F&F: Peace Offering

In which Evangeline attempts to make amends with a cup of hot cocoa and apologies. That doesn't mean she won't be awkward about it though. xD

The lil art piece to go with the following story snippet from F&F, full version of which can be read underneath the lil cut there! I wrote this ages ago and I still very much like it, so I figured it'd be a good idea to finish up some art for it so I can just go ahead and post it. ^.^

 I hope y'all enjoy! More ;w;

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Sakura: Okay, ya ready?

Quincy throws her a lazy thumbs up, and Sakura takes it as her que to turn the camera on. She watches the screen of the laptop when the red dot blinks, and soon enough she is met with the reflection of herself and Quincy. The chat window suddenly vibrates to life, several replies tormenting down like rain.

Sakura: (grins brightly and waves at the audience) Hola, everyone! Sorry for the wait; had to get a little help with a paper I'm doin' for class. Speaking of, we have a guest star today!

Quincy: (peers over Sakura's shoulder from his spot on the couch, giving the screen a nod) Yo.

The chat is a brilliant flash of color, exclamations of Sakura's and Quincy's names punctuated by a spam of emojis. A few chat goers manage to get in proper greetings amidst the chaos, quotes of "good morning!" and "what we doin today?" catching Sakura's eyes.

Sakura: Ta everyone asking, I'm doin' good! Got a couple of classes keepin' me up at night but who doesn't, yeah? As for what we're doing today… Q&A!

She claps her hands together and gestures at herself.

Sakura: Some of ya may have missed it but last week I promised a Q-and-A live stream. Which means today, you can ask me just about anything and I'll answer however I can! (points a thumb at Quincy) And since he's here you can ask him anything too!

Quincy: Sure. Can't promise I'll answer everything my way though… if I get any questions that is. (Shoots a playful smirk at Sakura) We both know who's secrets they wanna hear more.

Sakura: Oh shut up, the squad adores you, dontch'yall? (She watches the chat light up again at the prompt) See? Alright then! Ask away!

At once the chat is spammed with a stream of replies, and the questions fly by the screen too fast to read. Sakura tries for all of two seconds before laughing, throwing her hands up and out in front of her.

Sakura: Jeez, slow down y'all, I can only read so fast!

The chat calms for a moment and she scrolls up, squinting at the first username she picks. It reads:

BearyGuardian: yo Quincy u keepin scruffy on track

Sakura: Wha-- hey! I am not scruffy!

Quincy: They ain't wrong, your hair’s a mane right now. (He tugs at a lock of wild hair spread across Sakura’s shoulders. He earns a swat for his efforts and he shoves her shoulder in response, barely making her budge) What? It looks good on you though. And of course; I'd be neglecting my big brother duties if I didn't look out for her.

Sakura: Pft. I'm only a year younger than you! (She crosses her arms and sticks her tongue out at the chat, fighting a smile) Besides, I'mma big girl, I pay for my own candy thank you very much.

Quincy: Right. Aaaand who woke your ass up today so you wouldn't be late for class? After you missed your alarm? Again?

Sakura: I… Actually. That's fair.

Quincy: (Turns to look at the camera with his eyebrows raised, unimpressed but amused) She can sleep through anything.

Sakura: It's true. Next question!

Sakura scrolls through the chat once again, sifting through the responses they received until she lands on another question:

sportgurl420: your last season was insane! How do u feel about the upcoming one?? Ready to kick Bogfort ass again?

Sakura: Thank you! (She perks up and grins at the camera, preening under the praise) I'm pretty excited for this season too; the team and I are hard at training and gettin' ourselves ready; I've a good feeling we'll win the championship this year.

Quincy: And that you'll kick the Frogs' asses again.

Sakura: I'm not about to badmouth Bogfort! Ignoring their… (visibly fights to find a word, waving vaguely with her hands) ...attitude, they're honestly pretty good. (She waits only a few moments before her expression shifts into one of restrained amusement. Her eyes squint and her smile turns cheeky, toothy) But yeah. We're gonna kick their ass again.

That spurs the chat to life again, and Sakura laughs at the rapid fire comments rocketing the scroll bar downward.

Sakura: Okay, okay! Next question! Let's see…

Stroodledoodle: holy shit i wanna be huge like you. Any tips? Whats yer secret?????

Sakura: I drink lotsa milk! (She flexes both arms at the screen playfully before she waves a hand to brush the comment away. She moves the same hand to her chin, humming in thought) Mm… so if I had any secret whatsoever for getting strong, I guess… it's to enjoy it? I have a lot of fun training, even the hard stuff! Some stuff I'd suggest is like, compound exercises, like pushups and squats and---

Quincy: (pats her arm to halt her) Uh, hold that thought. Looks like you got a request.

