She needed to step away for a few minutes. She was too deep in all this. She couldn't see things objectively anymore.

George always kept the gardens so beautiful. Especially now, when things were just beginning to bloom, it looked extraordinary. The willow branches trailed in the water, gently swaying with the current. Water lillies grew on the opposite shore, and a few fish rested in the shade of the bridge a few meters away.

Susanne sat on one of the stones which jutted out of the water. Sometimes, of she concentrated right, she could see... she opened her mind, trying to remember what she had felt before, and trace its origin... and she felt something different.

She quickly turned around, and saw her Guardian, partially concealed behind the foliage, also turn around, then run off.

Roger? What was he... had he followed her?

She got up and stormed after him.

Damn anal, overprotective... Susanne was not happy. Very not happy. She understood that he was to look out for her, but she resented being followed like that. As if he didn't trust her, or... she shook her head. I don't care why, she thought, he's got no business following me.

She saw Roger running around the corner of the big house. He was going to the gate house, then. No reason to run. I can think of what to say on the way...

Susanne reached for the doorknob, and jumped back as the door swung quickly open.

"Roger!" she said in surprise.

"Susanne!" He thought she'd still be in the garden...

Susanne quickly regained her composure. "Roger, what the hell were you following me for? Did you think I was going to jump in the lake or something? That I would run away and join Celly? What? I don't need to be watched! I'M NOT A CHILD!!"

It was all Roger could do not to flinch away at Susann'e angry words. No, she wasn't a child. No kidding. "I-- I worry. I just wanted to know where you were going." He bowed his head, his blonde curls falling forward. "I'm sorry."

Susanne stopped her tirade. She had expected to be scolded. She had expected Roger to argue. She had come here anticipating a shouting match.

She stepped back and took a couple running steps, then turned back and looked at Roger. She tilted her head back slightly and narrowed her eyes. "And you needn't follow me. I'm just going to my room. Is that okay with you?"

Roger looked as if she'd slapped him. He mumbled something, his gaze fixed on the ground. They stood in silence for a minute, an hour, an eternity.

Roger looked up to see Susanne running toward the main house.