AN: I know some of you don't like angst stories but this is an idea I've had for a while and now I want to write it out. I hope you enjoy it. I do not own Bleach or any of its characters.
Chapter 1 Orihime's Point Of View
At one point, Ichigo and I were friends, really good friends for that matter.
We talked a lot. He'd make me laugh so hard that I cried of laughter sometimes. He was kind, sweet, funny, handsome…Anyway, I thought he liked me, just like I liked him. And so I thought, I should do something about it.
It was our last day of school before summer let out and I had thought: why not tell him how I feel? Now that there are no worries like school, so if something happens, we won't be distracted. That settles it, I will tell him at the end of the school day!
"Ichigo, can I talk to you for a minute…alone?" I asked nervously as he stood from his desk.
He nodded and followed me out to the school yard. I leaned against a tree as I waited for him to catch up to me. "So, what is it, Orihime? Is something wrong?"
I shook my head and looked at the ground as I began, "It's just that…I have been wanting to tell you something for a while and I thought now would be a good time."
He nodded, waiting for me to continue. I looked up and stared at him as I said, "I like you and I was wondering if you'd give me a chance?"
Ichigo stared at me with…confusion? Pity?
I swallowed the lump in my throat that suddenly appeared. My eyes began to sting as he looked away from my eyes and said, "I'm sorry, Orihime but I don't think I like you that way."
"What?"
"Please understand. I don't want to lose you as a friend and I'm not sure I'm up for the whole dating thing."
I stiffened. I quickly plastered a smile on my face and said, "It's fine, no worries. I understand, don't think anything of it. I guess I'll be seeing you around."
As I walked away, I heard him sigh. I didn't look back though, I just kept on walking to my apartment. Once there, alone, I fell to the ground, leaned against the door and let all the tears I had held back, come rushing out.
I just wanted a chance. I thought he would understand that. I thought he would have returned those feelings for me…this isn't the way things were supposed to go.
A week passed, since I told Ichigo, and that's when Rukia came to visit me with exciting news, according to her. I let her in and started boiling some water for tea. We were having a normal chat when suddenly she asked, "And guess what, Orihime?"
"What? Tell me what has you all happy,"I responded enthusiastically, hoping her news would cheer me up.
"Ichigo asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes! Can you believe that he actually got the nerve to do something like that?"
I felt my heart break all over again. Ichigo asked Rukia out? He asked her out? He is dating? Dating…
Somehow, I managed to respond with a smile and a hug as I congratulated her. And somehow, I managed to survive the rest of her visit as she spoke about him and how he was nervous and sweet about it.
Once I waved goodbye to her from my window and her silhouette disappeared, I started crying all over again.
Why would he lie to me? Why would he say that he's not into dating and then ask Rukia out? Why would he hurt me in this way? Did I really do something that bad that I deserved this? Or had I taken his words about not liking me too lightly?
As I wiped my tears away angrily, I dialed his phone. "Yo, what is it Orihime?"
"Why…?"Is all I managed to let out as I slumped on the floor, against my bed.
"What are you asking exactly?"
"Don't play dumb…I know about you and Rukia. But that's not why I called. I called because I want to know why, why did you lie to me?! It would have been easier if you just told me straight up that you didn't like me, period!"
"I don't need to hear this. Goodbye, Orihime." He hung up then.
I threw my phone to the side and hugged my knees, resting my forehead on my kneecaps as I cried away.
The pain only worsened though. I cried without making much noise until my sobs turned into gasps and eventually into hiccups. Why does it hurt so much?
One month of summer gone already. I mark off another day on my calendar as my phone buzzes. Sora! "Brother! How are you?"
"Hello Orihime, I'm doing great, thank you for asking. I'm calling for two reasons, to make sure you're okay and to give you the same offer as last summer, in case you changed your mind."
"Of course I'm okay. But what offer do you speak of?"
"Oy, Orihime, you already forgot? No matter, I'll tell you again. To come live with me and finish your high school years in the big city."
My heart skipped a beat. If I accepted, I wouldn't have to see Ichigo again. But then I'd miss my other friends and Ichigo as well. I knew it'd be better to leave him behind though.
"I accept your offer, Sora!"
"What? Really? That's great! I'll come over this weekend to pick you up. Pack everything that you want to bring. But don't worry about the furniture and such, I can replace those things once you're here. I'm so happy that we'll be together again."
"Me too,"I say sincerely as we say goodbye and hang up. Time to leave a life behind and start a new one.
There's just one thing I need to do.
As Sora carries the last box down to the truck, I make a call.
"Hello?"
"Ichigo, can we talk somewhere?"
"You aren't going to do the same as last time are you?"
I cringe at his words but steadily say, "No, it's something else."
"Alright, I'll meet you by the river in a few."
I agree, hang up and then tell Sora that I have to take care of something. He seems to understand and takes me to the river, as I instruct, and then says he'll wait in the truck while I do what I need to do. I nod at him and walk down toward the river.
The sun is beginning to go down, making the blue river look orange like. I close my eyes and mentally say goodbye to my friends just as I hear all too familiar footsteps approach me. I turn around and find Ichigo.
That almost, natural scowl on his face as he walks up to me. I suppress a smile as he asks while rubbing the back of his neck, "What did you need to tell me?"
"I…do you remember how we would always come here and talk about everything? Sad things, happy things, strange things and how you used to threaten to carry me into the river if I didn't tell you what I laughed at when you didn't say anything?"
I hear him chuckle as he looks past me and into the river. I turn around as well and continue, "Ichigo…I promise I won't bother you anymore, just tell me a couple of things…"
"What things?"
"What do you plan to do in the future?"
"Well, I want to be a doctor and help save lives, which must run in the family. I guess it wouldn't hurt to start a family of my own someday either."
I ignore the pain in my chest and say, "That sounds like a nice plan. I hope you get what you want, Ichigo."
"What was the other thing you wanted me to tell you?"Ichigo asks quietly as a soft breeze passes us.
"It's more like a promise…promise me that you won't ever hate me."
"Hime, I would never…"His voice is almost inaudible when he speaks. It's as if he's remembering the most recent conversations we have had.
Tears form at the sound of the nickname he gave me long ago. I quickly blink my tears away as I whisper back, "Just promise me."
"Alright, I promise I'll never hate you."
I turn around and smile at him. He looks at me with a confused look. Now is my only chance. I run up to him and kiss his cheek.
Since he's in a bit of shock I explain, "I can't help but still like you, Ichigo, and it's killing me but that's my problem now. I just wanted to make sure we could still be friends or at least have you not hate me. It was nice seeing you before I left with Sora. Goodbye, Ichigo Kurosaki."
I run off then, leaving him dumbfounded by the river.
I hop into the car and whisper to my brother, "Let's go before I change my mind, big brother."
He nods and starts the car. As the truck begins to move forward, I catch a figure in the mirror. I know it's him because I recognize his silhouette, and of course, his bright orange hair. I turn my face away from my brother as I cry myself, silently, to sleep.
AN: So I'm thinking of leaving it as a one shot but if people want there to be more, I might make more chapters. Please review:)