From Yesterday

Vince walked back down the towers from the roof. When he actually got to the roof, he didn't actually feel any better. In fact, he felt much worse. So he decided instead to just sit in an empty room. He noticed a door at the top of the tower, and went inside. He could be alone there...

No he couldn't. For when he entered the room, Ember was sitting there, crying, with a pile of ashes next to her. His mind froze, and he felt like collapsing. First the cafeteria, now the roof. That didn't matter. He didn't want to talk to Ember after the argument. But he can't just keep her out of his life forever. It was just a bad start. He sat down, close to Ember, but far enough to give her some personal space. He didn't look at her, but instead, at his knees. He covered his eyes with his arm, which was resting on his knees. A tear was trying to escape from his eye, and as a result his sleeve was becoming wet. He was crying.

Vince heard those words, and felt worse. Now she's apologising to him because of what he did. "Don't be. It was my fault," he said quietly. He looked at Ember for the first time, wiping away his tears. "I'm the one who should be sorry." You already tried to apologise, remember? Vince looked at her again, and suddenly felt slightly better. But only slightly. "I'm sorry for-" he stopped mid-sentence. The last thing he would want to do was to start another argument, so instead, took out his sword, stood up and swung it in random directions, being careful not to swing it anywhere near Ember.

Vince turned to face Ember when she asked him what he was doing. Obviously this was annoying her by the look on her face. "I was letting out some steam. Or, at least I was trying to, but..." he turned away. "But it wasn't working. It wasn't making me feel any better." He sheathed his sword and sat back down. He finally decided to express his feelings, rather than his excuses. "About today," he began. "I just returned today, and I didn't particularly want to announce that to anyone yet, because I didn't know many of the students. But then you showed up..." he hesitated. "I wanted to be alone, but for some reason, I had to talk to you. I felt relieved to see you, but the way I left... no, enough about that. What happened today... it made me think. My life is a mess. It always has been." His dead relatives ran into his mind again. Three words wanted to come out of his mouth... three simple words that expressed his true feelings for Ember. But he didn't dare say it, in case she didn't care anymore. "But I bet you don't care anymore now."

Wide eyed with suprise, Vince looked at Embe, who was looking back at him. He smiled, and didn't dare to argue with that. "I care about you too, Ember." The three important words almost left him, but he didn't want to say it yet. "I was thinking about you for the entire trip away. I..." He took a deep breath. "I love you." There. Those three words finally left him. Was it too soon? Too late? He would find out soon enough, but he felt incredibly relieved when he said those words. He looked away, but could not help but glance at her every so often.

Ember's reaction answered Vince's question for him. Too soon. "I thought that too," he started, "but don't forget how long I've been away for. I'd have thought that by the time I came back, I'd have forgotten about you. But I haven't. It's crazy, I know. I'm probably going crazy myself..." he paused to think. Was he actually in love? How could he tell it was not just one long crush? After all, she was the first person he supposedly fell in love with. "Perhaps you're right. Maybe it's just a small crush. I shouldn't have said what I said." He felt terrible again, but he would have done so either way. "It was just that first time we met... you were the first person to..." he paused again. Words were not coming into mind. He knew what he wanted to say, but it seemed the only way to say it was in some foregin language. "Nevermind," he said quietly.