Solutions and Promises

Waking up in my bed feels different to yesterday, I can't quite describe it, I feel more refreshed. I groggily pull myself up before I realise an arm is holding me down. Shocked, I turn to see Poppy's sleeping face. Oh right, yeah, we were chatting after practice and fell asleep, lucky no one came in really, it'd beg the question of why she's still in her uniform.

"Hey, up you get, Sleeping Beauty." I grunt, shaking my sister by her shoulder. "We've gotta get ready for school."

Poppy doesn't seem to appreciate my method of awakening her, as she groans in response. "Hey... Sleeping Beauty got to be kissed awake." She complains, finally sitting up.

"Count yourself lucky, usually girls have to do a lot more than kissing if they're spending the night in my bed." I snort. Well, I mean. Girl, singular. But that's not important.

"Gross." She answers, standing up and stretching. I take advantage and sit up too, my ribs still ache like nobody's business, but it's less intense, I swallow another tablet and head towards my drawers where my uniform is hung up.

"Speaking of gross, you slept in your school clothes, you got a spare?" I ask, not like I can do much if she doesn't.

Poppy sleepily wanders towards the door. "Yeah, I've got a few, gonna go take a shower." She tells me as she exits, leaving the door wide open. Thank Pops, really helpful, didn't want privacy anyway.

I move towards it to close it when suddenly Marie's face comes around the corner. "Why was Poppy just coming out of your room?" She demands angrily. Okay, what? It's way too early for this level of aggro, all I can respond with is a confused face. "Don't play dumb, she came out of your room wearing the same clothes as yesterday, what the fuck have you done?" She asks accusingly.

Wait... Does she think... With Poppy? Our Poppy? Innocent as a puppy, Poppy? It takes Herculean strength in my facial muscles to not laugh out loud, but I have something more fun in mind.

"Oh, you know, chilling out." I respond nonchalantly, leaning against the door. "What's it to you?"

Marie's face goes from anger to shock, as if she hadn't considered that could really have happened. I mean, it didn't, but this is too much fun. "You... How could... Your own sister!?" She splutters.

"Well, you know, it's legal nowadays." I sigh. "Why do you care? Could it be... You're jealous?" I continue, allowing a small smile to cross my face. Marie turns pale at my insinuation, I await a slap that never comes. No words come either. Alright, fun's over, best to come clean before she's genuinely scarred. "No, I didn't fuck my sister, she came to see me last night and we fell asleep. Your face was a picture though." I cackle, as Marie's face slowly goes from her natural tan to a violent red.

"You arsehole, you utter fucking waste of space!" She growls, pushing my shoulder. "Why would you make me think something like that?"

Okay, this was definitely worth it. "I didn't make you think anything, you made the weirdest possible assumption, maybe you really are jealous?" I continue to laugh as Marie continues to **** me.

"Eat shit and die!" She spits, pushing me again, before turning away and returning to her room. Aah, today's gonna be a good day.

*

It occurs to me that Andi and I don't actually have any classes together... That's annoying, means I'm going to have to find her on my own time. Luckily, I'm excused from PE for a while, what with nearly being broken in half, so I have time to take a look.

I find my stride broken by a hand on my shoulder, I turn to see Ty without Echo for a change. Odd, he's usually on a short leash. "I need to talk to you." He grumbles, as if begrudging the conversation.

"Hey, you know I've always got time for my main man!" I grin, giving him a gentle slap on the arm. I never said I'd make it easier for him, he did threaten to end me that one time.

He sighs before continuing. "It's... It's about Poppy." He clarifies. "Is... I mean would... Does she have a boyfriend?"

Oh. My. Fucking. God. I'm a fucking moron. Going quiet when she arrived, keeping his distance when they were alone together, the stuttering. He likes her. He likes her and it's making him anxious. Big scary Typhon scared of butterflies in his stomach, ain't that cute?

"Oh... Well, Poppy's... She's a unique sort, a very pure, very chaste sort... Meaning she doesn't really do the whole dating thing." I try to explain in a way that doesn't end with him crushing my head like a fortune cookie. "Not that she wouldn't be interested or anything, just... I guess she's never really shown interest in anyone. But if you like her, shoot your shot man, what's the worst that could happen?"

Ty considers my words for a moment before replying. "Okay." And walking away. Well that was anti-climactic. I probably shouldn't tell Rosie about this, she'd freak out.

I continue my search around the school until I realise an obvious conclusion. If she has this period off, lunch is next, she lives thirty seconds away. I need to go to her house. I sign out at reception and rush my way across the street until I'm at her door.

I knock a few times and wait for a response. Nothing, maybe she's still in class? I didn't spot her in any of the rooms, but who knows? I still barely know my way around maybe I-

"Rufus?" A voice asks me from the now open door. Okay, maybe she's here. "What're you doing here?" Andi asks tentatively.

Well, now or never. "Guess it'd be cheap to say I came here to apologise, right? I mean, I did, but it sounds so minor when I say it out loud." I ramble, she's completely silent, awaiting my apology. "I'm sorry, I really am, I decided I was some kind of irresistible king of romance, and when you put a dent in that illusion, I freaked." I explain, her expression still unchanging. "The truth is... I'm having a hard time here, I'm learning that I'm not infallible and this place is so different to what I know... But I do want to do better, if that's alright?"

Andi remains motionless for a minute, before finally cracking. "Apology accepted, I get it, you've got a lot going on, and you do really seem sorry." She smiles. Wow, that was easier than I thought. "Friends again?" She offers.

"Hmm... Yeah. For now." I smirk. "But I swear, I'm going to figure out what I need to do to get you to go out with me, if there's something that needs to be done, well I guess I'll just do it, even if we don't end up dating, I'm too curious not to."

Andi giggles at my corny determination. "Ooh, big promise, can I get it in writing?" She jokes. I feel like it'd be weird to write it out, I've got something better. I hold out my hand with my little finger extended. Andi looks at it for a moment before rolling her eyes and wrapping hers around it.

"Pinky promise." I confirm.