A Change of Scenery (Crystal)

[Anime]

Caden just shrugged, stalking off towards one of the gang hangouts.

Mel was hiding it, but it was clear she was shaken.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Maybe we should get back," Astra said. She, too, was shaking, and she wasn't making any effort to hide it.

[Anime]

Mel looked back at Caden and Reina's retreating form, "But they're gone now." She says, taking a calming breath.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"What if they come back?" Astra had never claimed she was brave. She didn't want to get tangled up in the gang.

[Anime]

"Why would they come back so soon?" Mel asked.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I... I don't know," Astra said nervously. "I think we should go back home."

[Anime]

"Are you alright?" Mel asked, concerned. "They're gone--no real harm done."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I just... I've never... They scare me." Astra took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. Maybe I'm overreacting."

[Anime]

Mel shrugged. "Who am I to say how you can and can't react--I'm sorry," She apologizes for her insensitivity. "Let's find something else to do."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I'd feel safer if we went back to our neighborhood," Astra said.

[Anime]

"Then, we'll find something in the neighborhood to do." Mel offered.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Thank you," Astra said. "I'm sorry if I ruined this for you."

[Anime]

"What have you done that would ruin things?" Mel questioned. "You aren't the Dracones..."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"No, but if I weren't such a wimp, maybe they wouldn't scare the hell out of me." Astra looked down, her cheeks heating up.

[Anime]

Mel shrugs. "No one has a right to tell you how to feel."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astra blinked at her. "You really don't care, do you?"

[Anime]

"No, why would I?" Mel shrugged, turning back towards her perceived direction of their homes, "Now, make sure we don't get lost...because I have no idea where I am..."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Astra managed a smile. "I know where we are. I've lived here my whole life, remember?" She started back toward their neighborhood.

[Anime]

Mel fell instep beside her. "My point exactly." She glanced at Astra. "So what do you like about school?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"School?" Astra said. "Well... I like learning. And most of my teachers are pretty cool. And there's this one guy I like..." She trailed off and blushed. "I don't think he knows I exist."