✧ Cerise: Chapter one; pt. two ✧

Instructions

Claudia walked in, Varion walking after her. She stood at the front of the table, her gaze settling on the boy next to the red. “Ah! Arlo, you’ve finally decided to join us for food.” She smiled as she said this. “Varion is going to bring out the food shortly, please be patient.” Until then Varion had been standing behind Claudia, now he was striding into the kitchen. Everyone was talking to one another while Arlo just sat there, staring at the table. “Your name is Arlo, right?” The girl sitting next to him had turned to him. “Yeah,” he looked up from the bright blue tablecloth so he could speak to her. “My name is June.” she grinned. By then Varion brought out enough food to feed everyone. While the others grabbed food, Arlo waited for everyone else, then got what he was going to eat. During the meal, everyone socialized and all seemed to have a fun time. “Everyone! Please listen,” Claudia was again, standing at the edge of the table. “There has been another fight scheduled, it is later today.” There were several grumbles of protest at the table before Claudia stepped back and Varion stepped up. “I have chosen who will be sparing today. Arlo and Carlos.” Arlo looked down again with an angry expression. Carlos, who was at the other side of the table, looked at Arlo and then put his head down on the table. Everyone cleared from their seats, Varion went to Arlo. “Make sure to be at the fighting grounds at six. Do not go and hide somewhere.” Arlo nodded, standing up and making his way back to the courtyard. Though, as he got there June was sitting at the foot of the oak tree. Arlo let out an angered sigh and sat down beside her. He didn’t speak to June, not even a glance towards her direction. He took out his sketchbook and began to draw one of the many trees in the area. June looked over Arlo’s shoulder and obliviously asked, “what are you drawing?” “The Eiffel Tower. What does it look like?” He responded sarcastically. “Well, the tree is nice.” June seemed relatively unfazed by his snarky comment. “If I may ask, why of all people, are you bothering me?” Arlo snapped his head to June. “You need to talk to someone regardless of who it is,” She replied, with a pitying look. “Who are you to decide if I must talk to someone? We are not friends and we certainly won’t ever be! I didn’t ask you to come give me a pep talk on friendship.” Arlo was livid, “go away, and don’t bother me!”