Hotaru Imai

What am I doing here anyways? Standing on this stupid, old barnyard like some idiot waiting for a miracle to happen. What the hell is happening to me anyways?

"Imai-san?"

I know that voice too well to even turn around and check if I'm right—but of course, I'm right. I'm always right. I'm Hotaru Imai, aren't I?

I stood there, pretending as if the wind tickled my ears innocently. Innocently. Heh. Standing here in front of the barnyard like he said I should is innocent?

Like hell it isn't.

"Nogi." I say, turning around just in time to meet his eyes. Those deep, dark pools of sky blue that would always never fail to drown me. "I believe you have something to say to me?"

His face darkens the same shade of what my dress is. A dark crimson. It's always so funny too see him so embarrassed. Besides, only Ruka Nogi could pull an idiotic look and still make it look good enough for a 10 dollar picture.

"I… Imai…" He stutters.

It took me two seconds to wait for him continue on with his stuttering and get to the point.

It took me four seconds to look at my watch and glare at him.

It took me half a second to click my tongue and roll my eyes.

"Nogi, I have lots to do, will you get to the point?"

But it only took him one move to make me go crazy.


Ruka Nogi

I shove aside all the things I've been thinking of and pull her into a kiss. My brain tells me to break the kiss because she's not responding. My heart's pounding and I'm literally doomed to death.

"W-what did you just do, Nogi?" Her voice was as sharp as knives and her glare was as deep as daggers.

"I… I…" I love you. Dammnit, Ruka. Pull yourself together.

"You what?" She pulls out her old horse shoe glove and I still can't believe the little stunt I pulled on her.

It's because I love you. Why can't those five frigging words escape my mouth?

"It's payback."

It's because I'm scared, that's all.

"What payback?" She asks, the invention in her hand goes back into her bag. Her face reddens and I repeat the same statement in my head to get this thing over with.

"Payback, Imai. Payback for all those bullshit you put me through, those pictures, the humiliati—"

I was expecting that hard, cold blow on my cheek anyways, I tell myself. I was expecting that the moment I asked her to come.

"You're the worst." She whispers, dropping her hand idily to her side before breaking into a run.

I take in the last thing she says as I lean on the wall.

You're the worst.

Hotaru… you just couldn't see it, don't you?

I love you.

But I'm afraid of rejection.

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"Ruka Nogi… are you stupid or what?"

I knew it anyways.

I was the only one who fell, right?

I was the only one in love with you after all.


Author's Notes:

A little something just before I take on my pre-final examination. I hope you liked it. And please read my novel, Fame. It's AU but NxM. :)

Constructive criticism is welcome, please review.