Chapter Theme Music: Lake Bresha ~ FFXIII OST121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8ecKuRbAq
<08/04/2011 - 09:12 | Saffrin Middle School (GA Studies), Austell, GA, USA>
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TcgB2Ami4
My entry back into the classroom was barely noticed, and I returned the bathroom pass without hearing a word about how long I've been gone. I didn't want to think about all the homework that was slowly piling up in front of me, but I had no choice but to put it off until later. I took note again of the schedule I glanced at as a reminder of what would come next.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr9Qu0aI2a
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2DlgisgLY
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhoCHCqZvh
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOySAh3jkHG
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmAr0HNMIF
For a serene moment, I just stood leaning on the teacher's desk with my face towards the classmates whom I've been ignoring.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sari6yJvm
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBB26kFrTx4
"So these are the people you've been hanging out with in my absence?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp0XOc2QLK
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU2xI21b0p
Having Lumina back reminded me about all the principles of our shared connection, how she could see everything through my eyes, even where my vision focused most. I tried as quickly as I could to get used to it again, so that she can't surprise me later. "Are you kidding? Those people were nowhere to be found over the summer. They didn't want to talk to me. They've been only acquaintances for as long as I can remember... But maybe I can work some new magic on them." I wasn't too sure if I wanted to put in any effort in trying to keep up with these girls, but not all of them were so bad. I never called Laura or Zero for example when I needed help, because I never had their phone numbers to begin with. As for the others, if they continue to ignore me, I'll have to try even harder.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv9yb9P37F
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriYwIe2ACT
"You sound like a masochist."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVENUtpTldo
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppfrS5PBU0
"What is that?" I waited for her clarification as I made my way back to my seat, sitting in wait as I wasn't ready to talk to any of them just yet. With a pencil and eraser in hand, maybe I can pretend to work.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjWENSnhpE
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwmv4fHyDs
"Never mind. Let me ask you this. Where is Maddison right now?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwofnEp4krx
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFRjuJlFeO
I guess I'll have to look up what a masochist is on my own. As for Maddison, "Should I even care? I'm sure she'd want it that way. I haven't been nice to her even after learning she has amnesia, and I don't feel bad about it one bit. She's off somewhere, not caring about things as usual."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9yMqqBSpl
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdyHldAjQ4
For the faintest moment, Lumina boosted the connection using her passive ability, allowing me to see through her eyes as she showed me her place and her arms in front. "Well she's missing out. She might think she's someone's cream of the crop, but she doesn't have all this!" Lumina waved and pointed her arms and eyes down to her own body, bobbing to gesture showing off her entire package.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjmYPvdgpo
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP8RYyTWS6
Delayed by only a half-second from denial, I couldn't contain my laughter at such quirks. I vocalized my excitement enough for everyone to hear, and found it so absurd how proud Lumina was to be herself instead of someone else.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd6wdfPbUQ
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh08A4aWH28
"What happened?" Banarus, curious only to what set me off tried not to laugh in sympathy for how lost I was in myself. I wasn't able to answer her yet, and her curiosity spread to everybody else at the table.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT9dykLyeA
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvXmE7faPw
Laura tsked her tongue a few times while studying me. "He's finally gone crazy."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARoOgo88oE
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dJfluRGUL
Just when I thought I would recover, Laura's comment only made it worse. I had to hold my chest and take deeper breaths to not fall out of my own seat, though at least I became quieter in volume.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AaexlQ2Gd
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBa71i5j7a
"Serious though. You are okay, aren't you?" The question came from Lumina, a voice I would never mistake for anybody else. Her concern, though mild, calmed me down faster.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjK3Bx9R9w
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJChvC0eAZi
"Don't worry about me. I was just thinking something over again from earlier." I only addressed the humans, certain Lumina would hear my separate answer from within.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeic2Q3qgB
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixyOxrKzFF
"Smooth." I knew she was unimpressed only by my lack of emotional control in front of others, but I could care less given what I've been through.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XeE9xZylb
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7EHVUDLMl
"So, you're not being crazy?" Laura would have been asking as a joke in any other context, but she was the only one not laughing at my cringiness.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MxizWxjOr
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kr5D6oVGq
