You're Lying

Scarlett could only keep up her cheery facade for so long with Kallie there. She grinnedand grabbed her own pastry and drink, thanking her for the service and sashaying out of the cafe. She really didn't want to talk to them since they appeared to be in their own conversation. Today, she could probably just focus on school.

Back to the boys, Vash was visibly pouting as he saw her leave. "Nooo, I wanted to play some more! See, Scarlett is always so much fun to be with! You, on the other hand, are supposed to be my killjoy." The blonde man said with utter defiance, crossing his arms and shaking his head at his friend now babysitter.

"It's not my fault you can't stop doing shit without causing a mess." Wolfwood replied back, "If I had the documents with me right now, I'd be able to read the list of your wrongdoings in the other thirty-three some cities you tried to live in. Why can't you just lie low?"

"But I'm trying! I swear, I just go out for a walk and I might see a burglary happen and y'know..." Vash said, looking down at his thumbs as he started to twiddle them. "...I might intervene—"

"That's the point, you're not supposed to! They strictly ordered that you just pretend to be a quiet civilian who works from home."

"But that's not exciting at all!"

"Don't you have your neighbor to bother?" Wolfwood asked as he remembered the incidents that happened today. A thoughtful glint shimmered in his dark eyes as he recalled the young woman's wits and remarks.

Vash shook his head profusely, cheeks pinkening the slightest bit. "No, I definitely couldn't do that! She's a college student at the University here, and we just joke around when we can."

"Well, she seemsnice. You both seem very acquainted already."

"Oh, that just happened by chance. I tried to introduce myself to her and she pushed me away! But we're on better terms now!" Vash explained, his mood switching back to a happy demeanor. The pure thought of her made Vash's heart skip a beat. She made him so happy during his few days here.

Wolfwood nodded, picking up his coffee and took a sip, "She doesn't seem to be the friendly type. She wasn't very kind to me this morning." The man recalled with a mischievous grin.

Vash gave his friend a strange look. "What'd you do? I already told ya that Scarlett isn't trying to be buddy-buddy." He told himand Wolfwood answered with a shrug. The priest leaned back in his chair to stretch out his back.

"It's nothing, really. Just tried to be friendly to her and she didn't take it the way we both wanted." Wolfwood said absent-mindedly, his focus on the interior designs of the cafe. His attentionwas currently on the vines that hung freely amongst the pillars and windows. "She and I could be real good friends, eventually."

The blonde shrugged his own shoulders, shaking his head at his friend's advances. "Of all people, Scarlett wouldn't let you have a chance! If anyone has a chance, it's me! She always says hi to me and—" He stopped his blabbering, thinking it best to not disclose their nightly ritual. It was an intimate spectacle they partook in, and this guy didn't need to know! "—and we just get along!"

Nicholas D. Wolfwood sent his friend a concerned gaze, but didn't bother to ask. There were so many things to question about Vash and the past they happened to share, but this wouldn't be the right place and time. For now, the young priest could hope that his partner in crime would settle into his apartment as soon as he could and lay low for a long while. The storm would be coming, and he wished to stall its advances by supporting his friend to the best of his abilities.

October 3rd

Monday morning arrived alas and Scarlett found herself rushing in the morning to reach her bus. She hurried to pull her clothes on, not having any time to make breakfast. She swore to herself as she looked to the time. The bus should be here in a few minutes and she needed to hurry downstairs before it left with the wind. She low-key regretted staying up late last night with Vash, but she didn't think that their late night greeting would take a turn.

"Hey." She greeted to him as she carefully stepped out onto the cold metal railing. She held tightly to the bar, seeing her odd neighbor wave at her with his usual wide smile. Her lipsitchedto replicate that, but she focused on the cold winds of the October night, clutching her blanket tightly to her petite form as she sat down. The distance between them was comfortable, her body angled appropriately to view Vash and South Main Street below them.

"Hey, Scarlett. How was your day?" Vash asked her in a high spirited tone. He really could radiate the sun at any time of the day, her eyes mock squinting at his cheery attitude.

"It was okay. How about yours? Your friend seemed to offer a good time when he came to visit." Scarlett said as she remembered the tall brooding man who was quite flirtatious. She could roll her eyes off the fire escape if she really pleased.

Vash offered her a smaller smile, his broad posture leaning against the cold bricks as he kept his unique eyes set on her blanket clad figure. He thought she was so cute, sitting there with a warm blanket around her shoulders as she seemed intent to talk to him. "Mine was fine, and supereventful! I appreciate the muffin, and Wolfwood had an interesting time here. You, uh, appeared to amuse him greatly." He said with a sweatdrop.

