Chronoa

D. Gray-Man

Chapter Eleven

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Christine woke up again a few hours later. Sitting up in bed, she thought about the new arrival in the household. He was certainly….different. Getting out of bed with a yawn, she decided that it was time to get dressed and go downstairs, seeing as it was already seven in the morning and she had school.

It seemed weird, to go back to classes after everything that had happened. Now that she didn't have her mother to worry about, and she actually had friends, she wondered how school would go for her. Would she be able to actually stand up for herself for once? Or would she go back to being the bullied girl that nobody cared about? It seemed as if Allen and his friends had decided to become her protectors in a sense, but what if that was a onetime thing? Christine just wanted to know.

Shaking her head to get rid of the negative thoughts swirling around in it, she went through her closet to find an outfit for school.

When Allen knocked on her door ten minutes later, she had gotten dressed in a pair of black slim fit jeans, and a dark blue long sleeved shirt that hugged her curves slightly. She topped it all off with a baggy grey hoodie and her beat up Converse.

"Are you ready to head out?" Allen asked, peeking his head through the door. Once he saw that she was fully dressed, he opened it all the way. He was dressed in his usual all black, tight clothing; his eye patch covering his eye and his hood hiding his hair. Christine's eyes widened at his look – she almost forgot how good he looked in tight clothes…

Coughing slightly, she hurried past him, trying to hide her blushing face. Confused, Allen walked after her, wondering why her face had suddenly gone red. Chuckling quietly to himself, he hopped down the stairs and out of the house, grabbing an extra apple on his way.

Kanda and Lavi were already in their SUV, Kanda driving with Lavi in the passenger seat. Christine was in the back, the door waiting open for him. As soon as he hopped in and closed the door, Kanda stepped on the gas and floored it. The blonde girl immediately grasped onto Allen's hand, squeezing tight.

"Does he always drive like this?" she whispered to him. He shivered slightly at the feeling.

"Always," he told her quietly. "Unfortunately." She kept a hold of his hand until they screeched to a stop in the school's parking lot. Allen opened the door and got out, helping Christine out as well before slamming it shut.

"So," he asked her. "Are you ready to face everybody?"

"I think so," she told him after taking a deep breath. He nodded, pulling her into the school.

The day passed by quickly. Christine wasn't sure why, but it seemed as if everyone just…left her alone for once. No one gave her dirty looks, or made snide comments as she passed them. There was no one trying to trip her as she walked down the halls. Not a single person shoved her down or knocked her stuff out of her hands.

It felt good.

Once school was out, Christine hurriedly made her way to the doors that granted her freedom. Or, that was what she had planned on.

As she quickly walked through the crowded hallways, clutching the straps of her backpack, she kept her head down. The day had gone wonderfully, and she didn't need a bully to bring it down for her.

She ran into what felt like a brick wall, just a few feet from the doors. Looking up, she saw a tall, very well dressed man standing in front of her. He had deeply tanned skin, and golden eyes that shot straight through her. The intensity made her quickly back up a few steps.

"Oh! Umm, sorry," she muttered, trying to step around him. He stopped her, stepping in front of her no matter where she stepped.

"Now, now, where's a pretty little lady like you doing trying to ignore me?" he purred, smirking down at her. Christine gulped.

"I just h-have to meet my f-friends," she stuttered, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Would those friends just so happen to include Allen Walker?" he asked, crossing his arms. Her eyes shot up to his.

"W-why? What do you want with Allen?"

"Oh, that's none of your business, babe," he told her with a smirk, running a finger through her hair. She cringed away from him.

"O-of course it's my business!" she shouted, glaring at him. "They're my friends!"

"Really now? Well then –"

"Tyki! Get the hell away from her!" The dark skinned man turned away from her, facing the newcomer. Allen glared at Tyki with his one visible eye, stepping in front of Christine.

"Well, well, well, just who I wanted to see!" Tyki cried, grinning wickedly.

"Cut to the chase, what the fuck do you want this time?" Allen demanded. Christine could see him shaking slightly, but she didn't know whether in anger or in fear. She didn't like this side of Allen – this side that was just radiating pure anger.

"Oh, just wanted to let you know that we were back in town, is all," Tyki told the pair nonchalantly. With a gruesome smirk in their direction, he turned around and walked away from them.

"A-Allen?" Christine asked tentatively. "Umm…Who was that?" He sighed, turning around and plastering a smile on his face.

"Don't worry about it, Christine," he replied, grabbing her hand in his own. "We'll talk once we get home, okay?"

She nodded and allowed him to pull her to the car, where Kanda sped home.

A/N: Sorry it's been such a long time...Things have been er...hectic at home recently. Review, please?

-ZH