It had taken many denials to try and convince himself that he did not have a crush on Tina Kwee, but Chaz was man enough to admit it when the denial had run its course. He could never pinpoint the moment his feelings changed, he just knew that they had. Before, his life had been about being on school television to try and become something of a celebrity and get an 'in' with the popular kids. He just found himself slowly coming to appreciate Tina's hard-work and focus to try and report real news, despite his attempts to hog the screen time.
Still, the girl gave as good as she got and had quite a temper when flustered. It was one of the many things he'd come to like about her, even if he was the center of that anger most of the time. It seemed like that was the only way to really gain her attention, as the rest of the time she used to spend it giving sulky and anger glares at Brandy for hanging out with Lee.
Yeah, he'd never understood the jealously there, as Lee was either too distant or just too angry. Well, at him, but while Tina's flare had excited him, Chaz just found an angry Lee to be quite terrifying. He actually wondered how Tina could stand to be around her without being just a little afraid.
Now though, Tina was angry at him, and it felt like all his prodding and pestering to ask Tina to be his girlfriend looked like it was falling apart. Yes, he had-might have- made things worse by reporting to the whole school about Lee and Biffy's break-up, but they shouldn't have been talking about it out in the hallway.
And Tina always did think he needed to be more serious about the news.
It had all been going so well, or at least he thought so before that incident.
Chaz thought he still had the best hair in the school, but Tina would always be second. Although, she was quickly starting to become his number one. He just didn't know if someone like Tina, someone who was so determined and dedicated would give him another chance. She was independent, and certainly hadn't needed him before, no matter how much he wanted to think so.
Why would she need him now? He didn't have any real friends, and she had a handful of them to rely on.
No, Tina didn't need him, but he was starting to see that he might just need her. She was blunt and called Chaz out on his attitude, and ignored him now when she couldn't reign in her anger. He liked that fire, but this was a different kind; she wasn't flustered by his attentions now, she was genuinely annoyed and irritated with him, and that was something he never wanted to happen.
The only thing Chaz hated more than his hair being messed up was the thought of losing Tina, and it made him realize just how much he'd actually fallen for her. It wasn't the most normal of relationships, but compared to some, he still thought it was at least the most stable.
Or it had been, anyway.
Knowing he'd done this himself, Chaz wanted to fix things and make Tina fight with him like they used to on air, but he didn't know the first thing about making it up to someone. This was new territory for him, and it worried him he might make things even worse with his wilful ignorance. Tina didn't need him, she could get along fine without him; she'd probably just spend a few moments thinking of him and go right along with her life.
How was he supposed to win her back, when he thought he didn't deserve her?
He could try, and it might not work in the end, but at least he could try.