AHHHHHH~ Here I am... procrastinating yet again... I can't help it! There are so many interesting things on the interwebs... I'm so sorry to the loyal readers of my other TerraxAqua story "Princely". I wanted to update before the end of 2011 but I got in a bit of a slump... Hopefully I'll update soon... Maybe... I actually have no idea...
So in the meantime enjoy this story that was created during my lazy/procrastination time! This idea was actually born from when I heard a Japanese song called "Dramatic" by Base Ball Bear. If you're interested, go listen! It's a good song and it goes pretty well with the story.
Rating: T for mild swearing
Please Note!: This AU takes place in a Japanese high school. For those who don't know, the high school system there is different than, say, the US. They only have three years of senior high so you'll see a lot of terms like First Year or Third Year. Hopefully, those are self-explanatory.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Disney or the song "Dramatic" from which this story was inspired by.
Happy reading~
It was nearing the beginning of summer and the weather was making sure that fact was obvious. The sun was blaring above and the sky was perfectly clear. Even though it was almost 5 o'clock, with the days getting longer, the sun was no where near the horizon.
Terra, a brown haired youth, pulled up the collar of his shirt to wipe the accumulating sweat on his upper lip. "It's hot." He thought as he let go of his dirty shirt.
"Hey! You two 1st Years! Stop talking, more running!" A prompt 'Yes sir!' was given in response and Terra could not help but smile at the enthusiasm of the new recruits.
He, himself, had joined the baseball team when he was a 1st Year. Baseball had been a hobby of his for as long as he could remember. One of his first memories was playing catch with his dad, wobbly kneed and with a glove that was far too big for a three-year old, for goodness sake! His hobby then became a love and suddenly a passion. He practiced mercilessly in middle school to be able to become a Regular on the baseball team of his chosen high school.
His first attempt at becoming a Regular in his 1st year of high school ended horribly. Crushed and broken-spirited, Terra almost quit the team, but a certain 2nd Year Regular saw potential in Terra's powerful pitches and pushed him to continue practicing.
By the beginning of his 2nd year, his pitches had become so powerful and fast there was hardly any chance of someone hitting them. He became a Regular, and not just that, he became Vice-Captain! The 2nd Year, who had encouraged him, now a 3rd Year, had become Captain, and the duo led the team to its first National victory.
At the graduation ceremony the previous spring, tears of happiness and shouts of 'I'll always be a baseball player!' resounded as Terra gave his Captain a farewell handshake.
"You better take this team to Nationals again, Captain."
Terra smiled at the precious memory as he watched the 1st Years continue to run. Now, as a 3rd Year and Captain, he was the pillar of support for the team, and he will be damned if he broke his promise with his former captain.
"You're grinning like an idiot."
Snapped out of his thoughts, Terra spun on his heel to face his childhood friend.
"Shut up, Ven." Terra's smile grew despite his rebuttal. The blonde boy laughed in response and walked up beside the taller boy, joining in on watching the 1st Years. "If you're not careful, you'll be running with those kids."
Ventus grinned as he turned his head to his friend, "You wouldn't do that to me! I'm a Regular." He puffed out his chest in pride. Terra stifled a chuckle, "That can always be changed, 2nd Year."
Ven deflated, "What?" His eyes grew wide as he stared up at Terra. Earning a laugh, Terra got him in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles onto the boy's scalp. "Ah! Mercy! Uncle!" the younger boy yelled. Terra laughed heartily as he let go. "Geez, you never change Terra." he huffed as he fixed his hair.
Terra shook his head in response and turned back to the running boys, "Two more laps!" The boys responded promptly and continued to run.
Ven plopped down onto the ground next Terra and yawned, already bored. Terra shook his head at the boy. "You never change either."
Terra and Ven had been neighbors growing up so they had always been around each other. During Elementary School, however, Ven's parents started getting into nasty arguments, which lead up to an even nastier divorce. Terra couldn't count the number of times Ven had run to his house for refuge, already on the verge of tears. Terra saw himself as a big brother to Ven and it truly broke his heart to see the happy-go-lucky boy practically shattered from all the fighting in his home.
