Chapter 9: Butterflies

Shizu's P.O.V.

As I waited for the sun to go down and everyone to fall asleep, all I can think of is Lio. He was so nice to me and he wants to meet me tonight at the base of Pride Rock! I smile to myself knowing that I care about him.

When I finally look up again, I notice everyone in the cave is asleep and the sun is on the horizon, making the sky light up with an assortment of colors.

I silently get to my feet and quickly make my way to the base of Pride Rock to meet Lio. I notice my paws are shaking and my heart is racing as I lay low in the grass. I'm nervous. What if I screw everything up? What if he doesn't like me? What if he doesn't show?

My questions are interrupted by a warm body lying next to me. It was Lio. My heart starts to flutter even more and my stomach twists. The nervousness was killing me.

"Hey there, beautiful." Lio smiles sweetly at me as he looks me in the eyes.

"H-hi Lio." I try to smile and look him in the eyes, but every time I do, I blush insanely.

"You're so cute when you blush Shizu," Lio says making me blush even more. The thought of his side pressing against mine made me want to faint too.

"T-Thanks Lio," I stutter, trying to think of what to say, "Can I uhm.. ask you something?" I look down at my feet.

"You can ask me anything you want." He gives me another one of his sweet smiles.

"Do y-you erm.. l-like…" I pause.

"Do I like what?" He tilts his head in a manner telling me he was curious about what I was going to finish my question with.

"Er… Nevermind. It's a stupid question." I keep my eyes fixed downward at my feet.

"No, Shizu, please ask me your question. I won't laugh at you." He puts his forepaw under my chin and lifts my face up so he can look me in the eyes. His eyes showed so much compassion in them, I have to ask him the question.

I take a deep breath before I reply. "Lio… Do you like me?" My heart practically stops when I finally ask the question aloud.

He replies almost immediately, "Of course I do Shizu. You are so gentle, kind, caring. You have a beautiful personality. You may be shy, but everyone is at some point in their lifetime." He pauses, "Especially when they are around someone as amazing and beautiful as you." For the first time since I met him, he actually seemed nervous to be talking to me.

"Y-you do?" My eyes light up.

"Yes, Shizu, I do." He looks at me with his apple-green eyes, causing my heart to melt.

"I uh have another question…" I say.

"What is is?" He replies instantly.

"Which kind of 'like' is how you like me?" I ask timidly.

He leans in close to my face, catching me off guard and he kisses my lips deeply for a few seconds before pulling away, leaving me breathless. "That kind of like." He gives me a gentle smile.

I return his smile and answer him, "Good, because that's how I like you too." I look down at my feet, blushing.

"You are so cute when you blush, Shizu!" Lio grins.

This makes me blush even more. "Awwh. Thank you Lio!"

"You're welcome." He pauses. "So uh… Does this make us boyfriend and girlfriend now..?"

I nod my head. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach, and when he pulled me into a hug, my heart lurched at his touch.

Lio's P.O.V.

When I wake up, I realize I am still outside. The sun has barely just risen, but I can feel heat coming from Shizu, curled up against my side, who is still asleep. I smile to myself, watching her spotted fur glow from the sun. She is so beautiful.

She starts to stir, and she opens her eyes to look up at me.

"Good morning, babe." I look deep into her pale blue eyes and smile. "How'd you sleep?"

"I slept okay, ground was a bit hard thought…" She stands up and stretches her back out. "How did you sleep, Lio?"

I think about that for a moment before I answer. "Well… I guess I slept pretty good because I had you there next to me."

"Awwh! Lio! You're making me blush!" She leans into my side again and I put my arm paw her, letting her put her head on my chest.

"I love you." I whisper into her ear.

"I love you too Lio." Shizu nuzzles my cheek.

"I guess my sister was right about you two…" Say's a voice.

Shizu and I look up to see Dae looking at us.

"Should we tell her?" Shizu whispers in my ear.

"Shizu, we can't lie to her…" I give her a nuzzle before I continue. "Dae… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to-"

"No, obviously you didn't care about me Lio." Tears formed in her eyes. "It's over Lio."

"Wait Lio, Dae, what's going on!" Shizu yells confused.

"You stole my boyfriend. That's what!" Dae snaps.

"What are you talking about!" Shizu replys almost in tears.

"Shizu… The truth is… I was kind of… erm… already in a relationship when I started dating you…" Tears form in my own eyes as I realize my mistake. I hurt Dae, and what I just said probably hurt Shizu. "I just felt something so much stronger when I met you Shizu… and I didn't want to hurt Dae…"

"Well you did hurt me! You could have at least told me the truth and broke up with me like a real lion would have done instead of cheat!" Dae ran away in tears before I had the chance to stop her.

"What have I done…" I look away from Shizu, who's disbelieving eyes were on me.

"Lio… I love you, but why would you do that to Dae, she obviously cared about you too…" Shizu looks away from me.

"I didn't know what I was doing… I… I just… I made a mistake… okay? I love you more than Dae, but I never meant to hurt her like that, I was going to break up with her… but… I chickened out… I didn't want to hurt her…" I try to hide myself among the tall grass.

"Lio… I understand… But you did hurt her… I think you should go apologize to her…" She pauses. "I probably should too… considering I guess I stole you from her."

Dae's P.O.V.

I run to my favorite alone spot behind Pride Rock. There's a crevice in the rock back there behind a bush, and it leads into an underground cave. It has a river running through it and lush cave-grass.

I run down there and not but a few minutes later I hear other lion cubs calling my name. I know exactly which cubs they are too. Shizu and Lio. I go to the entrance and peer out. I can't see them yet, so I adjust the bushes branches so they can't see it unless they know what they're looking for.

Soon enough, I see them and they're looking for me in every place they know.

"Shizu… I can't find her!" Lio looks at his paws, ashamed.

"Lio, we are going to find her. You need to apologize and I kind of have to too." Shizu says gently.

Once they aren't facing the bush, I decide to crawl out and let them say what they need to say.

"What do you guys want." I say in a falt voice.

Lio steps forward. "Dae… I'm so sorry. I made a huge mistake in not telling you that I moved on… It sounds terrible to even say it like that… but I want you to accept my apology…" He pauses. "I really hope we can still be friends."

I take a long time before I finally sigh. "Lio… I don't think we will ever be as close of frinends as we were before. No I know we won't. But I accept your apology. I saw the way you looked at Shizu… So loving, so… so… just everything true love sees. You never looked at me as lovingly as that. I knew it wouldn't last and I should have ended it when I saw you look at her. But I wanted it to last. It didn't, but I hope you guys can be everything we weren't." I stop. "I'll always love you in my heart Lio, but I will never love you the same way again."

Lio nods his head. "I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you. I hope you find someone new, someone BETTER than me."

I nod and they both walk away together.

Sorry for such a late update… Schoolwork… you know? But yeah, it may not have been a great chapter because my school experienced the loss of a fellow Viking last night. May Keondre Patterson R.I.P. This is the 4th Viking we've lost. Two to suicide… One in a car crash… and one from an asthma attack. May they all R.I.P. They are gone, but never forgotten. Princeton Pride 24/7