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The idle chatter between Sand and Allen was interrupted by someone crying out the girl’s name. Sand glanced up, startled, to see Robert racing up to them.
 
“Sand!”
 
Robert stopped before them and paused, winded. Sand and Allen exchanged a look, but before she decided to ask what was wrong, Robert haltingly spoke up. Sand frowned as the boy apologized, searching her memory for whatever he was talking about.
 
“Oh.” It took her a moment to remember, and when she did, she looked at him, bemused. “Don’t worry about it.”
 
Certainly, Robert just leaving when he did without a word of thanks or goodbye had roused a twinge of annoyance, but it was nothing to get so worked up about. Not to mention, back then that other girl had been waiting for him in front of the room and—
 
It was then that she realized that very same girl was there looking somewhat winded herself. There was little doubt in her mind that Robert had suddenly dragged her off with him when he decided to apologize, [i] and isn’t that something you’d be better off saying sorry for?[/i] But rather than being directed to Robert, the girl’s hostile regard was focused entirely on Sand. She found it rather irritating, truth be told. 

[i]Do I know you?[/i] she wanted to ask, but something told her she would be better off being diplomatic.
 
“So, who’s this?” the girl asked, clearly referring to her.
 
"This is Sand, one of my teammates."
 
"You didn't say she was a girl," she answered, and Sand realized that while she did not know the pink-haired girl, the pink-haired girl certainly knew her. She’d likely made up a whole story in her head the moment she had laid eyes on her.

Sand had to suppress a sigh. When she had thought that her life looked like it was turning into a romantic comedy, it was meant as a joke. Allen had been smiling knowingly besides Sand since he noticed the girl glaring at her, but at that he could [i]feel[/i] his grin widening. And why not? Joke or not he had told Trad’s parents something very similar only a few minutes ago.
 
"Does it matter?" Robert asked, and Sand found herself thinking that it was ironic how such an oblivious person could also be so self-conscious.
 
“Oh boy,” Allen mouthed, sucking air in a wince. He picked up his plastic cup from besides him and pushed it up to the boy’s hands. “Have some water kid. Looks like you need it.” If he was trying to shut Robert up, she would have to thank him later.
 
Sand looked at Robert and his girl and gave them what she hoped looked like a pleasant smile and not a pained grimace. “Sorry you had to come in a hurry. This here’s Allen,” she pointed to her side, hoping introductions would help smooth things over. Better than leaving them to Robert, she suspected. “Allen, this is Robert, one of the new teammates I told you about.”
 
“The one you walked out of the infirmary this morning, right?”
 
Sand looked at Allen, smile twitching and not quite reaching her eyes.

“Yep, she brought me muffins too. Sand’s a great teammate,” Robert replied to Allen, having no idea the hole he was digging under both of them. As he finally took a sip of the water he’d been handed, Sand wished he had swallowed the question with the drink.

“[i]Muffins?![/i]” Priscilla practically screeched before clutching onto Robert’s arm as if afraid he might be suddenly swept away, her nails almost digging into his skin. “[i]Why the hell are you bringing my man breakfast?[/i]”

Allen was turned away, but she could feel him shaking. Trying to hold back laughter, the ass.
 
Sand’s smile turned exasperated. Something told her that if she even tried to apologize, the pink monster in front of her might take it as an admission of some kind. After a moment of silence in which she hoped the screaming girl had not attracted too much attention, her shoulders slumped in surrender. Choosing to face what was to come with a semblance of dignity, she put out a hand, offering to shake.

“I’m Sand,” she said simply, and kept out what she really wanted to say, [i]You’ve got it wrong, please don’t murder me in my sleep.[/i]

[@Guess Who]