Late nights ((Request to join, me and Grey))

Astryd was spending a late Sunday night studying vigorously for her upcoming exam. Teetering piles of books surrounded her thin frame. She had been studying for hours, and none of the information she was reading had been retained. She was pretty sure she had read the same sentence five times now.
Sighing and setting her book down, she didn't notice that the pile of books was teetering. The huge pile of books fell on top of her and she swore softly.

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Grey was wandering about the library reading a book that describe new techniques for creating pyrotechnics that he had never seen before when the large pile of books collapsed. It was always loud in the library around exam time as people came in to cram. Grey hesitated for a moment before he decided to see if he could give this girl a hand. "Impressive," Grey said jokingly, "Are you reading all of those at the same time." He would then begin to help the girl pick up some of her books.

Astryd turned a faint red. "No, I just was doing some late night studying and was gonna put all the books away. " She began to pull books off herself, yawning slightly. "I don't think I've seen you around. I'm Astryd Jones."

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    "I am Grey." Grey stacked some of the books neatly on the floor."So Astryd Jones, what, if I may ask, has you burning the midnight oil here in the library. A History paper or a math exam maybe." Since he was unsure If Astryd was a NOT student or an EAT, Grey was grasping at straws to try and start a decent conversation about classes.

Astryd gave a soft giggle when he said his name. "Grey? Just Grey?" She asked,standing up and brushing herself off. "I have a history exam to take and I-" She cut off with a large, exhausted yawn. She rubbed her eyes and blinked slowly.

"How long have you been studying for Astryd Jones?" Grey looked between the piles of books and Astryd. Grey was just distracting her, so it would probably be for the best that he leave.

She smiled weakly. "I dunno. Four or five hours, I think." She sat back down in her armchair, hugging her knees to her chest. "So what are you doing here at like-" she cut off and checked her phone. "Midnight?"

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    "It is midnight Astryd Jones. It is easy losing track of time here. Isn't it?" Grey said with a small chuckle. "I am just reading to figure out how to increase my soul count." Despite how long Grey had been going to the academy his soul count was rather low.

"mm.." She replied softly, resting her head on the back of the chair. Almost instantly, she fell asleep. Her eyes fluttered closed and her body went limp. The book she held in her hand slipped from her grasp, landing on the floor with a soft 'thud'.

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    'Did she just fall asleep on me,' Grey thought to himself. "Hey. Astryd Jones. This is no place to be sleeping. Do you need someone to walk you home?" Grey would ask as he tapped at her chair with his foot.

She gave a soft whine, just barely regaining consciousness. "I'mnotasleep." 'She slurred,voice heavy with sleep. Keeping her eyes closed, her hand reached up to her forehead and brushed a bit of hair out of her face.

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     A beyond smug grin would appear on Gray's face as a duplicate of him would rise up from his shadow. Then you wouldn't mind telling me how many figures I'm holding up? Together the two of them would hold up some combination of 13 fingers.

She scowled, opening her eyes halfway. "Mm, five." She guessed, slumping back into her chair and closing her eyes fully again. Her shoulders drooped and her breathing began to slow again.

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Grey got a bit annoyed, but since he didn't have any weapons on him he instead used his words, for now. As his clone faded back into his shadow he said,"Hey, Astrid Jones. You need to get up and go get some sleep. How many other students do you see in here unconscious? EAT class or NOT you should be ashamed of yourself. If a kishin egg walked in right now, what would you do. Grey would grab his book as he ranted.

Her fists clenched and her eyes shot open. "Jones is my last name! Don't call me by my full name! I-" She took a deep shuddering breath, eyes glistening with tears. "Okay, fine. I'll go home." She said suddenly, standing up and throwing a few books into her bookbag.

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    Grey was surprised that that had worked."You are obviously in no condition to escort yourself, so I shall join you." Grey reached into his pocket and pulled a card out that he placed in a pocket in the back of the book.

"I can handle my self, Grey." She grouched, slinging the old looking messenger bag over her shoulder and yawning again.

"I am sure you can." Grey would say as he closed the book. He would proceed to follow her regardless though. "While you are not this tired."

"You know what? Whatever." She scowled and began to stride away, slamming the library door behind herself.

He simply followed her, and as he passed the front desk he would set the book on it. He was still deciding whether he should actually follow her or head home himself.

As she walked home, she seemed a little on edge. She took the back way home through the forest, preferring to trek in the tree filled area.

"Hey, is this really the way to your house." He would say once he caught up to her. He looked around the forest and did his best to hide how disheveled it made him feel.

She flinched as he spoke. "I like the scenic route." She replied simply, hitching her bag over her shoulder. Suddenly, she froze. There was a low growl coming from a nearby cluster of trees.

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    "You heard that too," he would whisper. He hoped it was just an animal, preferably a slow one. He would slowly reach into his coat while he attempted to remain casual. "I am sure it is nothing. But. If it isn't, do you want to stand our ground, or do you want to flee?"

She was silent, her fists slowly curling into balls. There was a loud crack of a twig and Astryd jumped as a dark shape hurtled at her. She panicked, and there was a flash of light as she transformed into a simple black sword.