Another Day, Another Chance! Build Up Your Courage, Leonidus! (Part 3/4)

As soon as I got to school today, the usual crowd of girls tried to stop and talk to me. I brushed past them and they followed me.

"What's wrong Alyx? Did I do something wrong?" One of them asked.

"Of course you did you idiot! You didn't let me stand right next to him!" Another one answered.

Inside, I was both annoyed and fuming, it's almost as if they didn't think I knew about what was going on. I looked at the two that were arguing and pulled my arm away from one of them.

"You should know already, idiots." I sternly said.

They stood still as I walked away from them all. School was going to be interesting today, I could already tell. As I entered my Literature classroom, it was quiet, unusually quiet. I sat down in my seat with the desk in front of me empty. From the stares in the room, I could tell who was responsible for what's been going on and those that had no idea what was going on. Many of those that were confused were the innocent ones, but the ones that were wide eyed and scared were the ones who had given Laura all that shit for no reason.

[25 Minutes Later...]

As class went on, Mr. Porter actually complimented us on how quiet we were today. Usually, this class has trouble with it, but I guess he doesn't know the real reason why nobody is saying anything.

"Alyx Leonidus, please report to the Principal's Office." The intercom announced.

I quietly stood up with my bag and walked over to Mr. Porter who looked subtly shocked.

"I might need a pass, just in case. You know how some of these Hall Monitors are." I told him.

"Alright, give me a moment, please." He replied.

He wrote me a pass and I went on my way. I walked down the hallway and down a stairwell. Thankfully, I didn't get stopped by any of the Hall Monitors on the way down to Principal Wellham's Office. I knocked on the door and entered the room.

"Ah, there you are, have a seat for me." He politely said.

"Let me guess, I'm finally getting a scholarship to that All Girl's Hero Academy?" I joked.

He shook and head and chucked, "No, I'm here to talk to you about the incidents that have started up this weekend, I'm sure you know about them. Correct?"

"Yes sir, I do." I responded.

"Could you show me your phone, please? I only need to see her social media." He asked.

I nodded and pulled my phone out. I went on to her Tramble page and gave my phone to Principal Wellham. He looked at the comments of one of her posts.

"Oh my, it's worse than I thought. Her mother told me it was bad, but I didn't think that it'd be this terrible!" He noted.

Principal Wellham gave me back my phone and told me that he would immediately be taking action. I thanked him for having me come in and he thanked me as well. I left his office and went into the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Okay... Just man up, will you? It's not that hard to tell someone you love them, right? You do it all the time with your family, what's making this so difficult?" I asked myself.

I thought about Laura and sighed, "Yeah... That's what."

I walked out of the bathroom, still trying to build up the courage to even suggest that I love her. I just wanted to run out of here and just tell her everything that's on my mind. But she's in a tough spot right now so it doesn't make sense to put more pressure on her.

[7 Hours Later...]

I got to the train station to go back home to Reno. But something was telling me to turn around and go to Laura's house. I decided to trust my gut and head to her house. Mom might be mad at me for missing the train again, but I'm pretty sure that she'd understand once I told her why. As I made my way there, I couldn't help but feel dread, I'm not entirely sure why. After about 20 minutes or so, I made it to her house. I knocked on her front door and waited a bit. Was nobody home? I rang the doorbell but I still didn't get an answer. I activated Gear Two and jumped up to her window, she was laying in her bed facing away from me. I slid her window open and climbed inside, she turned around and looked at me, her eyes much drearier than before.

"Is everything alright?" I questioned.

She shook her head "No" and I sat down next to her. Laura sat up and looked to the side.

"Could you... Stay here tonight?" She asked.

S-Staying at a girl's house for the night?! She's comfortable with me sleeping over?

"I-I think I can? Let me ask real quick." I replied.

I quickly pulled my phone out and texted my mother as fast as I could. I explained the situation and, luckily, she agreed!

"I most definitely can!" I smiled.

"Okay. I already asked my parents this morning, so they're okay with it." Laura responded.

Laura had already planned this out? Was she gonna ask me sometime after school? Laura threw her blanket around me and looked at me.

"I need you to hold me, please." She said.

My face heated up and I nodded, "O-Okay!"

I laid back down and Laura rested her head on my chest. I felt tears stain my chest and I held her closer to me.

"I'm really sorry about all of this. I'm pretty sure they're right, he won't ever love me, Alyx. I really hope that you find someone so that you won't have to deal with me." Laura sniffled.

(I.R.P.: Listen to Marioverehrer's cover of "Mizuhara's Theme")

I sighed and finally relaxed, "You know, I'm pretty sure he does love you, Laura. Whoever that may be, I'm certain that he'd look past everything that's ever happened to you and love you for the real you. All of these people are just trying to get in your head to stop your feelings for him, but I think that he's seen it, and that he doesn't stand for it."

Laura didn't say anything to me which I didn't expect her to. But if there was one thing I wish I could tell her, it was that the someone I wanted was her. I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. My phone went off and I opened my eyes. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and it was one of the girls from school asking if I could hang out. I texted her, "sorry I can't I'm hanging with Laura." I set my phone on her nightstand and she looked up at me.

"Who was that?" She quietly spoke.

"Just someone I didn't want to talk to." I replied.

"O-Oh, okay." Laura answered.

I could tell that she hasn't slept at all yesterday or today. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep as well. I felt her breathing slow and her tears stop falling from her face. I gently rolled her off of me and let her have the blanket before I fell asleep.

[4 Hours Later...]

I woke up tucked into bed and with Laura still sleeping next to me. I went to move over and her arms shot out around me.

