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Anya and Becky were walking from 2nd period to the cafeteria, Anya seriously craving some peanuts and rushing ahead of the other girl,
“Anya, wait up! The peanuts aren’t going anywhere!” The brunette called for her life-long best friend but to no avail as Anya was now on a mission, and she never quite quit when she was on a mission, after all she takes after her father, adoptive or not.
“Sorry Becky! No time! Their calling for me~” She grinned stupidly and only sped up her pace now starting a race with no one but herself.
“Peanuts, peanuts, pean-” She was happily humming along when she suddenly hit a very.. Soft wall? No not a wall, walls wouldn’t have let out a small groan after being hit, Anya’s not the brightest but even she knew that.
She looked up only to be met with an icy blue gaze, they reminded her of her father’s eyes, she muttered a “Sorry!” before trying to dash away again, only to be stopped by a strong grip on her wrist now making it very hard to push forward.
She turned around to meet the icy gaze again. “Uhm, excuse me? I’m tryna’ go for lunch if you don’t mind.” She deadpanned, not taking anytime to beat around the bush while still keeping her manners in check, very elegant if she does say so herself.
“Uhm.. You- You have to apologize better!” The poor guy was stuttering and blushing like an idiot at the sight of Anya, she noticed she had that effect on Damian and a few other boys in her grade, but could never really place her finger on why.
“Oh, uhm..? I’m very sorry for bumping into you? Now can I go-”
“NO- I mean, you have to pay me back..”
“Look sir, My parents don’t own mansions and yachts like the rest of the kids here, so I really can’t.”
“That’s not what I meant..” the boy sighed in frustration while Anya took the opportunity to snake her arm out of his grasp, meeting eyes with a bewildered Becky behind him, trying to silently signal Becky to come and help her, but Becky only sighed and face-palmed while shaking her head in a disapproving manner.
“Uhm, Can I leave now or??” Anya was growing impatient, there was a bag of Peanuts in a vending machine somewhere that was screaming her name.
“Agh, just uhm, I’ll buy you lunch and we can uhm, t-talk?” He was a very timid boy but she did applaud him for taking the initiative and getting her attention at least.
“Sorry I don’t need you too, and I’ll sit with Sy-on boy and Becky so-” At that the boy froze and stared at her in pure bewilderment, she tried reading his thoughts but they were all just scrambled words and an occasional swear, nonsensical she thought.
“D-did you just say Sy-on boy?” Everyone was aware of the nickname Anya had gifted Damian back in 1st grade even kids from different classes and grades, and everyone knew that she was the only one who could ever dare call Damian Desmond the prestigious second son of Donovan Desmond with such a ludicrous nick-name, and everyone knew very, very well, (well, except for Anya) That it was because he may or may not have a gigantic crush on the girl.
“Uhm, yes?” She answered very confused because she was in fact very confused as of right now.
“Y-you’re Anya Forger..? The girl who punched Damian Desmond on the first day of 1st grade and made him fall in love?? You’re that Anya Forger!?” He looked almost scared? What was so scary? And what was he talking about, Sy-on boy in love? With her? He must be insane.
“Uhm, I guess I did.. Didn’t know people still talk about that punch, he deserved it anyways.” She started pondering if 6 year old her had really made the right decision in punching him, but decided that all in all, she did not regret her younger self’s actions, not a bit.
“But made him fall in love with me? That’s crazy, if anything I’m pretty sure he hates me!” At that almost everyone stopped and stared at the oblivious pinkette, was she really that dense?
“S-so you aren’t dating him?”
“What? Who said that, of course I’m not dating Sy-on boy.. He would probably rather kiss the school floors than date me.” She sounded a little offended at her own words, but ultimately decided they were true so it didn’t matter.
“So, could we get lu-” He had started saying something but Becky started dragging her best friend towards the cafeteria with a disappointed groan, Anya didn’t protest much and let it happen, it’s not like she wanted to stand there any longer anyways.
After the 2 girls arrived at the cafeteria and got their lunches they went and sat at their usual table with Damian, Ewen and Emile.
Becky slammed her tray down with a long sigh and sat down, while Anya took her usual spot across from Becky and beside Damian, not taking another second to dig into her peanuts.
“Who shit in your cereal today? Damian commented on Becky’s almost agitated behaviour in a way that was uniquely Damian, by being an asshole, but a caring asshole nonetheless.
“It’s Anya! She’s so innocent..!” She groaned again and hit her head against the table in frustration for her.. Pathetic.. Best friend.