Sakura raises an eyebrow and hums in question before turning to look at the chat. Her eyebrows shoot up at the sudden stream of responses saying "do a pushup!" before it devolves into "QUINC-UP! QUINC-UP!" Soon enough the entire chat is spamming the chant.

Quincy: Welp. The council hath spoken, my friend. Wanna give 'em a show?

Sakura: I-- but-- just… Oh, fine! (She sighs goodnaturedly and stands, brushing her hands through her bangs before they're placed on her hips.) You just gotta count for me and read the comments.

Like earlier, Quincy gives her a thumbs up. He moves the coffee table back to make more room, and Sakura stretches herself out before she gets down on the floor. She moves her hands underneath herself and, when Quincy perches himself on her back, phone in hand, she begins pushing up. She feels a tap against her shoulder, and when she lowers herself before moving up again, the tap repeats. It goes on for a brief bout of quiet.

21, 22, 23, 24…

Sakura: (huffs as she completes another rep) ...So. While I'm doing this… I got a question this time. For you and the chat?

Quincy: (shifting his position on her back to get more comfortable, recrossing his legs. He raises an eyebrow and looks up from his phone to glance at the back of Sakura's head) Oh yeah?

Sakura doesn't immediately answer, stilling herself so she doesn't knock Quincy off. When he fully settles is when she dips into her pushups again, arms straining against the weight, and Quincy's free hand continues to tap at her shoulder with each completed rep.

46, 47, 48, 49...

Sakura: (Grunting with effort, shaking her long bangs and the beginnings of sweat out of her eyes) Yeah. Ya’ll remember, when I said I was getting a roommate?

Quincy: (he takes a quick look at his phone). Chat says yeah. I do too; she’s been around for like… a week or two, right?

Sakura: Nnnyeah. So, uh - (she stops when Quincy shifts again, huffing when he offers a lazy "sorry" before he resumes tapping her shoulder)-- I don’t... think she likes me.

Quincy: (his phone blares with buzzing as the chat flares at the remark. A laugh bubbles up as he scrolls through the comments) Everyone’s appalled and declaring their undying love for you.

Sakura: (snorting) C’mon dude, be real for a sec.

Quincy: I was. But many people are also asking why you think so, myself included.

72, 73, 74, 75…

Sakura: Aha, well? She uh. Avoids me. And she barely talks ta me. Not that she has to, but uh, I-I think I make her nervous?

Qunicy: Can't blame her. You look like a shaggy monster. (Stops tapping to ruffle Sakura's hair. He snorts and tries to keep balance when Sakura bucks a little, the threat of throwing him off clear) Woooooahhh there, Shaggy.

Sakura: Ha! You're an ass. (She huffs out when Quincy taps for the 100th time on her shoulder. She shifts down to her forearms with a breathless chuckle, raising a playful brow) You're a little heavier too--

Sakura cuts her laughter off with a loud grunt as Quincy shifts in his spot again to recline, back to back, one arm behind his head and the other holding his phone above him, legs outstretched as if in a hammock. She staggers in her plank, nearly losing her form before she rights herself again.

Sakura: (shoots a peeved look over her shoulder) Quincy!

Quincy: Whoops. My B, scruffy. (He sounds far too amused to be genuine) Anyway, enlighten the class: you think you make her nervous.

Sakura: (pouts for just a moment longer before heaving a deep sigh) I’m pretty sure. She gets all red in the face and looks like she’s about ta pass out before she like… runs off? I’m not even really sure what I’m doing ta get that reaction. (she shrugs as best she can in her position) Whenever I try ta ask she kinda, like, flinches away, so I backed off. I don’t wanna make her uncomfortable but I dunno what else ta do so I… well. Don’t.

Quincy: Ah. So that’s why I hadn’t met her yet.

Sakura: Pretty much. (tilts her head in Quincy’s general direction) Whatchu guys think?

Quincy: Well--

He barely gets another word out when the front door suddenly opens. Both he and Sakura look up in time to see a thin girl with brown hair walking through. She daintily, almost carefully, closes the door before she turns around fully with a weathered sigh, reaching a hand up to grab at her earphones. And it’s only when Sakura audibly says “oh!” that the girl startles, her wide eyes snapping up and finally catching sight of the scene before her, hand stilling against her headset.

Sakura waits for Quincy to climb off her back before she springs up from her plank, a surprised smile curling her lips.

Sakura: Evie! Hey!

Evangeline: I… Ah. Um. (her eyes dart quickly between the laptop, Quincy, and Sakura, seemingly unsure of which to settle her eyes on. She eventually looks down instead, backing up a step) I-I apologize, I didn’t mean to interrupt.

