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The fall breeze of Hometown struck Kris the moment they stepped outside of the school. The sun shining, leaves slowly making their way down to the ground as they detached from the once lively branches on the trees, and fresh air that was ever so present around them. They didn’t show it, but Kris felt content.
Leaves crunched under their shoes as they started to walk home. Their hands in their pockets, head down and shoulders hunched, the walk was pleasant. They were just about to cross the street, when suddenly,
“Kris!”
Kris’s head swiveled behind them and looked up to notice a far away silhouette running towards them. They couldn’t tell who it was by the shape since the figure was far away, but they could definitely figure out who it was based on the sound of their voice.
“Kris, wait up!”
Kris was halted, having nothing better to do. Their mom was getting home late today, so they didn’t really need to head home in a rush.
Kris stepped to the side of the sidewalk and waited, still in the same posture they were originally, except with their head upwards. As the sound of steps running to their position increased, they looked back down at the ground.
“Kris, hey..” Said Berdly, out of breath. Even with all those years of running he did in Track and Field, Berdly still had the stamina level of a koala. Kris chuckled mentally.
“I noticed you were walking home by yourself, that’s kind of unusual now, after you and Susie became friends.” Berdly said, while putting his feathery hand behind his head, rubbing it awkwardly.
Kris tells Berdly that Susie wasn’t feeling well today, and that she had to stay home.
“That’s unfortunate. Tell her that I hope she gets better, posthaste!” Berdly said, raising his voice on the last word.
Kris tells Berdly that they hope for the same.
“Anyways,” Berdly says, “As I saw you were walking by yourself, I wanted to inquire about joining you for your walk home.”
Kris looks down at their feet and pauses for a moment to think. Berdly wasn’t one to ask to walk them home, usually he’d only ever ask them about playing games or gloating about his test scores over theirs.
Hesitantly, Kris looks back up and asks Berdly why.
“Well, you know..” Berdly looks down, scratching his head. “As a fellow gamer, it is my duty to make sure other gamers aren’t alone or unsafe.” He looked back up at Kris. “If you don’t want me to walk with you, you can just say the word and I’ll leave, only if you want.”
Kris, hesitantly again, tells Berdly that they wouldn’t mind.
“Wonderful!” Berdly exclaims. “Shall we, m’theydy?” Berdly smiles, thinking that his remark was cute.
Kris turns their head to him and tells him to die as the two of them begin walking.
Oddly, the sound of a pair of footsteps walking and crunching on leaves was more soothing to Kris than anything. They enjoyed it with Susie on most days, and even with the unusual presence of Berdly in her place, Kris felt relaxed and safe. Berdly was walking directly to the left of Kris, looking at the different houses and buildings they passed. Passing ICE-E’s P”e”zza, Berdly tapped Kris on the shoulder excitedly.
“Hey, Kris!” Berdly said. “You hungry? We could totally stop in for some ‘P-e-zza’, haha!”
Kris responded by saying that they weren’t hungry, as they already ate at school today.
“Oh, come on, Kris! We could totally be in and out. They have small pizzas, right?”
Kris told Berdly that it was their walk home, and their rules. But he was more than welcome to get something for himself.
Berdly stuttered. “A-Alright, how about I just run in really quickly and grab a drink? I’ll be in and out, super fast! You can wait for me outside.”
Before Kris had time to respond, Berdly sprinted into the building. Kris shrugged and started walking away in the direction of their house.
It wasn’t even 2 minutes later when Berdly came running out with a gigantic soda cup in-hand, running to catch up with Kris.
“K-Kris! What the flip! Why didn’t you wait for me?”
Kris smiled and said that he took too long.
“Uggh! You always do this, Kris.” Berdly said. “I-I knew you weren’t hungry, but I actually got you something, asshole.”
Kris turned to look at Berdly. They asked what it was.
“The drink.. Wait.” Berdly said, stopping. Kris stopped too. Berdly reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out two comically-large swirly straws. “I thought maybe you’d like some, it’s Professor Pebber, your favorite..”
Kris asked how he knew it was their favorite.
“UHM-” Berdly stammered. “Uhh, well, I.. You see, I sort of.. Caught a glance at you drinking it, once.. Or twice, or.. Yeah. It was kind of an assumption..” Berdly’s face turned red.
Kris confirmed that it was their favorite, but asked Berdly why he was watching them.
“Well, gamers are always looking after one another, right? Heheh.” Berdly says, pushing his loose glasses back onto his reddened face.
Kris shrugged and grabbed one of the straws from Berdly’s hand, then placed it in the soda cup lid hole, then asked Berdly if they were going to keep moving.
“Uh, yeah, right. Let’s go.” Berdly said.
As they began walking, Kris was sipping from the beverage as Berdly was struggling to get his straw in the drink.
“Uh, Kris, you sorta took the only straw hole..” He said.
Kris told Berdly to make his own.
