Hide It Away (Diana)

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For the first time in what felt like forever, Kinsey found herself alone. Lately she spent almost all of her time with Riley Fudge- a fellow sixth year and Ravenclaw- and the two had become close friends, though a part of Kinsey wanted there to be more between them than that. Today she had a free period without him, however, so she decided to spend the majority of it in the Room of Requirement, where she could stay on her own without worrying about interruption.

Still, as nice as it was to be in a peaceful room on her own, she couldn't stay in there forever. She left, intending to walk down a few flights of stairs and make her way to the kitchens when she saw a familiar figure just down the hall. Diana. Two years ago Kinsey and Diana were close. At least, Kinsey thought they were close until all of a sudden Diana stopped talking to her, or even looking at her. Kinsey tried approaching her, but rarely was able to catch up with her sister. She bit her lip, wondering if there was even a point to her trying again. She decided to go for it. The worst that would happen was she would get rejected, right? She hurried after her sister and when she was a few feet away spoke up. "Hi Diana! How are you doing today?" Kinsey asked with a smile on her face and a very cheerful tone. Her stomach was in knots as she waited to see what her sister would do this time.

@diana

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@kinsey

Diana had been trying so hard to stay away from her sister, Kinsey. Ever since last March. Ever since.... Elaine. It was because of Kinsey's ability. Because she didn't know... what Kinsey might feel or sense. Hell, none of them really knew just how Kinsey's ability really worked, especially in combination with what Diana was getting into. So, staying away was the only option. The only way to be sure nothing was accidentally felt was to avoid her at all costs. And that strategy had worked. Felt like absolute crap, but it worked.

Today wasn't her luck though. She'd been heading down to the grounds to go for a walk when she heard hat familiar and cheerful voice coming from behind her. Immediately Diana froze almost mid-step, and swallowed the sudden feelings of dread. Her eyes closed and she prayed that Kinsey wouldn't get close enough to catch anything. Only then did she reopen her eyes and turn to look at her sister, forcing a small smile to her lips. "Hi, Kinsey." She answered trying to match that cheerful tone but doing a terrible job at it. "I'm... fine. You?"

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Kinsey noticed her sister freeze as she started talking to her and felt the disappointment rise in her. Diana wasn't going to stay, was she? Not that she had at all lately, but Kinsey kept on hoping ... really she just missed her older sister. She couldn't understand what would change so drastically that Diana wouldn't want to talk about it. After all, when she'd realize that she could sense people's intentions, Diana was one of the only ones in the family that hadn't avoided her for the next while. But she was avoiding her now and Kinsey couldn't help but wonder what she'd done wrong. 

As she approached she couldn't sense her sister's intentions, but the moment she started talking, Kinsey could sense the lie. She knew Diana wouldn't talk to her about it, but she wasn't fine. Maybe she should try not calling her out on it this time and see if that made Diana stay a bit longer. "I'm good," she answered, keeping that tone of voice. "I made a new friend lately," she added, wondering if talking about herself would help. Heck, she just wanted to talk to Diana for more than five minutes! Kinsey was willing to do just about anything to get that result.

@diana

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@kinsey

Oh, Diana wished, desperately, that things were different. That she didn't have to avoid her sister. Didn't have to worry about what she might, or might not, sense. But she did. And nothing (that she knew of) would be changing that any time soon.

Keeping that forced smile, she listened as her sister answered. She.. actually sounded like things were okay. Though she wondered... Kinsey and Dominic..... Weren't a good combination. While Diana had become surprisingly close to the boy over the years he'd bullied her sister relentless, a fact she preferred he didn't talk about for obvious reasons. But Kinsey didn't know about that. Didn't know that Diana was actually close friends with her tormentor. His return might be great for her, but it spelled bad news for Kinsey... "That's good." She answered, forcing herself really to try and say something. But then... Kinsey mentioned a new friend. "Really? That's nice Kinsey, who?" Asking questions was normal right? Heavens... When did it become so difficult to have a normal conversation with her sister?

Oh, right. Since Diana got herself involved with Elaine. Being a 'bad guy' sort of did that to relationships.

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Diana was actually staying. At least for the moment. Kinsey could tell, just by looking at her sister, that things weren't alright. Her expressions seemed ... off. Unless she really had changed as much as it seemed she had during the last few years. Maybe that was her normal face now. But Kinsey doubted it. Still ... not confronting seemed to be working. Well, it worked once. Kinsey would take it. Once was a lot more than she'd gotten over the last year and a half. Kinsey smiled and nodded enthusiastically, hiding the truth from her sister. Sure, things were much better now than they had been, but that was only because she had a new light in her life. Riley. The darkness was still there, eating away at her confidence and self-esteem, but at least she wasn't facing it alone any more. Even though Riley didn't know who he was fighting against, he was making her feel better about her interactions with Dom, which was a relief. 

