‟…Astro trophy?" - A warm voice raised amongst the distant, burnished silence.
‟The dot you put over words. Apostrophe." - He replied in a similar tone, getting the setting sun off his eyes.
And the cold hush returned. The clock over the door was all that gave the room a semblance of life. Nobody was in school at that hour. They weren't supposed to be there either. Not like they wanted to be, but someone screwed up and told Ralsei she hadn't studied for her midterms yet. So, until school was over, they weren't allowed to return.
‟Since when do you know so much about English?" - She cocked her eyes from the messy stack of papers and books to his messy locks of hair.
‟I'm surprised you haven't flunked knowing so little." - He knew because she taught him, he didn't think he'd remember most of it, but it stuck around, like most other memories.
‟Wonder of multiple-choice tests, even idiots can pass." - Said the dinosaur, looking through the giant window that framed their adjoined desks, staring at the thin warmth the sun snuck into the dusty class.
There was an easy reason why they weren't in the library, which had actual heating and actual books. His name started with a B and he never shut up. It would also be embarrassing, though they wouldn't admit that. Studying was more embarrassing than the delinquencies they perform on the regular. He rearranged his sweater and kept on punching out drills. He was doing his part as Susie's friend, they'd get in rhythm… maybe.
In the abandoned silence of the empty school, slow steps clambered through the hall. The knob reluctantly swung back. The door creaked as it opened, with a Christmas streak of colors sneaking through, adorned with the usual dress and schoolbag. Her eyes weren't on the room, and twitchy ears hadn't heard them. She got two steps in before instantly shattering the atmosphere.
‟HHYAAA!-" - And maybe the floor too, with a leap like that.
‟Sup, Noelle." - Susie's purple spikes shift to her side as she put her elbow on the table.
‟…H-hi."
‟S-S-SUSIE!? KRIS!? W-WH-Why are you two here?!" - With blood rapidly running under her fur and over her face, Noelle seemed to not have been expecting company.
‟Studying. Wanna join?"
‟U-uhm… I-I'd really love to, but I'm helping mom out today." - Said the deer, with an expression like she just admitted Santa isn't real.
‟…A-also, you're not supposed to be staying in school after classes." - And there's that grin again. Just like she always did it. Wonder if she even realizes it's fake.
‟Hey! How come you're lecturing us if you're here too!?"
‟I told you, I'm helping out mom! I'm here to get a document from Ms. Alphys's desk, so I have permission." - She said as she bent down to unlock it.
‟Alright then, go an-." - Wires crossed in Susie's brain, and she perched her bird-nest haircut over inquisitively.
‟…Wait, you got the key to her desk?"
‟Uh, yes? I have a spare key just… just in case…" - Noelle obviously had some problems rummaging through the cabinet. And from the sound made, there were more bags of chips than work documents in there.
‟Hold on, does she keep the exam papers in there!?" - The dinosaur was practically standing on her chair leaning over.
‟Obviously not! Ms. Alphys wouldn't— O-oh."
‟Sweet! Hand English over!"
‟What?! No- Susie! That's cheating!" - He saw it through the table. The nose scrunch she does when she wants to be angry.
‟We'll just cross-check our answers-"
‟There aren- That's still cheating!"
‟J-Just tell us if it's multiple choice!"
‟No!"
. . .
A crushing silence crawled back in its place. A long, drawn-out and tired sigh followed. Both him and her looked out the window, crouched over on their chairs.
‟…I'm gonna go now. Please… try to behave yourselves, alright?"
‟…We'll try." - That comment got Susie an actual death glare from Noelle. Which reminded of a cold woman who ran the city they were standing in.
‟Uhh- I-I mean, Sure, we'll do that, for sure."
‟Please keep an eye on her." - His brain got kicked in motion as she looked in his direction. The tin boy just got given a heart. She even said his name. It took him a long while longer to respond than it should have.
‟…Sure."
‟Thanks, Kris."
‟…Then, I'll see you both later."
‟Good luck with studying."
‟Bye Noelle." - The purple dinosaur said without a worry, while opening a stale bag of Sour Cream Cheese & Onion chips. Guess where she got those from.
‟Bye." - That was the third word he managed to get out to her. And the only one he wasn't forced to say.
She didn't speak any more, just left down the hall; same springy trot, same cute tail, and same Gamemon Color jutting out her school bag. All distancing themselves in the auburn colored hallways. He hadn't anything more to do or say.
‟Hey Kris." - Soon as she left, he was phased back into the classroom, and was sat down next to Susie. He stopped being a spectator in his life around him, got kicked right into the lead role.
‟…What?" - They were few centimeters apart, but the distance between him and his best friend had grown to such lengths that calling her that was felt unneeded. Maybe it was his fault. Anyway, they used different wave-lengths, no chance he'd guess what she was thinking. Hopefully time will let him walk that distance back.
‟I got an idea." - She said, mouth full of chips. And now did he notice all the crumbs were falling on his own textbook.
‟…What is it?"
It wasn't a bad idea, all in all. Though Kris wasn't really listening. It might have been a horrible idea, but he wouldn't have guessed it in the state he was in. He didn't say anything back though. She wouldn't hear it from all the way over there next to him. He just enjoyed the fake warmth of the winter sun. His eyes pierced the window.
There was a lone leaf squeezing the pin that was the end of the branch that was holding it. It was browned from age, its creases perfectly bent around the branch that made it, as if it was holding on with everything it had. It was already dead though. New leaves would take its place regardless.
He didn't turn on the light. He wasn't in a light mood. The winter night stars spilling into his room were bright enough. He wondered how one light-bulb would have been enough for that whole room. It seemed even bigger in the dark.
Shook his head. Took off the cover.
