- Jaded Iris -

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- Chapter 4 -

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- Inside Out : Rockin' And Rollin' -

Thuds and muffled groans of aggravation sounded through the door along with some unknown muttering that quite darkly resonated. Lenalee knocked on the door, entering hesitantly, even after he barked a "Come in!" and Lenalee poked her head in. On the floor, Allen lay sprawled out with his arm tangled above his head (and stuck) by his white cotton shirt. He tried kicking it off, weirdly enough, with his feet, going as far as to gnaw on the fabric, growling like a dog with rope playing tug-a-war with master. Lenalee giggled, hurrying over to the boy. Realizing who entered his room, Allen stopped all motions, and blushed madly.

Lenalee knelt down beside him, helping him sit up first, till she noticed his leg managed to tuck in the shirt. At least, she thought, Allen is extremely flexible for a boy.

"Do you need help, Allen?" Lenalee teased.

"Please?" Allen muttered bashfully, near tears in pure desperation to crawl out of his strangling position.

Lenalee carefully lifted the shirt a little, pulling his foot out from its horrid spot, then tackled the task of weaving Allen's arm out of the shirt. However, to do this, Lenalee had to pop his head in his shirt, which she did quite mercilessly, as if she were popping a huge pimple, earning a sort of farting sound Allen; losing all his oxygen while also having the air knocked out of him when he originally attempted to subconsciously groan, and his lips being forced to pucker together since he was being treated like slinky, made him make weird sounds.

After managing to strain a muscle, additionally getting three scratches and a bruise by Lenalee's ruthless hands and razor-nails, ripping his new shirt, all while stretching the garment into an oversized shirt that could fit for a dress, Allen eventually came out of his suffocating bind. Lenalee poked his cheek, worried she may have killed him when he didn't look to be breathing.

He drawled a sigh, pouting his lips. "I can't put a dumb shirt on anymore."

"Oh, you'll get used to it. Don't worry." Lenalee said encouragingly, offering a meek, humored smile. "But, uh, I think we need to get a different shirt for you."

"I just bought that shirt!" Allen snatched the garment from her, studying it angrily.

"I'll buy you a new one later, but we need to get to school." Lenalee told him, helping him to his feet, dabbing the inkling of blood on his cheek because of her fingernails.

"No, I ruined it. I'll buy myself a new."

She laughed as he glared at cotton, walking over to his dresser. He hadn't noticed she was rummaging through his drawers as he threw the shirt on floor and brutally stomped on it, thinking he might as well take his frustration out on it than the wall. He needn't break his hand or any of his five digits unless he really wanted to be in the deepest ditch in hell.

Lenalee pulled out a couple of shirts and pants randomly and messily thrown in Allen's drawers. She guessed he was struggling folding them now like everything else, so she thought nothing of it. That is until a few of his underwear fell on the carpet and she instinctively picked them up to put them back, all too used to touching boy's drawers because Komui didn't do the laundry as much as he should, but she stifled a giggle when she saw a few markings drawn on them. Safe to say, after studying them, that Lavi and possibly Kanda got a hold of his clothes once. Oh, it wasn't that obvious. After all, it was nothing more than permanent markers colored on white and gray and occasionally black boxers with random pictures like Dr. Seuss's characters - Cat In The Hat, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, Horton, Thing 1 and Thing 2 - and words like the classic KICK ME plastered on the backside and one pair had it on the front. Fascinated by the prank, Lenalee couldn't help looking at the other drawers and found one with Pringle's' logo, another with pots of gold, and another said 'No Apples Here...'

Allen caught her glimpsing through his clothes and hastily dashed over to her, grabbing his underwear away from her, blushing furiously as he just noticed half the things. Lenalee broke into a fit of laughter because of his ridiculous face.

"I can't believe they did that." Allen grumbled, holding the door open for Lenalee and he was still peachy. Not only did Lenalee see his underwear, she touched them and Lavi had to draw those preposterous images on there and those mocking words. Talk about embarrassing.

"It's not that bad." Lenalee patted his cheek, yet her eyes laughed.

He sighed. Well, other than Lenalee, he supposed it wasn't that bad because no one else will see them. Even so, he'll be going shopping for new ones and shirts easier to get in. Hell! Pants were the easiest thing to put on himself. Do you have any clue how impossible it is to tie shoes with one hand? Uh, nowise possible! Duh! Lenalee had to tie his shoes for him because he couldn't.

"I talked to the Mister Bak and Fou about your issue," Lenalee said, brining him out of his mental ranting. "And you'll be sharing a locker with Kanda. They wouldn't let me share with you and Lavi's locker is a black hole. That leaves Kanda-"

"You've gone bonkers!" Allen exclaimed, gathering the attention of the scattered teenagers in the main hall of the school. He stood closer to Lenalee, trying to hide what's missing behind her back so not many will stare, but it was too late for that. Everyone was looking, including numerous passing teachers.