"Riley Fudge," she said. "He found me, uh ..." she hesitated, not wanting to tell her sister that he found her crying and basically wouldn't leave her side since unless he had to, but she'd already started telling her. She coughed. "Sorry. He found me one day and we started talking and are pretty close now." Though she would never tell her sister how close. Even when things were good between her and Diana, Kinsey hadn't told her sister that she was being bullied. She never told anyone about it, but Riley figured it out. He figured it out and was trying to help her. Was it any surprise that she was starting to develop feelings for him? Kinsey didn't know how much she wanted to tell Diana, but figured that they'd just start with questions and then move on from there.

@diana

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@kinsey

Despite the blatant avoidance Diana still cared about her sister. While Diana was closest with Cara out of her siblings (due to how much time they spent together growing up and being twins.) the second closest had been Kinsey, the middle child of the family and next born after the twins. Diana had tried to always be there for Kinsey, especially when her ability started to develop. But now... now she had to care from afar.

So when Kinsey stopped herself from finishing her sentence, hinting that something had happened, Diana frowned, feeling that familiar spark of protectiveness. Riley Fudge, if she could recall correctly, was another sixth year Ravenclaw. "He found you, what?" she slowly asked. Because finding required hiding. If Diana had to make a guess she had a pretty good idea what, or rather who, Kinsey had been hiding from.

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Kinsey wasn't good at this sort of thing. The only thing she'd ever kept from Diana was the fact that she was being bullied, and that was mostly because she never really found the right opportunity to talk to her sister about it, and she didn't know how to say it. To answer her question now would probably mean getting more of them. Still, this small conversation was more than she'd gotten from her sister in ages. If answering her questions would prolong it, Kinsey definitely was going to answer them. 

She bit her lip, trying to decide how exactly to answer her sister's question. "He found me one night when I was ... having a rough go of it, I suppose. He stopped and talked to me and made me feel better and that's where our friendship started." Was that good enough? Kinsey wasn't sure what else her sister could ask about Riley, but she hoped that her answer here helped her sister feel like she understood things.

@diana

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@kinsey

Kinsey was biting her lip... as if hesitating. Before finally giving an almost vague answer. Having a rough go of it? Diana was still frowning. But trying, so, so, hard not to care. At least she managed to keep her feet from moving, instead staying rooted to the spot. The last thing she needed was to touch Kinsey, because her ability was stronger then. "It was Dominic Dippet, wasn't it?" She asked, making sure to say her (secret) friend's name as formally as possible to mask any hint of familiarity with him. "I can speak with Cara. Maybe she can convince him to leave you alone.." She added. Of course she wouldn't talk to him. They didn't bring that into their friendship. Cara though. He liked to pretend to worship the ground she walked on. Cara didn't mind ordering Dominic around, and Diana had a good relationship with her twin. It wouldn't be completely unusual for Cara to call him off.

Diana should be questioning more about Riley, she knew that. She didn't know who the boy was. Just that he had a famous family name. She should be concerned about him. but she had to try and remain distant. Try to stay as emotionally unattached as possible. But it was so.... so hard...

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Diana was frowning and Kinsey wondered why she was even asking these questions. After not talking with Kinsey in over a year, why would she care that her sister met a boy when she was crying and upset? She shouldn't. If she actually cared, Riley wouldn't have been able to find Kinsey on her own and upset, because Diana would have been there already. The thought confused Kinsey a little. As much as she longed to have her older sister back, would she have been willing to lose Riley for that relationship? She tucked the question away in her mind, determined to think about it later. Not right now. It was too confusing.

Then Diana guessed why Kinsey was "having a rough go of it" and her jaw dropped. "You ... know?" She felt herself simultaneously confused and ... angry. How did Diana know about this? It was one of Kinsey's best-kept secrets, one of the things she refused to tell anyone about, even if they just wanted to help her like Riley. "How do you know? How long?" She demanded. Kinsey knew that her tone might drive her sister away, but she couldn't help it. How could Diana know about this and do nothing to help her? One reason Kinsey hadn't told her family was because she didn't want to put them in Dom's line of fire, but she knew. She knew and she'd done nothing to help Kinsey the entire time. It was unbelievable. 

She shook her head and rolled her eyes, turning partly away from her sister as she spoke. Dom didn't torture her on Cara's demand, so why would he stop if she asked him to? Also, wouldn't he then start asking questions to figure out how Cara knew? Then he'd probably think that Kinsey was going around telling people. No, that method would only make things worse. Kinsey was positive. "No. Even if she does that to try and help, Cara will just make it worse. He'll wonder how she found out in the first place ... and I don't want her to know about it." If Cara found out Kinsey was being bullied, she would just take it as another example of how Kinsey pitied herself and tried to look for special treatment. She didn't understand anything when it came to Kinsey. 

