A/N: So how did you guys like the twist on Chapter 9, eh? Thanks so much for the compliments, guys! Here’s chapter 10, one day after Chapter 9 was published! Light-speed writing FTW(For The Win)!!

Chapter 10: Rain

I tried and tried to let you know
I love you but I'm letting go
It may not last but I don't know
Just don't know

Built a wall around my heart
Never let it fall apart
Strangely I wish secretly
It won't fall down while I'm asleep

Everyday
With every word whispered we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
But nothing last forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way…

*

Trisha didn’t take it as an initiative to know too much about her classmates. Rumors were a better source of info, ironically.

She didn’t know much about Chris, besides the fact that he’s one of the Hoh twins, he wears spectacles, he uses a compound bow that totally looks kick-ass, and that he was one of Leon’s closest friends. Hence the reason why he, like Trisha herself, was given a whole new car by Leon.

But gossips were now flying around the class like a drunken pigeon. Chris had been extremely moody and brooding for the past few days.

Not bothering to lift his hand up to answer any of the questions asked by the lecturers, always looking out the window aimlessly, and more often than not, his closest circle of friends could be seen talking intently to him, often patting his back.

Trisha even heard someone sobbing in an empty hallway before, and she stayed for awhile to see Chris coming down a flight of stairs sometime after the crying stopped.

She wasn’t too bothered by this. She knew she had no right meddling up in people’s personal life. The gossips however didn’t make it any better.

When she saw him literally plopping his face on the desk in Study Hall, she decided enough was enough. The itching curiosity in her was clawing at her sides, and she only knew one way to vanquish said beast.

Just as well, Leon was sitting next to her, feigning to be heavily concentrated on his Malaysian Studies textbook.

“Hey, Leon?” she whispered lightly, doubting even he could hear it.

“Hmm?” he muttered, turning around almost immediately. For crying out loud, you could’ve been whispering from the other end of the hall and he would’ve turned just for you….

“Yeah…umm…I’m not being a busy-body or anything…” she began, Leon merely arching his eyebrows at her. Oh don’t look at me like that, boy!

It was after Leon suppressed a chuckled did she realize she actually said that out loud, well, loud enough for only him to hear, anyway. Oh, smooth, Trisha,really smooth…she thought bitterly to herself.

“You were saying?” Leon whispered with a coy smile, Trisha merely scowling at him.

“That friend of yours, Chris, right? What’s up with him?” she asked, trying to sound as casual and non-committed as she could.

“You mean you don’t know yet?” Leon asked in return.

She squinted her eyes at him before slapping him on the shoulder.

“If I knew I wouldn’t be asking you, wouldn’t I?” she hissed. Leon tried to suppress another chuckle as the girl responded by unlocking the safety lock to her pistols.

“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you. And by the way, I’d so own you before you managed to pull them out,” Leon commented, Trisha balling up her fists.

“Okay, fine. Now I’m sure you’ve heard most of the rumors that have been going on?”

“Yes, and none of them are true, right?” Trisha asked in return.

“It’s like you know me so well,” Leon smirked.

“Get on with it,” Trisha hissed warningly.

“Fine. The truth is, the poor boy’s heartbroken. I mean really heartbroken,” Leon said.

What? That’s it? All this over some girl?

“It’s not over just some girl, Trish. He’s liked this girl for a long time, and now she’s suddenly taken away from him.”

“How did you-?” she asked, rather stunned at Leon finding out what she thought.

“Your expression spoke for itself, Trish,” Leon said, and spent the next few minutes elaborating on Vivian, the sudden new guy, James, and the predicament Chris now found himself in.

“Oh…” Trisha said once Leon was done. “That’s…really something…”

“Yeah,” Leon said, leaning his head on the long table. Honestly he really felt sorry for Chris, and Trisha could see that. Leon was the most empathic guy she knew.

“Hey, cheer up. It’s not as if this is your fault, right?” Trisha said, patting his back. He looked at her with a quizzed look. They rarely made physical contact, so this came as a surprise to the boy.