“Yeah, anything new?” He said between chews, he was of course eating a luxurious sandwich made by only the finest hands in the Eden kitchen staff, as he should, of course.
“She got hit on in the hallway and-” And at those few words Damian’s gourmet sandwich was now back on his plate with a thud, and he started choking on it a bit, trying to comprehend what was being said.
“What? He wasn’t hitting me Becky.” Anya stated it like it was a fact as clear as night and day, because of course Anya wouldn’t know what ‘getting hit on’ meant.
“Ugh, fine he was flirting with you-”
“He was? I couldn’t tell, he just kind of looked scared.” she shrugged it off and continued eating her peanuts, as if the boy beside her was not staring at her in disbelief.
“See what I’m talking about!? She didn’t even realise what was happening! And she broke the poor guy's heart!” She started dramatically sobbing into her arms.
“Anya what’d he say to you?” Damian was now very curious as to who in their right mind would hit on Anya Forger, he thought everyone assumed they were a couple by now, and he would have confirmed the rumour's were false publicly but that was so much effort and he didn’t have time.
“Uhm, well he said something about paying for my lunch and stuff, but I told him I’d eat with Sy-on boy and Becky, but then he went white in the face, strange, right? He started asking me if I was Anya Forger-” She popped a peanut in her mouth, “And said something about the.. Incident.. In first grade..” She sheepishly looked away from Damian when mentioning that part, “Then went on about how you were in love with me or something, which I thought was strange because you’re definitely not in love with me, so I told him we weren’t a couple and everyone kinda gawked at me? Not sure what that was about, but then he tried asking me to lunch again and Becky dragged me away.”
Damian sat there, still as a statue and slightly red in the face, mouth slightly open in surprise yet silently thanking Becky for taking her away when she did, “I owe you one Blackbell.” Is all Anya caught from his thoughts which only confused her more? Why did Sy-on owe Becky?
“Uhm.. Anya you do realise he was trying to take you on a.. Date.. Right?” She looked at him, confusion evident on her face, with her nose scrunched up and squinted eyes. Damian thought it was cute when she looked like that, but he’d never outwardly admit that.
“Really? He had a real strange way of doing so then.” She popped her last peanut in her mouth, pouting slightly at the sight of her empty bag.
“Psst, Bossman.. Rumour's are starting to spread, we just got word that you and Anya aren’t dating, it’s the next most trending topic!” Ewin whispered to the darker haired man, and panic rose in his face, he never worried about other guys flirting with Anya before because everyone assumed they were together, but now all their gawking eyes towards her became very hard to ignore, because they didn’t have a reason not to stare anymore, news spread fast that Anya Forger was in fact single.
“Shit-” he sighed and placed his head in his hands, knowing that the easy solution would be to confess his feelings towards her and make her his actual girlfriend, if she reciprocated his feelings that is, but he was a teenage boy Desmond or not, whos emotions had a bad effect on his brain, and when a certain esper entered the room most of his thinking power left out the same door she came in.
So what did the young scion do?
Absolutely fucking nothing.
All he could do for the next week was be near her as much as he could, hoping to scare off the more timid ones but nonetheless he had to pathetically watch as other guys went up to Anya and tried very obviously to hit on her, but Anya being Anya always replied with a, “Sorry me and Sy-on are trying to get to class.” or “Huh?” Which made him feel a little proud of her if anything, unknowingly breaking so many hearts, and he admits is scared he might be one of them soon.
Anya had just finished unknowingly breaking another heart when she let out an annoyed sigh, “God, why are all these guys trying to talk to me lately? I just wanna get from one class to the other without disruption, school alone is already hard enough..” She dramatically threw herself onto his shoulder and he blushed a bit at the touch. Over the years he had learnt to control his heart when she was around, but there's only so much he could do, y’know?
“Cause they wanna date you dumbass.” He scoffed at the idea of some other guy dating Anya, it was absolutely preposterous.
“Yeah well I don’t wanna date them..” She sounded almost mean, like she genuinely wanted guys to stop coming up to her, and to be frank he did too.
“Then get a boyfriend.” He shrugged at his words not quite realising what he said until a few seconds later.
“Y’know Sy-on that’s not a bad idea! If I got a fake boyfriend all these guys would stop bothering me!” She hit her fist against the palm of her other hand like she had just solved a hard mystery, “Ah but who could be my fake boyfriend..?” She seemed deep in thought, genuinely thinking of a list of candidates.
And a now determined Damian would make sure he was on that damn list if it was the death of him.
