Lonely Days

(Ver. 1.0)

Changes from 1.0:

Added “---“ for scene changes since fiction press likes to auto double space everything but double spaces

Episodes 1 through 8 have had various grammar and spelling fixes

Several incongruities in 1-8 have been fixed

Silly version changes added to episode 1 for my own odd amusement

I kind of got a headache scrolling through all this text… I’m almost sure I missed a few scene changes. Oh well, I plan to continue revising at least!

Episode One – Life

What is it we want from this world in which we live? Money? Fame? Power? Love? Why do we live our lives as carefree as we do? I have great friends, a great family, so why do I feel like something is missing? I finally understood, but when did my understanding start? My path to realization started so innocently, on that day.

---

“The gentle sound of the wind fills the room, comforting those within with its never-ending grace and elegance. It gently comforts the sleeping girl, soothing her dreams. Unfortunately…” A rather tall girl stood before the bed of another girl, who was sound asleep and snoring quite loudly.

The girl who had spoken had long, dark purple hair that had been tied back into an eloquent ponytail with a strange cerulean ribbon, and long, thick bangs falling around her face past her shoulders. She stared at her sister with eyes that matched that ribbon. “Such words do not apply when that wind is caused by your snoring.” She ripped the covers off the other girl.

“Five more minutes.” The slightly smaller girl muttered. She had pale blue, long hair that was slightly disheveled from her sleep.

“Do not spout such clichés like that to me, Sylvia.” She muttered, keeping the blanket away from her.

“Come on Celie.” She yawned, opening her cerulean blue eyes and looking up sleepily at her sister. “Just a little longer.”

“It’s Celeste. You know how much I hate that nickname!” She sighed. “Do you really want to be late for the first day back?”

“That’s right!” She jumped out of her bed, causing Celeste to calmly step back. “We’ve got to get ready!”

“You’ve got to get ready.” Celeste motioned to her purple and white school uniform. “I’ll be getting breakfast ready.”

“Ah! Great, I’ll be down in a moment Celie!”

“Celeste.” She muttered as she left the room.

“I can’t wait to see all my friends again!” Sylvia hummed happily to herself as she got ready. She sighed happily as she finished, smelling the soft scent of breakfast. She quickly rushed down the stairs, bursting into the kitchen.

“That smells wonderful!” She exclaimed as she sat down.

“Today is blueberry pancakes.” Celeste said as she set the plate before her sister.

“I don’t know how you find the time to make them from scratch.” Sylvia frowned. “You don’t have to push yourself so hard for breakfast.”

“Breakfast is the most important meal, so I cannot take it so lightly.” Celeste said with a straight face as she sat across from her sister.

“I see!” She laughed nervously. I can never tell when she’s serious or not. “Delicious!” She hummed as she took a bite. “Your meals are always so great.” Celeste frowned at the compliment as her sister inhaled the food.

“You shouldn’t eat so fast.” Celeste muttered as she finished her own food slowly.

“I’m just so excited! I get to see everyone again!”

“So? You saw Setsuna and Kylie just yesterday. You see most of our class at least once a week.”

“I know, but still.” Sylvia frowned.

“Let’s get going.” Celeste shook her head, placing the dishes into the dishwasher. They moved through the house to the front door, locking it behind them.

“Ah, there you are!” A voice exclaimed the moment they hit the sidewalk in front of their home. A rather tall girl with short, black hair in a ponytail and long bangs that framed her face, waved at them from the sidewalk. She had a big smile on her face and her eyes were oddly closed so tight that it was amazing she could see.

“Setsuna.” Celeste sighed.

“Oh, is that any way to greet a friend?” She said in her same cheery tone.

“Friend? More like a lost puppy.”

“That’s mean Celeste!” Sylvia scolded as they started walking.

“Your sister understands me so well!”

“I just can’t win.” Celeste muttered. Setsuna and Sylvia started talking as they reached the crowd near the front of the building.

“That’s right; we have to see what class we’re in.” Sylvia frowned.

“Don’t worry about it, we’re all in 2-B.” Celeste said as she headed towards the door.

“How do you know?” Sylvia asked.

“I made arrangements for a few people to be in the same classes.” She answered.

“Ah, Celeste is so good at such things, no?” Setsuna asked in the same voice as always. “You have such connections!” Celeste just scoffed as they found their lockers.

“There you are!” Another female voice said behind them.

“Great.” Celeste sighed. “Why do my friends have to be so weird?”

“That’s the response I’d expect from Celeste!” This girl was shorter than all of them, and wore her blond hair straight and shoulder-length. She had a mischievous smile that shown below her soft, brown eyes.

“Stop being so mean to people.” Sylvia whined. “So, who’s all in our class Kylie?”

“I’ve memorized the class list already.” She answered with a grin.

