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For a while, the two of you avoided talking about what was truly on your minds. After a few minutes, Cindy decided that she had to be the one to broach the topic.
<span class="mu-s">“Sorry about what Wanda said before. She doesn't know about the whole Vegas thing with your girlfriend.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Yeah, but she's not entirely wrong.”</span> you admitted, staring up at the bats, witches and spiders flitting about through the air and between the trees. <span class="mu-r">“I technically did go on a trip to Vegas right after you started school. An elite school that requires more time and effort to maintain your grades.”</span>
A giant humanoid reptilian creature peeked out from behind a tree on Cindy’s side of the walkway, but she didn’t so much as flinch. For a split second, your body tensed in anticipation of an ambush, but when you realized that your spider-sense hadn’t been tripped, you pushed the pixel construct out of your mind and kept walking.
<span class="mu-s">“Yeah, but you were out there trying to establish a relationship with someone who could help fight off the Vampire Invasion. And you stopped a horde of demons from devastating the city. I think that deserves a bit of a pass.”</span> Cindy countered. <span class="mu-s">“Besides, the workload isn’t too bad if I get my homework done as early as possible. And tests and quizzes are just a matter of memorization. Easy peasy.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Yeah, but-”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“But nothing.”</span> Cindy said, whirling on you. Her stern expression softened after a second, and she let out a weary sigh. <span class="mu-s">“Do you have any idea what my life has been like ever since you took me in?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“In near constant danger?”</span> you guessed.
Cindy rolled her eyes good-naturedly.
<span class="mu-s">“Yeah, but what else is new?”</span> she said. <span class="mu-s">“I’ve been experiencing so many new things lately. I’ve eaten out at restaurants, gone to movie theaters and hung out at malls. Did you have any idea how cool malls were, by the way?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“I had some idea, yeah.”</span> you confirmed.
<span class="mu-s">“Well, <span class="mu-i">I</span> didn’t until recently.”</span> she claimed. <span class="mu-s">“I’ve been learning a lot at BVA, <span class="mu-i">and</span> I have more friends now than I’ve had in my entire life.”</span>
Both you and Cindy took a moment to absorb that information.
<span class="mu-s">“Man, that sounds sad when I say it out loud.”</span> Cindy said with a wince. <span class="mu-s">“The point is,”</span> she continued, snapping herself out of it. <span class="mu-s">“You pushed me out of my comfort zone, and helped me move forward with my life. You got me back on my feet.”</span>
Two trees with sinister faces on either side of you reach their branches down to scare you off. Both you and Cindy waved them off.
<span class="mu-r">“I didn’t do everything. Give yourself some credit, too. You’ve been an absolute trooper this whole time.”</span> you said.
<span class="mu-s">“I might not know a whole lot about the people living here, but I don’t think there are a whole lot of them who’d take in a random girl they barely knew.”</span> Cindy replied. <span class="mu-s">“And even less of them would help me in the ways that you did.”</span>
(Cont.)