They walked into the classroom, Anya still deep in thought, as they entered she scanned the room for all the boys in their class, she’s known all these kids since 1st grade but none of them really stuck out to her, the only boy’s she talked to were Damian and his goons, and occasionally George Glooman, ah that’s it! She could ask George to be her fake boyfriend! She knew him well enough anyways.
They sat down at the back of the class, they still had a few minutes of break left so Anya decided to let Damian in on her grand idea.
“Sy-on I got it! I’ll ask George Glooman to be my fake boyfriend!” She turned to see Damian with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, looking like he just drank spoiled milk or saw a really gross horror movie scene.
“Uhm, No- Don’t ask George Glooman!” He whisper-shouted, how was he supposed to casually bring up himself as a candidate?
He pondered the thought a little more and she only gave a, “What, why not?” and a small pout in response.
“B-because that’d be weird! Uhm.. I’ll be your fake boyfriend! So, you don’t have to ask George Glooman-” He started stuttering and stumbling over his words, everyone thought they were a couple before anyways so it wouldn’t be hard to convince everyone again.
“You? Don’t you hate me? Why’d you willingly fake-date me?” She sounded genuinely confused at his words, did she really think he hated her? He knew she was kind of slow when it came to relationships but did she really still think he hated her? Or was it because he was still a bit of a jerk towards her?
“What? I don’t hate you.. I never did?” Now it was his turn to sound confused. He looked at her with almost a hurt expression on his face.
“You don’t? So can I come ove-”
“WHAT’S YOUR OBSESSION WITH MY FUCKING HOUSE??” He almost screamed but managed to keep his voice down so only Anya could really hear the volume of it.
“Ugh, fine, anyways, I’ll accept your proposal Sy-on boy! But you gotta make sure no guys come near me okay? Oh except for Papa and Bond, and I guess Emile and Ewin, OH! And uncle Frankie and Uncle Yuri!” she extended her hand out towards him, treating this like a business deal between them.
“Uhm, Yeah sure.” Keep it fucking cool Damian, He thought while reaching out his own hand, shaking hers finalizing the deal.
“If you ever want to end this arrangement just tell me, I’ll act like the girls on Becky’s dramas after they get broken up with, everyone will think i’m too emotionally distressed for another relationship!” She sounded a little excited at the idea, and knowing Anya she probably was.
“It’s fine, this benefits me, y'know? I get swarmed by girls all the time..” He mumbled annoyance in his tone at the thought of it, it’s not like it was a lie, he was a Desmond after all, so either they were after his looks or his wallet he still had girls all over him at all times. (They were a little tamer when everyone thought he was dating Anya.)
“Yeah, go figure. You’re the amazing Damian Desmond, of course you’d have girls all over you, I don’t blame them really, you're really everyone’s ideal type.” she yawned and laid her head on her desk, she still had time before classes started she could chill a little longer, but poor Damian could not chill, not for a second especially after that comment, and he found himself pondering if ‘everyone’ included her.
That’s when another thought hit him, “You know my actual name?” He said it before he could think about it more, and it sounded so stupid, of course she knew his name, they had been in the same class since Day 1 and did anyone at this school really not know his name? He had gotten so used to ‘Sy-on boy’ from her that he doesn’t even flinch when the names called anymore.
“Uhm yeah?” She sounded as confused as he did, did he really think she didn’t know his name?
“Then why call me Sy-on boy? What does that even come from? Not that I don’t like it..” But it was something he had always wondered in the back of his mind, just where did ‘Sy-on’ come from?
“Oh, when I was younger I couldn’t pronounce ‘Scion’ right, so I said ‘Sy-on’ instead! And Sy-on boy sounded a lot cooler than Scion boy, so I decided not to change it.” She said it so matter-of-factly, like anyone could have guessed that that was of course the reason behind the nick-name.
“I guess that makes sense, but still why give me a nick-name and not literally anyone else? I don’t even think Blackbell has a nick-name.” He was answer hunting now, wanting to know everything about their relationship he didn’t already know.
“Well, Becky doesn’t really have anything to make a nick-name out of, I could call her Beck’s or something but that’s weird, and at first I didn’t really like you so it was a way that I could mock you, I guess?” She shrugged at her 6 year old self’s actions.
“Yeah, the punch wasn’t exactly an ‘I like you’ punch.” He smirked at the way she hid her face in alert whenever the ‘incident’ was brought up, even though she believed he 100% deserved it, she still kind of feels bad.
