The Girl who Never knew Best

Gabby’s day was like any other person’s, most likely. She was in her room, lying on her stomach, reading a book on war strategies throughout history, with her legs spread out behind her. The only thing she couldn’t call normal was the thing constantly bothering her in the back of her head. She appreciated having someone, something, to take to, but Hippocamp was not the thing she had in mind. It always seemed like he was angry and shouting at her. She wasn’t even reading this book because she thought it was a good idea. It was his, because she had no idea how to fight. Anything to shut him up would do really well right now.

As if a god was answering her prayers, her phone began to ring. She placed a bookmark at her page and closed the text. She expected any number but the one that showed up. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy to see Vera’s name, it was just that she had never called before. It wasn’t unwelcome, so Gabby answered the phone, “Hello? Vera?” She listened in silence as she was invited out. With only a moment’s pause, she would answer, “Sounds good to me. I’ll see you at the bridge.” She hit the red button on her phone and put it into her backpack, which seemed to be the only thing, beside her hat, that went everywhere with her. She slung the bag unto her shoulder, went to the front of her house to put on her shoes, and ventured outside.

Even by foot, she would have no trouble getting to the bridge within a few minutes. It was the only thing connecting Iwaigodai to the outside world, after all. She ran her way to the bridge, seeing Vera’s figure standing alone, looking over the world below. She began to slow down as she approached, “Hello, Vera.” She stood, looking at the violet haired girl, “How have you been doing?” She didn’t say anymore than that. She was genuinely curious, but it was Vera who called her here. She would have to wait and she what she wanted to say.

Gabby couldn’t help but watch as the wind played around with Vera’s hair. It was the most unruly thing she had seen in a while. It made her smile. Or, it would have, if Vera’s words weren’t so serious. As her concerns were voiced, Gabby would interject at moment. When she would bring up that the blonde could get along with others, she nodded, “It’s not dumb. I was only able to do that because I knew you, Lori, and Cain already. I was actually nervous around the others, but I was convinced it was just a strange meta-dream for the longest time. Actually, I wasn’t entirely sure it was real until the monsters showed up. By then, it didn’t matter what my opinions of them were. We were in trouble and we needed to work together.” Her sense of self-preservation wouldn’t let her introversion cause her to get killed.

She decided to let Vera finish talking after that. It was strange being complimented in such a way, but she wouldn’t argue. What others saw in her was up to them, even if she may have disagreed, “I’m actually not that good of a person,” she could give her side, however, “I don’t know how many people are drawn in by the me they see everyday, but I can’t imagine what makes people like her.” This, of course, also meant Vera. She gave a quick nervous laugh before continuing, “I don’t mean that I’m different when no one is around. I’m pretty much the same, just less talkative.” Honestly, she was the best around Vera and Lori when it came to talking. Any other time, and she was a minimalist. Even when talking with the newly acquired voice in her head, “I just don’t understand it.” She never once sounded like she was pitying herself or playing a sort of victim. In fact, she spoke calmly and quite confidently.

She looked down at the hand extended to her and took it in her own. It was strange. For how boldly she had just spoken, her handshake wasn’t as strong. She attributed that to the fact that she was very afraid of what everything up until now meant. Persona inside of them, shadow inside of literal hell, even that contact they all signed; it both terrified her and filled her with excitement. Despite that, the conviction her voice never wavered once, “And if the world became your enemy, I suppose it would be mine as well.” Her grip became firm at these words, “Because, we are friends.” They then released their hands. Vera would move her hands to her hips and face Yoro. Gabby would look in the same direction and hear the suggestion to train together, “Yes, we should. It would only make sense to get stronger along side the people you care about.” She looked over quickly to see the purple haired girl’s face grow red. She decided to change the topic a little. Her arm reached out pointing at the skyline, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s not everyday you get to see this sort of thing. Or, at least not for me. It’s good to see it. Even better when you’re not alone.”

Gabby could only stare as Vera moved her face down. Had she said something wrong? She didn’t think she had. It was then that the purple haired girl offered to let her stay over, if she needed a place to go. She would smile and nod, “I’ll keep that in mind, but I may never come over. I’m waiting for something back home, and I’m afraid I’ll miss it if I decide to leave for an entire night.” Little bursts of time were okay, but nothing too extreme. She really wished she could hang out with her friends for that long though. Going to a different town for a day though was alright, “I’ve never seen Yoro, but I’d love to see it. Especially if they have a carnival.” She took Vera’s hands in her own. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement as she spoke, “I’ll just have to make sure you don’t forget this time around. We’ll take lots of pictures so that we have proof that the two of us were there. Okay?” Then, she let go of Vera’s hands.

