Crystal had been absent for some days, although Zoe wasn't too worried since she had texted Crystal about it so she knew she was fine.

I am currently sitting in Jay's seat, with Jay being on my lap, enjoying our time before class officially started.

In comes Crystal, in her thinner body. I don't pay her any mind, just staying focused on hugging Jay's waist and giving light kisses to the back of his neck every so often.

Crystal does her whole normal gig. Although I did feel her looking over at us, observing.

Zoe just looked confused. She immediately started texting Crystal, asking if she had a sister also named Crystal that came to our class or if it was a stranger that needed to be taken care of... If you know what I mean...

Since Crystal was in front of us, Zoe looked at her suspiciously, although she only sent another text to Crystal asking her to respond as soon as she could, understanding of the possibility that she might be sleeping or busy.

I stopped paying attention to her. I mean I don't particularly like her personality or attitude, I respect that she's Zoe's friend, but I don't know her. I mean, as Zoe's friend, little Crystal falls under my protection and if need be I'd intervene to actively better her life if the need arises.

...

So Daniel was talking about the puppies and how he couldn't afford them. I just looked over to Jay and saw him looking at me already. I sighed with a smile, before agreeing to his silent request.

I mean, this can't go wrong too badly, so why not?

...

So Jay was hiding, shivering in fear at the dogs. Zoe was at her parents' house, spending a day with them.

I just acted as a shield for him, sitting on the ground between the chair and the puppies, making sure they wouldn't move. I don't know why, but the dogs seemed to somehow know I'm not exactly human. I mean I don't think I am anymore, at least. But they listened to my commands on a perfect and immediate basis and genuinely look like they understand me when I talk.

I decided to make Jay's fear of dogs go away faster. So I commanded the dogs to sit in a line and be silent. They immediately did as told, looking like little soldiers. I picked up one at random, ordering him to be good, and to not bite or even nibble. The dog looked really serious somehow, like he's on a mission. So I snuggled him in my arms, holding his head by petting it, leaving only his back free.

I slowly moved towards Jay with the dog secure in my arms.

"Look, he's snuggled into me, he can't move towards you, can you try petting him? We can take baby steps to get you more comfortable with them."

Jay looked at me, as if making sure I was sure this was safe, before slowly moving his trembling hand towards the dog. He slowly pet the dog's back, still trembling, before taking his hand back. He looked up to me, sparkles all around him.

I chuckled as I praised his courage, moving back to the puppy line to put the one in my arms back, before picking up another one. Doing the same thing with him as the first one.

I continued like so until Jay had pet all the puppies.

I could faintly see Jay's butler looking at us from the doorway, but I chose to ignore it.

When Jay was done petting the puppies, I made sure they were sitting in a straight line, telling them once again to not move, before I took Jay's hands in mine, leading him to walk closer to them. He was trembling a lot, so we took breaks every few steps closer so that I could just hold him and rub circles on his back, making sure he was okay.

After I got him to stand close enough to them, I decided it was enough for today, so I sat Jay on his Shiel chair before ordering the puppies to follow me. They did so, still in a line, marching in unison after me. They really look like soldiers.

I led them out of the room, and to the livingroom, presenting them their area, drawing an imaginary line around it that they should not cross. I presented them their food bowls and water bowls, as well as their individual beds and the toy pile. I laid out the rules for them as well. I explained that they could play and bark and do all their dog things, but to make sure to not damage anything, to not be too loud, to not leave their area unless they are allowed, to not attack people and to poop and pee on the special designated area. We bought an indoor thing for it, just in case.

I think Jay's butler was looking at me the whole time I was talking to the puppies and I can't tell if he thinks I'm crazy or not. Because the puppies understood me, they carefully listened and did as told.

Anyways, I went back to Jay's room, seeing that'd he calmed down completely by now. I swooped him from the chair, into my arms. His arms and legs habitually wrapped around me as I just stood there, smiling at him. Then I started swaying, humming to an old song I had caught my grandparents slow dance to. When I was done, he asked what song it was. I just smiled and answered honestly.

"I'm not too sure it exists here, so I can't tell you, darling."

He asked if I could sing the lyrics. I chuckled, kissing his cheek, before asking him if he was sure he wanted to know. I was getting quite nervous. He wrapped his arms tighter around my neck, before nodding. I kissed the side of his neck before obliging.

