Chapter 39 - They'll get along, right?

It's somewhat disconcerting how at ease I had suddenly become. While I knew that each day that passed would potentially bring me closer to danger, I just couldn't make myself feel the anxious any longer. As I had spent so long counting down the days, it held less and less meaning. Similar to how repeatedly poking at a bruise would make it hurt less each time, I couldn't understand the severity of the situation. But it wasn't like I was going to go out of my way to cause myself unnecessary stress. I lodged all of the neglected concerns in the back of my mind and went about my days as usual. 

It was going to be another day full of studying but today was going to be fun. Not for any particular reason, simply because I woke up to a brighter day for the first time in a while. I finally woke up feeling like I actually had any sleep at all. Fatigue was no longer dragging my feet beneath the ground to bury me alive. My emotions have never made any sense, they would decide what the world would look like and would appear for no apparent reason. Some days nothing would make me happy and on other days the simplest of gestures would keep me in a good mood for the longest of times. Today was one of those days where I wouldn't be slowed by anything. I was running through life on a high and I wouldn't come down any time soon. I'm floating in the sky, weightless. No matter how many times the darkness would drown me, the sun would continue to rise, irrespective of all else. My sudden joy didn't go unnoticed, not that I expected it to, what with how my cheeks were aching from my unwavering smile. 

"Did something good happen?" I hear from behind me. As I turn around I see that it's Nicholas smiling in a way that convinced me happiness was contagious, at least to some extent. 

"Why do you ask?"

"Are you kidding? You're practically glowing!" I let out a small laugh at his random outburst, but he continued undeterred. 

"Wait..." He got close to my ears and began whispering so that the nosy students wouldn't be able to eavesdrop. "It's not a ... Boy... Is it?"

I raise my eyebrow. "Excuse me?" I was brought back down to the ground very quickly at the assumption. 

"I don't mean anything bad by that. But if it is... It's best to be secretive because of our agreement. It'd be bad for both of our reputation if people find out. You understand... Right?" He was being careful with his wording to avoid upsetting me, that was the one thing that helped to stop ruin my mood. If he was being careful to not burst my bubble, I could do the same. Instead of getting angry as I usually would have, I convinced myself well enough to understand form his perspective why he would ask such a question.

"It's not that. I'd tell you if anything like that was to happen." My smile reappears at the sight of his shoulders relaxing. "The weather is just too good for me to be anything but happy." 

"In that case, how about joining me for lunch?" The cheek of this guy, to shamelessly slip in a lunch date when he knew I was unlikely to reject him. Well, it's somewhat praiseworthy in its own right. 

"Oh my, what a sudden request. It really pains me to tell you that I already have plans. Unless you want to join my friends and I?" 

"Hmm, you can finally officially introduce all of us. Sure, I'll join you all." He was quick and decisive which was strange for me, but for someone as outgoing as him, it made sense. I, on the other hand, was someone who would overthink each situation before making any decision, no matter how insignificant. 

"Huh?" In all honesty, I hadn't expected him to accept my proposition. That was part of the reason why I had said it to begin with. It was generally an easy way to let someone down but he was acting in a way that was not of my accord. Though, I don't see any harm in us all spending some time together. It would be good for them to become close considering how often I spend time with all of them.

"Okay, we can meet up with them together. I'll also invite my brother and his friends so that you won't be uncomfortable as the only male. It works out since it's better for you to get to know Adelphos as soon as possible."

"It's much too early to meet my brother-in-law!" Initially I had thought he was only joking as he always had, but seeing the nervous shakes taking over him, I realised he was being sincere. It wasn't something I could understand. Why was he suddenly so afraid? Where had the confident Nicholas gone? The one who was always able to do what he wanted, without worrying about others' opinions. Instead of seeing the usual Nicholas, he was looking much more like how I usually would. Suddenly the roles had been reversed and it was my time to bring back his confidence, to affirm that all would be okay.

"You're not forgetting that this is all for show, are you?"

"Of course not, but does your brother know that?"

"Don't worry, he's well aware. I hardly keep anything from him so he fully understands both of our situation. There's no need to worry. He's just as easy to get along with as you are."

"Maybe for you! I'm the one that he thinks is taking his one and only sister away! Even if he is aware that it is all make-believe, I highly doubt his opinion of me is any better than if we had actually been engaged. Instead I'll look like some sort of play boy who is using you." He grabs his hair and lowers his head as if he was trying to vanish.

"Tsk, you're making a big deal out of nothing. Adelphos is supportive of me but not overprotective. I'm going to be there with you, so why are you worried? On top of that, why would he think that you're using me when you and I both agreed to help one another. It's far more likely that he'd get along well with you for agreeing to go along with my wishes. If it does feel like everything is going south, which is unlikely, I'll step in. Don't be scared." I put a hand on his shoulder and offered a gentle smile in hopes of comforting him.