Sakura: Oh, pft, you’re fine! I probably should’ve said somethin’ about recording, actually. Sorry, I didn’t mean ta catch ya off guard. (She moves to stand in front of the laptop, effectively blocking Evangeline from view). Oh! Actually, lemme introduce ya to my best friend! This here’s Quincy!

Sakura makes a waving motion toward Quincy, perking up a little. Quincy watches the exchange with an amused look on his face, ignoring the constant buzzing of his phone while he gives a friendly wave in Eva’s direction. She spares him a nervous smile before her eyes dart right back to Sakura, and Quincy’s eyebrows raise when her face grows red.

Evangeline: Ah… No. I-it’s okay, I just. Um--

Evangeline barely gets any word out in the midst of her stuttering and eventually purses her lips closed. For a brief second an awkward silence stretches, and it’s only when Sakura shifts her weight unto another foot does Eva seem to break out of her nervous trance. Her eyelids flutter and her eyes dart, from foot to face, over Sakura, then bounces over to Quincy again, before she promptly turns and flees out of the front door. It snaps shut with a resounding thud, and Sakura winces, a little hurt by the reaction.

Sakura: ...yeah. (She turns to Quincy and gives a helpless shrug, motioning to the door) So. That’s usually what happens.

She moves to plop down next to Quincy with a sigh. While she adjusts the laptop to be better positioned, she doesn't bother reading the comments, ignoring the constant blare of the chat's notification sound to palm at her face. Quincy does most of the reading for her, wrinkling his nose at the chaos overtaking the chat. One quick glance at Sakura is enough for him to put it down; he mutes the chat on his phone and turns the volume down of the laptop to allow a calm quiet into the room.

Quincy: It really bothers you, huh.

Sakura: (only nods after a small bout of being unresponsive. She drags her hand down her face and blinks up at the ceiling) Kinda. She don't gotta like me but I do wanna know what I'm doin' wrong ta make her run away from me like that.

Quincy: (scoffs with a half-laugh, nudging Sakura's shoulder) I don't think it has anything to do with her not liking you. Real talk? She probably thinks you're hot.

Sakura: (exasperated, under her breath) ay qué rollo -- (She turns a pout and a look of annoyance on him) -Quincy!

Quincy: What? I'm just sayin' what I saw. (He bows his head and puts his hands up in mock surrender) But, if you really want my advice? Just talk to her.

Sakura: I'm trying to?

Quincy: Well sure. But I meant like, sitting her down sort of deal. Like legit let her know her behavior is bothering you. (He gives Sakura a firm, comradely smack against her back) You're sometimes too nice. So just hash it all out and see what happens. Yeah?

Sakura: (purses her lips before shrugging, her eyebrows mirroring the movement) Yeah. Just didn't want ta make her more nervous.

Quincy: I know. She probably doesn't even realize how it might look to you.

Sakura: Probably. (Hums thoughtfully, then jostles Quincy's playfully, mood lifted) Knew there was a reason I kept ya around.

Quincy: Heh. Besides my cooking?

Sakura: Okay, there's that too. Thank you though, seriously.

Quincy: I got you. Now how about we go back to your fans? They're probably tired of being ignored.

Sakura: OH! Oh crap--

She hurriedly adjusts her laptop and turns the volume up, eyes scanning over the influx of unread comments. The chat blinks back into activity, aware of her renewed attention, and Sakura smiles sheepishly into the camera.

Sakura: Sorry everyone! Got a little sidetracked there, huh? Lemme see what I missed real fast then we can get back to our question game!

In the coming days Sakura sees neither hide nor hair of her roommate. What little she does see of her is in the scant glimpses she catches in between classes and practice. But with how vastly different their schedules are (with Evangeline's day starting later and ending earlier than her own) those moments are far and few between.

It doesn't help that Sakura has the mostly confirmed suspicion that she's being avoided. Again. She isn't entirely sure where Evangeline goes in her spare time but she isn't so sure it keeps her away from the dorm for such long periods of time. Specifically when she's around. At this rate, she'll never get to actually have that talk.

'Ah well…' Sakura sighs along with the thought, rummaging through her gym bag.

She checks her watch, then quickly sets about packing the rest of her needs. Change of clothes, practice shoes, gloves, gear. The only thing she needs now is her lunch, her cup of cocoa and a couple bottles of gatorade for later.

Sakura zips the bag up and stands, slinging it around her shoulder before heading to her door. 'Guess I'll try talkin' tomorrow.'

No sooner than she opens the door does she nearly walk chest-first into the very girl avoiding her all of the last two weeks.

Evangeline lets out a small sound of surprise and freezes like a deer caught in headlights, one hand frozen in the air in a half-closed fist as if she went to knock. Her other hand clenches around a styrofoam cup, just barely managing to keep from crushing it, and she blinks up at Sakura owlishly. Sakura's half the mind to find it endearing, if she wasn't reeling in her own shock at nearly running her roommate down.