After a few seconds Leon continued to feign interest in the whiteboard, Trisha deciding it was best to leave it as it is.

She too was beginning to feel that the textbook she was reading was beginning to look a little dry. Why the hell did they need to take a subject as stupid as Malaysian Studies anyway?

*

Training was the least of Chris’s problems right now. Being a master archer requires concentration, diligence, and above all, heart.

It was ironic that he was heartbroken to such an extent that he couldn’t even draw an arrow out. He honestly didn’t have the heart (pun not intended) to train. Too bad it was compulsory…

“Chris! Duck!” he heard someone yell. Immediately slamming himself onto the floor, Chris narrowly missed a flying metal cylinder that zoomed by.

Gosh, that was close…he was this close to becoming another Terry. Yes, that was what they’re calling it whenever a metal block from Training Period hits you on the face.

Getting up, he was lifted the rest of the way by someone he couldn’t identify. He looked up to see it was Ken.

“Hey, I know you were hit hard by Vivian’s sudden new beau, but that doesn’t mean you can take your mind off what’s important,” he berated, Chris dusting off his shirt.

“R-Right…thanks,” Chris said, picking up Highwind from the floor.

It was extremely rare of him to be this ungraceful, especially in battle. Get over it, Chris. Put her out of your mind for now…

How could you put the most important person in your life away for even a second?

If I didn’t, I’ll get creamed in this stupid training programme.

What about what Leon said before? Let Vivian be the source of what you’re fighting for!

Yeah, well there’s a snag with that, eh? She’s got that damn James already. What can I do?

“Chris! Get down!”

Not intending to drop to the floor this time, Chris gritted his teeth as he activated the hidden blades on Highwind’s front, slashing away a metal cylinder that was heading straight for him. It didn’t destroy the cylinder like any other sword would, but the hidden blades were a last-resort anyhow.

Withdrawing the blade, Chris then walked towards the rest area. He almost managed to sit down, if not for a hand grabbing his shoulder.

“Hey,” Leon said, turning him around.

Chris didn’t even bother to answer. He had no energy within him to even think, let alone carry on a conversation.

“Listen, I know you’re bummed by this, but-”

“Bummed?” Chris asked. “Now that’s the Understatement of The Year,” he said, all ice. Okay, maybe he did have a little more fight in him.

“Dude, will you listen?” Leon growled. Chris only looked on. Everyone knew that Leon was very unpredictable when he was angry, and Chris was getting pretty close to that doing that.

“I know you’re pissed at what’s going on between you and Vivian, but you’ve got to get your head straight, alright? Remember what I told you last time?”

Oh great, poetic irony…

“What I’m saying is that Training is the best time to let out some steam, man. Those metal blocks are like punching bags to get some steam off, get it?” Leon asked, taking Highwind from the ground and thrusting it into Chris’s hand.

“Yeah, I guess,” Chris answered half-heartedly, getting up and walking up to the playing field once more.

He drew his bow once, the arrow appearing by the loading dock. He targeted a rather slow moving metal block and fired. It didn’t even come close to hitting it. Instead, it hit another one farther away, the one where Jason wanted to strike.

Missing his target, Jason then fell flat on his front, the rest all laughing except for Chris.

“Oh my goodness, that was classic…” Rose said, clutching her sides.

“Chris!” Jason said when he got up, his face full of grass cuttings. “No kill-steals!”

“Sorry,” the said darkly, shrugging. At least they didn’t know he missed.

He aimed another arrow and steadied his aim. He barely had enough strength to fight as it is.

Visualize her as the one you’re fighting for…

Chris harrumphed, firing again. This time it hit the metal block squarely on the center. He smiled with satisfaction, a sudden dark thought manifesting.

He aimed again at another one, visualizing something different altogether. Pulling the bowline back to the extreme, he imagined that it was James’s head he was aiming for, and fired.

