At Least to Me, You Are

The sound of the school bell ringing made me realize we were already in a different location.

Now, Death and I were standing in the middle of my high school's hallway, where the final bell echoed. The classroom doors started to swing open slowly, and students streamed out of them like a river.

After what seemed like a complete ten minutes, the line of students pushing each other to get out of the room dispersed. I was the last one to exit the room.

'Today's the day,' I whispered to myself, feeling a mix of nerves and determination as my heart pounded. 'I'm going to tell Klaus.'

Just as I was about to turn to the right of the hallway where the student council room was located, a voice called my attention.

"Evangeline!"

I turned my heels, only to see Klaus standing beside the door.

"Were you waiting for me?" I didn't know if I should be touched by the gesture or creep out.

"Creep out," Death answered for me.

But of course, it's not like the me of the past could hear us in the In-Between, and it was still the Evangeline of the past who'd decided what she should feel. Being the innocent girl that I was, I felt the former instead.

'Wait a minute,' A sudden thought entered my mind. 'How did he know where my last class was?'

Now, did I feel the latter.

"Hello, Evangeline." Klaus beamed brightly.

"Hi… Santa," I replied, expertly hiding my suspicious tone and expression.

'Maybe I'll ignore that fact for now…' I internally shrugged.

"YOU SHOULDN'T!" Death shouted before shaking his head and clicking his tongue. "You know, Evangeline. This is the reason why men are treating you like garbage! He was waving a huge red flag at you, but you purposely ignored it."

"Ouch!" I grabbed my chest, feigning hurt. "You didn't have to go so hard on me, Death."

Death placed his hand on his hips, frowning.

"If I don't, who will?"

"Sunshine did," I replied. "But that didn't stop me from dating men who are red flags, did it?"

Death's frown grew deeper.

"If I were there, I could've stopped you. I would've shaken the sense and logic back to your head." Death looked away from me and toward the scene before us, scoffing. "How tragic that you were an honor student, but that wasn't a skill that could've saved you from dating horrible men."

"Being book-smart and relationship-smart are two uncorrelated things," I pointed out. "And you weren't there with me, were you?"

Death must've noticed the aggression in my voice; his red eyes immediately softened.

"Did I go too harsh?" He asked.

I didn't reply. Instead, I folded my arms together.

"I'm sorry—"

"Hush!" I placed my index fingers on his lips, shutting him up. "Let's continue this memory and talk later."

So we did.

Our eyes turned back to Klaus, who smiled warmly as he patiently waited for my response. I was silent for a few seconds, trying to think of ways to soften the blow.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself (which was odd since it should have been Klaus to do this) for what I had to say.

"So, I've decided," I began, my expression turning solemn.

Klaus's smile faltered slightly, sensing the seriousness in my tone.

"And?" He asked his tone still hopeful.

"I'm sorry, Klaus,"—Klaus looked shaken, but he managed to maintain his composure, waiting for me to explain my choice—"I have to reject the offer."

Klaus had disappointment evident in his blue eyes. Yet, he nodded, acknowledging my decision.

"Okay." He said after a few seconds. "I'll respect your decision. But this time," He said with emphasis. "Can I at least ask why?"

Ah, there it is again with his question.

My frown deepened as I searched for the right words.

"I'm too preoccupied right now to join the student council, and I don't want to do something I'm forced to do." I took a deep sigh before looking straight into his eyes. "So please, don't bother me about this anymore. Promise me that."

"I... I understand," he responded, trying to hide his disappointment. "I promise."

When I thought the conversation was over and it was time for me to leave, much to my surprise, Klaus blushed and stammered.

"But!" He began. "If it's alright with you, can we still be friends?"

'We were friends?' I remarked to myself, quite shocked at the thought. 'I haven't thought about that at all… Though, that seems nice.' I added belatedly.

Even though I had antisocial tendencies, I admitted that I didn't mind Klaus's presence.

Even when Klaus was annoying for not accepting 'no' for an answer, and he repeatedly intruded on my moments of solitude, I fully admitted that I liked it when Klaus always greeted me in the hallways to ask about my day.

'It was a foreign feeling at first, but I've grown accustomed to him constantly appearing out of nowhere whenever I'm off hiding somewhere,' I acknowledged.

"S-Sure," I stammered, my lips curling into a smile. "Okay, Santa."

The memory ended, and now we're back in the darkness of the In-Between.

"Happy now?" I turned to face Death, glaring at him. "I rejected his offer, just like what you wanted."

Well, it's not like younger Evangeline was aware of Death's opinion about Klaus, anyway, so it's not like Death was a factor in why I rejected Klaus's offer. But it was still worth rubbing it on Death's face.

"But you're still planning to have close relations with him after this memory, right?" Death guessed, but his tone sounded accusatory.

I pursed my lips, looking away from him.

Damn it, he countered it!

Death could only sigh at my stupidity.

"Evangeline, oh, Evangeline," He said rather dramatically. "When will you learn?"

"I didn't," I groaned. "That's why I'm dead now, remember?"

"No need to be snarky," He reprimanded.

"You're the one who started it!" I yelled. "And don't talk to me in that tone!"

"What tone?"

"Like I'm a child!"

"But you are, Evangeline." Death shook his head, face-palming. "At least, to me, you are."