Being Grateful (Laurance x Reader) | Aphmau Fanfiction| UNDER IMMENSE EDITING

Stupid Delay

Play the music when you believe it is appropriate.

"Thank you, all, for coming on such short notice. I hate to have bothered you so late tonight," Aphmau apologized later that day, as she glanced at everyone seated around the long, rectangular table in the conference room. Her eyes were puffy and red; as if she'd been crying.

And you knew why.

You glanced over at Travis who sat across the table from you, and the two of you exchanged knowing looks.

Correction, you both knew why.

"As some of you may know, this morning, a very important member of ours, Aaron, went missing and has yet to return. It is important that he is found before long," Aphmau continued, her voice free from the confines of her despair. But her bloodshot eyes betrayed her stature.

"I ask that all of you keep your eyes peeled for any sign of Aaron. Pay close attention to your surroundings and stay on close guard of yourselves and others. I wouldn't want anybody else to go missing."

You glanced over at Lucinda who sat at the other end of the long, oak wood table. She seemed unsure of something, parting her lips slightly, as if wanting to say something, but then closed them while looking down at her hands which rested in her lap. You frowned slightly, your gaze lingering on the auburn-haired witch before darting your eyes back to Aphmau.

'I wonder what Lucinda was thinking of saying,' you thought. You made it a mental note to inquire of her thoughts on the matter later on.

The rest of the meeting seemed to drag on rather torturously. You entertained the thought of excusing yourself and never returning, but you figured it would be rude. Aphmau was struggling---especially during a time like this. She had so much on her plate: a new village to run (which would soon house the entire Phoenix Alliance), a missing Aaron (who needed to be found as soon as possible), and a soon-to-be-born baby on the way (of which had no father at the moment).

And you thought you were stressed out. It seemed like you weren't the only one with problems.

But there was something about the whole meeting that irked you, greatly; for one, Aphmau didn't even mention the baby---nonetheless, the truth as to why it was really important that Aaron was found.

'Does Katelyn even know?' you wondered as you briefly glanced over at the blue-haired female in question. If you were in anybody else's position (save for Travis), you wouldn't believe a word coming out of Aphmau's mouth. You'd believe that there was more to the situation at hand than Aphmau had entailed it to be.

You looked around the table, glancing the other four over once more as you continued to shut out Aphmau's voice. They were her friends, were they not? They'd have to have known her long enough to understand when Aphmau was hiding something?

You were sure Travis knew whenever you were hiding something. So did Emmalyn or Donna; and especially Laurance.

Your gaze suddenly met Katelyn's; the act causing you to nearly jump out of your seat. You flinched, ever so slightly, at the unexpected contact. But just as you were about divert your gaze, you spotted it; you saw it. The doubt. The worry that clouded her light blue eyes deeply and darkly.

Do you believe what she's saying? You could almost hear the words through her expression of defiance—curiosity. You bit your bottom lip, simply shaking your head with a shrug, before continuing the light drum-tapping of your fingers against the oak material.

And it was then that you knew---you understood. Aphmau truly did have friends that loved her. If only she could see it. You almost felt bad for her as she continued to ramble on about the library that was to be built in a few weeks. You watched closely as Lucinda kept her eyes trained downward in thought, her fingernails picking aimlessly at the table's material.