He practically chuckled as his arrow pierced through 2 targets in a row. Y’know, this is quite fun…

He imagined that all the targets he was aiming for were all James, and found satisfaction with each target he downed.

It felt strange to him. He wasn’t one to be known for being sadistic, but hey, at least he was getting his concentration back, right?

He fired, and fired, and fired, downing more targets with each shot, and savoring each one of them. It’s like I’m killing that bastard over and over again! Chris thought happily to himself.

“Geez, he’s really getting into this, ain’t he?”Trisha asked Michelle as Chris began sniping targets that were supposed to be for others. The risk of friendly fire was utterly non-existent as there was a magical barrier that protected anyone within it from each other.

An arrow disintegrated as it hit Eric on the head, making the bespectacled boy swear aloud. “Chris! Watch your aim, dammit!!”

He couldn’t have cared any less. Big deal, dammit. At least you’re not dead…Chris scoffed in his thoughts.

Then he spotted something in his peripheral vision that made him pause in mid-draw. He almost dropped whatever he was holding when he realized who it was.

Vivian.

Then his grip on Highwind tightened so much that his fingers were turning white when he realized who she was with.

James!!!

They were walking together as usual, and his heart sank when he could see something new.

They were holding hands. They were walking about leisurely, not a care in the world, all while holding hands.

But Chris wasn’t angry. No. He already transcended above that particular emotion.

He was calculating. Wind speed, distance, and accuracy percentage. All algorithmic processes went through his senses like it was second nature. For an archer like him, it was.

Chris then drew his bow in a different manner, lifting it above him at first, and then summoning the sharpest arrow he could think of, and slowly lowered both of them as he stretched the bowline to its limit.

Peter slashed his way through 3 targets at once to see Chris drawing his bow for a much longer time than expected.

What could it be that Chris was targeting? All the targets are behind him….Then Peter saw who was in the firing range, and utter horror was etched on his face when the realization dawned upon him.

He knew yelling for Chris to stop would do no good. The others would know what was going on, and as much as he was sure none of the boys would tell, he was afraid he couldn’t say the same for the other classmates.

He immediately dashed forward, summoning his control over the wind element to boost him faster. He knew stopping the arrow with the wind element wouldn’t work at this stage, so he would have to try the next best thing….

Chris checked his aim. It was on-target. He checked the arrow. It was the same type he used when he went boar-hunting last month. How fitting…

He saw James as not a person there and then, but just another target. He’s already shot through so many, one more wouldn’t hurt. No, no it wouldn’t.

With that, he fired, not caring what the outcome would bring.

It was just a training accident, I swear! I saw a stray target and fired! I didn’t know it’d hit anyone!

A thousand different scenarios ran through Chris’s mind as adrenaline ran through his veins instead, slowing down reality into frames as the arrow left the bow.

It soared towards James with no interruptions. No, no one else was in the way. No trees were obscuring its flight path. This was as much of a clean kill as he could ask for.

Then a metallic clang brought him back to reality. He blinked once, and Peter was there, in front of him as he was positioned in a parrying position, Sakabatou glimmering in the bright morning sun. What is he-?

Then the bitter realization dawned upon him when he saw his arrow lifelessly spinning in the air above Peter before it landed head-first on the grass.

His plan was foiled. That was that. Peter was leering at Chris with such intense disdain. He would’ve surely report this.

But no, Peter only shook his head once at Chris in a warning fashion before picking up the arrow and handing it to Chris.

“Don’t-even-think-of-doing-something-like-this-ever-again!” Peter hissed in one breath before walking away, Chris freezing in utter shock. He had never seen –or heard- Peter this angry before.

Chris withdrew the arrow and turned around to see that the rest were still practicing, oblivious to Chris’s foiled murder plot.

But he noticed Leon stopping Peter, whispering something to him. The katana-wielding teen merely shook his head and walked away from Leon towards the rest area.

Leon then looked at Chris, who immediately turned away. Even with his back turned to him, Chris could still feel the burning gaze Leon was giving.

