New Neighbours

Chapter 15

“So, guys. Are we going to the ball?” Rin looked at Romeo and Wendy, curiously. “C’mon guys! I wanna go!” Romeo seemed off minded. Wendy replied softly. “Then go… Go with Yukio, or so… I’m not going. Do you know what Laxus can do to me there?” Rin looked at her. “Well… We will be there, so there’s nothing he can do.” Wendy raised her eyebrows. “Are you saying that you’re gonna beat Laxus up when he tries to pull a joke?” Rin nodded. “Laxus?” Wendy asked again, this time with more accentuation. Rin nodded again. “I knew that gym class from a few weeks ago was bad for your ego…” She shook her head. Romeo is quiet today… Was Jellal right after all? “Hey scumbag!” Rin bumped Romeo onto one of the lockers on his side. “You still livin’ or what?” Romeo woke from his thoughts. “What?” Rin laughed. “What’s up with you today? You’re all off minded.” Romeo shook his head and opened his locker. “Nothing… I just… Haven’t slept well.” Wendy opened her locker a few steps left of Romeo’s. “Wendy!” Asuna came pushing through the crowd again. “So? Are you going?” She said with a hopeful smile. Wendy just smashed her head against her locker’s door. “Ugh. No! Why does everyone want me to go?” She glanced at her friend with her head leaning at her locker. Asuna frowned. “It’ll do you so well…” Wendy shrugged. “I don’t care… Laxus will be there and I do not want to be embarrassed in front of the entire school. I told you that already.” Wendy switched a few books in her locker with the ones she was carrying. “Kirito can cover you.” Asuna tried. Wendy just looked at her with a blank expression. “Asuna… I’m not going… I don’t think Kirito and those two,” She pointed towards Romeo and Rin, who were busy talking to each other. “Are enough to keep Laxus from nagging me…” Asuna shook her head. “No. But we can make you have a good time. C’mon! It’s just a party. You don’t even need to stay long… Just an hour or so. Laxus won’t even know you’ve been there.” At this moment Wendy started to doubt. “I don’t know…” Asuna looked at her hopefully. “Please?” Wendy kept a hold of herself and looked at the brownette with a determined look. “I don’t have a date.” Asuna’s eyes widened. “You’re just searching for reasons, so you don’t have to go, are you?” Wendy laughed. “Yup.” She closed her locker and the bell rang.

“What’s up with you today?” Rin laughed. “You’re all off minded.” Romeo shook his head and opened his locker. “Nothing… I just… Haven’t slept well.” Rin looked at his friend with widened eyes. “Yeah right… What’s up?” Romeo shook his head. “Nothing!” Rin sighed. “Have you asked her out already?” Romeo switched some books and leaned his shoulder against his, now closed, locker. “I tried…” Rin looked at him, waiting fow an answer. “And?” Romeo shrugged. “And I collapsed. I thanked her for helping me with my math.” He spread his arms as if there was nothing worse he could have said. Rin snickered. “Really? You said that?” Romeo punched his arm. “Not funny! I just can’t seem to tell her…” Rin sighed and rubbed his arm. “I already told you… Just ask her out. You have a big chance here.” Romeo looked at him and Rin nodded overly comforting. “Big one.” Romeo chuckled. “You’re nuts…” Rin quickly switched some of his own books. “I know. Just buy her a ticket and a corsage and ask her out.” Romeo shrugged. “Just do it!” Rin slapped him at the back of his head. “Fine! Are they even still selling those tix?” Rin nodded. “Yeah. But you have to get them now or they’ll be gone.” Romeo nodded slowly. “Okay. Do you already have one?” Rin shook his head. “No I was still waiting on an answer from the two of you…” Romeo let out a slight chuckle. “Sorry… So you wanna go and get them?” Rin nodded. “Go, before she notices we’re leaving.” The two walked to the classroom Michelle Lobster had mentioned and waited in line. Apparently there were more people who wanted a last minute ticket. Romeo looked around nervously. “What’s wrong?” Rin asked when he noticed. Romeo shook his head lightly. “Just making sure she didn’t follow us.” “That’s not it…” Rin frowned. “Are you scared of Laxus?” Romeo remained silent. “I thought you beat him up that time?” Romeo still didn’t say anything. “Dude. You think he will be here, waiting for us to come along?” Romeo shot him a annoyed glare. “No, he will be here waiting for easy targets. And since I beat him up he will definitely try to get back at me.” Rin was a little startled by Romeo’s fierce look and his sharp tone. “And since we’re with two and he’s with at least six…” Rin nodded slowly. “Yeah… Sorry…” Romeo eased himself. “No… I’m sorry… I’m just… Stupid.” Rin chuckled. “No. You’re sentimental. Man up, you scumbag.” Romeo snickered. The line moved and the boys bought their tickets. The bell rang and everyone went back to class.