chatime | ✧ — peach iced tea.

Do you use another term for running away?

[ at that moment, a couple walk by, hanging off each other. elysium and thorns appear like they are in the middle of an argument with their stances, so the couple just whisper to each other before they hurry along.

okay. ]

Why would I be here if I were running away from you?

[ he digs his hole deeper. the couple nearby just has to be a pair of his classmates. of course they are. him and thorns are absolutely going to end up in the rumour mill now considering both of them are already notorious in their own rights.

he explodes internally. ]

I had class to get to, that's all. You're overthinking it again. [ … ]

More importantly, [ reluctantly moving closer towards thorns, his hand hovers awkwardly around the impact point. ] How's your head…? Sorry. My body moved itself.

[ thorns thinks it was on purpose but he is so used to pvp he just accepted it.

he can feel a small bump there, but he will lightly push elysium's hand away from the area. ]

Barely felt it. I've done worse just working in the labs.

[ he stares after the couple for a second then looks back at elysium. hmm. ]

[ HOLD ON A SECOND HERE ]

What do you mean you've done worse. Thorns. Your lab safety?

[ somehow his worries completely override the mortification of being stared at for crimes he definitely committed ]

My lab safety has nothing to do with this.

[ because he has none. they can't talk about a thing that doesn't exist. ]

Your lab safety has everything to do with this.

[ he tries to reach for the spot again and will be more forceful if he has to. ]

What do you mean you've done worse?!

[ elysium is so loud that if people weren't actively avoiding this direction before, they are now. i got so distracted giving out candy that i forgot to press post on this and lost it, cries. ]

[ helppp

thorns realizes that this conversation is no longer a safe place. he thinks they need to leave it now. ]

Shouldn't you be going to class?

[ seeing you at this hour is so jarring

and he thinks not. ]

I'll go to class when you answer me. Thorns?

[ he's already missed so much class he cannot miss any more but here he is!! answer him!!!!!! shakes ]

[ i am barely staying awake rn but it's fine

but ugghhh. he goes over and grabs onto elysium's wrist and tugs. ]

I was joking. You can't miss class.

[ IS IT FINE? BURIES YOU IN BED WITH THORNS.

and has thorns even started his gym arc yet. elysium plants his feet firmly into the ground. ]

Thorns.

[ HE IS THE WORST LIAR IN THE WORLD ]

If you miss any more classes you're going to fail, and then you will have to drop out, and we won't be able to go to school together.

[ this is so extremely dramatic but he refuses for elysium to not go. they just missed so much school. ]

[

his takeaway is that thorns really does not want to take him on this date. he's about to protest again when something hits him—do they even go to school together now? and the combination of that and the unwillingness to not only disclose what the date was takes all the fight out of him.

he tries not to let the disappointment show, but it does in the way his shoulders drop and how his entire face stiffens. ]

… I guess you're right. [ haha. he retracts his hand and shoves it into a pocket.

how is this relationship so disastrous not even a week in. ]

Okay, okay. On my way, since that's what you want.

[ the change in his demeanor along with the comment stops thorns from immediately responding. their relationship is still new enough that he isn't really sure what is the correct way to approach certain things. there's how he would if he was just thorns, but now he is thorns and elysium. how is he supposed to figure it out from that angle?

not for the first time but he is again wondering if they rushed into something and should never have made decisions while deliriously sick. ]

... Don't say it like that. You're making it sound like I want to get away from you.

[ this is so cursed. getting together was so much of a mistake; if they walk it back entirely, will their friendship will survive? probably. he's always the one kicking up a fuss.

his one working brain cell suggests this is a bit drastic, but it doesn't change that it's still on the mind. elysium smiles a little uncomfortably. ]

Sorry. I didn't mean for it to come across like that. [ awkwardly looks at his watch… ] I have five minutes to get to class. I guess… we continue this conversation later? If you want.

Yeah. I'll see you later.

[ when even is later? thorns hasn't even had his classes for the day yet and he assumes elysium is working again after his last one.

well. they have to go to the same place at the end of the day, which seems both like a blessing and a curse. ]

Have a good class.

[ ...

he walks over and places a quick kiss on elysium's cheek, except he does it so clumsily it lands on his chin instead. and then he hurries off... they're already near the business building anyway so thorns has more of an excuse to leave first. ]

[ when even is later, truly!!!!!

elysium ends up late for his class after being stunned still by the kiss. it's not even in the same way where his heart feels like it's going to burst—more like it feels like they're going through predetermined motions and a flowchart of what they should and shouldn't do.

should they try talking it out some more? talking hasn't seemed terribly effective. still, he wants to believe they can work it out. they have to. only, a few hours later: ]

Something came up.

You'll have to head back on your own today…

[ followed by an apologetic sticker on its knees. ]

[ oh...

thorns stares at his phone, and then just quickly types out a response. ]

Okay.
I'll be home.

[ he will wait... again. embarrassing. ]

[ he sends a cuter sticker after that which involves smooching and a copious amount of hearts. that should fix everything between them, right? right. they're both embarrassing.

and thorns can wait again but no one comes home that night……… ]

[ OKAY

thorns sends him some question marks and falls asleep on the couch. binch. ]

[ there is no response… not even a read receipt…

if he decides to look for elysium in the morning, he isn't anywhere to be found, either. whack. their last (in-person) conversation really had been an argument. oopsie. ]

[ okay...

thorns does not know elysium's classmates or who he works with so he can't really ask them. so he just sends another text. ]

Are you okay?

[ almost an entire hour later—

signs of life!! ]

Yeah

Sorry for the late response
Just had something come up with family

[ oh. he wonders if he can ask for more info, but he isn't sure if they are back to the closeness point where that's fine. things are so hard.

vague questioning should be fine though? ]

Is everything alright?

For now, yeah.

But I got an exemption from the school in case you're worried.

[ … ]

I'll make it back for our date. For sure.

[ so he isn't planning on coming back soon? it really must be serious then. if that's the case, the dare shouldn't really be a priority, he thinks. ]

Okay.
Let me know if I can do anything.

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