Leon used to train in Spec Ops for goodness’ sake! He could sense a killing aura a mile away!

Withdrawing Highwind, Chris then took a totally different direction away from the football field. He immediately headed for the showers, which was the only way he could avoid a confrontation with Leon, Peter, or anyone else for that matter.

*

What am I becoming? What am I turning into?

Chris slammed his fist on the tiled wall. He was always a peaceful person. He rarely got angry. This wasn’t like him.

Why? Why an I so…different?

But it’s over. Peter not only saw Chris trying to kill James, he stopped him from doing so. And Leon could back Peter up for all he knew.

He remained for a few more minutes in the shower, for all the good it did. He couldn’t rid himself of the stain he had in his consciousness. If Peter hadn’t stopped the arrow, Chris’s hands would too be stained with an irremovable hue of red.

In a way, he was thankful. But that wouldn’t change anything. He could be reported to the faculty for what he tried to do, and then to the authorities. Would Vivian visit him in prison?

Chris shook his head, trying to clear his mind from a myriad of unwanted thoughts. Drying himself and then donning a fresh set of clothes, he stepped outside the boys’ bathroom, hi towel still hooding his head.

“Chris.”

He practically froze where he stood; knowing very well who it was talking to him.

“What is it, Peter?”

Peter got off from his spot and walked over to Chris.

“Before you go any further, Chris, I’ll have you know that I didn’t report anything to the faculty,” Peter said, arms crossed.

“Oh? Why not?” Okay, Chris was being rather stupid to push his luck like that.

“Listen, we all have our own breaking points, Chris. You just broke yours, I know. But that doesn’t mean you have to go and try and kill someone. That’s Leon’s job,” Peter said with a chuckle.

It was meant to be a joke, Chris knew that, but he merely shrugged and started walking away.

“…Thanks, Peter,” Chris said.

“Hey, no prob. Remember, this is not something you have to go through alone, okay? We’re all here for you,” Peter commented.

“You mean like when you argued with Miss Choong about the logistics assignment and she casually said she ‘hated you’?” Chris asked.

Peter narrowed his eyes at Chris and gave him a rude finger gesture.

“She was just saying that for fun, Chris. She said sorry, didn’t she?” Peter said, quite annoyed that the topic was sidetracked.

“Anyway, I ought to get myself cleaned up fully and dump my dirty laundry in the car. I’ll see you guys later, alright?” Chris said before walking away in a much faster pace.

Peter only shook his head as he went to a different direction. Since when did Chris start acting like him?

*

Eric was right. The park really was a good place to calm the nerves.

Chris leaned back against the bench as he continued to watch the shimmering blue lake mirror the clear blue sky. It was as if nature itself was playing its part to try and calm him down.

So far the other boys didn’t ask him about what happened earlier in training. Maybe Peter and Leon never told them? Or maybe they wanted to give him his own space to work things out by himself.

At least he could get thing sorted out here. The people who walked by never bugged him about anything. In fact, it was rather empty, save for the few who wanted a temporary sanctuary from the city-life.

Really, how did he feel about Vivian being with James all the time? Were they really a couple now?

They held hands, ding-dong. What more proof could you want?

“But…can’t friends just hold hands, without having to mean anything more?” he asked himself silently.

Oh sure. The why hasn’t she ever held yours? You were the closest thing she had to a brother, remember?

Chris slapped his forehead. His own mind was contradicting him. “Oh this is just great…”

“What’s great?”

Chris practically jumped from his seat as that oh-so-sweet voice whispered into his ear.

Vivian leaned behind the bench, smiling sweetly at him. “Well?” she asked.

“V-Viv?” Chris asked weakly. Was she really here, or was his mind deciding that mirages was a good practical joke?

“Duh! Who were you expecting? Miley Cyrus?” Vivian asked with that twinkle in her voice.

Chris was utterly speechless. Was this real? Then that pestering notion came back to him.

