Last Resort

The Mortal Realm

“Beatrice, come on! Have lunch with us,” Therese called. The other girl nodded and quickly grabbed chopsticks from the box, rushing to her friends with the bowl in her hand. Blinking, she noticed that one of her friends was asleep. With a frown, Beatrice Amor sat down and looked at the sleeping Arzen, who had no chance of waking up any time soon. “Don’t wake her, she didn’t sleep well...she shouldn’t have gone, she’d just miss a quiz in English that she could take when she’d come back.” Therese sighed, starting to eat. The wavy-haired Freshman eyed Arzen before starting to eat as well, eyes never leaving the sleeping girl who remained at her side, unmoving.

“She isn’t alright, is she,” she asked softly.

Therese shook her head.

That was all she needed to know. The past months had been, well, shitty. Not just for Therese, but for Arzen as well. Beatrice just didn’t understand it. It was like silent communication and pretending that the other didn’t exist, except worse. In the table, she could see the looks given to her friends at the other table as they silently ate and discussed quietly, hear the snide remarks made by a certain tablemate. She was getting sick of being in the grey side, even if it was the safest side considering their situation.

Settling her bowl down, she gently nudged Arzen, who awoke with a soft groan.

“There’s pasta over there.”

She mumbled a ‘no thanks’ and closed her eyes.

“Beatrice, you have to do something.”

“Eh – me? What are you talking about?”

“You know what,” Therese snapped. “They won’t listen to me or even glance in my general direction. I hardly think that they speak well of Arzen. If they had any heart in them, they’d look at her and see how much the situation is starting to crush her spirit.” Beatrice sighed.

“What do you want me to do?”

“That one of them at least try and make amends.”

“I can’t do that. I tried doing that, remember? Arzen was with me, and she knows what went down in the washroom. I don’t think she wants any attempt made.” Slight irritation burned in the other’s eyes.

“I know you well, Beatrice Mora. You want this solved as quickly as possible. I don’t want that for now, but I know you do – and so does Arzen.”

“If she wants it fixed, then why did she say no? To us getting back together? Answer me.”

Therese stood up.

“Obviously, she isn’t ready yet. She sure as hell doesn’t want to hurt again, and she’s trying to fix herself while the rest of you ridicule her behind her back.” With that, Therese left with her tray of unfinished food, leaving an unsettled Beatrice and a stirring Arzen behind at the table. Beatrice looked at her companion and sighed.

“If what she said is true, then...” she pursed her lips. “I’ll do my best.”

Therese walked back to the classroom, pinching her temples. She didn’t want to deal with anything at the moment. Her outburst at Beatrice may have stung, but it was all she needed to get the weight off her chest. Entering the classroom, she took hold of her books and went back out, walking straight to the lockers and trying to get her thoughts back together.

This is ridiculous. Beatrice should know better, and to think she’s known Arzen the longest. She slid the key into the lock. I hope she tries. Underline the word ‘tries’. Because I might have to step in just to get this group back together, even though the others won’t appreciate it as much. As the locker opened, she slid her books inside and took another one out. But I don’t blame Beatrice. God knows how much Arzen has been hiding.

She locked it, and went back to the classroom.

Technika

“Today was relatively calm,” Mona Lisa commented as they reached the inside of their headquarters. Cissa shook her head, removing her hair tie and running a hand through her dark brown hair. “Compared to a few days ago, everyone was almost sent into a panic...Eri was so irritated after it happened, she demanded security to tighten up in every corner of Technika.”

“I honestly don’t blame her.” Cissa sat down and loosened the strap of her shoes. “She’s been tightly-wounded the whole week. And I don’t blame her for crashing.” She gave a nod to one of the doors, where a sleeping Eri currently was. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she slept through the whole of next month, even.”

“Oh don’t be silly, Cissa.” Mona Lisa leaned against the dark green wall. “She wouldn’t let herself do that. She’s too focused on Technika and its safety...I wish she’d let herself rest for a change, yes?”

“Perhaps. Try convincing her to, you wouldn’t even get close. She’d just grab her pistols and go.” The yellow-eyed woman sighed, settling her bow and quiver down on the wooden table. “Believe me, I think she needs to relax as well. It’s just, she’s probably used to working to an extent and wearing herself out that it’s in her system to do so. I wouldn’t be surprised if the lightning would go crazy.”

“It shouldn’t...we have the curfew to deal with, and if she would tip over, I’m not sure if we’d even survive.”

“Crazy.” Cissa sighed. “Crazy, but true. Let’s hope she gets it together soon enough.”

“Cissa.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think we’ll be able to bring them back?”

Cold maroon eyes met yellow ones.

“No. Don’t even consider it. And if you bring that up to Eri...” Cissa stood. “She’ll be worse. And we both know that, Mona Lisa Sonne.”

The Mortal Realm

Beatrice could only hear the mad scribbling Arzen did on her notebook. She would stop for a moment, think, and resume. This process would repeat until the bell would ring, she guessed. Therese was at her own classroom, most likely tutoring some students she volunteered to help out. As she turned towards the other girl, she wasn’t surprised to see the whole page consumed with black writings, some smudged and some barely legible. Beatrice wondered if she would be able to understand her own handwriting.

Scribble, scribble.

Leaning in a bit closer, she read over a portion of what she was writing. Arzen didn’t seem to notice. She read broken phrases and unconstructed sentences, different from her usual, smooth-flowing style. Sometimes words would be crossed out and replaced with new ones, and they would be crossed out as well. Beatrice frowned and wondered if Arzen needed a pencil instead.

That pen would probably crack under the pressure, making the ink spill out and coat her hand. Her uniform would most likely become a mess, but she knew that the smaller girl would worry more over the notebook instead and the writings that would turn incoherent and unreadable.

“Oi Arzen, you need a pencil or something? You might break your pen if you continue doing that.”

“No, I’m perfectly fine with this...” scribble, scribble. “It doesn’t matter, I have a few more back in my pencil case.”

“...oh. Okay, then.”

Rising from her chair, Beatrice looked back at her friend and at the door, and left the classroom, leaving the other girl alone with her thoughts – something she never wanted in the first place.

...then, perhaps, it would be better this way. If this would go on until the end of the year, maybe I can convince them to transfer me elsewhere. Then I can start all over again, and at the same time, leave them alone. It would most likely help them. Beatrice would be able to bring Therese back, and they could be happy once more, just like before all of this even occurred. It would hurt and Therese would be angry – Beatrice, even – but maybe it’s time for me to go.

Maybe, just maybe, she was right.

Perhaps it is time to move on and let them be happy.

Even without me.

Even if it hurts.

Even if I have to leave this second home.

Guess I’ll have to make the most out of my remaining time here.

Try to make amends.

And finally go.