[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 24)

Title: To Learn Something New

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: K+
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII is property of Square Enix. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: high-school AU, but read A/N below for more info

remember /re·mem·ber/ v to have or keep an image or idea in your mind of (something or someone from the past)

It was almost strange, if not downright ridiculous. You know, there was this slight pull at his heartstrings at the mere sight of the new student. She was pretty, yeah, especially that rare rose-blonde hair, but come on, Hope Estheim did not value girls based on their looks alone. He's sure he was different than the boys currently leering at her, but this nagging feeling deep inside his chest made him wonder, maybe he's not so different after all? Maybe he's also attracted to the pretty face and was experiencing a subtle sexual response?

“Hey, Hope,” Anthony, his seatmate, elbowed him on the rib. Hope cried out lowly in pain. “Watch the eyes, buddy. You're staring. She's gonna eat you alive like she did those guys there.”

Hope whipped his head to the aforementioned group of guys. Sure enough, the new student was giving them the meanest, iciest, scariest glare of the year that it sent the jocks teetering away from her immediate vicinity. Now that's something. Hope was sure no one would dare to as much as look at her anymore. Jab. Anthony shook his head. Ugh, maybe 'no one' did not include him necessarily. How embarrassing.

To make matter worse, the girl seemed to notice him staring this time.

The weird thing, she didn't give him a death glare—and for his part, the incessant tugs became stronger as he suddenly felt nostalgia. He didn't exactly remember per say, but he just knew this meeting was long overdue. This meeting was planned, was promised, since before he was born into this life. Maybe somewhere between life and death, between one lifetime and another.

A/N: To tell you the truth, the idea for this piece stemmed from a fanfic called "Love, Hope" by Advocaat. I hate crying so much each time I finish reading it so I made a selfish attempt envisioning how Hope and Lightning meet again in their next lives. I want a happy ending for the babies, thank you very much. But now I'm crying because I can't write as beautifully as Advocaat so yeah. I'm so sorry.