Oh well, might as well go all in from this moment forward. "Maybe I am crazy Laura!" I Gothicized my own voice to sound insane on purpose, hoping for a frightened or panicked reaction from Laura. "Maybe I'm crazy and you're too late in realizing it!" I went all out, trying to open my eyes wider while leaning in towards her slowly.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShb1EVLdYj
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yIIMhaIVj
"Okay, calm down."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24iiECGwsC
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ueDRlNFEO
Laura finally admitted defeat by leaning away, making a crackling laughing cry for help. Already was I too much for her, and the moment got the others chuckling at us both. The whole atmosphere could have stayed so heavenly, until Banarus decided not to abandon her stubborn curiosity.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabkWhAtaDi
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSRHmu000q
"You seem way happier all the sudden. I mean, there you were for days just sitting like a zombie, and now this? It's okay Reed. You can tell us if you've gone bonkers."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoOuaHT2mK
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JDizmczFI
In just two seconds, her question killed what mood we had going. Everybody was staring at me now, waiting on an explanation they all deserved. She's quite the problem sometimes, saying what everybody else is thinking. Now I have to convince everybody that I'm okay, even though there is no visible reason for me to make such a swift one-eighty. I of course know the real reason; just thinking about her like this was making me blush a little. None of them can ever know about her though.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrtsqffxxA
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXQzUXgShC
"Girls? I can be a complete weirdo sometimes. I may not make sense to some of you every day. And if that makes me bonkers, so be it. You can call me your everyday wacko!" My confession had Laura and Kate cackling somewhat, but I continued in all seriousness. "Right now, I'm okay if you all think I'm nuts. I for one don't need to change who I am to make any friends. So, if you're still wondering, I'm fine." I let my words end there, waiting for them to ask me something else... The silence trailed, all with easy expressions I've never seen before.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIDYnG9mL0
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcU5Mdav9H
"...Interesting," Lumina observed. "They respect you more for saying something like that."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5muRRZsBu
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNojaYmhzK
Was that really the case? I wouldn't have guessed it myself, but if Lumina is so sure, I have to believe it.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yMyVvUwwE
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rGv6bmbU8
"... Hold on a moment!" Being the first to interrupt achieved bliss, Laura leaned forward on top of her desk, until her face was right up in my own.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeUWYdK12s
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EXmpLKVKm
I instantly tried to lean away from her, being unable to see with all my vision taken up by Laura's curious scowl. "Eh, personal space much?" I shouldn't have underestimated her ability to make me feel uncomfortable, though it was probably payback for what I did to her earlier.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwMATToxIu
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnR1G1OxHV
At last, Laura backed away, resuming her normal sitting bend while crossing her arms in awe. "So that's why you're acting so weird today!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYySYnzvnNA
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNVtmbOUye
I shrugged my arms up with a slight nod of uncertainty to what she was getting at. Oh...? I thought I was always the weird one.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIz4QdxLnQ
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQocLHjiL7s
"Isn't he always weird?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOmsVI0G8c
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp6T59chGy
"Hey! Telepathy's our thing!" As Lumina shouted at Banarus for her comment, I rubbed my arm to try and catch up.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWINlTrt4h
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡargaXYafE7
So that's why I heard two of the same questions at once! I thought it was unnatural for Banarus's voice to echo at all, but it was Lumina asking the same thing at the same time, which explains her latest jesting outburst. Still, I didn't even get the time to explain anything before Laura came out with the news herself, and she made a wide, naughty grin when she addressed me.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPUpEvgQXM
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLuGuzbsOF
"So, who's the new girlfriend?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUPVGRmMcS
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDRfwewSeF
Everyone around me just blurted "What?!" as if they'd never expect to hear that, including Lumina, though her shock was for different reasons. "Eha..." I was too confused to make words right now, shocked that Laura could somehow figure these things out first. I wanted to flat out deny it, but with my feelings for Lumina so fresh on my mind, my tongue just froze up with nothing else to say.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpkrx2jU8g
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TmMhZ9crR
"I got to hand it to Laura. She read you like a two-page picture book made with glass pages."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO5Ivwkf4x
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX4yPIt4vW
"Girlfriend huh? Whatever do you mean?" I couldn't even engage my acting skills. There was too much for me to think about at once, mainly to the mystery of how Laura was so observant. She's much more skilled than me! I can read people really well too, but never who they're crushing on. As such, I probably didn't sound convincing in my own lie.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvTx4OFFiP
