"He didn't leave because of me, did he? I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"No, little one, of course he didn't!"
"Then why?"
"That's a wonderful question, little one." I responded, sitting her down on a bench by the school field. "Your brother was the most glorious person I have ever met in my whole human existence. The way he spoke and the words he said were some of the best thing I'll ever hear. He held me as though I'd fall apart if he were to let go."
"But, he did let go."
"And break, I did." I sighed. "But, he had to. He was an incredibly perfect human being in an incredibly imperfect world. He just didn't belong here. He didn't like the way the days purely consisted of the sun rising and the moon being brighter than the stars ever could be. He hated how the grass feels between your toes and tickling your legs when you wear shorts in the summer. He never again wanted to hear children's' laughter carrying on the wind through his window. Frisk hated the idea of being alive, and everything it came with. But that doesn't mean I don't miss him. I do miss him, little one. I miss the way his hands so carefully moved across the guitar strings as he looked you in the eyes and sang 'Believe' by The Bravery. I miss hearing him shout 'In a bizzle, my nizzles.' as a teacher sent him out of the class. I miss seeing him at the end of a corridor and running through the flows of people into a loud, and usually painful, high five. I miss calling him my best friend and having him say 'you wish, girl' before kissing me on the cheek. Most of all, I miss not missing him."
"I'm sorry, Rinno."
"No, I'm sorry, little one. He still loves you, you know that, right?" I looked her in the eyes as we stood in the field, the wind whistling around our ears and drying our lips, eyes and tears ever so slightly. I slowly wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her up into the tightest hug. The kind you'd give a toddler. I felt her tears soak through my shirt, but it was okay, because mine were in her hair. I wanted to hold onto her like this forever; feel her curls, that smell just the same as Frisk's used to, against my cheek. Smell the familiar scent of Uncle Jamie's house lingering on her jumper and around her neck. She was Frisk, just little.
"C'mon, little one." I set her down gently, my fingers catching a curl and running the length of it before dropping my hand down to my side. I took hers in mine and followed her directions, taking her to room 12 for her next lesson. She stopped crying as we walked and her grip on my hand suddenly tightened. I looked up ahead to see the familiar silhouettes of none other than Jayden Alexander Daniels and Fern Abigail Enderby, leaning against the lockers. Not only were they clearly planning on skipping class, but they were also smoking.
I pulled her back round the corner, gripping both of her shoulders at arm's length.
"Come on. They won't touch us; together we're basically Frisk stood right in front of their very eyes."
She gave a reluctant but firm nod and we turned the corner. Her grip on my hand got noticeably tighter as we walked towards the two of them. The words "Corin", "little Frisk" and "look." left Fern's lips and their heads simultaneously turned towards us. We kept walking at a steady pace, holding ground, about to pass them, when Fern threw out an arm and leant on the lockers opposite her, blocking our path.
"Winslow." Fern smirked confidently. Clearly, she'd picked up her smirking from Tommi.
"Enderby."
"Winslow." Jay.
"Daniels." Me.
"Corin?" Little one.
"So since when have you two been a little power couple, huh? Thick as thieves apparently." Fern mocked, the humoured tone almost dripping from each sickly sweet syllable. I wanted to hate her. So badly. But I also wanted her to look me in the eyes and tell me she loved me.
"Since your buddy Jayden over here tried to beat the poor kid tae shit."
"Suppose we could say the same for you two, really." Little one spoke up, shrugging and looking Fern up and down. I squeezed her hand; she'd been bloody brave to stand up to them and I liked it. Jay shot her a look of 'what the fuck did you just say to me?'. "You heard me, however, I don't seem to be hearing you say anything of value back."
That was it.
That's what she needed to say.
Little one had quoted her brother and hit Fern and Jay right where it hurt most. He puffed out his last breath of smoke-tainted air and stubbed his cigarette out on someone's locker.
"Fern," he said monotonously, "take the kid to her next class."
"Corin?" Little one whimpered.
"Go, darling. She won't hurt you, I know her." And with that, her and Fern pushed the double doors through to the next block, Fern's cig still in her other hand while she held the kid's in her own.
"Corin, what happened to us?" Jay said, snapping my gaze back from following the pair to his lips, watching them move as he spoke.
"That's the first time you've said my name in four months. Not even on my birthday."
"I'm so sorry, Corin. So sorry."
"No, Jay. I'm sorry. I should've made more of an effort to fix things. To keep you and Fern by my side. I miss you. I miss Fern. I miss the way we were always closest to Frisk when we were together." I finish, apparently playing another game of 'I miss the way-'
"I don't hurt myself anymore, and this is the first fag i've lit in weeks. Even when I didn't want you around, i mean i never didnt want you around really, but even when we weren't talking, i knew you'd care. So I stopped."
"Jay?"
"Corin?"
"Come here."
He enveloped me quicker than anyone has ever hugged me before. And everything felt okay. He pulled away and linked his hand with my own and lead me out of the double doors in the same direction as Fern walked. I spotted a curled mop of fiery red hair draped over the book Fern had been meaning to read for months. I had my eyes fully set on her and my route set to have her arms as my final destination, but Jay stopped me in my tracks, putting an arm out in front of me.
"Look, im gonna roll up to Chemistry that starts in about," he checked a fake watch, "15 minutes ago."
"Aight, see you, Daniels."
"Love ya, Winslow."
I watched him walk away, flipping me off as he walked, before turning to face Fern, once again setting my sights on her. As i reached her, i cleared my throat. She didnt look up at me, but instead at my shoes; something i'd seen her do to too many people too many times. She recognised my Doc Martens right from her first sight of them, so her head snatched up to mine. I looked at her, noticing the tears welling in her eyes.
I saw each fleck of hazel shimmer and swirl among the gentle pools of green I found so much comfort in. I saw the way her eyelashes linked and caught together in the outer corners. I smiled as i saw her ears move slightly forwards, a sign that she was trying her hardest not to smile.
"Hey, Ginge." I grinned.
Corin saw how happy Fern was to see her again and almost laughed at how utterly pathetic and dependant the girl was.
