The thin layer of Rachel's eyelids were illuminated by the infirmary's bright lights. She didn't dare open her sensitive brown eyes. A strange feeling overcame her and her body stiffened in the arms of Rin. Rachel didn't know who was carrying her but somehow she figured it would be Rin. The prick of cold air on her white skin make her body tense more and shiver. She could feel the heavy weight of her long hair dangling over the arm of her savior.

~* Then she remembered*~
Right before darkness covered her vision, she was in the bath house with full intention of learning how to swim. She had put her toe in the water and just as she was pulling her leg back her other foot slipped on sone foreign water and she fell in. Panic had clouded her mind and she flailed all about. She tried to call for help but her voice was muffled from the water filling her mouth and lungs. She eventually ran out of energy and began to sink quickly. Panic was worse as she invisioned herself drowning. Her chest felt like it was being crushed by a fifty pound weight and her head pounded fiercely. The pressure pushed and pushed until it rendered her unconcious.

~*Present*~
She lifted her eyes just to slits so she could peek out at her surroundings. "St. Miator's school Infirmary" was written on the door the person stopped at. Was she injured? Swiftly, Rachel ran her sore eyes over her body. Nothing seems hurt. She couldn't feel any broken bones or cuts. Maybe they just wanted to be sure. This thought made her relax. Maybe someone cared after all.

Rin was able to change into her uniform after Rachel was placed in a bed. The white sheets and walls were comforting, and Rin had the nurse-aid go retrieve Rachel's uniform. She took a seat next to the bed and used a cloth to dry Rachel's hair a bit. She then sat back and folded her hands in her lap, crossing her ankles daintily and watched over Rachel.

The nurse brought in a glass of water, took Rachel's temperature and pulse, ad otherwise deemed her well and allowing her to rest there.

"Thank you," said Rin, nodding to the Sister. Turning her attention back to the girl on the bed, Rin decided to pull the curtain around their bed closed, creating a private little room for just the two of them.She patiently took her seat again and waited for Rachel to wake up, she didn't expect to be thanked, but she would at least wait until the girl proved she was okay.

She felt a bit awkward playing asleep while someone was carrying her so she was relieved when she was layed down on a small bed. She heard the nurse speaking to her savior and she nearly choked on her own spit when she heard Rin say 'thank you'. Rachel's heart leaped in her chest and felt the urge for her eyes to fly open. She squinted them tightly so she didn't disgrace herself. She tried to relax her body and open her eyes slowly as if she was just coming to.

As she peered through her long black lashes, she saw Rin. The look on her face was a strange sort of worry. Rachel was confused by this but sort of flattered. "Hi," was all she could think of to say.

Rin smiled, gazing quaintly down at the girl, slightly surprised by the lack of frowning disgust and shouting. "Good afternoon," She replied with what was almost a purr, she continued with her voice as soft as ever, "You fell into the pool and nearly drowned, I've brought your things if you wish to change." She gestured to the uniform folded neatly at the end of her bed. "You're lucky you weren't there alone."

Rin wasn't quite sure how to treat the girl since her outburst at the dorm, the current change in her demeanor could have been due to being half-drowned and thankful to be alive. Rin let out a breath, she was being pessimistic this was the girl that had set hr heart aflame the moment she entered the dorm. And yet, at this moment she felt the slightest bit at a loss. This was certainly not the scene to steal a...yes that's what was bothering Rin. She had stolen a kiss from this girl while she had been unconscious.

"The Nurse says you may dress and return to you activities whenever you feel up to it." She said, imagining the bombardment of girls asking Rachel what it felt like to be kissed by Rin. The Etoile sighed, guess she had probably tell Rachel the situation before she assumed something lecherous. "Rachel," she stood and walked around to stand behind the chair she had been sitting in, "While you were unconscious, I had to take a certain..measure to save your life. You may later be asked frantic questions by our peers. I simply want you to know that it was done with the purest intentions and that if I hadn't been forced to take action, I would not have .." stolen your first kiss..[/]The idea made Rin feel warm, dirty, and special all at the same time. "Well anyway, I hope that I will have the chance to make up for it. I'll wait on the other side of the curtain while you dress and walk you back to the dorm..." She then ducked out from the tiny room. Her silhouette could be scene through the thin blue fabric and she waited, for the first time feeling awkward.

