The Bluest Lion

Lovesick

Anna sighed again as she slowly turned her back towards the moon. As if her mind had finally decided to let her rest for the night, her eyelids began to feel heavy.

.....Felix...I...miss...you...

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"Ah-choo!"

Anna stared tiredly at her breakfast as she poked a piece of fruit with her fork. Oddly enough, she didn't have much of an appetite. She looked around the dining hall as the faces of cheerful, well rested students surrounded her.

"Raphael, PLEASE—I implore you to have some level of etiquette and NOT hog the croissants to yourself again!"

Anna looked up as she saw members of Golden Deer house laugh and chat amongst themselves a few tables away. Anna couldn't help but crack a smile at the scene of a distressed Lorenz alongside a ravenous Raphael stuffing croissant sandwiches in his mouth.

"Oh! Good morning, Anna! Is this seat taken or may I join you?"

Anna turned to see the cheerful face of Mercedes staring back at her holding her own tray of food. Anna smiled and shook her head as she motioned towards the seat in front of her.

"Not at all, Mercie—oops, sorry I mean Mercedes!"

Mercedes eye's widened for a moment before she let out a small laugh and sat down.

"Oh my! That's the first time you've called me that! Did Annette's nickname for me stick to you too?"

"A-Ah, I'm so sorry! I just thought it was really cute nickname and—"

Mercedes shook her head before shooting Anna a bright smile. "No need to apologize, dear! I'd love it if you called me Mercie, too. Maybe I'll also call you 'Annie', Hee-hee! I have two 'Annies' now! Aren't I lucky?"

Anna's tension seemed to melt away at the mere sight of Mercedes' warm smile. She looked back towards her plate as they began to make small talk about the day's assignments.

"By the way, have you had trouble sleeping, Anna? I've noticed you seem a lot more...sluggish lately than usual."

Anna stopped to momentarily look at up at Mercedes's worried expression.

"O-Oh. Is it really that noticeable?" Anna began to panic as a flurry of thoughts raced through her mind. She had been trying her best to keep her façade up, but when had she let it slip?! What if the others found out that she was losing night's sleep over Felix, of all—

"Well, a little. I think you have some dark circles beginning to form under your eyes. Take a look." Mercedes handed Anna a small, quaint compact mirror. Sure enough, two small dark shadows had appeared under Anna's eyes—exposing her restless nights for what they were.

Shoot! I can't just keep going on like this! Ugh!

Almost as if noticing Anna's apprehension, Mercedes reached out to touch her hand gently. As Anna looked up, Mercedes smiled warmly.

"Listen, if there's ever anything troubling you, I'd be happy to help you out. Even if it's just to listen. I hope you can trust me."

Anna couldn't help but soften at Mercedes' warm expression as emotions well up in her chest. She grabbed Mercedes hands as she quietly scooted her chair closer to the older girl. After a few moments Anna scanned the nearby area of the dining hall. Sure enough, there were familiar faces around, but everyone seems to be caught up in their own activities to notice.

"Well.... the thing is...."

Mercedes listened patiently as Anna gathered her thoughts, biting her lip.