Strength In Our Bonds (The Strength in Generations Accompanying Book)

A Creator's Frenzy

It was finals time for this particular leg of the semester at Galbadia's School For The Arts, meaning that Raine had shut herself in her dorm, doing nothing but working on her final ensemble of the term. This one was especially difficult, as the theme this time around was ball gowns. Beautiful, elegant, head-turning, complicated ball gowns.

"I can't keep living like this." Raine sluggishly lifted her head from her desk, took a sip of her energy drink, and looked at her dress plans. She'd finished sketching everything, and had already sewed the first layer of the dress, a silky white organza. She was just about to pick up the next roll of fabric when she did a double-take and looked at her phone.

"Oh, no, I'm late for class!"

(Meanwhile, in the class that Raine should've been in twenty minutes ago)

"Strussel." The professor turned. "Where is Raine Leonhart? She should be aware that class starts at 8:00."

"She is. Um..." Kazel scratched his head. "I'll try and see what's going on, Professor Lambert. I can call her and ask-"

Their conversation was cut off as Raine burst through the doors of the classroom.

"I'm here! I'm so, so sorry, Professor Lambert!" she apologized, clasping her hands together.

"Lucky for you, today is a work day," he said, giving Raine a dirty glare. "Get working."

"Why does Lamby hate your fucking soul?" asked Kazel.

Despite her tiredness Raine laughed a bit. "Remember what I told you the other day, about my father being in charge of Garden? As you'd imagine, there are people who don't take kindly to that. Being a Leonhart is a blessing and a curse."

"I see." Kazel thought, "Being a Strussel has only brought me many, many mispronunciations. Well, that and requests for sweets, if they're from the town I'm from; my family is known for being patissiers."

"Oh." Raine nodded, before slumping into her seat. "Kazel, I am dead tired. Even after calling my dad and telling him that I needed a break from SeeD stuff, I have zero energy."

Kazel nodded, looking down at his hands. He was fidgeting.

Raine tilted her head. "Is something wrong?"

"Well..." Kazel looked away for a second. "I was going to ask if you wanted to... like, go out with me sometime this week. But don't worry about it! You need your rest. Forget I mentioned it, all right?"

Raine smiled. Ever since they'd shared that kiss that day, Kazel had become the most adorably shy thing she'd seen in Galbadia thus far, marked especially adorable by the fact that it was so unlike how he usually behaved. She knew, for it was quite obvious, that Kazel had feelings for her, and wanted to formally ask her out; however, she didn't want to make it easier on him. She wanted him to overcome his nervousness and ask her. She'd know then that he was pretty serious about her.

"I'll make you a deal," she said. "If you can keep Lambert busy for the next..." she checked her phone, "30 minutes while I go take a little siesta, I'll gladly go on a date with you, Kazel."

"A date." Kazel smiled, blushing slightly. "Okay. Er, you find your napping place, and just leave the rest to me! All right?"

"I knew I could count on you." Raine smiled sleepily as she stood, ready to go to her special napping place.

~ * ~

"Where did you end up napping, anyway?" asked Kazel.

"Oh. You know that corner of the room with a shitload of fabric rolls?" When he nodded, Raine continued, "Did you ever notice that they lean against the wall at a diagonal angle? If you're small enough, you can fit under there- plus, on the end I was at, the fabric nearest the end creates a flap so no one knows I'm there. Ah, the perks of being small."