It was during that time that Terra introduced the world of baseball to Ven. He never had as great a love for baseball as Terra did, but he caught on pretty quick. Frankly speaking, Ven's power level sucked, but he had a speed that was unmatchable. Terra trained him to gain some power, knowing that as soon as he gained enough strength for batting, the younger boy would be unstoppable on the diamond.
As years went on, Ven did grow in strength, he was still no where near Terra's level of power however, and become a first rate batter. When Terra entered high school, Ven vowed that he would follow Terra and join the baseball team as well. True to his word, Ven was accepted into the same school as Terra, but he refused to try out for the Regulars in his 1st year. His 2nd year, however, held a different story and the rest became history.
Once again snapped out of his memories, Terra straightened himself up, trying his hardest to look stern and intimidating, as the 1st Years trudged their way, sweaty and panting, to the pitcher's mound where their captain stood.
Terra looked over them, remembering back to his middle school days when he worked just as hard, and barely repressed a smile.
"All right, five minute water break then it's batting practice."
"Yes sir." the boys responded as they clamored their way to their water bottles and towels.
Ven stood up from his sitting position on the ground and dusted himself off.
"Ven, you're pitching." The blonde in question froze. "Why?" he groaned, "I suck at pitching! You're the pitcher, I'm just a batter."
"Exactly. The new kids need to start somewhere." Terra grinned as the pointed to the 1st Years that were wiping their faces and swallowing down water. Ven pouted but obediently went to the dug-out to grab a glove.
"Come on now, speed it up!" The boys hurriedly set down their things and jogged out to face their captain. "Get in order, it doesn't matter which order, and Ven will start pitching." Terra ordered, earning another group 'Yes sir'.
The batting practice was less than what Terra was hoping for, but he had to start somewhere. "Next!" he shouted and just like clockwork a new 1st Year was standing over home plate, in full gear and getting in position to bat.
"Ready?" came Ven's voice from the pitcher's mound. The batter nodded, a bit hesitant, and Ven wound up his pitch. Throwing it as slow as he could, without making it too easy of course, Ven pitched and the batter swung a little too late. The ball flew high into the sky and far too much to the left. "Foul ball." Terra thought as he suppressed a groan. Only a handful of the hits the 1st Years had landed were actually good, and most of them were flukes.
The baseball flew far over the fence and Terra felt the urge to groan again. "There it goes."
The batter put down his bat immediately and took off his helmet. "I-I'll go get it Captain!" He announced, a little flustered. Terra shook his head, "No it's fine, I'll go. Keep practicing." He then turned to Ven, "Keep an eye on things while I'm gone." Ven gave him a mock salute and then turned to home plate to order the batter to put his helmet back on.
Terra walked out of the diamond through the gate and started toward the direction that the ball traveled.
"It's hot."
Aqua, a young blunette, glared at the open window across the art studio. She had opened it previously so she could get good lighting in the room, but now, the heat was practically unbearable! She put down her paint pallet and brush and stepped away from her easel. She took in her painting and a warm smile crept onto her face. "It's really coming along."
For the longest time, Aqua wanted to paint this particular scene, but every time she brought up the nerve to actually do it, she would freeze up in front of the canvas. She would then give up immediately and begin another art piece. It was not until now, her 3rd year of high school, that she finally got over her weakness and began painting it. Aqua's smile grew as she continued to stare at her unfinished work. It really meant so much to her.
She untied her art smock and placed it on an empty table, relishing in the new coolness that the freedom brought her. She raised her left hand and wiped some sweat away from her cheek. As she brought her arm back down, she groaned, just then noticing that her left hand was covered in orange paint, which was now probably on her face as well.
Shrugging it off, she grabbed one of the wooden chairs in the room and sat down. Aqua glanced up at the clock above the entrance to the studio and was moderately surprised to see that it was almost 5 o'clock. "Mom's right. I do lose track of time when I paint."