At that the bell rang and any late kids came rushing in and claiming a seat, Becky being one of them after spending all of break fixing her hair and makeup in the school bathrooms, she took her seat next to Anya, who quickly ripped a piece of paper and started scribbling something onto it, sliding it to Becky once she was done.
The teacher hadn’t come yet so she quickly looked at the paper and in sparkly pink gel in Anya’s very.. Unique.. Handwriting was, “Me and Sy-on are dating.” it was clear, precise and straight to the point, there was no room for misinterpretation, she put the paper down and stared at her best friend in disbelief, “You are so telling me everything after class!” She whispered as the teacher walked in starting the lesson, Anya only grinned and looked forward, liking the effect this was having on her best friend, as Becky could barely sit still, itching to know everything about the others' love-life, as confusing as it was.
As soon as the bell rang Becky grabbed Anya and their things and made a mad dash to the school gardens, where they had instinctively come to every time they needed to have some ‘girl-talk’
“Alright, spill, and I mean everything!” She sat the esper down and stared at her with what Anya could have sworn to be a fire in her eyes.
“Uhm, well, It just kinda happened, But he swore he’d protect me from all the other guys trying to flirt with me!” It technically wasn’t bending the truth all that much?
“Awww! He got so jealous that he confessed! This is just like that episode of Berlint in Love!” Anya stopped listening to Becky’s rambles, she was now talking about some romance drama she watches and Anya was (no offence Becky) not interested.
“Hey we should head back now right? 4th period is about to start and I don’t need another bolt..” She shuddered at the thought of getting another bolt, quickly grabbing her stuff and excusing herself to head over early.
She was close to the door when a larger body blocked her way. He was quite tall and she recognized him from the school's football team. He was the quarterback who carried most of their wins, even she had to admit it was quite impressive.
“Forger, right?” He stared down at her almost intimidatingly, she’s not sure if that was his intention but she surely felt intimidated anyways.
“Uhm, yes?” She just wanted to get to class, does someone have to bother her every second of the day?
“You’re cute, I'll give you that, meet me in the janitor's closet later and I’ll give you the ride of your life.” He winked at her and she only felt disgust, it apparently showing on her face as a look of anger rose upon his face.
“Awh, don’t give me that look sweetheart~ Stop playing hard to get.” He sounded obnoxious and at this point people were stopping to stare at the scene.
“No thanks, I’d rather eat my dog's food for the next 10 years.” She deadpanned, trying to move around him to get to her class.
He pushed her into the closest wall cornering her, she started panicking because how the hell was she supposed to escape this guy? He was all brawn and very little brain in her opinion.
“Let me go, perv, I have a boyfriend!” There it was, her special card! What was he gonna do now that he knew she was taken? Exactly, one point to Forger!
“Doesn’t change anything to me.” He smirked at her facial expressions turning from “I won” to “Shit”
Her next plan was to struggle and scream until he had no choice but to let her go, he had stupidly only pinned her to the wall, not necessarily grabbing or restraining her in anyway.
“C’mon we all know you're easy, stop acting like a princess and admit that you're nothing but a nice body.” Now that struck a particular nerve in the Esper, she had noticed that as she grew older boys looked at her.. Differently.. Now, but it was only to be expected right? She was a teenage girl who was growing up, mind reading powers or not that fact had never changed, she was still a girl, and to douche bag men who were fed with a golden spoon up their ass she was nothing more than a pretty doll to gawk at all they pleased, and Anya was not okay with that assumption to say the least.
Damian had just shown up himself and was about to step in, as well was a teacher who had noticed the encounter,
But it seems that everyone stopped moving when they heard a crisp ‘SLAP’ sound, it was loud and clear and red on his face, his head had turned away from hers from the impact and what was left was a steaming Anya Forger, her fists balled and face full of disgust and anger, “You think just cause I’m pretty I’d want you? That all you need is money and some good looks to woo me? I hate to be the one to tell you that your assumption about me couldn’t be more wrong.” She kicked his left knee causing him to stumble over and fall in front of her. He was shaking a bit and looked only surprised, she walked away from him and into the classroom, ignoring all the stares and thoughts so loud she couldn’t block them out.
Damian had seen the way she looked so genuinely filled with hatred, and while that slap didn’t send him flying across the hallway like when she punched him it looked a lot more enraged, like it was her way of telling him to screw off and never even dare show his face in front of her again, he had a feeling this would lead to rumour's that twisted the truth to make it sound like she had slapped him for no good reason, after all he was the star player of the football team, people are more likely to take the side of whoever has more power to their name, that’s how society worked, it’d be different if he had slapped him, but Anya wasn’t from an influential family, the surname ‘Forger’ carried to significant weight in high society, so to help his (fake) girlfriend, just a bit.
