Back to Normal?, Chapter Nineteen

"Cerys, bring this box here!" "Coming!" I trotted to Nami who was further down the hall. It was filled with students chattering while busy with their tasks. Some were making decorations to put all around school, as others did them for the haunted house. There were people selecting music for the masked bal. Each Halloween, school organized a "party" that lasted all afternoon on the 31st. The students loved it, since they didn't have any classes during that time. There was some kind of masked ball where everyone had to put a mask on (and preferably dress up as well, it's more fun this way), a haunted house real scary, a tasting at the cafeteria with the theme "horror", and at the end, there's a costume competition. Everyone was busing with life to help any way they can to organize the event. It was like a tradition, actually.

I wasn't the exception that proved the rule since I helped create the decorations placed around the halls. I was actually bringing old ones to my friend so we could decide which one was usable. I evaded a couple directly sitting on the floor to work better, dodged first years running around the hallways, almost pushing me to the floor, and entered the classroom where the red head was. I put down the box I had in my arms for a while now next to her desk with a sigh. Nami barely thanked me before going through the content. Soon, the box was empty and three fourth of it was in the trash. Unusable, said my friend. Only a few ribbons, a skeleton missing a foot and a Maya mask remained.

I took the mask in my hand and put it on my face. "How do I look?" Nami busted out laughing. I pretended being offended while taking it off and put it back on the desk. It was at that moment that a certain black hair entered the class, sat on the chair to the left of us and loudly let his hand fall on the desk. I was the first to notice him. "Luffy? Weren't you with Sanji in the cafeteria?" My friend weakly lifted his head to look at me with his signature puppy eyes. He started to sulk. "He told me to "get lost before I kick you" because I was bothering with the cooking class he was giving for Friday's degustation." I offered him a compassionate smile and he let his head fall down once more. Pok. I could easily understand why the blond asked him to leave him alone. Putting Luffy in a kitchen was the equivalence of getting rid of all the food. I sympathized with my friend, but I also agreed with Sanki. Not that I would tell Luffy. He would be mad at me.

"Maybe you can help us?" I proposed to lift up his spirit. Nami, who stayed silent and uninterested until now, suddenly looked at us, horror visible in her eyes. "No way!" she proclaimed. "Luffy's as good a decorator as you, a dancer!" This time, it was my turn to sulk. Why everyone were telling me I was a bad dancer? First Law, now Nami…

My face heated up at that thought concerning my biology teacher. Since… the accident, I still hadn't talked to the man. He ignored me completely. Or was it me? Anyway, let's just say he didn't address the topic again, and I restrained from talking about it myself. Who was I supposed to ask him without betraying myself? I had no idea why he reacted the way he did. Well, maybe I HAD one. A small voice in the back of my mind was screaming to me that I knew the answer, but I found it so unrealistic that I told myself it was impossible.

I ran my hand through my hair to try to put my thoughts in a corner of my mind. It was no time to think about all this! I finally awoke from my dreams to realize the class was now empty, and the hall as well, if I judged it from the lack of sounds. Only Luffy stayed beside me, still sulking. I got up and saw on the suspended clock that it was almost noon. I then made my way to the exist and called Luffy when I passed him. "You coming? Time to eat." As soon as I said it, he brutally got up, which resulted in the fall of his chair. He ran towards the door without waiting for me. I smiled and followed him.

We crossed the hallway to finally arrived at the lockers. Luffy once again ran to ours and put the number in to open it. As I was coming near, he already opened the locker and took out his bag in a rush. I took mine and closed the little door before locking it. Luffy led me through the hall, his ass on fire. I softly laughed. "This afternoon's classes will take place, right?" he asked me. I nodded. He whined for a while, then shut his mouth. After a few steps, I stopped. He noticed and did the same, confusion visible on his face. "I'll come later, I have to go to the bathroom." He nodded and dashed towards the cafeteria.

