CHAPTER THREE: PRETENDING

Rin was upset and although he tried to hide it Misaki could see right through his facade. After five years he still made the same face when something was on his mind. Misaki had once called him out on it when they were kids but Rin insisted that he didn't even have an upset face. If the situation hadn't been so awkward Misaki would have pointed it out to him now but instead she just ate her pizza in silence. Misaki wasn't sure why she even showed up at the restaurant considering how she kept trying to disappear. All her hazel eyes could focus on was the fact that Rin was sitting across from her. How she could so easily reach out and touch him. He was back in her life and all she could do was act like she didn't care.

"Hey," his voice was hot against her ear, sending a chill down her spine and causing her to nearly drop her pizza.

"Yeah," she whispered turning to see Makoto holding up a red and white striped cup, "Want some?"

"What is it?" Misaki asked as she took the cup not even bothering to wait for an answer before taking a sip.

"Strawberry milkshake…uhhh…Misaki?" Makoto had figured the girl would like it but his eyes widened slightly as he watched her turn her body away from him as she continued drinking.

"It's good," she stated with her mouth still around the straw.

"You can have it if you want."

Misaki held back a sigh as she placed the cup back down in her lap. Makoto would give her the world if she asked for it but sometimes she wished he'd say 'no'. Sometimes she wished he'd make her work for it. "I can just get my own," she smiled, handing the cup back to him, "Thanks though."

"I'll go with you to get one."

The way he said it clued Misaki into the fact that he wasn't just accompanying her to the counter for fun. As Misaki slid out from the large round booth (Nagisa had insisted they sit there) she turned to see Rin looking down at his food. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she wondered why in the world he was acting like this.

"I told Rin about us."

Misaki knew that they were still in hearing range of their table but she couldn't help but let out a loud gasp and swivel around to clutch Makoto's shirt in her hands, "WHA-" before the question could leave Misaki's mouth Makoto had gently placed his hand over her lips.

"I thought you wouldn't want to be the one to tell him since…" Makoto trailed off his green eyes finding that pink bracelet that hung on Misaki's wrist. Misaki had never told him about the promise though she really didn't need to. Makoto could remember how inseparable Misaki and Rin were in elementary school and he could remember that promise he made to Rin all those years ago.

"Ugh," Misaki let her head fall forward until her forehead met Makoto's chest, "Was he mad?"

"I think he was just surprised," Makoto said with a shrug as he rubbed Misaki's back before leading them to stand in line.

"Why is this happening now?" Misaki whispered, the question was meant for her but it caused Makoto to sigh.

"You couldn't avoid him forever right?"

He had a point but Misaki didn't want to agree with it. If she tried harder she knew she could have avoided him for at least another month or two. She could have planned when she would finally see him instead of being thrown into this situation. There was no time for emotional or mental preparation and Misaki still wasn't sure if this was happening because she couldn't comprehend how in two hours Rin was now a part of her life again.

"It's just weird," Misaki muttered, turning over her shoulder to see Rin talking to Haru though his eyes seemed dull as he spoke, "What did he say when you told him?"

"Oh well he just kind of stayed quiet and then said 'okay'."

"Oh," Misaki's eyes stayed on Rin until his gaze flicked towards her and she was forced to look away.

"I think you should talk to him," Makoto said as he dug into his back pocket to pull out his wallet, "There's no reason why you guys shouldn't be friends. Even if it may be awkward now I'm sure you can move past it."

Misaki shouldn't have been surprised but she was. She knew that Makoto worried about what being around Rin would do to her. She knew that he worried if Misaki was really over Rin, but he was willing to put all that aside for her. "You sure?"

"Of course," Makoto's smile was genuine and it caused Misaki's hear t to swell, "So you want a strawberry shake?"

"I can pay for it," it was a feeble attempt considering Makoto wasn't about to let that happen, "Yes please," she relented before wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Thank you," she whispered, pressing her ear against his chest to try to hear his steady heartbeat, "Thank you."

The night air was a few degrees cooler but as Misaki slowly walked down the street she couldn't help but think about autumn. Leaves changing color, temperatures cooling, fall festivals- it was Misaki's favorite time of year and she couldn't wait for it to get here. Hazel eyes stared up at the starry sky and the trees moving in the gentle breeze. It was easier to stare up at the sky than look to her right where Rin was walking besides her.

"So," Rin started, breaking the silence, "You and Makoto huh?"