Sakura: Evangeline??

Evangeline: (the sound of her name is what snaps her out of her frozen state. Her eyelashes flutter before an embarrassed flush reddens her face) O-oh, um. H-hello... Sakura. I just. I-I, ah… here!

Sakura grunts out of reflex and raises both hands, fingers curled, when she feels and hears the sudden smack of the styrofoam cup against her chest. She stares down at the hand holding the cup before her eyes travel up the arm to look Evangeline in the face. Instead she finds the girl with her back almost turned to her, shoulders hunched and trembling, her free hand tucked against her side, and what she can see of her face dyed a deeper red.

It's enough to get Sakura to gently take the cup from her grasp. She lifts it to her face and takes a sniff, and she perks up at the heady, sweet scent of chocolate. A smile reflexively spreads across her face.

Sakura: Hot chocolate?

Evangeline: U-um. Yes… I was making myself a cup of coffee a-and saw the big container, so I assumed you… um. Preferred it.

Sakura: Mhm, it's my favorite! (Takes a sip and hums appreciatively, flashing a sunny grin at Evangeline) Thank you! Was just comin' to make a quick cup too.

Evangeline bows her head deeper into her chest in response, her fingers playing at her ring nervously. Sakura hums, watching her roommate carefully, before she breaks the silence with caution in her voice.

Sakura: Hey, so. I've been meanin' ta-

Evangeline: I apologize.

Sakura: (caught off guard, her eyebrows fly into her hairline) Qué?

Evangeline: (toys nervously with her earrings before she clasps her hands against her stomach) I-I mean-- I don't mean to interrupt you like that. But I wanted to apologize. (She gestures at the cup in Sakura's hand before she fidgets again, twisting the ring on her finger) I… m-my behavior has been… rude. And unacceptable.

Sakura: No, rude isn't what I'd call it. But uh, I was kinda wondering if I did somethin' that, like- (she adjusts her bag before shrugging with one shoulder, a sheepish look crossing her face) --made ya uncomfortable?

Evangeline: What? N-no! (She shakes her head earnestly, looking up at Sakura for the first time since the conversation started) I swear, it isn't that. You've been nothing but kind to me, I-I just…

Evangeline stutters to a halt, as if losing her courage, and she suddenly tears her eyes away from Sakura's. She's quick to shrink into herself, gaze now directed to the floor. Sakura's frown of concern goes unnoticed.

Evangeline: … I'm n-not very good with… people.

The stretch of silence returns, neither fully sure on how to break it. Evangeline keeps her gaze fixed to her feet, fingers twisting the ring on her finger again, and Sakura taps absently at her newly acquired cup of hot chocolate. Her eyes only shift away from Evangeline's face in thought, her lips pursed. She looks at her half-opened door, as if searching for an answer. And to her surprise, she finds one, posted proudly and square and in pastel yellow.

Sakura: (perks up at an answer found, a smile tugging at her lips) Mn. I dunno. Ya seem to be doing an okay job ta me. But hey, I got an idea.

Sakura quickly grabs something from her desk and walks past Evangeline, who finally lifts her head but remains rooted in place. She watches Sakura lean over the dining table, scribbling something, before approaching the fridge and beckoning to her. Curiosity compels her to move and, when she's close enough, Sakura firmly slaps her hand against the fridge's surface.

Sakura: So! If you're havin' a hard time talkin' ta me- (She moves her hand to reveal a yellow sticky note) --just use this instead! We can talk this way for now!

Evangeline: (approaches to read the lone sticky note on the fridge. The note simply reads: "Hi, Evie! :]") ...sticky notes?

Sakura: Mhm! (A triumphant grin stretches across her face in a display of teeth and sunshine) This way we can talk without ya feelin' too nervous. It'll be fun!

This time, Sakura doesn't quite wait for an answer. She hoists her bag against her shoulder again and exhales, glancing at the time blinking on the microwave.

Sakura: I gotta get goin', but think about it, yeah? (Her grin softens into something more reassuring, tilting her head) Ya seem nice; I really appreciate your apology, so maybe this roommate thing can work. I'd like it to.

Sakura nods her head to Evangeline and, in a bid of farewell, gives her a friendly wave. With that she turns to walk out the door, and it's just enough to where she doesn't quite catch Evangeline's tiny wave back.

And it's only a few hours later when Sakura returns, tired and dirty and smelling like sweat, the kitchen dark save for the faint sliver of the setting sun bleeding through the window blinds, does she look upon the fridge and see a new sticky note under her first with neat, curling letters:

"I'd like for the roommate thing to work too. Hello, Sakura."