“I’m so surprised.” Celeste muttered.

“Of course, as I’m sure Celeste knows, Sylvia, Celeste, Setsuna, and of course myself are all in class 2-B.” She cleared her throat. “Here are the others in our class.” She rattled off name after name from the list in her head, obviously annoying Celeste. “And finally, there’s a new student to our school, Seth Hoshi.”

“Seth?” Sylvia asked.

“Yep.” Kylie responded as they started walking towards the classroom. “From what I’ve been able to find out, he just moved here recently. This means I don’t know much else.” She sighed.

“I guess the Gossip Queen can’t know it all.” Celeste muttered.

“You’re really rough aren’t you?” Kylie frowned as they stepped into the room. “No one’s here yet.”

“Your eyes are as accurate as ever. Still for the one person to arrive early to take my favorite spot.” Celeste frowned, staring at the person occupying the corner seat near the wall. He had short, slicked-back, raven black hair. His green eyes were hidden behind a book and a pair of thin glasses. “I suppose I can sit near the window.” She sighed.

”Oh, he must be Seth!” Sylvia whispered. “Let’s sit over here!” She hummed as she sat next to Seth.

“There she goes.” Celeste sighed.

“Ah, you can’t defeat her on such things.” Setsuna said with a smile.

“Why do I have to have such weird friends?”

“So, what’s that book about?” Sylvia asked as she took the seat next to Seth. He didn’t answer. “Hello?” She frowned, leaning in towards him.

“It is… science fiction.” He answered quietly without looking up.

“Ah, so you like science fiction?” He didn’t budge. “Welcome to our school!” She smiled brightly. He didn’t respond. She frowned, turning to her sister, who had set next to her and already had her arms sprawled out and her head on the desk. “He’s not saying anything.” She whispered.

“Not everyone is a chatterbox.” Setsuna pointed out from in front of Celeste. Kylie had her seat in front of Sylvia, with her desk turned around.

“Sorry, but trying to be cool by being sarcastically mean is something only Celeste can pull off.” Kylie said as she stuck her tongue out.

“Ouch.” Setsuna said without blinking.

“All right class, calm down.” They ignored the soft female voice from the front of the class. She sighed as she was ignored, running a hand through her short, dark brown hair. “Yo!” She yelled, slamming her hands down on the teacher’s desk. The class stopped and turned towards her, a few students flinched at her glaring green eyes.

“There we go.” She smiled, staring at the class. “Since today is the first day, homeroom is all about the annoying basics. First, I’m going to be in charge of homeroom, so feel free to be afraid. Oh, for those who don’t know my name it’s Cassandra.”

“Anyway, there will be four, ninety-minute periods, with an hour lunch break in the middle. First will be math, then the sciences. After lunch, it will be literature and languages, then the final period will alternate by day between physical education and social studies.” She sighed, clearing her throat.

“Now for the fun stuff, I have a list of clubs that you can join, as well as your teacher list.” She passed out a sheet of paper. “Okay, back to your gabbing.” She sighed and took a seat in front of the class.

“Oh, such an interesting list!” Sylvia exclaimed. “But which to join… what do you think Celeste?”

“The clubs on this list do not hold my interest.” Celeste said in an oddly ominous voice.

“Indeed.” Setsuna agreed in the same tone she always used.

“Oh, you guys are no fun.” Sylvia frowned. “Help me out Kylie!”

“I can’t decide either. There’s certainly a lot of interesting clubs.”

“I don’t know which one to choose.” Sylvia frowned. “There’s a cooking club this year.”

“Don’t even try it.” Celeste muttered with her face planted against her desk.

“You don’t forget easily, do you?” Sylvia laughed nervously. “Tea club, now that could be interesting. What’s this last one?” She frowned, staring at the last club on the list. “The Nothing Club? What is that supposed to mean?”

“Even I don’t know about that one.” Kylie frowned. “I shall endeavor to find out however!”

“Are you happy now?” Celeste muttered. “You got her started.”

“Stop being so mean, Celeste.” Sylvia frowned. She turned towards Seth. “So what kind of club are you interested in?” He didn’t budge from his book, flipping a page as an answer.

“I see.” She got up, leaning over his shoulder and staring at the book. “Hmm, this book looks interesting.”

“Really? I’m surprised that you’d be interested in science fiction.” Celeste said from over his other shoulder.

“You’re so mean today sister!” Sylvia frowned. She turned away and sat back at her desk.

“Oh?” Celeste smirked. “You’re pretty good,” Celeste whispered quietly. “But let’s see how you compare to me when it comes to dealing with her.” She went back to her desk and sat back down. She noticed that Seth’s face seemed slightly red, but his expression hadn’t changed.

“All right class.” A young woman smiled as she walked in.

“Is that another new student?” One of their classmates muttered.

