Chapter 10
The rest of the day went by kind of stressfully. Inaba was constantly irritated, what Heartseed had said weighed heavily on their minds, and the fact that they were behind in their club work did not help. Eventually Cecil and Aoki and Iori and Layla switched back into their own bodies.
At one point Iori (who was actually still Layla at the time) got a text message. Layla, really thinking that she was in someone else's body, immediately read the message. When she realized that she had just barged in on Iori's privacy, she freaked out and began apologizing profusely. It took almost ten full minutes for Iori to convince her that it was no big deal.
Finally, as it looked as if the sun was going to set, the group began to go home.
"Are you going to be okay tonight?" Aoki asked Cecil quietly as they walked away from the school. The rest of the group unknowingly began to walk ahead of them as they started to slow down to talk more privately.
"Huh? Yeah, of course! Why do you ask?" Was Cecil's reply.
"Well, it's just… I don't know, honestly… I'm just not fully convinced that you're okay." Cecil stopped in his tracks, Aoki following so a few steps after. The look Cecil gave him made him feel bad for saying anything at all. "I'm sorry, but your actions yesterday didn't exactly prove that everything, if anything, was okay."
"Haven't we been over this already?" Cecil groaned as he marched onward, being unable to look at his friend, "I'm fine. I can handle myself."
"I know, I know." Aoki said, hurrying to catch up, "And I really wish I could believe you 100%, but… I just can't, I'm sorry."
"Well, I'm sorry, too then, because I don't know what more I can do to make you stop worrying about me already."
"That's not going to happen, you know. Ever. You said so yourself."
Cecil sighed, his pace slowing slightly a second time. "Yeah… I know."
After a relatively silent walk and a surprisingly spacious bus ride, Cecil arrived home. He stood out on the front door step and looked around. As it seemed, everyone was home. Two cars were in the driveway and there were three lights on inside, the kitchen's, Cleo's room, and the one downstairs.
He looked down at his feet.
Should he really go in? No one was out, so the neighbors probably wouldn't know. And after all, it's not like anyone would actually care. They probably wouldn't even notice in the first place.
Yeah! He could just leave and never have to put up with his family's bull shit anymore. Sure things might be tough for him if he did, but it sure as hell would be better than staying Right?
With one last glace at the door, Cecil turned and began walking in the opposite direction that he came. He didn't need these people and they wouldn't miss him in the slightest. He treated them like he should, and they treated him worse than they would an animal. So why should he stay? Why shouldn't he leave and-
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Ignore it. Whoever it was could wait till he felt like talking to people.
It vibrated again. He ignored it again.
And then a third time.
And then a fourth.
The fifth time came with a legitimate ring as well, signaling that it was a call and not a text. With a grumble, Cecil reached in his pocket and pulled it out. "Layla?" He thought out loud as he stopped walking. "What does she want? We just saw each other." But still he shook his head and answered, despite not really wanting to. "Hello, Layla." He said with a very non-thrilled voice.
"Ce-Cecil?" She stuttered. Her voice sounded kind of panicked and was a bit louder than usual.
"Yes, it's me. Did you need something?"
"N-no, I, uh-. I was just-. I thought-. I mean-."
"What is it? Just spit it out."
"S-sorry…"
"It's fine. Now just tell me why you're calling."
She took a deep breath. "I, uhm… I j-just… I got a- a weird feeling…"
"A weird feeling?"
"L-like… You are g-going to d-d-do so-something s-s-stupid…"
Hearing this shocked Cecil. "W-what do you mean?"
"I-I d-don't know, I… I can't ex-plain it."
Cecil sighed, "Damn it."
"W-what?! A-Am I bothering you?! I-I-I'm sorry, I sh-shouldn't have c-c-called! I'll hang up no-"
"-No, it's nothing like that!" Cecil interrupted before she could go. "It's nothing like that… Seriously. Thank you, Layla. For worrying so much about me…" His voice became soft as he reassured her.
"H-huh? Ye-yeah, of course! I-I l-lo-. I really-. I mean I-. It's-… It's no p-problem."
"No… This time it is a big deal… I really needed it. Thank you."
"Re-really?"
"Yeah really."
"Wh-what were you do-doing?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing, really."
"Then why di-did you need me to-to call?"
"I wasn't doing anything, really. I just needed to her your voice. That's all."
"O-oh...! O-ok-kay." He could almost hear her blushing.
"I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"O-okay. S-s- talk to you la-later."
"Bye."
"G-good-bye." He hung up first.
Cecil drearily looked at the screen of his phone as the call faded away. Of course something like this would happen. And just as he had thought he was so sure as well, leaving him so unsure.
"What now…" He mumbled to himself. 'Go home.' his brain supplied, 'Go home and continue living through the shit you had been for the past ten years of your life.'
More reluctantly than ever before, Cecil turned around and headed back to the shelter he lives in. That's what he'd call it from now on, because it certainly was no place to call home.
A/N: Sorry it's a pretty short chapter, but hey! At least it's something, right?
Anyway, I actually kind of like the scene at the end in this one, soo... Maybe tell me what you're thinking as well?