A/N – Thank you to SmotherFate for once again helping me write this chapter, my sister for helping me edit this chapter and me for writing the rest of this chapter :D hahah. I'm finding the gaps between my writing time get longer and longer, making me lose sight of how fast time is progressing in the actual story… Sorry if it seems off. As soon as I'm done I will read it all through and edit properly. Now - Chapter 15!
Amy frowned from the open crack of her bedroom door and watched Reimi and Lloyd.
She saw him say goodnight, head back to his own room and close the door, as Reimi simultaneously did the same. She kept watch for a moment longer, until the pad of muffled footsteps stopped, then retreated back inside her own room.
She then sat on her bed, quite calmly, and hugged her knees.
"Lloyd and Reimi, Lloyd and Reimi…" she repeated, going over the night's events in her mind.
Being pushed away at the film, interrupted during the game… The little moment she had just witnessed. There was definitely something going on.
How could Reimi do this to her?
"There's really nothing going on."
"We're friends."
"Friendsfriendsfriendsfriendsfriends-
Amy cut off her train of thought with a snap.
She had been round Reimi long enough to know this behavior was out of the ordinary, she just didn't know why it had taken her so long to see it before.
Reimi, the girl who had sat up with her all night when her last boyfriend dumped her. The girl who had helped cover her student costs when she was struggling with rent. The girl who she thought was one of her best friends until right up to that moment… Could she be that same girl?
Amy ran a hand across her face in frustration. And did Lloyd like her too? It was hard to tell, she had been so sure he didn't before, but tonight…
She felt a rush of anger burn through her stomach and make her want to scream.
She decided to test them, to give Reimi one last chance for friendship's sake. She really didn't want to lose her as a friend, not to mention the hell of living together with what came after. And she cared about Lloyd so much. This was the first time that she liked a guy who actually seemed good for her. And now Reimi wanted to take that away.
Why…?
"Okay everyone! Tonight we're going to 'Our Promises'!" Amy cheered, suddenly appearing from her room the next morning.
Reimi and Lloyd, were in the middle of a boss battle on Crystal Chronicles. They turned to face her before looking at each other in confusion.
"Really, Amy? 'Our Promises'?" Elsa said skeptically from her place on the couch, "You know Reimi isn't into that kind of thing. And I can't say I'm that big of a fan either. Besides we just went out last night," She reminded, not lifting her head from her book.
"Oh come on, Elsa! It'll be fun! It's Saturday! And you get into it eventually, besides Lloyd might like it." She pointed out, smiling at him.
"….'Our Promises'?" He asked.
"It's a club," Amy replied giddily. "You'll love it, Lloyd."
"…a club?" Reimi cringed. She thought Amy already knew she didn't like those types of places so… why was she suggesting it now?
'This is probably about Lloyd…' She thought miserably to herself.
"Well, you don't have to come if you really don't want to," Amy sighed. Lloyd looked over at them, still perplexed.
"...Are you talking about school clubs?" He tested, receiving a giggle from Amy.
"No, silly!"
"They're places where DJs go to play-" Reimi stopped her explanation as she saw Lloyd's face twist at the term 'DJ'. "A DJ is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. And basically, people go there to dance and drink."
"That sounds fun. There aren't any of those back home. When do we go?" Reimi felt a mix of worry for him and fear of Amy's intent.
"Not till late evening." She answered drearily.
"Yeah, normally around 9 or 10. Yay! So, Lloyd, me and Elsa!" Amy confirmed, clapping her hands together.
"Huh? Why not Reimi?" Lloyd asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Um…actually, I think I'd like to go…today…" She nervously said, putting emphasis on 'today'. Lloyd looked over at her in concern.
"Are you sure, Reimi? I mean last time…" Elsa drifted off, looking troubled.
"Last time?" He hedged.
"Oh it was fine, some guy just grinded next to her and she freaked out." Amy moaned, rolling her eyes.
"Amy! It might be nothing to you but it's daunting when you haven't been to a club before. Especially when some guy you don't even know suddenly starts rubbing up against you when you're trying to find a seat. I mean she wasn't even dancing, she'd just come in!" Elsa righteously argued.