She took a deep breath in then let it out as she threw her head backwards. Aqua began to clench and unclench her hands, trying to get the stiffness of having held a paintbrush for the past two hours, out of her fingers. She closed her eyes and thought about the upcoming art competition that was to begin at the beginning of her summer break. Aqua opened her eyes and glanced at her painting. Part of her wanted to enter the piece, knowing that it will probably be one of her best art pieces, but another part told her to keep it to herself, after all, it was born from her precious experience.
Closing her eyes once more she thought back to her past competitions.
For as long as she could remember, Aqua had a gift for art. Her first grade teacher had been the first to notice and prompted Aqua to draw something for a junior art competition. Easily taking first place, Aqua's parents had been so proud of her, so she was motivated to continue winning. Competition after competition, she would win first place. Her popularity grew nationally and by the end of elementary school, she was named an art prodigy.
Aqua gained special permission to join competitions for adults, which she also won. Many adults grew envious of her, but with one look at her paintings, sketches, or sculptures, she not only gained more popularity but also respect. In middle school, her principal had given her a special room that she could use for her art studio. Aqua was beyond grateful, especially considering the fact that her mother had started complaining about how their entire house smelt of paint. The special treatment caused her classmates to push her away, saying things like 'She thinks she's better than us' or 'She's just an art freak', but she did not mind.
Art was her life. All she needed was that.
Aqua knew that she would probably hear things like that again, so she shrugged it off and continued to do things her own way. Of course it got lonely, but what could she do?
She thought back to a previous friendship she once had with a girl in elementary school that ended horribly when Aqua chose to go to an art competition rather than the amusement park with her friend. She grimaced at the memory, remembering the hurtful words the other girl had thrown at her.
Aqua was known for being cold-hearted, considering she always brushed others off, never wanting to experience the same thing again. Maybe that caused people to move further away.
Honestly, the loneliness almost got to her when she a Second Year. Her chosen high school had given her a full scholarship due to the fact that she was practically a national celebrity in the art world and on the condition that she spread the school name by continuing to win competitions. She was given an art studio, right next to the school's art classroom, that she could use at any time she pleased. But, as autumn came around during her second year in high school, she found herself in a huge slump, the only slump she had ever been in her entire life. She was on the brink of depression.
If she did not have art, what did she have?
Aqua opened her eyes and, choking back a few tears, looked at her painting. She smiled, blinking away the tears. The experience that had inspired her painting is what saved her.
She took in a breath and let it out again as she stood from her seat. Rolling her shoulders, she walked over to where she had placed her smock and put it back on.
She'll be damned if she does not finish this before the start of summer.
Aqua picked up her art pallet and brush and resumed painting.
Terra was not frustrated. Oh no, he was beyond that point. He cursed the 1st Year that had hit the ball, he cursed the ball itself for being so elusive and he cursed Ven for being, well, Ven, just to have a third thing to curse. He had been wandering the school grounds looking low in bushes and high in trees, just in case, for that damned baseball.
Terra ran his fingers through his spiky hair for what seem like the umpteenth time in the past ten minutes. He was moving further and further away from the baseball field. "That kid couldn't have hit the ball that far."
He straightened himself up and his back gave a satisfactory 'crack'. He turned his head to give his neck a good crack as well when he spotted it. The ever-elusive baseball he had been looking for the past ten minutes was peaking out from underneath a bush a little ways away from him.
"Gotcha bitch." He mumbled triumphantly as he made his way over to the bush. As he stood over the offending ball he glanced upward, a movement catching his eye and froze.
A girl was standing inside one of the rooms inside the school. The window was wide open and the white curtain that was fluttering in the warm breeze was what caught his attention.
The girl inside the room was standing up completely straight staring at a canvas which must have had some sort painting on it, Terra guessed. The smock she was wearing was smudged with all sorts of colors, even her face had a few colors on it. She brought her paintbrush up with one of her paint-stained hands and began making a few stokes, then a few dabs and resumed her position of just staring at the canvas. Suddenly, she smiled, a wide smile that seemed to glow in the sun that was dripping into the room.
