Tobey and Grace sat together in silence. Ever so often they would twitch their legs, shift to the side, do anything to try to get comfortable. But after what had happened. They knew they would never be comfortable. Even the cold night began to settle into the room.

  Tobey opened his menu, and just stared at it. Grace sat with her knees together, her gaze wandering amidst. The room was dark except for the sliver of moonlight that slipped past the curtains.

  Tobey let his eyes wander off. Occasionally, his eyes would land on Grace's arms, her face, her eyes. But he would quickly avert them before she could notice. Grace would gaze back at him when he looked away, her face buried in her arms. She would open her mouth and end up saying nothing at all. Tobey kept staring past the translucent menu. Unable to focus on the party menu -the same one that only showed him and Grace now.

  As Tobey's eyes were growing weary, he finally opened his mouth. But he couldn't say anything at all. He was stuck thinking. What could he say? That he was sorry? That it was a mistake. That everything would be okay? That their classmates were okay. But he couldn't force himself to lie like that.

  Instead, he scrunched his face into his arms.

  "I'm sorry." She said.

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  Tobey turned to her, his face still buried.

  "I'm sorry." She repeated.

  "Sorry?" Tobey replied.

  "... I thought that buffing you would be the safest option." She continued. "Since you were already out of the bosses' range. Polus... he wouldn't have been able to make it even if I tried."

  "I know... It's just." Tobey struggled to find the right words. He could've saved them. If he used his < Windwalker > to buff himself and use it to get the others out of danger, then they would've made it. They would've been safe. His classmates, no his friends. If they were never trapped in this stupid game. If only he used his stupid mind for something this time. He clenched his fists. He needed her to understand. "I-"

  "It's okay." Grace said. She shuffled closer to him and continued. "It's okay, it's fine. It's going to be okay. I'm sure they're safe. I'm sure they're okay. So please..." She wrapped her hands around his head. They were warm against his chill cheeks. Tobey raised his eyes to her.

  "Look at me."

  For the first time, their eyes met.

  Despite being strangers.

  They met each other in this virtual world.

  They struggled against its troubles.

  They survived.

  They survived together.

  The others, he didn't know.

  But they were fine.

  For the first time, He knew the colour of her eyes.

  Her eyes were a pale grey. His, a pale blue.

  "So please, stay with me." Grace asked.

  Always the odd one in the corner during lunch. The one who was there to pad out the teams in sports class. The one picked last for group projects. Tobey quivered as he heard those words, tears pricking his eyes.

  "Always. I'll always be here." He replied, letting the tears stream down his face.

  Grace looked back at him. "Thank you."