Blargh… The main plot marches on! Sorry for being so late… Anyway, this signals the start of the end!
"I'm not imagining stuff, am I? Did you seriously say that?" Tieria asked, eating his lunch.
Lyle laughed at all three of their bewildered expressions.
"Nope, you're not hearing things. Some politician's actually going to visit and stay at the school for a bit. He's a potential presidential candidate." he finished.
"So, this person might be Earth Sphere Federation's new president?"
"Jeez, just call it the ESF," Lyle complained to Setsuna.
"My bad."
"Don't apologize," Allelujah said gently, "you've been really jumpy lately, have you?"
Setsuna nodded.
"What's with you, Tieria? You've been all annoyed and even more irritable than usual," Lyle retorted.
"You're not the one who has to deal with the nightmares."
"That's true," Allelujah sighed.
"Anyway, since that guy's going to be coming for a visit, security's going to be all on high-alert," he informed, "no need to be worried. Stop being so ominous."
He turned towards the other two.
"Really? Think about what someone wants to hear, not just some empty and pointless promises," he rested his head in his palms, "ugh… you two can be so unaware sometimes."
Lyle bristled at the sneaky insult.
"Listen, even if you're not getting that much sleep, none of us are! I've got to worry about college and Allelujah's got to start his applications soon too; just because you're all tired doesn't mean you can take it out on us!"
"Lyle! Aren't you being a hypocrite? You're taking it all out on them!"
"How can you stay so calm! I've seen you stressing over your applications; don't lie!"
"But I'm taking this all in stride and I'm not letting it get the better of me, so just stop!"
"Ah, this is your entire fault Tieria!"
"So now you're pointing fingers? Just like some spoiled brat! Don't you think Setsuna's dreams don't freak the hell out of me too!"
"Oh, now you're pulling excuses, aren't you?"
"Now I know why Feldt left you for Setsuna! At least she won't get all the ignoring and yelling from him!"
A silence swept over the entire room, like a suffocating blanket. Setsuna wanted to hide from the stares that crawled up his skin from all over the room. Tieria gasped and clamped a hand over his own mouth. Even he had realized the line he'd crossed. At that moment, whatever was holding Lyle back simply broke. Setsuna could almost hear chains snapping with elegant 'clinks' from the way Lyle's body language and expression seemed to suddenly ooze murderous intent. Setsuna realized what was going to happen and ran in front of Lyle just as he launched a fist at Tieria.
Setsuna noticed with relief that he had made it in time. His face was going to be bruised, but it was worth the trouble. The other students in the lounge had crowded around them and were disappointed. They had been hoping for a fight. It seemed they were going to be robbed of that pleasure.
One of them decided that he still wanted a good brawl.
"Hey!" He called.
"Are you seriously gonna let that terrorist mess with you like that!"
Lyle paused and then redirected his fury to whoever had tried to taunt him.
Setsuna grabbed him.
"Stop it! StopitstopitstopitstopitSTOP IT!" He screamed.
And they all did just that.
"I'm-I'm sorry," he muttered for the second time that day and ran off. He really… couldn't take this.
He needed to see Feldt.
-o-o-o-
"So that's what happened," she said as she found some ice for Setsuna to put on his face. He sighed and waited until he cheek was numb from the cold.
"Do you think they've calmed down by now?"
Feldt smiled.
"I'm pretty sure they all have. They're like your big brothers Setsuna."
Setsuna stared at Feldt.
"Really?"
She smiled.
"Really."
Setsuna scooted near Feldt and rested on her shoulder.
"The world… is changing."
"You're right," she murmured as she leaned her head on his. Even if the world were to end at this moment, they'd both die without regrets. It was peace and comfort that enveloped the two. He fully enjoyed it, and so did she. If they had to be separated; he'd make sure they weren't. A brief thought flickered in his mind and he nursed the spark into a flame. He almost laughed at how cheesy it was, but that'd ruin the moment.
"Geez, we're sorry," Lyle apologized.
"My bad, it really was my fault," TIeria admitted.
"No, I screwed and punched him."
"Well I guess we're all to blame," Allelujah wearily said.
Setsuna laughed. He couldn't help it. They really were like brothers. His friends looked at him, their jaws dropping, and quickly caught the virus, laughing along with him.
"Okay! Apology accepted, but you need to help me with something."
He told them plainly, and this time they were laughing at how ridiculous it was.
"Fine, fine!"
That weekend, he handed Feldt a necklace. The pendant was a very tiny crescent moon with deep blue enamel inlay on silver metal.
"It's so cute! Thanks," she replied, beaming.
Awkwardly, Setsuna lifted the chain around his neck from under his collar. The pendant dangling from that was a small flat golden ring with rays that had orange enamel set on gold colored metal. He gently held the crescent moon in his fingertips and showed how the moon clicked into place inside the center of the ring. Feldt's eyes widened and in a burst of courage gave him a quick kiss on the lips. She giggled while beet red and ran away with the moon pendant and chain.
"So, how'd it go?" Allelujah asked.
Setsuna was blushing and he touched his fingers to his lips.
"She kissed you!" Tieria blurted.
Setsuna was in a daze and bear-hugged all of them, laughing loudly. Allelujah, Tieria, and Lyle glanced at each other and pretended to sigh as if annoyed. This was such a big change from the obviously depressed and withdrawn boy they'd met in the beginning. It was pleasant. He may be acting more like a little kid, but maybe it was from repressing everything. Feldt was finally helping him open up.
-0-0-0-
"Excuse me?"
Setsuna and everyone else turned to face a horde of cameras; some videotaping, some flashing. A man with graying hair but a warm smile looked at them. His three –piece-suit was immaculate, and it was obvious that this was the presidential candidate. Setsuna could immediately tell how charismatic this man was.
"I've been noticing you all around the school, and it is amazing how all four of you, despite being so different, are the best of friends, I was hoping to interview your group with cameras rolling. I'm Joseph Merithine."
They looked among themselves, and decided, 'why the hell not?'
"When do want to do the interview?" Lyle asked.
"Now, if you don't mind. In a room the school has prepared."
"Alright then."
Setsuna was around the center of them all and he noticed the bodyguards everywhere. The way they frequently touched their belts or pockets in their jackets though…
"Something wrong?"
Tieria was worried about him.
"No, I just think the guards… They're a bit too, jumpy. Something's up."
Allelujah and Lyle had heard as well.
"A bit too late to back out now," Alleluajh breathed.
AAAnd that's the end of this chapter! Oh god shoot me NOW that was HORRIBLE! I'm sorry, the clichés, oh how they hurt! Argh! Anyway! Probably only about three chapters left! Maybe less!
P.S. I'm sorry about the love! You can't write about it if you've never fallen in love before! A