AN: This is the last chapter for "Just a Crush"

Time to tell Ryou the Truth

I couldn't stop thinking about how Ryou charged out of Yugi's room. It hurt so much and he hasn't called me at all tonight.
When he clamped a hand over his mouth like he regretted those words, I knew that we could only be best friends. Well, I'll see him tomorrow so maybe we can talk about this.

But how was I gonna get any sleep since I was hurting so much? I was already tossing and turning in bed.
After finally a few hours of tossing and turning and arguing with myself, darkness finally consumed me as my heavy eyelids slowly closed.

XXXXXX

I threw my alarm clock across the room which hit my white wall. I really didn't want to go to school today, I was so tired. I only got a few hours of sleep and I swear I was tossing and turning as I was sleeping too.
Well, better just go to school and get it over with.

As I made my way through the school doors, I saw Joey and Yugi at my locker. No sign of Ryou. Ryou and I usually walked to school but when I exited my house, Ryou wasn't waiting for me like he usually did. I figured he didn't want to walk with me or maybe he was sick.

"Where's Ryou?" Yugi asks curiously.

I shrug and open my locker. "He wasn't waiting for me outside like he usually does." I grabbed my English book and we headed toward the English classroom.

Yugi, Joey, and I were all at Yugi's desk, talking about this is that when I glanced at the door out of habit-usually seeing if the teacher was coming- and saw Ryou walking in.
Strange…he didn't come up to Yugi's desk like he usually does. I kept looking at him until I guess Yugi's gaze followed mine as he called out.

"Ryou! Hey!"
Ryou didn't answer. He just started writing in his notebook. I knew for a fact he could hear us…but…why was he ignoring us?

. "Ryou! Hello! Are you deaf?!" Joey yelled when the British didn't answer. "Ryou Bakura! Look at me now!"

"Joey…maybe we should leave him alone." I spoke when I saw Ryou growing annoyed.
Joey ignored me and ordered, "That's it! Malik, go get him!"

I wanted to talk to Ryou so I just shrugged and walked over to him.

"Hey Ryou…" Wow…I was very nervous. Around my own best friend!
Instead of saying anything, he just nodded. He didn't even look at me which wasn't normal for the albino boy.

I decided to speak to cover the awkward silence that past between us. "Well…Uhm…I think…Yugi and Joey…wants you."

Ryou lifted his head and "What?" He snapped.
I flinched when I heard the coldness in his voice. That surprised me a lot because that wasn't like Ryou at all.
He was usually…well…all cherry and what not.

Just then…I broke out of my thoughts when I heard Ryou yell.

"…fuckin' seventeen and you're still acting like a fuckin' child! Grow the fuck up!"
Everyone that was in the classroom just looked up at Ryou in shock. Even they knew that this wasn't Ryou's normal behavior.

I placed my hand on the angry Briton and asked, "Ryou, are you…okay?"
My heart dropped when he turned to me and tears were trickling down his face. I also wanted to cry when I saw him broken like this.

I felt our friendship going down the drain and I didn't know what to do.

Without warning, I felt two hands push at my chest and I found myself falling back into the desk as Ryou fled from the classroom.

XXXXXX

I walked to lunch with Yami since we were in the same math class which was right before lunch.

We sat at our usual lunch table; Kaiba seated next Joey, and Yugi and Yami facing them and me and well…Ryou wasn't here. But you get the picture.

"Oh my God guys! Ryou totally flipped out in English today!" Everyone's eyes widened in wonder except for Yugi's and mine considering we were already there.

"Well…first he ignored us and we were trying to get his attention. He was pissed. I was just joking around and he flipped, then he pushed Malik and ran out of the room. Didn't he Malik?"

Everyone now looked at me and I just nodded in agreement.

We all tried figuring out what was wrong with him but none of us had any clue.
That's when we saw him walk past us, ignoring all of us.
Yami told him that we were here but he still ignored us.

"Man…I really wonder what's bugging him. Must be something bad." Yugi spoke. We all agreed with him.

Ryou came back toward us with a bottle of water and I moved so he could sit next to me but he just walked right past.

I sensed Yugi jump out of his seat, "I'll go talk to him." I nodded.

When I turned back around to face the others, they all were just staring at me.
"What?" I asked, my eyebrows narrowing in confusion.
They all shook their heads and went back to eating their lunch.

"Hey, I'm gonna go check on them." I jumped from my seat and headed out of the cafeteria before anyone could say anything.

It didn't take that long to find Ryou or Yugi. On instinct, I just walked the way where Ryou's locker was, and there they were, near the school doors that led outside to freedom.

