They stood by the window looking outside. Aidan knew his friend had something in mind. It was so obvious. He asked him something he knew he would never ask; Elijah only asked what he was curious about and he wasn't curious about something he didn't see. Aidan was an energetic sophomore Elijah met one day in a shop. He was having difficulties paying for his meal and he offered to help. Since then, Aidan saw it as a debt.
Elijah took out his cigarette and started smocking while his friend never touched one. You have to have money to buy them and they already struggled for what they had. "It would be a dream to see someone treating everyone the same. I pity those condemned; they can only marry someone like them and mostly don't keep their children. I think being a first ranker is already something to envy about for them."
"I met a weird girl," his lips twisted into a smile as he remembered her trying to catch those fireflies. "She was talking to a condemned like he was a normal person. Breaking the law like this might take her down. But she didn't care…"
Aidan remembered something and smirked. "I met a weird girl as well but it was a long time ago. I sold her a toothbrush for double the price. The way she looked at me translated she knew I was bluffing but she took it. Imagine that… I think she is the one with messy hairstyle."
"Sierra Borges? I think she is a pretty weird one."
"What about introducing her to me? Since that day, I practically don't see her. Do you know? She is known as an arrogant person because of her rank. She is one of the few that belongs to the fifth zone. It's incredible that her father is a general."
"She didn't strike me as arrogant when I met her but an amused one, like she is taking everything in a funny way. She practically made fun of my anger. I think she has something she can't talk about, like a past she doesn't wish to be mentioned."
"You know how the higher you are, the more likely people will gossip about you. She is known for having ties with a traitor. He was a teacher in our middle school, do you remember him? The dude with glasses and a sharp attitude…"
"Yeah, I do. I remember he was taken down because of a book they found in his possession."
"Yeah, she was almost pushed to be a condemned. It wasn't for her father, she would have been one. She is a lucky one, pal. If it were me, I wouldn't get away from it."
Elijah thought this time of the reason she talked to condemned like normal people and the idea stroke him when his friend mentioned her past situation. It was obvious; she felt guilty because she got away and they didn't. Maybe what she showed him in their first meeting was just an act. Perhaps, she already knew everyone. Revampirina was small and people talked; it wasn't like she would miss the gossips.
"The weekend is on the way, so what shall we do?" Aidan urged him to go to bed next to him. "I thought of bringing my girlfriend out but I want you to be there, pal. How about bringing her? She is a cool girl. She doesn't have many friends either. It's known she keeps herself on the roof between breaks."
"I think I'd rather be sodomized than call her for a date. She will make fun of everything I will do. Furthermore, I don't know her."
"Do you like guys?"
"No."
"Then why do you want to be sodomized? It's a chance for you, Elijah. You can get a girlfriend and a high rank one. Imagine if you marry her, you will belong to the same rank as her and it will be amazing. You can pull me up as well."
"Why do you think he will give me a chance?"
"At least considering it is already an improvement. Listen to me, she will give you a chance. Just go to the roof more and talk to her. Talking is the key. Make her talk to you about her problems and cry in your arms then ploof, you are good with her. Girls like being pampered and all. So work on it; it's for your own good."
"I don't think I can do that. It strikes as hypocrite and you know how I hate people like that. Margaret's parents are the perfect example."
"The girl is good, man. The girl is good. She will be fine. You've been a ghost for the past couple of weeks only being with Margaret, aren't you considering your future? You are a last year, you need to think of a wife, of a job, of a life. How can you sleep soundly with these in front of you? I still have a year and it's practically making me nervous."
"I don't like people much. I am staying with Margaret because she needs me… She has a dangerous mind and I protect her from it. She is smart and you know where smart people end up. Either way, I don't like talking to people. Staying alone is like a blessing. Thinking of a wife and pampering her is like stupid; it's already making me tired."
Aiden turned desperate from convincing his friend to get a life. He knew Simon's suicide impacted all their lives but they already had one. What was the point in staying caged in the past? He pulled the pillow from under his mother's head and threw it at Elijah who grabbed it and sent it back.
"I can't deal with this brooding shit called introvert anymore. I know you have a brain and you think a lot, man. Make it rest. Be stupid for once. You will end up dead before you can even claim a life, just from your thinking. Stop overthinking!"
"I don't overthink. I am simply being objective. I have a goal and I wish to make it true. Margaret needs her parents more than me. I will work on their relationship till it's all good."
"And after that?"
"After that, I will think of the future you talk about. Now, sleep and leave me alone."
They didn't talk after that. The silence felt eternal but everyone slept and Elijah had to move to the window again, fishing his pack of cigarette from his pocket. He simply had one goal, nothing less nothing more. Studying didn't matter, a job wasn't important, a wife wasn't necessary… His parents died because of an accident, because his mother quarreled with his father and she was crossing the street till a car broke her. His father tried to keep everything together but he failed; he also had a misstep in his work and died.
It wasn't important to think of the future when you couldn't know what might have happened. It was better to think of the present and leave the future until it became a present as well. The sky was bright and the moon was high in the sky. He thought of her and how she didn't complain when he almost punched her. Everything kept replaying in his head and he thought maybe he would give it a chance; maybe she would help him get over his dark thoughts and see the world in a better light.
He remembered her eyes when she heard Margaret asking about the sky, being so blue. It was because of those eyes that he would give it a chance. It would be alright to do so. He would give it chance.
Elijah left early the next day. He ran the stairs going to the roof, expecting her to be there. Sierra was already sitting there, her eyes staring at the horizon since the buildings are not that tall but her gaze was blocked by the tall wall around Revampirina. She sighed and turned her head expecting Duncan to just show up out of nowhere as he always did, but instead it was Elijah who was there. She climbed back shifting her expression to an amused one.
"Are you here to apologize? It's fine. Apology accepted; you can go back now," she crossed her arm, staring at his puzzled face.
"You didn't even leave me a chance to speak."
"Well, didn't you come for that? Or are you here for something else? You see, I don't get so many visitors. So this is one of the unusual occurrences."
"I thought of skipping my classes and check on the roof; I didn't expect a certain messy head to just linger here."
"Excuse me! I am not lingering here. I am basically living here. What's the point of studying when you already know you are graduating?"
"I second that. Are you free this weekend?"
"Why? Did I charm you with my amazing hairstyle or what?"
"Maybe, it's the case. It's not everyday you see someone as messy as you."
"Excuse me. I am not messy. I am keeping my energy for future purposes. Why do you think I come here? Anyway, all my weekends were free; I would be thrilled to join you if you planned for something good and bring the girl. Margaret her name… Bring her. She needs a lecture from me."