All-Out Attack

"Morning everyone!" Miss Heart announces, entering the music room, popping her coat on the back of her chair. Poppy, Echo, Ty, and I are sat in our usual spot towards the back of the room. "Today we're working on lyrics, more importantly the process that goes into crafting them. You'll each get a piece of music, and you'll have to write lyrics to fit the tone and genre. Split up into pairs and I'll send the song to each pairs' watches." The teacher explains. Smart-watches are so common nowadays that they're basically required, the school even provides them if you can't get one. I'm not too fussed by mine, but it's definitely handy.

Poppy's had turns to me, with Ty's turning towards Echo. We have different ideas though. "Sorry kids, the grown-ups need some time alone." Echo states, before putting her feet up on my legs. Our siblings have matching looks of nerves as they then turn to each other.

"You... You can work with someone else if you want." Ty offers. Goddamn idiot. He really doesn't know how to accept a good thing when it happens.

"Oh... No, no, I'd like to work with you, unless you don't want to?" Poppy replies. It's like watching a very slow car crash, like a mobility scooter rear-ending a cow.

Ty's face goes slightly red at Poppy's response. "No, I'd love to work with you!" He answers awkwardly. "I... I mean, not love... It's, I mean, yeah, we should work together." He adds, as I try my hardest not to visibly cringe.

Echo seems equally pained by the international wallflower showdown, standing up and pulling me towards a free space at the back of the room. "Fucking Hell, if I knew they'd be that embarrassing I wouldn't have stuck them together." She states, audibly aggrieved at the state of their conversation. "Still, we can talk, and they can... I dunno, mumble or something."

True, this has worked out pretty well for us. "Plus, you can serenade me with sappy lyrics." I grin. "I can't wait to hear how you lie awake at night thinking about my eyes." I continue, wondering how far I can push my luck.

"Or, it could be a **** metal song, that way I can just list all the ways I'm going to break your kneecaps." Echo responds, unimpressed.

"Is the first way lovingly? Or with a hug?" I laugh. I've come to understand that a lot of Echo's threats are meant to stop a conversation rather than actually threaten, the trick is learning which ones she's serious about.

"Focus on the task at hand or I'll pluck your eyes out." She growls. Yep, that one's serious. "We've got enough of a problem with the romance equivalent of the cold war over there."

I look over to Poppy and Ty, who are waiting for the assignments to be sent out in silence. Yeah, I can't afford to mess about, these two are nightmare fuel.

"In that case, got any ideas?" I ask, turning back to Echo.

"Me? You're the one who said we had to do something, you're saying you've got no idea?" She spits back at me. "Fucking typical." She sighs.

Okay, yes, maybe I should've put slightly more thought into this. "Well, we need something to draw them together, like an activity or an event or something?" I think aloud.

"You're a genius, nothing says romance like white water rafting." Echo answers sarcastically.

I know she's being facetious, but I'll keep that one as a date idea, maybe for a sporty girl or something. "I was thinking more like a party, but sure, whatever gets you going." I reply smugly.

"Hmm... It's not a terrible idea, **** can get anyone closer." She ponders. My mind flicks to Poppy and Andi making out last night... Probably best not to mention that to Echo. "We'd need a decent place to throw it though... Plus, we'd need to find a way to get enough people. Nothing kills a buzz like dead air."

I can't help but burst out laughing at the thought. "Please, you're looking at the King of Revelry back in Nice, I think I can manage to rope in a decent crowd." I assure her confidently. "That being said, I barely know anything about Tyneland, let alone where we can host a party."

"I can think of a few places, but I'd need to check if they're still usable." Echo confirms. "Just... Maybe don't mention that me and Ty are coming. Our reputation might make people think twice about coming."

Well that's... Just sad. Are people that afraid of them? Andi sure didn't seem scared of them, which begs the question as to why they're so hostile around each other. Perhaps hostile is the wrong word, that would imply hatred or anger, it's more like apathy.

Maybe there's more than just Poppy and Ty that needs a push at this party.

*

"Are you insane?" Marie asks me. Music passed by pretty quickly, but we don't have to present our lyrics until next time, so it was mostly uneventful. I'd met up with my cousin on a bench in the courtyard after to discuss the party, and consider if we can resolve the differences between Echo and Andi. "Getting involved in a feud between two girls is suicide at the best of time, but when one of them is Echo? It's like you're a masochist or something."

Not a masochist... Well, not usually anyway. "You're right, it's not like other people getting involved in a conflict between two former friends has ever worked out. How're your parents, by the way?" I point out. I knew learning about how Rouge and Trish got together would work out in the long run.

Marie seems less impressed by my recollection. "Yeah, thanks for that. The difference is, my parents wanted to work things out, those two seem perfectly happy being at odds." She counters.

"They do want to work things out, I know they do... They just might not realise it yet." I argue, slightly less convincingly. "Look, I'm not asking you to help, I just need some ideas."

"That's helping!" Marie snorts. "Fine, your problem at the minute is that you don't know enough, no one does, you need to go to the source. Get their perspectives, and from there you can find common ground." She explains.

That makes sense, get intel before I make decisions, else I'm just taking random shots in the dark. "Not bad, let me guess, Rouge teach you that?" I ask.

"My Mum actually, she used to say she spent more time making peace between her friends than she did drinking, and she really likes drinking." Marie chuckles.

"She definitely did a lot of both." A voice interrupts us, I turn to see an older woman there, dressed in a grey pantsuit, her long brown hair tied up neatly in a ponytail. I notice a visitor's bade hanging around her neck. "Marie, do you mind if I borrow Rufus for a little bit?"

Marie seems surprised to see the woman, but at least recognises her, standing to allow the request. "Sure, I'll go meet up with the others." She states, before taking her leave.

"So, Rouge tells me you've been asking about me." The woman smiles. "It's nice to finally meet you." She continues, holding out her hand. Wait, who have I been asking about? So much has happened recently... Wait, is this... Is she?

"My name's Jenny Cray, I'm Scarlet's sister."