The day after that horrifying encounter with a pissed off Eliza, Gil and Al came to school a little less than their confident selves. As soon as they saw each other, they ran to meet each other.

"Gil! Are you gonna follow through?"

"Nope. You?"

"Heck no. I'd rather die from Eliza's wrath than live through it while doing physical exercise."

"Same," Gil sighed with relief, as did Al. So they would bail together. That sounded good.

"Hey, I was thinking...uhm," Al grimaced. "I was going to the library anyway, but if you'd like to come along, we could, uh...get your science grade up?"

Gil stiffened, "Sorry, I can't. Friends to meet. Pianists to sedu—er, pester."

"Oh. Yeah. Makes sense," Al's shoulders sank, defeated. "That's okay. Maybe another time?"

Gil turned away, "...Maybe."

He was gone the next moment, laughing with two other students about a joke that Al could only assume was infinitely raunchy.

Al laughed softly, nervously, muttering. "Yeah...you do you, man..." He slunk into the library, keeping his head down. 'I thought for sure that maybe...maybe...I just need to give it time. I rushed into things again. After a couple minutes of mutual terror, I assumed we were on good terms. Whatever. It doesn't matter anyway. Doesn't matter that I hardly have any friends or anything. Doesn't matter that girls aren't into me or that—'

He was almost knocked off his feet when he ran into—

"Ivy!" he looked up at the other boy, beaming.

Ivan smiled softly back, "Da. Could you mind not running into me anymore?"

"Would. And yeah, sure."

'That's right. I do have a friend...a big marshmallow friend.'

–•–•–

That day was spent sleeping through classes and listening to other guys pester the socially awkward girls. At the end of the day, Al had basically forgotten about Eliza. That is, until she came storming up to him after school as he was turning to leave the building.

"Um, excuse me," she spat. "Alfred Jones—" Al grimaced. "—I think you made a promise to me. And now you're just walking out on it?"

"I-Um...." Al gulped. "Homework?"

Eliza rolled her eyes, "Ugh. Whatever. You'd probably be no good anyway." She soon on her heel and stormed out of the building.

No good? Al would feel insulted if she hadn't just let him off so easily. He let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey!"

Al turned to find Gil standing beside him, looking around and growling. "Where's that bitch? I'm gonna fight her."

"W-What? Language, Gilbert!" Al stuttered, looking at Gil in surprise. He'd heard Gil be lewd and all that, but never had he heard Gil so blatantly insult one of their classmates.

"Tch," Gil growled. "Said I'd be no good with my bird brain. I mean, what did birds ever do to her?!"

"Wait, that's what you're upset about?" Al stumbled.

"Whatever. See you later, Jones," Gil said hostilely, storming off.

What was that all about?

It's not much, but it's something?