Chapter Theme Music: Lake Bresha ~ FFXIII OST98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9plD0m3HLD
<08/04/2011 - 09:12 | Saffrin Middle School (GA Studies), Austell, GA, USA>
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzdzcvWcSC
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For a serene moment, I just stood leaning on the teacher's desk with my face towards the classmates whom I've been ignoring.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIti4HHE2r
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"So these are the people you've been hanging out with in my absence?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyXfRU3c2k
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPzPrt4eMJ
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"You sound like a masochist."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQof1TukJh
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnnRZwoD07
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"Never mind. Let me ask you this. Where is Maddison right now?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmscklKTbs1
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhOOWtVa1y
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfyAG8zoOm
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfVFkh2t2Y
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e1tbr7yEg
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Laura tsked her tongue a few times while studying me. "He's finally gone crazy."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd1ZWNPH3X
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmKMGf2B6H
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32F61gN46f
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSu5iMP1lR
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7K2dIdGnc1
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kXC6bDpai
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdcWR5fCFZ
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"Okay, calm down."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlj0MB6B7F
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCIQr5CsAU
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHebcv7Qrn
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigORae72LI
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppOZPqRHLh
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"...Interesting," Lumina observed. "They respect you more for saying something like that."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0oU147xnW
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Was that really the case? I wouldn't have guessed it myself, but if Lumina is so sure, I have to believe it.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemt6A9Skmn
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"... 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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNX4R9rPXn
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObfnWERqi0
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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!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvbYPWBle8
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IoX3fdOwW
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"Isn't he always weird?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5OILQWaFp
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"Hey! Telepathy's our thing!" As Lumina shouted at Banarus for her comment, I rubbed my arm to try and catch up.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNhogOgAba
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29UaOqNwqc
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"So, who's the new girlfriend?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ftqk7ThwC
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BmmeMjtTe
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"I got to hand it to Laura. She read you like a two-page picture book made with glass pages."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMCyJx69HF
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9iblQ8Ugy
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"Hah!" Banarus barked and pointed. "I knew it!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7meByEARjy
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"She totally did not know it."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeesWROXEUS
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"Can everyone just stop talking to me at once?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7p0yR8xFx
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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!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE9oSZdYmX
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Without a dull moment, Banarus added on with my humiliation. "Awh! That's so cute! Reed, you finally found someone!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bbOprNMes
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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!98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WJfnGAHPo
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"And her name's Lumina?" Laura grinned as she started to eat my nervousness up like pancakes. Even Lumina was spooked.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqW1OtqN3h
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"Aaaagh! Laura has telepathy!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuivw9w5H9
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But that's not possible! "The hell? How could she know that? Bullshit. Maddison must have talked after all."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNibmflXVk
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"That's actually really bad if it's true."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpybzeEUkm
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"Come on! You wrote her name down right there on your eraser! Big surprise for us all."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB00j6hvF4v
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIlTjwkitf
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"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!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMhh7KBRg3
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"Shut up."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURO7qh4KH2
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"At least it's a step up from mindlessly drawing dicks everywhere."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym3q8hDSuN
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"Look, I didn't remember writing your name on that eraser until just now."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fE5YMO3t6
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsllpQ11Zi
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9WdYKzex3
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"Good luck getting yourself out of their suspicions now."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP5xHBoaIe
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJCs3656bE
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After a short eruption of gasps around me, everyone started asking rapid-fire questions, Laura going first. "Tell us more about her!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKayapdC6Wz
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Then Zero took her turn. "Does she go to the same school?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHvGMvxuIJ
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Then Kate. "How old is she?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmepLbLtIj
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Then Banarus. "Where is she from? What does she look like?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSye2tRzQD
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlsthU3PZX
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"Well, it was nice knowing you Reed... Good luck out there."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KqmFxKT6J
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"Wait, what?! You're just going to leave me to these wolves?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42zkx7oj1k
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5wN7LnGkz
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE9e5zsFjC
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"Then shut this down before it gets any bigger!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeySdAbiho
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBy3wpzOiv
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJqaTxPwCz
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"I said get them less interested Reed!" Lumina didn't sound as angry as she did flustered, rubbing her fingers to her hair.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1XhxUhwqo
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHu4lHLO5A
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I should have expected the reactions that would come of my decision. Banarus was the first one disappointed. "Whaaat?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P6MagByrD
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"Now that's just plain cold." Though she failed, Laura tried to make me feel guilty about the secrets.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL4NDlZcpj
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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?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl3eiFOvX3
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLDKvVtnMd
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqpikx8f5M
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"Awh, come on!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL7NVu10WR
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I guess Banarus is a nosey one...98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JF9x1VzyL
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2QOKgkYge
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"Still, it's cool that you found someone." Kate is simply happy for me, making her stance on this so simple.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw2nC5bQy4
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojbmz1dnEc
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"I see," Banarus replied unconvinced. "Is Lumina actually a boy?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKhhQe2LQa
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgSm7tYwP5
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"Okay, now that's just rude."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiUG4cGDKr
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT70t4UT3cI
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I quickly stood up, pressing my hands against my desk and facing forward to say it loudly to her face. "I'm not gay!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS94h9G1WZ
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"Glad to hear it Reed. Now pipe down and get back to work!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv1SJ0jaVE
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY5bpT4HNa
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"Can I see a picture of her?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNMrAAwvRV
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgy2ti16Qu
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HTgCAgET7
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After trying not to laugh, Zero added to Banarus's fuel. "Is she a secret agent Reed?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6jXhsieHc
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqBoj2EMGp
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"I see. Don't tell them by almost telling them... Reverse psychology works like a charm."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL32gafRyX
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"Is she a spy?!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJqpXDL7ox
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT27SkMCE7
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfmnbPVJXK
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnI0JZ87hx
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"That, and how strong she is. Tell us Reed. Is Lumina actually taller than you?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JVlKaNxf3
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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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2drhTGH8p
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"Careful Reed."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBM9dkzDLr
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"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!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXPmMFMMwR
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikR5RLldt6
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZygFxXefQf
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"Nice underexaggeration."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmwZ9bClp0
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmRMsq0Z7o
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"She's older?" Zeros curiosity picked back up where she left it earlier, and Banarus was in disbelief to follow.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRMMWcaSo8
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"No way. You're making crap up now."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eR88Dd6SU
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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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuo1TIGbY5
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"Well," Laura led on, "it's rare!"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLnEBuxDyf
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Banarus agreed instantly, allowing her point to be elaborated. "Yeah. In these situations, the guy is usually older than the girl."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWevznSM2Ha
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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?98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG1ytEPdHS
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"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?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgOiCey6xn
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylEFm9aK4P
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx3U5CKbUr
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UZ7SM8A2d
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"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."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX1UhKWf3r
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"I'll look into it."98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCAa3wUZca
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcdGlAdOA3
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"Really? You've been practicing this for how long now?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHriz8U5DSi
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"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.98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p1uEXYjl6
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"I suppose you're right. We do have a lot of catching up to do. But will the weather allow us to?"98Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuhnns22Wd
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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!"
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