Rival Offline (Anya Forger x Damian Desmond)

Chapter Eighteen: Anya's deduction

Being forced to sit in their respective groups on the train, Damian had a book in his hand, attempting to avoid the incessant chattering of the rest of the group. Becky seemed to be getting along with Emile and Ewen, their laughter and animated conversation filling the small space. Anya was often dragged into the conversation, but she seemed really out of it, which was strange for someone usually so bubbly.

Maya, meanwhile, was fiddling with the hem of her sweater as she stared out of the window, her gaze lost in the passing scenery. She didn't chime in with the rest of the group, her presence a quiet contrast to the lively atmosphere around her. Damian couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She seemed so out of place, forced into this group of misfits.

Damian glanced up from his book occasionally, catching snippets of the conversation. Becky was recounting a funny story from class, her gestures wide and dramatic, causing Emile and Ewen to burst into laughter. Anya smiled politely but didn't seem fully engaged. Her eyes occasionally drifted toward the window, mirroring Maya's distant expression.

Damian sighed and tried to refocus on his book, but the noise made it difficult to concentrate. He wondered what was bothering Anya. It wasn't like her to be so detached. Maybe she was nervous about the trip, or perhaps there was something else on her mind.

He shifted his attention to Maya. She looked lonely, and Damian felt a pang of empathy. He knew what it was like to feel out of place. Closing his book, he decided to make an effort, even if just to ease his own guilt for not being more involved.

"Hey, Maya," he said softly, leaning slightly towards her. She turned to him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Are you okay?"

Maya blinked, seeming to snap out of her reverie. "Oh, um, yeah, I'm fine," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you sure? You seem kind of... distant," Damian pressed gently.

She offered a small smile, her fingers still tugging at her sweater. "I'm just a bit nervous, I guess. I don't really know everyone that well."

Damian nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I get that. This group can be a bit much sometimes," he said, glancing at the lively conversation continuing nearby.

Maya's smile grew a little, and she relaxed slightly in her seat. "Thanks, Damian. That means a lot."

Hey Damian may seem like an asshole, but he still wanted this trip to go smoothly.

"No problem," he replied, feeling a bit lighter. As he settled back into his seat, he noticed Anya watching him with a curious expression. She quickly looked away when he met her gaze.

The train continued to rumble along the tracks, the scenery outside blurring into a mix of greens and blues. Damian glanced back at his book but found it difficult to focus. 

--

The students stepped off the train, the teacher diligently doing a headcount as everyone chatted amongst their groups about the trip and their location. The excitement was palpable, the air filled with a mix of laughter and eager conversations.

Damian took a deep breath, the crisp air invigorating him. He glanced around, spotting Becky, Emile, and Ewen still engaged in their lively discussion. Anya and Maya lingered nearby, both looking a bit out of place. Despite their usual animosity, there was an undeniable, albeit frustrating, tension between him and Anya that he couldn't quite ignore.

"Alright, everyone, gather around!" the teacher called out, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Let's make sure we have everyone before we head to the buses."

Damian watched as his classmates gathered, still talking animatedly about what they hoped to see and do. He noticed Anya standing off to the side, glancing around as if she was looking for something.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, his tone sharper than he intended. Anya looked up at him, confusion clouding her features.

"Huh? Me? I'm fine. Why do you care?" she snapped back, her voice dripping with irritation as she ignored his gaze.

Damian felt a surge of annoyance. "I don't care," he retorted. "Just don't get lost and hold us up."

Anya huffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Like I need your advice," she muttered under her breath.

Before their bickering could escalate further, Becky called out to them. "Hey, you two! We're supposed to be getting on the bus."

Reluctantly, Damian turned away from Anya and joined the rest of the group. As they boarded the bus, he couldn't help but steal a glance back at her. She seemed unusually tense, but he quickly dismissed it. It wasn't his problem.

On the bus, he took a seat near the window, hoping to lose himself in his book. Unfortunately, Anya ended up sitting directly across the aisle from him. He glared at his book, trying to focus on the words, but the noise and his lingering irritation made it difficult.

"You know," he said loudly enough for her to hear, "if you're going to sulk the whole trip, maybe you should have stayed home."

Anya shot him a glare. "And if you're going to be an ass the whole trip, maybe you should learn to mind your own business."

Damian felt a vein throb in his temple. "Whatever," he muttered, turning back to his book. The tension between them was palpable, but this time it was filled with mutual annoyance rather than any underlying concern.

Damian pulled his phone from his pocket and typed out a message to Sakura.

Kokei: Just got on the bus. Classmates are so annoying.

Anya felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw the message from Kokei. Glancing around, she noticed Damian on his phone. She dismissed the idea that it was him at first and continued looking. She saw someone else using their phone, but they were playing a game, so she ruled that person out too.

That left Damian as her main suspect.

She answered the message.

Sakura: Have a safe trip, and ugh, same. I was grouped up with this guy who totally hates me.

Conveniently, Damian's phone buzzed at the same time, it couldn't be a coincidence right?

He was now one of her suspects for Kokei no one else stuck out like he did. The schoolyard, the events lining up perfectly—it had to be him.

Anya's heart raced as she stared at Damian, trying to process the revelation. She couldn't believe that the person she had been chatting with online, someone she had grown to like and trust, was actually Damian Desmond, the boy she couldn't stand.

Damian, oblivious to her realization, glanced at his phone and frowned at the message.

Anya couldn't believe the twist her day had taken. The bus ride felt even longer now, filled with a tension she hadn't expected. She had so many questions and so much to process, but one thing was clear: this trip was going to be far more complicated than she had anticipated.

As the bus rolled on, Anya couldn't help but steal glances at Damian, her mind racing. She needed to figure out what to do with this newfound information. Should she confront him? Should she keep it to herself? The possibilities swirled in her mind, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else.