Chapter 21

"Me and Patty are going to study," said Liz, getting up from the lunch table.

"See you after school," I said. I went back to reading my book, but before I could turn the page I felt Maka nudge me with her foot.

I looked up. She and Soul were sitting across from me, and they had mischievous looks upon their faces.

"What?" I said.

"I knew it," said Soul.

"Knew what?"

"You. Crona." He grinned.

I shot Maka a look, but she didn't even have the decency to look remorseful. She simply smiled and shrugged. "I had to tell him," she said.

"Fine," I said, "But no need to bring it up now."

"Maka told me you're gonna confess," said Soul. I glared at Maka again, and this time she looked a little sheepish.

"You make it sound like some high school shojo romance," I said.

"That's what it is, isn't it?" said Soul. I rolled my eyes.

"But seriously, dude," he said, "You should do it."

"And why is that?" I said. "Crona isn't interested in me."

"I beg to differ," said Maka.

"We don't even know if he's gay or not," I said.

"Then we better find out," said Soul.

I sighed and closed my book, too distracted now.

"It isn't that easy," I said.

"Kid!" Soul slammed the table for emphasis. "Act like a man!"

I cringed. "What."

"I get it, you're scared that he might reject you," said Soul, "But you need to stop acting like a wimp. If you don't tell him, you'll stay mopey forever -"

"I'm not mopey -"

"- and all lonely, and he'll get swept away by some other guy -"

"- and I'm pretty sure he's not gay -"

" - but if you don't try," said Soul, "Then nothing will ever happen."

I stopped trying to interject. He was being serious.

"Do you want to keep living with an unrequited love?Why don't you just save yourself the time and pain and get it over with?" Soul sighed. "If he doesn't turn out to be your soul mate, then fine. At least you tried, right?"

"What if he hates me?" I said quietly.

Maka placed a hand on mine.

"Then we'll be here for you," she said. Her eyes have never been kinder.

"Go," said Maka.

"I don't want to," I said, knowing how childish I sounded.

"Come on," whispered Soul. "Do it quick."

"Like ripping off a bandaid," said Maka.

"You guys are so encouraging," I hissed.

We were hiding behind a bookcase, watching Crona take notes from a book at an empty table.

"Hurry," said Maka, "The librarian is getting suspicious."

"Who cares about Ms. Franks," said Soul.

We all turned back to peer at Crona, but someone was now with him.

"Now Mark is there," I said, recognizing the spiky hair.

"Dammit," said Maka.

"Well, we tried," I said.

"No, just go," said Soul, "Say you need to talk to him in private or something."

I was about to make a retort, but Soul grabbed my arm and pushed me out from the safety of the bookcase. He gave me a thumbs up, and I gulped and turned around to face Crona. I slowly walked up to them, clearing my throat.

Startled, he looked up.

"Hey, Kid," said Mark, before Crona could get a chance to speak.

"Hi," I said, not even trying to hide the dryness in my voice. Before my nerves could fail me, I said, "Could I have a moment in private with Crona?"

He grinned. "Anything you can say in front of him, you can say in front of me." He clapped Crona's shoulder. "Isn't that right?"

I calmly brushed his hand off of Crona. "I'd rather you not listen in," I said.

He stared at me a second before the grin returned to his face.

"No problem," he said, getting up from the chair. I watched him saunter away.

"Kid?" said Crona.

"Crona. Hi." I glanced at him, and felt my face flush. He was looking up at me through his choppy pink hair, making his dark eyes bigger than usual. I felt my eyes darting everywhere but his face.

"Why don't you sit down?" said Crona, pushing the chair out for me.

"R-Right." I sat down, too quickly. My tail bone slammed into the heavy chair painfully. I winced.

"You okay?" said Crona.

"Yeah!" I said, my voice suddenly high. "Yup, I'm fine."

"So . . ." He tucked a piece of hair behind his ear. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Um . . ." I shoved a finger in my collar and pulled it away from my neck. I swallowed, and I could see Maka and Soul looking at me eagerly from behind the books. I opened my mouth slightly, hesitant, and was just about to speak when Ragnarok appeared from Crona's back.