touchnovel Chapter 1731 Breaking the Silence with Sylvie
Chapter 1731 Breaking the Silence with Sylvie
--- Kat --- (Friday Afternoon)
Kat found herself sitting across Sylvie, with a chessboard in between them and Lily curled up asleep on her lap. It was late in the evening a day after she’d had that chat with Callisto and she’d spent most of the day practicing in the backyard with Lily. The space was somewhat limited but it was better then nothing in the end. Of course... "You do know I’m not any good at chess right?" said Kat.
Sylvie shrugged, "That’s sort of the point. I was hoping to talk with you after hearing that you had a bit chat with Vivian and then one with Callisto. I get I am busy with school and stuff... but that doesn’t mean I wanted to miss out! So... chess it is. If you actually knew how to play you might focus on the game instead of me!"
"Then what’s the point of the chessboard?" asked Kat.
"It gives us something to look at and pretend to do when we’re feeling awkward or coming up with our next topic or there’s a long silence or something," explained Sylvie.
Kat glanced at the chessboard once again. She knew how to play chess... in theory. Kat never found the time to really learn the game but she did know what all the pieces do and was aware that chess theory was a thing. She also knew that one opening you never wanted to do because it got you checkmated right at the start. That was the extent of her chess knowledge. *Though maybe I should learn? Sylvie enjoys the game somewhat even if it’s not a favourite.*
"Right... so what did you want to talk about?" asked Kat.
"I don’t know? Anything?" said Lily.
Kat sighed, "That’s almost worse then saying nothing Sylvie. It doesn’t give me anywhere for the conversation to go!"
"Well... what did you talk about with Callisto and Vivian?" asked Sylvie.
Kat considered hiding or obfuscating things for about half a second before discarding that notion. Even still... she didn’t really want to talk about that stuff with Sylvie. Going over her old adventures like she had with Callisto would feel a bit too much like bragging and the stuff with Vivian... well Kat hadn’t exactly enjoyed talking about that with Vivian either even if it was the right call to make.
"It’s great!" said Sylvie with wide, genuine smile. "I... well you know I didn’t really have friends before. Nobody bullied me... twice... because of how close I was with you and that was fine but... well yeah it’s not the same as having friends. Not sure I really understood that before... but they’re both great!
"I’m... well I didn’t really know what friendship was like and I’m not sure what it’s like for other people but for me? It’s just nice to be understood. Somewhat. I guess that part is more about understanding what it means to stand out. Alice might not be as smart as I am... but that’s a very big might.
"She’s still really smart and she knows a lot more about talking to people. I sort of wish we went to the same school so I could just let her do all the talking. She doesn’t necessarily enjoy it... but out of all three of us she could pass as the most normal. I can sort of try... but Alice could definitely pretend to be normal if she really wanted to... but she doesn’t really?
"I guess that’s part of what’s odd. I don’t want to be normal but sometimes I recognise it would be nice... so... to see someone who could be chose not to be? That’s just comforting in a way I didn’t know I needed. It’s not like you were ever that normal of an example, and Lily defiantly wasn’t." Kat felt like she maybe should have a response to that, but she didn’t and Sylvie was on a bit of a roll.
"On the other hand Penny just... she doesn’t even try. I’m not sure she ever tried. At first I really liked that because... this is going to sound bad but it was nice to have someone who was just... more out there then I was. I sort of sit in the middle of Penny and Alice and it’s just... nice to see what could have been?
"But then I remember what Penny’s family are like and suddenly I feel sort of awful for thinking that. I get that some of her issues... well calling them that is rude but... well some of her issues are because of her guardians. I haven’t asked... but I think she’s been with them a while and they’ve never tried to help her understand things. Not the way you’d help me out when I was younger..."
Kat winced at that. She hadn’t needed to help Sylvie out that much... but she could imagine that Penny’s family making things worse by basically ignoring the girl. "I’m really not sure what to do about that." Sylvie continued after a brief pause to move on of the chess pieces. "I think it’s the biggest source of friction for our little friend group actually. Penny hasn’t SAID anything and I don’t think she will but Alice really wants to do something to help and I keep holding her back...
"Because I just don’t know what to do! I mean... she’s with family. Technically. They aren’t good for her but they... I don’t think they’re abusive? Maybe? It’s one of the reasons I’ve been looking into those therapy books. I’m not sure if it’s emotional abuse and I just don’t... I don’t know what to do about it.
"The thing is... I forget about a lot of that when I’m having fun with them. It’s only occasionally I even think of the issues but... well if I want to be a good friend I feel like I need to help right?"
"I’d say yes... and that you should probably bring this up with Callisto and Vivian. They likely have a better idea about how to help..." offered Kat.
"I already did, and they said they’d get back to me about it," explained Sylvie. *Hmm... well that’s something. Might need to get Lily to look into things as well...*@@@@