"G-Geez... Talk about subconscious movement..." I thought to myself.

It was 9:36 PM when I checked my phone. I saw messages that were a little... Interesting. It seems as if those girls were trying to convince me that Laura wasn't a good person and that she cheated on Aaron. I rolled my eyes and set my phone down. I closed my eyes and tried envisioning myself asking Laura out. I kept doing it over and over again to try and make myself comfortable when I actually tell her.

Maybe it isn't as hard as I was making it out to be? I guess I won't really know for sure yet. This all was so strange though, sleeping in the same room as her already, maybe this is like a trial run of some kind? A trial run for being someone's boyfriend was kinda... Odd. Why would her parents even be okay with me spending the night? My phone just wouldn't stop lighting up thanks to the messages people were sending me. I couldn't even tell them about Laura, although I'm pretty sure they could already tell.

Laura moved closer to me and put her forehead on my back. I still looked at my phone and decided to read all of the messages I had. I simply replied to all of them "I'm with Laura." Sure, people might spread rumors about me now, but it isn't anything I'm not used to. I mean, if I can defend myself from my dad's archnemesis, I'm pretty sure I can handle a rumor. I was starting to get a lot more confident with telling Laura how I felt, all I needed was the right time and place to do it.

"Alyx, are you awake?" Laura asked.

I set my phone down on her nightstand, "Y-Yes, I'm awake."

There wasn't any response from her, I turned my head and saw that she was asleep. I guess she talks in her sleep?

"I love you." She whispered.

My eyes widened and I started to blush, did she really mean that? Why do I have to overthink things, she's just sleep talking, yeah...

[The Next Morning...]

I woke up to no alarm, I guess I forgot that I was at Laura's. I honestly didn't even know if I was late for school or not. She was still asleep as I got up from her bed. I looked next to her bed and found a guitar. I walked over and picked it up. It was kind of surprising that she could play it since she was only 5'2". This guitar was about halfway to her shoulder!

"A-Are you... Wanting to play it?" Laura asked groggily.

"I was just looking at it, but I can if you'd like." I responded.

Laura sat up and rubbed her eyes, "Could you play it like this?"

She handed me a sheet of music that had notes handwritten on it.

(I.R.P.: Listen to 7!!'s acoustic version of "Orange"!)

I started to play what was on the paper. As I played, she started to sing, I didn't know she knew Japanese! Her voice... It was really beautiful. Laura had her eyes closed as she sang and I couldn't help but look on in awe.

(Once song has finished, move on!)

I finished playing the guitar and set it down. I honestly didn't know what to say I was so speechless!

"W-Wow... That was... That was beautiful." I muttered.

"Oh? Did you like my voice? I thought I did okay." She questioned.

"Yeah! That was amazing! I didn't know you knew Japanese let alone could sing!" I beamed.

"Thank you, singing normally helps me feel better about things. That song has a deeper meaning to me though. You don't know Japanese, do you?" Laura replied.

I shook my head, "Besides greetings, I have no clue how to fluently speak it."

"I see, maybe I could teach you sometime?" She smiled.

"Sure, that'd be wonderful, I'm pretty sure it'd be useful." I smiled back.

[2 Hours Later...]

I got to school with Laura, which I thought we were late. We actually woke up on time surprisingly. We entered school and I was already prepared for the rush of people.

"Oh, look! He was right!" Someone muttered.

"Oh man, he doesn't know what he's dealing with, isn't she a weirdo?" I overheard someone say.

Laura's expression became rather depressed looking. I had a gut feeling I knew who was responsible for this. I got to my locker and opened it, which then it was slammed shut by Mikey. I glanced over at him and I saw that smirk of his.

"So, you're really with Laura? It's a shame that someone showed that she isn't all that she seems." He smirked.

Mikey looked at Laura who was looking away from him.

"I'm giving you five seconds to get the fuck away from me." I told him.

"Ooo... I'm so scared! What are you gonna do? Threaten me?" Mikey laughed.

"Four." I muttered.

He stood there and leaned on the locker, "Yeah, yeah, five. Go on, threaten me like you always-"

I activated Gear Two and slammed my fist into his stomach. I pushed it into him and people gathered around us.

"I told you... To... Leave..." I fumed.

Laura stood still and watched as I looked down at Mikey. I felt my entire body boil and slightly shake out of anger.

"I'll give you another chance. Right now, I'm holding myself back from slamming your head into the lockers. After that, I'm pretty sure I'd black out from my anger." I told him.

Mikey retaliated by putting his hand in my face, a flash of light sent me flying out of the doors and out into the school yard. He followed me out and stood over me, pinning me down on the ground.

"What'd I tell you a few days ago? I was gonna kick your ass, right?!" Mikey shouted.

I couldn't contain my anger anymore and it exploded! 4 Rage arms shot out of my back and grabbed Mikey. I stood up and looked at him.

"Leonidus! O'Ryan! That's enough!" Mr. Anders shouted.

I slowly turned my head over to him and he stopped coming towards us. Laura, Sheyenne, Joshua, and Karson rushed out.

"Hey, Alyx! Take it easy, man! Put him down!" Joshua pleaded.

One of my Rage arms held Mikey by the throat and I walked towards him. I was just fueled by so much anger that I didn't care about what happens. I heard someone run up behind me and wrap their arms around me.

"PLEASE! STOP!" Laura begged.

I felt myself regain control, my Rage Quirk faded and dropped Mikey to the ground. The last thing I remember before my Rage Quirk completely faded was Mikey clutching his throat.