Around the Fountain

Ebony sat stiffly on the edge of the fountain, looking around nervously. She didn't see anyone around. She took out her art book and her sharpies and started drawing what she had in her mind.
The sun climbed higher in the sky as she coloured pieces of her art. A robin sang a few hundred feet away in a tree and flew to another tree to perch with another bird. Ebony glanced up at the birds and then back down to her art. A wolf howled in the distance and she recognized it as one of the werewolf students. She listened to the soothing sound of water falling behind her, the mist cooling her back in the heat of the sun.
A squirrel leaped from one tree to another, gathering pine nuts from the trees.
Finally, the sun touched the horizon and exploded into brilliant pinks and oranges in the west. She held up the drawing in front of her, revealing Cole and his love, Constance, kissing under a tree with the rain falling around them. A tear fell down her cheek as she remembered one of their midnight conversations in the forest...

Cole sat in a branch just below her on his back, facing up, passed her and at the stars as she lay on her stomach just above him, playing with a leaf.
"I'm going to ask her to marry me," he said after awhile of silence.
She jumped at his sudden conclusion. "Katrina?"
"Yeah. I love her more than anything in this entire world," he whispered dreamily as if seeing Constance's face in the midnight sky.
She smiled at his compassion for her and wished someone felt the same way for her. "I'm glad I'll be able to call her 'sister,'" she whispered back.
He finally looked at her and smiled. "I love you, too, Ebz. You know I do."
Her smile faltered a bit, but she kept it on, trying not to make him feel bad. "But it's not the same way as you love Constance. I'm glad you love her, and I love you back, but you're only my brother. It's only a sibling kind of love."
He shook his head and took her hand lightly. "But you're also my best friend." He tugged her long white hair playfully and she giggled softly. "Promise me we'll be together, no matter what."
She held out her pinky. "Forever and ever."
He wrapped his pinky around hers and smiled softly. "You're going to be my best man. Or woman."
She laughed and pulled her hand away and played with the leaf again. "I'm not wearing a dress."
He chuckled. "I'm sure I can find you a tuxedo that'll fit."
"Thanks."
"Cole? You up there?" a soft voice called from under their tree. Constance stared up, searching.
Ebony glanced down and grinned, but felt sad inside, and looked back at her brother. "Time for me to go..."
"Be safe on the way home, and I'll tell you all about it." He smiled and watched her climb down the tree.
Ebony jumped down from the last branch and smiled at Constance. "Have fun!" She gave her a hug and ran off...

Ebony shivered as the cold night air finally got her attention and she pulled on her jacket.

"Ebony, you awake?" a soft voice whispered from her bedroom door.
She groaned and rolled over, glancing at the moon. (They didn't have clocks.) "Four a.m. That took awhile."
She heard him laugh as he shut the door and came to sit on her bed. She sat up and looked at him, half tired, and half eager for information. "So...?"
He made a sad and heartbroken face. Her shoulders sagged and her heart fell. Oh, shit, she hurt him...
Then he grinned and took her in his arms with a big hug. "She said yes!" he whispered excitedly.
They bounced up and down with happiness. "I'm so happy for you, Cole!"
"I got my motivation to ask her from you, Ebz."
She pulled away and looked at him, surprised. He shrugged. "You inspire me."
She smiled and hugged him again. "Glad to know I could be of service."
"I gotta go before mum and dad catch us. I'll tell them tomorrow, but I need you to be there. They think I'm gay."
She laughed and nodded as he shut the door and she fell asleep.

Ebony looked up at the full moon and realized the werewolves would be coming out. She jumped up and ran toward the building, accidentally leaving her locket, open on the side of the fountain, with the picture of her and Cole and Cole and Constance on either side...