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRgrVRlbDv
"Hah!" Banarus barked and pointed. "I knew it!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRtixthOob
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRATlSV3oT
"She totally did not know it."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZomw7tIzJg
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl1NLIleQD
"Can everyone just stop talking to me at once?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DoIJBA2E4
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT5WeTk1ea
Laura ignored my strange request though, penalizing me with the truth I tried so much to hide. "You've been blushing ever since you got back to the classroom, but you were extremely miserable before that. Admit it!" Laura stood up with her legs apart pointing at me like a five year old accusing a villain. "You were having girl trouble weren't you? You got the looove buuug!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTYqugAeXK
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVjT3Ag5pH
Without a dull moment, Banarus added on with my humiliation. "Awh! That's so cute! Reed, you finally found someone!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HroYNYK8P
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCaDiBC9sF
At last I was given a moment to speak, but I had to rethink everything to say, since my facade of being a stone-cold single loner came crashing down in flames. This was the one thing I didn't want to have to deal with. I knew I would be bombarded with questions for details if I were to mention a secret lover to anybody, questions I could never plausibly answer, because of Lumina... No, I don't think I can hide this anymore, at least not the part that I do have a girlfriend. Allowing myself to come out with this truth, I decided to let them win this round, even though I could barely speak it. "Okay... So I might possibly have someone... Maybe..." It's so embarrassing to admit to others!121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRVfRQhjOW
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCZ3yZVElJ
"And her name's Lumina?" Laura grinned as she started to eat my nervousness up like pancakes. Even Lumina was spooked.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsstbJjJ9Ju
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lcgE6Qx0K
"Aaaagh! Laura has telepathy!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBMOJMaPls
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHqoQeZPf5
But that's not possible! "The hell? How could she know that? Bullshit. Maddison must have talked after all."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqq8LgN7Lr
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuQbujiUhr
"That's actually really bad if it's true."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACfbJaCU22
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII2dFG1tqE
"Come on! You wrote her name down right there on your eraser! Big surprise for us all."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvyPBLKgNY
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsLbDJBWUp
If epiphanies could hurt, this one would have cracked open my skin. I could only sit there with a blank and confused stare on my face, slowly coming to the only reality that made any sense. Laura must have read the blue ink on my big eraser when she got in my face earlier, which means she's been teasing me about it this entire time. "Oh."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CMKe4G1rO
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qiHNIFEFE
"Oh?! Oh?! Is that all you can say? You might as well just have your diary sitting wide open for everyone to read, then get surprised how everybody knows your secrets. It's the perfect plan!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C1UgI0wRv
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1GzRzT7DK
"Shut up."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NJtOVpOZD
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69nFbHjYBn
"At least it's a step up from mindlessly drawing dicks everywhere."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS12hJOd0aT
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0TaENCM11
"Look, I didn't remember writing your name on that eraser until just now."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOiC2OXlTG
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C1vNAHkJx
"And the big bold blue ink with a heart stamped between our names didn't ring some kind of bell when you brought it out? She's not telepathic. She's just observant, and you're too oblivious."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2hRIVWYl7
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm4M0sYC4r
Laughing in the background of my attention, Banarus took notice of the same thing the others did, mocking me for my stupidity. "He did! He wrote her name with blue hearts everywhere."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSM3vzN2Y0
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEoliN73H6
"Good luck getting yourself out of their suspicions now."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcbrLjTxGe
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPUnQpwsRs
"Quiet! I got this." I cleared my breath in preparation to explain myself to the eager classmates, but the words I wanted to express didn't come out as they did in my head. "I... So, yeah... Her name is Lumina."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpeiNvUk4e
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfvIuJqnwm
After a short eruption of gasps around me, everyone started asking rapid-fire questions, Laura going first. "Tell us more about her!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dG1HtEqKO
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K4maHCPuT
Then Zero took her turn. "Does she go to the same school?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZy3BrNVYc
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGXXgNm5Uj
Then Kate. "How old is she?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrNbuD8qTt
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XNWPDwCkK
Then Banarus. "Where is she from? What does she look like?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfsvTFIaQE
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDojnzxQGW
