Sweet As Strawberry Tarts

/37/ Change For The Worst?

Oh, you were no doubt fucked at this point, you thought.

What were you even supposed to tell him? That him locking you in here makes him look a bit crazy?

It does, that was for certain, you thought.

"Well?" He repeated.

"Uhh..." You mumbled under your breath. Hiding the bended paper clips into your pocket as you finally spoke up. "I was waiting for you."

Riddle crossed his arms. "Really?"

"Yes?" You queried.

Cringing slightly when he only seemed to become more suspicious. But you weren't exactly sure why. You weren't the one at fault here for him locking you in his room. Speaking of which...

"Why did you even lock me in here, Riddle?"

"I already told you why," He stated simply. "It was the whole reason for that tea party."

You remained awkwardly silent after that. Only proving to be further confused with the red head.

Sure, you had recollected most of what had occurred. But he seemed very adamant about keeping that specific one far too open for interpretation. And with that in mind, you were really questioning if maybe he had actually gone crazy.

"Right... about you experiencing something new?" You shot back.

Letting it sink in for a moment that you weren't going to get out of here with Riddle's help. Even if you didn't understand why anymore. And that was when your (e/c) eyes landed on the still open door behind him. Questioning if it'd really be worth it to try. Maybe?

"Yes, that's it." He sighed. Uncrossing his arms for a moment to step further into the room. Seeming to focus more on you than the open door. "But I couldn't risk having that slip away after everything... Not when you've left me with such an odd feeling. I'm unable to go back to the person I used to think I was. I was a far different person back then... It's your fault."

Your brows furrowed, not trying to even understand the male anymore. Yet despite that, you had already decided on the conclusion that he was right about one thing. He had changed. In fact, he had changed so much from his overblot, that you weren't sure any of this was for good anymore. And that was something you didn't plan to stick around and find out for.

"That's what doesn't make sense, Riddle. I only wanted to help you after your overblot, not..." You paused to motion towards him. "This."

His blue eyes seemed to flicker with a sense of hurt and something a little darker. Only further adding to your reasons.

"You don't understand-"

You didn't give him time to finish his sentence. Making the final decision that you didn't plan to stay. Before you had hurriedly caught him off guard. Somehow managing to push him out of your way before he could reach out for you.

Already slipping through the open door, you took off down the hall. Hearing Riddle call out after you angrily. Yet you refused to stop now. Especially for the one you were running from.

Your breath came out as more of ragged gasps with your panicked steps. Putting as much distance as possible between you and the redhead now with the thought of him continuing to pursue after you. If he even did.

Shaking your head, you reached you (s/c) hand out to grab the stair railing when you reached them. Your thoughts still running around annoyingly. That you had hoped to try to ignore them.

However, as you rounded one of the corners, you had just barely dodged colliding with the two people you couldn't be happier to see. The A-Deuce duo giving you weird looks when you paused in front of them.

"Whoa, (Y/n)!" Deuce had been the first to exclaim. Placing his hands on your shoulders to steady you. "Where have you been? We couldn't find you at Ramshackle. Or anywhere really.."

Ace also frowned at the sight of you. "Yeah! Grim has been driving us mad. We practically got forced into watching him!"

Deuce shot him a glare. While you were more concerned with looking back up the stairs. Desperately hoping that you'd never catch sight of that certain red headed male.

"I can't exactly explain that. At least not here, okay?"

Their expressions morphed into more confused ones. Glancing between each other and then back at you.

"Okay? There's really no other place besides Ramshackle?" Ace suggested.

And you knew it could be a pretty terrible idea to go there. But it was better than here. If you were lucky it'd buy you some time too. At least for now.

|Time Skip|

"(Y/n), that's insane!" Ace yelled out after explaining the shit you had experienced with the whole tea party.

"I never would have expected Dorm Leader Rosehearts to do such a thing..." Deuce mumbled. Averting his gaze away from yours.

You sighed, "I didn't really expect it either. I thought he was-"

"Getting better?" Ace finished. Brushing a hand through his hair as he stood in the Ramshackle lounge.

"I still think there's something wrong with him!" The monster declared. Jumping up onto your shoulder.

"Oh, Grim..." You muttered. Not quite denying the monster. "He technically was getting better from being so strict."

"Well..." Deuce frowned deeply. Finally meeting your (e/c) eyes again. "I don't know, (Y/n). I wish we could've been there for you."

"It's not your fault, Deuce."

Ace shook his head. "What do we do now then? I mean, what are you wanting to do? The dorm leader sounds like he'll come here looking for you at somepoint even if it isn't right now."

"I'll have to talk with the Headmaster. We can't just wait around like this," you decided.

Though, you could only question if Crowley would actually do much. It couldn't hurt to try, you supposed. But knowing how he handled things, you couldn't be extremely sure.

Okay! We should find him then!" Deuce agreed. His expression becoming one of determination. Wanting to be there for you as much as possible.

While Ace finally nodded along with the monster. Placing a hand to your shoulder with a lighthearted smile.

"We'll figure this out together."

You surely hoped so, you thought. Because you didn't like the gut feelings you got now. And you didn't particularly want to see Riddle turn into whatever it was he had going on.

That was when you questioned yourself for a moment...Was this the new path you were taking?