Happiness (no, not the song by the Fray...)

[[no]NEMO[one]]

((Goes along with Lily's 'New Day'^^ You will eventually understand my title... ^^ *happily hms along to Gackt*))

Vincent sighed, pushing into the cafeteria. Theo and Jay must have been sleeping in, as there was still food for the rest of them (no offense, guys. ^^). He unenthusiastically filled a plate with a bare minimum of food, trying to almost hide himself at a table in the shadows. He could only hope that noone would bother him...

((*snickers ebilly with extreme joy* ^^ ))

[=^lily^=]

Lily looked around the cafeteria wearily, and finally got into line. After getting herself a bowl of cereal, she looked around the room again. No one was here... She glared at Kasumi.

"Look at what you've done. I'm so early there's practically no one here." She pouted. Kasumi just chuckled wolfilly.
Then she spotted someone, it was the slightly scary, Vampiresque guy... He kinda scared her.

Lily sighed, walked over, and stood across from the boy. She didn't want to be snapped up by Erica or Matt later.
She cleared her throat nervously. "H-hello..." She muttered, looking at her feet. "Can I sit here?"

Kasumi gave the boy a look that quite clearly warned him not to refuse... or else.

[[no]NEMO[one]]

Vincent blinked, starring down at his half-empty plate—he was never very hungry. Great, now I’m hearing voices… After a moment, he looked up—he wasn’t crazy after all... Unless he wasn't supposed to be getting a warning glare from a huge wolf...

<<O-oh… sure…>> After a moment, recognition set in. <<Oh, you… I remember you…>>

[=^lily^=]

Lily sat down. "You do?" She frowned... "Was it Sunday morning... cause I don't remember any of that too well..." She sighed and took a big bite of her cereal.

[[no]NEMO[one]]

Vincent laughed, his voice still quiet. <<So, you were asleep; I thought as much…>>

[=^lily^=]

“Oooooh…” Lily said, understanding coming into her eyes with an effect not unlike the sun breaking out of the clouds. “Oh… you caught me when I fell.” She smiled, eating another sthingyful of cereal.

[[no]NEMO[one]]

<<Uh-huh…>> She was so expressive, it was like reading a children’s book… with pictures. Vincent looked between her food and her figure, <<How are you so tiny?>>

((Vincent... No offense, but that was a stupid question to ask...))

[=^lily^=]

Her face fell into a scowl. She looked at him, critically.
“You’re one to talk…” She sniffed. “And I’m NoT tiny.”
She crossed her arms poutily, and looked away stubornly.

[[no]NEMO[one]]

Vincent raised an eyebrow—that wasn’t tiny? He admitted that he was thinner than most guys at their school, but she was tinier than him… Vincent put down his fork, reaching for where he’d left his flask by his plate.

[=^lily^=]

Lily saw his skeptical look and said, “Ok… so maybe I said it wrong. You’re thin…” She poked his side as if to prove her point, “and it’s obvious why.” She eyed his plate meaningfully.

[=^lily^=]

Vincent took a sip from his flask before rebutting. “I just don’t eat a dump truck’s load of food for every meal…” then, more softly, “or twenty, like Theo…” The glittering gem in his cross reminded him of the other condition. “Besides, I really can’t gain weight…” Warui had been thin; thus, so was Vincent.

~ ~ ~

Lily opened her mouth, about to defend Theo, holding her finger up. Then, she thought of last night and put the finger in her mouth and chewed on her fingernail. “Hmm…” she muttered, that was all she could manage. She put on her surprisingly good poker face. “Yeah… sure.”

~ ~ ~

“And the tome closes, silently and, yet, securely,” Vincent partially muttered, gently clacking his fingers together in front of his scarf.

~ ~ ~

Lily kept the poker face on. “What?” In her mind she was thinking. ‘What the heck does that mean… should I be offended?’

~ ~ ~

“Your expressions are very telling, usually…” Vincent replied, almost forgetting that there was food in front of him. “Why can’t I read your face now? You’ve closed it to me…”

~ ~ ~

Lily nodded, a touch of sadness slipping through before she was once again blank. “Yes… I’m only expressive when I want to be…” She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, staring into space for a moment, not liking to think about Theo.

~ ~ ~

“Why are you sad?” After a moment, Vincent explained. “I’m vigilant… whether I want to be or not. Now, what is making you sad?”

~ ~ ~

The flood gates crumbled, letting her emotions loose once more. Her face clouded over with sadness. “I-It’s nothing…” She looked down. “Nothing I want to talk about, anyway.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “Traitor.” She muttered softly to it, scrunching up her nose disdainfully.

~ ~ ~

Vincent reached out, gently wiping the tear from her cheek—thank God these gauntlets didn’t rust. “Lily, you can tell me…” Blinking softly, his voice actually quieter than usual, he continued, “You can let it out in front of me…”

~ ~ ~

Lily’s face hardened. “No…” she said defiantly, then more softly, “I’m sorry…” Her face fell tragically. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about it yet…” She put a hand to her temple, sighing heavily.

~ ~ ~

Vincent blinked his eyes sadly as he looked down at the morose figure sitting next to him. He had to thrust his arm out and back behind Lily to free it from his cloak before wrapping it over her shoulders delicately, drawing her into a tender, shy embrace.

~ ~ ~

Lily jumped at the sound of rustling fabric, and smiled tearily, she leaned onto Vincent’s shoulder. She closed her eyes slowly.

~ ~ ~

Theo walked in and sat down, late and exhausted--stupid government. He immediatly heard Lily’s distinct mind. ‘Vampire cape hug.’ Why was she thinking that? He turned around, and scowled at the sight of Vincent hugging Lily. She was hardly visible under the huge cape.
“It’s only…” he glanced at his watch. “9:00 the next morning, and she’s already replaced me!” He pouted and grumbled to himself angrily. Then he saw Kasumi trotting up to him, he patted her head. "At least you still like me." Kasumi grinned, and flopped down at his feet.

~ ~ ~

“I don’t know what happened…” Vincent squeezed Lily’s shoulders gently. “But, I hope I can help you feel better… If there’s anything I can do…”

~ ~ ~

Lily looked at him with teary eyes. “You’re already helping.” She smiled, snuggling into his warm side.

~ ~ ~

Vincent smiled softly. “I’m glad.” The scent entering his nostrils was pure, clear, like water from a natural spring somewhere high up in the snowy mountains. But, there was an undertone of sweetness—her blood…