Soft.
The green-haired woman found herself being surrounded by a comforting warmth on the back of her head.
Thinking she was back in her bed, she eagerly blinked her eyes open only to be faced with wide pink orbs gazing back into her own eyes.
She flinched and immediately tried to assess her current position.
" You okay, " the entity, that wished to be called 'Z' gently inquired.
That's when Z cupped her hand around the green-haired woman's cheeks.
Now realizing that she was resting on Z's thighs, that's when the green-eyed woman quickly slid downward off Z's lap and away from her hands. That's when she took the chance to scramble far away from Z.
Z looked shocked as the other woman glared like a territorial cat.
" Well, that was a tad dramatic don't you think? "
" Well let's see you in my position and then we'll talk!"
" I suppose you do have a point. But you can't just avoid me? I know for a fact that you have questions, I can help answer said questions!
So, how about we just sit and talk? That's it. You can just throw words at me and I'll provide my best response. "
The other woman continued to glared at Z but gave her head a slight nod in agreement.
Z looked visibly relieved and gave a relaxed smile.
" Here come sit."
She invited the green-haired woman to sit in the other chair that was by the table.
But only when Z sat down did her newfound companion take a seat as well.
After a few moments of silence, Z decided to break the ice.
" So, I don't know if you remember but I asked if you had a preferred name that I called you by.
Any decisions?"
The green-haired woman gazed at her.
This time with no malice as she was deep in thought.
She was more comfortable being called by her new name. But it felt very strange going by the name that used to belong to the woman before her.
Even if she didn't go by that name anymore it still made her quite uncomfortable.
Z was able to pick up on this and said, " Really, don't worry. If you want to be called Zoey it doesn't matter at all. I've given it up. "
The green irises that gawked at Z eventually were pointed downwards at the table as she sighed.
" *Sigh* Alright, just keep calling me Zoey I guess. " Though her words were sewn together in a certain sentence the bits of uncertainty still leaked through.
" Good, now Zoey. Any questions, please ask them. I-"
" Why am I back in my old body?"
Z was a bit shocked being so abruptly cut off but she could understand.
" Well, though you're in what used to be my body. Your soul was still originated in that beautiful grassland colored body. So now that your soul's here you look like that."
Zoey sighed.
Though it couldn't be recognized if it was from relief or exasperation. She started to relax and ease up a bit.
" Ah, I know I said I would answer questions but I have one myself. "
Zoey narrowed her eyes and slowly her guard was starting to emerge once more.
Z leaned a bit with a serious look before quietly whispering with her hand up to her mouth, " I've always had back problems with these big old things, does growing stronger make it easier for you?"
You could hear a pin drop.
And Zoey's expression looked as if she was struck by lightning.
...
" *Pffft ha ha ha ha*"
Zoey's sudden outburst of laughter shocked Z right back.
Before creating a relieved smile on the fairy-like face.
" Yes! Oh my-! Yes! But even when I don't wear a bra it is super uncomfy! And sometimes I feel as if I'm slouching half the time!"
Slowly the air became brighter and more vibrant.
Each blade of grass pointed its tip upwards. Every butterfly became more energetic and even began soaring around the air in large loops.
Such a bubbly and light atmosphere as they melted the ice between them and turned into a refreshing beverage.
As they laughed gleefully it seemed they initially forgot what the purpose was of their conversation.
" So, how's the afterlife anyway? It seems pretty boring here."
Zoey seemed to steer back to a somewhat relevant topic.
Z quirked up her lips, " Pretty good! And it's not as boring as you might think! More often than not I like to watch the people of earth go about their lives."
" Watch them?"
" Yes! I can basically tune in to any person, animals', or any being's lives like it's regular tv.
I can watch plants grow, wives and husbands, cheating, all of it! And even if I get bored with that I'm able to obtain a few mortal pleasures every once in a while!
Maybe a collection of books, video games, electronic devices!
Oh, anyway it's very fun up here!"
Zoey blinked.
" Wait, so does that mean you've been watching me too? "
Maybe it was shock but Zoey could almost see a pair of impish horns poke out from Z's head.
