Author's note: I'm sooooo sorry this chapter took so long to get out. Summer hasn't been very nice to me in the writing department. This chapter originally had a very different plot, but it didn't strike up any ideas with me. So I decided to change it to something simpler. So, without further stalling, I present the new chapter.
What the hell is happening to me? That was the question that rose above all others in Stahl's mind. The current thoughts filling his head ranged from bad to terrifying. And it all started with one realization. The thought that he was falling for a girl, a taken one no less. A girl named Maribelle, a noble lady dating possibly the biggest brute in the school, Gregor. In just one little conversation, the blonde had sparked a connection in Stahl he didn't expect. Sure, he had always had a physical attraction to her, the girl certainly wasn't lacking in that department. But an emotional attraction? Never had he thought of that happening.
With a few simple questions, Maribelle had made Stahl open up some, and she had shown him something too. He had learned she wasn't the Ice Queen everybody thought she was. She was just troubled by parents who didn't have time to see her. That, Stahl could understand in a small way. His father was always in his study, working on his next piece, but his mother was as normal as her son, if a bit more caring and less obvious in her loving ways.
However, that didn't justify the feelings Stahl was developing for the noble. You don't just fall for someone after a five-minute chat, he thought. But she seemed to enjoy it. He sighed, running a frustrated hand through his bangs. He looked up to the front of the class, watching Maribelle answer a question she had been called on for. Then his gaze fell on Cordelia sitting next to her, and a new spark warmed his heart. Godamnit Stahl. Pick one girl to like. He looked between the two, chewing his lip in thought. His thoughts were stopped however, when he saw Gregor giving him the nastiest look a human could possibly give. Stahl gave him a fearful nod, and looked back down at his paper.
The rest of the class was just a battle of thoughts inside Stahl's mind, a constant back and forth of conflicting emotions. He honestly didn't know who he liked more. Cordelia was beautiful, smart, and friendly, if you were close enough to her. But, Maribelle made his heart warm thinking of her. She was charming, nice, and easy to talk to, but she was taken. That one fact rang in his head.
So caught up in thought, Stahl didn't hear the bell ring for the class to end. He sighed, gathering up his papers. This, Stahl decided, had to wait until after lunch. He turned in his seat, nearly jumping when he met the eyes of a grinning Chrom looking at him with an evil grin. "What!?"
Chrom chuckled, "Oh..nothing. Just waiting for you to admit defeat." He sat his chin on his palm, still looking at Stahl. The brunette cocked an eyebrow. "Admit what?" Chrom simply sighed. "That you like her." He jerked his head in Maribelle's direction. Stahl followed where he motioned, finding Maribelle getting up from her seat.
He growled. "Seriously? Can't you drop that? We just talked once." And you may have fallen in love, but you don't need to tell him that.
"I don't like-" Stahl was cut off by a sudden voice. "Like what?" Mentally cursing himself for being such a loud mouth, he turned in his seat to find Maribelle looking at him with a curious gaze. "Oh. I was just telling Chrom how I don't like veggie pizza. Right?" Chrom gave him a knowing look, a smirk crossing his lips. "Yeah. Pizza is for lunch, and me and him were talkin about different types of pizza we like." Stahl just nodded as Chrom spoke, noting he should thank him after she leaves.
Maribelle nodded. "Okay. I just came over here to tell Stahl we have to change our plans for hanging out this evening." She turned to Stah then. "And to ask you if you and your friends would want to eat with us today." Stahl lit up a little. "Oh I-I guess we can, right?" He shot a glance at Chrom that siad not to argue. The blunette nodded. "Yeah, we'd be happy to."
Maribelle nodded again. "Then we'll see you then." She smiled, a cute sight that made Stahl's cheeks heat up some. Then, she was off, Gregor giving the two a glare before following close behind. Stahl let out the breath he had been holding before running a hand through his bangs. "Sweet Naga, talk about Beauty and the Beast, huh?" Chrom nodded, visbily relaxing once the door shut behind the afore-mentioned beast.
The brunette looked at the front row of the class, to where Cordelia was standing up and talking with one of her friends. Gods, she held herself like royalty. He sighed. "Well Chrom, looks like we're having lunch with the Queen and her advisor." He smiled softly. The blunette chuckled. "I guess we are. Just don't get too excited loverboy." The man punched Chrom's arm. "Oh hush up you." Lissa, who had been suprisingly quiet, giggled. "Hey you two. If you guys don't shut up and get moving if you won't get lunch."
Stahl looked at the clock. "Oh shit she's right." Chrom laughed. "Let's get going then." He got up, sliding his bag over his shoulder. Stahl did the same, already heading for the door. He opened it and went through, not bothering to wait for the other two. Well this is gonna be interesting.