Terra found himself moving closer to the window until he slammed his knee directly into a short bush causing him to completely topple over. He swore loudly as he unceremoniously fell flat on his face.
Sitting up, Terra rubbed his sore cheek as he let out another curse. He looked up, not really knowing why he still wanted to look through that window and froze for the second time that day.
She was staring at him. She was staring at him. She was staring at him.
Terra scrambled to his feet in the most ungraceful way and the girl's wide eyes only continued to stare. The young baseball player opened his mouth to say something – anything, really, to diffuse the embarrassing and terribly awkward situation but found himself at a loss for words when his chocolate eyes locked with her blue ones.
They stood there, completely unmoving, for a few more moments.
"Uh..." Terra wanted to slap himself for sounding like a total idiot and looking like a total idiot by falling in front of this girl. "This beautiful girl." He felt a blush rising up the back of his god, he could not be more of a moron right now.
Terra recovered from his daze when he noticed the change in the girl's face.
"Wait, is she scowling at me?"
He opened his mouth to say something until he noticed her move around a table toward the window.
Panic began to rise in the pit of his stomach, "She coming this way!" This time Terra mentally slapped himself for sounding like a scared, love-sick schoolgirl.
When the girl reached the window she promptly shut it and pulled the curtain over it so Terra could no longer see inside.
"Wait. What?"
Terra blinked dumbly for a few seconds then was overcome with confusion, embarrassment, irritation and... disappointment? Not really knowing what to do or which emotion he should tend to first, he stood there, mouth agape.
"WHAT?"
The boy turned on his heel and walked back to the baseball that he was originally looking for. He bent down and quickly scooped it up. Squeezing it in his hand, he glared at it. "This is your fault." Terra huffed and began his angry march back to the baseball field.
"Geez, what's up with her?" Terra began to slow down. I mean, here he was trying to start a conversation (if you could call 'Uh...' a conversation-starter) with this random girl (This random girl who looked even more beautiful when she smiled) and she slammed the friggin' window on him! It's like he was a bug she didn't want coming inside or something!
Terra halted fully and stared down at the baseball in his hand. His head was full of her. He groaned loudly as he threw his head back and stared at the clear blue sky. "Just like her eyes."
Terra found himself looking back toward the window where he met the most mysterious beauty.
"Oh my- Oh my- Oh my god!"
Aqua was near hyperventilating after basically slamming the window in Terra's face. She was pacing back and forth in her art studio trying to wrap her mind around the events that had just transpired.
She would be an idiot if she did not know who Terra was. He was pretty much the idol of the school. All the guys respected him and all the girls wanted to date him. Being captain of the baseball team, having good grades, and having the the whole 'tall, dark and mysterious' look going for him, gave him instant popularity. He was the 'cool and strong' type that made girls swoon and guys jealous and a little fearful. He was always surrounded by people and although he acted cold at first, was actually pretty amiable, which, of course, gave him another popularity boost.
That was the first time she had ever seen him up close without other people around, and she had to go and slam a friggin' window in his face.
Aqua fell into the wooden chair that she was sitting in earlier. She was suddenly feeling a little faint. She brought her hands up to her face, stopping only when she remembered that there was paint all over them. Slamming her head onto a nearby table, creating a small 'thud' noise, she closed her eyes.
She had been painting normally when she heard a loud voice outside her studio. When she turned to see what had happened she wasn't expecting to see him. Since he was on the ground, Aqua was quickly able to deduce that he had fallen and she most likely would have laughed when she saw him clumsily climb to his feet, that is, if she wasn't so embarrassed by the fact that he was staring at her.
It took her a while to fully comprehend that she was staring at him and that he was, indeed, staring back. Aqua had been so embarrassed, she was sure she was going to blush. To counter the upcoming blush, she scrunched her face, only to realize that in doing that she was most certainly making a total fool of herself.
