Usernames || A Garmau Fanfic

Twenty Eight

"I think you need more about the betrayal," Aph says, peering over Laurance's shoulder at his laptop screen. "Everything sounds really good, I just love the build-up to when they kick Shad out of the Divine Warriors, y'know?"

"Totally." Laurance nods. "I'll get right on it, boss."

"Perfect!"

I continue coloring in the sketch Aphmau asked me to earlier. She had suggested we try to work on our project for Coach Dale outside today because "nature inspires the mind" or whatever she said. Vylad decided to tag along, too, claiming he was "keeping us on task".

Sure, Vylad. Real believable.

She comes to sit beside me and my whole body tenses. My heart still doesn't know how to handle her being a foot away from me.

"Lookin' good, Gar!" she chirps with her signature cheery smile that makes me forget my own name.

"Thanks, Aph..." I know she'll scold me if I vocalize my insecurities about this job, so I keep my mouth shut.

"Have you heard from Coach Dale about tryouts yet?" Laurance asks.

I shake my head. "No. He said they might be out this evening or tomorrow morning."

"Ahh! The suspense is killing me!" Aphmau bounces on the bench. "I wanna see if you made the team!"

"Don't get your hopes up. Gene will never let me join and even if he did, it would be because of some plan to humiliate me like always."

"Your coach wouldn't let that happen," Vylad says.

"Dale can't be there all the time..."

"Well, weren't you talking to that other kid? With the blue hair?"

"Dante?" I look at Laurance. "What about him?"

"He's on the team and obviously isn't afraid to defy Gene. Maybe he'll become an ally in your revolt against Gene's tyranny."

I roll my eyes. "I wouldn't wanna get him involved. For whatever reason, Gene hates my guts and the less people I can get ensnared in his web, the better."

"And Garroth's selflessness strikes again." Aphmau giggles. "You're way too sweet for your own good, Gar."

If she wasn't staring at me, I'd crawl under the table to hide my burning face, but since she is, I just turn away.

Laurance just chuckles and I get the dreaded feeling even before he says, "It shocks me everyday that you don't have a girlfriend."

He grins when I glare at him.

"Do you have a crush?"

Aphmau's simple and innocent question suddenly feels like the world's been knocked out from under me. The world sounds like my head is underwater, so I barely hear Laurance and Vylad snickering.

"Can we...not...have this conversation? Please?" My voice sounds strange and foreign, but I manage to get the words out somehow.

"Okay..." She sounds slightly disappointed. "Well, I have other boys at this table I can pick on, too!"

As soon as her attention isn't solely on me, I feel my breathing start returning to its normal pattern and the imaginary water evaporates from my ears. Aphmau's laugh from beside me manages to ground me long enough to realize I'm no longer in danger.

Well, "danger" is a strong word, especially when used in regards to Aphmau, but you know what I mean.

"Of course..." Laurance mutters, tapping on his keyboard, no longer amused.