Vash's good-mornings were never friendly ones. If Lili said nothing at all in the morning, he would simply grunt as she passed him. That suited her well on this particular morning. She didn't want to talk, and if she did talk, then Vash probably wouldn't listen. Or care. Or accept it. Vash wasn't the most accepting person, after all…

So it was that Lili slipped out of the house, with the only words that had passed between the two being "See you later." She glanced back at the door as it closed behind her, but if there was anything left to be said, she'd say it when she got home. She'd be happier then… hopefully.

Her bag seemed to pull down on her shoulders as she reached Cecil Gershwin Memorial High. The sign looming above the doors looked like a death sentence. She did not want to go in… not today. If she went in, she'd be subject to Elizaveta. Elizaveta with the perfect hair and the perfect smile. Elizaveta who was with Gilbert, and casually mentioned him any time she wasn't raving about this recipe or that album. Elizaveta who was strong of body but weak of heart. Lili adjusted her bag and pushed the door open, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

Her feet seemed rooted where they were, right in front of her locker. She wished she could just stay there, away from the crowd that was swelling in the cafeteria. Of course, it'd look a bit strange if she just stood there alone, so she swung her locker door closed and walked, with shaking feet, to the place where Elizaveta was. The place where Gilbert was. The last place that she wanted to be.

Gil was standing there, alone, throwing glances to all sides of the cafeteria. His red eyes fell on Lili, and she jumped slightly. If she could, she would have hidden with the group of five students huddled around a nearby table, but they were mostly upperclassmen. They didn't seem as though they'd be welcoming, either: One of them was yelling at the rest about why Legos were a blessing sent from the gods. Another one, dressed head-to-toe in purple, was whispering "Shut up" on a continuous loop. They'd be better company than Gil, Lili thought. But Gil's easier to talk to. I mean, listen to.

"I'm telling you, Legos are too perfect for man to have invented them on his own. There must have been some kind of godly intervention."

"Mathias, for the last time, please shut up."

"Why would I do something like that? There's still so much more to be said!" the loud blond that was Mathias stood up, spread his arms, nearly hitting Lili's face, and hollered, "Legos are the work of— mph!"

The Purple One's hand was clamped over his mouth. "Nobody cares."

Lili didn't stick around to see what would happen. She had the suspicion that the blond one would yell again, and she didn't want to be anywhere close when that happened.

Gilbert smirked as soon as he noticed she was coming his way. His smirk made her stomach twist, and her mood darkened a bit more than it already had. She had no reason to resent him. She told herself this as she neared him, with his red eyes and arrogant smile. She had no reason to resent him, but she did all the same.

"Lili! Long time, no see!" He raised a pallid hand to wave.

"Yeah…" She wracked her brain for something to say. "It's only been since yesterday, though. It's not really that long a time…" She trailed off. "Sorry."

His grin grew. "Well, it certainly felt like it. Have you seen Liz?"

"Liz… I'm afraid I haven't seen her."

Gil's smile disappeared, and his red eyes flashed. "Are you sure about that?" He took a step forward and lowered his face so it was just inches away from Lili's.

"I-I'm sure! I promise!"

He backed away, putting his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "I believe you."

Lili scowled. "Why are you so desperate to know where she is, anyway? You see her every day."

"Well, this time it's important. I have something I need to tell her."

"Let me guess: You're going to tell her you love her."

His jaw dropped. "Who told you that? I swear, if Ludwig ratted me out…"

"Wait, you're serious? You told her that yesterday. Several times, actually. And the day before that, and the day before that… It's really not that urgent, when you think about it." As she said this, she noticed Elizaveta making her way over to them.

"Oh, will you just shut the fuck up? I swear, every time you open your mouth, you get even more—"

"Good morning, Gilbert!"

He spun around, red-faced and guilty, to face his girlfriend. "Hey, Liz. I missed you."

She laughed. "It's only been a day, you know." She craned her neck to see Lili, who had stepped behind Gilbert. "Hey, Lili!"

"Hey… You know, I was just leaving. There's this book that I had on hold in the library, and I want to see if it's there yet."

Elizaveta's face fell. "Well, I'll see you later then?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. I'm not sure."

As she spun on her heel to retreat, Gil called after her: "You know, there's a party at Alfred's this Friday. You should come."

She pretended not to hear, and kept walking. She nearly walked into a tall blonde, who she hadn't realized had been staring at her the entire time.

"You don't like it either, so you?"

She took a step back. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place why. "Don't like what?"

The blonde simply nodded in the direction of Gilbert and Elizaveta. Gil's arm was around Liz's waist, and he was whispering something in her ear. She seemed to be laughing. Lili hesitated, not sure if she should trust this almost-stranger. "Well… not really. I don't like him."

He laughed. "I'd be careful if I were you. That's my brother you're talking about, you know."

"Oh.. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like that, it's just…"

"Don't worry about it. I know what you mean… Gilbert's a bit of a bastard, if I do say so myself. I can't believe I'm even related to him sometimes."

Lili shook her head, a little baffled. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I got your name."

"It's Ludwig."

"Ah. That'd explain…" She adopted Gil's accent. "I swear, if Ludwig ratted me out…!"

"It certainly would. I overheard the whole thing. It's Lili, right?"

She nodded. "Lili Vogel. I didn't know that Gil had a brother."

"Well, he probably doesn't, either. We don't live together… it's a difficult situation."

"Say no more. I understand."

He sighed in relief. "Thanks." They stood for a while, not quite sure what to say. "Didn't you have a book that you wanted to pick up?"

"Oh, that? No, I just needed an excuse to get away. I'd rather not be around them while they're…" She glanced back at Gil and Liz. They were currently engaged in a passionate lip-lock. "...doing that."

"Well, if you ever need somebody to talk to, I'm here."

"You know, I might just take you up on that." She pulled out her phone. "What's your number?"

He rattled off the digits while, unbeknownst to him, a small figure crept up behind him.

" Thanks." Lili tucked her phone back in her bag just as the figure chose to strike.

"Ludwig!"

The owner of the name nearly fell over. "F-feliciano… it's nice to see that you're wide awake this morning."

"Si, when am I not? Wait, don't answer that. I mean, you've been around when I'm asleep. You know, you're really cute when you're sleeping. Did I ever tell you that?"

Ludwig carefully removed Feliciano's arms from around his neck. "Yes."

"Good, I thought so. Because it's true. I mean, you're cute while you're awake, too, but when you're sleeping and you're not yelling at me, it's really nice."

Lili backed away slowly as the boy continued to chatter in an Italian accent so thick, it was a wonder Ludwig could even understand him. "Well, it was nice to meet you."

This got the Italian's attention. "Ooh, who are you? You're friends with Gil, aren't you? You don't look like you'd be friends with Gil, but I see you with him all the time and I was beginning to wonder."

She furrowed her brow. "I'm Lili. It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too!" He grabbed Lili's hand and brought it up to his lips while she watched in horror. "I'm Feliciano. It looks like you've already met my boyfriend."

"Y-yes, I think I have."

Ludwig smiled and shrugged helplessly. "Sorry, I guess I forgot to tell you that."

"No, it's fine."

To mark the end of the morning, the bell sounded and the cafeteria became a writhing chaos of students making their way to first period. She couldn't hear what Ludwig said over the noise, but he raised his hand as if to say, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Thus begins my attempt at getting back on the horse!