So, her next instinct was to hide, to avoid any more embarrassment. Of course, there was no where for her to hide without looking like an even bigger idiot. So, she did the next best thing: she shut the window. Consumed by her thoughts, Aqua didn't even notice that he had actually tried to talk to her until after the fact.
Aqua let out a shaky breath she just noticed she was holding. She stood, much calmer than she was before. She looked toward the window. "He wouldn't still be there... right?"
The artist slowly made her way to the covered window. Peeking out from behind the curtain, Aqua confirmed her suspicions: he wasn't there. Aqua let out a heavy sigh and stopped for a second. Why, on earth, was she disappointed?
She moved the curtain so she could see outside again, but kept the window shut. "I don't think I can continue painting now." Aqua made her way to her supplies, ready to start cleaning up and heading home.
She froze and turned to her painting. Dear god. Did he see? Did he see her painting?
Aqua bit her lip in panic. "N-no way... right?" She thought out loud.
Not wanting to think about it anymore, she threw a dirty cloth over the painting, like she always did, and began putting away her supplies. As she threw off her smock, Aqua raised her gaze up, not really looking at anything in particular. Her mind was full of him.
Aqua found herself looking back to the window where she had the strangest exchange with the school's most popular guy.
Terra looked at his wristwatch. "Six o'clock."
"All right guys! Finish it up! I'll see you guys at practice tomorrow!"
The younger boys mumbled their thanks and 'see you tomorrow's and began trudging their way to the dug-out to collect their things. Terra watched them with blank eyes and his mind drifted... Again...
For the remainder of the practice, Terra had been a total space cadet, responding only with grunts or hand motions. The first years paid it no mind, for all they knew he was probably just frustrated with them, but Ven picked up on the strange behavior immediately.
After saying his good-byes to the 1st Years, Ven strolled over to where Terra was standing on the diamond.
"Hey." There was no response so he tried to call out to the brunet again... and again... and again.
Ven puffed out his cheeks in annoyance, "HEY!"
Terra jumped, "What's all the yelling for?" Ven rolled his eyes, "And you call me an airhead. Look at you! Your head's been up in the clouds since you got back from getting that ball."
"Oh." Terra said simply and scratched the back of his neck. Years of growing up together made it easy for Ven to spot Terra's little quirks and habits, so he noticed the scratch quickly. "Embarrassment?" Ven raised a questioning eyebrow as the older boy looked down at the ground, still scratching the back of his neck.
"What happened?" Ven asked slowly. Terra's eyes flashed upward and Ven noticed the faintest of blush on the other boy's face.
Ven laughed out loud, "Did you break something?"
"No!" The captain rebutted quickly, slightly angered by the younger boy's laughing.
"So you saw a girl or something?" Ven asked, still laughing, completely joking. In all the years that they had been around each other, Ven had never, once seen Terra particularly interested in a girl. Girls were always all over him but he paid them no mind. "He's never even had a girlfriend for Jiminy's sake!" Ven recalled a time when he had asked Terra about his love life, or lack there of, and was answered with, "My girlfriend is baseball."
So to say that Ven was surprised by the fantastically red blush that appeared on Terra's face after the previous question, would be the understatement of the century. The blonde's eyes widened as his laughing died down to a halt. "You actually-"
He was cut off when Terra coughed awkwardly into his hand, "Thanks for staying behind after actual practice to help out with practice for the new recruits." Terra was desperately trying to change the subject but he knew that the youngster would not let go of the topic, so before more questions could be asked, Terra began to make his way to where his things were.
"W-wait! Terra!" Ven called out as he followed the brunet to the dug-out. Terra repressed a groan, hoping that Ven wouldn't embarrass him too much on their walk back home.
As the barrage of questions began, Terra made a secret promise to himself. He was going to see her again the next day. Maybe even get an actual conversation going. He swallowed hard just thinking about her. He clenched his hands; they were beginning to get a little sweaty.
"From the heat of course." he thought quickly.
