Grape Field

Chapter 15. Scandals and writing sessions

"It's not what you think!" A hushed yet stern voice echoed in the hallway, drowning in the rapid clatter of the heels behind my back.

"I don't think anything," I said, speeding up even more. I could really do without hearing a hundredth it's-not-what-you-think this morning, and I had already expressed my lack of interest in the topic, so I didn't know why she kept chasing me.

My walking pace was quicker, though, so I had the advantage in this race. For a moment, it seemed like I had finally outrun her, until she somehow sprang by my side, grabbed my arm, and yanked me into the nearest door. Girls' bathroom. Thanks for not choosing the boys' one, I thought.

Historia shut the door and stood in front of it, blocking the way out. Not that she'd be suitable for a bouncer job, despite how much she would aspire, but the look on her face was making me think she would try to lock us both in a stall if it came down to it.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"Just wanna make sure you're not getting the wrong idea from what you saw."

"I haven't seen anything."

"I know you did." She puffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let's not pretend you didn't. It won't help, and I don't want that."

Oh, so Queen Historia doesn't want that.

"Okay, whatever. I didn't get the wrong idea, then. Satisfied now?" I looked at her expectantly, my eyelids starting to feel heavy from the bothersome conversation.

"Look,"—she stepped closer—"I don't think you understand everything. And that's really none of your business. But since you saw that—" She suddenly stopped and marched towards the stalls, forcing each of them open. When no one was found hiding there, she walked up to me closer than before and squinted her eyes. "You can't tell anyone about the text. If you try to spread any rumors, you will regret it, I promise."

"Are you threatening me?" I looked her up and down. This childish attempt at intimidation riled me up beyond plain bother. "What happened to 'It's not what you think'? What are you even gonna do? Cry to your daddy?" I mocked her, watching her jaw twitch. "And if the rumors were to spread out, why would it be so bad? You seem really scared. Do you think you're in a position to threaten me right now?" I talked slowly, enunciating every phrase.

Her lips folded in displeasure, turning her face into a grimace. She huffed and took a step back, clicking her tongue. "You're not that easy, I see." After glancing around once again, she heaved a long sigh, dropped her grimace, and fixed her eyes on me. "Listen, I don't know how things are wherever you're from, and you and I are not friends. But you get along with my friends, so I assume that you're not a bad person. You should understand that things like that can't go public. It ruins lives, you know."

"Is there really something to ruin the life of Historia Reiss? And it doesn't seem like these things are ruining lives here in Trost anyway, no? Who would even care?"

"You don't get it," she hissed as the scowl reappeared on her face. "No one cares about you. You're a nobody. I have a reputation here; I can't be associated with this stuff. And no, no one can ruin my life. But these jackasses will only see what I want to show them. It's nobody's business anyway. Gosh, why do I have to explain this to you of all people?"

"So all your friends are jackasses too? Must be nice to have a friend like that," I sneered. "Honestly, I don't know why Ymir is wasting her time with you. She could do so much better."

"Shut up! You don't know what you're talking about. You'll never know what it's like to live my life. There are things that are more important that you'll never understand."