Chapter 43

Deuce huffed as he stopped outside the Pomefiore dorm. Once he had left the ballroom he didn't stop until he was outside. "I blew it big time. I had no business lashing out the way I did. That's not what an honor student does. A friend just gave justified criticism and I go off on them. I'm so lame."

"There you are!" Odette huffed as she and Grim caught up. "Man, you're fast."

"Odette insisted we follow you, your kind managers have brought you a bottle of water." Grim informed him as Odette handed him a bottle of water.

"I figured you needed it." Odette explained. 'And I needed out of that room too.' She thought.

"Sorry for running off like that guys." Deuce sighed.

"You should be if you guys don't win first place my tuna ideas go up in smoke. You and Epel need to buck up and go back to practice." Grim said.

"Grim!" Odette chastised. 'If they don't win I'm sure the dorm doesn't get the money neither.' She thought then immediately felt bad for the thought

"You and your one track mind Grim I'm a bit jealous." Deuce sighed.

"I've been wondering Why did you stick your nose into their argument. Even I know that's asking for trouble." Grim said making Odette face palm.

"I know it's dumb of me, but I've seen something in Epel ever since we saw him into him in the courtyard. I think he and I are alike." Deuce explained.

"You two? Seriously? I don't see it." Grim replied tilting his head to the side confused.

"It's hard to put into words. It's about wanting to change but not being able to, not knowing how to change yourself and just kind of floundering. Ace was right I'm hopeless wit this stuff and I'm bad at getting a point around. It's just so frustrating." Deuce confessed.

"I understand." Odette said putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Such frustrations are bittersweet pain of youth Monsieur Spade." Rook said making the small group jump in surprise.

"Come on what's wrong? Cheer up." Kalim said as he and Rook walked up to the group.

"You guys scared me. What are you doing here?" Deuce asked.

"It's about time to get back to practice so we came to check on you." Kalim explained.

"Are you feeling ready to return?" Rook asked looking concerned.

"Can I go back?" Deuce asked looking a bit afraid.

"Huh? Of course." Kalim stated.

"Vil is right. I'm dead weight. I know that. I was chosen, I'm trying my best but I'm afraid it might not be enough." Deuce explained.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, you're a chick still inside your egg. Would you expect an unhatched chuck to accurately gauge their own limits? You won't attain a beautiful warble or plumage for flying while huddling with your shell." Rook said.

"Rook." Deuce said looking touched.

Odette stifled a laugh trying to not ruin the moment. 'He just called Deuce an egg'

"What's wrong with you?" Grim whispered but she just waved him off.

"Don't worry I hear you loud and clear. I've heard your pecking slow and steady around you striving to break out. Here's a fact for you. Birds are born with something a tooth egg. They use it to break out of their egg. You each have an egg tooth that no one else possesses. You have power within yourself somewhere. I'm not just speaking for me but Vil as well. We're both waiting eagerly for all of you to break free and stand tall at long last." Rook explained.

"A strength that only I posses. Mh, the best I can think of is I'm quick on my feet. I'm not clever to book smart. I don't have much going for me at all." Deuce said.

"I think that's a great quality. I know I'm not." Odette added.

"Maybe the problem is that you keep using your brain to try and work through these problems." Kalim suggested.

"Huh?" Deuce asked.

"If that's not really how you're wired then why are you focusing on it? When I watch you do you know what I see? I see someone trying to write with their non dominant hand then yelling I'm so bad at writing. You're doing something you know you're bad at, then beating yourself up when it doesn't turn out well. Of course you won't see your strong points when you do things that way." Kalim explained.

"Kalim your eyes are as clear as the sky after it rains. Such candor, truly that is your strength. Roi Dore." Rook smiled at him.

"Was that a compliment? Thanks Rook." Kalim smiled back.

"Kalim is right Deuce. Your strength lies elsewhere. It's not about using your head." Rook said.

"Isn't that the truth? Every time you come up with a plan it's disaster waiting to happen. Remember that time you tried to catch me by throwing Ace?" Grim pointed out.

"Please don't remind me of that." Deuce groaned.

"It's funny now, and that's how we did become friends." Odette pointed out.

"I get that a lot too. Jamil will call me thoughtless and oblivious, but that means that whenever I'm down a little food, rest and dancing are all I need to purge my mind of whatever is bugging me. It's a plus in my my view. So what you see as a negative can be a positive." Kalim explained.

"A weakness can be a strength if look at from a different view." Odette pointed out.