There it was, in the bottom of the cage. On the ground, lifeless. Almost dead… Could it even die? Would it rust over like the prison it was trapped in? He had no idea. Didn't care to know either.
He stared at it, and it rose up through the cage, very slowly. Maybe it was tired, or bored, or sleepy, or angry, or wounded, or in awe, or it wanted to kill him.
Maybe it was just lonely.
Whatever the reason was, he knew it could see him, and he it. He didn't say any words. It wasn't fair to speak to it like this. More importantly, he didn't have much to say… He decided to reunite that same day, when he was walking home. He heard the internet was back up, but that wasn't important. He couldn't explain why exactly. He didn't want another chance with Noelle, that ship had sailed. He needed help to become normal friends with Susie? Would the Soul help him with grades? Maybe Toriel would appreciate it. Whichever one.
Maybe he was lonely.
—It hurt like hell. Not just the feeling of a distinct presence entering your exact being, it felt like the heart was digging a literal hole in his abdomen. It's not a feeling he'd want to get accustomed to.
The light switched on. The shadows grew dark, darker, yet darker, enough for His shade to be pitch black. And the moment he raised his eyes from that pitch he saw Him, in the reflection, on his brother's bed.
‟It's been a while." - Is all He said. Even the Soul's stone complexion was obviously being held blank. His words were read from somwhere.
‟It… really has… How would you know though." - He didn't have a calendar in that cage.
‟Felt like it's been a while."
‟…Guess so. I'm sorry." - 'I'm sorry' was all he had. He wanted to say more, but he didn't know how much he should. It was hard to know how to apologize, he had no idea how angry the Soul was.
‟Care to explain why you threw me out?"
‟…I was angry you confessed to her." - That got a reaction out of the Soul, in His brain it may have been a perfect idea. He even slightly recoiled. Maybe? Kris couldn't tell, he couldn't directly look at Him, or where He pretended to be. He was a fragmentary reflection walking in his room.
‟…Alright. Whatever you say."
‟To be honest… I don't care about it anymore." - If he hadn't confessed that night, he'd have just strung himself along his illusion longer. In the end, the Soul made the right choice. Like usual. His brain rattled.
‟You seem to care quite a bit." - There it is, that dead-pan sass. Now with an added hint of irritation.
‟Today's a bad day. I'm better usually."
‟…You certainly haven't changed."
‟Guess not." - A lonely boy saw a heart in a rusty facility once, its usefulness wasn't a concern, only that it seemed to be a friend. That boy hadn't learned his lesson.
‟…And… speaking of things that never change." - That was probably an attempt at humor by the Soul. Maybe he had time to practice some in the cage.
‟Kris. Do you still like Noelle now?" - This question sent a cold chill up his only spine. Anyone else asking this was either curious or being polite. The Soul was neither.
‟…Yes? Why even ask."
‟No. Do you like her now?" - The question's tone became more ominous. He answered he still does. When else would he like her? The Soul should know this.
‟…I… still like her. I can't just stop like that." - He had a feeling it was a crush he'd force out with time.
‟Kris. I don't know if you realize."
‟Our souls are intertwined. You have an effect on me." - The Soul looked away. He admitted it like he was confessing of an illness. An ugly infection.
‟I know your thoughts. You can't hide them. So I know you won't admit this yourself." - He looked back at him, through the reflection.
‟You don't like ‟Noelle". You like your idea of her."
‟… Huh?" - He was genuinely confused, the Soul wasn't one to speak like this. But somewhere, buried deep inside him, an outline was forming. Strains of thought were quickly being constructed and repeatedly taken down. The Soul had enticed it, and it was quickly trying to assemble itself to race out and smash itself in the fetters of his essence.
‟You still get nostalgic when you think of her. You only talk about the time you were kids."
‟…We're childhood friends, that's normal." - He looked in another direction, but that wouldn't shut Him up. There was something pincering into Kris from both sides.
‟You get upset when she doesn't match your image." - This is what He practiced all that time.
‟I-I was just surprised, that's all."
‟You're scared of asking her what she'll do after high school."
‟Th-that…" - The idea was terrifying, he hadn't thought about it. His body rejected it.
‟…You look at her like you look at that picture."
‟…"
‟Your crush isn't real, Kris. You're chasing a ghost."
He fell back down on his bed with his eyes ending up over the ceiling. There it was, the Soul took it out of him. It slithered out the hole he just got stabbed through.
He desperately would have wished to deny it, but it fit so well that he didn't have the fortitude to. If he wanted to ‟deny" it, it meant that he knew it was true… So that's what it was. He didn't feel like he wanted to cry. Or have a tantrum or break anything or do anything that meant anything. He didn't feel anything. Tired, if that was a feeling. Or more aptly, empty. He wanted to have a stare-out with the ceiling until one of them caved. He was already halfway to understanding it himself, but maybe he would've deluded the thoughts more. Maybe the Soul helped him out, even then. He didn't know. He really didn't know. Maybe he didn't like her. Maybe. He still felt he did, like an odd branch hanging by the edge of a thread.
Like a buried feeling deep inside, he realized he was Homesick, curiously.
He wanted to go home. Not the home he was in, or his other one down the Dark World. He wanted to go to Home, where he can never return.
‟…Maybe. Who knows."
‟…You know. You should know." - It looked like even the Soul ran out of fuel. Not the sass though.
‟…Maybe I… I guess. Maybe."
‟To be honest, I didn't think-" - The Soul's voice and being disappeared, the shadows slithered off. Kris was alone again. He wondered what happened before he was alarmed by slow footsteps coming to his door.
And it slowly opened, it was weird for Toriel to barge in at this hour, he thought. She usually asked before entering too. And her fur was-
His mom was crying.
