September 29, Sunday
11:05 AM

"Lydiaaa! I'm here!" The café bell chimes as the door was opened and Ari skips over to the table I was seated at, then occupying the seat infront of me. "So what did you need?"

"I need to... Talk to you about something."

"I've been waiting for this the whole week you know."

"Yeah, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." Her lips curl into a cheeky smile and her eyes stared straight into my soul as if she already knows what I'm about to say. "Spill the tea sister."

"This is about Theo."

"Quite obviously, Lydia. You've been acting very weird every time I mention him now."

"Y-yeah..."

"Now what is it about him? Did you end up having a crush on him too or something??" She gives me a scornful look.

"No no!" Well uh yes- But that wasn't quite my intention...

"Then what about him?"

"Are you two ready to order?" The waitress approaches with a menu, sparing me more time to live.

"I'll have a cappuccino and a sweet roll." Ari tells her with a smile. She's been here far too many times and practically memorizes the menu by now. "How about you Lydia?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Alright then." The waitress smiles and heads off.

"Ok Lydia, this time nothing is going to save you."

"I know!"

There was a minute silence between the two of us due to me hesitating.

It's like the words are there, written in my head but they won't roll of my tongue.

"Ma'am, there aren't anymore sweet rolls-" The waitress returns just as quick as she left, catching her breath.

Well maybe I'm a little bit lucky?

"Bloody hell!" Ari lashes out, garnering looks from everyone in the café. "S-sorry, I'm just feeling a little aggravated-"

Big wow

I did NOT see that coming.

Upset Ari always suprises me. I get a cold sweat at the thought.

"Someone stole the sweetrolls ma'am. But there are still sticky cinnamon buns, if you would like that instead..." The waitress says, her voice slightly shaky.

"No thanks, I'll just have the cappuccino."

The waitress nods and quickly heads off, while Ari murmurs something I couldn't understand.

"Did you say something?" I ask.

"How could they have no more sweet rolls!" Ari whines.

"You heard what the lady said, someone stole it."

"Yeah yeah. Now once again!" Ari slightly raises her voice. "What's this about Theo?"

"I know who his online crush is..."

"Omg!" Ari's eyes widen and she gets up from her seat. "Who is it who is it? I must know so we can dispose her!" She squeels.

Oh dear...

"T-that's quite yandere, Ari." I let out a faint laugh.

"You don't look very happy about it though."

"Well-"

"Oh I get it! She must be a friend of yours in the game?"

"No Ari..."

"Then what?"

My eyes travel from her face, down to the table, then to the floor.

"I won't know what's the problem unless you tell me." Ari sits back down.

"Ari, please don't hate me for this..."

"O-okay?" Ari tilts her head in confusion.

"The girl who Theo likes is..."

"Is...?"

My heart begins to beat at an extreme rate and I begin tapping the table as I am feeling extremely queasy.

While the waitress heads over to our table and serves Ari's cappuccino, leaving right afterwards with a dim smile, seemingly intimidated by Ari's presence.

Ari blows her cappuccino and begins to take small sips.

"The girl who theo likes is Angel, Ari."

"Angel? Why does that sound so familiar..." Ari pauses to think.

"That's because... Angel is my in game name... Remember?"

And once again, a heavy silence fills the atmosphere.

It is very, very, tense.

"Ppftt." Ari slowly exhales and stops taking sips out of her cappuccino. She gave me somewhat a sad look. "I knew it was a possibility, but I wanted to believe it was a coincidence."

"And what do you mean by that?" I ask her.

"You already know what I mean Lydia."

"Y-yeah..."

She's right...

Ari is smart too, of course she'd notice something.

Now I feel like a damn jerk again.

"I really like Theo you know..." Ari says without a hint of hesitation, looking at me quite intensely.

"You do..."

"Well, what do you want to do Lydia?"

"I... I don't know-"

"Does that mean I can have him then?"

I don't want you to have him... But I don't want you to be sad either.

"Ari... I don't know. I like him too ok! But I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to be a bad friend."

"Then it's settled." Ari smiles at me as if she didn't care one bit about my feelings for Theo.

That's not like her though...

I look at Ari, my vision becoming blurry.

"W-why..." I ask her with confusion in my voice, but she just continues to smile.

"Thank you~" She chirps quietly and takes another sip from her cappuccino.

But this is what I wanted, for my friend to be happy.

I push my chair back and get up from my seat, leaving the shop as tears begin to form and stream down my face.

•••

Ello guys (人*'∀｀)｡*ﾟ+

Cheers to everyone who got the lil Skyrim reference in this chapter! XD

I hella love Skyrim( ꈍᴗꈍ)

Also, what do you guys think Ari's motives are?(՞ټ՞)

-Kei

Question of the day: Do you guys prefer coffee or tea? (Kei, out of all things you can possibly ask, why this?)