Chapter 25
After a small transaction to get into the dance we make our way through the door. We would've gone through sooner but the people at the gate didn't think Rom and Ram were high school students.
They also made the mistake of questioning Blanc's eligibility due to…lack of chest development.
This proved to be a very costly mistake on their part.
Never in the time I've known Blanc have I never heard so many death threats under one roof. Luckily the students manning the door and profit box didn't get her in trouble for threatening.
It's also worth noting that it took Noire, Vert and I to hold her at bay. Even then it was still a struggle to keep her contained.
She eventually calmed down after seeing the frightened faces of her twin sisters. It's amazing how fast she can calm down in situations like these.
Nothing would make me happier than watching Blanc go on a rage and put the idiot students in their place. Year upon year of torture by my peers, and a chance to repay them ten fold. Who wouldn't take that opportunity? But we have a dance to get to don't we?
The doors open fully and we're blasted back by a wave of overly loud music. I'm amazed it's legal to play music this loud. If I lose my hearing I will so sue the school.
Aside from the loudness of the music, the type of music playing is making me a little uneasy.
"Rap…" I whisper under my breath.
Rap isn't my cup of tea, neither is techno. In this songs case it's both.
Annoying is the only word I'll use to describe the sound. Not only is it annoying, but it's so loud my ears are about to bleed.
It's nothing compared to all the emotional bleeding I've experienced with these girls. There have been good times, and there have been times where I was hurt. Physically for the most part.
But the past is the past for a reason. Now I'm in the present and I've got to show my friends a good and relaxing time.
The song that was playing when we entered just ended. A new song begins to play a few seconds, this time changing pace to a slow song.
Sigh, too many memories are flooding back.
Whenever I did go to dances in attempts to socialize it never ended well. Once a slow song began to play all the couples in the room would gather and start dancing. I never could dance by myself.
"Jack?"
"Huh?" I snap back to my senses when Vert speaks to me.
"Are… you alright?" Rom asks quietly.
I'm not sure if I should tell them about my failed attempts at dances. It'd be bad for business if they start to pity me. I want them to view me as a strong person, not someone who's weak and pathetic… even though that's true.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me." Forcing the best smile I can to my face, I hope it'll be enough to fool them.
Rom and Vert smile back and continue walking with me into the dark room. Already the couples are gathered on the dance floor. Soon after seeing the gathering a slight tug is felt on my sleeve.
"Hey Jack…" Noire speaks nervously. "Do you… maybe…"
She pauses for a moment trying to catch her breath. All the while her face is burning bright red.
"Want to dance?" Her face burning an even brighter shade of red at this point. She was even so quiet I barely heard her.
My heart is racing though. In all my years a girl has never once asked me to dance. Hell not even a guy has ever asked me. This is one opportunity I don't want to pass up on for sure.
However all I can do is nod slightly, I'm so nervous about this.
Taking her hand my heart rate increases some more. We then begin to head out to the dance floor to join the other couples.
As we take our position on the floor we get the stance correct as well.
Standing directly across from each other my right hand rises and touches her left shoulder. As it makes contact she shakes a bit in her place but calms down quickly. After a seconds delay she puts her left hand on my right shoulder.
Her touch sends me into a state of paralysis. I've never danced with someone before, of course I'm going to be scared.
It's how you persevere that matters.
Shaking my head a couple times I get back to earth. My left arm goes up to me her right arm. Our hands meet and our fingers intertwine.
With the steady beat of the music in the background our feet begin to move. First we step to the left.
Her hair sways from the movement with an elegance that only Noire could produce.
Afterwards we take a step back. She then goes out in a spinning motion. Once she's settled in I pull her back to the original position.
"I think I'm starting to not be nervous. How about you?"
"Wha… What?! I'm not nervous… I was never nervous to begin with!"
She turns her head away from mine with that retort. Her cheeks displaying a shade of crimson now, as well as shutting her eyes closed tightly. Now I know she's being a total tsundere.
"You don't have to lie to me you know, nervous or not I just hope you're having a good time."
Noire's eyes suddenly open when she hears me. If I had to describe the look she's giving off I'd say it's one of realization.
Her head turns back to me once more and looks directly into my eyes. I can hear a gulp, something big is about to happen.
"You… really care about me?" I don't know what's gotten into her but I like this Noire better.
"Of course I do, you're one of my greatest friends. Not to mention *Mmph!*"
Pain… that's all I feel right now.
How come every time I'm talking to Noire about something important Neptune comes up and tackles me? I'm starting to think she has special internal radar for these sorts of moments.