"I'll be fine," Kinsey said stubbornly, only really able to say that because of Riley. She knew he'd do what he could to help her, unlike her sisters. "Riley will help me." She didn't explain how, but felt like she had to give him credit. On her own, Kinsey was about to break, but with his help dealing with Dom and her abilities seemed possible, even though Riley didn't know the details surrounding either.

@diana

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@kinsey

Diana shouldn't have said that. She knew immediately because of the way Kinsey's expression changed. Of course it wasn't common knowledge. Diana only knew because she knew Dominic. While equally as intense as Cara, Diana was the quieter twin (when there wasn't something she was curious about), or she'd be consumed by her own thoughts and studying that people overlooked her. She'd never actually seen Dominic bully her sister, but knowing Dominic... She knew he wasn't innocent. Despite that, they still had a deep friendship. It was so hypocritical of her. To be friends with her sister's bully... And yet here she was.

Diana looked away at Kinsey's demand of how she knew and how long. "I just do. Have for a while." She forced herself to answer, though it was incredibly vague, and really didn't answer either question at all. In fact, it would probably anger Kinsey even more.Would she demand to know why Diana didn't do anything about it? Why her older sister that not only excelled in Defense Against the Dark Arts but also the Dark Arts would permit it to happen. And if she did ask... Diana wouldn't be able to give her an answer. Not a good one anyway.

Kinsey wasn't facing her anymore, though hadn't turned completely away yet. It should be what Diana wanted. To drive Kinsey away. But really it just hurt. "You're probably right." She agreed softly. Cara would just make it worse, probably. Maybe Dominic would listen to Diana, but it was well established that she wouldn't go there. He stayed out of certain parts of her life, and she stayed out of certain parts of his. Regardless of... well how it might affect people in each other's life. THough the idea of Riley helping Kinsey? Diana was frowning even more, and the color in her eyes was darkening. "You hardly know him." If he truly was as new of a friend as Kinsey said, what was he supposed to do?

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Kinsey should have expected this. A vague non-answer, but she hadn't. For some ridiculous reason she thought that her sister would be honest with her and talk with her. Of course, that was ridiculous. Why would Diana tell her something that was obviously the secret when the two hadn't talked in so long? It was stupid of her, really, to think that things would go back to how they'd been before. 

She shook her head, trying to fight off the anger. "Right. Naturally. Let the eleven-year-old fend for herself. Where's the flaw in that kind of logic?" she muttered, her voice low and angry. This was the part of her that few people saw. With Dom, Kinsey gave in. She knew that there was danger in fighting back, that he would only make her pay for it in the end. Her sisters might do the same if she pushed them far enough, but with them Kinsey didn't care. Despite the fact that she and Diana were no longer close, Kins couldn't imagine her sister tormenting her as Dom did, no matter what she did or said to upset her. "It's good to know who's got my back," she added. She knew she shouldn't continue, but Kinsey couldn't help it. She was disappointed and hurt. Diana knew and she did nothing. A part of her wanted to ask for a better answer to her earlier question, but what was the point. If Diana didn't want to answer it, she wouldn't. Clearly she didn't want to. 

Diana agreed that Kinsey was right about Cara not being able to help and she nodded curtly. She already knew that and her sister agreeing meant little to her. When Diana mentioned that Kinsey hardly knew Riley, she turned and met her sister's hard eyes with her own. Kinsey's jaw was locked and she was shaking slightly from anger. "I know him more than I know you," she retorted, deadly serious. Her ability to see the intentions of others helped her truly understand who they were and Riley ... he was wonderful and he cared and he acted on it. Apparently Diana cared just enough to let Kinsey know that she knew she was suffering. That wasn't the Diana that Kinsey knew from years before. This Diana was a stranger to her.

@diana

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@kinsey

Diana wasn't the angry sort. At least not the sort the sort to act on it. Her personality (aside from when she was overly curious) was usually quite even. It was usually her eyes that gave way what she was feeling. Different colors meaning different things. Black, for example, was a deepening frustration. Red was angry. Gold when she was angry but her anger was driving her to try harder. Blue was desperation. But sadness? It wasn't a color. It could be any of those, depending on what mood she's felt before. No, it was the lack of luster that gave away the emotion. Her eyes would go dull, losing all vibrancy. And that was exactly what was happening now. Her already dark eyes went dull and that frown reappeared. "If you'd wanted any of our help you should have asked." she slowly answered. Of course she didn't like Kinsey being bullied! But Kinsey was the one keeping it a secret! Diana only knew by coincidence. The others? They probably didn't even know at all.

