Phases of the Moon

2: Happy Birthday

It had been a couple months since school started in September, and Gwen's birthday was coming up in four days. Kody sat on his bed in the boys' dormitory, and was looking out the window. It was a gloomy morning, fog covered the grounds like a blanket and the sun couldn't peek through the clouds. He thought about the simple things in life, and wondered why the hell he was so short.

A groan came from across the room and Ben sat up in his bed, scratching his head. "Uh... good morning." He said groggily. "What time is it?" He asked, searching for his wand, which fell off the nightstand.

"Around seven." Kody answered blandly, still staring out the window.

"You know, you really look like Gwen right now." Ben said, Kody turned around and gave him a dirty look, he had misunderstood. "I meant how she stares out the window all the time, dumbass."

It was too early for Kody to respond to Ben's pointless nagging. He stood up and went into the bathroom. Ben looked around the room, Dustin wasn't in there. He heard the shower turn on in the bathroom, and decided to leave the dorm in search for him.

Downstairs, there lay Dustin on the sofa in a corner. He was snoring loudly and Ben went back into the dorm. As long as Dustin wasn't out sneaking around this early in the morning, alone, Ben didn't really care.

   When Kody got out of the shower, he dried his hair and put some clothes on. Ben was sitting on the edge of his bed, fiddling with his wand. "Do you know where Dustin is?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah. He's downstairs, passed out on the sofa." Ben still stared at his wand. "It's such a dark morning." He glanced out the window.

   Kody approached the window and stared outside as well. "What the bloody hell is she doing out there?" He said quietly. Gwen was outside in the grounds, sitting in the grass. The fog swallowed her and they could no longer see her.

   Ben got up off his bed and pulled on a jacket, quietly opening the door to the girls' dorm, he didn't see Gwen in there.

"Where are you going?" Kody followed him, tugging on a jacket as well. "Are you going out there with her?" He asked.

"Yeah, she's out of her mind, Kody." He walked all the way down the stairs and into the courtyard, Kody still following behind him.

   They walked out to the grass field where she was sitting, but no one was there. "Ben, I think we should just go back."

"Yes, go back kids." A deep voice came from behind them, Ben recognized the voice, as he turned to face his father.

"D-Dad? What are you doing? How did you even get into the grounds?" Ben looked bewildered, checking to make sure no one else was around. "Wait a second, where is Gwen?" He said, staring coldly at his father. He was a mess, his dark hair was not combed, he wore old clothing with rips and stains, and his fair skin had dirt everywhere.

"Who? You mean your friend?" He chuckled. Kody stood still, not daring to speak. "She's fine, you actually just missed her."

"Why are you here?" Ben demanded for answers, he didn't trust his father.

"None of your concern, son." He sighed. "Well, nice visit." He let out a raspy laugh and disapparated with a loud crack.

"We need to find Gwen." Kody and Ben started searching the grounds, but Gwen wasn't anywhere outside.

   The two boys made their way back inside. They entered the common room and found Gwen and Dustin talking. "Where were you?" Dustin asked, standing up.

"No, the question is, where the hell were you." Ben scolded Gwen, who had also stood up. She didn't understand, she didn't leave the common room at all that morning.