Scarlett let out a snort, her bottom sitting comfortably on the same brick ledge as he made the statement. "I do things for my own amusement all the time. Your friend— he tried to make some unsavory moves on me this morning. I feel like I get that all the time in this city, but it's normal when no one has anything better to do. Oh, and sorry for launching that muffin at you. I should've gave it a second thought but luckily you caught it without much of a glance! You really are like a puppy." She said with a light laugh, her hands covering her mouth as she remembered the events of today.

"I can't ever pass up on free food! Besides, you had a really good throw." Vash complimented her, prompting the girl's laughing to trail offand look at him properly. Her eyes refused to keep a constant gaze at him, but at the bright lights and streets below until now. The way his blonde spiky hair danced in the windaround his angular face made her view him in a different light. He'shandsome;she didn't think much of it until now. "And, I wanted to thank youfor not being too much of a stranger when Imoved in. Wolfwood was scared that I wouldn't have made any friends so far! But, he forgets that I can be friendly to those around me."

"...No problem. You, uh, already experienced the worstwhen we first met. I should've been nicer, but we're on better terms, aren't we?" She said after a mesmerizing moment, needing to collect her composure. Scarlett smiled at the attractive man and inched closer, now a foot away from each other on the ledge. "I consider you a friend, Vash. It was an odd start, but you appear to handle my craziness to a T!"

A soft expression lay on his features as she spoke to him, his eyes resting on her comforting image as she relayed an interesting way to show kindness and affection towards him. He reached his arm out, letting his large hand lay ontop of hers that was currently on her lap. Scarlett sat there quietly as his hand engulfed hers in a warm embrace, pulling it up to lace their fingers in the cold October air. She shivered at the electrifying touch, his smile neverending as he scooted close, their thighs barely touching due to close proximity.

"Like I said on the first day we met, I think we're both crazy." He said softly, his deep voice echoing in her ears in a reverberating calmness. "And I think I'm crazy enough to ask if you'd stay with me for as long as I'm here, Scarlett."

"Why are you asking a question you already know the answer to?" She replied back quietly, her heart racing at the sudden confession. She looked up at the man who suddenly held her close to his side. "...I'm not going anywhere, Vash. I can't see myself going anywhere just yet—" And that was true. She didn't want to leave him or her home.

Vash hugged her close to his chest, that same hug they shared the other day where it felt so wrong and right at the same time. She couldn't describe how overwhelmingly sad this embrace felt to her, wondering what was going on in his head when he asked that. He sounded deeplyperplexed even though he just moved in recently, seemingas if he would runawaywith the windat any moment. She did wonder if it had to do with his friend who visited today. It left a sour taste in her mouth to wonder how her world would be without him.

"Don't ever change, Scarlett. You being you brings me comfort that doesn't rival anything else." Vash said in a calm tone, his head dipped on the back of her shoulder as his strong arms refused to let her go.

"...You should follow your own words, too.You just seem so...uncertain. I'm worried for you." Scarlett pointed out as she reciprocated his hug. She pressed herself close, his grip on their conjoined hands squeezing her small palm gently as it lay on his lap. "What's been on your mind, Vash?" She asked genuinely.

"...Just trying to dream, is all." He replied back, his grip on her loosening. He pulled away from the hug, but their hands were still laced together as he showed her his solemn expression. Vash's lips were trembling in the slightest, but his eyes held the fullest of emotion she's ever seen of him yet.

Vash slowly released her hand and stood up, his tall frame shadowing hers as the winds picked up. "You should go in. It's getting chilly, and you have classes tomorrow. No need for a cold at the beginning of the semester. Goodnight, Scarlett." He said, his smile back to his normal cheery facade.

"Goodnight." She blinked, staring at him with speculation as the smile didn't reach his eyes again. He quickly excused himself to his window and left her there, the wind blowing through her long hair as she sighed in defeat.

"...You're lying." She said to no one but the changing winds of the season.

She was hurrying to pull her flannel on, shoes barely hanging onto her feet as she opened the door with her book bag hanging on her shoulder. She yelped when she saw Vash standing there, hand raised to knock on the door with wide eyes.

"Oh hey—"

"Good morning! I gotta go now, bye!" Scarlett rushed the greeting as she ducked under his arm, escaping down the steps. Vash was paused in his spot, watching as the girl ran like her life depended on it. He let out a soft laugh.

"Haha! Maybe I should pay her a visit later at the University." He said to himself, stroking his chin in curious contemplation. He shrugged and went back to his apartment, wondering if he should go and get a pastry downstairs.