Their questions all alarmed me too much to speak, even though the four of them were now excitingly waiting on my answers. I felt my head spinning already, wishing I could just moonwalk on out of here without saying a single word.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0KsvQ2cnC
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRXJ6alt7h
"Well, it was nice knowing you Reed... Good luck out there."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXohB2nG80
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmYG2EruBV
"Wait, what?! You're just going to leave me to these wolves?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ7FchfUkd
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtZIRpz6kZ
"Tell us!" Nothing scared me more than all four of my acquaintances chanting the truth from me while leaning forward toward my face, in every direction all at the same time.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3muP3dvf6
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAPsVPDlyQ
I can't possibly get out of this situation by pretending like it's nothing. "This is really bad! I can't tell them a single thing without it leading them closer to the forbidden truth."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFDVobAhan
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVp8zJvfrc
"Then shut this down before it gets any bigger!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRUNqve72F
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXE8IeYrxN
I felt much calmer now that Lumina was serious about helping me out of the social grave I dug myself. Her advice was easy enough to follow, and I trusted her without resistance. "Uh, right... Let's see..." I have to find out how to deter their interest without giving them too many answers.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1lMc86CVJ
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKWBruRSXa
With the plan in mind, I started first by describing what person she was like in not-too vivid detail. "Well... She's very nice... I mean, she's wonderful! She's the most amazing person I've ever known. And on top of that, she's absolutely beautiful. Long dark brown hair, bright blue eyes..." I wound up getting lost in intrinsic thoughts about her, until I developed that dreamy face anyone would recognize.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SjPdzJTtM
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIybwZtbXv
"I said get them less interested Reed!" Lumina didn't sound as angry as she did flustered, rubbing her fingers to her hair.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVDrnyi1LU
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JJzxDCoCd
"Right, sorry." I only now realized how easy it was for me to get lost in her elegance, the elegance of Lumina. I think somehow, I'm even more in love with her now than I was before. "And she doesn't go to this school. Sorry, but that's all I'm able to tell you."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6peIT2kRy
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjuaBj0GSB
I should have expected the reactions that would come of my decision. Banarus was the first one disappointed. "Whaaat?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE3E1ILoJX
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVOnrliyqF
"Now that's just plain cold." Though she failed, Laura tried to make me feel guilty about the secrets.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9z1cKLM0z
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQakuasQWCr
Yet Zero took a more modest approach to satisfy her curiosity, reminding me exactly how observant and intelligent she was. "Is there something wrong Reed? I mean, is there a reason why you don't want us to know more?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nF8kIuRzZ
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuJz28NUXA
I knew I was in trouble with this one, since I wasn't able to answer, but as luck would have it, Laura was much less patient with me. "We promise not to tell... Much!" Meant as a joke that she would never keep my secrets, the others including Zero started laughing at the idea, and it generated this atmosphere of cuteness for the situation.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLA2kCu5xK
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aegmzGEbY
"Yeah, I'll get right on that." I already knew I could never tell anybody here without risking my secret going around the school. I was oddly lucky that it did not end up that way when Maddison became aware of it. It might seem cruel to them, but this is for the best. "Seriously though. There's a lot of complicated elements about our situation. It's more than just a long story, and it's impossible to understand for the most part. She's already asked me to keep her story as private as possible, so I won't say anything that reveals any part of her personal life." There. After all that, everything I just explained is the most natural way to tell them off. If they ask any more, they'll be the nosey ones.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZMHoj6bzR
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FU6wEB3IJ
"Awh, come on!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN8sGb8Zon
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaFPhhJgWY
I guess Banarus is a nosey one...121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrBrndcyJx
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTFZ1yW6wW
"It's fine, I guess." Zero respected this privacy request from me, but she didn't hide how disappointed she was to not hear a juicy story.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRM6kldLPT
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPF95VgXxf
"Still, it's cool that you found someone." Kate is simply happy for me, making her stance on this so simple.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8uwLETw2C
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4oY76P6rU
I still have to make sure they don't go searching for those answers on their own. I don't know how well I can hide Lumina forever. "Look, it's not like I don't want to talk about it, but I know when things like these are better left alone. I can't talk about it with anyone, because it would cause problems if I did."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhluOtwU3Y