" Yup! I was honestly white flattered to so honestly gush over my curves."
Zoey blew out a loud gust of air through her nose.
If it was a laugh you wouldn't be able to tell.
But not even a second passed before her asking, " Umm, so what do I do about, the family?"
Zoey still wasn't able to forget how she walked on such thin ice with Chloe and Zack that even still silence would cause the deepest fracture.
...
Z stared at her.
" From my understanding, you've never really had a family correct?
Family is usually portrayed as this warm comforting thing in which blood is irrelevant.
But, you have to realize, your usual routine of doing things on your own without anyone in your way is... stressful, scary, worrying.
I was always sheltered, and shy so, it was expected that I would always need to depend on someone.
So when I suddenly grew up and different in just a matter of hours, they-.
They're just concerned.
It's not like in those stories where they automatically accept you.
It's a hard change.
So, try your best to ease up a bit.
Introduce the new you a little slower and don't be afraid to really open up.
It's gonna take a long adjustment period but you'll get there. "
Zoey sighed and grew a large grin, pointing her sights to the table.
Again her true emotions were unreadable.
Was she happy, exhausted, sad?
You genuinely wouldn't be able to tell.
Looking back up from the table she stared at Z with these desolate eyes.
" Hey, do you miss them?"
Zoey's question momentarily caused Z to freeze.
But she managed to thaw in a matter of seconds.
" Yes, every day. Everyday when I check on you and I see them something searing aches deep inside my chest...
But, there's nothing I can do.
But with them, and you, all the happiness you deserve.
And I'm putting my trust in you to take care of them.
Which is why I was hoping that... well, who knows we might see each other again and we're still technically strangers.
But yet I'm still giving you all my belief.
So that's why... I was hoping to become friends with you.
And possibly use that as a way to guilt you if anything were to happen to my family by saying that you betrayed our friendship.
So, friends?"
She gave Zoey an outstretched hand.
It was almost the color of freshly made snow.
So lovely that it was almost a fault.
Zoey smiled at Z and reached for Z's hand.
" I would love to be your friend,"
Z's smile made it as if angels were smiling upon them.
" *Hmph* Turns out that dying gives you a glow-up huh? "
" Huh? "
Z was confused at Zoey's murmuring.
" Nothing. Anyway Z, I really would love to be your friend,"
Zoey had tilted her head down so no one could see the scowl smeared across her lips.
" But,"
That's when Zoey's hand grabbed the edge of the table and threw the table so hard to the right that it caused a breeze to flutter Z's hair into her frozen befuddled expression.
Z's eyes shrunk looking at the woman who practically exuded black flames.
Zoey looked like a demon ready to conquer the ever so peaceful meadow.
" You really shouldn't have lied to me."
Z felt a shiver run up her spine.
" Now that's not what a good friend should do, you bitch!"
Z stared like a deer in headlights.
As she gaped at the nightmare before her, something unexpected went through her head.
' Why the fuck am I turned on?'
"Wha-, what are you?"
" Oh, please spare me the routine."
Zoey walked up to Z and her hands on the arms of Z's chair.
She leaned forward into Z's face and glared.
" You bring me here. In my old body, and spin some cockamamie story then you try to change the subject and distract me from the questions I want answered."
" I don't-"
" DON'T. Lie to me."
Z gulped and clenched her thighs
" You say you watch me huh?
Then act like you don't know a thing about what I want to know?
*Heh*
I have spent the past few days being stepped on by idiots.
I will be damned if I let it happen when I can do something about it without any repercussions. Don't you dare think of lying to me again. "
Z shuddered as she forced her back into her chair.
" You know, I'm straight. But uh, the clam downstairs says she finds you attractive."
Zoey wasn't fazed.
" Then you're either a masochist or you're not straight."
Zoey hissed and grabbed Z by her collar.
" Last time I gonna say it Queenie.
Tell me what I want to know. "
' Oh dear lord, she sounds like a mafia leader. That's such a turn on! Underwear don't fail me now!'
Z pleaded to her clothing in her mind.