She was expecting this conversation to only be happy and not contain a shred of seriousness. How wrong she was. Vera diverged into a discussion about the time she had gone into that hell all by herself, “You went in? Are you alright?” Well, obviously, if she was standing there as if nothing had happened, “Please tell me you knew how risky that was.” She was worried for her friend’s safety, even if this was after the fact. Her worry didn’t calm when she mentioned that the people she ran into were enemies. She didn’t say anything as Vera described what they looked like. Instead, she committed the descriptions to memory. Only when she had an idea of what they looked like did she speak up, “I doubt they have a reason to attack us, especially if they don’t know who we are. For now, I’d act normal in public and take them down when we have the upper hand.” For her, that meant getting stronger and making sure she knew how to handle these people.

Vera took her hands and bowed her head. She promised that she wouldn’t allow Gabby to get hurt, “Please stand up straight.” She didn’t like that her friend was bowing to her, “You don’t need to protect me that much. If you’re busy trying to defend me or exact some kind of vengeance in my name, you’ll lose sight of defending yourself. I can’t have that happening. I have a Persona, the same as you, and he can fight.” She would lift up Vera’s head if she hadn’t done it of her own will by this point, “It’s my job to stand by your side, so I will make sure to stay safe, if that’s what you want. I can’t promise to sit back and do nothing, but I will make sure to take extra care. Just, please, do not forget that I am also able to fight and protect myself. Worry more about your own safety, especially if you go down there again.”

Aithne’s eyes began to burn as Vera’s nature turned harsh against her. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or sadness making them feel that way. Vera wasn’t yelling, but the intention behind her words was very clear. Why was her friend angry at her so suddenly? She wouldn’t let her voice waver, even though she was feeling a bit pained by Vera’s words, “I never said I was important. I know that I’m one of billions upon billions of people in the world, and just having something that separates me from other people doesn’t make me special.” She could see that the purple haired girl was looking away, and was probably not listening to her anyway. She would still go on though, “But this has nothing to do with that. I’m just trying to make sure that someone I care about is safe and doesn’t go rushing in without a plan and a way to defend herself. I’m only asking that you think about your own safety instead of worrying about me. It may not make me special, but this Persona makes me able to fight.” She was beginning to lose her composer as she spoke, “Vera,” she would forcibly turn the girl to look at her if she was still facing away at this point, which was a tad strange since Gabby stood two inches shorter, “I’m just trying to make sure my friends stay safe. I don’t want to lose anybody else. Not for any reason.” By this point, she was trying her best not to let the anguish building inside of her show on her face. What had she done to make this person so mad at her? Was she wrong to be concerned about somebody else? She didn’t know.

The pessimist continued to let the words pass through one ear and out the other, even though she regretted what she did say. She had convinced herself that she was a horrible friend, especially if she got so emotional over such little things. Life was so much easier when she watched it from afar, but then she got pulled into this new world of interaction. She was out of her comfort zone, and for once she wished she could return to that time before when she was nothing but a figured behind the crowd. Atleast then it didn't hurt so much, and her self destructive nature didn't effect anyone else. Her eyes wandered over to her bike, the means of her escape from this otherwise painful situation, but before she could leave she was grabbed by Gabriela and forced to turn her way. Vera's eyes did look at her for a few seconds before moving to their corners. "Don't touch me, Gabriela. You're right about one thing, we should look after ourselves." Though the thief really did want to change her tone, she couldn't bring herself back to being how nice she was earlier. She raised her arms to free herself before walking over to her bike. The fickle girl had enough of this painful experience. It felt as if she was ripping out her own heart and for the stupidest reason. Why was she so upset? "This is goodbye, Gabriela. Try not to die." The thief would not look back once as she began to wheel her bike back towards Yoro. Reaching in her pocket and removing her phone, she'd look out over the bridge before giving a nonchalant toss so it went hurling over the railing. For the next few weeks Vera would be absent from school, and all contact with her would be cut-off.

She really didn't know what was best, and perhaps she never would learn. Vera hadn't even noticed her friend had said "anybody else" possibly meaning she had lost someone in the past. The previous reserved thief was becoming a slave to her own emotions.

(Exiting)