Rachel blinked at Rin then looked down at her hands with a guilty expression. "Thank you," she said in a small voice. "For saving my life, that is. I'm sorry I've been giving you a hard time. It's just...I'm not use to...well anyways, thank you." She pushed off the cover and sat up. Her hair had fallen out of the ponytail and her long hair draped over her shoulders and rested in a bundle around her bottom. She crossed her legs and set her hands on her shins. She glanced over at her uniform then at the curtain Rin was behind. Deciding it was a good idea to clothe herself she took up her dress and started to apply the formal pieces to her slim body. First was the slip then her knee-high white stockings. She then pulled the dress over her head. Without thinking, she hadn't unzipped the back and the dress was stuck trapping her arms above her head and the collar just below her nose. She sighed and said in a muffled voice, "Rin...could you...help me? I'm sorta....stuck." She felt so bad about asking Rin for help after all the trouble she had been giving her. She then made a resolve not to fuss with Rin anymore and leave her to her personal affairs.

Her gaze went to the girl's silhouette behind the curtain and she smiled, of course she would help, but she couldn't help the way her heart beat became faster as she pulled the curtain aside just long enough to slip inside and let it close behind her. She glided behind Rachel and unzipped the dress, exposing the back of her white lace bra. Rin recorded the image in her mind as he helped slide the dress into it's rightful place on Rachel's shoulders. Then she zipped the dress up again so it fit her snugly. Rin the picked up the green tide and proceeded to slip it around the other girl's neck, tying it with skill. She her hands lingered on the green fabric, Rin looked into Rachel's eyes, "You're welcome."

She had too much etiquette to respond to Rachel's explanation of her actions, Rin would simply forget them and continue her quest to win over her heart. Though it was a great victory that Rachel might be more open to giving it a chance or even a thought. Her pale fingers and plain manicured nails slid down the tie, briefly brushing over Rachel's breasts in accident on their way down to Rin's side.

"There, lovely," she said, her voice warm, "Your shoes are at the foot of the bed. I expect you don't need me anymore,"

With that she walked over and placed her hand on the curtain again, but paused a moment to see if the girl would ask her to stay, or go with her somewhere. Anything, Rin had made several moves in this game, and now it was Rachel's turn.

Rachel's breath became uneven when Rin agreed to help her and swiftly did so. Her hands felt like baby's breath on her skin. Her eyes rolled shut at the sensation. Then opened them again with hot emotion creeping up on her cheeks. Once the dress was down and zipped up Rin fixed her tie and lightly brushed over her breasts. This created a sensation completely new to her. It shot down and throughout her entire body. It made her knees weak and her pulse quicken. Once Rin was through, Rachel tied back her hair again in a ponytail. Rin reached for the curtain saying that Rachel didn't need her anymore. A strange pang in her heart made Rachel do something out if impulse and something she couldn't explain. "Wait," she said quickly placing fingertips to the crease of Rin's arm. "I um,..." she didn't know what to say. She didn't know why she had wanted Rin to stop. Her mind swam with thoughts, curiousity. Heat found it's way back over her cheeks and made her throat dry. She took her hand away from Rin and linked her fingers behind her back. An awakard and embarrassed expression sat on her face. For once, Rachel was dumbfounded at her own feelings.

She looked over Rin's face. Her gorgeous sparkling eyes, her full cheeks and perfect nose, and her lips, her beautifully sculpted and lushous lips. These thoughts made Rachel blush yet again. "I'm sorry. I...." she wanted to say something. She wanted to "do" something. She wasn't sure if Rin would agree to it and embarrass her further by rejecting her. She looked down at her feet and felt pretty stupid. "Nothing," she whispered.

Rin hid her smile as the girl had reacted according to plan. Her touch and blush made her heart feel warm, and the girl's awkward dance that lead to the word "nothing" kept the smile there.

"I was going to head back to the greenhouse, my plants need tending. Perhaps you will accompany me? I have tea and cakes there as well. The lunch bell is sure to ring soon and if we get there in time the Sisters will not stop us."

Her eyes turned mischievous as she invited Rachel to go "play hookie" with her. It was something the Etoile did quite often, especially when her presence was needed somewhere. She knew the girl would quickly put on her shoes and follow, and Rin relied on that knowledge as she disappeared out of the curtain and the infirmary, with the American transfer right behind her.

(Again you can reply here or just add what you would say here to your reply at the green house. I'll go start a thread there for us.)

(I'll just post here for the last word ha. You can go ahead and start the thread.)

Rachel listened to Rin almost in a haze. She had asked if Rachel would like to join her in the green house. It wasn't what Rachel had expected but she thought about it. Perhaps this would be ok. She wasn't use to skipping and getting trouble. She never got in trouble. She thought about it once more before agreeing to herself and following behind Rin slowly. Her long brown hair sashayed behind her as she walked more swiftly to catch up to the Etoile. A rush, a freedom she had never felt welled up inside her. This was different but she resolved that it would be ok. She hoped so anyways.