School of the Supernatural

Abel: They Can't Keep It A Secret Forever

I stay a while longer at Akumu's dorm to watch some more Hetalia. I stay for a long time--until it's very late. I look at Akumu to see her asleep and quietly get up from her bed, wrapping the blankets around her and setting her laptop aside. I write out a note telling her that I left and walk to the door.

Just as I get to the door I hear a loud whimper. I turn to see Akumu writhing on her bed, twitching about. Tears trail down her cheeks. "No, no," she moans in her sleep. After another second she screams and her wings flip out, knocking down her lava lamp and clock. I catch the lamp and the clock luckily doesn't break. She sits up, shaking and panting.

I set down the two objects and sit beside Akumu's feet. "Akumu? Are you alright?" She looks up as if startled by my presence. She stares at me briefly before leaning forward and hugging me tightly, sobbing into my shoulder. I jump in surprise. Still, however, I comfort her the best I can.

"Hey," I murmur, my hand on the back of her head, "I'm here. I'm here, everything's alright. As long as I'm here it will be okay." She balls her hands on my back, nodding into my chest. "I know. You always make everything better," she cays quietly.

We stay there, rocking on her bed, for several minutes. Then I say, "Go back to sleep. You need it." She nods and I stand, going to leave.

"Abel?"

"Yes?"

"Will you stay here for the night?"

I turn, looking at her. She looks so innocent and vulnerable there with her wet cheeks and big, red-rimmed eyes. I slowly walk back over to her and lie down beside her. I put my arm around Akumu's shoulders and she sets her head on my chest, taking a breath. Those breaths slow until she's asleep. I'll leave in a minute, I tell myself, but the warmth of her body beside mine slowly drives me to sleep as well.

XX

I wake up with a silent yawn. Akumu's not beside me anymore, so I assume she's left.

"Morning," I hear. I turn. Akumu stands there pulling on her shoes, looking up at me innocently. I reply, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" She nods. "You?" I nod as well. "Good," she says.

I stand and put on my shoes, saying, "I should go to my dorm to get dressed. I don't want to be late." Akumu shakes her head, "No school. Mr. Ipotane got shot yesterday. He's in the hospital, and all students have the week off." I blink in surprise. The principle got shot? Why?

I walk out the door with an exchange of goodbyes and shower in my room, changing into fresh clothes. Then I grab my phone. There's a text from Chayse. Meet us in the library. -C I grab my bag and walk brusquely to the library.

I get there to see Chayse, Amber, Finley, and Will already there. Akumu stands slightly away from them looking through the books for something. She says, "Aha! Here--Royal Bloodlines: From the Beginning." Akumu returns with the book and hands it to Will. I ask, "What's going on?" Amber looks up at me over the DS she's playing on. "Princess is trying to find some way around her royal heritage," she answers, going back to her game.

 Chayse glares at her. I look at Will as he types rapidly on the computer he's holding, his tongue hanging slightly out of his mouth. "And him?" I point. Chayse answers, "He's hacking into the school's mainframe to see about your real species." I go pale. What am I?

I could find out today.

I'm behind Will in an instant, looking at the screen. However I can't make sense of the numbers and letters he's typing. Several tabs are open and each one looks important. Will clicks a few more things before his computer glitches and the screen goes dark.

"What happened?" I ask earnestly. Will pauses, his hands still hovering above the keys. "They put software in to shut down anyone trying to get in," he mutters, staring at the black screen. "You must be very special, Abel," he says.

 I frown, turning to face the back of the sofa they all sit on. I rear my fist back and punch it as hard as I can, bringing a sharp pain to my knuckles. "Dammit," I mutter. I feel Akumu's hand on my shoulder and she says gently, "Hey, we'll figure it out. They can't keep it a secret forever, right?" I look at my feet. "They can if they try hard enough," I mutter.

Finley looks up at me and says cheerily, "Hey, don't be so down! We'll get it--I bet it'll be easy!" I can't help but feel uplifted by his upbeat attitude. "Okay," I sigh, "you're right."

Amber holds up a card and says, "Oh, by the way, I have this. You guys are coming. Take it before I lose this race." Chayse takes the card and opens it, reading it aloud. "School dance in three days? They gave this to you three days ago, Amber!" she scolds. Amber shrugs, "Yup. I forgot." Chayse continues, "It's tonight at eight in the gymnasium. I guess we should all get ready..?" Akumu sighs, looking over Chayse's shoulder.

"Okay, but--wait, it's a couple's dance?!" she exclaims. Chayse's face goes pale. "No," she groans. I bite onto my lip and pull Akumu aside. "Do you want to go to this?" I ask quietly. She shrugs. "It'd be fun, sure, but..." her voice trails off.

I get down in a deep bow. "Akumu Maki, my lovely exotic flower," I say, "would you do me the honour of going to this dance with me?" Akumu's eyes get wide and her face flushes. I extend my hand to her and she takes it, still blushing violently. "Dammit, Abel..." she whispers as every eye is turned to us. She kisses my cheek and finishes, "Of course, you dimwit."

I watch as Will and Chayse discuss like it was already planned, but Finley and Amber don't say a word to each other.

Odd.

When I look back up, Akumu says, "I'll see you all tonight, but for now I have to go and take care of...things." Then she disappears. We all split apart. As I go to leave, Will grabs my arm and says, "Hey, I might have a lead on your race issue. Meet me in the courtyard tomorrow after school?" I shrug. "Alright." Then I leave. I have to get ready to dance with Akumu.