‘no, no, i,’ coco starts, then stops, mouth hanging open like she’s abandoned it mid sentence, realization coming over her. suddenly vernal is right there, having just recently punched her dickweed of a father in the face—something she’s always dreamed about but never had the courage to say aloud, much less ask of anyone—and now she’s asking if coco’s okay, if she needs anything, as if it actually matters. like a punch in the gut, it hits her: vernal really cares. it’s a revelation that comes over coco in a wave...right before the tsunami of guilt. here she was all this time, trying to take advantage, to be a flirt, while vernal was only trying to be a good person and fucking help. god. with that knowledge, it’s hard not to be sickened with herself for even trying (why would she want you?).
shifting away from vernal, coco takes in their room, starting to sit on the edge of the bed, then changing her mind and choosing to perch on the nearby low table instead. a sigh, her hands sweeping over her face. then she looks up at vernal (can’t help but smile, just a little bit).
‘i guess i’m just...surprised. he’s always been so high and mighty. no one i knew would ever dare.’ she shakes her head. ‘too easy for him to ruin your social life and ostracize you from society forever if you even said the wrong thing. but you...’ coco stares at vernal for a moment, then shakes her head again with a small laugh, somewhat incredulous at their situation, at her.
‘i guess all he needed was someone who didn’t give a shit about any of that,’ she eventually says, unable to stop herself from smiling when she says it (replace he with i and it’s the same sentiment). ‘i. thank you, vernal. seriously. i honestly don’t know...’ just spit it out! except, wait, don’t, because she’s way too good for you and you’ll fuck it up. still, say something, anything, she’s your rescuer, for fuck’s sake.
‘...i don’t know where i’d be without someone like you at my back.’