Misaki's heart jumped causing her exhale to become trapped in her throat. There it fought to get out, fought to release the tension which had knotted her stomach. Once she released the breath she felt indescribable guilt begin to fall onto her shoulders. "Yeah," she muttered, "Ten months." She broke the promise ten months ago. She gave up on Rin ever coming back that day she told Makoto 'yes' and the thought of that made Misaki want to cry.

"I-" Rin tried to speak but he simply couldn't. His slow steps came to a stop, a deep breath filling his lungs as he opened his mouth once more, "You're failing math?"

"What?" Misaki turned around to see Rin looking down at the ground, obviously upset yet his comment about her math grade thoroughly distracted her.

"Haru told me."

Misaki crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm not failing."

"Makoto said you needed a tutor," Rin smirked, his mood seeming to pick up as he watched Misaki squirm under his gaze.

"When did you guys have this conversation about me?"

"Doesn't matter," Rin shrugged, placing his hands into his pant pockets and beginning to walk forward once more, "So you're gonna be in summer school?"

"I haven't seen you in so long and you really want to talk about my math grade?" Misaki hadn't meant for it to sound so angry but it did. It sounded like an insult and she could see Rin's entire being tense up for a moment.

"No I don't," his voice was low and his eyes stayed forward rather than turning towards the girl on his left, "Makoto asked if I'd tutor you."

Misaki knew Makoto pretty well but this…this surprised her completely. "He what?"

"Yeah yeah I know," Rin huffed as he rubbed the back of his head, "I told him even I probably couldn't help you get out of summer school."

It was a joke. Or an insult. Misaki wasn't sure until she saw Rin smirk and her eyes narrowed in response, "I don't need a tutor."

"You sure Miss. 67% average? You need at least a C to pass right?"

Now Misaki was both fuming and embarrassed. Of all the things for Rin to know about the current Misaki it just had to be her low math grade. "Yes and I can raise it. And even if I didn't I wouldn't mind summer school."

"Bullshit. Iwatobi's summer break comes so late that it's basically fall and the last thing you want to do in the beginning of fall is be sitting in a classroom."

After Misaki took in the fact that Rin just cursed (further adding to her realizing how much older they now were) she took a minute to think about why Rin had said that. He remembered something like that, Misaki thought trying to think of probably the one random conversation where she told Rin that fall was her favorite season.

"Why would you even want to tutor me?"

Rin turned his gaze towards the young woman, his eyes unreadable and his mouth slightly agape, "I don't want to but Makoto asked me to. I'm doing him a favor."

"Then no, I don't want you to tutor me," Misaki stated before she stared speed walking away.

"Wait why!?"

"I didn't like your reason."

"You're joking."

"Nope," Misaki popped the 'p' and continued walking down the street.

"What was I supposed to say!?"

"The truth."

"Hey! Hey!" Rin's hand latched onto Misaki's wrist and pulled her back, "Look I…ugh god damn it you really haven't changed have you?"

Misaki could feel her pulse beating beneath Rin's grasp. His hands were warm and rough, dried out from being in the pool so much. His grasp caused an uncomfortable strain on her wrist but instead of pulling away she took a step towards him to add some slack. A deep inhale filled her nostrils with the smell of Rin's musky cologne that radiated off of him like heat from the sun. Hazel focused on the arm that was connected to hers through the power of touch. Arms defined with muscles that had not been there five years before. Rounded shoulders leading to a broad chest which took deep breaths and Misaki wondered if he was inhaling her floral perfume. If he was thinking the same thing she was. If he was captivated and confused at how much they had changed yet how nostalgic the skin to skin contact was.

If this was true nostalgia, if Rin was the same as when he was twelve he would have just said what Misaki wanted to hear. He would have admitted to wanting to help her, to wanting to reconnect with her but things were different and all Misaki got was an exasperated sigh and a "Do you want me to help you or not?"

Misaki stayed silent for a moment, trying to wait Rin out to see if he'd change his answer but finally she let out a sigh along with a mumbled 'sure' before pulling her wrist out of his grasp and releasing his hold on her.

"Okay," Rin stated as he rolled his shoulders back, "Be at Samezuka tomorrow at four and don't be late."

Author's Note: Thanks so so much to Pinkychick1 for leaving a review! I'm so happy to hear that you like this story so far! Also thanks to those who have followed and favorited this story and a big thanks to any and all readers of this story- I'd love to hear your thoughts as well so leave a review :)