It was after school and the heat from the previous day still lingered. Aqua unlocked the door to her studio and stepped inside, humming a little tune as she put her schoolbag down at a relatively clean table.
Aqua sighed in content at the coolness of the room compared the scorching heat of the classrooms. Since the studio had cement walls and flooring, it was always colder in there. It was dreadful during the winter but heaven during the summer.
"Maybe I should open the window again to get some light in here." she thought as she looked around the relatively dark room. She stopped, then felt her face flush. The mere mention of the window sent memories of the previous day flooding back.
Slamming her hands down roughly onto a nearby table, Aqua shook her head to snap herself out of her love-sick trance. Yes, she thought he was an attractive guy and the encounter had given her butterflies for hours, but she hardly knew him! And he for sure, didn't know who she was. "He's probably even forgotten it by now!" Aqua felt her stomach drop in... disappointment?
She sighed and shock her head again. "No. Focus."
"Focus on painting?"
Aqua eye's widened and she whipped around as quickly as she possibly could. There in the doorway on her studio stood Terra.
The painter stared at him intensely as she tried to gather her lost thoughts as fast as she could. "Why? Why? WHY IS HE HERE? Right now. He's here. In this room. RIGHT NO-"
Terra shifted his weight from one foot to the other, "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..." He clenched his sweaty palms. Who was he kidding? He had felt more awkward and embarrassed at that one moment than he had ever felt in his entire life! But the weird thing was, he didn't mind. Not in the least. He'd make the same decision again to see her if he had the chance. Terra felt a blush rising.
"Uh..." He started. Aqua blinked out her thoughts.
"Settle down, Aqua. Settle." She took a quick breath in then let it go. She closed her eyes, "What are you doing here Terra?"
The boy in question was mildly surprised, "You know who I am?" Aqua sighed and turned so her back was toward him. She grabbed her art supplies and began setting them in their places for work. "Is that a joke?" She asked, "You are the single most popular guy in the entire school."
Terra scratched the back of his neck, "People are still talking about me like that?" Aqua sent a glance his way then continued her preparations. "People have been talking about you like that."
An awkward silence arose after her comment and Terra could feel his neck begin to sweat. He stepped into the studio and leaned against a table. "W-well I've heard some things about you too, Aqua." He cursed himself for stuttering but kept his eyes on her, hoping, praying, that she would respond and he could keep up the conversation. He glanced up at the clock above the door. He only had about fifteen minutes left until he needed to get to the baseball field.
"Not pleasant things, I assume." Aqua was surprised. Had he known who she was when he first saw her? If he did then why was he talking to her? Rumors about her were well-known and very unflattering. She walked past Terra to get her smock, barely giving him a glance. Maybe if she's cold, he'll go away. Just like the others.
Terra coughed awkwardly into his hand, not wanting to offend her with his answer, "Well... They're not the best." He heard Aqua scoff as she began tying her smock on from the back. Terra noticed she was having trouble, so he reached out to help her but froze mid-reach. He drew his hand back quickly before she could notice and dropped his gaze to the floor, not wanting to let Aqua see his flushed face. "Keep it together. She doesn't even know you and you barely knew her."
Aqua looked back at Terra, wondering why he wasn't talking and found him staring at the floor. She shrugged and walked over to her painting, which was still on its easel. She stopped in front of the clothed-covered painting and could feel Terra's eyes on her again. Aqua sucked in a breath to keep her blush down and turned around to face him.
Their eyes met and after a few seconds Terra broke the eye contact. Saddened a bit by his... rejection?... Aqua put her hands on her hips and tried to keep her emotions in check.
Terra could feel his heart beating against his ribcage. It was so loud to him, he was scared Aqua would hear it. His face was flushed and was out of breath. But why?
The entire day, the baseball captain had asked his friends about the mystery girl he had met, and he was told that it was most likely a Third Year named Aqua. She was in his year and he had no idea! Maybe Ven was on to something when he had told Terra that the brunet was the most oblivious person he had ever met...