"Neptune you idiot!" And tsundere Noire is back in business. Just a second ago Noire looked so tranquil. Now in my honest opinion I believe Neptune will die tonight.
"You're gonna have to catch me if you want to beat meee!" Neptune goes into a singing voice of sorts as to taunt Noire.
Before I know it Noire is gone into the crowd of people chasing Neptune for vengeance.
I knew it… I just knew tonight something was going to go down. It's a tad surprising that it wasn't something that could've killed me; I seem to be attracted to those events.
Sigh, I need to relax and live a little.
"Jack, dance with me. You'll be sorry if you pass up this opportunity." Uni, you are so much like your big sister it's not even funny. "Don't get me wrong, I'm just dancing to repay you for that magic deck you gave me."
"The song isn't slow anymore, and you don't need to repay me for that."
"Then just dance beside me."
"Ok" the songs tempo picks up.
Neither of us knows how to dance to this music, so it's mostly just random and awkward shuffles. It can't be helped, I'm a social outcast.
Before long Rom and Ram come to join the party and dance around with us. It's fun, to have people to dance with that is. The feeling is like nothing I've ever felt before, like I'm not alone.
Afterwards Vert comes to our little circle of four making it five. Vert has an elegance to her awkward shuffles, that's all I'll say.
There's a lot of dancing going on around me right now, it's some of the most fun I've had in a while. Knowing that I have so many great friends is one great as hell sensation. One that I don't want to end.
It's been a little while since the dance blob was formed, since then I've been taking it easy. Part of taking it easy is relaxing with an ice cold beverage, school appropriate that is.
Peeking out of the corner of my eye I see Nepgear walk out of the room through one of the exits. It's only open to give some warm night air to the many dancers but serves as a way for people to just take a step outside.
The strange part is she was running outside instead of just walking. It gets even more eerie upon seeing two guys walking away from the scene with smiles plastered on their faces.
Thinking back to the few seconds I had to examine Nepgear, she looked a little down. Maybe all she needs is some cheering up.
"One more coke please." Sliding a one dollar bill to the sales person I'm handed a can of the greatest soft drink on this earth.
"One more thing."
Heading to the D.J. of this dance I lightly tap his shoulder.
"Could you please play this song in a few minutes?"
"Sure, we're running out of songs anyway."
Part one is a success, part two is now underway. Heading outside I'm greeted by an all too familiar face. Not Nepgear's though, someone completely different.
"Hey queer bag, it's about time you showed." Good lord Andrew is as ignorant as ever.
Looking at Nepgear closer she has a terrified look on her face. From what I can gather he's really hurt her. I'm not sure about physically but I know emotional pain when I see it.
"What are you doing here Andrew? You know you're not allowed to be here."
"I know, I just want to get payback on you assholes." Even though it was your entire fault for your injuries. I'm not going to waste my time with him, it's just not worth it.
"You had it coming, I refuse to waste my time with one who could be considered the missing link."
Andrew's face looks dumbfounded at my comment. I knew he was an idiot but I didn't know it was this bad. Now I know he's not worth it.
I won't fight this time for a few various reasons. One: he's a blabbering idiot that doesn't know left from right. Two: I'm kind of tired. And three: I don't want to go back into that state I was in the last time that made my friends look at me with fear.
"Are you calling me gay?!"
"I said nothing of the sort. We've proven I can kick yours and three other guys asses before so why don't you just go home and forget you were ever here?"
"As if, I'm going to kick you and your girlfriend's asses, starting with the titless one."
Now I'm starting to get pissed off. Over the time I've known them I've grown attached to them. So of course I'm going to be a little ticked off if they get threatened.
"I won't let you lay a finger on them!"
I don't care who you are… but nobody will harm the people I call friends so long as I draw breath.
For once in my pathetic existence I can truly say I have people I want to protect with everything I have. Because they are everything I have. If not for them I'd still be in my perpetual state of despair.
"Fine, then you'll die first!"
Andrew raises his right arm for a punch. At that moment I notice that his right hand is bandaged. Probably from our last encounter. If I want to make him suffer for his threats then I know what to do.
Raising my own left arm for a punch I thrust my arm out with all the force I can muster.
Our knuckles interlock as if a lock and key colliding. The initial reaction is as I expected, his arm jerking back as I make contact.
Somehow I knew he'd forget that would happen. Generally people do stupid things when their mental state isn't stable. I'll admit that I could slip at any moment and make a fatal mistake.
"Gah!"