I turned around and was about to go to the women's bathroom when I ran into something hard. I backed up because of the shock and looked up. I crossed Law's eyes, the last person on earth I wanted to see right now. We stared at each other for a while without saying anything, then he was the first one to break the visual contact and looked down. I followed his gaze and saw that when I ran into him, he let go of the papers he had in hands. The many sheets were scattered on the ground. More by reflex than a real desire to help, I got down and cleaned my mess. Without a word, Law did the same. In a heavy silence, we picked the sheets up and got back up. I hold them out to him and while he took them, our fingers brushed against each other. A shock passed through me. Trying to escape his touch, I quickly excused myself and got around him to continue my past destination. Only, I didn't go that far. He turned around and grabbed my wrist. Surprised, my eyes landed on his face. I thought I saw a spark in his eyes. Was it craving? Or.. desire?

"Cerys…" My heart skipped a beat with the tone he used. It was much softer than usual, almost.. loving. For a second time, my heart skipped a beat, but for a totally different reason. Out of panic, I suddenly freed myself of his hold and turned tail, like the scaredy cat I was..

xXxXxXxXxXx

"It took you forever!" exclaimed Luffy, his mouth full. I pulled a face at the sight of the small pieces of meat half chewed down and took place next to Usopp. I took out my lunch and ate without conviction my chicken sandwich. Luffy quickly forgot my late entrance and continued his past conversation. "So, how will you dress up?" he asked, excited like a monkey. "I'll be a werewolf!" My next door neighbour couldn't rest on his butt peacefully. Like myself, he loved that festivity. One word: Candy. Usopp was the first one to answer excitingly. "I thought about a mommy for myself!"

Luffy seemed to approve and turned to Zoro. The green man sighed. "Samourai," he simply said. On his left side, Sanji raised an eyebrow and murmured "so original" while laughing in his sleeve. I saw Zoro's eye twitch, but he stayed perfectly calm on the surface. Luffy vividly nodded and the blond took the initiative to give his own answer. "As for myself, I don't need a costume, since I'm already a prince charming!" This time, it was Zoro who laughed quietly. Fortunately, the future cook didn't seem to notice.

Luffy turned to Nami this time, who looked like she was in deep thought. After a few seconds, she finally answered. "I thought maybe I could be a cat woman." As soon as she said it, hearts appeared in Sanji's eyes. "You'll be so beautiful like than, Nami-chwan!" he said, enthusiastic. Zoro rolled his eyes, exasperated. Although this time, the blond noticed and immediately, his loving aura changed to pissed off. "Do you have something to say, Marimo?" "Zoro maliciously smirked. "Not at all, oh prince!" His voice was full of sarcasm. The two of them started to fight, like every time they were more than two minutes in the same room. They reminded me of an old grumpy couple. That thought made me laugh.

As if my laugh brought the attention of the entire room, everyone shut up – even the two "lovers" -, and stared at me. Luffy was the first one to talk. "And you, Cerys?" he asked, curious. I blinked before his question. Me? "As a Geisha." Immediately, Luffy smiled. "You'll be assorted with Zoro!" He started to laugh with his famous "Shishishi!". I gave him a shy and uncomfortable smile while the green gave the brown-hair man a smack behind his head. Like nothing happened, he continued the conversation with a playful tone.

Setback, I quickly got lost in my thoughts and stayed quiet for the rest of our lunch break. When each one finished eating, we exited the cafeteria. I followed them from a few meters back. Without noticing, Nami led me to the woman's bathroom. Her gaze were determined and a bit worried. "What's going on, Cerys?" she gently interrogated me. I gave her a confused look. "What are you talking about?" "You're not like yourself, I can see it in your behavior. You've been too quiet and lost in your thoughts for the past week." She didn't have any intention of letting me go before I told her why I wasn't feeling well. I knew her. She would persist until I told her everything.

I sighed and thought up how to tell her without revealing all my story. "I… have a friend who asking herself a lot of questions lately." She looked me over with a septic eye, but let me continue. "She always hated that guy since they were kids and recently, she fell in love with him without her noticing. She realized that just a while ago, and she feels overwhelmed by the events." I took a break. Nami smiled. "You mean yo- she loves that guy, but doesn't know how to tell him her feelings?" I shook my head. "It's more complicated than this. First, he's older than her by a couple of years. Then, a relationship between the two of them wouldn't be too… wise. In fact, she doesn't know what to do anymore and she's depressed." The red-head raised an eyebrow. "Those kind of details doesn't matter if the two loves each other, no?" I opened my mouth to answer, and closed it right after. She made a point. But even so… "She's not sure he loves her back…" Nami glared at me for several seconds, like she was looking for something, then she offered me an enormous smile. "Then, she just has to reveal her feelings and she'll be fixed. It's that simple!" I stayed septic. Was it that simple? Maybe it was, after all… But I don't think it was such a great idea to verify.

