Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
Taglist: @lingxio @h0n3y-l3m0n05 @tremendoushorsepatrolgoth @lil-skelly-bones (ask or comment if you want to be added)
Ahoy! This has been a fun chapter to write! A few important characters are introduced in this chapter and emotions are building up in [Y/n]. For a little context, Koby is living in the Monkey household because I said so :3
Enjoy ^-^
"He's going to kill me, Hawkins."
You worried as you strolled through the halls with your fellow loner. The poor textbooks were suffocating from your tight grip.
"Who is going to kill you?" Hawkins inquired for clarification.
"Eustass." You eye the hallway for any of Kid's crew. Only when you noted no signs did you turn your back as you reached your locker and opened it.
"Don't you think you're being overdramatic, [Y/n]?" It's rare for Hawkins to brush off your worry, but it only happens if he already read the cards.
"No, I'm not. I might know how to avoid ticking him off with words but actions are an unpredictable minefield, and I might have set one off." You stressed taking your backpack out of your locker and shoving your books inside.
"Why don't you just ask-?"
"I can't ask him!" Your words straining through your teeth, looking at Hawkins as if he suggested you should spoil the ending to a popular franchise to a bunch of die hard fans. "Because if he wasn't mad before then he will be since I planted that idea in his head. I'll be dead either way."
"I was going to suggest asking his friends..."
"Oh..." You turn back to your locker and grab your binders to put them in your backpack. "I don't know about that either..."
"My club starts in 5 minutes, I believe Heat and Wire will be there, if you'd like, I could inquire for you," Hawkins offered.
"Really?"
"But you're coming over tonight to practice your math."
"What? Nooooooo, come on. Can't it be for lunch tomorrow?" You pouted.
"It can't be helped, remember? Your family only allows you to go out if it's for homework."
Your face grims. "That's right."
Thing is, it's more complicated than that.
"I'll let you know when I'm home, try to remain calm until then." Hawkins rested a hand on your shoulder.
"I'll try."
With that Hawkins takes his leave.
A sigh escapes as you finish packing your bag, mind filled with dread. Closing your locker door, you turn to head off when you see Law two lockers over, closing his locker. He notices you and smirks.
Fuck. Your cheeks start burning as you know exactly why he has the smug look. Bastard won't let you live down your embarrassment from two years ago. You face your locker, ignoring him. He seems to get the message and walks away. Once you're sure he's gone, you hit your head against the locker. Sadly it does nothing to shoo the memory of what happened in gym class. Great now your face is heating up more. Why did that have to be the reason he knows you exist?
"Stupid dodgeball!" You kick the locker next to yours. "Stupid teammates!" Another kick. You're at least grateful no one else witnessed it since it only happened early game, and Trafalgar hasn't bothered spreading rumours about it, not that it'd do any good in school since no one knows who the invisible kid is. However, you had a feeling, he would use it as blackmail over you if he knew how.
Gripping the straps of your backpack, you exit the hallway. Most students have disappeared to their clubs or already left the building, you take extra precautions sneaking around now that you have no cover. Your hand finally reaches the exit doors, opens it and you step outside.
"Hi [L/n]."
"AHH!" You jump out of your skin, startling the boy who greeted you. Your eyes flicker to him, calming down. "Oh, it's just you Koby."
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He bashfully scratches the back of his neck.
"Just don't do it again." You subtly place a hand on your chest, feeling your heart rate return to normal. "What are you doing right next to the doors anyway?"
"Drake said these are the doors you normally use," Koby explained, you gave him a weird look and for a moment you thought he was going to bring up seeing you with Kid at lunch, until he elaborated. "I wanted to walk home with him so he told me to wait with you."
"Oh? So that's all?" You double-check, raising a brow. He nods, so you gesture for him to follow you. "You know my dad doesn't like Strawhat's grandpa, it might be a problem if I walk home with you."
"It's alright, we'll be stopping by my house first so you and Drake don't get in trouble."
"Right." Your voice becoming monotone.
A moment passes as you stop at the meetup tree, Koby looks up at you, worry written on his expression. "...You seemed to be on edge earlier."
"I'm always on edge," you blatantly reply. "Most people just don't realize or scare me like that."
"Sorry..." Koby looks away, seemingly dropping the subject.