"T-thank you Elsa, but it's oka-" Reimi protested, feeling gratified by Elsa's words but not wanting to be the cause of a dispute.
"No, she's right. Sorry Reimi." Amy interjected, looking repentant, although for some reason Reimi felt she was not entirely sincere.
"Grinding…?"
The three roommates looked towards Lloyd silently, before displaying a colorful range of emotions, one began to chortle, another blushed while, simultaneously, lost the strength to make eye contact, and the last sighed, going back to her book.
"Reimiiii, why didn't you wear what I picked out?!" Amy whined as they walked down the road from where the cab had dropped them off moments before.
"Well…I didn't think it'd suit me… and the style was a little too flashy…" Reimi explained.
When Reimi had gone to her room to change earlier, Amy swiftly threw in a dress, telling her to wear it. The dress was covered in bright blue sequins and had a wide neck with sleeves that hung off the shoulders. It only just about covered Reimi's underwear…
Seeing Amy still pouting, she found herself saying, "I'm sorry, Amy."
"Aw, don't worry, Rem. I really like you as you are." Elsa smiled, nudging her shoulder. Elsa herself was wearing a dusty maroon pair of skinny jeans, a baggy vest top and a cardigan with heavy-looking, work-style boots.
"What?! That dress is too long, you need to show off your legs more, Rem!" Amy opposed as she gestured toward her own legs which her denim short-shorts did a good job of illuminating.
"But…it comes two inches above my knees...and it has spaghetti straps too…" She had decided on one of her less worn, more special dresses that she'd bought on a whim. A plain, pretty powder pink dress that she felt was a little too revealing in itself, so it took a lot of courage for her to wear it tonight.
"Yeah, I think that dress suits you a lot more." Lloyd said, smiling to her.
"Thanks." She smiled appreciatively back.
Amy faced forwards, expression clearing of emotion.
"You do as well, Lloyd. You look really nice." Reimi complimented, feeling proud that she was able to say it. They had all gone out together to look for some 'appropriate' clothing that Lloyd could go clubbing in, and although Reimi thought he looked fine in what he usually wore, she was glad at what they had picked out.
"Oh, really? Thanks…" He blushed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"It definitely makes a change to those plain clothes from my brother." Elsa agreed.
"See, I do have good taste." Amy commented proudly.
It wasn't that they thought she had bad taste or anything, Reimi reminisced, it was just… Amy would sometimes go a little overboard or forget about the subject's own comfort or choice of style. Luckily, Lloyd just ended up with some nice fashionable chinos and a simple t-shirt.
As they rounded the corner Reimi could already feel the pounding of the music thumping through her feet, up into her chest, making her feel heavy and uncomfortable.
'I wonder how long we have to stay…' she wondered as the queue came into sight.
"Oh, there's the queue!" Amy exclaimed excitedly, pulling Lloyd along by the upper arm.
Reimi watched them go, her face and heart concealing the wretched regret she felt.
Almost forgetting the other presence with her, she quickly turned to Elsa, whose face was harboring, what Reimi could only categorize as, some sort of remorse or pity maybe.
"Rei-" She began to say, breaking the strange silence.
"I guess we should catch up to them, haha."
Reimi didn't know what Elsa was going to say but for some reason she didn't want to find out.
Elsa silently followed.
As they caught up to them in the queue, Lloyd cried out "The earth's trembling!" and undertook a bracing pose.
"Lloyd, it's the music!" Amy laughed, still holding onto his arm, Reimi noticed.
"What?...Is it good for your planet?" He speculated, frankly apprehensive for the Earth's welfare.
"I wonder." Reimi replied, smiling awkwardly back.
After about twenty-five minutes in the queue, they finally got through the club's doors and wandered in. Reimi understandingly felt like a deer in headlights as the beams blared into her eyes, and the music overwhelmingly pulsated its way through her body making it feel as if she would burst from the inside.
"Wooohooo! Come on, Lloyd, let's dance!" Amy yanked Lloyd into the centre of the room to the other dancers. Reimi's heart dropped as she saw her holding his hand.
