After a night of sobbing and staying up all night texting and calling Cloud, Mari wakes up and prepares for school as per usual, though there's something missing... The person he walks to school with... Cloud. Now that Cloud, the person who's guided her and protected her all throughout her life, is gone she can't help but feel like a big part of her life was taken away from her and all she could do was wait... Wait patiently for his return.
On the way to her school, she met up with a classmate of hers... Jax.
Jax: "Hey Mari, good to see you."
Mari was visibly uncomfortable from his presence... She didn't want to be near anyone after what happened with Cloud.
Mari: "H-Hello..."
She says in a soft voice, you can almost hear how uncomfortable she feels from her voice alone.
Jax could definitely tell that she was uncomfortable however, he didn't stop trying to get close to her.
Jax: "Did you do the homework today?"
She immediately freezes up upon realizing they have homework.
Mari: "What?! There's homework?! No... Y-You've gotta be joking!... Please... Can you help me with it?"
Mari having no choice decided to ask Jax for help... He had a weird vibe but she really had no choice if she wanted to keep her high grades.
Jax: "Sure, I'll help you."
He says with a mischievous smile.
Once they get to school, Mari could hear everyone talking about Cloud's sudden absence... This is his first time not coming to school since the start of the year and it blew everyone's minds. Once they get to their classroom, Jax sits down beside Mari and gives her his homework.
Jax: "Here."
Mari seems appreciative and starts answering her homework, her mood seems to be getting better thanks to Jax.
Mari: "U-Uhm... Jax?.."
Jax: "Yeah?"
Mari: "Th-Thank you for... For helping me..."
Jax: "My pleasure."
He says in a suspicious tone, almost as if this is all part of a plan and she's falling for it.
Once she finishes, she gives Jax his paper.
Mari: "Thank you Jax..."
Jax smiles, it looks quite genuine.
Jax: "Do you mind if I sit down here?"
Mari was caught off guard by this sudden question... She usually only spends time with Cloud... Always sat beside him at school and he's one of the only few people who talked to her. But she decided to make some new friends... Maybe they'll help her through the pain of Cloud leaving?
Mari: "U-Uhm... Sure..."
Jax sits down and immediately asks a question that makes Mari jump upon hearing it.
Jax: "So, what happened to Cloud?"
Mari: "C-Cloud? W-Well... He's just absent..."
Jax: "Oh really? I doubt that since someone took this picture and spread it all across the school."
He shows her the picture Kingsley took with a mischievous smile, this is all a part of his trap and she's fallen for it.
Mari looks at the picture with a face of fear, if anyone finds out about this... The people who once bullied Mari will come back now that her guardian is gone.