"Oh I get it. Thanks everyone. I'm feeling better now." Deuce said.

"Really? I'm glad to hear it." Kalim replied.

"Can I ask a question?" Deuce asked.

"Oui, we'll answer it if we can." Rook answered.

"There's something I need to borrow." Deuce began surprising everyone.

Across campus Epel was walking down the empty main street.

"Now everything is a doozy of a mess. This is all because that Dark Mirror plunked me into Pomefiore. I don't understand his gobblebygook. What am I suppose to do now?" Epel sighed.

In the distance an engine could be heard and it sounded like it was getting closer. "Is there a vehicle on campus?" Epel wondered. A minute later a black and blue blast-cycle pulled up to him. The driver pulled his helmet off to reveal Deuce.

"There you are Epel." Deuce said.

"Deuce? What are you doing with that blast-cycle?" Epel asked looking over the vehicle.

"Ignihyde is using this one for their presentation. I begged them until they let me borrow it. Let's go for a little ride shall we?" Deuce explained as he handed Epel the spare helmet.

Epel just nodded as he put it on and got on behind Deuce. They took off.

It took a few days for Silver to get a some alone time with his father. Silver found him in his room after dinner about to log on to his favorite game for a campaign run.

Silver knocked on the fame and waited for Lilia to turned to him. "Good evening Silver." Lilia greeted as he placed his headphones around his neck.

"Fa-Lilia I need to speak to you." Silver stated as he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"My, I don't think I've seen you look so serious in awhile." Lilia said with a raised eyebrow.

"I went to visit Odette when she was the nurse's office the other day." Silver began as he leaned against the door.

"Was she? I wish I had know I would have visited." Lilia said turning away from Silver and towards his booting up computer.

"I doubt that, it was the talk of the school that day despite it being in her words 'a minor injury'." Silver stated as he began to feel a bit braver.

'He's gotten so sharp.' Lilia thought as he peeked over to Silver out of the corner of his eye. "Oh well I'm glad to hear it wasn't too bad." He muttered.

"I had an interesting conversation with her when I brought her a get well present." Silver stated as he took a step closer to Lilia.

"Oh? Pray tell what was this interesting conversation?" Lilia asked finally turning back to his loving son.

Silver was close now just inches away as he leaned down, getting nearly face to face with his father. He wanted to see his reaction. "She told me that confessed her feeling for you."

Lilia's didn't reacted through. "I wouldn't say that." He stated.

"She say you reciprocated her actions." Silver whispered.

Lilia's eyes widen just a tad after that. "I didn't know she was the kiss and tell type." He muttered sounding grumpy.

"She says she's not, but your attitude towards her has changed. She wondering if she crossed a line. She's worried things will be awkward come the party." Silver explained.

"She didn't cross a line and there's no need to worry you can assure her that I will be the perfect gentlemen again next time we meet." Lilia explained.

"I'm not worried about that and I doubt she is too. But why the change father? If you kissed her back why distance yourself now? I don't understand." Silver asked with a sigh.

'Not as sharp as I thought. What to tell him.' Lilia thought sighing as well. "She doesn't truly love me, she just likes this facade, this school boy charade I'm acting out."

"I doubt that, I don't think she's that shallow. I like to think that she knows there's more to you then this act you've been putting on. There's a lot you've kept from me as well and I know I love you and nothing will change that. Doesn't she deserve that chance as well?" Silver asked looking into his father's eyes.

"I'm an old fae, pass my prime I'm in no position to take a young human as a lover." Lilia lied.

"That's an even sorrier excuse father. You are certainly not pass your prime and if you feel that shouldn't you explain all this to Odette? Doesn't she deserve that?" Silver countered.

"Oh, Silver you're still so young." Lilia sighed.

"I think that means I can see with eyes unclouded. She chose you and I think that's enough." Silver explained.

Lilia just stared at him until Silver yawned. "You're tired." Lilia stated.

"This conversation was exhausting. Enjoy your game. I'm going to bed. Please think about what I said father. Good night." Silver said heading towards the door.

"Good night Silver." Lilia replied quietly watching him leave.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I finally got to work our Diasomnia boys back in. The question is will Lilia listen to Silver? This is the chapter I lost time on because I had to write it twice. I originally wrote the story as it went with the beach scene but I decided to cut it. I wrote Silver/Lilia scene in it's place. The beach scene will not being making appearance. Sorry not sorry. I hope this scene makes up for it. Thanks for reading and sticking around.