Lyfers: Amnesia

Chapter 33 - The Night We Met

 – Phase, why is there someone on the rooftop?

– What do I know? Hey, Dusk, let's see who it is!

The pink-haired boy finished to messily tie his shoelaces and got back up, catching the hands of the small girl with coral hair, and the blue-haired boy on the other side. He was about to drag them there, but the other kid shook his head negatively.

– No, he replied, we have a curfew! If we miss curfew, Mister Powell will punish us!

– We'll just run faster! C'm'on bro!

After a sigh, Dusk resigned, following the two others to the second, now inhabited building of the orphanage. They climbed the stairs in a rush, refraining as they could an amused giggle from the promising adventure that was about to unfold before them. However, they did not planned for that silhouette to be another young teenager just like them. When they reached the roof, they took a few seconds to analyze him from afar; he was taller than them, with messy blonde hair, dark eyes, and was wearing dirty rags. Yet, they couldn't remember seeing him in the orphanage, and it surprised them. But what caught them even more off-guard was the angry glare he gave them as he put his middle finger in the air to them.

– The fuck you're lookin' at, you bitches? Move away!

– Hey, we have the right to be there too, retorted Phase, taking a step forward. You think you're the boss? How old are you?

– Piss off, why would I answer?

The unknown boy threateningly advanced towards him, and although fear quickly formed into his mind, Phase could not back off; Dawn was looking. There was no way he would ridicule himself in front of her. He frowned, and pointed at Dusk.

– My friend over there is thirteen, you bastard!

– The stick cinnamon there is my age? M'aw, he looks like he's going to piss in his pants.

Yet, Dusk wasn't; he was staring at that stranger open-mouthed, not from frighten, but from admiration. That boy was all he wanted to be, but wasn't; tall, confident, and seemingly strong. Of course, he could've chose Phase as a model, but he was his best friend; he wouldn't even dare to act like him, or the other kids would bully him even more for being a copycat.

Nevertheless, all of this elapsed so fast the three friends didn't see it coming; in a blink, the blonde had knocked out both Phase and Dusk, leaving the fight almost unharmed. He lifted his chin up to eye the girl, who surprisingly got closer, smiling at him.

– I don't hit girls, he grumbled.

– Oh, cool! What's your name?

– ...Venom.

– Nice! Just for your information, Venom... I do hit boys.

And in a single punch, she sent the named Venom onto the ground, unconscious.

– I can't believe I was your role model.

– And I can't believe you used to be taller than me.

– Fuck off, I still am.

At the end of their story, they both giggled, before Dusk took a serious expression, looking up at Venom, a light blush on his cheeks.

– Ven, there's... There's something I need to tell you.

__________

Claw's desperate request shocked her almost as much as it shocked Sphinx, who had followed them, and was standing right behind her. He managed to keep silent by gritting his teeth, observing the young woman in front of him. She finally sighed, shaking her head negatively.

– No, she said, I told you I liked Sphinx. And even if I didn't, I value you as a friend more, Claw.

–...Alright. Goodnight, Dove.

Without adding anything else, the black-haired man went down the stairs, and left. He couldn't say if he had been eased by her words, or vexed, but a thing was sure: Blaze had been right.

Dove came back inside of the apartment, but was now unable to look at Sphinx, turning her head to avoid facing him. Her cheeks were all red, and her anxiety was constantly increasing with every passing seconds; she didn't plan on confessing. At least, not like that. But on the other side, Sphinx was blissful; what he felt towards her was reciprocate, and he could not be happier than now. Still, he was hesitating; should he continue on this subject, or change? He ultimately approached her, and softly grabbed her hand. At his gesture, she raised her chin up to observe him, surprised.

– A-aren't you mad at me? She asked him, almost in a whisper.

– What for?

– For liking you...

– You dummy... I've been trying to tell you the same, but-...

– You always get interrupted?

They shared a laugh as he nodded, and all of her stress faded away with it. No, she hadn't imagined it; she liked him, and he liked her. That thought reassured her, but the arms he put around her comforted her even more, and she hugged him back, sighing of relief.

– I can thank Claw for that, he murmured. I... I've been a chickenshit lately.

– I wouldn't say that.

– What would you say, then?

– That you're a dummy, too.

They chuckled and let go off each other as he led her to the couch, taking a seat. But when she was about to sit next to him, he pulled her arm, making her fall onto his lap in a giggle, and wrapping her in his arms. In a laughter, she nestled against his body, resting her head on his shoulder.

– I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, he whispered. I should've.

– It's fine, I'd probably have kept silent too, if I hadn't been cornered.

– By the way... Never put yourself in the middle like that.

As his fingertips came to run across her cheeks, she blushed, and so did he. The two of them could feel their heart pounding loudly into their chest, and they just couldn't ignore it anymore. Delicately, she pushed some of his hair away from his forehead, smiling.

– Can't promise that. I'm a future pro boxer, remember?

– Then promise me to let me punch every bastard that'll ever try to put a hand on you.

– Promised.

– Good, because...

He leaned in, his face getting closer to her, stopping when their lips were brushing against each other's.

– Because I love you, Dove.