Dancing Shadows

Chapter Sixteen

Ellowyn's POV-
   Sundays are always bittersweet because while you love that it's the weekend, Monday is only hours away. That's the feeling I have in the pit of my stomach as I wake up at about eight o'clock the next morning, which is way too early for a Sunday. After about an hour of tossing and turning, I realize that there is no way I am actually falling asleep, so I force myself to get out of bed, throw on a blue sweater, black leggings, and black converse, before heading downstairs to face the day. Of course, I'm the only person awake who is still at the house, since Bakugou is the only one who gets up this early on the weekends and he is already gone to do some training. After about half an hour of watching tv, I grow bored and decide to go bother him. As I start walking to the training areas, I smile to myself. The weather is really nice outside and everything is quiet since it's fairly early in the morning. Suddenly, my peace is interrupted as I feel someone call my name from behind me. I turn to see who is calling me and I freeze. 

   I sigh and do my best to just accept the fact that this confrontation wasn't avoidable in the first place. "Tsuburaba. What's up?"

   "Well, I just wanted to first apologize again for what happened that day at the pool."

   "It's fine. I healed okay so no long-term head trauma done." I say with an awkward chuckle.

   "I'm so glad. Anyways, I wanted to ask you something." Here it goes. "Would you like to be my date at the dance?"

   "Actually, I'm already going with a friend. I'm sorry."

  "Oh, okay. They're just a friend though, right? Can't you just tell them that you have an actual date now?"

   "Not really. Since they have are one of the big three of our class, they have to do some ceremony at the beginning of the dance, so they are required to have a date. That's why I'm going with him."

   "Oh." He says. "Wait, which one of the big three are you going with?"

   "Katsuki Bakugou."

   "Really? You chose him?" He spits the last word out as if it's some sort of poison.

   For some reason, that really makes me upset on his behalf. "First of all, we are just going as friends so I didn't 'choose' him, but even if I did, what would make him such a terrible choice?"

   "Well, to start with, he's a dick."

   "You don't even know him! He's smarter and more determined than anyone I've ever known. And...and he's always there when it matters the most." I suddenly remember all the times he's been the only person there to help when I was drowning in everything all at once; the morning that he woke me up from my nightmare and that day in the training room. "So don't think that it's okay for you to speak like that about him, especially not around me, because you don't know him at all."

   Without another word, I walk away, leaving Tsuburaba to process everything I just told him. I feel better than I have in a while, mostly because of the fact that I've just realized something very important; I'm not suffocating anymore, and when I am, I have people who will show up for me. When I walk into the training room, I say, "Hey, Bakugou!"

   He rolls his eyes when he sees me. "What is it, Cherry? Can't you go a few hours without annoying me?" But now that I know him well enough to look for it, I notice the way his lips curve up into a smirk, letting me know that he's so full of crap.

   "Whatever, Bakugou. I'm bored. Want to go play some video games once you're done training?"

   "Yeah, sure. I was actually just finishing up so I'll walk with you back to the dorms now." he quirks an eyebrow at me curiously. "You're acting really fucking weird. What happened?"

   I just smile a bit wider. "Nothing. I just want to say thanks, Bakugou."

   He seems even more confused than before. "For what?"

   "For being there when it matters."

   He crosses his arms, and I swear that a blush appears at the tips of his ears. "Whatever, nerd. Let's just go."

   Bakugou and I walk comfortably in silence until we reach the dorms.

   "So what should we play?" Bakugou asks.

   "What game is your favorite?"

   "Mario kart, obviously."

   I nod. "Okay, that sounds good."

   We head inside and Bakugou takes a quick shower and changes into casual clothes while I set up the game before we both grab controllers. I automatically choose Yoshi as my character while Bakugou chooses Bowser.

   "I'm a fucking god at this game, so don't be surprised when I beat you."

   "Want to bet on it?"

   "Fuck no."

   "Scared you'll lose?"

   He grinds his teeth in frustration before sighing. "Fine. I bet five bucks I'll beat you this round."

   I grin. "Deal."

   We start the game and while I'm mostly a quiet player, Bakugou is shouting curse words the entire time. In the beginning, he is one hundred percent winning, but I knock him out with a red shell on the last run and beat him just before he crosses the finish line, causing him to yell, "Fuck you, Yoshi!"

   I smile happily at my unexpected success. "A deal is a deal, right?"

   "Hey Ellowyn, Bakubro. What's going on?" Kirishima asks as he walks into the room.

   "Bakugou owes me some money because I beat him at Mario Kart, don't you?"

   "I demand a fucking rematch!"

   "Nope."

   He gives me the middle finger before storming upstairs. Two minutes later he places the money on my lap with a final, "Fuck you."

   At this point, Kirishima and I can't stop laughing at Bakugou's ridiculousness. A few minutes later, the rest of our class is heading down the stairs and into the common room since it's almost eleven o'clock and everyone has been woken up by Bakugou's yelling. Uraraka and Midoriya catch everyone's attention once they realize that everyone is here now. "So, Midoriya and I were thinking that it would be a good idea for all of us to head out and get our clothes for the dance today."

   "That's a great idea!" Mina comments.

   "I'm not going," Bakugou says.

   "Oh come on, you have to help us, Bakugou," Kirishima says. "If you don't come, how will we know what good style actually is?" He adds jokingly.

   Bakugou sighs. "Fine."

   "I think I'll stay at the dorms," I say. "I think I have something I can wear. Plus, I have some homework I wanted to get done so-"

   "You have to come!" Mina objects. "It's going to be super fun! Also, I need your help finding the perfect outfit. Will you please come? Pretty, pretty please."

   I sigh. I'm not sure what it is, but I always feel bad turning Mina down. "Okay, okay, I'll go. "

   "Great! This is going to be so fun!"