Don't Break My Heart

Part 10

The smaller cheerleader beams at the sound of her name passing those lips, it's been about a month since he even looked at her. She was supposed to be his girlfriend, he said he wanted to go out with her, but he changed his mind after the first few weeks. She can't say much about that, as she had the best sex she's ever had in that time, but she really wants to be with Grimmjow. She likes living the high life, but she can only do so if she has a rich boyfriend like Grimmjow. He bought her the finest gifts, took her to the most extravagant places, and now he's wasting his money on that pathetic artist.

"I've missed you," she smiles.

"… Okay, well… What can I do for you?"

"We should go out sometime."

"Hinamori, we broke up, remember?" Grimmjow sighs in exasperation. "I've moved on, I'm with Ichigo. If I go out with anyone, it's going to be him."

"There's no reason we can't be friends," she frowns. "Your birthday is coming up, I just wanted to take you out for a birthday dinner. The track team and the cheerleaders will be there, too."

"… Oh. I guess that's fine," he says sheepishly. "So, what are you here for?"

"Nell wanted me to come and get you."

"What for?"

"Well… she… has something of Ichigo's that she wants to give you. Said you could return it to him."

"Sure!" he smiles. "Just let me gather my stuff."

He reaches down to pick up the bag, noting a few drops of blood on it and almost passing out. This is Ichigo's bag, so wherever he happens to be he's injured. Panic flits through his eyes, the tall jock calming his breathing before lifting the bag and turning back to the small girl.

"You know what? That's fine, Nell can handle that," he states. "I just remembered that I have stuff to do. I'll see you later, okay?"

"… Definitely. Later, Grimmjow," she grins.

The minute she's gone, Grimmjow starts pacing in worry. He runs his hands through his blue locks, sighing as he tries to think of where Ichigo might go. The orangette scoots back, not wanting to deal with Grimmjow right now. Unfortunately, Grimmjow hears the leaves rustle and turns his gaze to the bushes. He leans forward and pulls the leaves apart to reveal his boyfriends large amber orbs.

"Kitten!" he grins with a hint of relief. "You scared the shit out of me. Are you… Ichi, what happened?"

His tone is urgent as his eyes lock on the blood coating his arm, a hand reaching out to pull Ichigo from the brush and set him on the bench. Tears are hanging to the corners of Ichigo's eyes, though they're not all from the pain of his injury. He doesn't know what to make of the cheerleader, doesn't know how to take the obvious competition, and he has a horrible feeling of distrust growing within him at the thought that Grimmjow might actually like her.

"Hey, it's okay," the jock says softly. "I'll get you to the nurse, all right? Everything will be fine. How did this happen, anyway? And what were you doing in the bushes?"

"I was hiding from my friends," Ichigo blushes hotly. "They wouldn't leave me alone so I came out here. When I heard the cheerleaders coming, I thought it was them and hid in the brush. My arm hit the rose bush… but I didn't come out because Nell was with them."

"I wouldn't have either," Grimmjow mumbles. "But you should've come out when I was here, Kitten."

"… That girl was here," Ichigo says quietly. "You knew her?"

"Hinamori? Yeah, I dated her for a few weeks… she wasn't the type I'd call one of my best choices."

"Would you go back to her?"

"I have you, why would I lower my standards?" Grimmjow chuckles. "Look, Kitten, she was a mistake that I'm not too keen on repeating. I love you and I'm not going to hurt you like that. I already told you… you'll have to break my heart this time."

Ichigo nods, letting Grimmjow look over his arm. He's still not certain about this new girl, but he trusts Grimmjow and wants to be with him. The other sighs after checking his arm over, pulling off his white tank top and replacing the crimson button up he wore over it… Ichigo practically drools at the sight of the flawless chest built like stone. The tank top is dipped in the koi pond's waterfall feature, Grimmjow returning to wash the drying blood off the bronze skin he loves so much.

"I think she still has feelings for you," Ichigo murmurs.

"I think she's a tad psycho," Grimmjow scoffs. "She's a really nice girl and all, wouldn't mind being friends… but… something just isn't right about her."

"…"

"Ichigo? What do you think?" the jock wonders. "Would you mind if I stayed friends with her?"

"It's not my decision who you befriend," Ichigo says. "It's not like I have room to talk… Shuuhei wants to be friends with me again."

"Are you serious? You told him no, right?"

"… No I didn't. I spoke to Renji, I told him I would give him a second chance… but I didn't want him thinking he'd get anything more from me. So, if you want to be friends with Hinamori, go ahead… I won't say anything."

"But you don't like the idea."

"Do you like the idea of me being around Shuuhei without you?" Ichigo frowns.

"Of course not! I'm shocked you'd even let him in again!"

"Okay, look… let's make a deal," Ichigo compromises. "Neither of us will hang out with our exs unless the other is present, okay? That way neither of us needs to worry about… stuff… happening."