"I can't share," he hissed in a lower voice, "a locker with Kanda."

"You're right." Allen narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I'll see if I can get Jasdevi-"

"Um, I was joking. Kanda and I are, like, uh... best... friends. So, er, never mind."

"Not very convincing, Allen."

"You can't be serious, Lenalee! Jasdevi? They'll steal my things and-bluntly, those two freak me out. I swear they're voodoo enchanters or whatever."

Lenalee smiled there, nudging Allen toward Kanda, who stood in front of his locker, taking out books. He saw the white-haired boy and glared at him as he waved nervously, whispering to Lenalee, "He looks angry today."

"Allen, Kanda always looks angry."

"Yes, but today he is immensely pissed off."

"How do you get that?" Lenalee asked, arching a brow.

"There's fire behind him."

"What?" Lenalee looked, obviously not having paid any attention. Allen wasn't entirely lying. There was indeed fire behind him, but it was clearly fake. Art. On a moving billboard. Lavi and Froi Tiedoll, Kanda's adoptive father, were carrying it, stopping moments ago in just the right position to make it look like Kanda was on fire. Lenalee shook her head, thinking Lavi and Tiedoll did that on purpose, knowing them.

In the end, Allen pushed past his qualms, walking up to Kanda. No, he wasn't nervous. He just waited anxiously for what was to come. Yet Kanda never said anything as he pointed at the locker. It was obvious the shelf separated where their books and papers would go-Kanda had the shelf and above while Allen had below, where the locker was completely bare there. No even a shred of paper or candy wrappers. The latter was stupid, though, because everyone knew Kanda hated candy. Anything sweet he despised. It's a wonder he eats food that often have sugar in the ingredients from time to time or something else delicious.

Alert for anything from Kanda, Allen slid his bookbag onto the ground and sluggishly organized his books and binders and put a magnetic basket inside the locker, putting erasers, pens, pencils, and post-it note paper in it. Kanda stood behind him, no doubt making sure Allen didn't put anything he didn't like in their locker.

Gathering what few items he needed for the first half of the school day, Allen rose from his crouch, shutting the locker with his shoulder. "Thanks, Kanda."

"Don't mention it."

"Awww, see, he cares about you after all. Looks like-" Kanda elbowed Lavi hard in the gut, using too much strength against him, for poor Lavi doubled over in pain.

"Don't. Mention. It." Kanda fixated the most negative look at Allen. "Ever. Or I'll kill you beansprout."

"It's Allen, stupid!"

"Who the hell are you calling stupid, dumbass?" Kanda growled, standing up to his full height.

"The sloth in front of me!" Allen stretched his neck to heighten himself, glaring at him with equal fiery heat.

Lenalee rolled her eyes, pushing Kanda away from Allen and dragging Allen down the hall with her. The argument stayed subtle, and that's all she cared about at the moment, so she was proud of both of them for not shouting insults and threats at each other in the hall. No, they resorted to a simple glaring challenge.

The rest of the day wasn't all too simple or fortuitous. Allen struggled to travel from class to class without dropping his papers and books, nor could he open the door to his locker or class by himself without putting everything on the ground and he didn't always arrive early like he usually does. The school desks are normally smooth and flat, making it easy for his paper to move when he is trying to write and jot down notes or finish paperwork. Tech class became immensely difficult for someone with five fingers on just one hand; he found it uncomfortable shifting his fingers over the keyboard then to the mouse. It became annoying when he continued to misspell things or couldn't log in to his school account on one try. Also, when he had to flip through his textbook, his pencil would often find its way on the floor one way or another, causing him to bend over repeatedly to pick it up and now his side aches. Allen wasn't allowed to participate in PE sports, as most sports require your arms more than your legs and feet, and today there were playing baseball outside and tomorrow would be floor hockey. Allen attempted swinging the bat and felt crooked and strange, not to mention the bat slipped out of his grip and slammed into the back of Kanda's head.

As much as he disliked not being left out, Allen and Lavi kept laughing their asses off about that all day. At lunch he couldn't carry even half the portion of food he typically buys to his table with Lenalee, Lavi and Kanda. He could carry only one tray overstuffed with food and drinks. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. What bothered him the most is when his peers continually came up to him an apologized for his loss and in science class no one wanted to be his partner because of how difficult it would be to work with him, and for him to work, when he had only one arm. Thankfully, his teacher let him sit the experiment out if Allen was willing to read his science textbook until class ended by himself in the back.

