81 Clear Skies

"Huff… Huff… Huff…" A teenage girl dressed in a navy school uniform that had a golden rose embroidered on it panted as she struggled to regain her breath. She had bent over with her hands on her knees, with her long and curly blond hair spilled in front of her.

The girl reached up and wiped away her cold sweat using the back of her sleeve. She inhaled and exhaled, watching as her misty breath spiraled into the sunny sky.

Then, she turned to the boy that had dragged her here in exasperation. "Why did you drag me with you?! Now, I'm in trouble too…"

The boy was lying on top of a pile of snow to cool off. When he heard the girl's weak voice, he sat up, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

"I-I'm sorry Elizabeth… I just thought that you didn't seem like you wanted to stay there much longer either, so I just brought you with me…"

He scrutinized the girl, his eyes focused on the redness under her eyes.

Elizabeth sighed. ���Never mind. It's our lunch break, so it doesn't matter anyway." She looked around at their surroundings. "But why did you bring us to the garden?"

"Because my bodyguard can protect us from here."

"Huh?"

"Fei, my bodyguard, is really cool. She can sense everything on the campus, so if I'm in danger, she will immediately know and come save me," Carlos boasted, his face beaming with pride.

Although bodyguards were not allowed into the buildings, the rest of the campus was open access.

"… Is that so… " Elizabeth hesitated. "I'm going to return to the classroom then."

She turned around and began to backtrack to where they came from.

"Eh? Elizabeth, wait!" Carlos scrambled up to his feet and grabbed the girl's shoulder.

The girl looked back, blinking her sapphire eyes in confusion.

The boy glanced away. "Um… A-Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"They said such horrible things about you. Aren't you mad?"

Elizabeth's eyes narrowed. She moved to shake off the boy's hand that was still on her shoulder.

Carlos continued, not noticing the girl's discomfort. "Cuz, I know I'm mad as hell. Y-You aren't like what they say at all. I think you're really cool."

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

He blushed. "I brought you to the gardens because I thought it would make you feel better… Don't all girls like flowers? Oh, but I forgot that it's winter, so there are very few flowers in bloom…But, anyway… since it's lunch break, why don't we stay in the gardens for a little while longer?"

"And while we're at it, um… can we also become friends?" He peeked at Elizabeth, holding his breath.

Seeing that the girl did not seem like she intended to speak, the boy waved his hands around, trying to justify himself. His ears were redder than ever.

"The thing is, I don't think I'll be able to continue being friends with Cassian and the others… But I don't have any friends other than their gang. Since I don't have any friends, doesn't that mean that I'll have to sit alone during lunch, sit alone during classes with no assigned seats, become… a l-loner?!" His lower lip quivered at the thought.

At this point, the girl finally had a reaction. She curled her hands into fists. "Say… How do you know I'm not like what those people said I am like? Why do you think I'm cool?" Her voice was trembling.

"What? Oh… I guess…" Carlos thought for a moment. "I guess it's a feeling? A hunch?" He laughed, scratching the back of his head.

Elizabeth was stunned. She didn't know how to react. In her life, many people had tried to court her, whether it was using dirty means or trying to charm her. But never has she ever met someone that was as clumsy as the boy in front of her.

Well, maybe he wasn't actually romantically interested in her. He seemed to be sincere in his attempts to befriend her. And the sound of his laughter was so clear and fresh. It didn't seem like he was lying.

But the boy was too naïve.

He didn't seem to know how extensive his father's influence was. After he separated from Cassian's gang, there would be – with no doubt – crowds of people swarming around him.

And he even chose to be friends with her. Elizabeth was aware that her position in society was much less than Carlos', and she would be able to reap many benefits as the boy's friend. On the other hand, being friends with her was quite useless for the boy himself—though he did not seem to realize this point.

There was also the point of him escaping with a girl to the gardens because he thought he needed to make her feel better since he saw the girl seemed to be sad. If it had been any girl other than Elizabeth, the consequences could've been unimaginable for the young boy.

Fortunately, Elizabeth wasn't the type to take advantage of others' kindness. She ought to reject the boy's offer, ought she?

But… how would it feel to have a true friend? She thought wistfully. Someone who did not approach her for her looks, for her wealth, nor for fame. She had thought it would be impossible for her in this lifetime— or at least very far off into the future— but if she could grab ahold of this opportunity, could she finally make a true friend?

After a few seconds, the girl finally laughed helplessly. Her laughter was like the sound of chimes, and Carlos grew dazed.

She looked up at the fluffy white clouds in the air, with her blonde curls draping over her shoulders, and the corners of her lips curved up ever so slightly. "Sure, I'll be your friend."

The boy's eyes lit up in an instant. "Are we staying in the garden?"

"Of course! What do you think?"