Chapter 91: A different type of Loneliness
--Chapter 91–
Though she had accepted to visit the library or better still insisted to.
Dean was still skeptical about the whole thing. She was looking hot. Speaking more with ease but she was still not herself.
’Was this all to impress me?’ Dean thought.
And if it was... then why?
The thoughts troubled him but even those troubles paled in comparison to when she bent over the desk, her ass glaring at him like twin moons while she picked up her backpack.
Dean gulped slowly. Teenage hormones kicking in like a lightning round. Something like this, he would expect from Ymir... Not Astrea. Not when she was looking like that.
And just when Dean thought his problems couldn’t compound further. He caught AndreTruman approaching from the corner of his eye.
Dean turned and squared his shoulders. He didn’t even look at the boy that once called himself his fan.
After all, he was Astrea’s new shadow now. He wouldn’t be coming for him.
"Andre, let’s talk later. I’m going to the library with Dean," Astrea started first.
Setting the ground rules of the conversation before it even started.
But to her surprise and that of Dean. Andre was a more difficult book to read than they expected.
Andre stopped and nodded once. "Our arrangement has already been concluded Miss Vermith, I’m not here for you."
Astrea’s eyes narrowed. She was just as shocked as Dean but hid it poorer.
"O-ok..k," she let out in a low stammer.
And much to Dean’s surprise. Andre stretched out his hand for a handshake.
"Congratulations on your coming of Age. Heir of House Gray."
The way the boy spoke. The non-chalance in his tone when he spoke to Astrea. Dean couldn’t help but be proud. From one brother to another.
He reached out and took the boy’s hand. The gesture only lasted for about a second or two.
"Thank you.." Dean finally replied.
Andre nodded with an unreadable expression. "I hope in the near future, our blades might speak in the same language."
Almost like second nature. Dean raised an eyebrow. There he was again.
This boy and his sword metaphors or were they idioms. Dean didn’t know but he was certain of one thing.
Andre was someone that would have been Ying’s dream child.
Their love for vague sword references would have been a great Father-Son hobby or something.
"We shall see..." Dean relayed outwardly. ’Hell no...’ he said inwardly.
It would be suicide to fight Andre. Especially when he didn’t know how to actually fight with a sword for real.
Walking away after a small bow. Andre made his way down the hall even as Astrea’s eyes followed the boy attentively.
Finally she turned to face Dean with a faint glow in her eyes.
"Let’s go.." she said calmly and pulled him along. Giving him a great view and Dean willingly stayed behind her.
***
They finally made their way to the library and even though Dean’s plan earlier was to research alone.
Astrea’s company wasn’t necessarily frowned upon. She was smart and would also make his research even easier.
And to top it all. She was more than happy to be here.
The transition from nervousness to comfort felt so natural the moment books became a part of the conversation.
She moved through the shelves with ease, arranging books in one hand while handing Dean some others.
Sitting comfortably across from each other, the vampire noble hijacked Dean’s research and much to his approval.
Astrea corrected three different books Richard had referenced from memory alone.
And Dean stopped pretending this girl was merely smart halfway through the second explanation.
He almost forgot he wanted to probe her.
Almost...
Leaning back on the metal chair, Dean just stared at the girl for a few seconds before speaking.
"You already know all of this right?"
"Most of it." Astrea answered without looking up.
"I see..."
After his reply, the dark haired Dean returns to his studying and research. Allowing the comfortable silence between them stretch.
It was barely a minute later when he broke the silence again. He was definitely bothered about a few things.
"Why are you helping me?" Dean mumbled, his eyes still going through one of the history books in front of him.
Astrea stayed quiet almost like she didn’t hear him but Dean knew she did.
Finally her soft voice filled the space between them. "Because you didn’t embarrass me."
Dean looked up immediately. What was she talking about? "Yesterday?" He mumbled without thinking.
"Yes.." She nodded. "The book excuse."
With a small smile on his face, Dean arranged himself properly. "I know you wanted to talk."
"I did," Astrea said flatly. Her eyes are now on him.
"Then talk..." Dean said in a softer tone. There was something about seeing her like this that made him gentle.
Astrea’s fingers unconsciously reached for the pendant on her neck. She fiddled with it.
"It’s not that simple for me."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
She stayed quiet, like she was actually thinking about it before answering honestly.
"People usually don’t speak to me normally.."
’Hmmm..’ Dean thought but remained silent.
"People speak at me. Around me and to my family name." she paused. Her eyes became dimmer. "But not really to me."
Dean honestly didn’t know what to say. In this world he was surrounded by many good people that didn’t hold back on him. So he didn’t necessarily know her burden.
Even in his old life, their pain was still different. He was an orphan. Doomed to fail from the beginning but she seems to be the opposite.
"That sounds so exhausting," he said the first thing that came to mind.
"It is..." Astrea nodded.
The two of them suddenly stayed quiet even as slime slid to the table in between them.
The slime looked between them, observing. As if, it would feel the loneliness between them.
"Anyways... we are talking now. " Dean said while he stretched his fingers to push loose hair off her face.
Astrea looked at him quietly, her face couldn’t help but turn red as she smiled but it was out of nervousness.
"Yes, we are.." she said.
Astrea’s eyes lingered on him longer this time. Feeling present for the first time.
Like she wanted to say something else.
Then a hand rested on Dean’s shoulder.
–End of Chapter–