Diana clenched her jaw as Kinsey faced her head on once more and snapped at her. That she knew this boy better then Diana. Oh, as bad as it sounded Diana didn't doubt it. Diana hasn't been a liar before last year. Hadn't kept secrets from anyone (well, except for what she was doing with Professor Kamuntu but most people had never asked). She hasn't been emotionally distant from her brother and sisters. Hasn't gone out of her way to avoid one of them. For all purposes Diana was a different person. "Probably." Diana's voice was almost a whisper as she agreed, not looking away from her sisters gaze. Oh how she wished she didn't have to keep these secrets. That they didn't have the potential of getting Kinsey hurt.

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Kinsey knew her sister well enough- she assumed they all did- to be able to tell her moods just by looking at her eyes. To her surprise, Diana wasn't upset by the things she said. At least, she wasn't angry. Instead she was sad, which made Kinsey feel even more confused. If staying distant made her sad, why was Diana doing it? It just made no sense to her at all. She was frowning as she told Kinsey that she should have asked if she wanted help. Kinsey sighed, releasing some of her anger as she did so. "If that's what you think then you have no idea what he's actually saying to me," which made this conversation pointless. Without knowing that Dom used her family against her, compared her to each and every one of them and described her as a burden on them all, one would never understand why Kinsey opted to struggle on her own. "I'm trying to not make things worse. Besides, everyone in our family adores Dom. He made sure that no one would believe me if I came to you." Her eyes were brimming with tears, but there was absolutely no way Kinsey was going to let them fall. "I just didn't imagine that one of you already knew ... and decided to do nothing." Kinsey shook her head and looked down, feeling sick.

Her sister agreed that Riley knew her better and Kinsey snapped. "Why? You and I used to be so close! Why would you let someone else know me better, someone I've only known for a few weeks. What did I do, Di?" Kinsey couldn't help it. She wasn't going to go there, wasn't going to ask these questions, but she couldn't help it. All of Dom's quips about how Diana hated her because she wasn't good enough were getting to her and even if she tried not to let them in, they were there. Diana wasn't around to say they weren't true. If anything, her avoidance of Kinsey was proof that they were.

@diana

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@kinsey

Diana didn't actually know what Dominic was doing specifically. Didn't want to know. Because it's make it hard. Just knowing her friend bullied her sister relentless was bad enough, she didn't need to add what he actually did to the mix. She didn't speak though, didn't feel the need to answer as that frown turned into a thin and tight line in silent admittance that Kinsey was right. As Kinsey kept speaking though, she couldn't maintainer her silence. "Not all of us." She couldn't admit to Kinsey that she did actually like Dominic. None of her siblings even knew that Diana and Dominic even knew each other. So, while it was a lie in part there had to be a Bainbridge child beside Kinsey that didn't like Dominic. It was that belief that made the lie real. Because she wasn't specifically saying what she felt about him. "What would you expect me to do that wouldn't make it worse?" she asked, because that was Kinsey's worry with Cara. Why would Kinsey think Diana would have better luck? Diana was intense at times but not mean.

Diana actually flinched when Kinsey snapped. Demanding answers that Diana couldn't give. How could you tell someone you avoided them so they didn't pick up dark intentions? How did you explain to someone that keeping your distance from them was for their own sake? To make sure they didn't ask questions. Letting out a slow breath, Diana closed as she tried to think of something to say. Anything they might satisfy her sister but not give anything away. That wouldn't give off the wrong intention that Kinsey would feel. "It's not what you did, Kinsey. I just need to sort some things out." it wasn't the worst excuse but it wasn't great either. At least it wasn't a total lie though. Because she was sorting things out. Just... not in the way it sounded.

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Diana was staying pretty quiet for most of Kinsey's tirade, which surprised her. A part of her expected Diana to argue with every point, kind of like how Cara did. When her sister finally did speak, Kinsey's eyes narrowed at he, though she did not sense the lie in her sister's intentions. "If you didn't like him then why didn't you say anything? You didn't talk to me when you found out, which means I didn't ask you not to talk to him because of my worries. You did that on your own." Why would Diana assume that she didn't want help, that she wanted to go through this? It didn't make any sense to Kinsey. At her sisters question, Kinsey shook her head, "Coming and talking to me? Not letting me feel like I was on my own while you knew about it?" That's what was hurting now. Her sister knew and didn't bother to say a word to Kins about it, didn't even bother to try and encourage her about it. "Is that why you stopped talking to me? You didn't want me to complain to you or something?" It didn't seem logical to Kinsey, but none of this was logical.

She saw Diana flinch when she started questioning her, but apparently that didn't mean anything. "I don't believe you," Kinsey said flatly after her sister answered her. It was different than calling her a liar, because if she'd lied Kinsey should have been able to sense it. No, Kinsey saying she didn't believe Diana meant that despite the fact that she sensed no lie and Diana probably believed her own words, Kinsey didn't. It was a fine line, but one that she had to know with her gift. She still believed she did something to chase Diana away.

@diana