He quickly whipped his head up to look at me with a stern face. "I'm not scared. Why would I be scared?" It was funny to see him like this, clearly rattled but trying very had to keep a brave face to maintain his image. Despite how amusing it was, I made sure not to laugh in case he took it the wrong way.

"Ask yourself that question. While you're busy searching your heart for the answer, let's start heading towards where the others are." I held my hand out towards him and he grabbed it wordlessly.

We walked in silence for a while as he attempted to walk confidently by my side. Although he was walking with his chest puffed out and his head held high, the nervousness couldn't be hidden from me. I could feel the way that sweat was forming between our two palms and how with each step, his grip on my hand would tighten just the slightest bit. He may have acted well enough to fool others, but I was aware of the fact that it was just that, an act. Funnily enough, that was our whole thing. Constantly acting because we couldn't bear to face reality. When we were half way there, he suddenly stopped walking.

"Actually, let's not do this. I just - I don't think I want to meet them today. Hey, how about we just hang out? Just the two of us? How about that? Yeah, let's do that?" He was speaking in such a hurry that I was struggling to figure out where one word ended and another began.

"Nicholas. Take a deep breath and slow down." He was just as quick to listen as he was to turn back on our plans. He took a few deep breaths before it seemed like he was finally able to breathe at his normal pace.

"I don't think I should meet them today." He said it as a statement but it felt as though he was pleading for me to do anything to stop him.

"At the end of the day, it's your choice. If you don't feel comfortable then you don't have to meet them today. If you want, I'll even stay with you for lunch today. I can just go and tell them that I have something else to do." It was a sudden change of plans which I'm generally extremely uncomfortable with. I'm someone who liked to know exactly what is going to happen because the more that things go off track, the more likely it is for something to go wrong. It was a kind of pessimism that was deeply engraved into my soul. Despite that, I felt like I couldn't leave him while he was vulnerable. I was willing to sacrifice a tad bit of comfort in order to make him feel better, especially considering how he has always made an effort to lift my mood.

"You won't hate me for going back on my word?" There was a genuine worry in his eyes.

"I wouldn't hate you for something like that. Your comfort is most important right now, so do whatever is best for you. I'll stand by you regardless of what you decide. It's not like today is the only day for me to introduce you to them, we can do it whenever you're ready." I made sure that my voice was soft but firm, so that he would be aware of my sincerity but wouldn't be overwhelmed.

We stood at the edge of the hallway in silence for a few moments. I simply held his hand and waited for him to make his decision, ensuring that he didn't feel rushed in any way. He took in a deep breath before letting me know what he settled on.

"Let's get it over and done with." The words didn't seem to be reflected on his face, as he tightly closed his eyes like he was in pain from just the thought of it.

"Are you sure? We don't have to if you don't want to. It's not really important anyway." It was obvious that he was placing a lot of importance on this even when it didn't matter, so I wanted to make light of it. In order to lessen the burden he had placed on himself, I repeatedly reminded him that he could meet them at any other time if he so wished, that today was not the only opportunity.

"I'm positive. If I wait any longer I know I'll feel even worse and continue to run away."

"What's making you so worried?" I ask to try and get to the root of the problem. If I could figure it out, I could comfort him in a more appropriate manner.

"What if they don't like me?" It was unlike himself to speak so quietly. The words were barely over a whisper and I would have missed them had I not been putting all of my attention on him.

"They will like you. You're always surrounded by people for a reason, and that's because you're loveable. If they don't like you... I'll just have to knock some sense into them. In the unlikely event that they don't, it doesn't matter what they think. I like you. Shouldn't that count for something?"

"It does, but I just don't want the people you cherish to think badly of me." He lowers his head, whether it was out of shyness or fear I'm not sure.

"Look at me." I raise his head so we are eye to eye. "They aren't people who judge others like that. If they were, they wouldn't have been my friends. You're now also someone I cherish, so don't put yourself down like that. I see no reason for them to think anything but positively of you. I'm right by your side. If you find it overwhelming, we can leave at any point. But I'm sure that you will all get along just fine."

He remains quite for a while as he thinks over what I've said.

"Do you trust me?" I ask simply.

"Of course."

"Then have faith in me when I say that I would never compromise your comfort and happiness."

"Okay... let's do it!" He shouts as he finds a sudden burst of energy. It was wonderful to watch as he quickly turned from someone caving in on themselves, to someone determined enough to get through anything.

With that we both walked up to everyone, still hand in hand.

"Hello everyone. Let me introduce to you, my previous friend, Nicholas Slater."

Time remaining: 28 days