Lyrics credited to Mae - Soundtrack for Our Movie. Definitely listen to this song to get the right mood for the chapter :)

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Chapter 10 : Only the Right Thing to Do

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I started to ache...

when I started to think of you

wondering how long it would take...

before I step into something new

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"My dear Faye, long time no see!"

Recognizing the voice but deciding not to run like hell, I turned around casually to face him. The crowd of students in the area parted in two to-

"Make room for the almighty king!" Looks like his ego hasn't deflated, I thought, not surprised.

Muttering, flicking him off, or throwing some sort of object at him, the college students still made way. He finally reached me, displaying his new outfit. I looked up and down: What the...?

"Likin' what you see, gorgeous?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "What the heck are you wearing, Andy?"

"In the time we have not seen each other," he paused to count on his fingers and then resumed, "which has been nine months, I had departed unannounced from Adelphi to train as a samurai. Quite impressive, eh? And after my training, I have decided come back in all my glory." A crowd behind clapped sarcastically, but he took it as a compliment and turned to them for a moment, clapped his hands, and bowed.

"So you're a samurai?" I asked, pursing my lips to avoid bursting out laughing.

Andy turned back to me. "Samurai, yes. But you may refer to me as," he paused to tighten his robe, "Musashi."

--

"Are you being friendly with him now?" Vicious asked me, after Andy got distracted brandishing his sword. People backed away from us in a circle.

I rolled my eyes. "Where'd you come from?"

But now Vicious was staring at Andy and the weapon, his eyes reflecting the glint of the metal. After a while he frowned and spoke lowly to him, "That sword is not of the samurai, you fool."

Andy stopped his brandishing in mid-air. "What? Not of the samurai?" He lowered his weapon. "I paid a lot for this shit, so don't give me that shit!" He pointed the sharp end at Vicious menacingly.

Vicious merely laughed, touching the tip with his finger and in another swift motion, got the sword into his hands. "It's a katana."

"HEY!!!" Andy protested angrily. "That's mine, you bastard friend of Spike."

I laughed.

Vicious ignored him and stuck his palm in his right pocket. It emerged with a stack of money. "Here. In return, allow me to keep the sword."

Andy glanced at the money. "Well, that is a lot more than what I paid for it." He removed the sheath from its sling around his shoulders and handed it to Vicious. He quickly snatched it from Andy's grasp and threw the money at Andy's chest.

Then he turned to me. "We have better get going.."

I nodded as he slid the sword into its sheath with a metallic clank.

"Don't actually kill anybody with it..." Andy advised him as we were walking away. "It's registered to my name."

Vicious laughed.

--

"What use do you have with a katana?" I asked nervously as we walked down the secluded path.

"Nothing you need to know right now." He stopped to stare at the sun, for it was noon and was at its highest point in the sky. Vicious kept his lips in a straight line, and then spoke to me quietly. "The year is coming to a close, Faye." He paused. "Spike and I will be gone in a few sunsets."

I was surprised when he mentioned it because I had almost forgotten. They were both going to graduate, and I would be left here for two more years. They would be gone.

"What are you going to be doing?" I asked him.

The corners of his lips turned up very slightly. "I may not discuss that with you at the moment. It would be better if you didn't know."

I was really starting to feel worried, when I saw the look in his eyes and the way the exposed metal of the sword shone brightly in the light. I really didn't know anything about Vicious, about Spike, ...about Julia. My footsteps shuffled against the pavement. "Oh well, what I don't know can't hurt me."

He nodded in silent agreement. "And what about you? Have you any future careers in mind?"

At first I was going to tell him I would only continue the only job I have always known- as a gambler. But then I remembered.

"I...I want to be a bounty huntress."

Vicious smiled ."A cowgirl. Oddly enough, Spike used to talk about bounty hunting often. You two have quite a lot in common..."

We turned the corner and spotted Electra. She was resting her shoulder on the brick wall and tapping her foot.