"… You don't trust me," Grimmjow frowns.

"I do! It's her I don't trust."

"All right, all right," the jock sighs. "Agreed. Now… do you think you can get home on your own after school?"

"So you can go with Ulquiorra? Yeah, sure," Ichigo waves off. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Whoa, wait a minute… tomorrow? I thought we could go out tonight or something… Are you angry with me?"

"No, not at all," Ichigo smiles. "Uryu said he has some big news for me and wants me to go out to eat with him and the others. I was going to go after we spent some time together, but… well, if you're going to be busy I don't have to worry about being late."

"But you'll be at my place tonight, right?" Grimmjow asks in worry.

"I don't know when I'm getting back, I don't want to wake you," Ichigo blushes.

"Don't worry about it," he shrugs off. "Here… I had this made for you yesterday. I just forgot to give it to you."

"… A key?"

"Yeah, it's a spare key to my house," Grimmjow grins. "My home is your home, feel free to use it when you need to. I don't mind, really… you practically live there now anyway and it would be too weird without you."

"… Okay, okay," Ichigo says with a tiny smile. "I'll be at your place tonight."

"I'll leave some clothes out for you."

"Don't bother," the orangette blushes. "I'll pack a bag, okay? I should have my own clothes at your place, since I've been staying every night… It's getting kind of hard to avoid my friends when they see me in your clothes."

"I'll see you tonight then," Grimmjow smiles as he kisses Ichigo.

"I'm not going to wake you up, am I?"

"I hope so! See you later, Kitten!"

Ichigo waves as Grimmjow hurries off, smiling widely until the other gets out of sight. With a dreamy sigh, he gathers his bag and heads out to meet with Uryu and the rest of their ragtag party. As he walks past the track, he catches sight of Nelliel talking to the cheerleaders… and Hinamori watching Grimmjow with longing. A wave of fury overcomes him, the need to make it clear who Grimmjow belongs with rising like bile. With a low growl, he turns away from the track and runs to the campus gates.

"So… what's this awesome news, Uryu?" Ichigo asks as he plays with his spaghetti.

They've gone out to an Italian restaurant, as that's Rukia's and Orihime's favorite. Around their table is Uryu, Ichigo, Orihime, Rukia, Byakuya, Chad, Toshiro, Rangiku, Renji… and Shuuhei. Ichigo is as far away from Shuuhei as possible, having texted Grimmjow to tell him and inform him he wasn't about to be alone with the other. He also requested he come pick Ichigo up as soon as possible, as he was still a bit uncomfortable around Shuuhei and he had gotten a ride from Uryu.

"Well," the raven grins. "I made a few samples of your designs… and Byakuya sent them out."

"… That's it?"

"… We've been chosen to take part in a fashion show!" he squeals excitedly. "They said your designs were ingenious and you showed much promise! Oh, I'm so excited! Isn't this great?"

"When is it?" Ichigo grins.

"This Saturday!"

"… Oh."

Everyone looks at the crestfallen look on Ichigo's face, eyes sweeping the table and finding that no one has a clue as to what's going on. Shuuhei is the first one to speak up, startling Ichigo into dumping some of his food off his plate.

"Did you already have plans, Ichigo?" he wonders.

"Well… Friday is Grimmjow's birthday," he murmurs. "I couldn't spend it with him because I have to work, so we were going to out on Saturday."

"We can't reschedule this, Ichigo," Rukia frowns. "Can't you two go out on Sunday instead?"

"… I'll talk to him," Ichigo sighs.

"Something else is bothering you, isn't it, Berry?" the raven haired singer inquires.

"Please don't call me that, Shuuhei," Ichigo murmurs uncomfortably. "And it's nothing… just… girl troubles."

"But you're dating a guy," Renji points out.

"A girl is after him, is that it?" Shuuhei questions. "I remember this is how you acted when you were jealous of girls around me."

"… She's cute and smart and a cheerleader," Ichigo sighs miserably. "And she dated Grimmjow before me. She looks really into him."

"He dumped her? Or was it the other way around?"

"I don't know, he didn't say. Why does it matter?"

"You dumped me and I would take you back in a heartbeat," Shuuhei shrugs. "I think it matters."

"Don't worry about it, Ichi," Renji says with a glare Shuuhei's way. "You trust Grimmjow, right? He'd never hurt you? Well, let him deal with it then. If he thought she was a mistake, he's smart enough not to make it again."

"… I hope so."

Grimmjow never showed up, so Ichigo never went to his place. His heart hurt terribly, his eyes red and puffy from crying all the way home. As he lay in bed that night, he stares at the ceiling wide awake. He's so used to his boyfriends arms wrapped around him, to his scent surrounding him, to his body exhausting his own so he can sleep peacefully. A crack of thunder sounds, lightening opening up the clouds to let the rain pour down. In his own apartment, Ichigo has no one to keep him company… so he just curls up and cries.