Chapter Text
“Why don’t you go over and talk to her? I thought you two had gotten closer.” Isaac spoke through a mouthful of the dinner they’d been served.
Lucy arrived at the cafeteria later than the others. She sat at a lonely table not too far from theirs but still a trek away. She did that from time to time. They were all friends by now but sometimes she needed to be alone with her thoughts. They respected that. They knew not to bother her. If she wanted to sit with them, she would.
“Umm. I mean, I feel like maybe she’s just been putting up with me?” Zoe tried his best not to sound so crest fallen.
Truth be told, he and Lucy had been spending a little more time together but mostly with the small crowd of their friends tagging along. It was rare they were ever actually alone. He often mused about that time she was in the nurse’s care and he paid her a late night visit. She’d asked to pet his snakes.
A blush crept over his nose then. Isaac was quick to snap him out of whatever it was he was thinking about.
“Hey! Earth to Zoe! Get your head out of the gutter. Your face is redder than Chise’s hair right now.”
Chise muffled a giggle with her hand as her skull-headed companion’s interest piqued.
“Indeed, your earmuffs seem to blend seamlessly with your face and neck. Are you feeling alright?” Elias interjected, curious to the conversation unfolding between the guys.
“Gahh! Stop! That’s not true!” He clamped his hands over his earwear, intending on shielding his face as well but it was too late for that.
“Besides,” He deflated, hands slumping down and away from their previous perch. “I probably annoy her. Don’t you see how she looks at me?”
He chanced a glance in her direction. She was looking intently at the strawberry tart in front of her, seemingly deep in thought, poking at the ruby berries with her fork.
He continued to stare as Rian spoke up beside him.
“To be fair, she looks at all of us like that.” He was kicked under the table by his hooded counterpart. “Agh! But….maybe I’ve noticed she regards you with less contempt…a little less crease to her brow? Maybe.” He shot his assailant a brief glare.
“That’s true. And let’s not forget she traded partners to be with you that Halloween night!” Isaac said with a mischievous lilt to his voice and a suggestive waggle to his brow. No one saw from beneath his hoodie, but that’s what he did.
Zoe smiled, still staring in her direction. He did remember that day quite fondly, in fact. Even though she said she did it for his benefit. So no one would discover his secret. It had to be more though, right?
His musings were cut short when she suddenly looked up from her dessert, directly into his eyes.
“EEP!” He quickly averted his, nearly knocking over Rian’s drink in the process.
“Hey! Careful! Wow, you’re jumpy.”
“S-sorry! Agh, I’m a mess.”
He looked over once more, trying to be inconspicuous. She was getting up from her table but gave him one more pointed glance before walking away.
Her looks were not lost on the others as they had been quite obviously watching the exchange as well. They collectively looked over to Zoe who remained seated.
“Ahem. Well…?” Chise cleared her throat.
“Hm? ‘Well’ what?” Zoe asked, confused.
Chise opened her mouth to continue but Elias responded instead.
“I believe Chise is inquiring to imply why you remain here with us when Lucy is clearly wanting you to follow her.”
The group stared at him, wide eyed. He seemed to blush, as much as a skull could.
“Oh, was that an incorrect assumption? Forgive me, Chise, I did not mean to overstep or interrupt. Please, go on with your observation.”
“N-no, Elias! That was actually spot on! Your observation skills are improving tremendously!” She gushed, placing her hand over his arm. He looked down at the placement, his ego swelling along with his chest. This was a familiar sensation. One he felt on multiple occasions with her. What was it, again?
He was brought out of his reverie by Beatrice and Sofia walking by their table.
“Ahh, how romantic! I love this trope! When the tsundere and quirky kid fall in love. Especially when the tsundere’s guard is down and they show their lover their soft, mushy side.” The dirty blonde, Beatrice, gushed.
“Where’d you guys come from?” Rian asked, genuinely perplexed.
“Oh, we were over there,” she pointed at a table by a large window, “discussing our latest novel. We saw the whole thing with Zoe and Lucy. Sooo cute!”
“You’ll have to forgive her, she’s rather fond of all those spicy novels and mangas.” Sofia giggled at her friend’s antics.
“Spicy?” Zoe questioned.
“Yeah, you know…spicy…romantic…dirty.” She blushed, but with an air of confidence. Like the themes themselves affected her but not in a shameful way.
“Oh. OOHHH!” At first, the green haired boy reacted as if it were a normal description. Upon the information finally setting in is when he realized the actual meaning. He definitely blushed for the umpteenth time from embarrassment.
The group laughed good-naturedly.
“So, yeah! Aren’t you going to go follow her?” Beatrice continued.
“Umm. Do you think she really wants me to?” He asked timidly.
The group sighed and rolled their eyes, even Chise, who piped up again with her two cents.
“Honestly, yes. I know it can be difficult to decipher Lucy’s meanings and intentions but, I really think you should take the bait on this one.”
“What Chise said.” Rian and Isaac said simultaneously.
Zoe wracked his brain. Was this a good idea?
“I don’t even know where she went…what if she went back to her room? I can’t go there. Guys aren’t allowed in the girls dorms and vice versa. You all know that.”
Sofia pondered a bit. A finger on her chin and eyes cast upward.
“Well, if she truly wanted you to follow her she wouldn’t go there. Let’s see. Is there maybe a place you two like to frequent? Either as a group or just the two of you? I’d say start there.”
It took a moment but Zoe snapped his fingers in a ‘Eureka!’ moment.
“Yes! I-I think so! I’ll go there now!”
Without a second thought he got up and raced to where he believed she’d be.
“You’re welcome!” Sofia shouted and giggled after him.
“Huh. Funny how out of all of us, he’s the guy that’s gonna get some.” Isaac interjected.
“Getting some what?” Elias chimed from his seat. He immediately turned to Chise. “What is he getting?”
There was a collective laugh. She shook her head in response, a blush and sweat on her brow.