“Right! Good idea, Kris!” Berdly said, then began using his beak to try and puncture another hole for his straw.
Kris noticed what he was trying to do and asked him if that was how he normally opened things.
“Sh-Shut up, Kris!” Berdly said, his voice distorted from his beak twisting and pushing into the plastic. And as soon as he said that, the lid finally broke, but due to too much pressure his face went right into the cup and splashed Professor Pebber over the two of them.
Kris stepped back, their straw falling to the ground along with Berdly’s and the drink itself. Kris’ shirt was soaked and dripping with the beverage, along with Berdly’s feathers.
“GAH, Kris, I’m so sorry, that was all my fault, ohmygoodness..” Berdly said, looking at Kris with pleading eyes. Kris looked back at him, and although their hair was covering their eyes, Berdly knew Kris was staring into his soul.
Kris, after a minute, broke the silence and said that it’s not a problem.
Berdly looked shocked. “R-really? I thought you’d be more upset..”
Kris shook their head. They reassured him that they’re fine.
“Oh.. Okay, then.. But again, I’m really sorry, Kris..” Berdly said. “W-Wait! I have something-” Berdly was still talking, but Kris couldn’t hear what he was saying because Berdly was digging through his backpack at that moment.
“..and I know it’s not a proper towel but you can totally use this to help dry yourself off!” Berdly finished, holding something out at Kris. It looked like they were notes, scribbled on hand towels from the public bathroom at school.
Kris asked Berdly if he took notes on bathroom towels.
“Well, technically, yeah, because I ran out of paper..” Berdly said, looking down, his face turning red again.
Kris told Berdly that if he ever needs paper in the future to ask them, since they sleep all class.
“W-Wow, Kris! What an offer, haha. I mean, thank you, seriously..” Berdly said. “Still, you should dry yourself off. It’ll stick once it dries, and your day is gonna suck..”
Kris told Berdly that even if they get most of the beverage off their clothes, it’ll still stick, but they accepted Berdly’s offer and took the towels.
“Ahh. Yeah, well at least we’ll be the best-smelling people in town, haha!” Berdly squawked when he laughed. Kris turned in response, and their face turned ever-so red at the sound of Berdly’s laugh. They haven’t heard him laugh like that before.
Kris began wiping themselves down. The liquid soaked into the towels, effectively ruining the notes Berdly took. Kris noticed and asked Berdly if he cared.
“Eh, not really. I’m good at retaining knowledge, that’s why I’m the smartest student, heheh.” Berdly said.
Kris nodded and continued wiping themself down. Kris looked up from drying themselves and told Berdly they were thankful for him providing the towels.
Berdly’s eyes went wide, and stammered again. “O-Oh! Yeah, don’t mention it, dude!”
As Kris finished drying themselves, eventually the two of them were able to continue towards the Dreemurr residence. Berdly was walking next to Kris like before, but a bit closer this time. He looked at Kris, mostly dry from the Professor Pebber incident. Berdly got splashed too, but not as bad as Kris. He just wanted to make sure they were dry and comfortable. He looked down at their hand, and noticed some water still left on their hand.
“Oh, Kris, let me dry that for you-” Berdly said, as he wiped his hand on Kris’ skin, drying the liquid using his feathers. Kris looked over and felt that Berdly was touching their hand, and their heartbeat increased. Berdly was wiping the palm of their hand, and Kris decided to grip on Berdly’s feathers.
“Kris?! What are you-”
Kris smiled, and gripped Berdly’s hand tighter.
The two of them were holding hands.
Berdly was exploding inside. His face was a shade of bright red, and Kris saw how easy it was to light up the bird’s face.
Kris told Berdly that his hand was really soft.
“Uhm, I guess so?! Uhh…” Berdly said, as he looked off and down to the side, blushing beyond belief.
Kris smiled as they walked home together, not letting go of Berdly’s hand. Eventually, Berdly gripped back, appearing to have gained some confidence during the walk.
Time passed, and the two of them eventually reached Kris’ house. Berdly let go of Kris’ hand, and Kris stepped away from him.
“Well, uh, nice seeing ya, Kris..” Berdly said, looking down at the ground.
Kris chuckled out loud, and told him that it was nice seeing him too.
Berdly looked back up. “Y-Yeah, h-hey! Kris! Do you maybe.. I don’t know.. Maybe if Susie can’t.. Do you want-”
Kris interrupted him and said that they’d like to walk home with him again, and maybe even play some games if they’re both free.
“Oh! Uhh, okay, Kris! That sounds great, haha!” Berdly says, his mood changing from pure shyness to happiness.
Kris gave a smile and a nod, then walked towards their house. Berdly watched them walk to the front door, and with a wave, Kris looked back and returned the favor. Berdly then turned around, with the biggest grin on his face. Clutching his heart, he began the journey back to his house, with the thought of Kris on his mind all the way home.