“Oh, how flattering!” She laughed. “I am Miss Hanna! Your math teacher!” She was on the short side, with flowing, auburn hair tied back in a ponytail and thin, light pink, almost white-framed glasses covering her soft blue eyes.

“Guess what we get to do since it’s the first day! Prepare your caffeine, for it’s early-morning review time!” She cackled. “And to make you really happy, at the end of the hour, we shall have a review test!” The class moaned. “Don’t worry, folks; this test won’t count for your grade. It’ll just help me decide where you guys are in your math skills.” She cleared her throat. “Now let the torture begin!”

---

“I forgot how boring the first day is.” Sylvia slumped over the table. They sat at a small table in the rather large auditorium. The room was filled with the roar of talking students. Sylvia sighed again, poking her lunch.

“I guess the math and science classes sucked that energy out of her.” Celeste said calmly as she took a bite of her lunch.

“Mean.” Sylvia muttered, shrinking under the table some more.

“Hello!” Kylie hummed as she sat down with her friends.

“Been out scouting?” Setsuna asked.

“Exactly!” She cleared her throat. “Apparently, that nothing club was founded by Rubicent and Vincent.”

“Shocking.” Celeste muttered.

“They made it as a do whatever you feel like club or something.” Kylie sighed. “With their personalities, it doesn’t surprise me.”

“What are we talking about today ladies?” A young man with soft, feathery short blond hair, with a long piece covering one of his sparkling blue eyes, asked with a bright, sly smile.

“Go away.” Celeste muttered.

“That isn’t very nice!” He gasped, acting shocked.

“Even your name annoys me. What kind of name is Konran?”

“You don’t have to be that harsh.” Kylie frowned.

“There’s no room at this table, move on.” Sylvia glared at him.

“Fine, fine. Later!” He waved, flashing a bright smile. Sylvia used to be so nice to me and fell so easily to these charms. Celeste… you made her this way. One day I shall defeat your icy exterior.

“Anyway, I couldn’t find out anything new on Seth. He seems to have moved from somewhere far, so he has no friends here yet.”

“Really?” Sylvia frowned. Celeste suddenly sat up, staring at her sister.

“Don’t start. The last time you started with this line of thought, we ended up with her.” Celeste pointed at Setsuna.

“Is there something wrong with that?” Setsuna asked in her casual voice.

“Yes, yes there is.” Celeste muttered.

“Oh?” Setsuna poked her.

“Where is Seth anyway?” Sylvia scanned the lunchroom.

“Do you really have to impose yourself on another poor soul?”

“He must be lonely! If he’s moved from so far away.”

“Fine, don’t blame any of the consequences on me.” Celeste put her head back down.

“Here I go!” Sylvia stood up and scanned the room. “There he is!” She darted across the large room to where Seth had been sitting. He was sitting in the farthest corner, away from everyone and reading a book.

“What are you reading now?” She asked, sitting across from him. He didn’t move. “My name’s Sylvia by the way.” She sighed. “Don’t you want to talk with anyone here?”

“Not especially.” He muttered. She sighed, staring at him. He didn’t take any other notice of her presence, quickly turning the pages every few moments.

“There’s no way you’re reading that fast.” She moved around the table, pulling a chair next to him. She leaned over, staring at the text. She frowned as he turned the page before she was halfway done. “Hey, you can’t really be reading that fast, can you?”

He didn’t respond and just scooted his chair a bit, turning around so she couldn’t see over his shoulder. He sighed as she suddenly grabbed the book and started flipping through it.

“I’ve never been a science fiction fan, but this one looks interesting.” She glanced upward at Seth, who had turned away, making no action to get his book back. He was just staring blankly ahead now. “Who’s the author?” She glanced at the cover. “Ken Star?” She frowned. “What an odd name for an author.” She put the book down on the table. He picked it up, resuming his place.

“Don’t you want to talk?”

“No.”

“Oh? Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“Nothing to tell.”

“That just makes me more curious!” He flipped the page, not bothering to respond again. “Where did you move from? Aren’t you lonely? It’s not that hard to make friends here.” She rambled as he continued reading. Before she could say any more, the warning bell suddenly rang.

“Ah!” She moaned. “You got off this time, but don’t think I’m giving up!” She declared as she stood up to join her friends.

“What’d you find out?” Kylie asked, excited.

“He’s very quiet and a fast reader.” She frowned.

“Is that all?” She sighed.

“You should let people like that be.” Celeste said darkly.

“Huh?” Sylvia frowned. “He seems so lonely.”

“Perhaps he is, but that may be the only way he can deal with life.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sylvia stared at her sister.

“Some people just don’t like being with others. Some people are just destined to be alone.”

“I’ll prove you wrong, sister! Somehow, I’ll get through to him!”