Shortly after he had learned her name, he heard the rumors. Some were strange and some were downright hateful. To him, it seemed that the worst rumors were created out of jealousy over her artistic talent and fame. Hearing them just made him want to meet her even more. So here he was, directly in front of her and he couldn't even hold himself together.
Aqua turned her head away, still a little dejected that he had avoided her.
"Leave."
Terra whipped around to look at Aqua. She had her back to him as she faced her covered canvas. Quite honestly, the painting intrigued him and he wanted to know what she could have possible been painting that incurred that beaming smile from the day before.
That smile that had enchanted him.
"What is it? Your painting." he asked, ignoring her previous command.
Feeling a sense of panic rise, Aqua asked quickly, "You didn't see it? Yesterday, I mean."
Terra shook his head a mumbled a small 'no'. He scrunched his eyebrows together in thought. "Ah," he said in realization.
More panic rose in Aqua chest as she turned to Terra. His mouth was making a small 'o' and then it changed into, in Aqua's opinion, a smirk.
"Is it a nude?"
Embarrassed beyond belief, the blunette openly gaped at the boy. His eyes widened a bit and his smirk grew, "Whoa, I was just joking. I didn't think that I'd be rig-"
"It's not a nude, you idiot!"
The red-faced girl huffed then walked over to Terra. She began pushing him toward the exit, "I think it's time you leave."
Terra wasn't going to lie, her hands on his back made him feel warmer that it really should have. So distracted by her touch, he was easily ushered to the door. She opened the door and proceeded in trying to continue pushing him out when he threw his hands out and grabbed the door frame, stopping any chance of further movement.
He turned his head to look at Aqua and couldn't help but enjoy the closeness of her face to his.
"I'm going to come again."
Aqua froze and looked the captain straight in the eye. "Why?" She asked breathlessly, transfixed by his blue eyes. She could feel his face leaning closer.
"Because..." He trailed of, not really knowing his reason for wanting to see her again. "Because I want to be with you." Realization hit him hard as he repeated the sentence over and over again in his head. Terra could already feel the massive blush appearing on his face.
"Because I like your art." He blurted out. Aqua blinked, her mind blank. "Oh." she said quietly.
"Well you shouldn't come." "No, please, do show up." "You know the rumors about me right? I'm not exactly the most loved person around. Hanging out with me will just ruin your image." "Please don't go. I want to be with you."
"I know."Terra just then noticed how close he was to her, bodies almost touching and faces inches apart.
"I know." He whispered again as he leaned in closer to her.
Aqua felt her eyes flutter closed as she felt his breath on her face. She waited, eyes shut and heart beating. She was waiting. Aqua's eyes opened and she saw how close Terra's face was to hers. "He's leaning in!" She bit her lip and weakly pushed Terra away from her. He opened his eyes and stared at Aqua with sadness and... rejection?
"Leave," Aqua whispered as she stared at the ground. She noticed her hands were still on Terra's chest from when she pushed him. Pulling her hands back to her sides, she took a step back. Being so close to him was honestly making her dizzy.
"Aqua." Terra said, no, pleaded. He knew why he was pleading and that's why it hurt him so much. "I've known her for less than 24 hours and haven't even talked with her for an hour." He took a deep breath and pushed down a certain lurching feeling that had risen in his stomach when she had pushed him away. "I want to get to know her, not just from rumors, but from her."
"I'll come back." He said, almost confidently.
With that last declaration, Terra walked out of the studio. Aqua stank into a nearby chair and brought her hands up to her face. She didn't know whether she should have been smiling because she almost kissed Terra or crying because she really wanted it to happen. She wanted it to happen. So that of course meant that she...
She groaned and looked toward her covered painting. Such mixed feelings, but she knew that what to paint. She stood up and uncovered her painting. Aqua stared at the warm orange and red colors that surrounded the main figure in the center. She brought her hand up, as if to touch the canvas, but put it back down and let out a sigh.
Aqua picked up her paints and prepared her pallet.