Lonesome Diamonds

Chapter 1: Bitter

Disclaimer: I don't own FLCL or the characters, you know that, but the plot is mine.

Author's note: This leaves off where Mowatte Mabase chapter 8 ends. If you haven't read it I reccomend you read at least chapter 8 to give you a small introduction to what is going on. The characters may act a bit 'OOC' but that is because they are changing, they are now in Middle School, aka older. The story reads from different view points throughout the story but it should be easy to tell who is the narrator unless I meant for it not to be. The title may change as I coudn't think of anything better at the time of submitting.

Have fun, please review. Sumomo-san

My stomach feels strange.

Sitting here, outside in the hot August sun. The metal chair beneath me hardly relaxing, my starchy longsleeved uniform is far comfortable either.

Why can't I keep my eyes off of Ninamori?

She sits with her hands in her lap, her eyes study the principal of our new school as he gives his longwinded speech. Her raven hair glints purple as the sun reflects off her braids. Messy bangs gently caress her forehead, the tips brushing her eyebrows as a muggy breeze rolls through.

Why did I never notice how pretty she was before?

Maybe I had but I never admitted it to myself. I had always been so selfish, so idiotic. All I could ever think of was my needs and what was good for me... even if it didn't always turn out to be good for me in the end. Haruko was an impulse, something I vowed to put behind me along with my childish ways. Maybe... Ninamori was what would be good for me? But... could I ever be good for her?

Breaking my trance, someone kicks the back of my chair.

I jump up and sit up ramrod straight. Was I staring too intently? Did someone notice? My heart pounds. I dare to glance behind me and see Manabe Gaku, my friend from gradeschool resting his feet on the back of my seat. Behind his glasses I can't tell what he's looking at, but he's staring fixedly at something. As I whip my head back around before our eyes can meet, I force myself to focus. I see the principal's mouth moving but all I can hear is Eri's rythmic breathing.

I looked at my feet and my eyes started to wander back to Ninamori. They traveled up her delicately crossed legs to her clasped hands. I found myself wanting to clutch that hand, and even if my mind screams no my arm starts to slowly move towards hers. I shove my hands in my pockets and scold myself mentally. What the hell! What is going on with me? As I remembered her touch, the few fleeting moments I had chanced to be near her, I found myself wanting her warmth, her soft scent, her musical laughter to be with me always. Despite all logic I let myself cherish that feeling, and cling on to my tarnished hopes, if only for a minute.

As Naota's soft hand released mine my heart skipped a beat. I was so embarassed about running into him. After all, I was over him. We were just friends, and that's all we'd ever be... right?

Why was he being nice to me now?

Was he finally... noticing me?

I shook my head and remembered that I'd decided I could never be close to him. He was too unpredictable and I was too mature. He could pick and choose his friends while I had to force myself into popularity... even if I'd given that up by now. He was engaging, he was dangerous, he was desirable. He...

He was sour and I was... bland.

Feeling myself blushing and not able to tear my eyes off his perfect face, he chatted idley at me. I was still too flustered and gave a few embarassed nods and scattered 2-word responses. Why did I have to freeze up like this now! I was over him! This was my chance to rebound those ties, repair the friendship back to how it used to, and always had been.

But if it always had been the same way, why was I so crazy about him in the first place?