Tuesday comes around. School's out because of the attack yesterday, and will be tomorrow too. My parents are worried about me, citing that I'm being unusually quiet, and I explain it's not so much the attack as I'm worried about Jeanette. They don't get the details, aside from her being completely out of contact.
"Sometimes things happen, sweetheart," mom says, coffee cup in one hand and squeezing mine with the other. "And you look back and see all the things you could have done to prevent it. You want to help, and you do everything you can moving forward. But sometimes people don't want help because they think they can handle it on their own. Or maybe they just don't want it."
"But... She's my friend, I love her. I feel so powerless and whenever I think of doing something other than trying to help her, it feels like I'm letting her down." Mom nods, looking contemplative.
"You've called her?" I nod. "Texted her?" Nod. "Tried to find her at school and talk to her?" Again, nod. "Then, sounds to me, short of going to her home and asking to see her, you've done everything you can. So just be ready for when she gets back in contact, and when she does, drop everything and go to her immediately."
"Yeah, thanks mom. I think I'm going to ask Asha if we wanna check out her place, but I'm not hopeful. Far as I can tell, things aren't good there, and she's been staying somewhere else for a while." She puts down the coffee and hugs me tight. It's been a while since I grew taller than her, but I still somehow manage to feel small in her arms in this moment.
"Just say the word and I'll drive you there if you want. In the meantime, I want you to try and do something to cheer yourself up, alright?"
"Alright, I'll try."
I spend the rest of the day in my room, alternating between watching TV with Chibi Destiny, or trying to find Jeanette's connection to fate, hoping we've just missed it somehow, but no, she just really isn't there. In the evening, Asha and I fly over to Jeanette's house in stealth mode and survey the area. I even reach out and trace the fates of everyone inside, but Jeanette isn't there. Only her mother and a man I've never met, doing something I don't even want to guess at in the bedroom.
That she'd do stuff like this when her daughter's missing makes me furious, but there's nothing I can really do about it. Finding her father isn't difficult. He's holed up in a one-room apartment downtown. My scans show it's only him in there, and through the window, Asha and I see him eating pizza from a local takeout place. "I've got some guesses at what happened," she mumbles as we land on a nearby rooftop.
"Me too, but we can't be sure without asking the people involved, and if I'm being honest, I don't care much about her parents right now, only her."
"Yeah, same. So what do we do now?"
"I guess like my mom said. We try to do something nice for ourselves and remain ready to rush to her side if she reaches out. I'll keep looking for her threads every night, too." We sit in silence for a handful of minutes, both of us no doubt unsure what we can even say in this situation. "School's back on Thursday, right?"
"I think so. Probably gonna have to take a few classes in the common spaces with basically the entire west wing gone."
"Probably."
"You and Eden talk yet?" She's trying to turn the conversation to a more pleasant topic, and I certainly don't mind.
"Not yet. We meant to yesterday, but things happened. She understood. We're gonna try again tomorrow!"
"Ooooh, good luck babygirl. Text me about it?"
"I will. See you at school Thursday!"
Wednesday I do my best to take mom's advice and put my mind on something else; specifically, the talk with Eden in the afternoon. Morning and around noon, I'm semi-panicky about picking an outfit. I know she's seen me in everything ranging from way too fancy to casual and school uniform. Not to mention two different transformed outfits. But that doesn't stop me from being anxious about wearing something she won't like. Chibi Destiny is helping me by holding up and flipping through various fashion magazines to give me some inspiration.
In the end I decide, since this technically isn't a date, it's best to go with something fairly simple and casual, so I throw on a pair of leggings, an asymmetrical black skirt and a white off-the shoulder top with long sleeves. No big standouts, but it gives me some space to play with my hair, which I do up in an imitation of the loosely braided ponytail my transformed self wears, and finally some makeup. Just foundation, blush, eyeliner and mascara in neutral colors. Considering I'd just have been wearing my school uniform on Monday, I already like this way more. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
The Lunchroom looks the way it did when I first met with Asha here. The sign outside is asking customers to try their cold strawberry tea, which is supposedly great in the heat we'll be getting in a few weeks. The barista this time is a pretty woman with more piercings than most people and dyed green hair, probably in her early thirties. Her name tag declares her to be Annie. I look around and don't see Eden quite yet, so I order the strawberry tea as recommended and go sit down in a somewhat secluded booth, which I'm sure Eden will see me in when she arrives.
Thankfully, I don't have to sit alone long enough for my thoughts to start wandering before she does, and of course, she looks stunning, too, even though she's only in her own school uniform. Primarily a cool grey with an A-Line skirt, a blazer and a white button down underneath, there's not really anything special about it, but with her purse, hair and a few accessories such as small ear rings and a tiny plushy clipped onto the bag, she's managed to make it look like her own. She waves with an enthusiastic smile and orders a cup of coffee for herself, then comes over to sit down. I awkwardly, nervously, fidget for a few moments, not quite sure what to say. We've been texting more than usual the past four days, but aside from the fight against the lupine monster, we haven't actually seen each other before now since the kiss. "Before we talk about anything else, did your uniform change? I forgot to ask in the chaos of everything that happened."