"Woah," Lloyd sputtered as he was pulled away. Elsa sighed.
"Let's go, Rem. I'll buy you a drink." She offered, taking Reimi in the direction of the bar, away from the dance floor. Reimi smiled and thanked her before quickly reminding her to get nothing alcoholic.
"I know, I know." Elsa droned jokingly.
After they got their drinks and found a place to sit, Reimi tried to search for Lloyd in the crowd of dancers; unfortunately it was futile with all the bounding figures.
She and Elsa started chatting about everything and nothing, and it seemed to be a good distraction. Random guys appeared and asked them to dance every now and then but both girls declined nicely and politely, though Elsa was a lot more confident about it than Reimi.
Lloyd and Amy found their table about thirty minutes later both shining with perspiration and breathing heavily.
"Wooo, that was sooo much fun!" She beamed as she sat beside Reimi, "You dance funny, Lloyd."
"Dancing? I was trying to stand between everyone falling around everywhere." Lloyd clarified defensively, looking exhausted as he rested his chin on the table.
"You just have to go with it, move with the music, y'know?"
"What music?" He asked ostensibly clueless.
"Haha, Lloyd you're so weird! What have you been hearing since we came in? Haha," Amy twittered disbelievingly, all the while leaning closer to him.
"Isn't that just noise? Actually it's given me a headache." He groaned, rubbing his head.
"Ar, Lloyd! Anyway, I'm going to the bar, come on."
"No, no, I'll go with you. Lloyd needs a break." Elsa insisted as Amy was about to grab Lloyd by the arm again.
"Huh? And I don't?" She complained.
"You're the one who said you wanted to go to the bar, remember?" Elsa prompted obstinately.
"Oh, fine. We're going to get drinks. Be back in a minute." Amy huffed impatiently.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Lloyd rested his head in his hands, leaning against the table. "Ahhh, man. I'm beat. I'm starting to get why you didn't want to come. This isn't as fun as I thought it was going to be." Reimi felt a twinge of guilt as the feeling of relief poked at her.
"Well, at least you can say you've been." Reimi reasoned, trying to comfort Lloyd.
"Yep, been and done." He laughed, "Reimi…why did you come when you didn't want to? …Was it because of me?" He asked a little shyly.
'Oh god…he…he doesn't know does he?!' Reimi's head was swaying from the notion.
"W-what..?" She could barely get anything out.
"I'm happy you came but you shouldn't have pushed yourself because you were worried about me, I would have been okay." He smiled, embarrassed.
'…..Oh' Reimi sighed, 'Thank goodness.'
She was just about to make an excuse but luckily Amy and Elsa returned before she had to.
Elsa took back her place next to Reimi, handing her another virgin cocktail, then began to start on her own beer.
"Thanks, Elsa."
"Kah-kahrrn…blargle-bargle….pfft!" A strange choking sound erupted from Lloyd before he sprayed the whole table with his drink.
"Lloyd, are you okay?!" Reimi quickly got up and reached over to rub his back soothingly.
"Kah-Kah…..y-yeah, thanks Rem," His voice a bit croaky.
"What happened?" Elsa asked concerned.
"I dunno, he had some of his drink and- did it go down the wrong hole or something?"
"What is that stuff?" He questioned uneasily looking at the offending liquid.
"It's a Bloody Mary." Amy told him as if it was obvious.
"It burns…" His voice sounded comically off-key and broken.
"I guess he doesn't like alcohol." Elsa mused, wiping down the table with the tiny square tissues that came with their drinks.
"Urrrrrr…" Lloyd burbled, looking a pale shade of green, making Amy move away slightly.
"…You okay, Lloyd?" Reimi couldn't help asking again.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks," He replied, voice still croaky.
After Lloyd felt better, the four chatted for a while more until Lloyd became somewhat quieter. Eventually, before anyone could take any sign on his nervous, thinking exterior, he turned to Reimi.
"…Hey, Reimi do you want to dance with me? I'll try and actually dance properly this time." He laughed uncertainly.
Reimi grinned so happily for a second, feeling like he was just looking at her and that maybe he wasn't just being nice as his nature but maybe he…
'No, no, let's not go overboard.' She reprimanded, before her thoughts ran away with her.