“Where’s James?” he asked, his expression turning cold. “I thought you 2 were inseparable?”

He didn’t mean to be this blunt, but he couldn’t care less about it right now.

“Oh? He went home. I decided to stay behind for awhile. I love the park when the weather’s this fine,” she said, looking up. Apparently Chris’s sudden attitude change didn’t catch her attention.

Chris did not reply, but merely sat back on the bench. He almost flinched when she jumped across it and sat next to Chris. What got her so full of life?

Then a thought came across him. Oh. Right. He has him…

He didn’t even bother to steal a glance at her. He was so down that he didn’t even want to be near her this very moment. Wait, repeat that last part?

“So Chris, anything interesting happened lately?” she asked, leaning her body forward to try and look at Chris, who leaned forward.

Yeah. I almost killed your bloody boyfriend…

“Nothing special,” he muttered in an uncharacteristically monotone voice that Leon could wonderfully pull off.

“Really? Hmm…well, nothing special happened to me,” Vivian said with a smile, now looking up into the sky again. Was she really that oblivious to Chris’s change??

“Funny,” Chris began, Vivian looking at him curiously. “I thought having your first boyfriend would be something special…”

She merely looked at him for a few more seconds before shrugging. “Well, it is, but, that’s old hat by now, right?”

Old hat?? You get to be in love with someone and you call it as something old?!

For the very first time in Chris’s life, he wanted to be as far away from Vivian as humanly possible. Yes, he was shocked it came to that.

“Listen, Viv, I gotta go,” Chris said, getting up and walking a few steps before…

“Chris, wait,” Vivian called out to him.

He only stopped, but didn’t turn around.

“I gave you the benefit of the doubt the last time you said that, Chris. But I’m certain this time you’re just avoiding me,” she said.

His eyes widened in fear as he did not dare to face her. Then he felt something warm on his back. And then 2.

His mouth hung open as he realized that Vivian was clasping his back with her hands, softly placing them there.

“Chris, something’s troubling you, I know it is,” she said, Chris unable to move. No, even if he could, he wouldn’t want to.

“Chris? You know you can trust me, right?” she asked soothingly.

“Yeah…” Chris finally spoke.

“Then what’s troubling you?” she asked. Chris turned around and looked at her meaningfully.

“I…I can’t…I can’t tell you, Viv…” he said, looking away shamefully.

The girl merely shook her head and tugged on his front softly.

“No. I won’t accept that as an excuse, Chris. Tell me right now what’s wrong,” she said with a slightly more stern voice.

Chris had never seen her so firm before. But then again, there were many things that happened today that Chris would never have dreamed would come true.

“Is it something to do with studies?” she asked, Chris shaking his head.

“Then what is it? Family issues?” Chris shook his head again.

“Then what is it? You’ve gotta at least gimme a sign, boy,” she said, now putting both hands on her hips.

Chris did not reply, but merely looked at the calm blue lake, finding it suddenly to be the most interesting thing in the world.

Vivian remained silent for a few more seconds, than gaped.

“It’s James, isn’t it? You’re bothered about James,” she said.

“Gee, what makes you say that?” Chris asked, sarcasm oozing from every nook and cranny.

“It is about me and him, then…” she said, looking away as she slowly backed off him.

“Listen, Chris, I don’t know what to say…”

Chris kept silent, still not looking at her.

“Look, I know that James suddenly came into the picture, but he means well, y’know,” she said, trying to convince Chris on something.

“I know, I know, you promised James that you’ll marry him when you both are older. You don’t have to tell me twice…” he snarled.

Vivian took a deep breath and sighed out loud.

“And obviously this unsettles you, right?” she asked.

You think?

“Listen, Chris, James is a good guy. He’d never harm me,” Vivian said, smiling at him.

So you think that’s what’s this all about? Why, Vivian? Why can’t you see that I care about you? That I’d rather die than let you get hurt?