Thank God he didn't have to ride the bus home. Lavi offered him a ride home in his red truck. This time he didn't help Allen buckle up, but it took a few minutes before Allen succeeded, and Allen was too glum to be proud about that. Instead, he leaned on the door, chin digging in his shoulder, as he gazed out the window solemnly. Earlier he had been excited about starting school again, thinking it would be a wonderful distraction from his dull, nothing-to-do, distraught life at home. What a disappointment.

"You okay, buddy?" Lavi asked quietly.

"I think I'm going to be homeschooled from now on, since I can't do cyber school without aggravations." Allen murmured, wishing there was a restart button somewhere for his life, at least the last few weeks.

Lavi choked on air and slammed on the brakes, and flashes of rain and lightning ran across his vision and when his body thrusted forward, involuntarily screaming as his body began to feel like it was being crushed; his chest surged with pain more than anywhere else and he could feel hot liquid flowing down the side of his head, and a tight squeeze on his heart sent not only a jolt of excruciating pain throughout his body but made him jump, then writhe in his seat.

Lavi unbuckled himself when the truck came to a screeching halt, automatically clambering closer to Allen as his body apparently went through a relapse of agony from the night of the crash, as it seemed the only logical explanation at the moment. His hands stopped right before they touched Allen, afraid to touch his friend, as though he may break or torture him even more. It isn't like he could shake him back into his sense. Lavi was starting to have a panic attack.

Then Allen silenced, his body absolutely stone-still. A few moments more and Lavi thought Allen died of a heart attack or something, because Allen was far too still. There wasn't the sound of breathing, the movement of his chest seemed to stop, those beautiful eyes glaze over. Lavi told himself over and over to check Allen's pulse and call the ambulance immediately, yet his own body refused to move under his urgent intentions to possibly save his friend's life.

Tears flowed down Allen's face like a waterfall, showing he was still alive. Hastily, Allen unbuckled himself and climbed out of the truck, falling on the ground and scraping his knee. Lavi instinctively bolted out the truck and rushed to Allen's side.

"Allen! Ar-are you okay? I'm sorr-rry. I'm so, so sorry." Lavi gulped a lump in his throat, regaining his usually calm composure as he gently landed his hand on Allen's arm. "Allen?"

"I won't get back in." Allen whispered, eyes broadened in horror and Lavi felt Allen's tears drizzle persistently on his hand.

Lavi didn't blame him. But it never kept him from feeling uncontrollably guilty as he helped Allen to his feet and guided him to the bench on the sidewalk, then quickly parking his vehicle down the street and running back to him.

"Do I need to call the ambulance?" he inquired nervously, anxiously. "Your heart is beating erratically? You don't feel like you're bleeding anywhere when you obviously aren't? You-"

"I just want to go home." Allen said softly, clutching his chest.

The redhead clenched his fists. What an idiot he had been! Stopping the truck like that because he was surprised to hear Allen say such wicked thing when he's always loved school even if he hardly showed it. It was just... No matter how you look at it, Lavi was incredibly foolish to slam down the brakes, knowing all too well Allen's new trauma with vehicles that has yet to heal since it was recent.

"Then let's start walking. Your house is just a few blocks away."

Lenalee banged the door open and hurled herself in Allen's direction. Without thinking or hesitation, she jumped on the bed beside him and securely embraced Allen lovingly, sympathetically, gingerly. His body trembled slightly in her grasp, but she didn't care about that at the moment. Allen's health and state of mind far surpassed his shaking.

"Are you all right, Allen?" Lenalee asked, stroking his back soothingly, vanquishing Allen's fit of shakes as he melted into the embrace and accepted her warmth. Somehow, this relieved her.

"Yes, I'm fine," Allen whispered, burying his face in her neck. "Especially now that you're here, Lenalee."

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest with joy... excitement... love. For whatever reason, those words quenched her concern about him all while making Lenalee overly happy to know that the simplest actions from her could make him bear all this much better and soothe his wild emotions that led to stupefying petrification.

She smiled sincerely. "You sure you don't need a doctor? Or at least Bookman?"

The curving of his lips tickled her skin. "I found a remedy." He looked at her, holding Lenalee closer to him for his comfort, yet unintentionally sparking Lenalee's emotions, and their new closeness made her face shade crimson. "You didn't need to come."

"Of course I did!" Lenalee protested. "Besides, Lavi was panicking and that isn't easy to do."

Allen chuckled lightly. Unknown: Why he suddenly elevated to was something, just something, extraordinarily pleasant about hugging Lenalee, relying on her to be with him for support and solace. The thought gave him this thrill, and he wondered if the rest of his life would be like this. Allen feared one thing more dying shortly, far earlier than anticipated, and that was letting moments like these slip away and letting Lenalee out of his grasp.

Allen tightened his hold on her, pressing his cheek to hers. "Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me? I haven't done anything."

