He wasn't used to it, having someone talk to him so casually, like his red eyes weren't frightening, like his clothing didn't give off a bad vibe, like his personally wasn't complete shit, someone that talked to him like he was human, a regular guy, just like everyone else.

It was both pleasing, and honestly, a bit unnerving.

So he found himself, constantly studying the redhead as he spoke, watching his thin lips move, how his face slightly flushed when he was excited, how he always had that goofy looking grin just plastered on his go happy face.

"So that's pretty much why I like dogs more than cats."

Neil realized he'd done it again, zoned out while Rod just went on and on, just studying the slightly taller boy's face, scanning every inch of it for something. What exactly? A flaw, maybe a note, a punch line, a reason, his motive to even want to talk to an anti-social loner like himself. Yeah, that's what he was looking for.

"Which do you prefer?" Rod asked, already used to Neil's naturally quiet ways.

"Cats." Neil shrugged. "But I like dogs too."

"So pretty much all animals." Rod smiled, that bright smile that almost made Neil want to squint, to hide out in the shadows, to avoid being blinded.

Neil simply nodded his head.

"So, what do you think of Rachel?" Rod asked, trying to sound absentminded, though he was honestly interested in his silent friend's opinion on the farmer.

"She's annoying." Neil responded, not even having to think about it.

It was true, he wasn't really fond of the blonde girl with her cowboy hat. She took too long to pick out animals, and would bug him during business hours.

Not to mention she made a habit out of flirting with almost all the men in the village. Even Soseki, who was, like what? 30 years old?

"I don't know, I kinda like her…" Rod smiled, a slight blush tinting his slightly tanned cheeks. "I mean, she gave me chocolate in winter, so I was thinking of maybe giving her something the 14th."

"She gave chocolate to everyone." Neil said, leaning up against the wall, watching Rod as he sat himself on his black bed sheets, smoothing them out, as if nervous.

"Yeah, but, it felt special."

Neil rolled his eyes, growing tired of that little dance.

Rod always made a habit of talking about the farmer, though he'd never out right ask Neil about his opinion on her, that was a first.

Neil couldn't quite place it, but the way Rod spoke about her had him slightly on edge, making him despise the girl even more. He wanted nothing more than to just drop the subject.

"You know, she bought a horse from me the other day, now she just rides it around town." He grinned. "It's kinda cute."

Neil found himself zoning out again, studying Rod's lips once more, not hearing any of the babbler that was coming out of his mouth.

"-urned down Allen, so I was thinking of maybe asking her myself."

Wait, what?

"What do you think?"

"Think?" Neil asked, a little embarrassed that he was, once again, not listening.

He honestly had to work on that, if he wanted to keep his only friend.

"Allen was a bit upset yesterday, saying that Rachel actually turned him down, and said she was interested in more outgoing guys…" Rod said, swing his legs and smiling. "I thought, maybe if I give it a shot, I could date her."

Neil flinched.

"Why would you want to go out with her?" Neil asked, in a bit of a harsher tone than usual.

Rod noticed, but didn't bring it up, just raised one red eyebrow at him.

"Well, why not? She's cute, she's really sweet, and she's just…well…she's something else…"

"What if she turns you down?"

"I think she likes me."

"She likes everyone." Neil said, sounding extremely bitter.

Only one thing was on his mind.

If Rod started dating her, Neil would lose his best friend.

"That's not really…"

"She flirts with everyone. She even comes by every day to give me fodder, or flowers…"

Rod pressed his lips in a tight line, not even replying.

"You know Soseki asked her out, right? And she told him that she wanted a more well kept man. Before that it was Sanjay, and she said she wanted someone older." Neil spat out bitterly. "What's next? She tells you she wants someone anti-social? Is that her game? To get every guy here to like her?"
Rod was a strange mix of shocked and angry. Shocked, because he wasn't used to hearing Neil mumble out so many words at once, and angered, well, for oblivious reasons.

He didn't reply, just watched Neil as he huffed, wondering exactly what had him so worked up.

"Well, I'm asking her anyways…" Rod replied, getting up, and walking out without so much as a goodbye, leaving Neil both extremely upset, and confused.