Slipping Away

1. Subtle Change; He's Quieter

Jingyi-
This is boring. We already talked about this. Not one single person doesn't know that you're nervous about taking over your fathers sect. Why is he so self centered? I've heard sect leader Jiang get on him about acting to much like his 'peacock of a father' one time. It was funny. I guess Jin ling is like his father. Sizhui's kind of like both senior Wei and Haunguan Jun and they aren't even his real parents. I feel like I'm more like senior Wei though. Considering out likeliness in how we act and our ability to annoy old man Qiren, I think I'm the better representative of him. Why do I feel like Sizhui would cry if I said that? I sighed and leaned my head on my hand. Rule number forty seven; do not sit inappropriately in the presence of others or when alone. Damn, old man Qiren's made me write the rules so many times I think I've memorized them! "Jingyi...?" I looked back at Sizhui and sat up straight when I noticed his worried look. "What?" "Are you alright?" "I'm fine? Why?" "You haven't said anything. All day. You of all people." "Ok, with your idiot talk and Sizhuis boring responses I just lost interest." I shrugged my shoulders but they still looked at me oddly. "Maybe he has a fever." "Maybe you're just a dick Jin Ling." "Are you trying to fight me?" "Oh I wish you would." "Then let's go!" "Right here!" Jin Ling stood up at the same time I did and Sizhui suddenly yanked him back. Not gently either, like the kind of yank that pulls you first and then your hands and hair. "Enough." Oh shit. I will not turn around... I will not. Turn. Around... I'm turning around... I am so dead... "H-Haunguan Jun...what brings you to our courtyard today?" "We heard yelling when we were passing. Lan Zhan wanted to know what was going on..." "It was nothing senior Wei, we just got into an argument-" "A-Yuan?" "...They just got mad... Nothing new..." "Really? Wow, Jingyi sounded pissed-" "Wei Ying." He laughed and hung on Haunguan Jun again. Why am I not surprised? I don't know. I owe Sizhui again. But technically he's not lying. We just started arguing- No...I started arguing... Well Sizhui did say I was acting oddly. Senior Wei seems to believe him. Haunguan Jun is staring at me... "Jingyi?" "Huh? Oh! What?" Haunguan Jun looked at me for a second longer and senior Wei put his hand on my forehead. "He's not warm...in fact you're cold, to put your coat on." "But-" I stopped when I felt an icy glare turning me inside out...