(Btw, I might be changing the age from 11/6th grade to 12 or 13/7th or 8th grade, just because I feel like the romance might flow better if they're a little older. Also. Soooooo sorry, because dude it's been forever since I posted a new chapter)
Your POV
Breakfast came in waves.
The first few of you to wake up ate first, around what turned out to be about 7:00 am, and 10 or 15 minutes later, a couple more people woke up, and eventually migrated towards the kitchen.
By the time everyone had eaten, one thing was evident.
There was no more food.
You had to find your other friends today, because there wouldn't be food for tomorrow.
11:08 am.
It seemed like 3:00 pm couldn't come fast enough. You wanted to do something. To know whether or not your plan would work, and whether you'd make it out of this.
It was a crazy thought, that you might not exist tomorrow. That this might be the last morning you spent on earth.
You looked over at Damien, and realized he was already watching you.
Unsettling.
There was a look of supreme fear on his face. Fear, and maybe a trace or sorrow. Guilt?
You marched over to him, and plopped down next to him.
"So. What did you do?"
You asked. He flinched.
"W-what?"
"You look mega extremely guilty. What's up?"
Damien's POV
You seemed to being staring straight into his soul.
Oh good god she knows the dream is over she's gonna stab me oh no oh no oh no-
But that wasn't what he said.
"Uhm?"
He choked out. Your eyebrows raised.
"That isn't an answer."
Okay okay okay focus focus please good lord excuse excuse excuse uhhhhhhh okay ummmm what do I say now how do people talk to girls this is fucking impossible
"I....guess...it's becauseeeeee...."
He tried. Your eyebrows just continued their voyage up your face.
"I never apologized. For being a total dick."
He blurted. You looked less suspicious, but still extremely surprised.
"Oh. Wait, really?"
He nodded frantically.
"Yes. Yeah. Uh, I was a total dick. Very sorry."
You continued to look confused.
"But... why did you in the first place? Did I do something wrong, or.....?"
Well now he felt like a piece of shit.
It wasn't your fault. It was me being an idiot. I'm so sorry. Oh my god, this is all my fault.
"No! No, it was me being a stupid idiot and I-just-I.......I'm really, really sorry."
He said frantically.
You know, if you were really sorry, you wouldn't be doing this to her all over again.
"But why?"
You repeated.
Because I was selfish. Because I hated your stupid friends and I didn't want to share you. Because I didn't want to share your attention. Because I couldn't get over the fact that you had other friends. Because I was in love with you, and couldn't handle the fact that I didn't have your undivided attention. Because I am and absolute piece of shit.
"I don't know."
You gave him a pondering look.
"Alright. Well, okay. J-just, if you ever...need to talk....I'm here."
You said slowly. He nodded.
"Thanks."
You got up, and walked over to the surly kid in the striped shirt, and began talking about something or other.
He wished that he could actually talk to you about what was on his mind, but most of it was about how he was about to get you almost definitely killed.
And the rest was about how much he hated your new friends too, and he couldn't see that going over well with you.
It was like when parents say that they're always available to talk, but a lot of what you have to talk about is stuff they would punish you for, or completely dismiss.
Well, and there was still that teeeeeny tiny part of him that had a massive crush on you, that he couldn't quite get to shut up, and was making him more and more guilty.
She has new friends now. She doesn't need you anymore, and you need to move on.
If only it was that easy.
Your POV
The time dragged.
Minutes felt like hours, and hours felt like days.
You wanted to feel like you were doing something, or that you were getting things done.
But really, all you could do was wait.
Waiting is excruciating. But in this case, the added possibility of mortality made it even more painful.
Is Mom okay?
Is she even alive?
And if she is....can I even save her?
What if I get my friends killed in the process, and still can't save her?
You shook your head, and plunked down on the couch.
2:45 pm.
The time was, in fact, passing.
15 minutes until you had to head out.
Even if it seemed like it wasn't.
A distraction was what you really needed, but finding one seemed like an impossible task, until your favorite fidgety suit guy caught your eye.
He needs a distraction even more than I do.
You tried to catch Ted's eye, but it seemed like socializing was the last thing he wanted to do.
He needs somebody to talk to. He might not want to, but it'll be good for him.
You step towards him, and he looked up, startled. You waved awkwardly, and he smiled stiffly.
"Soooooooooo. How's.....stuff?"
You tried.
Oh good lord, now I sound completely incompetent.
Ted sighed.
"I know what you're asking. I'm not stupid."
You bit your lip.
"Oh. Yeah, I mean, I knew-know, you aren't stupid....sorry, this really isn't how I wanted this conversation to go."
He made a noise that sounded half like a giggle and half like a sigh.
"I just.... I don't know how I'm supposed to talk about it, okay? I...... it's still fresh, y'know?"
Ted mumbled, tracing patterns on his arm. You nodded.
"I get it. Having somebody you care about betray you.... it really sucks."
You felt a shiver go up your spine. The kind of 'somebody's watching me' feeling.
He smiled grimly.
"I should've seen it coming, to be honest. I was stupid to keep trusting him, even after I knew what he was like."
He muttered.
Well that sentence seems oddly familiar. I recall saying something similar to Theresa right before I got expelled.
"Hey. This is a no victim-blaming house. You went through something traumatizing, Ted. That is in no way your fault. Who sees something like that coming? I-"
"A smart perso-"
"And before you answer, the correct answer is nobody. That's who. You are a good person Ted. One who sees the best in everyone. That is a gift. You also have a shitty brother, which is less of a gift. You are a wonderful person, and anyone who can't see that doesn't deserve you. You hear me?"
Ted stared at you. You extended your arms.
"Hug?"
You offered. He grinned, and hugged you.
"Listen, if you ever need anything, I've got you."
You mumbled.
He was silent.
"Ted?"
He pulled away.
"You need to get going."
He muttered.
You turned to look at the clock.
3:09.
If you wanted to get there on time, he was right.
"We'll talk later, okay?"
Ted shrugged, not looking at you.
"Whatever."