Candy- Chapter 16.

"Flora, hi."
"Hi, Helia."
By now Flora was walking through the school entrance, surprised to see that the boy was waiting for her.
"You didn't answer my texts."
"Yeah."
Maybe she got lost in his eyes. Those 3 AM eyes. Maybe she was still tired from last night. Really, Flora didn't know what to say.
"Reply next time, okay?", he said in a soft voice, breaking the silence. Flora couldn't help but feel her heart beating fast. They had gotten much closer since she joined the ecology club and her feelings kept getting stronger. Helia was just the type of person she imagined she would fall for, so that was no surprise.
"Okie."
He smiled.
"Oh, right, what did you want to ask me last time?", the brunette asked.
"Huh?"
"You know, b-before Krystal came along."
Flora had to force those words out. She got much better, but she still didn't loose her shyness.
"Oh. Right. That was nothing."

Helia slapped himself mentally. He needed to get her on his side, he needed to make her believe he was in love with her. But… there was just something in his chest. He shrugged it off. It couldn't be.

"Do you want to go to class together?"
The girl looked at her schedule and smiled. They had botany.
"Yeah, sure, I just need to get by my locker and pick up my project."
"I'll come with you. By the way, did you see my new painting?"
"No, not yet."
"I sent it to you."
"I'll check it out, for sure!"
"Yup."
They started talking about the recent protestations for animal rights, and soon reached Flora's locker.
"Let me just open this…", the brunette started, putting in her combination.
Just as she opened up her locker, Helia suddenly shot up. A girl had just walked past, and his face was suddenly overtaken by a look of worry, which puzzled the brunette to no end.
"I need to talk to someone right now, okay? See you later.", Helia suddenly let out.
"Huh? What? Emm, okay?"
And with that he shot off, leaving Flora alone, in shock.
"Weren't we supposed to walk to class together…"
There were many things that were supposed to be…
Just as Flora took out her books, her phone rang. It was from Inbloom1510. She smiled, before replying, forgetting about her bitterness.

"Krys!"
Helia ran over. Deep inside, he didn't buy the whole 'bit my tongue' thing. He didn't know what was tormenting the girl, but he really wanted to help. She had helped him when he was at his worst, after all.
"Oh. Helia. I saw you were with Flora?", she said calmly.
"Yeah…"
His friend looked up, alarmed, as he passed a hand into his silky black hair.
"Didn't I tell you to stay away from-"
"I know, okay? But I needed-"
She cut him at once.
"Anyways."
The boy looked up. Didn't she want to know, a second ago?
We're they… growing apart? He realized he didn't know a thing about her. She was a blank canvas. Like modern art. He never would really get to know her if he didn't understand her. Her motives, her dreams, her aspirations… How did he overlook this for so long?
"I need you to stay away from Musa."
"Huh?"
"You heard me."
Helia's eyes grew wide. Now, what had happened? She was always on his side. His side. His.
"But… why?"
Suddenly, Krystal lunged forward, until they were mere centimeters apart. The way she looked at him, Helia could do anything. Her crystal clear eyes reflected nothing of her blurry soul. He couldn't see through her, but he felt like she could see right through him.
"Please."
The girl reached for his right hand, taking it into both of hers.
"Please, Helia. It's really important for me."
Helia was just shocked, if anything. He always put his revenge plans first. He didn't care about others. They were just his toys. The NPCs in the game he created. But, why did he care so much about her? Why was he ready to… no… he was ready to forget his past, his sister, his mother… How? And why did he feel this all of a sudden? Or was it always here, only he didn't pay attention… No, it couldn't be.
"Deal?"
"Emmm, yes?"
"Thanks."
And she ran off, smiling, before composing herself again. The girl had the reputation of being an icy queen, and she wasn't ready to lose it. Mystery brought safety, especially for cases like her.

They didn't talk much during botany. Helia was too busy daydreaming about this feeling in his chest when the girl looked at him. It felt like a new possibility, one he overlooked for so long. He wasn't living for himself, right now. He was living with this anger, this desperate wanting of the love and protection he once had. But… if he found someone else who could provide this… No… It couldn't be… It just couldn't. He pushed the idea to the back of his mind. He didn't work for years to track the girl down, only to stop when he finally had the upper ground. Things just weren't like that.