Great, now I made him start to cry like a baby. I know what I did was cruel but he crossed the line.
If there is a god hopefully he will forgive me for what I do tonight.
Andrew regains what little composure he has left and tries to stand tall to intimidate me. It's not working one bit.
Walking up to him with rage filled eyes I ready my leg.
"*Swoosh!* *Thud!*"
Performing a sweep with my right leg I knock him to the ground. Immediately he tries to back crawl away from me.
His right hand has a little bit of blood coming from its bandage from when I punched it and damaged it more. All I feel for this poor bastard is pity. He's not even worth being angry at anymore.
"I expected you to last longer this time."
"Th… that's only because of my hand!"
His tear filled eyes only make the scene more pitiful.
"It was your own fault. Go and scurry away like the rat you are. Also… if you ever threaten my friends again, I won't hesitate to end your life."
I'm not sure if he was actually listening to my words or if he was just shitless scared but be ran away. Stumbling and having a hard time keeping balance but he managed to get away alright.
Turning back to Nepgear she has tear filled eyes. Maybe I just messed up big time.
"Jack… why did you *sob* come out here?"
"I saw you running outside, so I wanted to make sure everything was alright."
"Two *sob*… two people were making *sob*… of me. They said *sob*… I was worthless for being friends with you."
Her crying has only gotten worse. Nepgear's head is buried in her arms to collect the massive amount of tears flowing.
"And *sob*… how weak I am. They said *sob*… that I'm too weak and my life *sob*… amounts to nothing."
I can't stand it anymore… I hate this sight. One of my greatest friends in complete and utter darkness. I can only feel sympathy for her now.
"They're wrong Nepgear… anyone who would say such things to you is wrong!"
"Jack…" Her head rises slightly too where I can see her red eyes from her constant crying.
"You're not worthless… you've done more for me than words will ever say. I won't let anyone tell you that your life amounts to nothing, not even yourself."
Nepgear raises her head up even more. Now I can see her mouth still quivering from what she's experienced this evening. Call it a hunch but I think she's close to returning to normal.
"And you know what? If it weren't for you, your sister, or any of you girls being my friends… I don't think I would ever have done this right now. What I'm saying is… I don't think I could live a day without you Nepgear… that's a fate worse than death."
Her slightly opened eyes suddenly pop open. The frown of sadness goes to an expression of surprise with her mouth wide open.
"…" She's silent
The song I requested a few minutes ago begins to play. It's a song Nepgear told me she liked a while ago. The title is Go Love Peace.
Nepgear's still in her surprised state. When the music started however she began to come back down to earth. Her mouth conforms to a smile after a moment to contemplate.
She uses her already damp sleeves to dry up the tears still present on her face.
"Jack… thank you. Thank you for being here for me. I don't know what came over me."
She still has the smile on her face as if it was a badge. Nepgear opens her eyes next and stares directly into mine. The shade of purple they are is both slightly unnatural and captivating.
The music picks up the tempo slightly and goes into the chorus. She closes her eyes once more and begins to speak.
"Don't leave me ok? I'd be pretty helpless without you around. And… I like you a lot so… please *hmph*"
Our lips meet before she can finish her statement. I'm not sure if that's what she was aiming for but call it intuition on my part.
*Kiss* *Kiss* *Smack*
In all my days I've never kissed anyone. I'm not going to lie, it's like put my lips on meat… but sweeter in all aspects.
We break the kiss, both breathing heavily from holding our breaths. She stares at me again with her captivating purple eyes.
"I like you a lot too Nepgear. So don't leave me either, deal?"
"Deal… thank you Jack. For being my fri… I mean boyfriend now… if that's alright."
She looks so unconfident in herself expecting me to say no. That kiss should've said enough.
"Only if I can call you my girlfriend."
"I'm so happy! Thank you so much Jack.
So now I'm in a relationship eh? Only adventures from this point on I guess. I can't help feel some closure though.
I haven't felt this amazing in all my life. Nepgear isn't the only one who's happy more than words will ever say.
The song I requested comes to an end, it's a shame that this moment has to halt. Or does it?
"Could I maybe… have another kiss?"
Words aren't required for my answer. Our heads move towards each other, and our lips meet once more. All while the moon shines high in the sky above us. Maybe… maybe high school won't be so bad after all.
A/N: Sorry for another delay, I meant to get this chapter in three days ago. However… European history took a lot of my time away.
I hope you enjoy this little event. If not leave a review, I don't care if it's one telling me the story is bad. It just means that it could use some tweaking.
Again leave reviews and continue reading.