It was past midnight before Rena could no longer disguise her yawns. She had spent the whole evening listening to Dias, just like she used to all those years ago. Night had descended without either of them noticing, and the view from the kitchen window had been replaced by a curtain of darkness and diamonds.
"Rena, could I possibly st-"
"You needn't ask me that question Dias, you're forgetting that this is your house too," she smiled "Just let me go upstairs and make up one of the beds" Rena rose from her seat, and ascended the stairs, her mind racing. She was locked in a battle with her conscience, and had no idea what to do.
I love Dias with all my heart, but he is unreliable…then again when he is here everything makes sense in my life. You mean too much to Claude to simply throw him away, everyone would think you were heartless. I have always loved Dias. You could learn to love Claude. You're heartless…
"I'm heartless," she muttered.
"What was that?" a voice questioned. She spun around, completely caught off her guard.
"Oh Dias, you scared me! Nothing I was just talking to myself…your bed is ready," she said with a feeble smile. She walked out of the room, but paused at the doorway.
"Dias, may I ask you something?" she said, her back facing him.
"You may"
"Will you be here in the morning?" There was a slight pause.
"Yes, I will"
She smiled and her eyes filled up with tears, which he could not see.
"Goodnight Dias"
"Goodnight" she closed the door behind her, and walked across the hallway into her room.
Once she was changed she got into bed, and was asleep before her head hit the pillow. The young Nedian was troubled by dreams of two boxes standing in front of her. Whichever she moved towards resulted in mixed cries of approval and objection.
"NO THE OTHER!"
"THAT'S THE CORRECT CHOICE!"
"ARE YOU BLIND?"
After what seemed like hours, she finally gave in, screaming,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"
"Rena" someone shaking her threw her back into reality. Her eyelids snapped open in shock, but she calmed down instantly when she realised it was only Dias at her bedside.
"You were shouting in your sleep"
"Oh…" she hoped the darkness of her room would hide the blush creeping into her cheeks.
"I'm sorry for waking you Dias, I was just having a bad dream."
"It's no problem" he said in a hollow voice, and turned to leave.
Rena hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
"Would you ever give up something if you knew deep down you would be happier without it?"
"…I think your dream answered that for you," he said coldly, closing the door behind him. She put her head in her hands, fighting back tears of frustration.
What was I shouting? What did he hear?
Wrapping herself up in her bed sheets, she fell once again into a troubled sleep.
Rays of pale sunlight fell from her bedroom window, illuminating the face of the carriage clock that stood on her bedside table. It read 8 o'clock.
Rena rubbed her eyes, and started to untangle herself from her bed sheets. The village of Arlia had been covered in a thick blanket of white, which sparkled serenely in the morning's sun.
"Wow, snow sure is early this year" she yawned, pulling on her dressing gown and slippers.
I hope I didn't shout anything about Claude last night…"Good morning" said a fully dressed Dias as Rena entered the living room. He was drinking a cup of coffee, and upon catching the smell Rena wrinkled the top of her nose instantly.
"I still don't understand why you like that disgusting stuff"
"Of course you wouldn't, coffee isn't for children" Dias said, a smirk creeping across his face.
"I-am-not-a-child" huffed Rena "I am 19 years old, and an adult thank you very much!"
"Calm down, I was only joking" Dias sighed, "Yes, you're quite right, you're all grown up"
Rena was about to say something when Dias cut across her.
"So how's everyone in the group doing?"
"Well Precis and Ashton are engaged! She only told Celine and I last night! Celine's still teaching in Mars, and Claude is still working in Cross."
"So you two aren't engaged yet?"
"W-what?" Rena spluttered.
"You and Claude aren't engaged yet?"
"No we're…wait how did you know about us?"
"Id be a fool if I couldn't see what was right in front of my face" he said coldly. Rena became agitated. How could he think it was Claude she cared about?
"No Dias you are a fool. The truth is you can never see what's right in front of your face!" she bit her lip, waiting to see his reaction. Dias raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't mean to offend you, it was only a simple question," he said. She was close to tears again.
"Well I meant to offend you. You're always s-so blind" with that she ran up the stairs and got dressed. Within minutes she had stormed out the front door and into the bitter cold, leaving Dias in the living room still drinking his coffee.
"…"
Rena ran out of the village, and kept on running until the stitch in her side could no longer be ignored. Panting, she leant against a nearby tree and allowed her eyes to fill with tears. How could I have let this happen? If I had just told him how I felt when we were on Nede this wouldn't be happening. At least then I would know if he cared about me…
Tears began to leak from the corners of her eyes.
What if he doesn't care?
A/N: Sorry it's such a short chapter, Im just realllly tired with exams and everything. Thank you to Alcoholic for reviewing! This thing/story has had 30 hits, so why do I not have another 29 reviews? hehe please review people! It makes me want to get off my bum and write some more! Tell me what you thought, I'll try to update with a much longer chapter soon!