I sighed for the hundred time today and brushed that problem aside. Everything had its time. I had other things to worry about. "Still up to our little evening of intense studies?" my friend suddenly asked. I smiled. "You bet I am!"

xXxXxXxXxXx

"Nami?" "Yes?" "It's not your place, here." In front of me was a little cozy dark blue house with a long fence. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it still emitted a certain charm. However, that house was Luffy's, not Nami's. She smiled at me. "I know."

She led me behind her and opened the house's gate. She went over the front door and didn't even took the time to knock before entering. The house was deserted. Nami took off her coat and her shoes before putting her school bag on the floor and she disappeared in the stairs going in the basement while I stayed still in the entrance asking myself what the hell we were doing here. It immensely surprised me that the red-hair took us here to do our homework.

Suddenly waking up from my astonishment, I hurried myself to get out of my clothes and my bag before running after her. While I put my foot on the first step, I realized it was terribly dark. I had to be extra careful so I wouldn't break my neck. Then, as I finally put my feet on the last step, the lights abruptly turned on and I heard voices say "Surprise!". During a dozen of seconds, I was at the same time deaf and blind.

I slowly got back my senses and saw the room beautifully decorated. My friend looked at me with big smiles plated on their face. There were Usopp, Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Zoro, and even a few unexpected guests. Kaya, Usopp's friend, who I didn't see often since we had no class together, but with whom I got along well. Vivi, a friend who lived in the next town and who was going to a private establishment real famous. Nami's sister, Nojiko, was also here. Kuina, Zoro childhood friend and adopted sister, was one of the guests. And last was Ace, of course. It was his house, after all.

All of a sudden, I felt tears coming. They organized a surprise party for my birthday. I swallowed back my tears, too prideful, and smiled instead.

I don't think any of us will have time to do tomorrow's homework.

xXxXxXxXxXx

"My stomach hurts…" Ace offered me a smile while I rubbed my stomach, grimacing. I shouldn't have made a bet with Luffy. Who could eat as much cake as possible? Guess who won…

I sighed, pain slowly disappearing, and grinned at the view of the package I had in my hands. A surprise-basket from my friends. Each of them contributed to by me something I would like. There were pieces of clothes, perfume, shampoo, chocolates, and even a few video games. I had a wonderful evening, like I imagined. But with the late hour, Ace proposed himself to escort me back home, and since my meeting with Doflamingo, I was fast in accepting his offer. In normal times, I would've declined. But I was so scared of seeing the blond again after what Law told me…

Real fast, we arrived in front of my apartment. Like last time, he escorted me to the entrance and stopped in front. I now faced him. I smiled. "Thanks for bringing me here." He grinned himself and leaned over. Was he going to kiss me again on the cheek? Yet, he didn't seem to change his angle. If he continued like that, he would reach my lips! My heart speeded up in my chest. How should I react? My head was telling me to let him do what he wanted, but my body and my heart wanted to flee.

Fortunately, I didn't have to make a decision because a threatening shadow appeared behind Luffy's brother. Someone cleared their throat and I froze. It was Law. Slowly, Ace got up straight and turned around. The two men intensely stared at each other and for a while, I thought they would start to fight (well, especially Law). At last, Ace offered him a nice smirk and flew my way a wink. "Good night, Cerys!" He moved away and disappeared in the twilight. Until he vanished, Law stared him down, his fists tightening. Then, he turned my way, glared at me before entering. I followed him, my head low. I had the impression of being a puppy about to be scolded by its master.


Just a quick note to answer last time's review of une folle. Since you wrote in French, guess I'll do too? D'abord merci pour ton commentaire, et pour répondre à ta question, il y a très peu de chance que je refasse une fic sur Law. J'aime bien varier les personnages sur lesquels j'écris, et en ce moment je n'ai nullement le temps d'écrire de nouvelles histoires. J'espère que ça répond à ta question!