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh0G1ho19W
"I see," Banarus replied unconvinced. "Is Lumina actually a boy?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLP1u8JtNB
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dhjjoT4FO
"What?!" I noticed the others wincing from the same question, and I would have spit out anything if I were in the middle of drinking. Even Lumina wasn't thrilled by the direction she took.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg274gFR9A
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI2AdixauH
"Okay, now that's just rude."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaiGi11ibL
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkPlTH4gHp
"I mean, you can tell us if you are gay, you know?" Trying to justify her accusation, Banarus didn't seem the least bit disturbed that we all took offense to it.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc8K5LfBW9
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoRRjI9mkL
I quickly stood up, pressing my hands against my desk and facing forward to say it loudly to her face. "I'm not gay!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy3VHuPaQm
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8xBChIgZv
"Glad to hear it Reed. Now pipe down and get back to work!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nCwKDA6Ne
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIXEk3pEJE
I didn't realize that Ms. Hill started walking right next to me during my own declaration. My outburst followed by her reaction was part of a one-time clown show the entire class started chuckling at, and I sat back down in shame for publicizing that moment. I was already frustrated by the sight of Banarus and Laura laughing their butts off at my humiliation, but I decided to double down on my affirmation to her mistake. "Lumina is obviously a girl's name."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejZmgjuLmL
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfMWCRrfrs
"Can I see a picture of her?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEHGcGS8UK
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexcU8lfI0U
At this point, I was ready to curl into a ball and rest my way through this. Laura just didn't care at all about what I said earlier. Besides, it wasn't physically possible for me to produce a picture of Lumina. "No, you can't. I told you already. Any more disclosed information about her is not something I can give away."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibk361Yh04
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SDhAfbvtF
Banarus put her fingers on her chin with a wide grin, eyes sparkling as they focused entirely on me. "I'm getting a weird secret-agent vibe here."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2YZ9Srcfi
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g4gcFkzrT
After trying not to laugh, Zero added to Banarus's fuel. "Is she a secret agent Reed?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBHVTfMNzl
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JY4pHgrGr
I had to shut my eyes, rubbing my face while I tried to keep my aggravation so silent, so I dumped some more sarcasm into my voice. "Yes. Lumina is a secret agent working for the CIA. And now that you know that, they'll have their eye ball on you."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NgDyrwFcX
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObLKh0pXoP
"I see. Don't tell them by almost telling them... Reverse psychology works like a charm."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio2ivaArrm
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD8zGd46eJ
"Is she a spy?!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cQd3c1OlA
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qDFZKxgkp
Does Banarus really believe Lumina is a secret undercover agent? Now I can't tell if she's the one being sarcastic, but she has that excited fiery look in her eyes, as if she just stumbled onto the story of a century. "You seem to think I'm just going to tell you, but I'm not."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgRUnjuaFT
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbyC2RNpuX
Laura made a mild sigh of fantasizing before addressing me with, "It's okay though. At least she's making you happy. That's all that matters."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmbrCWrDdQ
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxZ16IXV7D
Yeah. I let my goofy grin trail off into the distance, reminding myself how great my mood was, even in this awkward class situation. Lumina does make me happy, and that's why I chose to continue being with her, even knowing that I'll be destroyed all over again for it.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpgF5aE6No
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyU5FeT4rA
"That, and how strong she is. Tell us Reed. Is Lumina actually taller than you?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwlHVzIco3
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIu3hAR57m
Banarus will just go all out to get any tiny detail she can! The girl is quite dedicated... Oh, what's the harm in speaking to an insignificant detail like that? "Okay... I'll freely admit, out of respect for Lumina that she is definitely stronger than me." The joke's on them if they think this detail bothers me one bit. Men, most heathens anyway, make a big fuss if they're physical strengths are lower than their own female partner. I never once cared about something so trivial, especially since I've never been strong or healthy to begin with, and Lumina's body can probably best most vampires. Oddly enough, I feel better this way, that Lumina is the strong one.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwWyF5xksh
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NcoNaWhdN
"Careful Reed."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx1aDJSy2s
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQthsaBrJg
"What?" I noticed what Lumina already had, since my attention shimmered off for a moment. The others were staring at me with the most disbelief. Of all the things to feel skeptical about, that was the one thing?!"What's that look for? She works out a lot more than I do. It's a given!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXprlR0Zy6
