School of Marvel

Making Up (2,000 words)

I laid awake in bed well past midnight. The fight I had with Loki wouldn't shake from my mind. "Maybe you were the one pulling the strings..." "You want the stupid clown?" "Maybe Tony didn't act on his own will..." "You wanted Tony..." How could he say that to me? Does he really believe me to be that unfaithful? "You want the stupid clown? Next time, don't let me get in the way..."

It took hours for me to fall asleep, and it was still only a light, almost awake sort of sleep. When I rose the next morning, I felt groggy and like a million worries rested on my shoulders. I wasn't one of those people who forgot what had happened the day before when they just woke up, only to remember it a few seconds later. I was the kind that remembered everything at once and regretted it.

It would be lovely to have the ability to forget about the regrets of yesterday, even for a few minutes. Perhaps that was what I liked so much about sleep, there was no thinking involved, no regretting, you just existed in another world, perhaps with other problems, but nothing that couldn't be solved by waking up. If only I could wake and find the argument last night had been a dream. I was dreading having to explain everything to Kameron. I prided myself on not holding grudges or getting into fights often, unlike her. I didn't like to have to admit that my relationship was feeling strained.

I sat up and stretched, then tapped my finger on the bed as I thought about yesterday. I left too soon. We could have resolved this. We will resolve this. Neither of us are ridiculously stubborn. I will not let an argument like this come between us, I'm going to talk to him when I see him at school.

I didn't see him at first. He usually stopped by my locker for a moment in between classes to say "hello" and check in on me, but not today. He was there at English class, but not until just before it started, then he left as soon as it was over. I didn't want to chase him down the halls, so I bided my time until lunch, where I would have plenty of time to find him and have a talk.

He wasn't at our usual table, which was to be expected. I saw him moodily picking at his food as his gang shouted and hit each other in a more-or-less friendly way. When they saw me approaching, Erik and Aldrich jumped up and formed a barrier between me and the table.

"Hi, Erik, Aldrich," I said politely.

"Boss don't wanna see ya," said Erik, hopping straight to the point.

"Oh, really?" I asked, looking between them towards Loki, who glanced over for a moment before returning to his food. The table was quieter now as the rest of the boys watched the increasingly tense situation.

Aldrich nodded before adding a word of encouragement. "Don't worry, he'll come back to you eventually. In the meantime, I hear that Tony has a soft spot for you." He grinned as his friends catcalled and laughed. Normally, that would have made Loki jump up in anger, practically turning green with possessiveness at the mere mention of anyone liking his girl, but today he just sat there, looking as if he wasn't even paying attention.

I sighed deeply, pinching my lips together. Tony, what have you started? "I think Tony's over it now," I said coolly, then waited a moment before saying, "I want to talk to Loki."

"No can do," Erik told me.

I crossed my arms. "I'm going to talk to him." I guess even if they like me, they're committed to Loki first and foremost. So much for hoping they would be on my side.

"Sorry," he shrugged without looking very apologetic.

I rolled my eyes, feeling irritated. I tried to go around Erik, but he pushed me back. I tried Aldrich's side, he was gentle, but firm nonetheless. I crossed my arms again, glowering a little at them, then spoke directly to Loki. "I know you can hear me. We need to have a conversation. I don't like letting this fester." When he didn't say anything, I raised my voice slightly. "Loki! Get over here, now!"