Chapter 2:Temporary Happiness

Aeris's POV

Life never felt so good. I was back in the present after my little visit to Leo's parents. I reappeared right in front of Pantsman's house at around 9:00 PM, so I just parked the DeLorean there figuring he could park it in the garage himself. Exiting the car, I noticed that the light in his house was on. Feeling curious as to why he would still be home, and not fighting crime, I looked in the window. I saw Pantsman inside, but the thing is, he wasn't Pantsman. Well of course he was Pantsman but he wasn't wearing the pants he wore as a mask. He was just a regular guy right now. I shook it off, figuring he was just on a day off. Right now I needed to get home and see the fruits of my labor.

It was dark out as I walked back to my apartment. I thought of all the things I could do now that Leo was gone. I could finally write my fanfictions in peace, watch all the Twilight movies without him saying that the only reason girls like modern vampire movies and TV shows is because girls have periods, and I could actually eat out without having to pay property damage when he exploded the toilets. I thought briefly that I may miss him. After a few months. Maybe years. It didn't matter, he was gone from my life and I couldn't be happier!

Eventually I did see the sign that showed that I was in front of my building (Finally, I could say my building and not our building). Walking inside I found that the lobby was virtually unchanged. Then again, it probably wouldn't be. As I walked over to the elevator, I noticed that the desk clerk gave me a weird look, but it was probably because I was wearing an outfit that hasn't been seen outside a television ever since the mid-nineties.

When I got to my floor I walked over to my (my) apartment and took out the key to it from my vest's pocket. When I turned it for some reason the door didn't unlock. Thinking that the key was just bent out of shape from the time travel or something, I went over to a nearby potted plant to look for the spare key that I hid there in case I dropped the key I kept on me. Thankfully it was still there. I went back to the door to unlock it. Something about the key seemed odd, the teeth seemed to be a bit off, but I paid it no mind as I unlocked the door. When I opened the door and turned on the lights I was surprised about the décor this place had. Sure it was gaming stuff but it was based off one thing; Metal Gear Solid. Don't get me wrong, I like the Metal Gear games, (despite that jerk being in them) but this was really excessive. Models of the different kinds of Metal Gear, posters, PS3 skins, and even coffee mugs littered the place and I was starting to wonder if the me in this time line was obsessive about this franchise. No sooner then I had started thinking about that I felt two hands grab my mouth and my throat. I then heard a gravelly voice say, "Well, look what the cat dragged in, pun not intended. If it isn't my old pal Aeris."

The man let go. When I turned around to see who had frightened me, I gasped a little bit. It was Snake, a junior high school bully of mine who I hadn't seen outside of the games he stars in for years. He is a tall man who wears a futuristic jumpsuit with two bandoleers across his chest to hold his grenades. He has a gray bandanna to match his jumpsuit and a five o'clock shadow to make him appear rugged. He has been called a hero, but to me, he's still the same jerk I knew in middle school. Immediately angry at him for being in my apartment (I think) I said, "What the Hell Snake! Why are you here?"

He sniggered, "I should be asking you that question. I live here, you don't."

I didn't know why but when he said that I started to feel a little scared, even though I stopped putting up with this guys bullshit years ago when... I'll think about that later, right now I had to figure out whats going on, "I don't?"

Snake got a good laugh at my expense, "No you don't. So why are you here? To steal my stuff to make a quick buck so that you can live here? Pfft as if."

I was starting to feel confused as I said, "Why are you talking to me like this? After Leo stood up for me you-"

Snake scoffed, "Who the hell is Leo? Was he an imaginary friend of something. Yeah real terrifying. Newsflash: I owned your ass back then, and I don't know where you've been all this time, but you always submitted to me, and if you don't leave now, I will call the cops."

Taking his invitation with gusto, I ran out into the hallway and into the elevator, with him laughing at me all the way. When the doors closed I started trying to remember my past.

11 years earlier

I was feeling good about myself after leaving Mr. 47's class, as I was the only one to turn in the homework that day. As I walked down to my locker I was humming a little tune, I can't remember what. Then I felt a hard shove as Snake pushed me. I dropped my books but I was able to keep my balance. I turned around and yelled, "What the Hell Snake! You big jerk!"

He then started his ranting, "On the battlefield you must be aware of your surroundings at all times. Attack can come from any direction."

And I stood there listening to his rambling until the bell rang again.

Present

No, that wasn't right! Leo was supposed to be behind Snake so that when he shouted "ALARM!", Snake would run in a nearby locker so that Leo would lock him in. But then I remembered the reason as to why Leo wasn't there to begin with; he doesn't exist. "So I was bullied throughout school", I thought to myself, "And that also means that I didn't make that promise to myself."

The promise I was talking about was that after Leo saved me from Snake was that I would make myself stronger so that no one would have to defend me anymore. Believe it or not, back in middle school I was as timid as a field mouse, and didn't even defend myself. I just waded through that crap and grinned all the way. Then Leo came along and took care of Snake for me, even though he didn't have to. And when he did that I actually had a crush on him. Then I found out who he was. Anyway, after all that I decided I wouldn't be so timid, but rather intimidating. It worked and I was never bothered again. But since there is no Leo here, that means I was still shy, and that meant I was bullied every day. "But that's fine." I said to myself, "Its not like school was that important anyway."

Then another memory came up.

11 Years Earlier

I was in Mr. 47's classroom. As class was starting he started talking in his monotone robot voice, "Observation: Homework is the futile attempt to improve something which is fundamentally broken. I am of course referring to the condition of being organic, however collection time is upon us. Inquiry: Lets just move down the line. Duke, can I assume another delay?"

A blond kid with sunglasses and a black vest said, "It'll be done when it's done."

Mr. 47 would have rolled it eyes if he had any, "Statement: I have become dulled to your excuses. Snake?"

Snake stood up and said, "On the battlefield, you don't time to worry about fractions and division."

Mr. 47 was becoming more exhausted as he said, "Inquiry: There is no battlefield, so I would soon like to know what that is. Aeris?"

Snake looked at me expectantly and I said, "No Mr. 47 I didn't do it."

Mr. 47 stared at me and said, "Question: You are aware that you are failing, not only here but in your other classes too, correct?"

I nodded. He then said, "Statement: Then start doing your work or else you will be kicked out of the school."

Present

So that's what happened. That's what he meant. He made me fail school. But to be honest, right now I don't care. So long as I have a job that pays, a house, and some video games I'm happy. Leo being gone is still a pretty good deal, even if I flunked out of school. I didn't matter, I'm happy.

General POV

And with that Aeris went to a nearby phone booth to find her address. This is a true case of denial. She only believes that shes happy, but deep down, she wants Leo back. But what will it take to bring these feelings to the surface, along with other feelings that have also been in denial.

(November 19th 2011) Fixed a few errors and added an extra bit so that the story would make more sense. Review Please!