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpbtNSmfFA
With another second to think on it, Laura turned to face Banarus while pointing her thumb at me behind her. "He does have noodle arms."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxc2mXl3MT
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhkrgGKZLt
"I'm sitting right here ya know." I wasn't too hurt about the truth. Anyone could see the lack of meat on my bones. With as much food as I cram down these days, even I'm still amazed. "And yes, she is a bit taller than me, but that's also a given, since she's also a few years older than me."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKvXeuEvpf
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2Yj2IjiMx
"Nice underexaggeration."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUCYUqW1zn
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwB09tXgcD
A few years, a few thousand years, whatever. "You don't honestly think I care about that age gap, do you? The only gap between us is intelligence, and as more time passes, that gap will shrink. I already care too much about you to bother my brain about a numbers game of how many birthdays we've celebrated."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pEOSS3vmE
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhljMy2rYWB
"She's older?" Zeros curiosity picked back up where she left it earlier, and Banarus was in disbelief to follow.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClLc5Aly2U
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfFJlA2qBG
"No way. You're making crap up now."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVgxel2UOo
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMXzC836Zu
I see. So age is where they draw the line? "Yes, she is a bit older than me. I don't see why that's so hard to believe."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEDhij1LZY
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXko9lCWcA
"Well," Laura led on, "it's rare!"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLg7pJ4Jfg
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ171haDq73y
Banarus agreed instantly, allowing her point to be elaborated. "Yeah. In these situations, the guy is usually older than the girl."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6iwjwL4r6
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgvL8WywoU
Usually?! I coughed in my thoughts. There's much more to this that would shock the hell out of every person in this room, and they're going to die on the hill of age appropriations? What on Earth do any of these people know about love anyway?121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdzlY9R9Q6
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj4QwPhE4k
"Well Reed, it looks like you didn't think this one through. Should I tell them that our love isn't creepy to us, or should you?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZYJopdVaM
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLeyoAlnWF
"Oh, shut up. We both know that you didn't catch onto that either." "Did any of this indicate that my relationship with her was usual? I don't care if our situation is rare or common. Things are simply the way they are. And I'm happy with who I am right now in this moment."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPR78c5Yg5
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnPRBIg3wk
"Okay, I guess we'll just have to take your word for it." Not that Banarus sounded convinced. Given what I just explained, it was going to be harder for her to poke holes in my story, since I wasn't technically lying about Lumina just yet.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsODZb5iQ6
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRDnrd56So
"They're going to have to take my word for it. Even if they think I'm a nutcase, reality is just too intense for any of these fools to believe. Maddison's reaction was proof of that."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTb0XsyhH7
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDw0vcI7Wd
"Yeah, but Maddison is just one girl. And according to you, she's also a bitch. I guess I'm just pointing out that you shouldn't judge everybody based entirely off the reaction of another. I don't want to get your hopes up, but there might still be some candidates who could believe you among the crowd of this school."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNZZQqLu5c
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXnpHBgDTc
"I'll look into it."121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj31Bem1hGW
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HHAABunrh
"Look into what?" Laura tilted her head at me, confused by all my missing context, and making Lumina and I both realize that I spoke out loud without realizing it.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxafDvoFzn
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQZGict3jX
"Really? You've been practicing this for how long now?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybaSHLTk5a
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y4nLmHj3V
"Don't blame me for having to adjust again. It's been several months!" "Nothing Laura. Don't worry about it." At least I'm getting better at juggling my thoughts and words when having to address the people in front of me and Lumina in the same moment.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULY2wkUojM
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ILCyqRBVL
"I suppose you're right. We do have a lot of catching up to do. But will the weather allow us to?"121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rO5F6FKGA
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4kWnQwbj0
It's a valid question, one most important to me now. With the bells tolling for our next class transition, I knew I was going to have to find a way to actively monitor the temperature outdoors, right now and later on. "We'll spend some more time tonight Lumina, even if we get cut off in the middle of today. If this weather report on my phone is trustworthy, then you can count on my promise!"
121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoCbaHSpuo
