A "Dark" Secret Closed

September 27th, 2024	Library
“English”	“Gaelic”

Alyss giggled at Vivianas use of the word that she had just invented, especially at the face she made afterwards, her scrunched up face just looking silly. “Don’t worry about it, you look a little goofy though.” Alyss commented, scrunching up her own face to show her.

Alyss grinned at Vivi’s comment about doing all the homework, feeling a strange sense of pride for her new friend, before realizing that she herself hadn’t yet done the homework. At the lettuce and melon comment, Alyss once again felt her face break out into a grin. “It’s melons, yeah. It’s because a melon is round just like your head, I think.” she explained, noticing Viviana’s unsure expression.

Alyss and her head. The gears were turning, trying to figure out the best direction to take this. She gave herself a short nod, proud of herself for her efforts. “What if we get together next week! Thats a few days before the homeworks due, right? That way if I don’t have it done, you could help me out!” Alyss suggested, not even considering the fact that it just sounded like she was using Viviana for her homework answers.

Of course, it wasn’t as if she was saying that she’d reveal the girls secret if she didn’t assist her, nor did she say it with any sort of malice whatsoever, instead thinking of the fact that this could be a weekly thing, with the two helping each other with homework whenever needed. But could someone have taken it the wrong way pretty easily? Yes.

“I mean, if we hang out for homework, we could just do it here.” Alyss suggested, shrugging her shoulders. “Otherwise, we could meet in the small hall, right? She really didn’t know where else they could logically meet, having not had much experience trying to plan for spots to talk with friends. She scratched the back of her neck, eyes flicking down the floor briefly. “You have any better ideas?”

At the last question, Alyss gave a sight hum, shaking her head no. Alyss was a short enough name that no one bothered, and she didn’t have enough great friends that would willingly nickname her. “Nope.” Alyss let her face fall into a nonchalant expression, really giving the ‘p’ a good pop. “Alyss has always been plenty short. What about you? Vivi? Vivian? Hmm?” She questioned, arms crossing in front of her and eyebrows raising with each name suggestion.

Viviana chuckled at the face Alyss made, goofball it was then. But shouldn't she be a bit more dignified, what had happened to her? At that thought she internally cringed at her prior decision.

"I'm pretty bad at this aren't I." Viv rocked on the back of her heels, jokingly ashamed at her poor grasp of the English language. "I'll probably get it eventually though!" She exclaimed this to lighten the mood, though she
kept the exclamation to an inside level, as to not draw attention, that time would come soon enough.

"Sure, why not?" She shrugged, a little smile growing on her face. "Just make sure you try as well, that way it will be much less for the both of us." Viviana liked the sound of that, an excuse to see her friend again, she didn't even really have to ask or anything, things were working out pretty well for her.

"Hmmmm... Well, the hall sounds like a good idea, it's nicely shaded, very relaxing. You're idea was great." She thought about it for a rough minute, she eyed the ceiling, getting lost in the complex architecture before she returned her eyes to Alyss. "I'll try to think of a good one, you tell me if you like it." Listening for a bit, she finally replied "Whatever works for you, I've got plenty of space for a nickname, call me anything."

September 27th, 2024	Library
“English”	“Gaelic”

Alyss shook her head, giggling with Viviana. “Don’t worry, English is hard!” she encouraged, making sure that the girl knew that she understood. “I grew up in a household that spoke English and Gaelic interchangeably, the amount of words I mixed up was insane!” She explained, eyes zoning out as she conjured up the memories.

“Of course!” Alyss nodded along, agreeing with the sentiment that she wouldn’t just copy off of Viviana’s answers. She nearly said this aloud, but instead decided to simply let the comfortable silence hang between them for a moment. At the comment about the Small Hall, Alyss simply nodded once again, smiling at the compliment and finally breaking her silence with a soft “thank you.”

Alyss just overall felt happy and content in that moment. Not only was Viviana kind, but she also was willing to listen to Alyss no matter what she said, and didn’t seem to hold any judgment or malicious intent against her. This was why Alyss was willing to, unlike how she usually acted, be quiet, and let herself be happy with what she was being given.

It was obvious that Viviana had lived a very different life than she did, with her being a descendant of a vampire and all! Alyss had been slightly spoiled, given all the love she could need, and was allowed to foster her interests, only with the fear of judgment, given her own personality and the snark that she contained in her short body. Only standing at 4’4, it was normal for Alyss to have to look up at her peers, and Viviana hadn’t even commented on that, which Alyss had appreciated. She hadn’t looked her up and down, analyzing her usefulness and instead was kind to her from the get go, with no hesitation.

“You’ll have to let me know the next time we see each other. I have to go now, but it was lovely meeting you, Viv. See you later!” Alyss waved, as she walked away, book still in hand and smile on her face as she used the nickname she’d come up with to say goodbye to her new friend.

Alyss leaves the thread