"Waiting for me?" I called out, amused.

She turned to look at me. "Finally. I have some bad news."

I quickly looked next to me for Vicious but again, he mysteriously disappeared. What the hell is going on?

Nevertheless I followed Electra and sat down on the sidewalk. No one used this path anymore and it was deserted.

"You seem to be the bearer of bad news." I commented in our silence. She raised her head and I continued, "Well...it is better to know before it's too late, right?"

"Or better to know what everyone else is trying to hide from you." She added.

I swallowed and it took a while before I found my voice. "What is everyone hiding?"

She stretched out her legs in front of her, sighing. "You're a strong girl, Faye." She blinked, eyeing me once, and then stared back at the floor. "I found out by accident."

My eyes widened. "Found what?" She continued before I had time to think.

"That it was all just a bet. Spike...I mean...Vicious. He and Spike..." Electra was trailing off far too much and I didn't want to know why. And still I waited for her to finish.

"They made a bet, on who you'd fall in love with first. And it turns out you fell for Spike..."

I was deathly silent.

"Faye..."

"No. I'm fine." I said finally.

She nodded and continued. "Although the rules were changed, when Julia came into the picture. But I heard them talking. I heard them talking the other day. It will have to end soon. ...And that's it."

I smirked. "So...so I was just a bet? Just a temporary replacement for them?!" My eyes were watering up.

"Oh Faye."

I fell into her arms and tried my best not to cry.

--

Electra stood to go to her next class, though reluctantly. "You'll be alright, Faye." I just nodded, not entirely agreeing with her. Then she was gone and I was left all alone.

I had nothing to do but I stayed on campus, wandering through the gardens and finally choosing to settle by the artificial lake. I sat there on the bench, crossing and uncrossing my fingers. I felt restless and out of place.

What's the right thing to do, Faye? I asked myself over and over again.

I closed my eyes and remembered the way he kissed me, the first time. Oh Spike...

I stood up suddenly, wanting to prove Electra was wrong. I wanted so badly for her to be.

I ran out to find Spike.

--

The last class dismissed and I waited outside of the building he was to exit, looking for his green hair. I found him, caught up with him, tugged at his sleeve. "Spike."

He turned around. "Faye? What is it?"

I said nothing for the longest time, just staring up at him with bright eyes and an opened heart. People passed by us in a blur and I wanted to see what he would do.

His features were cross. "What is it?" He repeated.

Just a few days ago, I knew he would have waited for as long as I needed him. But now things were different. He had different places to go now, different people to see. Different people to fall in love with.

My heart felt heavier and I wanted to pull at his clothes, tell him to take me home and love me if that was what he wanted all this time.

Am I a bet? I wanted to scream at him. Am I really nothing to you?

At that point, I would've done anything for him. But then I remembered,

He has somewhere to go.

It was then I realized he had roses in his hand. When did he buy them? He knew I hate roses.

And then it dawned on me, it was all falling into place. I knew the truth now, I knew it in his eyes and in the thorns on his hand.

"I....I...."

I let go of my hold on his arm and he turned away. He looked back at me once, unsure, not waiting for me to finish. But he really might have known what I was going to say and didn't want to waste his time to hear it.

I watched him follow the distinct path. The path to Julia.

"I...loved you." I finished to no one.

--

The truth hurt badly and I hated it. But I couldn't help but wonder, why was he still with me? Our "affection" was practically dead by now and I wanted to hear him say it. I wanted to hear him say, I hate you Faye. I hate you. This is over.

The unsaid words were somehow still worse.

I felt better at having this goal, although it was contradicting. To what? I was empty now..

1:15...I went home early and called his cell phone. He didn't pick up and I had to leave a voice mail.

"Do you think I could come over tomorrow? Tell me as soon as you can.."

I hung up and stared out the window.

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There's so much I can fake...

There's only so much that I can prove

Well, I'll do it in a minute

I could go play the fool for you