In a voice, clearer and more beautiful than I remember having had in my last life, I started swaying while softly singing along to Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin.

Even long after the song was over, I just kept swaying, remembering the pure love my grandparents had for eachother. In those moments, you could just see it in their eyes. Throughout thick and thin, they had stuck together, for richer and for poorer. Throught sickness and health.

I had always hoped to be able to love someone like this, to have my somebody.

I think I've found my somebody.

...

We were now sitting in class, enjoying our calm.

But then Doo started loudly talking to Daniel.

Things escalated and Doo ended up telling Zack he had no friends. That's when I got pissed. So I raised my voice quite a bit compared to my normal tone, as I death stared at him.

"So I don't exist now? Better fucking apologize or get out of my sight right now. Being friends with someone only for gain is disgusting. Hell yeah you aren't his friend, you don't deserve to be."

I got up, pushed Doo back a bit to show my seriousness, before he left in a rush. Still pissed, I brought Zack to sit next to me on the next row of desks. I also came back to his old desk, grabbed his stuff and dropped it at his new desk. Death staring the poor innocent background character as he quickly gathered his stuff to go to Zack's old desk. I then made another trip back, took Daniel's stuff, shoved it into his arms before moving him to sit next to Zack at his new place. Again death staring an innocent as he quickly gathered his stuff to join his desk partner at their new desks. I also, while I was there, moved Mira to sit with us, in front of Zack.

To try to calm my bad mood, I took Jay into my arms before sitting down at his place, with him on my lap as I had my back to the window. I buried my face in him neck, taking deep breaths, trying to relax.

I guess I overreacted, but I can't stand this specific type of thing. Just the feeling of being betrayed by someone you thought was your friend, to be told you're nothing. I couldn't stand seeing him in this situation. Zack's become easily my best friend, seeing as Zoe is a daughter to me and I'm in love with Jay. The guy always made sure I was fine, supporting me through dark moments with my mind that could have spiralled down a lot more had he not distracted me. Encouraging me to follow my heart and chase the one that took it, even when I thought I had no chance. He was also there in the good times, teasing me about my progress and encouraging me to keep going.

...

So I started hanging out with him a lot more, with Jay being there too of course.

Which is how I ended up in this situation.

Being here when the 3 gangsters wannabes questioned us about the 2 idiots. I just let Zack take care of it. Until the bat swung towards him.

I didn't even let him get hit once, I just directly grabbed it, so hard you could hear faint wood cracks getting more frequent the longer I held it.

The Daehoon dude didn't look happy. But neither was I with this dragging conversation. So I just casually glared at him, I let go of the bat, making him stumble back.

"Look, we don't know them much, we can't help you with anything. So let us go our way and keep searching. You have a problem with them, not us."

I stared harshly at him. He looked a bit mad, before he started checking all of me and analysing me. He quickly wrote something down on a paper he got out of his pocket, before handing it to me, winking at me as he tried to sound charming.

"You seem like you're from the same kind of crowd as me, give me a call sometime and we could get coffee?"

Him and his goons left after that. I looked at the paper and saw that it was his number, or what I assume is his number. I was quite confused.

I turned to look at Jay and Zack, still unsure of what to do. We all looked at eachother until I just shrugged and ripped the paper. Zack freaked out, saying that I had just broken that guy's heart like it was nothing. I just shrugged, taking back into mine Jay's hand while we kept on out way.

...

In class, we heard Zack and Daniel going to find the guy and save the two idiots. I decided not to interfere with the fight, instead deciding to just stand back and watch them do their thing.

I convinced Jay to not look for them either.

I did get an idea though, I could have a pacebook account. I mean, it would help with my designer dream if I had a fanbase for it already and a platform to showcase the stuff I do. Well, I already have a fanbase within Zoe's community of followers. But it'd be nice to have my own. Zoe is really good at taking pictures so I can just ask her to take some of me while I model stuff I've made or just general outfits I've put together. She could also model for me too.

I turned to Jay and asked his opinion on the idea, he was all for it.

Of course, Zoe agreed to the idea immediately too.

We did a small photoshoot before I finally had the account. Zoe announced it on her next stream too. Soon enough, I was a small celebrity along with Zoe.

The rest of the day, we stayed at home, checking in on the drama happening on the protagonist's side.

...