithana. That's a lovely name," she added. Alithana. It sounded familiar. Where had she heard it before? Arielle pondered on it. Ali..thana. Ali....Ali! "You're Ali, aren't you? Nathan's girlfriend?" Arielle asked. Maybe the mansion had several Ali's, but this was the first one she had bumped into the whole time she had been living here. She waited for the reply as they started down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Ali knew that look Arielle just gave her. It was a look of realization regarding Ali's height. She got it alot so she knew what it was, but she was ok with it since it happened so often.

"Great, I think it'll do me some good to have some company right about now too."

Ali lead the way to the kitchen. While they walked Arielle suddenly sounded happy to know Ali's name. Then the girl asked if Ali was Nathan's girlfriend. She didn't really remember a time when they had officially declared their status but perhaps it was more obvious to others.

"Yes, I'm Ali though I'm not sure if I'm Nathan's girlfriend anymore. Why do you ask?"

"Huh?" Arielle quirked an eyebrow at Ali as they entered the kitchen. "What do you mean you're not Nathan's girl friend anymore? And I ask because he always spoke of you. Especially when we first met," Arielle said scratching her nose. Oh she could clearly remember that new years eve when she made a pass at Nathan and was denied with the girlfriend card...just like Sam had with Leila. That was a crappy night, but it was way in the past behind her.

"Did something happen between you guys or something? Sorry for being nosy, but the way he talked about you, you were really special to him." she said as she walked over to the freezer taking out her ever famous tub of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and a giant ladle, the seam one she always used to omnom her depression away. Arielle tossed the tub of ice cream on the table and got out another giant spoon tossing it to Ali. She figured Ali would need to do some serious nomming as she did.

They got to the kitchen and Arielle went for the freezer. While she was doing this she questioned Ali's status with Nathan. Then she followed it with comments about how Nathan spoke of Ali. He told others that she was special to him? Ali felt her heart ache.

"I don't know if I'm still his girlfriend because Nathan's gone. He left without a note or a goodbye. That's why I'm so unsure."

Ali grabbed up the spoon and dug into the ice cream. The coldness felt good in her mouth and the cookie dough bits tasted good too. It had been awhile since she had ice cream. Lightly shaking her spoon in the other girls directon Ali swallowed.

"So what's your story miss Arielle?

Arielle sat down in her chair and as Ali began to tell her troubles, Arielle had begun digging into the dairy delight on the table between the two young women. Though when Ali stated exactly what was wrong, Arielle paused just as the spoon had reached her mouth. "Wait...Nathan left?" she asked, but now that she thought about it, it had been a long time since she had seen Seraph also. Apparently Nathan poofed into thin air without warning....just like Aiden.

Ali pointed her spoon at Arielle and asked for her story. "...Pretty much the same...." she said. "I met a guy. A wonderful guy...we fell in love....at least I thought we did because I haven't heard from him in months." she said, feeling those emotions of abandonment welling up. "Ever since I started dating back in high school, I had never met anyone like him. I mean, My exes...I cared about them, but obviously since I'm not with them, there was no true connection. Not like what I had with Aiden. That was his name..." she said. "I've been hoping he would return, but he hasn't. No kind of communication..." Arielle grew quiet as her head lowered. "I really don't understand. We were so happy...."

Arielle's question about Nathan leaving was answered with a nod as Ali had a mouthful of ice cream at the time. Each time she acknowledged the fact that Nathan was gone was like letting someone stab her with a knife. It hurt each and every time, but there wasn't anything she could do about it.

Ali listened to Arielle as she continued admitting things about some of her past relationships and then more about her last one with a guy named Aiden. Judging from how the girl spoke it would seem they both shared something in common. They both loved and felt love in return but now that love was gone. It was all summed up in what came out of Ali's mouth next.

"Let's face it. Guys suck! Who knows what goes through their heads half the time anyway."

By the time she finished, Arielle had begun eating her ice cream once again, but with Ali's next statement, Arielle couldn't help but choke and cough, the statement was unexpected...yet so true.

"I gotta say, I agree with you on that one, girlfriend," Arielle said, after having cleared her throat. "Those boys have a lot of nerve to just disappear like that. You'd think they at least write a Dear Jane letter or a text message or something. Then again, if Aiden would have done that, I still would have punched him in the throat for having the audacity to try me like that. If there was something wrong, they should have been men and spoke to us. Not just leave..." Arielle sighed harshly, as her sadness was slowly transitioning into rage.

"I gave him...everything. I gave him the one gift I could never give to another guy, I wonder if he was lying if he said I was his first. That bastard..." Arielle gritted her teeth. "....BUT HE WAS MY BASTARD, AHHH!" the girl 's mood had swung again as the tears started to pour from her eyes. "It's not fair. Totally not fair," she sniffed and looked to Ali. "Has Nathan ever complained about anything in your relationship?"

The mood in the kitchen went from sorry and heart ache to a burst of rage. Luckily for the mansion and it's residents it wasn't ali's rage that was bursting this time. Had that been the case then the mansion would need even more repairs. Arielle was very upset and Ali could relate but she was keeping her emotions in check. When the girl calmed down some Ali placed her hand on Arielle's and gave it a caring squeeze.

"I'm sorry that you're so hurt. I thought things were going down the same road between Nathan and I so I understand your pain. To answer your question about our relationship; Nathan never mentioned any concerns."

"Thank you.." Arielle sniffed as Ali squeezed her hand and she gently squeezed back. Wiping her eyes again, she let out another sigh when Ali said Nathan never brought up any concerns, which was weird. Arielle knew Nathan to be such a sweet and caring guy...then again so was Aiden. "I should have let Sam ice his ass" Arielle thought to herself bitterly as she remembered the fight between the ice elemental and Aiden. Then she shook the thought. She didn't wish any harm to Aiden. At least by another. She wouldn't mind driving her first into his face at the moment, but deep down, she wanted nothing more than to be with him again.

"You know what..." Arielle began as she looked to Ali. "We have been women scorned. Beautiful women at that. Nathan and Aiden were pretty damn lucky if I may say so myself. It was their decision to just take off, so....as much as it hurts...I think we should bare through the pain because as far as we know...we're single again. It's time to bounce back..." Arielle said. "I know...I'm having what ifs about what we'll do if our guys decide to pop back up, but thats a bridge we'll just have to cross when we get to it." Arielle said. Aiden had her number, he knew where she lived...there was no excuse for the lack of contact....so, obviously that meant that it was okay for Arielle to start having fun again. She'd have to call Geo again, among other things.

"Tell me, do you have any plans tonight?" Arielle asked Ali.

Ali smiled as Arielle accepted the reassuring gesture. She knew she was tough, but Arielle was letting it all out so Ali would become the girls' rock. There was no telling if the girl had any other people who would give her support.

Then Arielle piped up with a surge of confidence. It was suggested that both women strive forward by continuing to live their lives instead of being chained down with emotions for men who may never return. A girls night out sounded like a great idea. They could get some fresh air and loosen up. It was high time the tension was let out in a fun way rather than destructive.

“I completely agree with you on that. We have our whole lives still ahead of us. As for any plans tonight…I didn’t have anything important planned. Let’s go have some fun.”