26

Pressing his lips, Edward slowly turned around with his balled hands tucked to his sides. As he lowered his head, Seb flashed him a quick smile as he gently pushed him towards her. His deep breaths had his chest huffing up and down, before he approached Adelynn.

She acted rather similarly; refusing to directly look at him as one of her legs made circular motions. She had her hands on her back, as if she was hiding something that piqued my interest. There's really a conflict! Maybe it's related to their basketball teams last week?

Meanwhile, Aly brightened up as she silently drew near both Mark and I—with Adelynn in tow, she was definitely aware as well. Before I had the chance to ask what was going on, both of them had found their voices.

"I'm sorry."

Sorry?

Their apologies came out in unison, to which they immediately shuffled both of their arms and feet altogether. Edward rumpled—a childhood habit of his that never died out—his already disarranged hair, while Adelynn's gaze traveled all over the place, before locking back at him.

"Nah man, it's my fault. I was really caught up in the heat of the moment," She began, laughing nervously. "I shouldn't have lash out at you like that and just listen to what you had to say. Really sorry I forced you... but Jason and the freshmen came up to me today, they said they really wanted you to come back... for real this time."

That made sense. Edward had been blatantly throwing countless hints of his frustration towards them, whether it was to me or Seb.

"Well... I bought bread as an apology." She then revealed the object, or food, she had been concealing; a croissant with melted chocolate wrapped in a plastic foil, sprinkled with tiny diced nuts. That looks so good... I can't even refuse the offer either.

Edward gulped at the sight of his favorite food, and he practically was about to snatch it off her grasp. However, he resisted the temptation as his extending hand stopped midair, before he abruptly withdrew it back.

"I don't deserve it," he muttered, "I was the one who snapped at you firsthand, so... it's fair you shouted. I... I really shouldn't have jumped into conclusions."

"Wise words from a man whose fuse is shorter than Florie," Seb chimed in and without second thoughts, his librarian friend stood up and elbowed him in the chest. Aly then let out an abrupt loud snort, in which the two ganged up on shushing her to silence. She's gonna have another arch nemesis...

"Bro, just take it," Adelynn dismissed him, pulling his arm and placing the fresh bread on his open hand. "Don't hold back. We all know you want it."

"But I..." Edward paused as he took his time to ogle at the bread like it was some fresh meat, before he eventually sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'l take it. Not like I want to, though."

"Yes, yes, you don't want to. Got it." Adelynn smirked, playfully shoving him.

"You ain't a kid, Grumpy. Just say it if you want something—oof!" Florence called out and distracted their moment, but Seb was quick to react by chopping her head again.

"Let him be. Don't ruin the moment and read the room," scolded Seb.

"I don't wanna hear that from you," said the green-haired between her teeth, and the two were instantly gifted with hushes from Aly.

Despite everything, my heart fluttered at their banter; I couldn't conceal my growing smile either. Whatever had happened between them and their teams, they managed to settle their differences. It was so alleviating seeing Edward's mood mitigated and his usual scowl went away for a bit. Despite his paleness, he was... much better than before.

All's well that ends well.

***

During lunch time, Edward, albeit reluctantly but with Seb's help, made his return to their team, where most of the members received him with grins and pats on the back. Heck, even Jason was amongst them. No better descriptions could portray how high in spirits I was. He doesn't have to be left out anymore...

Moreover, as expected, he devoured—nope, he literally inhaled Adelynn's croissant, because then it would not be the Edward we all recognized.

Honestly, if not prompted by Aly, Adelynn and Edward might not resolve their argument by now. Well, not that I do not have the chance, but thinking about it, knowing me... my stupid anxiety would get the best of me and lead to circumstances I rather not contemplate.

"Yeah, they fought. Not sure what, but Lynn wanted to make up but she kept stalling, so I dragged her ass to the library." Aly explained as we were transferring throughout the remainder of our classes. "I've had so many fights with Edward back then so... I know."

Her last words were strangely quieter.

And at that one moment, I built up quite an urge to voice out my concern. Now that we were all hanging out once again, Aly and Edward have had so many opportunities to strike a conversation, but even on Saturday, neither of those talks lasted a minute or two. Nevertheless, the other part of me swooped in and yanked me back.

It's still none of your business, Rena.

As classes concluded for the day, all of my friends had disappeared for their afterschool activities, with Naomi having to borrow Aly once more as a substitute. Their volleyball competition is closing in soon.

After I was done organizing my stuff, I strolled throughout the hall so I could get the heck out of here, but Edward showed up by his lockers. It seemed like he had been waiting for me; he sped towards me upon noticing me and matched my steps.

If I told all of these events to the old me, she would have dismissed them as wishful thinking—no way Edward would have done that. He would have straight up ignored me, or I would skitter off with flushed cheeks.

But now... proudly stood the progress of our friendship. I resisted the temptation of bouncing through my steps or punching my fists up in the air; I rather fantasized all the stars sparkling around me. I'm really, really glad he can't read my thoughts.

