The Demon War

Chapter 22 (Rennard Arc)

As always, me, Cael, and Aubry were playing baseball. "You know, baseball never gets old to me" Aubry grinned swinging that ball making another homerun. "How can you always make these home runs," Cael said as Aubry shrugged while running base to base. We all laughed and were enjoying our time. While they were talking though, I can't help but think about Ren. "Hey, do this next round without me," I said walking off, the others were confused but decided to leave me be. 

Now, where would Ren be? I look all over the P.E. ground for Ren but no sign. I know Ren, not the skipper, even the P.E. coach allows him to walk around the school. But I thought he'd be in the P.E. ground at least. I slowly walk around the school campus looking for him. Without paying any attention, I kick something soft and noise came out of it. "Ah!" It fell to the ground with a soft thump. I then felt something soft, grass. What was that noise? "Ah!" I finally realize who it was. "Ren," I said looking at him in complete shock. "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! I didn't mean to-I.."I panic, Ren slowly position himself back to the tree before looking at me. I don't know why but his eyes were full of loneliness for some reason. He smiled slightly, "It's okay, it's not your fault" Ren soft voice said as he gently pats a space next to him. I gently sit down next to him smiling. "Ren, I wanna ask you a question," I said as Ren nodded looking at me. "Why do you always sit on that tree?" I asked as Ren looks at the sky smiling softly, I've never seen this side of Ren before..full of loneliness, sadness, and probably even guilt. "It's a secret" He would say while staring at the sky, the wind slowly blows his brown hair softly. 

I remember I've seen a fox standing on the tree since I ever been in this school. Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn, all the seasons he'd just stand at that tree like it was nothing to him. People think that he's allergic to the sun, but I know that's not possible. That's probably why he gets bully by a lot of people. I look at Ren who was closing his eyes, I think he's asleep right now. I carefully stand up before walking off leaving him be. 

Later on, while studying, "Hey, Cael, remember that fox who'd always sleep on the tree?" I asked Cael as he looks at him confused shaking his head. "No, I'd mostly just play some sports with the elves," He said as I nodded sighing to myself, I don't even know why I ask him. "But, I remember seeing a fox reading a book," He said as I look at him in surprise. "I think it was Ren, but I don't know," Cael said as I nodded, but I have a feeling Ren is a reader...maybe even a bookworm? 

The next day, I decided to hang out with Ren again. He was a bit shock at first, but he slowly agrees. "Ren, are yo-"I look at Ren, he was reading a book. I had a feeling what Cael said yesterday was about Ren. "Ren?" I call his name, he looks at me. "Are you a bookworm?" I ask him as Ren looks away a bit embarrassed but nodded. "It's okay, you don't have to be embarrassed," I said as Ren smiled softly but sadly. "I love this book, it's very precious to me" He'd say softly, his eyes was again full of sadness. "I've been a bookworm since I was a little kid, reading was very fun, making up your own fantasies and going to the fantasy world feels very great, it's like escaping reality.." Ren said as I nodded, something telling me that he wants to cry deep down, but he doesn't feel like cry...at least not yet.

It was now after school, I was packing up my stuff when I felt someone tap my shoulder. "Huh?" I turn around to see Ren looking down a bit. "Hello, Gabe, sorry for messing with you all of a sudden but I lost my book" Ren would frowned. "Ah!" The book Ren was reading earlier, I bet he feels extremely sad right now. "Well, I can help" I said as Ren nodded smiling a bit sadly.

Me and Ren were in his classroom looking for the book. After an hour of searching Ren seems to have given up. "Gabe, it's alright. I can just buy another book...but it does suck how people don't know something like this can hurt another person". His tone was completely sad, I didn't want him to be sad..that's why I not giving up now. "Ren, people do pranks like that, but there's also good people who's gonna stand up for you and help you-ah" I notice a green cover book Ren would read, I gently grab the book before showing it to him. "...That's it..." Ren smiled gently grabbing the book and holding it close to his chest. I think Ren accidentally drop it and a guy picks it up and put it in his desk waiting to give it to him in the morning. "Thank you, Gabe" Ren slowly looks at me smiling softly, I couldn't help but blush slightly and nodded. "...If you want, I can show you one of my favorite poems" He'd say as I nodded. Ren open his book and turns a couple of pages before stopping handing the book to me. I grab it and begin to read.

We were apart; yet, day by day,
I bade my heart more constant be.
I bade it keep the world away,
And grow a home for only thee;

I don't know why, but I imagine Ren feeling alone, waiting for that special someone to come back...and take him away.