A familiar sound of laughter rang through your ears, you recognized that it had come from your friend, Childe. Out of your curiosity, you focused on the boy and saw that he was also talking to a shorter girl that stood next to him, joining in on his chorus of laughter with the sound of her own.

Childe is capable of making other friends and actually keeping them?

Perplexed, you decided you'd ask him about who she was later. As of right now, your concern wasn't on your carrot-head of a friend's list of companions, but rather getting to class on time. As you passed them both a coldness suddenly coursed its way through your spine, making you shiver.

Were you being watched?

Hastily, you turned around to check behind you as you began to pick up your pace, but no one was there, aside from a group of girls giggling to each other. Relieved, you slowed back down, sighing heavily.

"Y/N! Where are you going? Get back here!"

As you recognized the voice, you let out a heavy sigh and turned around, your gaze being met by both Childe and the girl he was previously conversing with. With great hesitance, you decided to speak.

"Hello, Childe..."

"I was just talking about you!" Childe explained with a grin as the girl next to him, who was clad in starry attire, looked at you, her gaze clouded with worry.

"Oh, how lovely." you sighed, you were just itching to leave the conversation.

Childe paid absolutely no regard to your restless behavior, and continued.

"This is... well, I forgot her name, but anyways, she was just telling me about what she heard from some other kid! It was so funny, Y/N, I-"

The girl, much to your gratitude, interrupted the taller man with haste to introduce herself.

"Hello, Y/N, my name is Mona. I take astrology with your friend Fischl. Which by the way, she is incredibly worried about you."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Mona." you paused to send her a polite smile. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Rumors... well, rumors about you, to be specific. They were so bizarre and so, so unbelievable that it was quite hilarious."

With a tilt of your head, you stared at the female. "Rumors... about me? What did they say?"

Though your question was directed to your newfound acquaintance, Childe chimed in once more. "Something about you faking your mental breakdown for attention... you haven't noticed everyone staring at you?"

Your eyes widened; Of course, this was to be expected. Whenever something relatively big happens, people start spreading lies for their own satisfaction of seeing the ones involved break.

Did people really have nothing else better to do with their lives?Still though, disappointment swept through you, and you focused your attention on the floor as you gripped your bag, hoping to slip away from this uncomfortable scenario. "Oh, uhm, okay..."

Before you left, however, Mona spoke up. "Y/N, I just want to let you know that I, nor Ajax, believe this silly rumor, and if you ever need to talk, then we're always here for you."

"Thank you, guys." you smiled softly before returning your attention to the floor, walking to your math class.

Unbeknownst to you, Mona quickly shoved Childe in the shoulder blade, craning her neck to send him a sharp glare. "You know, you could've handled that better!"

"Hey, I'm sorry!" childe replied hastily

-

As it turns out, Childe and Mona were right. People had been staring and uttering whispers under their breath as you passed by them in the hallways, in the classrooms, just about anywhere really.

You were lying if you said it didn't bother you in the slightest because quite honestly it did, but you were more concerned about just how quickly the rumor had spread amongst the entire school.

The rumor wasn't even true and you wondered who hated you enough to even have started the stupid rumor.Before your brain could fall down into any more rabbit holes of negative thoughts, you thought of something else entirely as an escape from your overthinking.

' Fischl was absent today... I wonder if she's sick...'

Before you knew it, time had flown and it was already time for your last class, photography.

Dread settled in the center of your stomach as your intrusive worries came back. honestly, you really did not want to go. They were the ones to see it all first, it would be far worse than just hearing rumors in the hallways.

'Maybe I can just... skip photography? Surely they won't mind, right'

With a sigh, you turned around to walk away from the classroom, pursing your lips as you saw hundreds of eyes staring at you as you passed by. Though you knew it wasn't the safest choice, as you were prone to bumping into things here and there you stared at the floor to avoid direct eye contact.

your eyes had soon become glassy, you couldn't stand their staring it made you extremely uncomfortable. All you wanted now was just to disappear

"Where are you going, stupid? Class is that way." a voice called out

You raised your head up to look at who was shouting at you, fearful for the worst. As your watery vision cleared, you recognized the person who stood in front of you.

"Oh, hi, Scaramouche." you struggled to smile, wiping your eyes as you realized that the tears they held had probably become way too noticeable for your liking.

"I'm... not feeling well, so I decided I might as well skip photography class. Usual self-care things, you know?"Scaramouche raised a brow at your words and your behavior.

If your vision was any clearer, you probably could've seen the vague hint of concern in his expression, but his features reverted back to the same ill-tempered manner he always had.

With a heavy sigh and a roll of his eyes, he successfully brushed the rest of his unseen concern off. "Fine, whatever. Where are we going?

"We? No, no, just me. You really don't have to come along... ahah..." you awkwardly rubbed the back of your neck, hopeful that it would calm your ever-growing internal panic.It didn't.

"Just shut up already, and let's go."Pleasantly surprised by his persistence to at least halfway act like a decent friend would, you smiled softly at him allowing him to walk you towards the exit of the school.

you found a bench to rest on after a few minutes of walking. The breeze gently flows through your hair, hitting your face as you sit down with the boy. In this rare moment of serenity, you take a deep breath and close your eyes, trying to convince your body into not letting any further tears form.

you stare at him, astonished by his interruption. "What?"

With a sigh, he hesitantly explained himself. "You always do this, Y/N. Just tell me what's wrong before I change my mind."

Still, your focus was frozen on the boy who sat next to you. You had no idea why, but at the thought of him caring, your heart softened, and you were thrown into a sudden whirlwind of feelings.

As you felt the walls of self-protection you built around the border of your heart begin to crumble, you impulsively reached out to the purple haired boy. Burying your face into his chest as tears fell from your eyes.

Stunned, the boy almost shifted farther back into his seat, but as he stole a glance at you and recognized your watery eyes, he awkwardly returned the hug. His focus solely on you and only you.

You both stayed like that for well more than a few heartbeats, sobbing into his chest as he held you in his embrace, which was something that comforted you more than you ever realized it would.

As the air grew quieter, though you weren't sure how that was possible, you lifted your head to look up at Scaramouche revealing your puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks to him

Slightly embarrassed, the boy averted his gaze as he gently wiped the drying tears off of your plush skin.

Your face flushed with warmth at the contact, but you paid it no further mind, and, with a sniffle, you began your apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to break down like that... that really wasn't very cash money of me, aha..."

Scaramouche shook his head, his eyebrows just ever so slightly furrowed. "It seemed like you needed it. Tell me what's bothering you."

With a further apology still resting upon the tip of your tongue, you gave in because heaven forbid you cause him to regret ever showing you the care you needed from him in such a vulnerable moment."Thanks, Scara, I really appreciate it."

A/N : TYSM FOR REVISING MY CHAPTER AGAIN xHopewishx

Hope ur enjoying the series! Don't forgot to vote guysys!!

I cant WAIT. Till I get to implement something I've been waiting on since like FIREVER if that makes sense ok bye!