Just like me - Game Gyaru Fanfiction [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 17: In Town

Making her way through the busy streets Arina walked with raised shoulders and a ducked head, using the sound of rushing water to guide her she half wanted to close her eyes but the fear of bumping into someone stopped her. Pushing her way through the mass herd of people, finally the fountain was in view. She ran up to it, free from the crowd of people she sat down and splashed some water on her face. Clawing at the zipper on her brown worn out satchel she brought out her phone and frantically searched her way to the messaging app, there was only one contact.

Arina: Just got here, where are you?

Arina only looked away from her phone for a second before it vibrated a reply.

Daniella: I'll be there in 5, can't wait to see you! :D

Daniella: Sorry I didn't mean that last emoji my hand slipped

Daniella: Also the exclaimation mark was autocorrect

Arina: Oh, well I liked them anyway :P

Daniella: Wait, really?! :O

Arina: Yeah! They're fun! :D

Daniella: :D

Daniella's enthusiasm made her smile, a happy buzz feeling lingered in her chest as the scary world with all it's scary people started to melt away... Putting her phone back in her bag she brought out a sketchbook. Flicking to an empty page she stopped on a half finished one that caught her eye, the picture of Daniella she sketched under the tree... Arina tapped the pencil against her cheek in thought, a few things weren't quite right anymore. Her posture was stiff, arms folded. Her expression was cool and aloof, that's how she used to look. Before her true self started to break through, it made Arina's heart flutter a little thinking about how quickly she'd opened up, how much they got on, even if it was a little awkward sometimes. But really, when was anything not awkward with Arina?

Keeping the old picture in mind, Arina peeled up the page and started a new drawing. Simple strokes framed the face, body and hair, going into more detail she drew her arms outstretched in excitement, a grin on her face so wide. Wider then she ever did show, but Arina always got the feeling she was holding back for some reason. Her hair frizzy as usual, and as a final touch with a giggle and a smirk she drew a scaly thin mermaid tail as her lower half.

"Hey stranger." A voice pipped up, shocking Arina out of her daydreamed state she jumped with a frightened yelp! Leaning back a little too quick her chest tighted as she feel backwards! A blurry glimpse of arms reaching out for her filled her vision, seconds too late though she clutched the book to her chest as she fell into the fountain. But, to her surprise, there was no splash. She didn't feel the icy touch of the water, instead she crashed hard against porcelain white stone.

"H-huh?" She murmured, blinking her eyes open her mouth fell agap. To the left and right of her the water parted into flat vertical walls. Like glass was between them, but a quick poke showed nothing of the sort. Arina rose her head to see Daniella leaning over her, hands outstretched and in open grips. The look of worry in her eyes as she stared down at her made Arina freeze.

"Hurry! Please..." Daniella whispered, glancing frantically around herself.

"S-sorry!" She responded, getting up quickly she jumped out of the fountain. With a loud splash the water returned to it's normal state, a few passerbys turned their heads but Daniella had already ducked into a crowd of people, with a jolt back to reality Arina rushed over to her.

"You okay? Is your sketchbook dry?" Daniella asked quietly in her ear, flashing her a concerned look.

"I'm fine, and uh- so is my sketchbook. Thank you, that was- that was awesome!" She blurted out in a string of stuttered sentences. Daniella sighed and relaxed a little, a calm settling in her eyes.