Correy sat at the bar, drinking a snake bite, and enjoying the band that was up on stage. It was a good night, a rocking night! The crowd was jumping and there was a mosh pit right in front of the stage. It was dark and it was loud and just the kind of place that Correy really got into. One last bash before the rest of the young adults in attendance had to go back to class. Not Correy, he was taking Jon up on the offer to become his manager. No more school for him. He lifted his glass and toasted the crowd and a few toasted back. Then he sat back and drank. Attire was typical, white t-shirt, skinny jeans, Timberland boots. His hair a riot of curls piled atop his head, the sides shaved neatly. He wore his piercing in his left ear, a subtle reminder of somebody not in attendance tonight. Ah well, can't be joined at the hip. He laughed at the thought and shifted in his seat.

Rori had a feeling Correy would be at the party being held at Chaos Rules tonight. She'd gotten back only a couple of days ago, and since then they'd only briefly spoken on the phone, despite his call to her saying they needed to talk. He was right, they did need to talk; she'd psyched herself up to tell him the truth about who she was, and in all the noise of the party, it was doubtful anyone else would hear them. Pushing her way through the crowd, she got a helpful third year to hoist her up for a moment, scanning the crowd for her boyfriend, and grinned, sighting him almost immediately. Thanking the random fella who'd helped her out, she pushed her way toward the bar, laying her hands over Correy's eyes and murmuring in his ear, "Guess who?"

Correy was suddenly blinded and he leaned back quickly. If it hadn't been for her murmur, he'd have flailed and possibly hurt her. As it was, he grinned and turned around. "Hey, you are looking sharp." A kiss to her cheek, then he raised his hand to get another drink, for her. "How was your trip?" No, Correy hadn't been watching the telly that New Year's eve.

"Boring, as usual," she chuckled, leaning in to plant a very affectionate kiss on his lips before she slid onto a stool beside him. "I missed you like crazy. How were things here?"

"I missed you, too." If anything were awry, he gave no indication, giving her just as an affection kiss right back. "And it was alright. Caroline's still not home. So Christmas was kind of blah."

Her expression twisted into concern as he spoke. She'd never met Caroline, but she'd heard enough to know that the Grangers probably wouldn't be right until she was back. "She'll be back, I'm sure of it," Rori told him with a firm nod. "And we need to talk."

Correy picked up his drink, giving himself a dose of liquid courage. "That we do," he put down the glass and glanced around. "Here" Or some place a little more quiet?" He knew what he had to tell her was going to hurt and he didn't want her to melt down in public.

"Um ..." Rori looked around, and knew she couldn't spill her secret here. Not where there were so many people who might overhear; it would be a security nightmare. She nodded, sliding off her stool. "Sure, let's head somewhere a little more private."

"Ok," he put his hand to her back to lead her from the club. "You really do look beautiful," he smiled as they left the club. "Where do you want to go?"

"Just somewhere people won't hear us," she shrugged, pausing as she stepped out into the blissful quiet of the campus to wrap her arm about his and steer him away toward the university buildings. "I kinda wanna get the talking done before I tear all your clothes off." She grinned up at him, entirely innocent of the fact that this was not going to happen.

"Oh," he kept out of her reach. Then he added cheekily. "Some would say that's worse than being a monster." He couldn't help it. Get a drink in him and he has diarrhea of the mouth.

"Yeah, well, I'm one of them," she muttered, slumping back against the wall. Well, it was out there now; nothing for it but to drive the wedge deeper and watch him run like hell. "I'm not Rori Dunn, daughter of a banker. I'm Aurora Magdalena, second in line to the throne of Nyan'Din. King Roderick is my father."

"Wait, you're not kidding." he took a step closer and looked at her again. "Jeebs! I've been dating a princess!" he laughed and then covered his mouth to silence himself. "I promise, I won't tell anybody. Not even Jon."

She watched him warily, half-afraid that he was joking with her just to see if she'd fall for it before ripping her to bits for lying to him. "You're okay with it?" she asked in confusion. "You're not mad at me for lying to you?"

How could he possibly be angry with her, when he was lying to her" He shook his head and smiled. "No, you had your reasons. And I imagine they were pretty good ones to hide it from me."

"It's mainly security," she shrugged apologetically. "The second heir to the throne going to uni in Rhy'Din?" She snorted faintly. "And ....well, I wanted to know that people liked me and not the crown or the titles. That must sound so dumb now."

"It doesn't sound dumb at all," he shook his head and sighed. His chin dropped to his chest. How could he possibly tell her now when she was pouring her heart out to him' Not only was he with Jon, but he'd slept with Dirk and Quinn. He felt guilty and horrible.

"Hey ..." She stepped close to him, gently tilting his face until he met her eyes. "It doesn't change anything, you know. I'm not any different just because you know the truth now. I still want to be with you, Correy. And by that, I mean right now I want to get Biblical with you." She grinned, winking wickedly up at him.

He couldn't do it anymore. The guilt was eating him alive. When she lifted his chin, he shook his head. "No, your being royal doesn't change anything." He sighed and moved his face from her grasp. "But what I have to say will."

"Why?" The innocence of everything he was holding onto was still there, but Rori let him move away from her, watching him with growing wariness. "You said you loved me; what could you possibly say that would change that?"

"I do," he frowned and shook his head. Every way that he imagined he'd tell her was going to end badly. He thought about the band aid approach and in his mind's eyes, his balls would end in Cleveland. He thought about the long explanation and that ended with his head on a pike in front of her father's castle. He sighed and just let it roll off of his tongue. "I'm...that is..."

"You're ....what, married?" she made a guess, smiling at him. "I doubt that. Bi" I kinda guessed that one. Moving to Earth' Joining a celibate monastery?"

"Get off me!" She struggled against his grip, and finally sank her teeth into his arm to make him let go. "Don't you dare stand there and cry about this, don't you dare!" Her fist gestured in front of his face, her own eyes streaming with furious, heart-broken tears. "Sorry isn't enough for breaking my heart, for being just like everyone else! You really think you have the right to be upset right now? You've got what you want, you should be over the moon! You fucking, useless bastard!" Her balled, be-ringed fist swung at his face, as accurately as she could get it.

He let her go as she struggled and he blinked rapidly to clear the tears from his eyes. "I never meant to, Rori, please be..." and that's when the ringed fist met his nose. Blood spurted immediately, not from just the cuts to his face but from the cartiladge crunching loudly. "Ow! Oh God!" His hands went to his face and he doubled over. "Oh Oh! Ow!"

"I hope you're very happy together," she spat at him as he doubled over, stepping away furiously. "And if you come anywhere near me again, I will do far worse." Whirling around, Rori broke into a run, leaving him where he stood, trying to outrun her own hurt and anger with futile hope.

"Rori!" he gurgled and attempted to run, but couldn't breathe to do it. He stopped and doubled over again. His shirt was soaked in blood and it was cooling quickly. In his frustration, he kicked over a garbage can and screamed out a string of expletives that would make a sailor blush. Then he ran until he thought his lungs would burst. And then walking. All night, hands in his pockets and blood on his shirt. There would be no sleep for this wicked, wicked boy that night.