:: Attempt 16.5 | As You Go ::

"Bittersweet the dreams we made;
We're so young, we thought that this could never end.
Don't be afraid, never stop believing,
You'll find a new beginning now.

"The world I know can hate you, the world I know can break you;
But as you go remember, I'm by your side.
The love within you can heal these tears that burn,
And through it all remember, I'm by your side."
- "As You Go" by RED

x + x

He stands in the middle of a river of blood. It's all around him, rushing back and forth between his childlike legs, burying them up to the knees in crimson, coating the hems of her dress, her hands, everything about her.

Her eyes look at him, reflecting his expression of pure, unrestrained horror. They shine with yet unshed tears, still utterly clear despite the splatter of blood upon her temple, trickling down towards those pools of azure.

A smile curls her lips even as he takes a step back, disturbing the flow of the current all around them. He shakes his head as he puts out his slim arms in a futile attempt to ward her away.

He wants to be anywhere, someplace else but here. Away from her, from this confusion, hurt, betrayal; away from this deceiving creature in the guise of his best friend.

"Stay back, you monster!"

She falters, a slight sheen in her eyes as she blinks rapidly, her fingers fidgeting with the crimson band around her wrist. "D-don't be like this, S—"

He shakes his head wildly once again, his strawberry-blond locks whipping against his face. "Don't call me that! Don't taint my name with your voice, you murderer!"

I look up as the incessant ringing of the bell chimes to a stop, several of the class standing up as soon as it ends. Pseudo-sensei has long since departed with a final sneer, sliding the door in the faces of the first ones out of their respective seats.

With a resigned sigh, I tug my headphones over my ears, swiping a finger across the surface of my phone in order to switch the song playing.

"Full throttle, full speed ahead
And I'd move the earth around to save you;
And my head would have a heart attack,
Without you, without you—"

"Oh, Aoi, you've been dismissed already?" Tsubaki's voice cuts through the music, and I glance up, a small smile automatically claiming my lips. "How did the test go for you? I'm pretty sure I flunked Math.."

A laugh escapes my lips as I pause my playlist, shrugging nonchalantly. We start along the hall, weaving through the crowd in order to find a somewhat silent spot. "You're not alone in thinking that, Tsubaki. I'm also sure I made a mistake somewhere in all those problems.."

She smiles, her gaze shifting towards someone standing behind me. Within a fraction of a second, I spy several emotions flitting through her gaze: surprise, inquisitiveness, realization, suspicion, before it reverts back to guarded indifference. "Aoi, do you know them?"

I turn around, to be met by the sight of the blond Nakamura. Another, petite girl with green hair which is tied up in pigtails stands just behind her, offering a slight smile. I recognize her from the failed shopping trip some time ago, the girl with the blue-haired boy. The mischievous blonde grins, casually tapping my shoulder. "You aren't getting away, Aoi-chan."

I sigh heavily, "What is it about now, Nakamura?"

"You haven't answered my question about who your boyfriend is!" She quips as her companion shifts closer towards us.

"She has a boyfriend?" The girl directs her question towards the still wickedly grinning Nakamura, who nods, before she smiles brightly at us. "Ah, I'm Kayano Kaede! Nice to meet you!"

There's something about her that seems... off. I discreetly scan her appearance from head to toe, noting the guarded look to her eyes.

She's not what she seems.

As I finish my scrutiny of the green-haired girl, I force a smile, glancing at Tsubaki out of the corner of my eye in a vague signal for help. She merely smiles politely at the two.

"I'm Fujimoto Tsubaki," she says quietly, nodding briefly in recognition of Kayano's introduction. "I'm Aoi's best friend."

Nakamura leans a bit closer, as though assessing the brunette. "You're not in Class E.." She says in contemplation. "So you're from the main building?"

Tsubaki nods, keeping up with my strides as she replies, "Yes, I'm in Class 3-C. Aoi and I transferred here at the same time."

The blonde hums, her blue eyes lighting up as she eyes a free spot near the foot of the Class E mountain. "Bingo!" She tugs at my hand, dragging me along as Kayano and Tsubaki follow closely at our heels. "Come on, before anyone snatches up this spot!"

I heave another sigh as I take a seat, removing my headphones and placing them around my neck instead. Tsubaki follows suit, resting her back against the tree's bark. Nakamura and Kayano seat across from us, both taking out a couple of packages—snacks, perhaps.

"So, who's—"

"Sū-nen tatte mo kage wa kienai,
Kanjō bakari ga tsunotte iku.
Uzukumatte hitori egaite ita."

I mutter a curse, glancing down at the screen. With a frustrated huff, I press the 'Accept Call' option, pressing it up against my ear.

"Hello again, Eren." I say flatly, much to the exaggeratedly disappointed sigh on the other end.

"Aoi, ya' already know my name—"

With a careful look to my 'companions', I immediately switch languages to English, reveling in the way my accent seems to still stick to me in spite of being away from London for so long.

"I am on a mission, and therefore your argument is invalid."

He suddenly chuckles, much to my confusion. "Alright, 'Venatrix'. Still, wouldn't hurt to call me by my name sometime, y'know?"

I twist a lock of my hair around a finger as Tsubaki converses with the Class E duo, shifting my phone closer. "I know that, 'Miles'."

"Just thought I'd remind ya', for one thing."

I sigh, looking up at the sky. At this time, this idiot sounds so damn far away.

It isn't that I'm so used to his company—to all of the cheery grins, the somewhat teasing remarks, the way he'd grin and say he has my back in a fight or on a mission. It's more of—

"Thinking about me, aren't ya'?" He pipes up, and I immediately stiffen, a flush dusting my cheeks. "No need ta' deny anythin',  Aoi."

"I-I wasn't—I don't—I'm not—" he cuts me off with his obnoxious laughter, to be joined with rather higher-pitched snickering.

"Basil, is there anyone else with you there?"

He pauses, stunned silence coming from his end. "Y-ya' said m—"

Another voice interrupts him, this one undoubtedly female. "Baz, quit your stammering. It ain't attractive."

"O-oi! Bel, give me back my phone, dammit!"

I laugh, covering my mouth behind my free hand as I do so. "So even the cocky Eren L. Basil has a weakness, huh?"

"That's—that's not—" he groans, and I vaguely register some more snickering from the so-called 'Bel' on the other end of the line, "she's my little sister, Aoi! 'Course I'm supposed ta'—"

"Oh, so her boyfriend's American?"

I freeze, glancing back at Nakamura and the others. She grins at me, waving a hand flippantly: 'Go on'.

I scowl. The siblings are still bickering on the other end of the line.

"'Miles', I have to—"

"Whose boyfriend is American?" A voice asks, and I look up to see purple eyes which are fringed with strawberry blond hair.

"Gakushu.."

-To be continued.

[Word Count: 1,299. Originally written June 1st, 2016. Edited April 4th, 2017.]