I'm too lazy to write a long chapter hehe
Note: Ed Kennedy is from the Messenger. Heads up for some references to the books in future chapters. And to my guest reviewers, thank you so much for your kind comments! I'm glad you like this story so far ^_^ (I don't think I can reply to guest reviews so I'll just thank you guys here :P)
Today's special: a caramel vanilla cake with chocolate frosting. Kageyama poked a small fluffy piece of cake off the plate and brought the plastic fork to his lips. Mmm. The sweetness and scrumptiousness exploded across his tongue. He reached over across the table with his fork again to take another bite.
"Heyy, don't eat it all!" Hinata, who was resting his head on the edge of table reading The Book Thief balanced on his lap, looked up and frowned, but with a hint of playfulness dancing across his eyes. Kageyama frowned back at him and boldly stuffed a large piece of cake with extra frosting into his mouth, chewing purposefully.
"You're the one who decided to just buy an extra-large slice instead of two smaller ones. Serves you right if you don't get to eat it." Kageyama said huffily between chews. He suddenly noticed the glaring red crease-mark on Hinata's forehead from leaning on the table. "By the way, you should do something about your forehead. It's weird." Hinata immediately reached up his hand to his forehead, and his fingers traced the red bumps.
"Huhh? Was this from the table? Is it bad?" Hinata flushed a bit in embarrassment as he rubbed his forehead.
Kageyama swallowed his cake and lied. "…Yeah, it actually is." Hey it's revenge for how he always teases me! Make him uncomfortable for once. Ha. "It's so red and obvious and large—"
"Okay, okay, don't look at mee!" whined Hinata. He grabbed his own fork and the cake plate from the table, folded up his legs onto the chair so he looked like a roly-poly, then spun around on his butt so his back faced Kageyama across the table. Slightly sulking and curled up in a ball, he nibbled away at the cake. Kageyama's eyebrows slightly wrinkled in confusion and he bit his lip. Is he actually mad? Or is he pretending? Wait if he is mad I should probably apologize, like for making him feel bad or self-conscious or something. But that'd look stupid if I apologize and he's actually pretending… I still don't really know how to act considerate of others. Can I say something not offensive out loud to other people? Should I try? Okay… Kageyama attempted to say something, but nothing came out. Another try, this time with a sharper intake of breath. Nope. Kageyama started to sweat nervously as he stared at the back of Hinata's white and pastel pink striped shirt. Hey his shirt sorta looks like a strawberry cake. Hold on this is not the time for this! Can you even offer an apology to the only person you actually hang out with? What's wrong with you? But he still couldn't. Frustrated, he involuntarily let out a choked, garbled sound from this throat, and Hinata spun back around on his butt to investigate "What was that noise? Are you okay? Anyways, ha! I was joking just now. Here's the cake!" He smiled, set the plate back onto the table, and wiped his mouth with his hand. "I did eat some though. Hm?" Hinata curiously looked at Kageyama, who had not spoken a word, and whose eyes looked stormy and hazy. "What's wrong?"
Sometimes, I'm so pitiful. I act so lonely and everything, but when people actually approach me, I can't bring myself to even seem like I care, even though I actually do, I just don't know how to show it. That's why I've been alone for so long. Hinata's just been a fluke; I wonder why he even hangs out with me. It's already been a few months since we started doing this… How is HE able to interact with others so easily? "I'm pathetic." Kageyama blurted out, then clapped his hand over his mouth. Shut up!
"What do you mean?" Hinata's voice altered, and now an undertone of concern dusted his words.
"Never mind." Kageyama purposely avoided eye contact with him and sank lower in his chair.
"Why would you say that?" Hinata persisted gently, still worried. Oh my god he's so worried about this I shouldn't have said anything and let us do what we usually do, that peaceful cake eating and reading and shit.
"I'm Ed." Words stumbled out his mouth. "I'm Ed Kennedy. Sometimes I feel so useless. Without a purpose. I don't know how to form relationships with anyone. I don't know what I'm doing with my life. " Kageyama laughed self-deprecatingly, then stopped. You don't have to burden him with this. Just stop. "But hey, it's totally fine. It doesn't matter. Haha, I lied!" Kageyama plastered on his usual, cool demeanor and nervously folded and unfolded his hands. His eyes darted up to Hinata's face. Even though he usually wore his heart on his sleeve, his face was unreadable, and he seemed lost in thought. Kageyama swallowed nervously and blinked rapidly. Did I just totally scare him away?
"…Where's your house?" Hinata asked, his expression returning to normal.
"…What?" What did he just say?
"I'm going to your house tonight. We're having a sleepover. It's gonna be awesomeee!"Hinata cheered and hopped out of his seat to gather his belongings and the cake (of course). Kageyama's jaw dropped and his eyeballs nearly popped out of his sockets, completely dumbstruck at Hinata's sudden energy level change and the idea he just offered. Excuse me? A sleepover? He just invited himself to my place? Even though I said all that weird stuff? What's wrong with him? We've just been meeting at the library and café and stuff, are we even on the level where we go to each other's houses? I don't know?! He inwardly sighed to himself. He always somehow gets what he wants at the end… Sneaky bastard. I better give in sooner than later. I just have to make through the night.
"Fine, fine, fine. It's already late." Kageyama rubbed his eyes, defeated, collected his items into his bag, and slung it over his shoulder. "I'll leave you behind if you don't catch up." With long, quick strides, he quickly walked from their study corner to the front entrance of the library and out the door. Behind him, he could hear a startled Hinata scrambling to catch up while eating cake. The glass doors quietly slid open, and Kageyama stepped outside. The late-spring sun hung low on the horizon, haphazardly casting streaks of shadow and glimmers of golden-orange everywhere. A small voice whispered to him in the back of his mind as he was distracted by these rays dancing across the sidewalk in front of him. Why did he suggest coming over to your house so suddenly?
"Kageyamaaaa, don't leave me behind! Oi!" Kageyama vaguely heard the automatic doors open and shut, and Hinata ran up next to him and complained. "Geez, the librarian yelled at me for running inside!"
"Whatever, we're going now." Kageyama groaned, shaken out of his daze, and started walking down the sidewalk, Hinata keeping pace with him.
Is it because of his just random bursts of ideas?
"Hey, psst, can I eat the rest of the cake?" Hinata whispered next to him, He stared down at the plate in his hands longingly.
Or is it because he did it to cheer you up?
"…Knock yourself out."
"Yay, thanks Kageyamaa." Hinata grinned widely and started to dig in, chewing eagerly. "Mmmm."
"…It's nothing."
I hope you fellow fangirls don't get too excited because Hinata's sleeping over, if you know what I mean. ;) *That* won't happen, the two still have to figure out their feelings... ya nerds. (also, link to my tumblr/ao3 in my bio/profile if you wanna check it out :D)