“Next time you touch my girlfriend a slap won’t be the only thing you’ll get.” He stood in front of the kneeling boy, Damian knew he couldn’t beat him in a physical fight, he was more brains than brawn no matter how you looked at it, but what he did have was the Desmond name, and nobody would dare try to drag the Desmond name, that includes Anya since she was now in a relationship with him, attacking her would be like attacking him, and nobodies stupid enough to do that, not even the jackass in front of him.
“Y-yes sir..” Is all the jock muttered before getting up and returning to whatever trash can he crawled out of.
Damian proceeded into the classroom, and ignored all the stares as he head straight for the quivering girl in the top back row of the classroom, she was trying not to cry, trying so, so hard, but as each second past it became harder not to break down, and nobody but Damian and Becky would be able to tell just by looking at her, you had to really see into it, see how she bit her lip and shook in her seat ever so slightly, the teacher was waiting for the bell to ring so he could start the lesson, but Damian felt he needed to get her out of there before she really broke down.
Damian went up to the teacher after looking at Anya, “Excuse me sir, but me and Anya have some work to do as imperial scholars, Mr. Henderson just told me now, we’ll be back in class later.” It was a filthy white lie, but he just needed an excuse.
“Ah yes, of course Mr.Desmond, please study chapters 58-87, and tell Miss.Forger to do so as well.” The teacher replied kindly, he had been informed of what happened out in the hall and decided to give them a break, just this once.
“Thank you sir.” He bowed to his elder and went back to grab Anya and leave, Becky had ran into the room after being told what happened and only saw Damian pulling a drowsy Anya out of the room, easily being able to tell she was in distress, “Anya, I’m sorry I can’t come with you guys, but it’s okay, I trust you Desmond, take care of her.” It’s amazing how her tone changes when speaking to him, but he figures he’ll let it slide this once.
“Yes Ma’am.” He says it sarcastically but he did plan on making sure she was alright and cared for.
They left to the back gardens, Damian knew there weren't gonna be any classes out there this period, so it’d be the perfect spot to calm her down, where nobody but he could see her, where she could cry out all her frustration.
He sat them on a soft patch of grass under a large willow tree, just holding her close as she shook in his arms, waiting for her to speak.
“Damian.. Am I really just a pretty thing to look at? I’m an imperial scholar but it doesn’t feel like it sometimes..” Her voice was trembling and oh so broken and he had never wanted to punch someone more in his life, that stupid guy was going to pay for this, if it was the last goddamn thing he did.
“No, of course you're not, sure you're pretty, I-I mean, I assume you are anyways.. But uhm, you’re so much more than looks Anya, you have personality and.. And without your feisty comebacks and your dedication you wouldn’t be the same, so basically, just, no. Don’t let that waste of air’s words affect you.” He was stringing words together in no particular order at this point, just trying to get the idea across that she was not some porcelain doll to be stared at and pampered.
She chuckled at how angry he sounded when referring to the jock, had he always been this protective over her? Had he always held her close when she cried? Had he always made her feel better even if he didn’t realise it? Now she felt selfish.
“Jeez Sy-on, if I didn’t know better I’d say that was a confession of love.” She laughed but her previous crying had made it sound more like a sob.
“I- How- It’s not supposed to sound like a confession of love..” He mumbled and blushed which only made her laugh more, she liked how comfortable she could be with him, even in her most vulnerable moments.
“Thanks Sy-on boy, you always know how to make me feel better.” She smiled oh so warmly at him and he practically melted at the sight, were his hands always this sweaty? Was his face always so red?
“Yeah.. Sure, anytime.” He was losing all function in his brain and all he wanted was to have her closer yet the need to run away has never felt stronger, as always his feelings were contradicting him.
So without thinking he snaked his arms around her tighter and held her back against his chest, she was sat in between his legs, burying his head in her strawberry hair he let himself relax, and she didn’t protest only a small gasp from the sudden movement and she was as comfortable as she was before.
“Hey Sy-on boy?” She said after a bit.
“Hmm?”
“I’m gonna fall asleep here, okay?” She snuggled deeper into his chest and almost laid down, using him as a pillow.
“Yeah, alright.” is all he mumbled while combing her hair with his fingers, subtly soothing both of them to sleep.