"Oh!" I feel relieved we can have something less serious to talk about as an ice breaker. "Yeah, I uh. I had a theory and made a new one for Chibi Destiny, and I was right that it would change my uniform too."
"You designed it too? Good job! It looks amazing on you and I like the fencer theme." I grin at her and take a sip of my drink, feeling more than just a little proud. "Also very handy you can do it that way. It's a much more involved process for the rest of us. And, uh... How's your friend? Jeanette?" I sigh. I'd rather talk about almost any other topic.
"Still missing. But, uh, I'd rather talk about us, if you don't mind? For multiple reasons."
"Makes sense. So... Saturday?" I quirk an eyebrow at her. She's usually not nervous about anything, but she definitely looks it right now.
"Saturday?"
"We were drunk." I can't tell if she's trying to use this as an excuse for her actions or trying to give me an out if I need it.
"Not that drunk."
"No, not really."
"When did you decide to do it?" I feel silly not just saying it outright, but I also feel like it needs to be addressed. "To kiss me, I mean." She sighs and visibly relaxes a little.
"Well, I mean, I kinda just meant to dance with you. And then there kind of was a moment and I wanted to go for it. Seemed like you felt the same way?"
"I diiiiiid. At first I was really just focused on not stepping on you and ignoring my embarrassment, but being close to you made me forget that and enjoy the moment pretty quickly."
"Would you... Want to do it again?" The knot in my stomach loosens a little. She sounds hopeful about something, and I think I know what it is.
"Of course! But, like, only if you do. I, uh, I would get why not if you don't." My transition hasn't been kept a secret from the Knights at all, and they've all been supportive. But being supportive and dating someone are two different things.
"Destiny, please. You're cute, you're a girl, and I like you. I don't care about the rest."
"Yeah, I guess so. So then... We probably go on a proper date next?"
"That seems like the natural next step."
"And we don't tell the others. At least not for now. I don't want them prying into anything before the two of us have found our footing in whatever's gonna happen. Ida might not look it, but that girl practically lives off gossip."
"Asha might have figured us out already. And I kinda promised her an update yesterday."
"Yeeeeaaaah, I figured she probably would with the both of us texting her. But she's good at keeping secrets, so it's fine."
"How about next week? Friday?" Eden looks at me a little confused. "For the date?"
"Oh! Uh- Let me check." She pulls her phone out of her purse and browses for a minute. "I've got a shoot earlier that day, but I could do Friday if eight works? I can probably just keep the makeup from that and bring my date outfit and head straight there. Maybe pick you up."
"I'll make it work!" I wink and lean in a little before I sip at my drink again. "Dad might complain a little that I'll miss regular TV time with him, but I'm sure he'll forgive me."
"You're adorable sometimes, you know that?"
"Hm?"
"Never mind," she chuckles and leans back with her coffee in her right hand. "I heard from the women at Aurore. You've got plans for next year already, huh?"
"Yeah! I've been sending out applications to various design schools. Hoping to get into the one here in town, of course, but you've gotta have safeties, right?"
"Good call! I'd love to take a closer look at some of your designs some time too. Especially after seeing that new uniform of yours~"
"Well, maybe you'll get the chance if you come meet my parents some time." I pause, only then realizing what I just said. "Orrrr I could bring them somewhere with me! Do you have any plans next year?" She seems at least a little relieved to not have to confront the parental unit just yet.
"I'm gonna go full-time modeling for a few years. Got some good contracts waiting for me that'll last a while. Figure I can use that time to save up, and then I can study later, right? I still don't know what, if anything, I would like to study." She smiles a little to herself, bats those long lashes at me. There's a mischievous glint in her eye. "Plus, like, if we still wanna be together at that time, I can model in whichever city your new school's in~." That makes my heart skip a beat and my eyes go wide. I win the fight to not spit out a mouthful of strawberry tea, swallow and put my glass back down.
"Uhhhhhhh-"
"Oh come on, I'm messing with you. We should take things one step at a time."
"I mean... You know I basically had two crushes on you. You think I haven't had actual dreams about a life with you? Well, at least before meeting you." That makes her raise an eyebrow in obvious question and I half-panic. "Nowadays I just fantasize about private movie nights and dancing with you."
Eden chuckles, and I laugh back at her. "You're allowed to dream a little bigger, Destiny." We stay at the Lunchroom for an hour or so longer, chatting about various topics like school and other everyday things. She talks a bit about what going to a shoot is like and tells me I should come to one some time, especially with my aspirations. That's probably a good idea. When we get up and leave, I catch her outside the cafe, and we hug a little awkwardly before I hurry to catch my bus, stomach practically drowning in butterflies.