Chapter 7: Alone Time
Cagalli's journey up the bleachers came to a halt when she noticed someone seated at the top of them. The person was hunched over, their head buried in their knees. Considering football hadn't started, Cagalli expected to be completely alone, like she had been the previous Friday. With a sigh, she began to turn back the way she came, but then she heard the person whimper. She made her way towards them.
"Hey," she said. "Is everything alright?"
The person slowly lifted their head. Cagalli gasped.
"Kira?"
His eyes were swollen, and red. Tears rain down his cheeks. He looked heartbroken. Without thinking, Cagalli dropped her bag where she stood, hurriedly sat by him and wrapped her arms around his shoulder. She pulled him close. He was stiff at first, and she could feel him fidget for a moment, but soon he relaxed. He stayed in her arms, silently, for several minutes. All the while, Cagalli gently rubbed his back and assured him that it would be okay.
The two sat side by side in silence, staring at the orange, blue sky. Neither one of them knew how long they've been there, but it was peaceful. The weather was warm, with a slight breeze, and the only sound that was heard was the distant chirping of some birds. Minutes ago, they noticed some faculty members leaving the building. They suspected that they now were the only ones left on school grounds.
Cagalli frowned. "Why were you crying?" she turned to face Kira.
His face became sullen again. He propped his elbow on his knee and rested his face in his palm. He stared at the field below.
"The accident at Heliopolis was my fault."
He was becoming teary eyed.
"How could it have been your fault?" Cagalli asked.
"I was supposed to help them…Kuzzey and Rick. They asked me the day before, but I was so tired from studying that night. I overslept." His voice cracked. "I knew the formula better than everyone else…that's what everyone thinks…and I told them—" he covered his face with his hands and began to sob.
Cagalli placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You shouldn't blame yourself," she said. "You weren't there…you don't know what happened."
He shrugged her hand away. "They mixed the wrong chemicals," he said. "If I had been there, I could have—"
"Stop it!"
His eyes widened and his sobs halted.
"No one is to blame," she continued.
Her eyes peered into his, blazing with determination. A determination for him. Kira looked at her with awe.
"No one is to blame," she repeated, softer.
Kira looked defeated.
"Kuzzey was my friend."
Her expression softened, and her shoulders slumped. Those words pierced her like an arrow.
They weren't just schoolmates or classmates, she thought, they were friends…just a couple of weeks ago, he had lost his friend.
They were silent again, and they sat silent until the sun had set.
"You should get home," Kira had finally said. "It's getting too late for a girl—"
"I can take care of myself!"
Kira had let out his first chuckle of the day. "I know," he said. "But it would make me feel better if you would hurry home. Freaks come out on Friday nights."
She pouted. "I don't want to go."
He looked at her, perplexed. "Do you want to stay here?"
"Yes."
"Is this how you want to spend your Friday evening?" he looked sad again. "Being around me right now is not the best way to start your weekend. I don't want to bring you down."
She slid closer to him so that their arms and legs were touching. Instantly they felt warmer, inside and out.
"I can't leave you like this."
Kira saw the sincerity in her eyes, it made him feel secure.
"I could walk you home," he said.
"I told you...I don't want to go home."
There was a pause before he asked, "why not?"
Cagalli sighed. "Nothing would bring me down more than what lurks in that house."
Kira looked at her, opening his mouth, but not knowing what to say. He wanted to know more, but figured it was something sad. He was tired of sad. So, he made a mental note to find out later.
They stayed close to each other, saying nothing, but feeling content. The woes that they had earlier gradually washed away.
AN: This chapter was a little lengthier than a drabble, but still a flash chapter. You can see the narrator is more knowing towards the end...it's still limited third, but the narrator does know more than meets the eye, but favors Cagalli (it's still her story after all). This is the longest chapter so far, and some chapters will be like that-even being longer- but this will still remain a drabble/flash fic. I hope my few readers enjoyed! More to come!