Twisted Wonderland Moments

Earning Back Trust Slowly(Yuuma/Jamil)

Takes place in book 5 after Vil puts a spell on Ace and Deuce and after Yuu talks to Mickey in the mirror

"Does the mirror connect to some place else...?" Yuuma pondered, staring at the mirror for a while.

Knock knock

The prefect snapped her head to the door, looking like a deer in headlights. The quietness in her bedroom was broken by the knocking on her door.

She stood in her spot still like stone as her thoughts circled around. Was it Vil? Did he come up to curse her, too? "H-Hello?" She called out, trying to keep her voice down so not to wake the others but loud enough to be heard.

"Hello. It's me. Jamil."

Her eyebrows rose up, and her shoulders slump in relief. While they were not on the best terms, she was just glad it was him and not the strict pomefiore housewarden. Getting up, she set her camera on the nightstand and approached the door.

As her hand reached the doorknob, it halted, hesitating. 'Wait. What if this is a trick again?' She questioned, feeling doubt and uncertainty rise in her. She trusted him and believed in him when Kalim was acting up. But that was broken when she connected the dots from her dreams and realized what he was capable of. That he tricked her, mind controlled her, and betrayed her. Trust is easy to break. It is harder to earn back.

"Yuu."

Her eyes glanced up at the door, awakened from her thoughts. She stared at it as if trying to see through him. On the other side, Jamil stared back at it, uncertainty in his face. "I know you're awake. Especially with what happened to Ace, Deuce, and Grim." He started speaking again, his tone nonchalant.

"I overheard some noises and found there. Seeing as they're your friends, I figured you might have been involved. I wanted to check on you. Make sure you were alright." He explained further, glancing around the hall in case Vil showed up.

On the other side of the room, the prefect stared at the door silently with her arms crossed. The mention of that made her heart pang with guilt. She wanted to help, but Vil was a third year with more experience and power. And with the competition, he didn't seem to be in a negotiable mood.

"I'm fine. Vil didn't put a spell on me since I wasn't involved." She replied, glancing away from the door. Her tone was cold, and it hurt Jamil a little. But he couldn't blame her. After what he did, he deserved the cold shoulder. The uncertain stares she gives him. The quick conversations they had just so she could leave. It was his punishment for using her trust as part of his scheme.

"Alright. Well, I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Yuu."

He told her as Yuuma heard his footsteps fading. However, she felt that guilt grow. This time with Jamil. Was she acting too cold to him? Why was it with the other overblots, it was easier to forgive the others but not him? She thought maybe because the others didn't actually try to use her in their goals and schemes to get what they wanted. Then again, his reasons for wanting to be housewarden were just as personal and painful as the others. Yuuma made an effort to befriend them and be close to them. Even with the distrust, it wouldn't hurt to try.

As Jamil started to walk further from the door, the lock of the doorknob clicked, and the door creaked. Stopping in his tracks, his eyes widened. Slowly, he turned his head back and wasn't sure why, but when he saw her face peek out of the corner, he felt his heart swell with hope.

"Thanks. For asking." She told him, slightly awkward. He continued staring at her, making her uncomfortable. However, he did notice her eyes avoiding his. They kept glancing at his nervously. As if he would strike or something.

Oh.

His eyebrows rose, now understanding those quick glances and avoiding eye contact. His spell, snake whisper. "Don't worry. I won't use my spell on you. Not this time." He assured her, feeling a pang of guilt. He knew her distrust to him was strong, but he didn't realize how severe it was.

Her eyes still wouldn't meet his. Even if he said it, how can she be certain he was telling the truth. That it wasn't part of another scheme.

"Yuuma. Please. Look in my eyes."

She felt her shoulders tense at those words. They weren't commanding. They were nice. But where they too nice? Sweet words were more dangerous than hidden daggers. Her thoughts were racing again, and she wanted to close the door and rush back to bed. But she couldn't move. She wasn't convinced yet.

"What happened between Kalim and I should've been between us only. Only us."

She heard him speak again. But his tone was different. It was quiet. And unsure.

"No one else was supposed to be invovled. But I got you involved. Dragged you in personal matters that you weren't a part of. I used you because I thought you were the perfect cover-up of my plan. I'm not going to apologize because I know that sorry will fix nothing." He started, clenching his fist as he recalled that look of horror in her face when she discovered his true intentions.

Glancing up, he stared at her face. At her eyes, she was glued to the floor. It hurt him. Hurt him that those bright blue eyes refused to stare at him. Those eyes that he remembered having a fire of hope to save him when he overblotted. He wanted those eyes to stare back at him.

"So instead, I ask you for permission that I may try to regain your trust. That, I can try to earn it back in the most honest way possible. And if you don't, then that's fine. All I ask is whatever choice you make, just let me look at your eyes one more time." He silently pleaded, his voice breaking as he fought to maintain his calm composure.

Silence once against enveloped them in the hall. Jamil didn't like that. He wanted to see the prefect that was loud and full of energy. He wanted to hear her voice. Hear her complain, shout, laugh. Anything. Just not this silence she emitted.

Creaaaak.....

He tensed up, hearing the wooden floor creak. He wanted to glance up and look at her, but he was worried that if they made eye contact, she would change her mind.

Creeak....

Another creak from her slow steps, and each creak got louder as she drew closer to him. Once she was right in front of him, silence fell again.

"Jamil Viper. Look in my eyes."

She gently instructed, placing a hand on his shoulder. He glanced up at her. Golden eyes are meeting blue. She was surprised to see his eyes watery. A rare sight of the scarabia student that was usually nonchalant yet sarcastic.

Yuuma searched his face carefully, still debating with herself if she should forgive him. If she should let him win her trust. His eyes held pain, guilt, and shame. He was trying to hold back the tears and emotions, but he also wanted her to see that he was sorry for what he did to her.

After some thought, her stern face softened, and Jamil saw what looked like to be sympathy in her eyes. Sighing tiredly, she patted his shoulder, letting a small smile show.

"Trust has to be earned. But you can't earn it if I don't at least give you my trust bit by bit." She explained, noticing a tear peeking from the corner of his eyes.

"Yuuma..." he muttered, shocked. He didn't think she would actually forgive him. Her hand reached to brush the tear away before it could fall.

That only made him blush, and he pulled his face. "I'm not a child." He stated, embarrassed as his face reddened. Yuuma giggled softly, glad to see him back to his normal self again.

"Ok. Well, we better get back to bed before Vil catches us. Goodnight, Jamil." She told him, sounding like herself again. He nodded to her, not wishing to meet Vil's wrath as the two returned to their rooms, being able to sleep soundly in the night.