"Please, Ryou…talk to me. You're always so happy…so what's wrong?!" Yugi yelled to Ryou looking over my shoulder; he wanted me to know that he knew I was there. Yugi wanted me to hear this.

"Do you see the way he looks at me now?! I'm so distant to him!"
Yugi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as mine did.
What was Ryou talking about?

"Why did you force that truth out of me?!"
Yugi's face then lit up with understand as my mouth dropped opened.
This was all about that truth?

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Ryou yell again. I'm surprised no teachers came by.

"Even though I couldn't be his boyfriend, at least I was close to him as a best friend and that was enough! But now everything's ruined!"

boyfriend…boyfriend…boyfriend. Ryou wanted to be my boyfriend?

"Yugi. Why did you and the others force it out of me?!"

"You should really ask Malik…"
I could tell that Ryou was seriously getting pissed. "Ask Malik?! Why the fuck would I ask Malik?! It was you who asked that question!"

Just as Ryou was done saying that last word, I placed my hand on his shoulder.
Yugi was right, Ryou should ask me. This was all my fault.

"Malik…"

"Malik, I think you should tell him about the whole truth or dare." I nodded as Ryou looked back and fourth between us, confused.

"Ryou…It was…my idea to play truth or dare." Ryou quickly turned around after I said this, anger was clear on his face.

"Well… I'll leave you two alone." Yugi quickly left us. Pussy. I thought. He didn't want to stay here to see what happens.

I took a deep breath, "…And I also asked Yugi if he would ask you, well…that question." I removed my gaze away from the angry Briton as he glared at me with the most fiercest glare I have ever saw from him; from anyone really.
Just then I felt a terrible sting as Ryou's hand connected with the check. I was most definitely not expecting that. Ryou wasn't the violent type. Well…at least that's what I thought.

"You!" He screamed. My heart dropped. I hurt so much. "You humiliated me in front of my friends, and you looked at me like I was some kind of fiend ready to eat your brains out after I answered that stupid fuckin' messed up questions!"

My brows furrowed in confusion.
I never looked at Ryou like that.
I was hurt when he clamped a hand over his mouth after confessing.

"Ryou…I never looked at you that way…" I felt the tears in my eyes. I don't know how long I could hold them back.

"You…you…" My eyes shot back at the angry albino as he sobbed.

Ryou threw his water bottle at me and ran out the school doors.
Maybe I deserve this…I thought as I picked up Ryou's now abandoned water bottle and threw it in the trash.

I never went back into lunch. I hid in one of the bathroom stalls, crying my eyes out. Whenever I heard someone come into the bathroom, I could hold my noises in; crying silently.
My eyes hurt.
I looked at my watch and noticed there were only a few minutes of school left.
I quietly unlocked the door. Making sure no one was in the bathroom, I walked over to the sink. My eyes were swollen.
I turned on the faucet and splashed my face with water.

When I got to my locker, the bell rang. I quickly threw my books into my bag and rushed out of the school into the rain; hoping none of my friends would see me. Especially like this.

Without warning, I felt myself flying on my back as something warm hit me.
"Oh I'm sor- Malik!" I knew that voice, it was Ryou. I tried keeping my face away from him.

"Hi, Ryou." I walked past him then felt a cold hand grab my wrist, turning me around.

I could see Ryou's eyes widen as he took in my swollen eyes.
"Malik…have you been…crying." He wiped the tears away that were still on my eyes.
I couldn't answer him. I just couldn't…find my voice.
"Malik…answer me." I opened my mouth to speak, but I seriously couldn't find my voice. Ryou deserved an answer. What kind of friend was I if I couldn't even give him an answer?

"Malik…my friend…no…my best friend, talk to me."
My heart lit up when I heard these words and I couldn't control myself. I had to take this chance!

I quickly grabbed his shoulders, looking into his eyes.

"Ryou…I'm going to ask you a question…and answer it honestly."
Ryou nodded.
"Ryou…will…you…be my boyfriend?" I said the last two words fast and I wasn't sure if he heard me, but Ra I didn't want to say those words again for the fear of rejection.

"Ry-ou..?" I knew this was a stupid idea to-

"YES!" Ryou jumped up and captured my lips. I responded instantly.
This…is what I Malik Ishtar wanted.
"I've waited for so long." The happy old Ryou was back

I gave him a tender smile, "You look adorable." And that was the truth.

Ryou took my hand, and we walked together in the drizzling rain.

Never again…will I be without my Ryou Bakura. The one who makes me happy and feel so alive.

AN: Reviews please! Tell me what you think!