" Why're you saying what?! Serah's your FIANCE'!" He pointed out
" H-hey you just caught me off gaurd. What about you!? Seems like you and Vanille hooked up pretty well." If Hope hadn't been in the state he was in now he would have caught the jealousy in Snow's voice.
" Well you obviously don't understand how "friendship" works, or love!" Hope's eyes widened realizing what he had just said. Stupid! Hope glanced Snow who's head hung low and face hidden by his bangs. Hope was panicking! He wasn't mad..was he? Snow chuckled humorlessly leaning his head back on the couch running his hands through blond locks tiredly as if coming to terms with something.
" Is there a difference? You want to protect your friends and the one you love. So what's the big difference?" Snow glanced at Hope with confusion written clearly on his face. Hope felt a bit bad and regretted lashing out at Snow like that. Because Hope could see Snow was really trying but he was just getting a lot of things mixed up.
" Snow, protecting the people you care about is just the start. Not everything can be handled with brute force. With friends you feel a sense of belonging and have a lot of fun, memorable times together. Like how we were during the whole Barthandalus crisis. That'd be more like what friendship describes. Now love.." Hope blushed suddenly feeling self-conscious because he was still young and for all he knew his idea of love was totally wrong.
" Love is like when you see that person and you get butterflies, you want to be with them more than anyone else. They're your special person. Them and only them...or ya know something along the lines of that." Hope scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Movement from Snow caught Hope's attention.
" So that's love huh.." Snow mumbled quietly to himself but, Hope caught every word. He bit the inside of his cheek already regretting what he was about to ask.
" Isn't that how things are with Serah?" Hope was proud his voice didn't crack because at that moment he was a car wreck of nerves. Snow's eyes widened before taking on a more solemn look. He stood up walking the few steps over to Hope bending down to eye level with him. Hope wanted to back up or push Snow away. Under the intense gaze of those blue eyes he loved so much he was sure to crack. Seconds that felt like hours passed and all Snow did was look at him. First with confusion then with a pondering frown until finally realization lit up his whole face.
" No..I don't think it's anything like that..." Snow finally said softly. Hope felt a tornado of thoughts hit him, each one bringing him more and more hopeless pain. Snow watched the emotions play through Hope's beautiful emerald green eyes with fascination. You could read Hope like a book and that was one of the many things Snow liked about him. Snow's eyes shifted down to land on the plump pink lips on Hope's face begging to be nibbled and kissed. Snow's eyes widened greatly.
' Kiss!? No..no I shouldn't- I don't even swing that way! At least..I don't think so..ARGH! This is all because Hope looks too damn feminine and fuck-able for his own good. I think he got all of Nora's looks because he looks nothing like his father.' While Snow was internally struggling with who Hope looked like most said boy was slightly creeped out by the far away gaze directed at him.
" Hope~~Snow~! Dinners ready!" Came Vanille's happy-go-lucky voice from the kitchen. Glad for the interruption Hope quickly sat up and walked towards the kitchen. He stopped mid-step and glanced at Snow who hadn't moved from his spot which worried him.
"Snow?" A waved hand of dismissal was his answer.
" Don't worry kid I'm alright, go on. I'll be there in a minute." Snow said. Hope wasn't convinced but knew at this moment he wouldn't be getting an answer. He sighed softly continuing into the kitchen where Lightning was struggling to stop Vanille from casting a revival spell on the turkey.
" Do I wanna know?" Hope asked with amusement, taking his seat at the table. Lightning gracefully sat down in the the seat to his left rubbing the upcoming headache away.
" Vanille suddenly felt the need to bring the turkey to life, saying it probably had a family and friends who missed it. Alas a revival spell would have no effect anyway." Lightning explained. Vanille huffed and stomped her foot.
" We won't know until we try!" Vanille looked to be on the verge of tears. Hope sighed he seemed to be doing that a lot went through this a lot with Vanille at school. It was weird how nobody could see why she was a vegan.
" Vanille, think about it like this.. maybe the turkey was old and sick so to stop the pain they had to kill it so it wouldn't be in pain anymore." Hope said trying to suggest the best possible outcome. Vanille seemed to believe it as her bubbly attitude returned and she sat in her seat to Hope's right.
" I hope you guys think Fenrir tastes good then~" Vanille exclaimed. For some reason naming the poultry.
" I don't think I'd be able to eat something that has a name kid." Came the sudden voice of Snow walking into the kitchen and proceeding to stare in mock horror at the turkey. Vanille giggled and shrugged looking around the table.
" Where's Serah?" Vanille asked.
" Right here sweetie!~~" Everyone turned to look at Serah Farron sporting a short pink dress with see through sleeves, her beautiful pink hair was tied in its usual side ponytail accessorized with a light pink flower and she wore light pink baby doll shoes. All in all she was a sight to see.
" Got enough pink there.." Vanille muttered quietly. Hope being the only one close enough to hear tried hard to stiffle a laugh. Serah ran over to Lightning embracing her in which it was returned to her ten fold. She looked at Vanille and smiled waving before her eyes landed on Hope. Something akin to hate flashed through her eyes before it was replaced by a bright smile. She walked over and brought Hope into a choke hold type hug.
" It's so "great" to see you two again." She said through her happy facade. But Hope wasn't dumb and could see right through the act. His only question was why was she acting like she was happy to see them. Before he could bat an eye Serah ran over to Snow hugging him happily practically crawling into his lap. Hope could feel the jealousy..and sadness filling up his soul.
" Snowy pooooo~~ ohhh~ I missed you sooo much! I thought you weren't feeling well so you were going to stay in bed until i got home. I didn't think we'd have such nice...guests here." Serrah said while climbing off Snow's lap and into the chair next to him. Hope didn't like the way Serah was referring to them as if they were nuisances and by the look Vanille had he wasn't the only one.
" Well let's eat!" Vanille suggested trying to calm her nerves.
" Wait. I'd like to make an announcement." Snow's random outburst had everyone's eyes on him. He raised out of his chair looking unsure of himself before making eye contact with Hope and regaining his determination. He turned towards Serah holding her hand in his making her blush lightly.
" Serah, you're an amazing, beautiful and also a really smart girl." Snow started. Hope and Vanille rolled their eyes at hearing ' Serah' and 'Smart' in the same sentence. Serah beamed arrogantly.
" But i realized...my love is for someone else and you're like a best friend to me and you're important to me and i care about you a lot.. but i'm sorry i can't marry you." Snow smiled sadly at Serrah. Her face fell completely in devestation and confusion. All other occupants of the room were trying desperately to get their jaws from off the floor.
Vanille suddenly jumped out of her seat.
"FRIEND ZONED!"