The light-haired boy shoves me away, yet licks his lips. A paradox in my snake-like eyes. I bite my trembling lip and stare intensely into his face. "Jiraiya I-"
"Just shut up for a second, will you!?" My heart drops as my friend grimaces and throws his gaze to the ground. Is he filled with rage? Anger? Confusion? Why is it so hard for me to read people?
I hold my tongue for what seems like hours, eyes forever searching the boy's scarlet face. Finally he turns to look at me, face redder than ever and dark eyes still cast downward as if he can't muster the courage to look at me directly. "Orochimaru...you-!"
My heart catches in my throat as Jiraiya clenches his fists. What has happened to the friendly suffix I have come so accustomed to hearing? I squeeze my eyes shut prepare for a blow to the face that never comes. Instead, I shoot my eyes open in complete and utter shock as lips cautiously press against my own.
I feel my cheeks turn scarlet before my body responds to the kiss, and I grab my friend's arms to lean into his warmth. Jiraiya ends it, and wraps his arms around my back, pressing his face into my shoulder. Despite his actions, even before he even says it aloud, I know. I feel tears well up in my green eyes, blurring my vision before they tumble down my face. We stand there together for a long while before I am finally able to discern his repeated, muffled words- "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."