bones and blades

i watched my old self die

The skies were gloomy the following day. Clouds covered the normally intense spring sun, and the rain plinked down ever so softly. Zeroro held her umbrella low, being careful not to hit anyone else with it. She was still wondering what she possibly did wrong…

As she walked under the awning above her classroom, she shook like a dog and folded up her umbrella. However, as she walked inside, she noticed something was very different.

The room lacked the mundane aura it normally had. Everyone was mischevious- beating each other up “playfully” and making faces. It was as if the tough and angry exteriors her classmates had once bore had been thrown away.

She sat down in her seat, only to be greeted by a slap to the face. “O-ow…” she whispered.

“Ow? That was a slap for babies!”

Zeroro whimpered and looked down. The kid continued to tower above her, his hands on his hips.

“You’re so weak!”

Her heart began to pound. Normally this talk wouldn’t bother her too much, but she felt like crying for anyone. Her mother, her father, maybe even her little brother, she just needed someone. 

After seeing her quake in fear, the kid laughed and backed off to his seat. She cautiously peered back up to see her teacher standing up in front of the class.

“Good morning, everyone!” she said, in a voice that was so sweet that it had to be fake.

“Good morning…” the class droned back.

“Is anyone not here today?”

Zeroro took a quick glance around the classroom to see if Giroro was actually there, but no one was in her normal seat. It wouldn’t make sense for her to skip since its rainy outside…but she must be ditching class again… she thought.

“Miss, Giroro isn’t here.”

“Ah, yes, I got a call from her father. She has a family emergency.”

She looked down nervously as the words sunk in. I hope they’re all okay…p-please be okay…

After taking attendance and giving out an assignment, the teacher pulled Zeroro aside.

“You look awfully down today, sweetie. What’s wrong?”

“…”

“What is it?”

“I d-don’t know. I made my friend angry and I don’t know how I did it…and now she’s not here and its all my fault!” she said in a loud tone. Some students turned over at the words to watch what was going on.

“O-okay, calm down, Zeroro. I’m sure she isn’t mad at you. Her father said someone in their family was very unhealthy and needed treatment, I don’t think she’s trying to avoid you.”

Zeroro looked down at the floor and smiled under her mask.

“Thank you.”

She walked back to her seat slowly, taking deep breaths. The papers on her desk seemed quite easy. In an attempt to redirect her mind, she began to work on the equations on the sheet. She eventually became mesmerized in them and forgot all about the drama going on in her head. 

The bell ringing for recess wasn’t as tempting as it normally was. She continued to work away at her desk, eventually taking out a blank sheet of paper from her bag and doodling on it. 

The school day dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. Zeroro fuddled with her backpack as she watched the clock. Fifteen more minutes…I’ll wait five more to start packing up…

Once the hand finally struck three, Zeroro whipped her bag over her shoulder and rushed out the second before the bell rang. Even though she knew she would most likely not be there, she checked the dumpster for Giroro before jumping on her flying board and trying to navigate her way back home.