Extra's Ascent

'Hmm… what kind of awkward atmosphere is this?' Aldrich thought to himself.

A heavy, uncomfortable silence filled the air.

The four teenagers sat across from one another, the tension palpable.

Aldrich and Dante sat at one corner of the square seating arrangement, while Trevor faced Aldrich and Edward sat opposite Dante.

None of them spoke, all of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts as they focused on their food.

Aldrich couldn't stand it.

Every bite of food he took felt like it was suffocating him.

He just wanted to eat in peace without this weird silence surrounding him.

Something had to be done, and it seemed like it was up to him to fix it.

"Sure is awfully awkward here, right?" Aldrich finally broke the silence.

He wasn't about to point fingers, but it was clear that the cause of the awkwardness needed to leave the room—whoever that was.

He did not have to call anyone out to know who was responsible for how it is here.

"You couldn't have said it better," Dante chimed in, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I mean, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells here, like I've done something unspeakable."

He glanced around the table and continued, "Just look at Trevor. He looks like he's holding in a catastrophic fart. And you…" Dante shifted his gaze to Aldrich, "Do you not know the concept of smiling? Or at least pretending to have a good time?"

Dante's words broke the tension, and Aldrich found himself chuckling despite the awkwardness of it all.

Trevor, ever the defensive one, jumped in quickly.

"Just to be clear, I'm not holding in a fart," Trevor said, his voice a little sharper than necessary.

"Oh really? Prove it," Dante challenged, an eyebrow raised.

"How do I prove something that's not happening?" Trevor replied, his confusion clear.

Dante rolled his eyes dramatically. "By doing it, of course. Once you fart, we'll know if it's something you've been holding in, or if it's a forced one."

There was an awkward pause as Trevor seemed at a loss for words, and Aldrich couldn't help but feel a mixture of disbelief and disgust.

The topic was ridiculous, but it had done its job. The tension in the air had dissipated.

At least the awkwardness had been replaced by something else, even if it was equally uncomfortable.

Aldrich sighed in relief and was grateful the silence was broken.

Still, he wasn't sure whether to be thankful or grossed out.

Out of nowhere, Edward, who had been quiet up until now, turned to Aldrich, his gaze sharp. "What's going on between you and Fiona?" he asked, his voice demanding and serious.

Aldrich blinked, stunned. "What?"

"I asked you what's going on between you and Fiona," Edward repeated, his eyes never leaving Aldrich.

"I heard you the first time. It's just…" Aldrich stammered, struggling to find the right words.

How was he supposed to respond to this? Especially with those eyes focused on him with such intensity.

"Fiona? You mean the Helmswoth girl with the curly blonde hair?" Dante suddenly added, recalling the moment he'd seen Aldrich with Fiona.

"Now that I think about it, I remember seeing you two together that day. You were her escort, right? On the dance floor?" Dante continued, as if he were putting the pieces together.

Aldrich clenched his teeth, wishing Dante would just drop it and be quiet.

Dante, with his sharp memory, continued talking about the event in detail, adding more fuel to the fire.

Aldrich felt a wave of frustration. "Are you two dating?!" Edward asked abruptly, his voice sharp as a whip.

Aldrich froze. He hadn't expected such a direct question, especially from Edward, of all people.

"And if we are? What's it to you?" Aldrich responded, his voice calm, though his mind was racing.

He hadn't expected this kind of interrogation from Edward, not after the mess he caused with Fiona and Selina.

Edward, who had been a part of ruining their friendship, was in no position to demand answers.

"I'd say stay away from Fiona, if you know what's best for you," Edward said, his tone forceful, almost threatening.

It wasn't a suggestion, it was a demand.

And it was one that Aldrich wasn't about to take lying down.

"Hey!" Trevor raised his voice, but before he could say anything more, Aldrich raised his hand to stop him.

"This is my battle to fight, not yours," Aldrich said, his voice low and dangerous.

His patience was wearing thin. "Let's get something straight. You come over here, interrupting my meal with my friends, and make demands of me? And you think I'm just going to obey because…?"

Aldrich let the question hang in the air, his eyes narrowing as he stared Edward down.

Edward didn't back down, though.

His expression remained serious, and his posture demanded attention, but Aldrich could see the cracks in his facade.

This wasn't the confident Edward he liked to project.

This was someone trying, and failing, to intimidate him.

"I'm saying this for your own good," Edward insisted, still trying to sound authoritative.

"My own good?" Aldrich's disbelief was palpable. "Go on, amuse me. Tell me why staying away from Fiona is for my own good."

Aldrich wasn't buying it. Whatever Edward had to say, it wasn't going to make sense.

He was certain of that.

"I've known Fiona forever. She's my friend, along with Selina. The three of us have stuck together since we could walk. And as her close friend, I know things about her that you don't," Edward said, his eyes never leaving Aldrich.

Aldrich fought the urge to laugh.

This was too much.

Edward was acting like he held the world's secrets about Fiona, and it was getting harder to keep a straight face.

"Her friend?" Aldrich said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Then please, tell me, what is it about Fiona that you think I don't know?"

Edward's words were quickly losing their importance. "Fiona's going through something. She's in a tough spot right now. And she's more likely to make rash decisions that don't reflect her usual self," Edward continued, his voice almost earnest.

Aldrich's patience was wearing thin. "Cut the word twisting and get to the point. You mean her talking to me is because of what she's going through, right? Isn't that it?"

"Precisely," Edward nodded, clearly pleased to have gotten his point across. "That's why I don't want you getting attached to her. Once she snaps out of it, she won't even remember your name."

Aldrich was done. He couldn't stand it any longer.

His voice turned cold, his patience evaporating.

"Okay, screw rationality," Aldrich muttered under his breath, "This guy deserves a good talking to."