Flora, too, had had an eventful day. The Halloween dance was coming up, and all everyone was talking about was who they wanted to go with and which clothes would they wear.
"I was thinking white kitty, but then I saw this a-ma-zing clown girl from It one, with satin and, even better, a gold and pink palette!"
"Great, Stella, who are you going with?"
Both of the girls had a small pause before lunch, and they were talking, under the cherry blossoms. It was Flora's favorite spot, even thought her friend thought otherwise. She frowned.
"I'm not sure…"
Flora chuckled.
"Stella, you do realize you… could have the whole school if you wanted? Guys love you!"
"Not anymore."
"What?"
The brunette was shocked. Only a few days ago did Stella rule the male population.
"You see, popularity doesn't work like that. There was this new girl, Roxanne, and well… I don't want to talk about it!"
Now the blonde had a frustrated expression on her face, and Flora knew better but to ask more.
"Sorry, I'm just not over what she did. Anyways, who are you going with?"
"I don't know. I probably won't go.", the brunette said matter-of-factly.
"Are you kidding me, right?"
Both girls had surprised looks on their faces.
"I heard from some girl that Helia was going to ask you."
Flora's eyes lit up. Helia?
"Really!?"
"Well, someone's not going to be too happy about this."
Both girls giggled.
"You mean Krystal?"
"Yup."
"Aren't you guys friend, though?"
Stella looked away, before laughing out loud.
"Her? Her fashion taste is far too old school to be friends with me."
"You're friends with Tecna though.", remarked Flora.
"She's innovative. Not boring. That's the difference."
Both of them laughed, and soon lunch time came.

Like every day, Krystal walked over to the ecology table. She usually ate there with Helia and a few other people. Since no one was here yet, the girl started reading the new Agatha Christie book she bought the day before.
She was still waiting when a boy she never met before walked over.
"Is this seat empty?", he asked, smiling.
"Do whatever you want.", Krystal let out, before going back to her book.
He sat right in front of her, before starting to eat. The girl observed him from the corner of her eye. She had never seen him before. Was he new? Well, to be honest, Krystal didn't care. She never payed attention to boys. There was no reason this one would attract her attention, and he didn't look very interesting, either. Conventionally attractive, with chocolate-colored eyes, slightly curly walnut-colored hair, and a fair complexion.
"He let them go."
"What?"
The boy smirked, pointing at the book she was holding, Murder on the Orient Express.
"He let them go at the end."
"Them?"
"All the suspects are responsible, because-"
Krystal smacked herself on the forehead, getting up.
"Oh my god, I hate you."
The boy laughed, and just then Helia walked over.
"Hi, Kry- Who is he?"
Before the girl had there time to answer, the boy answered.
"Brandon Anderson, nice to meet you."
He smiled brightly at Krystal, before grabbing his Jansport backpack and rushing off.
"See you later, Krystal?"
Krystal was shocked for a moment, before crying out "Yeah, not happening!", to which the boy smirked.
How did he know her name?

"Who is he?", suddenly asked her friend.
"Oh, I don't know, just this random guy."
Helia grimaced, before seating down.
"You're only eating this?"
He pointed at her small salad.
"I'm not hungry. I'll eat more tomorrow."
"You said that yesterday."
He looked at her with worry, which set Krystal off. She didn't need no pity.
"Just all give me a break."

Helia opened his mouth to shoot back something, but just then the rest of the club walked over with their trays, minus Flora, of course, who ate with her 'friends'.
"Hi, guys!", smiled a girl named Mirta. She was passionate about agriculture, and had joined the year prior.
Behind her were a few other girls, and a boy named Jared that Krystal never really cared about. Though, today, they were joined with someone new. Someone Krystal had only seen a few times in class, and in the corridor arguing with Stella, too.
"Hey, I'm Roxanne. Y'all can just call me Roxy."
Helia smiled, as Krystal turned to Mirta.
"She wants to join the club?"
The girl nodded, seating down.
"Did you sign the form?"
"Oh, please, I wouldn't come here if I didn't."
Krystal looked her right in the eye. No wonder Stella couldn't stand her.
"Good.", she let out, as the girl looked away.

Mirta, sensing the tense atmosphere, clapped her hands to have everyone's attention.
"Okay, so what ideas do you have for the Halloween dance?"
"What does it have to do with ecology?", cut Amaryl, another member. She was known for being kind of an airhead, and Krystal still didn't understand why Helia even let her in.
"Emm, a lot? We could probably do posters since there's a lot of people.", remarked Roxy, picking on her fries.
"Right.", said Helia.
"Right. I finished eating, guys, I have class. Bye.", suddenly let out Krystal, shooting up. The truth was that she felt like that Roxy girl meant trouble, and she felt too faint to deal with it. Not finishing her meal wasn't helping, either, but her mouth felt dry, and she didn't have much of an appetite.
"Hey, we didn't finish the-", started Mirta, as the girl walked away.
"Ugh, let her go.", spit someone.
"Roxy, you don't know her."
"Well, you don't know me."
"I guess that's a valid point but-"
Everybody looked over to the blonde.
"Oh, Amaryl, shut up!"