Chris couldn’t stand anymore of this. He couldn’t bear to confront Vivian in this manner.

“Well then I wish you both the best,” Chris growled, storming off. He noticed that the sun was already threatening to set, the rich orange veil enveloping everything in its path. They were the only 2 people left in the entire park, as far as Chris could gather.

*-Okay, for this segment and onwards, listen to this song. {youtube(dot)com/watch?v=pY9b6jgbNyc} Now if you think it’s not suitable, trust me, it is.-*

“….Are you jealous or something?!” he heard her practically scream.

Turning around, Chris was horror-struck once more to see shimmers of shining orange running down her face. Her tears were small, yet distinct reflections of the sunset.

“Vivian…” he croaked hoarsely.

“Is that it, Chris? Are you jealous of the fact James and I are a couple?!” she yelled out to him, tears streaming down her face.

Oh God, no-no-no-no-no!

“Vivian, please…” Chris said, gingerly touching her shoulders.

She wrenched her way through, wiping her tears away.

Chris felt like he was going to die. Vivian was reduced to tears right before him, and he could do nothing to stop it from continuing.

“Viv…” he said, trying to get her again.

“Don’t touch me!” she yelled, making Chris stumble back.

That was it. That was it!

“Enough, Vivian!” he roared, startling her.

“If anyone should be crying, it should be me, Vivian! Me!”

The girl merely back away slowly as she saw tears beginning to well up Chris’s face. She had never seen him this way before.

“I’ve done so much for you all these years because of how much I cared about you! And then this guy suddenly shows up with some promise to get married to you and all….how d’you think that makes me feel?!”

Vivian clasped a hand over her mouth. She had no idea….

“You say that I’m jealous. Well I’ll tell you something. I’m not. No. I’m beyond jealous. I’m hurt, Vivian. Hurt. Heartbroken. I’m so destroyed inside, knowing that you’ll never love me back…”

Chris fell to his knees, not looking up. He couldn’t find the strength in him to even move any longer. There was so much that was said, so much that was laid out for her to see.

He felt her edging closer to him. Was she going to slap him? At this rate, she might as well…..

It was the sudden weight that almost threw Chris off-balance.

Chris could not believe it. Vivian was embracing him, her head buried in his shoulder as her arms locked him into the tightest hug he has ever got.

“V…Viv?” he stuttered.

“I’m so sorry, Chris. I’m so sorry…I should’ve seen it sooner…I should’ve…” she sobbed, Chris gingerly wrapping his arms around her.

This was the first time that they have ever been this physically close, and Chris had no idea what to do.

He stroked her soft, fine black hair slowly as he leaned his head on hers, knowing now that this was no dream. Vivian was really here. She was real.

“Vivian…” he said weakly. This, this right here was the very thing that he had longed his entire life for.

“Chris, I’m so sorry, really…” she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. He could already feel that particular patch growing wetter.

“No, it’s not your fault, Viv. It’s mine,” he said, softly kissing her hair.

She looked up to him, her teary face frowning at him. Oh no, did I do something wrong?

“No Chris, it isn’t. I’ve never noticed how you truly felt about me, after so long…” she said, her left hand stroking his cheeks.

“Viv…I think we should stop…” Chris warned. Her face was only getting closer to his, and he knew what the outcome was going to be. “What about James?”

“You’re concerned how this would affect me in the end, aren’t you?” she asked, smiling. Her soft red lips were so inviting, so alluring…

Chris merely nodded, her nose brushing against his.

“Well, let me worry about that, ‘kay? All that matters is that we’re here. Nothing else matters right now…” she said, dangerously bringing herself even closer.

“I’ll be with you all the way,” Chris whispered as Vivian smiled, wiping a stray tear from Chris’s eyes.

“I know. You always have,” she said, and with that, both Chris and Vivian shared their first kiss.

And deep down inside, Chris prayed and hoped with all his heart that there would be many more to come.

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A/N: Shocked? Surprised? Tell me what you think, folks!