But now, I don't have to go after him and—

"Lynn and I had a fight."

"...oh, um what?" All of my thoughts flocked out of my mind while I blurted out of impulse. Now that's kind of random.

"You know the team's practicing on Sunday, right?" he asked as we stepped down the stairs and I bobbed my head. "I bunked it. Slept over it. Best decision ever," he breathed. "Seb tried dealing with them and Lynn... told me not to bother them and focus on the others, but how wouldn't I when they could only yap and bitch like babies? They brought up all of my fouls and mistakes."

I said nothing, but I decided to lend him both of my ears.

"And I... just lost it. I told them to go fuck themselves. I would have beat the shit out of them if not for Seb and Lynn," he carried on while he massaged the back of his neck. "She tried all reasoning but I was out of my mind, so I snapped back at her, and... well," he breathed. "You know the rest."

"I u-understand how you feel," I found myself brave enough to finally speak out. "B-bunch of jerks, but I can see Adelynn... trying her best finding the middle ground. J-Just like when everyone fought back then, she... would always be the one calming us down."

Edward was momentarily silent. "Yeah, you're right. Peacemaker," he mumbled.

And that one word was sufficient enough to inflict a tsunami of nostalgia within me. It had been so, so long since someone mentioned that nickname. Peacemaker was what Edward and Aly had dubbed Adelynn, and she would shrug it off as something people should have acted. Such a memory.

"P-Perks of being her friend, I guess." I chuckled. Was my comment even relevant?

Upon exiting the school, the breeze picked up its speed to greet both of us. My hat would have been blasted away if not for my reflex on pushing it down. All strands of our hair performed some sort of crazy gymnastics, with Edward's blond locks protruding out. God, what a windy afternoon...

As the shrubs and trees rustled louder than ever, the browning leaves sailed through the air and some rolled on the ground. Crows suddenly dispersed out from a nearby branch as their caws echoed throughout the horizon. For some reason, I keep on forgetting that we're nearing winter. It's way colder now...

"Serena."

"Hmm?" I perked up.

"...What kind of friend do you think I am?"

Now I really should have not muttered that one remark; the regret instantly tripled. Hell, it might have lead to that one question that had me turned into a deer in headlights. Despite this, the option of intense silence was out of the radar; I could answer this one without any doubt.

"The good one of course," I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "I've been enjoying talking and hanging out with you. W-We should be... doing like this often."

Decent answer... maybe?

Something glittered in the corner of his fatigued eye, and his jaw slightly dangled open. And in the next few seconds, he decided to seal his mouth and pretty much never said anything else. Makes me wonder what he thinks of my response... did he like it, or did he not?

Heading towards my bike, Edward followed behind, but stopped when I was rummaging my bag for my keys, then crouching down to unlatch my lock. And this was when the wind decided to blast through us, with all of my brown wisps obstructing my vision. While I was brushing through my hair, Edward struggled to keep his long bangs from flying, but this exposed his entire face... and consequently, his other eye.

There were jagged lines—most likely stitches—running through it. Surrounding it were angry hues of scarlet that somehow intensified the scars he had sustained from years ago. Lastly, what replaced it was an extraordinarily sleek blue eye. And I've always been wondering what they have done to it, but the wound actually... looks worse than I thought.

Perhaps that explained Raphael's abrupt disappearance.

When the wind died down a bit, Edward groaned and gritted his teeth. Now having full control of his bangs, he concealed the scars beneath the tufts of his hair. He then mouthed out words I couldn't catch.

"I know my eye's fucked, but please... don't tell anyone what you see," Edward firmly begged. "Please, Serena."

"Oh... um, yeah, of course..!" I rapidly nodded, engraving such a confidential matter to my brain. Sure it was unexpected, but as his current friend, I did what I have to do; gain more of his trust. I wonder if Seb and Lynn know too... they've been close to him.

Honestly though, the city might have at least a clue about the terrible accident. Heck, it nearly spilled out to the local news had his family not intervened. Much to our relief, they wiped out any information before it spread like wildfire. It was for Edward's sake too; he even ditched classes when all the gossip was roaming about. So happy no one's interested in it anymore.

Whilst I was pulling my bike out of the parking lot, he forcefully rubbed his eyes and grunted, "Fucking hell, it's itchy."

"D-Don't do that, Edward," I advised, "You'll just inflame it even more."

"I know, I know... but something just got into my fucking..." His grumbling voice trailed off while he continued wiping them. When I was balancing myself on my bike, he turned around and started walking off, but not before he announced, "Have to go now. My shift's starting soon."

"Oh, yeah, s-see you tomorrow then!" I exclaimed, waving my hand at him, but he had taken awfully long strides to acknowledge me like he did, promptly vanishing behind the gates.

With a profound sigh, I propelled my bike down the streets. It's understandable he's so self-conscious about it, though.