"No!" Mrs. Parker said. Her knees buckled and she would've fallen down if they hadn't managed to hold her up. Bria got hold of her chair and brought it to where they stood. They made Mrs. Parker sit in it. She kept chanting the same word, as if somehow the fact would change. Tears flowed down her eyes and Bria knew that no matter what she spoke, she had accepted the fact that her daughter was no more. All the while, Professor Emsworth stroked her hair softly, offering what comfort she could. She looked up and said, "Go to your rooms, children."
                          
They nodded, realising that Mrs. Parker needed the comfort of her friend. Just as they needed it from each other. Silent, they made their way towards Lily's and Celeste's room. Midway, Bria felt her steps faltering. Lily looked at her.
                          
"Bria?" she asked.
                          
"Sam. We need to tell Sam."
                          
Lily looked at Celeste.
                          
"She is right. He should know." Celeste said.
                          
"I agree...but can we wait? I...we need some time."
                          
Bria hugged her friend at that moment and felt Celeste's arms around her own. The three friends stood in the hallway, sharing their grief.
                          
Ian stood with his buddy Sam, who for the past thirty minutes had been trying to communicate (unsuccessfully) with his girlfriend. The problem was that he couldn't find her anywhere. Nor could he find any friend of hers. Which was weird, Ian thought. Ginger would never miss a class if she had the chance and this day she had missed two. What had stopped her? The thought was slightly unsettling.
                          
"Samuel?" Ian would've recognised that voice anywhere. What he couldn't place was the sadness with which it had been tinged. He turned around and Ginger stood there, her eyes looking solely at his friend. There was something in her eyes that made him want to take her in his arms and tell her that everything would be alright. But he held his urge to himself and looked at Sam who looked confused but nevertheless managed to say, "Lillian? Hey. What...are you okay?"
                          
The girl simply shook her head and said, "Come with me. There's something you need to know."
                          
Sam looked at him; all he could do was shrug. He turned to Ginger and asked her, "Do you mind if I accompany him?"
                          
She looked at him and he resisted the urge once again.
                          
"No, it's...actually you should come with him."
                          
Ian didn't know what to make of it. She turned around and they followed her. She led them to her room. Ian wanted to look around but his gaze fell on the two girls first and it stayed there. They looked as torn as Ginger did and he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of foreboding. Celeste stood up and Ian would never forget the words that she uttered next.
                          
"Sam. Tara...Tara has left us. She...her body rejected the change." After a moment she said, "She died today."
                          
Ian looked at his friend, not knowing how he would take the news. As for himself, he felt sad for him and Ginger but he didn't know Tara personally; though he did know that she had been a sweet girl. Sam looked at Celeste in disbelief, his mouth opened but he spoke no words. He looked from Celeste to Bria and then to Ginger. Before he could comprehend what to do, his friend walked out from the room.
                          
"Go after him." Ginger said. He didn't need to be told twice.
                          
He left the room as quick as he could, but Sam was nowhere in sight.
                          
"Shit!" he mumbled to himself. He had forgotten that Sam could be really fast when he needed to be. After a while, he spied Karen who looked somewhat bewildered.
                          
"Have you seen Sam?" he asked her.
                          
"I...yeah. He just went towards the stairs." She said in a confused voice.