Excited and readily about to agree, she turned to face him, but caught Amy's displeased, glaring eyes over his shoulder instead. At that moment they felt as bright and painful as the lights that blared down on her just like when she first walked into the club.
"…Actually, I'll go get you another drink instead."
She got up quickly to leave, missing the expression that spread across Lloyd's face.
"Come on, Lloyd. Dance with me instead."
Reimi unconsciously held her breath as she heard the two's voices float away.
Elsa tried to catch up with her; "Rem-"
"I'll just go get his drink."
"Wait, Reimi!"
Reimi had disappeared in the crowd, so all Elsa could do was wait until she returned. When she eventually came back, Reimi seemed more collected.
"Reimi, listen-"
"Um, excuse me..." Elsa turned to look at the voice directed at her. It belonged to a shy youth, who had appeared on the dance floor behind them. "W-would you erm..would you like to dance with m-me?"
"Oh…Well…" Elsa turned to stare at the table for a moment, thoughtful.
Reimi had never seen Elsa hesitate before… 'I think she likes this type…'
"I'm sor-"
But just before she could decline Reimi decided to intervene, "Go, go! Have fun,"
"But-"
"Go!"
Elsa smiled gratefully but concern was still etched into her continence.
"Ermm…I-..I'm not much of a dancer, sorry…" The man shyly spoke as Elsa stood up.
"Don't worry; I can't say I'm great or anything. Let's just do it our own style."
Reimi now found herself sitting alone, and actually felt a small burst of release from it. Of course, she wasn't feeling that much better from having to shun Lloyd earlier but just for a minute she felt like she could relax.
She placed her chin on her hands as she looked around the room, the obnoxiously busy room. People swarming and buzzing, a blurry mess of illumination and colours, it all felt so…heavy.
Trying to evaporate it all away, she slowly closed her eyelids, welcoming anything to be washed out while she was pulled back and forth in her imaginary ocean by the clamour and chatter. Unfortunately, she comprehended shortly that this frustrating pressure was something that couldn't really be eroded.
Exhaling, her eyes gently fluttered back open, reality flooding back.
Learning long ago that she had somehow acquired a 'Lloyd radar' along with understanding of her feelings, he was what her eyes revealed first…although she never expected him to be the first thing she'd open her eyes to…surrounded by four attractive girls whose body language gave more than an inkling of their motives…and with no Amy in sight either.
They stood far to the side of the main dancing area, all of their attention and 'assets', on Lloyd. Reimi watched his expressions carefully. Confused, sheepish, nervous… he laughed, then looked confused a few more times. And suddenly his eyes found hers.
She swerved her head so sharply; a painful 'click' could be heard.
"Ow!" She couldn't help but grit out.
Between her neck now burning slightly, her head throbbing, her eyes tingling and aching, and her heart breaking…she'd had enough.
She got up and marched out from the aquarium of sickly lights, and as the cold air hit her face, she gasped out…before she knew it, she was crying.
Which quickly became sobbing.
'Oh, that's what that was.' She thought, referring to the tingling behind her eyes from before…
'I can't stay here… It hurts. I'll just text them all that I felt ill and went home… yeah, it'll be fine.' She tried to reassure herself.
She got out her phone, her hands trembling ever-so-slightly, 'Oh come on,' She thought incredulously at herself, and scrolled down her list of contacts until the name 'Speed Wagons' showed on the screen then initiated the call.
She gave them her current location and the place she'd like to go. They informed her they'd be twenty minutes.
She slid herself down onto some stairs that resided a small ways away from the club down the road and hugged her knees.
It was cold and she was starting to get goose-bumps on her arms. She rested her head on them.
'I should start working on what I'm going to text' she realised as she gently pulled out her phone from her bag.
As she did, running-paced steps echoed closer until they stopped in front of her.
A little nervous, Reimi continued to focus on her phone.
"Reimi!" She jumped at the voice, "Where were you?!" She looked up to meet Lloyd's unhappy, frustrated gaze.
"Wha-What?" She asked cautiously, frankly a little scared while getting to her feet.
