"Eridan," you start before being cut off. Before you can get another word in he takes a deep breath and glares at you in a way that you know spells disaster. Sure enough, his next words don't disappoint.
"You're never going to make it here," he spits.
...Well fuck.
You expected the blow and it stung anyways, you reflect as you visibly recoil. Eridan, having regained his breath it looks like, pushes away from the table with a sneer. Satisfied by your reaction, he starts to storm off before pausing, and looking over his shoulder to add, "You don't need me to sabotage this for you, Vvris. Just wait n' see; you'll do a fine job of it all by yourself." The unspoken words of "Just like before" are deafening in the silence between you and it makes your blood run cold. Dim memories lurk beneath the surface of your mind, but you force them back under within seconds. Screw him for making you think about that.
He's just trying to intimidate you, you reason. Well tough fucking luck, Ampora. You aren't intimidated. You're furious.
"Fuck. You," you hiss, seething.
"Maybe another time," he shrugs, almost smugly. Why that little-!
"Well- WELL YOU KNOW WHAT," you shout after him. "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE ALONE. NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU ERIDAN, YOU'RE STILL THE SAME, SPOLIED, PRETENTIOUS, PIECE OF SHIT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN." AND YOU DON'T FUCKING SCARE ME. NOT EVEN CLOSE, you barely restrain yourself from adding. Shouting things like that after people only makes them think the opposite. It's part of why you hate most people you meet. He doesn't deign to respond to your declaration, which makes you all the more mad. It's like by not saying anything he's made himself look better than you. Like he baited you and-
And that's exactly what he fucking did, you realize. He baited you. Gods you're such an idiot! That pathetic little prick pushed you and you snapped like a twig!
You're absolutely fucking done with this stupid day. You're going back to your dorm, and spending a little quality time daydreaming of all the best ways you could...hypothetically murder Eridan. Or angrily watch something on Netflix. You haven't decided yet.
You continue on your stream of mental insults while packing up your things until a voice just behind you interrupts.
Right...there's still the whole "witness to your pissy library fight" to deal with. Great, you sigh. Just great.
"Hey," he begins tentatively, "Are, you okay?" Pfftt, is that actual concern in his voice? You could almost laugh. Who seriously gives a damn about strangers like that?
"Oh yeah, I'm fucking fabulous," you reply, having gathered your stuff off the table. "I just got into a pathetic pissing match in the library. With a wonderful audience no less!" You add, gesturing at him. "That's not lame at all," you conclude, rolling your eyes.
"Well, I mean it could be worse," he says, shrugging.
...Is he serious? Is he really one of those dumbasses who say shit like "it could be worse!" or "it gets better!"?
Your thoughts must be reflected in your expression because he quickly adds, "You could have really ugly purple dye in your hair."
You're silent for a moment, before laughing a little. "It is pretty horrendous isn't it?" He smiles in relief and for some reason it's suddenly the most hilarious thing that he was worried about making YOU of all people feel better and before you know it you're both laughing out loud. It only lasts for a minute before you stop however, as you realize something obvious.
"The library's closed now isn't it?" You ask, aware of the answer even as you give it voice.
"Oh, uh yeah it closed about five minutes ago when we shut all the computers off," he answers. "The doors aren't locked yet though," he adds, lifting a lanyard out of his pocket.
"Damn. I was supposed to check this book out," you frown, waving the paperback in your right hand. Guess that's not happening. Nicely done dumbass, you completed a total 0/1 things you came here to accomplish! Truly, you are one of the most brilliant minds of the century.
"Take it," he suddenly blurt outs. "I mean, you're not planning to hoard it away in your secret lair or sell it on eBay, right? I don't see any harm in putting it on my library card," he finishes sheepishly.
...Huh, change that to 1/1 things accomplished. You smile a little. Small victories, you guess. "Alright then," you nod. "Thanks."
"No problem," he replies, grinning back. "Just make sure you don't dog ear the pages, the librarians here hate that."
"No promises," you joke, tucking her chair back under the table. You glance at him through your hair as you finish pulling the rest of your things together. He looks about the same height as you, though that mess of black hair might give him and extra inch over you. It makes him look like he just woke up; that, or like he just went a few rounds with a small tornado. He's kind of pale, not nearly as much as Rose though, sort of like it takes a while for him to tan and his eyes are- what the absolute fuck? Who the hell has eyes like that? Those things look like they could drown a damn city they're so blue! The sincerity in them would piss you off if you weren't so busy trying to think of the right color to describe them. It's about then you realize that you no longer have any more things to pack up and this little moment of yours is getting a bit awkward. It feels like you should say something else to fill the awkward silence developing, so you decide to go with a smile and say "Good Night," before turning away.
"Bye," he says as you walk towards the stairs. You wave a little and then you're around the corner where he can no longer see you. You climb the stairs to the far exit, and sure enough, the doors are unlocked. You push them open and stand outside for a moment. It's nearly night, and only the smallest sliver of sunlight illuminated the campus. You watch as the street lamps (pathway lamps?) light up one by one before you start walking back to your dorm. Only then do you realize two things.
One, you never got his name. And two, you're still smiling.
AN: Gee, she's going to be pissed when she realizes she forgot that phone huh?
Sorry for the short chapter! This month has been hectic, what with holidays and work and APPLYING FOR COLLEGE! But hopefully a much longer chapter is on it's way. For now, enjoy the Johnvris!