"You came for me, that's enough." Allen smoothly added, "I bet Komui would be jealous of me right now. I have his precious sister in my arms and in my bed."

"Something about that doesn't sound quite right there, Allen." Lavi said as he walked in Allen's bedroom with a cup of cold milk and a tray of freshly baked cookies.

Lavi snickered as Allen and Lenalee madly blushed, realizing Lavi's joke and the innuendo in Allen's sly joke, and oddly Allen felt dirty to have accidentally said something so... raw like that. At least it seemed raw to him. Even if it wasn't it was wrong and... just inappropriate and oh-so embarrassing.

They broke their warm embrace and scooted a safe distance away from each other. Allen preoccupied himself with counting the stripes on his blanket and Lenalee nervously fiddled with her thumbs, head sinking lower and lower under Lavi's scrutiny. Oh, how she'll hear about this later in one of his new attempts to urge her on to confess her deep passionate feelings about her best friend. But they weren't even 18 years of age... Could they-could she-be in love or is it a fanciful fantasy? No, no, it must be love.

When Lenalee met Lavi, Kanda, and Allen, each meeting feeling extra special and she knew their bonds would be grow to more than basic friendship, which quickly grew to best-friend bonds, then brotherly sisterly love. Except Allen. Her devotion to their friendship went the extra hundred miles, and this unmitigated sensation inside her... is unexplainable and eventually she concluded love. Unadulterated love. People say love feels like a knot in chest, butterflies in your stomach, and when the person gets too close to you, you heat up and your heart skips a few beats.

Well, it could be like that at times. When she was about to confess one time that's just how she felt. This was nerves in this relationship. However, Lenalee feels eagerness and excitement when she is around him, in a fiery rage bursting higher and higher, expanding constantly. Allen is on her mind seventy-eight percent of the time. Lenalee longs for his simple touches- a tropical caress, the friendly hand holding, yet more intimate, the fuzzy warmth of their hugs... a sweet fervent kiss. Now is that sisterly brotherly love? No.

"Now I know I am far from a chef, but I made a batch of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies." Lavi set the tray on the floor in front of him when he sat down criss-cross style. "Brought two things of Oreos just in case I screwed them up though. Also, got milk." Lavi held up the gallon of cold milk and a few glasses, shaking them tauntingly in front of Allen as his gray eyes gleamed and he drooled over the cookies. "Nothin' like cookies and milk. Come on, boy, come here."

"Don't treat him like a dog." Lenalee rolled her eyes.

Allen hopped off the bed, letting Lavi pour him a glass of milk as he reached for a cookie. His one-eyed friend set the glass in front of Allen and the cookie took a cannon ball in the milk, and Allen even added childish rocket sounds for effect. Giggling, Lenalee joined them on the floor and rationed the portions between the three of them reasonably. Lenalee and Lavi shared a third of the cookies and the rest went to the eight-year-old role-playing Allen, to which Lavi soon joined in cheerfully. Lenalee shook her head, purely amused by their antics.

"Pshhhh-puh-puh-puh-kerrrr." Lavi waved the peanut butter cookie around vehemently, gradually slowing the movements until the cookie drifted in the air leisurely.

"Uh-oh. Houston, Commander Lavi and his loyal space cadet worshipers, have a major problem." Lavi covered his mouth to make his voice sound muffled and coarse, seemly attempting to make it sound like he was a radio or add static. Lenalee didn't know for sure.

"The rocket has encountered a malfunc-hey!" Allen bit into Lavi's space ship cookie and grinned, making Lavi gasp in horror and gawk at his half-eaten 'rocket.'

"Mhmm, delicious marsh mellows." Allen remarked, licking his lips.

"Marsh mellows?" Lavi cocked his eyebrow.

Allen nodded, sinking a Oreo in his glass of milk. "Soft and rich Marshans."

"Oh. Ohhhh!" Lavi shrugged. "Ahhhhh! Ashton! We have a problem!"

"Ashton?" Lenalee asked, nibbling on her chocolate chip cookie.

"Marshans are from Mars, and Mar has volcanic activity. Volcanic activity equals ash. Duh."

"Oh, got'cha. Continue."

"Thank you." Lavi coughed into his fist, clearing his throat. "Ahhhhh! We're being eaten by... Wait, if my astronauts are Marshans, what the hell are you?"

Allen gulped down his milk, his lips curling up in a frisky grin. "Luke Skywalker!"

Sorry TykkiMikk that I updated way past than promise, and sorry to the rest of this story's fans. There's nothing worse than writing a chapter and drawing a blank on what to write next half way through it! But I managed, and I gotta say I'm quite proud with this one. Especially the end. I don't know where that came from, but I just wanted to make the ending of this chapter no so sad this time... So I randomly wrote the ending. *_*

Like always, hope you enjoyed.