Another Fairy Tale /Ateez

Chapter 5 - Cause of death: Darts

"So, what did I do again?", she asked innocently making Mr. Go raise an eyebrow. 

"Hmm, I don't know, maybe not doing your homework, sleeping in my class or probably failing all your subjects. Do you want me to tell you more than just the past two hours?" 

"Dang, didn't know teachers could use sarcasm.", Rory whispered but stopped as soon as Mr. Go gave her his 'I'm done with everything' look. "And I'm not failing ALL my classes. In Art I'm one of the best students." 

"Look, Aurora I-"

"Rory." 

"Look, Rory.", Mr. Go said and his face softened. Uh oh, Rory thought. Now he's getting sentimental. "I know you're having a hard time. But I'd like to see you at least trying and not throwing your life away." 

Rory couldn't help but remain silent at that. She stared at her teacher who wasn't able to bear meeting her eyes. Now she could see it. People like Danbi or Jongho had always tried their best in class. Rory slowly figured, Mr. Go thought it would have been better for them to survive. 

Rory tried to not let the tears in her eyes show when she put on her best fake smile. "I promise I'll try my best. Now, if you excuse me Mr. Go, I have to go to Chemistry." 

With these words Rory turned around in a flash and went away. As soon as she had left the room her feet started to run. Again, she tasted her salty tears but she didn't care. For a second she thought she saw Hongjoong standing in the hallway but when she looked at the person again, he was gone. 

Completely distracted by her thoughts Rory didn't notice the person turning around the corner and would have almost bumped into it. 

"Rory!", Changbin exclaimed amused as he stopped her, preventing a disaster. But as soon as his eyes fell onto the tears streaming down her face his smile fell. He desperately wanted to help her, hug her but he wasn't sure if she'd let him go that far. The past few months Rory hadn't cried in front of him. "Can I, uhm-" 

Before he could even finish his question Rory had wrapped her arms around him and cried into his shirt. Changbin didn't care about that, instead he put his arms around Rory and hugged her tightly. Startled he realized, how thin she had gotten and scolded himself for not having paid enough attention. 

The two of them stood there for a few minutes and Changbin softly pulled Rory to a corner, knowing the next lesson would end soon and she didn't like people. Rory had calmed down a bit but still hugged her best friend tightly. The last time they had hugged each other like that, was just before their trip. 

Changbin had hugged her before she could enter the bus and ordered her to bring him something. 

Of course Rory had actually bought something for him but the hat was probably now a thousand feet down in the sea. 

"If this is about Tess-", Changbin started. "I heard some rumours about you and Mark told me it was Tess. He said I should probably check on you and- wait a second. Did Tess hurt you?" 

Changbin softly grabbed Rory's arm and now she could see it too. A small wound was on her arm and a bit of blood came out of it. Confused Rory stared at it and shook her head. Slowly she said: "No, that was not Tess." 

"Then what happened? Did you- did you-" 

"No!", Rory exclaimed as soon as she realized what Changbin had meant. The worry in his face almost killed Rory but she couldn't remember what hurt her. The only thing that hurt her arm was the dart of Wooyoung in her dream. Could it be? No, that's not possible. Rory turned to Changbin again who still didn't believe her. "I swear to god I did not hurt myself. Please, trust me." 

"I do, Rory.", Changbin whispered. "So you don't know how that happened?" 

"No, I have no idea." 

"Does it hurt?" 

"No. I'm fine.", Rory lied. Changbin raised a brow in disbelief. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" 

"Yes. Our usual place?", Rory asked with a hopeful smile. It had been months since she last went there. Changbin immediately started to grin as well and took her hand. 

"Of course.", he said and pulled Rory with him not caring about their classes. 

Half an hour later both friends reached their destination and when Rory looked up to it, she smiled for real. The tree house had been created a few years ago. Together with their father, Rory and Chan had worked days. It was not that big, but a few chairs and a table were able to fit.

Excited Rory climbed up the ladder and sat down on her favourite chair. Meanwhile Changbin put away his bag, definitely not getting ready to do homework just like they usually did. This time he wanted to spend as much time as possible with Rory and find a way to cheer her up. 

The two friends sat in silence while Rory stared at the small wound. Could it be possible, that she got hurt in her dream? That's nonsense, right? Then her gaze fell onto Changbin who was staring at the trees, searching for birds making Rory smile. One time, in winter, a cat had searched shelter in the tree house. Changbin had taken care of it but since his mother was allergic to cats, Minho adopted it. 

"The past few nights-", Rory started making Changbin turn to her immediately. She knew he had given her the time to think and didn't pressure her to talk. "I had weird dreams." 

Slowly Rory explained her dreams to him and at the mention of his past friends, Changbin flinched. Rory purposely left out the part with the dart, assuming Changbin wold think she was crazy. 

"Do you think there's a reason?", Rory asked quietly after Changbin hadn't answered for a while. 

"For what?" 

"Me being the only survivor.", Rory said and didn't dare to look into Changbin's eyes. "Or that I see the boys now in my dreams. I have never seen them before." 

"Probably.", Changbin answered not really sure what to say. "But I can guarantee you that you're not crazy." 

"Thanks. You're probably the only one who thinks like that." 

"Rory, that's not true and you know that." 

"Do I? Do you?", Rory asked her voice trembling. Slowly Changbin reached out and took her hand, drawing figures on the back of it just like he always did to calm her down. "I see their looks every day. Most of them pity me. But some of them wish it would be another person walking down the hallway and not the crazy girl who somehow got lucky she survived." 

"Don't let them make you feel bad for getting to live."

"It's easier said than done, Binnie.", Rory said and Changbin couldn't help but smile sadly at his nickname. Oh how did he miss being called that. 

"You have me and the other boys. You are not alone, Rory. There are people who will love you with your flaws and nightmares and fears. And these people will do everything in order for you to be happy again." 

"Promise me something.", Rory whispered her eyes watering at his words. This time she didn't wipe her tears away. Instead she let them flow. Changbin drew another figure on the back of her hand. "Whatever happens, please be by my side." 

"Promise." 

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