As the others in her dorm started to stir, Teresa got up from her bed and got dressed. Her movements were pretty quick and rushed, not something that you would see as often from a person like Teresa. Over a month of harsh training and they would finally be given the privilege of using the 3DMG. Although her face didn't show it, Teresa seemed more excited determined than the others.

Once the 3DMG equipment had started to circulate through the many cadets, Teresa got herself ready, tightening the straps and attached the heavy metal contraption to her waist. It took longer than she had expected to put everything on, but eventually, she got there. Teresa knew it was going to need some getting used to, but that was to be expected. She felt like some hammer was being pushed down on her each time she took a step forward, pulling her down with all its power. The tanned girl sighed, folding her arms as she waited for the remaining people to fully wrap themselves in the muscle straining leather.

[color=9e0b0f]"I wonder if Raphaela will be comfortably in this…"[/color]

It took a while for Teresa to remember what had happened that same morning. Once she did, her eyes panned from one direction to the other, looking for a certain abnormally tall brunette randomly snorting at a joke she had overheard from someone else's conversation. No matter how many times she searched the area, Raphaela was nowhere to be found. Maybe she had shrunk down to another certain brunette's size? Or maybe she had accidentally locked herself in another cupboard again. Teresa was never going to forget that time when Raphaela was sent to fetch something from someplace or another. The instructor turned to someone else to fetch supplies after that incident.

But then again… why did Teresa care? All these past few months she had been trying to get the overly cheerful and extremely annoying Raphaela of her back, and now she was supposedly gone. She was finally at least ten metres away from the hazy eyed brunette, so why did she feel so bad? Why was the feeling of guilt tugging at her heart and making it race faster than any 3DMG training announcement she had heard off? Raphaela had finally decided to give Teresa some space, so why on earth was she feeling this way?

[hider=Le backstory]

[hider=Le background music]
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lGafzRDYTqE[/hider]

[i][color=9e0b0f]"Jeez, you just don't know when to quit, do you?"[/color]

With a small pebble in her hand, Teresa looked towards the familiar girl standing outside the door, a wide smile spread across her face. Now Teresa was extremely annoyed; just when was she ever going to leave her alone?

[color=6ecff6]"Ah, come on, what's with the face? I'm sure everyone enjoys a bit of company every once in a while, right?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Yes, they do. But this isn't my 'every once in a while' company thing. It's more like my 'every day getting stalked by giant female brunette' type of thing. Can't you spot the difference at all, Raphaela?"[/color]

Ignoring the tanned girl's reply, Raphaela sat her self down next to Teresa, staring up at the glittering stars overhead. It was a typical November evening, so of course the two girls started to shiver. Raphaela didn't seem bothered by it though. The sea of tiny white lights in the dark sky pulled her into a trance, making her eyes start to shine themselves. She closed her eyes as a bitter breeze blew past, blowing her thick brown hair along with it. Turning away, Teresa ignored the girl's actions, focusing her eyes on the stars above.

[color=9e0b0f]"Okay, seriously… Why do you keep on following me? It's straight up weird, and I actually think you should stop. Hey, are you even listening to me?"[/color]

Raphaela ignored her again, continuing to stargaze. Silenced washed over the two for a few minutes, both of them enchanted by the clear night sky. It was when the brunette suddenly spoke up when Teresa's eyes were locked directly on her.

[color=6ecff6]"Don't you think we're a bit… similar?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"What are you talking about? Of course not! I'm civilised, quiet and mature, whilst you're loud, hyper, eccentric-"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"And lonely."[/color]

Teresa stopped for a moment. Loneliness… Teresa knew what it was like. After her friend had left for the Garrison and her parents fell ill, Teresa just never felt herself anymore. The house was often quiet and Eloise wasn't there to strike up a conversation when things went silent. She missed those things, those experiences with her friend and family. She missed the weird talks she would have with Eloise and the lectures she would go through whenever Teresa accidentally broke something.

She missed having someone to talk to.

[color=6ecff6]"The first time I saw you, you were withdrawn from the crowd, all cooped up in that little corner of yours. You didn't look too happy… To be honest, you looked like you didn't even want to be there. Ever since mother died, I was always by myself… No one to talk to about my problems, no one to run to whenever those kids started pulling shitty pranks and jokes… I had no one. My uncle even said how my face looked depressed and gloomy all the time, and the first time I saw you withdrawn from the crowd all cooped up in that little corner of yours… I was reminded of my past self. My same, lonely past self. So I thought we seemed kinda similar in a way, you know?"[/color]

Speechless. Teresa couldn't say anything after that. The feeling of loneliness… Raphaela knew it too, and all too well. Coupled with a few 'ums' and 'errs', Teresa tried to say something back to her. But she couldn't. It just wouldn't come out… It seemed to Teresa herself that she shared more similarities with this girl than she had imagined.

[color=9e0b0f]"Uh… yeah."[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Is that all you're going to say?"
[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Well, what do you expect me to say?"[/color] Teresa shouted, reverting to her usual hostile self. [color=9e0b0f]"Do you expect me to come over and pat you on the back while you start to spurt out your entire life history? How about you save us some time by actually saying something useful for once? Jeez!"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Ah well. I just felt like letting my emotions out in one big speech thingy. It's nice to get stuff like that off your chest once in a while, you know?"[/color]

Looking back up, the two girls watched the stars, relaxing under the dark sky. The two remained silent for another moment or two, embracing the peace quiet the evening provided. 

[color=6ecff6]"Hey, Teresa… Can I ask you something?"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"And that something is?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Uh, well I'm not sure if you know it, but there's this really nice song that's been going around for the past twenty years. I was just wondering if you'd, you know…"[/color]

Heat rising to her cheeks and spreading across her face, Teresa immediately rejected, covering her face with her hands. [color=9e0b0f]"Hell no! I-I can't fucking sing!"[/color]

Raphaela snorted, irritating the the blushing girl even more. [color=6ecff6]"Aw, Teresa's blushing! How cute!"[/color]

Huffing, the girl folded her arms across her chest, turning away. Raphaela crept up to her, poking her on the shoulder. [color=6ecff6]"Fine. If you know the tune, then you can at least hum it, right?"[/color]

Before she could say anything else, Raphaela's voice completely changed, going from a loud snort to a serene and calming voice. Teresa was definitely surprised… How could such a hyperactive girl have such a soothing voice?

[color=6ecff6]"So ist es immer, unser Licht ist nur das…"[/color][/i]
[/hider]
[color=6ecff6]"Hey, Teresa."[/color]

Swiveling around on her heels, Teresa almost toppled over, astonished at the sight of Raphaela inches away from her face. Her face reddened as she took a few steps back, thinking of something respond with. Teresa always found it annoying how Raphaela happened to be the taller one.

[color=9e0b0f]"Uh… Look, about this morning-"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"No, it's fine! Totally fine!"[/color] Raphaela said, voice way higher pitched than usual. [color=6ecff6]"What you said just hit really close to home, that's all… I'm fine, really. I figured you needed a bit more space too so…"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Um, okay then. Er… make sure you tighten those straps properly… the instructor won't be too happy if he sees you fall face first onto the floor on your face day of gear training."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Y-Yeah, sure! I'll see you again at lunch maybe? Anyways, I uh, gotta go. See ya!"[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]"Raph-"[/color]

Teresa stared as Raphaela ran off, her thick hair bouncing up and down as she jogged towards the other soldiers. Turning away to leave, Teresa muttered something under her breath, too quiet for anyone else crowded around her to hear.

[color=9e0b0f]"Sorry."[/color]