FALLOUT [Index One - Part Two]

Chapter Three

Elle stared at her for a second. "What the fuck," she finally said, making Arinoi smile. She said it again, partially in awe and partially to make her laugh. "What the fuck."

Arinoi shrugged and kept walking. 

"Is this a- a Hallmark movie now?" Elle asked incredulously. 

"A what?" Arinoi glanced back at her.

"You don't know what Hallmark movies are?"

"...No?"

Elle laughed. "Oh, honey," she smirked, "I don't know if I pity you or envy you."

After school, Elle had dragged Arinoi to her house, forcing her through badly-written, casted, and acted holiday movies until the girl was throwing popcorn at the screen.

The love interest reentered and Arinoi hissed, grabbing a handful of kernels and chucking them at the TV. "What about consent, you asshole," she yelled angrily, fuming as the credits rolled. 

Elle laughed. "I'm guessing you don't like them?"

"This is a genre?" she asked, spinning to Elle. "This- People enjoy this?" Elle nodded. "People survive off of this?"

"I have no clue whether you're talking about people who're fans or, like, the directors, but yes."

"Both!" Arinoi screeched, making Elle laugh and making the cat run out of the room in terror.

A small silence fell between them.

"What are you gonna do?" Elle finally asked, quiet.

"...About?"

"Being queen?"

She shrugged. "I don't really know. Take it in stride, I guess."

"That's what you always do."

She shrugged again, this time with a small, sad smile. "Bad habit?"

Elle rested her hand on Arinoi's shoulder. "You know I'm here for you if you ever need help, right?"

"...Thank you," she said after some hesitation. "...I...thanks."

She pulled her into a hug. "Of course."

They stayed like that for a second, Elle telling herself it was because she was being comforting and Arinoi coming up with the excuse of it being cold.

"Elle?"

"Hmm?"

"Um..." She swallowed. "I want to show you something."

"Okay?"

Arinoi gripped her tighter and suddenly there was a quick, dropping sensation in her stomach, and she felt dizzy.

The two were then unceremoniously dropped into one of the hallways in the castle of Index Four.

Arinoi stood up, helping Elle to her feet before brushing herself off and starting to walk. She led her to Nadia's room, silently pushing open the door.

The pair walked inside, light filtering in from the closed windows, dust already settled around the late princess' belongings. Arinoi reached for the sparkling crown - the one thing in the room not covered in some layer of dust. She studied it for a second. "You know how bad I am at asking for help," she started quietly. "But I...don't think I can do this alone. And that scares me."

"Hey." Elle rested her hand on Arinoi's shoulder, pulling her attention away. "I'm here. Tell me what you need, and I'll do it."

Arinoi opened her mouth, but unable to say anything. Finally, she spoke. "Thank you."

She pulled her into a hug. "Of course."