Guilt nips at your heart, you don't want to make him feel bad. Though as much as your conscience yells at you to comfort him, you don't. It may be selfish but if Koby associates you with this feeling after greeting you, he's more likely to ignore and avoid you. It'll help prevent future eggshells from being broken and getting you in trouble, so you hope.
A notification from your phone goes off. You grab your device, turning it on to see who it is.
New Message from [Leader Eustass Kid]
You were about to open your phone to read it when you noticed Koby perk up.
"Hey Drake!" Koby greeted his friend.
"Hey Koby, [Y/n]." Drake nodded in acknowledgement.
"Hey..." You briefly wave.
There's a bit of an awkward silence, Drake staring at you as if wanting to ask how your day was and you avoiding eye contact, not wanting to interact with him. You began walking, Drake and Koby following in tow. Koby begins rambling about something Luffy has done. You're grateful Koby came along now, Drake's attention is on him and not you.
With room to breathe, you pulled out your phone and checked Kid's message.
[Leader Eustass Kid]
Where were you at the end of lunch?
Crap, he did notice you disappearing. Not good. Should you make a likely excuse? ...No, you have a feeling he'd know a bullshit excuse when he sees one. Just keep it brief.
[You]
I left
Lunch was over so I left
. . .
Your eyes anxiously stare at the loading dots, his response being typed. Fingers tapping to the rhythm of the flow. Fear sits on your shoulder to watch the screen.
[Leader Eustass Kid]
Say something before you leave next time
Right, he'll be inviting you again when your project's over. Reminder aside, you can't tell the emotion behind his text. Whether he's mad or letting it go, you'll only know when you go over to Hawkins tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Koby! No club today?" Garp asked welcoming the pink-haired boy home.
"Nope, the club president had to plan some things for next week so I got to walk home with Drake today," Koby chirped entering the house.
"Great it's lasagna night. You can help out with the cooking."
"Yes sir." Koby turned to you and Drake who were standing outside. "Thanks for walking with me, guys. See ya tomorrow!"
"See ya, Koby," Drake said. You just waved bye until Koby disappeared from the doorway.
Garp turned to the two of you. "Do you guys want to stay for dinner?"
Drake shook his head. "I have to work tonight."
"I need to get home before it gets too late," you decline chewing the inside of your mouth, wanting to leave already. "Also I don't know anyone here."
"Nonsense, you're friends of Koby, and I'm sure my other grandsons would be happy to have more guests."
"More guests?" Drake raised a brow.
"Yeah, Ace has his friend over-" Garp explanation got cut off when there was a crash in the background. "THE HELL DID YOU BREAK THIS TIME?"
"oH NO! RUN YAMATO!" Ace warned.
Garp left the doorway, off to scold the boys. Drake narrows his eyes and goes to enter the house when you stop him, a tight grip on his sleeve. Drake looks back to you, your face is neutral yet your hand is shaking.
"Can we leave?" A small demand.
Drake doesn't say anything, glancing from you to the house. You could hear something fall over and it causes you to flinch. Drake looks back at you, sighs and starts walking. Internally, you thank him as you release your grip on his sleeve. Your stroll is silent for the most part until Drake inquires you.
"Who were you texting early?"
"...Hawkins," you lie. "I'm going over to his place tonight to practice my math. My dad won't tolerate anything but the best."
Drake hums, believing your lie sprinkled with truth. It wouldn't be the first night you'd go study with Hawkins, and as for texting others, he knows just how small your contact list is. It pays to be known as a ghost amongst those who do know the invisible kid.
You'll have to change Kid's contact name, you can't risk getting caught. It's fine if Hawkins knows you're talking to Kid, you trust him, but not Drake.
The two of you near the front door of your home, you unlock it and enter inside. You glance around, seeing your father's workers frantically running around, too busy to greet you. Good, your brother's antics made you invisible.
"I'll go inform your father where your brother is," Drake told you as he took off his shoes. "They're probably wondering where he snuck off to. You can let one of your uncles know you'll be studying at Hawkins tonight. We don't want them thinking their other child snuck out later."
"Right..." You slipped off your shoes, observing Drake leaving to inform your dad.
You're thankful to your brother, yet at the same time, you wish he put more thought into his actions. There were consequences, and it affected more than him.
