it all ends with us: ruins

048

Chapter Forty-Eight:

"I'll drown it out."

"You don't need to pack your entire wardrobe Ren." Atlas tells her best friend, who currently was trying to shove more shoes into her already full suitcase.

"But what if I need it?" Ren asks.

"I'm sure you have more clothes at home." Atlas informs her which makes the blonde pout.

It was a Saturday morning a week after the Hogsmeade attack and everyone was doing some last minute packing. The train was at noon and Ren had procrastinated all week which now meant she was rushing around trying to cram all of her stuff into the bag. Atlas watched her run around the room which reminded her of the first day of school when she thought she had woken up late and had run around the room in a similar fashion.

Atlas had finished pacing the night before and she had even managed to wrap up all the Christmas presents she had bought for her friends and family. She had passed on the gifts for her mother and brothers to Ajax who promised to not open any of them until Christmas morning. Atlas even managed to get Mrs Rivera a small gift, a way to say thank you for letting her stay.

"The life of the party has arrived." Lorenzo exclaims, walking into the room.

"I bear gifts, too." He tells the girls. "This one's for you sugar, and one for little miss sunshine." He chucks them a small sandwich bag each.

"Thanks Enzo." Atlas says genuinely while opening the bag to reveal an assortment of sweets.

"Just spreading the Christmas cheer." He says gleefully.

"I've got Polly's cat things packed up, but I can't seem to find her. Is she in your dorm?" Atlas asks.

"Yeah, she's with Theo. I'm taking her with me right?" Lorenzo questions.

"Yeah, just wanted to make sure." Atlas responds.

It didn't take too long for everyone to be finished getting ready and packed up. And soon enough Atlas was waiting outside for the train to be loaded up. It was her first time seeing thestrals and Atlas was in awe of the creature. It was crazy that someone had to endure the pain of death to be able to encounter a thestral. Having to experience something so heart-breaking to be able to acknowledge its existence.

"Hey." Theo whispers as he makes his way to stand beside her.

"Hi." Atlas responds softly looking up at him.

"You know what I haven't seen you do in a while?" Atlas asks Theo.

"What's that?" He responds curiously.

"Smoke." She says bluntly.

"I haven't needed to in a while." He chuckles, his eyes sparkling while looking down at her.

"Ew." Lorenzo gags making both Theo and Atlas scoff. "Enough with the lovey-dovey stuff. I want to know what you got me for Christmas."

"I'm not telling you Enzo." Atlas rolls her eyes.

"But I hate surprises." He whines in rebuttal.

"Well tough, you're going to have to deal with it." Atlas pats him on the cheek before making her way onto the train.

She could hear Theo comfort his best friend who was complaining about the element of surprise that he hated. Lorenzo drowned on about how they were the worst thing to exist and Theo listened intently like a good friend even though most of what he was saying was utter babble. It was heart-warming to see the two of them, they were like brothers and Atlas hoped that nothing would ever come to harm either of them.