During the next few years Caleb and Astrid reached their teenage years. Luckily, nothing changed between them. They'd randomly crack jokes with each other, ship one another with random good-looking students at the academy, study together, seek each other's comfort, train, almost everything that best friends do.
Until a lot of students suspected that the two were dating, but this was always their response:
"Hey Astrid! That handsome guy you're with—"
Astrid sharply cut their words short, "How many times do I have to tell you guys?! We're just friends! Every time, just every time, I'm with a guy you guys would always suspect that I'm dating them!" she retorted.
"I–.. I apologize for my false report…"
Astrid ran her hand through her hair in frustration, "Gosh, I don't care about your damn apology, just mind your own business, jeez.." Astrid grumbled, brushing her shoulder against the intrusive student's shoulder harshly, causing them to almost fall.
Caleb:
"Bro, Caleb! You're telling me you just hooked up with the princess?"
Caleb jolted, "W-what? Where did you get that information from?"
The snoopy student chuckled, "Hahaha! So it's true?"
"What?! No, of course not!"
"Haha, but look at you! You're blushing!"
Caleb crumpled their hands into a fist to the point his knuckles turned white, grinding his teeth together, holding back his stress and frustration deep in his heart, "Just because I'm blushing doesn't mean that it's true! Blushing can mean many things!"
"Aw c'mon then, be honest with yourself—"
"I AM HONEST!" Caleb bursted out in tears as he threw a punch at the snoopy student.
They whimpered, "H-hey wow, c-chil I ww-was just messing - ack - around–..!" they clutched their severely bruised cheek, throbbing in pain.
Caleb took a step back in horror of his actions, he turned pale as he took a step back, running his fingers though his hair, pulling it, "F-fuck, f-fcuk, f-fuck, I'm so sorry…" he mumbled through sobs before running away, leaving the student behind.
Caleb found himself curling into a ball, in the corner of the dark, gloomy storage room.
"What's wrong with me? Did I do something wrong? Wait- no.. I did! I punched him.
I've barely changed..Father was right…"
Mind you he sat there for hours until it was the end of the day.
Of course, the two best friends wouldn't let that affect their friendship, right?
Ohho, you're wrong. Ever since those suspicions and all those accusations turning into rumors—they avoided each other. Glancing at each other whenever they had the chance without saying a single word. They don't go into the same carriage anymore. It hurts. It's obvious. Avoiding your one and only best friend just because of some gossip and all that.
['''''Don't worry, I've experienced that feeling…I've always had that sense of guilt, haunting me.''''']
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<. . .>
"Father? You called?" Astrid lowered her head.
"Ah my dearest daughter, I've noticed that you and Caleb are avoiding each other, why's that?"
…
Why was I avoiding him again? I think I forgot…Ah, right. I remember now.
"It's nothing in particular, father."
"Was it perhaps the rumors circulating the both of you?"
"..."
"How did you know?"
"I have eyes and ears all around the academy, Astrid."
Astrid's expression darkened, holding back tears, biting her bottom lip to the point she drew blood.
"Astrid, dear. Just because there are rumors between the two of you does not mean you shouldn't let that affect your friendship with him. Let others be, don't let their words get to you. I know it sounds hard, I get it. I told Caleb this as well, he had the same response as you."
"I–... I'm sorry.."
"..."
"I heard there was an upcoming masquerade ball at the academy next year."
Astrid flinched, "Yes…"
"Do you plan on going?"
"I guess so."
"With whom?"
"I don't know."
"That's okay, you don't need to have a direct response. Caleb is in his room if you're planning on having a talk with him to ease things out."
"Okay, thank you, father." said Astrid before she stood up—bowing one last time before she dismissed herself.
Astrid hesitated with each step as she walked towards Caleb's room, standing right in front of it.
"Take deep breaths Astrid…Everything will be fine." she eventually knocked on the door. To be honest she actually forgot what Caleb looked like. How off.
"Come in."
