Chapter 22
…
Her eyelids started to gently shake awake, and her nose prickled as it picked up a sweet, pleasant aroma drifting by.
"Hnmm…" She softly groaned to herself, and then forced her eyes open. Her gaze was met with her bestie, Pyrrha Nikos sporting a plate on her lap as she was happily munching on something.
Nora lifted herself up a bit, her gaze curious.
"What'cha got there, Pyr?"
"Oh, good morning." Her friend started with a greeting, then turned her look down to her lap. "Jaune made us some waffles and tea." She answered.
"Jaune did?" She was surprised, and as if on cue, the said friend entered their room. Upon entering, his gaze soon was fixed on her.
"You're awake, good. I was about to smack you in the face if you weren't."
"Riiiiiiight." Obviously, she knew he wouldn't.
He chuckled. "Anyways, here's the delicious breakfast you asked for. Freshly baked waffles and one, especially tasty tea to go along with it," He said as he got closer to her bed, and then placed the breakfast down on her sideboard. "Ren, yours are up next," He said as he locked eyes with taciturn boy.
"Thanks." And instead of getting just an understanding nod, the quiet boy voiced his appreciation to him.
"No problem." Jaune replied with a smile on his lips, and then without uttering another word, he left to resume his first duty of the day.
Nora was about to say something to him, but didn't find the words in time, and so she merely watched as he exited their room. When he did, she looked back to the plate stacked with waffles. And if the smell was anything to go by, they were some really delicious waffles. She could already feel her mouth water at the thought of eating them. She fixed herself into a sitting position, her bare feet touching the floor, and then grabbed the plate and then placed it down onto her lap. Her tea could wait. She took one, especially deep sniff of her breakfast, and immediately, her lips spread into a smile. For whatever reason though, she also remembered something.
…
"This is for me?!" Freckled cheeks were tugged upwards as a big smile was spread across tiny, rose-tinted lips.
"Dunno. Maybe I'll just eat it myself." A boy, her brother teased her as he started to gently swing the massive candy in front of her face.
"No, please! Give it to me, give it to me! I wann'it! She almost jumped in his chest as she tried to take the candy for herself.
Her brother laughed. "Okay, okay! Geez, just calm down a bit and I'll give it to ya!" He said, and true to his word, after his little sister showed some restraint, he gave her the candy just like he promised.
"Thanks, bro!"
"Sure thing, you dummy," He said as he flicked her on the forehead, and that was enough for the siblings to start bickering with each other for a while. Before they settled their silly arguments aside, and then walked away hand in hand.
She watched as they did. From the inside of a shadowy corner, her aqua blue eyes brimming with desperation. She didn't want a big candy, or any candy at all. She just…she wanted…
Her tiny, dirty hands balled into fists. She lowered herself down to the ground, and pressed her knees to her chest. Her face then buried into her knees.
And so, curled into a tiny ball of misery, she silently let her tears soak her knees.
…
Nora gently shook her head.
She knew just how silly it was for her to remember something like this at this very moment. Her memory and this present moment were nothing alike, and she had no disillusions about it.
Still.
With her lips sporting a gentle smile, and her aqua blue eyes brimming with soft appreciation, she made a mental note to herself.
She absolutely had to thank him for the delicious breakfast he made.