I cast a furtive glance around the fast food place and swallowed the urge to sigh. Rowdy laughter reached my ears and I turned my attention back to our table.

My companions seemed to be enjoying themselves, good for them. We were an even numbered group; the boys and girl were divided equally. I could easily see Kadota's attempt at matchmaking and I had to admire the pairs he came up with.

Beside me sat a very cute girl, her hair dyed blonde like mine with huge made-up eyes. She had a well-proportioned body that would make guys stare unintentionally. I'm pretty sure they mentioned her name in the introductions but I couldn't even remember the first syllable.

"Shizuo-kun?"

She had a tiny voice, nasal and mildly irritating.

"Mm?"

"Ahh you seem kind of out of it..." She was looking up at me with concern and curiosity swimming in those wide eyes and I thought of puppies begging for attention.

"Sorry, I wasn't able to sleep well last night." I tried to give her my most dazzling smile but it turned out crooked. I hoped it didn't look like a sneer.

"Why not?"

"Ahh, well..."

I shrugged. She was leaning closer to me with each word she spoke and I swear her boob brushing on my arm was in no way an accident.

"You seem very tense." her voice was a purr and her hand was sliding up my arm.

I wanted to cringe.

Actually, I wanted to leave.

Kadota caught my eye and I saw the pleading in his eyes. he raised one hand in a gesture saying 'please' and the irritation gnawed at my temples.

'Please, Shizuo. One of the girls really wants to meet you and the others won't go if she doesn't.' his words from earlier rang in my ears

Damn you, Kadota, and this situation you forced me into!

Beside me the girl what's-her-name was idly playing with the hem of my sleeve, babbling on and on, her words escaping me completely.

I forced myself to smile at her and feigned attention, nodding every now and then, hoping she wasn't asking me any open ended questions.

"...Right?"

I nodded again in reply. And when she grinned back at me, I felt immensely relieved.

Now, I just wish the time would fly faster until I can make up an excuse to leave when a decent amount of time passed by.

I played this game too many times already, only this time I wasn't in the least bit interested.

At least not with this one.

And then like always, my thought drifted back to him.

It has been four days since that rainy afternoon. After that rainy day, I had only seen him a couple of times in school. Brief glances that left me wanting.

And this afternoon, I purposely left as soon as the bell rung and waited by the school gates, hoping to be able to walk home with him.

And then Kadota happened.

Damnit!

Izaya... I want to see you again, Izaya...

Something from the corner of my eye caught my attention. A girl was waving her hand, beckoning to someone.

"Izayan! Over here! Over here~!"

Upon hearing those words that was like a whiplash to my senses, I found myself sitting up straight and searching for the source.

I wasn't the only one who was looking around the area, scanning the crowd. Much to my surprise, Kadota was also doing the same thing. I lost concentration in what I was doing, curious as to what Kadota was up to, when I saw his face break into a smile.

My head did a quick one hundred eighty degree spin it made me a bit dizzy, just to see what could make my friend smile like that.

That was when I saw him. Dark unruly hair. Porcelain skin. Fur trimmed.. jacket?

Kadota's voice snapped me out of my reverie.

"Izaya! Walker! Erika!"

The trio moved towards our table, headed by the too energetic girl.

"Dotachin~! It's been a while! Ahh Togusa couldn't make it today, he has the flu~"

The people in our table guffawed and teased at the silly nickname.

"From now on I'm calling you 'Dotachin~' too!" Kana quipped beside me.

"You can't!"

"Awhs. But you let them call you Dotachin! Dotachin is being unfair!"

"Don't! Gahhh.. Rather than letting them call me as such..."

While this was going on, my attention was riveted on Izaya, who seemed to be avoiding my gaze. There was a slightly pained look in his eyes and his lips were quivering.

"Dotachin is a special nickname so only we're allowed to call him that, okay?"

The people at our table looked up at him in surprise.

He seemed to have composed himself and there was a different aura radiating from him, almost threatening in a way. Suddenly, he grinned and made me wonder if that previous helpless look was just my imagination.

Dotachin, erm, I mean Kadota also smiled at him, then.

"It's true you guys. Only they can call me that. I don't think I can stand if it more people called me by that embarrassing nickname. Ah, by the way!"

Kadota maneuvered himself so instead of sitting by the window, he positioned himself at the edge of the seat.

"My friends from middle school. Erika."

"Nyao~!"

"And Walker."

"Hi!"

"And this is Izaya."

"Pleasure."

Just his breathy voice made me shiver in response.

As Kadota introduced us to the trio, I couldn't help but feel annoyed. Izaya was really avoiding me and I couldn't fathom why...

"And, this here is Shizuo!"

Still, he wouldn't look at me.

In the end they sat with us at the table, Izaya sitting directly from me and yet we haven't exchanged a single word yet. My ears were trained on all the conversations going around me, waiting to find an opportune moment to talk to him.

"Ne, ne, Shizuo-kun~ Afterwards we're going to karaoke! Will you come along with?"

I tore my eyes away from Izaya, whose hair was being ruffled by my best friend.

"I don't think I- "

And then something clicked.

I looked back at the boy I was pining for, totally unaware of my existence.

I'm right in front of you, damnit!

And still he was acting like I wasn't even there.

Notice me, why won't you!

But at the back of my head, I might have figured out the reason why he wouldn't give me a whit of attention.

I didn't need to spell it out loud, especially to myself, because just the scene unfolding in front of me fucking hurts too much.

Heheh...

What was this horrible feeling clogging my throat?

You're both being so lovey-dovey in front of me when I'm sitting here being desperate and needy.

"I… I'm leaving. ", I mumbled.

"Wanna go somewhere together?" She whispered into my ear.

I gave her a hard long stare. She was really cute and all, but I'm attracted to someone else.

"I'm sorry." I patted her head once and left without another word.

I ignored everyone's calls from behind me.

I knew was being rude but fuck it! I was too pissed off to care.

His words came rushing back at me.

"I want to seduce someone, only I don't know how... you know."

I felt sick to my stomach and a frustration like I have not known before twisted my insides.

I wanted to cry, damnit!

I wanted to cry…

A/N:

Silly Shizuo is so adorbs. c:

Thank you very much to Rikka-tan, unjaundiced, and mika-chan for the reviews! They made me so happy and gave me the energy to write more!