"Huh, it hasn't been long but..his voice has changed, it sounds so sluggish and dry?..Is he okay? I hope so." Astrid thought before she grasped the door knob and turned it open. Caleb was sitting down on the edge of his bed, his back faced Astrid. He looked really pale, his body was dangerously thin to the point you could see bone, his coat hanging onto his frame like a flag on a still day, his hair was lank and lusterless, skin had a sallow and waxy look to it.
Astrid gasped sharply, "Caleb!?" she quickly walked towards Caleb, her steps light against the floorboard, facing Caleb who was staring at the ground. Astrid cupped his cheeks forcing him to look at her anxious gaze. His eyes and cheeks were hollow, lips chapped, hanging eyelids that had signs of fatigue and deprivation.
"Astrid.." he managed to curve a smile on his lips despite his condition.
"Why?.. You, you—" Astrid immediately took Caleb's wrists, there
weren't any new scars surrounding his old ones which relieved most of Astrid's worries but still—her best friend is in such an unhealthy state!
"I'm sorry…"
"S-sorry for what?! I should—"
Caleb interrupted her, "I'm sorry for worrying you, I'm sorry for all the rumors circulating between us, I'm sorry for causing you trouble, if only I had done it sooner—"
Astrid flinched, clutching Caleb's shoulders tightly—causing him to wince, "What?! Caleb?...Caleb..You're not trouble, at this point I don't care about the rumors, I only worry about you because I care about you and… and… you're my one and only best friend…"
Caleb's breath hitched.
Just what's wrong with me? I shouldn't have let my thoughts get the better of me again…Astrid could've just ditched me ever since our first day at the academy and yet she chose to stand by someone as worthless as me.
I-... I'm glad that I'm her only worthless best friend. Thank you Astrid, but… ack…nevermind, I'm overthinking things again…
"...I'm sorry, it won't happen again."
"Please Caleb, take better care of yourself, just- just promise me that please."
"I promise." Caleb extended his pinky finger out—Astrid wrapped her pinky around his in response.
As always—it took time for the poor Caleb to recover and go back to his oh-so happy, soft, pure, masculine(healthy), and semi-pathetic state. During his training with Astrid he's gotten a lot stronger—on par with the princess 's resolve and strengths.
Caleb hummed through the halls until a horrible headache clawed the insides of his head. "Ack- fuck…" a side of horror struck through him as he heard a familiar voice.
'Did you think I've purely forgotten about you? You fucking ⍰'
A voice that gave him PTSD and concealed psychological wounds.
'To think you've ⍰ ⍰ and resided ⍰ our ⍰ te⍰⍰⍰tor⍰ what a pathetic wimp a—⍰is⍰⍰ke'
Caleb whimpered, using all his willpower to push back that voice away from his head, "S-stop! F-fcuk off!"
'Erughh!! I'm not done yet you—'
The voice faded away, luckily, because Caleb was about to lose it—completely.
"H-haah…–" he ran his fingers through his hair—taking deep breaths, a skill or habit he learned from Astrid every time something stresses him out.
"J-just why did he have to appear in my head just now—"
"There you are Caleb!" Caleb paused, immediately composing himself and smiled—forgetting what had just happened earlier and focused on the only source of happiness, Astrid.
"Oh hey!"
"Hm, you seem distressed?"
"Well I kinda was until you appeared, you're like a beacon who lights up my whole world you know?"
"Oh, well if you ever need someone to talk about your troubles — I'm right here, and since when were you good at flattering others, hm?"
He shrugged, "Dunno, I've always wanted to say that. But was there something you wanted to tell me?"
"Ah right! You do know there's an upcoming masquerade ball in the academy in the next few months, right?"
"Uhh, no?"
"What? C'mon not even from other students around?"
"Well actually I have heard about it last week since someone asked me to go with them—and I simply declined. I don't really care about it."
"Aw how cruel of you. You're telling me that you're just going to stay single forever? How boring."
"Yep."
"Don't do me like that! If I'm going then you're going."
"But—"
"Please?"
"..."
Caleb sighed, "Okay, fine."
['''''It was that easy.''''']
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