Published: 2/14/2016; Sunday; 2:13am; Unedited

So, actually, I may be posting reviewer quotes again, if that's okay with you guys? Here's my Valentines gift to you guys!

Chapter 7

I shot up, bring a hand to my head, panting, catching my breath, ignoring the slimy feeling of sweat on my body. I watched it, it felt so real, so painful, and I had to do something. But I couldn't, not until they showed up.

I was still waiting for them, the cloaked figures, and by the looks of what I just woke up from, it'll be very, very soon. I shook my head, glancing at the clock beside me, it was too early for anyone to be awake, even my Grandmother. I grabbed my laptop from the desk beside the bed and opened it.

I had received my first laptop that weekend, my grandmother surprising me, saying I should at least attempt to make contact with Fran. She even bought me a modem and necessities to set up the internet- Wi-Fi. Something I was already familiar with.

I had set it up instantly, not wasting one minute as soon as she told me I could start, I raced up to my room and did it. But instead of trying to contact Fran, my previous memories of coding and hacking (a hobby from boredom) came into my mind and I knew what I could do to get myself in the higher-ups in the underground.

Information Broker.

I knew everything about everyone, while I'll have to be careful about what I say and have to dig a little deeper for things, I could possibly do it. But first, I needed a proper plan before diving into Hell, first, I needed to brush up my skills, then slowly work up, build up information, and when I know I'm ready, it'll begin.

I look down at my hand, the hand I used to hold Fran's with.

"I'll be strong for you, I need to be strong before I see you again, Fran. Then we'll be together again..." I whispered, clenching my hand into a fist, grinning down at it with wide eyes, "And no one will get in my way."

"You seem different today," a familiar voice made me look up from my coloring sheet, while I was totally indifferent to everything we learned in class, coloring always took my mind off everything. It was the kid from the other day, the one that kept bothering me, "Like you're determined, you have resolve." I raised my eyebrow at him, I didn't even realize we had been put in the same class.

"I was in a bad mood yesterday," I shrugged, looking back down at my paper, coloring carefully, "I apologize for my rude behavior."

"Huh?" He blurted, I paused once again, looking up at him, his face bewildered. "You what?"

"Apologize? Like, I'm sorry? I thought you were smart," I scoffed, resting my cheek on my palm, "but then again, everyone lies." He stared at me for a moment, frowning, as if looking for something, I don't know what, but it was something I didn't want him to find. Finally, he crossed his arms, looking down on me in a familiar manner.

Just like her.

"I accept your apology, peasant," he replied in a snobbish tone.

"Peasant?" I echoed, slightly annoyed. "Who do you think you are, the fucking Queen of England?" I blurted out without thinking, watching as his eyes bugged out, jaw dropped, and I heard a gasp from across the room.

"Little Lacie! What did I just hear from your mouth?" I looked over at her, making my eyes large, and pulled an innocent face.

"I was wondering what the fudge from England tastes like and if their Queen likes it too," I replied instantaneously, not missing a beat.

All illusionists are liars, unfortunately, even I know that. But then again, everyone lies.

"O-oh, I see, I thought you said something else, sweetie!" I nodded and turned back to the boy, tilting my head.

"What's your name?" I asked, staring at him with curiosity.

"A-Adrien...?" He answered, unsure as to why I asked. I held out my hand to him, making him blink.

"Would you consider being my friend, Adrien?"

Something flickered across his eyes, again a familiar glint before it vanished as he took my hand, smiling at me, "Yes!"

He's plotting something...

I didn't even react to the whisper in the back of my head commenting on him as he turned to walk away, going to grab his coloring sheets from his table to move to mine, I looked down at my paper.

They would sure get along, he and Amanda, they both have those plotting minds, ones full of non-pure intentions.

"Can I ask you some questions?" his voice broke me out of m stupor, and I gave him a look, "Just to get to know you better!" He cleared up, sitting down.

"I guess it's fine..." I mumbled, setting my colored pencil down.

"When's your birthday?"

"Thirtieth of October."

"Favorite color?"

I felt cross about that one, but eventually answered, "Indigo." The glint appeared again before disappearing, continuing.

"Food?"

"Flan."

"That's a dessert."

"Still classified as food."

"Country you want to go to when you grow up?"

"Japan."

"Why?"

"No obligation to tell you."

"Hmm..." he pursed his lips, "How are you so smart?"

"My brain just absorbed faster than others, I learned quick and was reading from my Grandmother's books before she had even hired a tutor." I rolled my eyes, adding under my breath, "Not that I needed one."

I saw something out of the corner of my eye, seeing a boy standing in the corner of the room, dressed oddly, he was watching the room. A girl's bouncy ball suddenly rolled in front of the boy, no one could find it.

I stood up, and walked over, the boy's eyes flickering to me, eyes wide, when i reached him, he slipped into a defensive position, making me realize he's trained to fight- probably to kill too- but I stopped and crouched down, picking up the ball. I turned heel, making sure to not even spare a look at the boy as to not arouse suspicion. "Mari," I called out, she turned to me, eyes widening seeing it was me (the antisocial and most violent kid in our grade). She looked like was about to cry and run away, but I gently grabbed her hand, placing the ball on her palm, making her blink down at the ball then at me. "Be careful, don't lose it again." I went back to my table, seeing Adrien staring at me, "What?"

"...you're weird." I laughed a bit at that, shaking my head.

"I'm not going to try denying that," I sighed, "I know I'm not exactly normal. I can feel it."

He didn't say anything else after that, and we fell into a comfortably silence, surprising both of us, seeing as he was rather tense earlier, and I was anything but calm either...but it was nice. Having someone finally talk to you after so long of being alone, so alone and drifting away, I didn't really care if he was plotting some evil plan to kill me or actually wanted to know me and be my friend.

He was company, he was there.

Unlike Fran. He had chosen them so easily, even though I can't travel until the doctor's cleared me, it's obvious he was so upset- so mad- and I just stood there.

"...if I hated you then, that's too bad, because I hate you so much more right now."

I sighed, once again, turning my head to look out the classroom's windows, looking at the sky with sadness, longing, regret, and guilt, 'Oh, Franny...everything I've done is your own good...for you. Why can't you understand that?'