Voices

Truths

 I was faced with three dirty looks that signaled they were pissed. I felt Eli come up behind me and place his hands protectively on my upper arms. I tried my hardest to suppress both a shiver from his touch and my blush. One of which I was already failing at. Trixie was the first to stand and gave me a death glare.

"What were you two really doing in there?" she asked sternly.

"I told you," I began, "I was frantically looking for my crystal heart necklace, that I had lost somewhere, and Eli said he'd help me look. So-"

"Wait," she cut me off, "when did Eli enter the room you were in?"

"When I was changing clothes, but I was already dressed!" I defended.

"Is that true, Eli?" she asked. He nodded. "Okay, continue explaining."

"Like I said, Eli offered to help me look for my necklace so, he looked under the bed while I looked on top. I figured I had it on when I was sleeping and the cord might've snapped. If that were the case then the crystal itself would be lying on the bed. I got my ankle tangled in the sheets, that I messed up, and I fell right as Eli was coming out from looking under the bed." I looked at them all with sorrowful glances, "In all honesty it wasn't what it looked like. It was an accident, and if it hurt any of you," I looked at Trixie, "then I am deeply sorry."

"I believe her," Kord announced.

"Me too," Pronto agreed.

"So do I," Trixie said. I sighed in relief. I only wish it wasn't an accident; I just want him to know how I really feel about him. I thought to myself. I knew deep down that he'd never like me as anything more than a friend, if he even thought of me as a friend to start. I felt Eli's warmth leave my arms as he walked over to Trixie. He whispered something in her ear and pointed to me. She smiled, stood up, and walked over to me. "You're hanging with me today, Astrus," she said cheerfully.

"For training?" I asked.

"Nope," she smiled, "we're just gonna take it easy today." She grabbed my wrists and started to drag me out the door.

"What are we gonna do?" I asked more than a little scared.

"You'll see~" she sang. When she finally stopped dragging me across the many caverns she turned and faced me.

"What?" I asked nervously. Part of me thought she was still angry about the whole Eli thing from earlier.

"You like him, don't you?" she asked.

"Who?" I tried to sound like I had no idea who she meant, even though I knew exactly who.

"Eli," she gave me a sly smirk.

"W-What? Me like Eli? There's absolutely no way he'd ever think of me like that! EVER!"

"I didn't ask what he thought of you. I asked do you like him?" she insisted. I sighed and nodded. "Hah! I knew it!"

"Is it that obvious?" I asked, my voice just above a whisper.

"Only a lot, like when you blush every time he's around, or when he smiles."

"Are you two...you know.... together?" I asked half-heartedly. She laughed. "What's the joke?"

"The fact that you think Eli and I are together," she laughed.

"Wait, so you're not?" she shook her head. "He's single?" she nodded. My face lit up as I smiled. Maybe if I told him I'd have the slightest chance. Maybe.

"Although," she said slyly, "he does have a girl in mind." My smile faded and I looked to the ground. The joy and hope I had felt mere seconds before was now gone. "Cheer up, Astrus!" she patted my back, "I'm sure he'll tell her soon, he's just no sure how she'll react when he does."

"Is this all you wanted to do today? Just talk?" I asked wishing that we could go back so I could curl up in the bed and sleep the day off.

"Pretty much, it's nice having another girl around to talk to."

"Yeah..."I started to trail off, thinking about how lucky the girl he had in mind would be. I'd trade anything to be as lucky as her, I thought.

"Hey," she said as she got me out of my trance, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was just thinking." Just then I felt my ears twitch, a familiar feeling that signaled something bad. My chest started hurting again, only this time more painful. I clutched my chest in agonizing pain. Breathing had started to become a very painful and difficult task. I fell to my knees on the ground bearing the pain the best I could, but it wasn't working. I felt my canine teeth turn into fangs and my ears became pointed. Something was wrong, and I had a god idea as to what caused it. "Astrus!" Trixie knelt next to me trying to help.

"What's wrong?" I could only answer in short shallow breaths. She had to lean in close to hear.

"Necklace. I...need...my...neck...lace...now!"