Saving the Villain

After talking seriously, Fay, Cosette, and Sarah found themselves in front of Amie's house. It reminded them of the last year's summer break. Last year, they were also standing in front of Amie's house. The only difference was that last year, it was their entire class, trying to get Amie parent's permission to take her on a trip.

Cosette stood in between Fay and Sarah, casting the two a look. "Should we?"

Fay and Sarah looked at her before they exchanged eye contact. Sarah pressed her lips into a thin line, detecting a bit of reluctance in Fay's eyes.

"It's okay if you're not ready," said Sarah to Fay. "We can try again next time."

"That's right." Cosette agreed. "No pressure."

"It's fine." Fay huffed. "I'm just nervous, that's all."

Cosette shifted her eyes to Sarah, and the latter nodded at her as a signal to continue their plan. With that being said, Sarah rang the doorbell. They waited patiently for someone to open the gate and rang the doorbell again when a minute had passed, but no one opened it.

After the thing rang, the gate rattled from the inside. The three girls held their breaths on instinct, watching the door open.

"Who —" Amie stopped when she opened the door and saw the people standing outside the gates. Her pupils slowly dilated upon seeing the three familiar faces standing outside, looking back at her with equal surprise.

Silence descended on them for the next minute, looking at each other.

"Hi!" Sarah forced her breath out, breaking the silence. "I — ah — we're here to check in on you. How are you?"

Amie snapped out of her shock with a slight headshake. "I'm… uh… good." Her eyes glossed over their faces and asked, "you?"

"Very good!" Cosette intoned. "I mean, obviously since the school year ended, we're glad we can chill."

Cosette then elbowed Fay to urge her to speak as well.

"Yes. Our brains can relax for a bit," said Fay almost awkwardly.

"Ah…" Amie rocked her head in understanding, pressing her lips into a thin line.

"Anyway, since we know you're doing good, we gotta go!" Fay clapped to fight the growing awkwardness. "Right?"

"Right." Sarah laughed awkwardly. "We were just around the area. That's why we thought we should drop by for a bit."

"Sorry to bother you! See you around!" Cosette added.

With that being said, the three of them turned around to leave as quickly as they could. They were very sincere before coming in here, but they didn't expect Amie to open the gates. Quite strange since their intention was to talk to Amie.

"Wait!" Seeing them scurry away while mumbling to each other, Amie called. The three instantly stopped and looked back, making her smile subtly at how silly they were. "Do you have spare time? I mean, since you're already around the area and bothered to come by, will you mind staying for a bit?."

"Uhh…" the three looked at each other before they set their eyes back to Amie, only to see the latter open the gates wider.

"Come." Amie tilted her head in. "My parents aren't here. It's just me, so you guys feel at home."

Amie led the way, talking while the three followed. The three couldn't say anything that much as they rather felt awkward. Not because they did something terribly wrong, or they wronged Amie. They had their shortcomings. Still, Amie had changed.

When Fay cut her off, Amie stayed the same for quite some time. Or rather, she was more gloomy and depressed. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the air that surrounded Amie was dark that it was almost visible.

And then one day, Amie just wouldn't come to school. When she did, they could barely recognize her. She didn't emanate a gloomy aura, but she became mean. Amie got involved with the bad crowd, and if not for Cosette being nosy, no one would know what could've happened to Amie.

After that incident, Amie didn't come to school for an entire week. She showed up a week later. She wasn't wearing anything revealing or heavy makeup, but neither did she return to how she was back then. Although she was quiet most of the time, it didn't seem she was just going to school to kill time.

They were all busy at that point with the series of exams they had to pass, so they didn't get time, even though they were all in the same classroom.

Fay, Sarah, and Cosette found themselves sitting around the living area while Amie went to get them some juice and snacks.

"Seriously?" Fay whisper-yelled to Sarah. "Hi? Why did you sound as if it's your first time meeting?"

"I was nervous — I don't know why!" Sarah whispered loudly as well. "Didn't you freeze as well when she opened the gates?"

"Girls." Cosette whistled to get their attention. "Shh."

"My mom brought some good teas, and they're really good with ice." Suddenly, Amie's voice was heard. When Sarah and Fay turned their heads, all they saw was Amie coming back from the kitchen with a tray.

As Amie bent over to place the tray on the center table, she continued. "You should try them. She keeps telling me to bring some to my friends, but I told her everyone in school is busy. So, I was waiting for the perfect time."

"Good thing you came here today," she added as she straightened her back. "She won't have to nag me next time."

"Uh… thanks." Cosette almost stuttered, a bit surprised how Amie was serving them without showing any awkwardness from the beginning. She reached for the cup that already had cold tea in it, guiding it to her lips as the situation made her thirsty.

Cosette wasn't expecting anything, but when the fluid rolled in her throat, her brows rose. She immediately looked at Amie, only to see the latter's smile stretch wider.

"This is good!" Cosette intoned before drinking the entire cup in one go. "Wow… you should also try it, Sarah. It's sweet and refreshing."

Seeing Cosette's reaction, Sarah reached for the cup in front of her. Her reaction after taking a sip was the same as Cosette's reaction. Fay followed, but unlike their reaction, she said nothing. Meanwhile, Amie watched the girls drink and her eyes softened.

"Thank you for coming," was the words that came out of her mouth instead of telling them more about the tea which she planned to talk about. Sarah, Fay, and Cosette slowly looked in Amie's direction, and as soon as they caught each other's eyes, their beautiful faces crumpled.

"Waah! We miss you so much and we're sorry!" The three yelled, and before Amie knew it, they jumped from their seats and hugged her, crying.

Amie froze for a second, surprised as she was suddenly sandwiched by the three. But when everything sank in, a layer of tears coated her eyes before droplets of tears rolled down her cheek.

"Me too…" her voice was shaking, trying her best to maintain her composure but to no avail. In the end, the three of them ended up just crying together with everything they said sounding gibberish.