---

“What a day.” Sylvia sighed as she closed her locker. “As much as I hate it, I would have rather had physical ed than a review of history.”

“At least the teachers seem okay this year.” Kylie pointed out.

“Hey, look! There’s Seth!” Sylvia turned, watching him walk out of the school doors.

“If you’re not careful, you’ll get a reputation as a stalker.” Celeste sighed as she watched her sister trail Seth out.

“Aren’t you going to stop her or something?” Setsuna asked.

“Impossible. She is as stubborn as I.”

“Wow, that’s pretty stubborn.” Kylie gasped. Celeste shot her a dirty look. “Sorry, but I had to!” She grinned.

Sylvia slowly followed Seth from a safe distance, ducking behind inadequate cover whenever she felt he’d turn around. He never did, however. This path to his house seems familiar. She frowned. I just want to see where he lives! A short while later he finally turned and walked towards a house. Sylvia ducked behind a large, yet somehow familiar tree, until he entered the house.

When she realized it was safe, she moved up to the start of the walkway. “Hello there, dear.” She jumped ten feet as she heard the sudden female voice.

“Hi.” She laughed nervously, realizing the woman before her must be Seth’s mom. She had short, curly black hair and soft, brown eyes.

“Something wrong?”

“I was just walking home, and happened to see Seth go into that house.” She laughed nervously.

“Oh? You’re one of Seth’s classmates?”

“Yeah.” She glanced nervously at the ground.

“I see.” Sylvia frowned.

Wait a minute. She quickly looked up, finding her house right next to Seth’s. “Wait, you live here? You’re my new neighbors!”

“Oh?” The woman smiled. “Name’s Tracy, by the way.”

“Welcome to the neighborhood.” Sylvia laughed again, scratching her head.

“Thank you.” Tracy turned back towards the house. “Don’t take it personally. He has trouble with people and doesn’t make friends well, so please take care of him!” Before she could respond, Tracy had retreated into the house, leaving a blushing Sylvia behind.

“I can’t believe they live next door.” Sylvia sighed and went over to her house. “I’m home!”

“What took you so long?” Sylvia frowned, following the voice into the kitchen.

“Celeste, did you know that Seth moved in next door?”

“Of course.” She set down three plates on the small kitchen table. “Did you not notice the moving vans over the last week?”

“No…” Celeste frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me he lived next door?”

“I thought you would have noticed when he came into class.” Celeste shrugged.

“Hello girls!” A tall woman stepped into the kitchen. She had bright, glowing blue eyes and pale, soft blue, wavy hair that stopped just beyond her shoulders. “Oh, what’s for supper tonight? It smells great!”

“Its spaghetti noodles mixed with sausage and peppers. Someone recommended it to me.”

“I’m not good with those kinds of noodles.” Celeste silently placed a plate in front of her. Sylvia frowned as she sat down, trying to get the noodles to stay on her fork.

“Ah yes, I should go great our new neighbors.” Their mother smiled. “So this Seth person is in your class?” She eyed Sylvia.

“Yes.” Celeste answered, frowning at her sister slurping up the noodles as she sat across from Sylvia. “Sylvia has decided to be his friend or something.”

“Yes!” Sylvia declared. “He seems so lonely, so I won’t let him go easy!”

“I see.” She turned towards Celeste. “Anything happen to you?”

“No, Celina.” Celeste answered.

“Can’t you at least call me mother?” She frowned. “I hate when you say my name like that.”

“It’s punishment for helping Sylvia make up a nick name for me.”

“But that nick name is so cute!” They said together. Celeste sighed, slowly biting into a rather long noodle.

“That nick name is the bane of my existence, and should anyone leak it into the outside world, they shall suffer a most horrible fate.”

“Now, now, don’t be so melodramatic.” Celina laughed.

“I only speak the truth.” Celeste muttered as she slowly finished her food.

---

Celeste sighed, staring at the dark ceiling. The two shared a large bedroom, although Celeste actually had her own room, with two beds lined up against the right wall when walking in. She was unable to sleep, almost being able to hear Sylvia thoughts of her next day’s plots.

“Celeste…” Sylvia whispered.

“What is it now?” Celeste sighed.

“What do you think makes a person want to be alone like that?”

“How would I know?” Celeste sighed.

“Could you…”

“I’m not going to interfere either way. Unless I see a clear sign, I’m leaving him alone. If you try too much, you’re just going to annoy him.”

“I see.” Sylvia sighed.

“Just don’t push too hard. I know you hate to see people suffer, but sometimes you overdo it.”

“Thanks Celie.” Sylvia gasped as a pillow landed on her face. “I’m keeping this.”

“I don’t need it anyway.” Celeste muttered. “Too many weird people in my life.”

“Good night to you too sister!” Sylvia smirked. I will become his friend. She thought as she slowly fell asleep.