" I-I can't answer if you don't give me a question!"
" *Tch!*
Zoey clicked her tongue at Z's stubbornness.
" *Gulp* I-, I can't read minds! So, you'll have to ask!"
Z waited in suspense on what Zoey would do.
Zoey squinted her eyes a bit but she let go of Z's dress with an evident annoyance that anyone could see.
" Annoying. "
She grumbled while Z took a breath of relief and straightened out her dress.
" Since you pretend not to know I guess I'll go into detail.
This world is a novel.
And there is an author who created the novels.
Common traits in these novels, like any other story is the use of protagonists and antagonists.
There's also a little thing called plot convenience and certain halos, one would call it.
These halos allow book characters to get away with things never thought possible.
I have a sort of halo like that. Which also causes many pests to be attracted to the light of said halo.
I'm also a female lead.
I say 'A' because there's the female lead seems to be a quite common species in this world.
This unsettled me.
And only added to the massive pot of butterflies in my stomach.
I've felt like something is strange.
I feel like I'm monologuing out of nowhere. I feel that I'm always halfway to experiencing a mental breakdown. My mind is foggy yet clear?
And the antagonists, they're so dumb!
Like they are almost children wearing adult clothes but then some kind of personality trait or sappy backstory is slapped onto them so they can pass off than more than some two-bit hacks who were put here just to antagonize me!
Those are the real big ones.
But those don't even compare to the biggest issues.
What's the original plot of this shit show?
And who is the protagonist of said plot?"
Z had beads of sweat streaming down her face but still held up a shield.
" W-what? Aren't you the protagonist? A-and what do you mean by' original' plot? That's absurd is what -"
" IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPEAK THE TRUTH DON'T SPEAK AT ALL!"
" Y-yesh!"
Z accidentally bit her tongue in surprise.
" Now look, "
Zoey put her face in Z's with literally inches separating them.
" If I was someone more egotistical I would probably hold on to the notion that the whole world revolves around me.
But it doesn't.
I know I'm not the protagonist.
I was probably never meant to reincarnate into Zoey.
Annie and I were supposed to die.
And so were you.
And I'd bet my life that some perfect, goody two shoes, pacifist girl or guy, or a person on another end of the gender spectrum comes around and fixes everything gets stronger and la-dee-daa!
That's the protagonist's job, at least in this place. Make peace and do good.
I don't do that.
Hardly. I hardly do that to be completely honest, without something in return. I plan to use Katherine to her fullest potential.
Not to mention issues just pop out of thin air and fall straight into my lap.
As if to purposely overload me and distract me."
Z avoided eye contact but was forced to turn back by Zoey gripping her face and turning her forward.
" You know...
You know what I'm talking about.
So I highly suggest, you answer me.
Or my questions will just become an endless echo that reverberates throughout that lying head of yours."
Zoey held no more rage nor any fear.
Those now green eyes were glazed over.
As if staring directly into the soul of a serial killer. As if you were a mere ant being surveyed by a far superior being.
" *Gulp* I-I know that you want to figure out the world and all but, s-sometimes some things are better left alone. "
A disdainful puff of air escaped Zoey's nose before she whispered.
" If that was true, then you wouldn't have brought me here."
Z tried to think of something to say but her mind refused to come up with anything.
After more of her just stuttering and squirming around, she knew she couldn't avoid it, she had given up on any resistance.
" *SIGH* Fine. *hah* I should have known from watching you and I really did try my best to avoid it. She can't blame me for that can she?"
Zoey let go of the girl's dress and released her face.
Z took sharp breaths and inhales and tidied herself up.
Her breathing could have been from having her face clenched, or from the monumental amount of fear in her chest, or from the sheer amount of stimulation she got from her suddenly emerged fetish. Who knows.
" *Ugh* You want the truth? Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
Zoey was unfazed and just stood there waiting for an answer.
" *Hah* Okay, we are in a novel. That's very true.
A popular one.
But you are not the main protagonist and you are not the main storyline.
In fact, you, me, and all of this, aren't supposed to exist.
We're a glitch."