"I couldn't see you so I went looking, but you were nowhere!" He exclaimed, looking closely at her. He noticed her eyes stained with tears. "Reimi..? Have you been crying?"
Reimi turned red and quickly turned her face away, "N-no! I was just- something got in my eye…with all the wind," She rambled, panicking for a defence, still in awe and confusion about why he came after her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise how bad a time you were having." He used his sleeve to dry the wetness from around her eyes.
Reimi laughed fondly at the action and it almost made her want to cry more.
"If you wanted to leave, you could have at least told me," he feebly moaned.
"I'm sorry, I just didn't feel well…." Trailing off as she lied.
"Reimi, you don't have to make an excuse," He told her looking very determined to get through to her, "And stop apologising, you're allowed to say when you're not having fun," he looked down at his hands, "I know you came because you're worried about me…but I wish you wouldn't push yourself…"
"I didn't- I mean I wasn't!..I mean…um…"
There was an awkward silence before Reimi sat down again wordlessly and Lloyd joined her. He was so close their shoulders were practically touching and although, Reimi didn't dislike it, she found herself speaking.
"Erm, I ordered a cab a little while ago, it's going to be here soon. I was just about to text all of you, but just in case they don't see it for a while, could you let them know when you go back in?" Reimi asked but recoiled as she saw his lips purse together. "If it's a bother, then it's okay not to."
"Is…is it okay if I go back with you?" He requested timidly, ostensibly embarrassed.
"What?…I mean- but why?" She asked a tad panicked, "If it's for me, you really don't-"
"No… It's just… I'd prefer to hang out with you at home then stay here without you…" He explained sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
"O-oh…" She stuttered in surprise, "….but what about those girls?" she mumbled dejectedly.
"Huh? Oh!…A-And we can fight that boss! We couldn't finish it, right?"
"Yeah, you're right" she grinned, blushing, "…I'll text them that we're both going back then."
Once the duo returned to the flat, they gathered a bunch of snacks around them as they sat in front of the television and continued their game from earlier.
Reimi felt so happy being back at home and was having so much fun with Lloyd and, not to seem conceited, but she was pretty sure he was having fun too.
"Woah, we did it!" Lloyd hailed as the chalice sequence ensued on the screen, "You're so good at multitasking, Reimi." He praised happily.
"Haha, what do you mean?"
"You know, you were battling but you were still able to hea-"
Bam!
Amy marched into the living room and she didn't look happy.
Reimi and Lloyd couldn't help but feel like they'd be caught red-handed.
"Why did you guys go back without us?!" Amy demanded.
"They're not children, Amy. And neither are we." Elsa stated calmly, casually strolling in and taking a seat on the sofa.
"Where did you go before?!"
"U-uh, some girls wanted to talk to me about some stuff. I lost you completely."
"What? Like what?"
"My name, Birthday, if I had a girlfriend, did I go there often…hmmm" He listed, counting off his fingers.
"What!"
"I'm sorry for disappearing and not going to find either of you about leaving but we thought a text would be enough." He said quietly, openly remorseful.
"It was, don't worry." Elsa assured them.
Amy just turned from them crossly and stomped to her room, slamming the door behind her.
"She's going to wake the neighbours." Elsa yawned, and then noticed that both Reimi and Lloyd look somewhat disturbed.
"She'll be fine in the morning." She told them but Lloyd looked doubtful, returning his attention back to the game while Reimi looked a little sheepish.
Elsa rubbed her temples.
"Elsa, did you have fun?" Reimi asked from her place on the floor as Lloyd picked his end-of-level bonus.
Elsa turned to Reimi giving her a tired smile, "It was alright, it was mostly exhausting but...some of it…was nice," she turned away as the last line, casually itching her arm.
"I'm glad," she noticed Elsa blush and smiled.
"Your turn, Reimi," Lloyd announced.
"Ok!"
On the other side of the door, Amy broke down and started to cry.
A/N - If you guys like the Reimi and Lloyd pairing, my friend has set up a fanfiction account with the username 'Lleimi' which has little one shot stories of these two. Read them if you get bored waiting for an update :D and REVIEW!