Within a minute, Stahl was in the cafeteria and in line for food. Normally, lunch was a good time for him, but today was different somehow. Probably because of Maribelle. The sheer fact of her and Cordelia eating with him set him on edge. He was afraid the whole day would be ruined if he so much as ate his pizza wrong.
Don't worry Stahl, his mind spoke in his head, you're probably safe. Stahl sighed, piching the bridge of his nose. Great, now I'm talking to myself. I hate love sometimes. He got his food, a slice of cheese pizza and a bottle of water. He took a deep breath before heading into the chaos known as Ylisse High at lunchtime. The room was filled to the brim, but anyone could pick out Cordelia in a crowd.
She was by the door to the kitchen, Maribelle and Gregor chatting next to her. Stahl chose the seat far enough away from the brute that he was asuredly safe. Moments later, Chrom and Lissa came over, the latter taking the seat closest to the redhead.
Lunch went by realitively peacefully, even if it was a little akward. Nobody spoke while they ate. That was until Cordelia spoke up. "Hey, Stahl. Have you heard anything about that club thing that was anounced earlier?"
Her voice made Stahl jump in his seat. "U-Uh no I haven't," he stuttered. She smiled, looking at him. "Yeah. I wonder what the club is. We already have a ton of stuff already."
Stahl chuckled. "Yeah. Who knows with this school. I'm just wondering why the list of people required to sign up." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Cordelia nodded glumly. "Well, if it's anything, I'm glad I have someone like you with me."
That statement alone made Stahl's eye widen and his heart to skip a beat. "B-but why?" He stuttered, afraid to look up at her. He heard a giggle come from where she was at. "Well, I don't know. I guess you're just a person I don't know that much about. And you seem nice."
Each word Cordelia said made Stahl's heart pound harder. "Wow. I should be the one saying that to you." Now it was Cordelia's turn to look at her food, a soft laugh leaving her lips. "I guess, but there's really not much to talk about."
Until that point, the rest of the table was silent. So when Maribelle spoke up, the whole table jumped a little. "Oh come on. You know that isn't true. You're the Queen of the school, so you're not exactly a nobody." Cordelia shrugged. "Okay, but you're just saying that because my dad's the Headmaster." Maribelle pouted. "Really? This again? Cordelia, you're more than just the daughter of some big-shot."
The redhead shrugged again. "I guess. Can we just eat? I don't like talking about myself." The table agreed with her, an akward silence befalling the table yet again. It continued for the whole lunch period, only broken by Gregor and Chrom talking about football. The bell rang, and Stahl couldn't of been more thankful. He got up and quickly left the room, his head still ringing with what Cordelia said.
Could she really see something in him? No no she couldn't. She just said he seemed nice. He walked out the double doors of the cafeteria, not really heading in a direction. He just needed time to think. He leaned against the wall next to a pair of bathrooms. "Oh Gods. Why did she have to say that?" He was mumbling to himself, lightly pounding the wall.
"S-Stahl, you okay?" Stahl jumped a little, turning to face the girl that was troubling him. "Oh..yeah. I'm good. Just a ...it's just a headache. Thanks for askin though."
Cordelia nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You sure? You were mumbling to yourself." She looked into his eyes, seeing a troubled set of emerald orbs. He was hiding something, she knew. "You can tell me."
Stahl sighed, looking away. "It's nothing, Cordelia. Really." It's just I may love you, he thought. "Uh..I'll see you next class, okay? I've gotta find Chrom." He shrugged off her hand, starting to move without waiting for her response.
Cordelia stood there, watching him leave. She sputterted a little, shaking her head. "Okay..." She walked off towards Maribelle, telling Chrom Stahl was looking for him.
Still thinking about lunch, Stahl had went to his next class, which was math. Great, he thought, more shit to hurt my brain. He sighed, taking his seat.
Robin was in the class, which was good if you needed an answer fast. He wasn't too good with relationship advice though. Today, he had on a thick hoodie, his white hair sticking out of the black hood. Stahl nodded his welcome, taking the seat next to the geek.
Cordelia came in a few moments later, seeing him in the back of the class. She gave him a small nod, quickly finding her seat. Stahl smiled, a light blush coming to his face. How did she do that to him so easily? He was nothing to her before recently. Now, she actually acknowledged him. It only made him like her more. Gods, I'm hopeless. He wanted to talk to her, but everytime he tried to think of what to say, he came up blank.
No no, don't think of her, he thought. He wanted one normal class today. He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay. Math. Think of math." He looked to the front of the class, seeing they had a sub today. Oh looks like we may have a free day. Stahl layed his head down on the desk, hoping he could get a nap in. Half the day down, two more classes to go.
Chapter 4 end.
And that's it. This chapter was extremely fun to write. I hope it was worth the wait. Feel free to tell me what ypu think of this story so far in a review. So, until next time, goodbye.