ᖴOᖇᘜᗴᖇ'Տ ᗴᒪᗪᗴՏT

.18.

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Oliva sighed as she entered her bus. Already, she wishes she could simply turn around and return home. Unfortunately. Her parents were still there when she turned to gaze out the window, and Loid was reminding Anya to apologize to Damian. 'They still there?' Olivia turned her head away and walked to the back of the bus, hoping it was empty.

"Oya?" 

'Twas not empty. 

Thankfully, though, it wasn't a stranger. "Via!!" Olivia grinned with delight at her new friend's presence. "Vira! My babes~" They gave each other a quick hug as she sat down. The girl with the purple eyes gestured out the window at Loid. "Is that your dad? He's hot!" Both of them chose to continue gossiping in spite of the unwanted attention.

Elvira and Olivia talked the entire way to school as they got to know one another better. Despite having certain differences, they still had a lot in common and got along great. When they arrived at the school, Olivia saw that Anya had just gotten off her bus. 'Don't forget to apologize, else dad might have a seizure.' 

She gave Anya one more glance and decided that she was fine to go for the time being. As she walked out to class with Elvira by her side, they chose to prank the boys in their class for funsies.

Anya's head perked up when her sister's voice popped into her thoughts. Anya usually wasn't able to hear Olivia's thoughts, but occasionally—like just now—she did. Her bright eyes noticed her older sister leaving with another girl on her arm. She nodded confidently. 'Anya will give it her all!' 

"Hey, Anya. Good morning." Anya whirled around to find Becky, one of her new friends, approaching from her car. At Becky, Anya cocked her head. "Do you live in a castle, Miss Rich Girl?"

"Obviously not. You rode the school bus here, right?" Anya nodded as she started to follow Becky to class. She stopped when she saw Damian and his two henchmen approaching. As soon as Becky noticed them, she made a face. "Bleh." 

Emile, the blonde baby rip-off Armin, interrupted indignantly. "What do you mean, 'Bleh'? You rude little girl!" Becky regarded with indifference while squinting her eyes in dejection. "It's only early, but you're being annoying already."

"What's her problem?" The next was the blonde with the egg-shaped haircut who spoke. "Know your place!" 

"Nyah!"

"Make sure you apologize." 

Anya could hear Loid's voice in her brain. She gave Damian a nervous-looking glance. "Uh, yeah, yesterday I," Becky hastily stepped in to interrupt the sentence before she could finish. "Come on, Anya. We're about to begin our class."

Both parties watched in shock as Becky took Anya away. "If you keep talking to them, you'll eventually catch on to their stupidity." Anya fought against her grip for she wanted to stay and make amends. 

"But world peace!"

Unbeknownst to them, Loid was watching from a particularly high place, kind of irritated that Becky had interrupted Anya's apologies. 'Stop getting in the way, Blackbell girl!'

Anya then made a concerted effort to apologize to Damian at every available chance going forward. Though it appeared to be challenging due to Becky continuously steering her in the wrong direction and Loid constantly bugging her in her thoughts. 

Anya hoped that now that lunchtime had arrived, it would be appropriate for her to express her apologies. Anya got up from her chair when she saw Damian. "I have to apologize."

Anya's quest was swiftly put to an end to by Becky. "Not at all, no. They're the ones at fault." Loid, who was posing as a cook, was observing from the entrance and was rather displeased. 'Stupid little brat, you! That's it. I need to get her away from Anya.'

Anya made a beeline for Damian and the gang as soon as Becky left, and they immediately went on high alert. "What do you want, exactly? Want to fight again?" 

Anya fumbled with her fingers and cast an anxious glance towards Damian. "Um—"

"Lord Damian would have never lost to you if you hadn't sucker punched him, I tell you!"

"Um..."

"Stop talking, you two." Damian gave the boys a quick glance before casting a sneer down at Anya. "Huh? I see. You'll personally give her what she deserves!" Damian stayed silent while challenging her to engage him in conversation. 

"Lord Damian?" 

Anya froze in her tracks as Damian kept staring at her without batting an eye. 'I have a strange chill. I better apologize quick, then run away.'

It got more difficult to apologize as Anya kept getting cut off. She began to receive insults and taunts from the two goons. Anya felt her eyes stinging and a crashing down of her emotions with each insult directed at her. 

As the males became aware of the tears flowing down her cheeks, the taunts gradually came to a halt.

"!!!"

Anya continued to sob as she spoke, finding it difficult to speak. "I'm r-really sorry... that I suddenly hit you yesterday! I just wanted...to be friends with you. I'm sorry... for having stubby little legs." 

The three lads gazed at her in amazement and dismay. They were surprised that her guilt caused a torrent of tears. Damian appeared to be as surprised as the others. 'Sh-She felt so bad that she's actually bawling?! She's so demure.'

Anya sniffled as she turned to leave after finishing her apologies, only to stumble into someone's knees. "I'm sorry, I-"

Anya retreated in surprise also hearing Loids' voice of shock in her head. The three boys appeared equally shocked. Wide-eyed with a gaping mouth and a small amount of facial sweat.

"Anya." 

Her ominously low voice sent a chill down the four children's spines. Anya looked up, a little apprehensive about what would happen. "N-nee?" The cafeteria appeared to be silent, with everyone sensing the pressure. Damian's eyes widened at the information. 'Nee!?' He was startled to see Anya have a sister as he took in her sister. But what shocked him the most was that his brother, Darius was with her.

Darius was the next to break the ice, so to speak. "You four follow us outside." He spoke in a voice that was both chilly and indifferent. When his gaze met Damian's, the boy stepped back. His gaze, it seemed void. 

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Nothing else was spoken as Olivia and Darius walked out of the cafeteria, followed by the four children.

A worried sweat ran down the side of Loid's face as he pondered what had just happened as he gaped from his hiding place behind a plant. 

"Eh?"

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[EDITED]