You are now Phaedra.

You layer on your eyeliner thicker than usual today, even going so far as to use three coats of mascara. You have to look your best, after all. Well, technically you don't have to, seeing as you don't NEED to impress Ampora. You just really, REALLY want to. You smile at your reflection, deciding that damn, you look good. You've decided to wear a red and black checkered mini skirt with ripped black leggings underneath it, along with a black studded belt criss-crossing over it. You're also wearing a long sleeved fishnet shirt with a black halter top over it, red and black striped fingerless gloves, some assorted jewelry, and a tiny top hat on the left side of your head. All in all, you're pretty satisfied with your appearance.

"Phaedra darling~! If you'd be so kind as to exit the bathroom sometime today~? I am in DIRE need of the mirror~!" your brother calls out, rapping lightly on the bathroom door. You smile and roll your eyes despite the fact that you know he can't see you before picking up all your makeup and putting it back in its designated bag. Once you've placed it in the cabinet above the sink, you open the door and make an overdramatic gesture of welcoming.

"Oh Ayexis, I'd be ever so delighted if you came inside," you mock before looking up at him through your bangs and smirking devilishly, "of Cronus."

Your brother gasps at your inappropriate joke towards his boyfriend, whom you don't actually know, and then smacks the top of your head playfully. You snicker at your humor and duck under his arm to leave the bathroom and allow him his 'check-out time', as you call it. Basically, your brother spends ten minutes every morning just staring at himself in the mirror, occasionally pouting and/or taking selfies. He was pretty ridiculous, but you love him all the same.

"Sometimes I wonder what ever did I do to deserve such a disturbed little sister~?" Ayexis teases, already clocking into his check-out time by locking eyes with his reflection. You pretend to be offended by his statement and frown, adding a sniffle to emphasize your point.

"You've truly wounded me this time brother. I'm not sure if I can recover from such a derogatory phrasing of words, and from my own flesh and blood no less!" you exclaim, bringing the back of your hand to your forehead for dramatic effect. He breaks eye contact with his reflection momentarily to roll his eyes at your display, and then quickly reverts back to staring at his divinity.

"Best leave the theatrics to me love~!" he singsongs with a wide grin, to which you laugh because he is just such a girl! You tug down on your skirt out of habit before removing your phone from the waistline of it and checking the time: 11:57 am. You're supposed to be at the school by noon which, by the looks of it, won't be happening. Oh well, just means Ampora will have to wait a little bit longer to see you. You WOULD be polite and text him to let him know you'll be late, but you've yet to acquire his phone number. You'll have to remember to do that today.

"I'll think about it on my way to the school," you tell him, heavily implying that you need to leave. He tears his gaze from the mirror and looks at you instead, and then smirks broadly because he's very much aware of why you want to go to detention on time. You didn't tell him the name of your crush, but you did tell him you were interested in someone. He was just happy it wasn't Samantha again.

"You better let me meet this boy sometime soon! I need to make it clear just who he'll be dealing with if he hurts you," Ayexis says with a dark undertone that sends shivers down your spine. Ayexis was always good at making his threats very menacing and, during all the years you've lived with him, he has ALWAYS followed through with them. Ampora best be wary.

"Ya whatever," you brush off despite how much truth was laced in his words, "I'll be home around two."

"Alright be safe and wear a condom! I don't need any nieces or nephews yet," he jokes before resuming his check-out time. You chuckle and nod your head at his statement before leaving the door way and heading towards the front door, boots very evident on the hard wood floor. You grab your keys from the half wall and walk outside, grinning when Jazzy comes into view. She was the best bike you could possibly ask for, hell, probably even better than that.

You approach the bike and grab your helmet off the handle, putting it on over your head. Then you get on the bike, prop up the kickstand, and put the key in to hear her purr. Today was going to be so damn fun.

…

You don't bother parking in the school parking lot, deciding to instead park in the middle of the football field. You pull your key out of the ignition, remove the helmet and place it on the handle, then prop up the bike on its kickstand. You saw Ampora's car in the parking lot, so you're sure he's here, and then when you see him bent over picking up trash near the bleachers, you smile with longing. Abandoning all dignity, you practically sprint to his location until your boots are hitting concrete instead of grass. He straightens out and turns to look at you, but his lack of a smile concerns you. He looks… Sad.

Your smile disappears, face now etched with worry. You walk over to him and place a hopefully-comforting hand on his shoulder, to which he shies away from you.

"What's the matter Ampora?" you ask, searching for eyes that refuse to meet yours. He sighs, a release of air that implies he's been stressed for a while now. Was this because you were late?

"Look I know I was supposed to be here at noon or whatever, but I sort of woke up late and then I got to talking to Ayexis and I would have texted you, but-"

"That's not it Phae. Wwe, wwhatevver wwe are, can't go on," he tells you, still just staring at the ground. At first you think he's joking, so you laugh in hopes that he'll join in, but when he doesn't you grow even more worried than before. You guys weren't even dating and he's already breaking up with you? Can he even do that?

"Well why not?" you ask, trying your best to keep your voice steady. He just nods in the negative and turns away, not even having the decency to provide an answer. Your head goes limp and you find yourself staring at the ground much like he was moments ago. Why was he doing this? You can feel the corners of your eyes growing wet with unshed tears, but will them away because you wouldn't cry. If this is what he wants, than you can respect that. You force a smile and turn away from him to prepare for cleaning.

"I'll respect your wishes, but sometime in the future, I'd really like a reason why," you say simply before walking to the other side of the bleachers to clean, now wanting the day to be over. It's weird how your day can just change so suddenly. Today was going to be so damn awkward.

Late update is late. Don't worry, it's all for the buildup of the story. Our little Eridan found out something that changes everything :P