AN- Time: 12:44 AM. Sometimes you just can't wait any longer.
Sorry if this whole chapter ends up being a fail. I've been stressing about it since the very beginning, so it has to be just so.
"Um, I..." Blue struggled to get the words out.
"Just spit it out already!" the other boy giggled, his brown eyes sparkling.
Those few words, while seeming insignificant, popped the bubble lingering in Blue's chest. Suddenly all of his feelings were released, floating freely, and his world was lips pressed against lips.
It wasn't until he backed away– until he saw the shocked and disgusted stares of his classmates– that he realized he had done something wrong. But he was only in third grade; his parents never talked to him about this stuff!
Still, he should've known.
"What...?" Red says in a strained squeak. "Just... just like Shadow?"
"I don't know, I think Shadow's bi...," is the simple nonsense that spouts out of Blue's mouth. (1)
"Oh...," Red mumbles. Awkward silence ensues until Red finally whispers–
"I-I think I am, too..."
Blue grows still. Red doesn't talk about himself much, and now that he does, Blue feels a swelling in his chest, moving up and down.
"Is that why you were crying?"
Red shakes his head violently, as if he's trying to get a bug out of his hair without actually touching it. Blue scowls.
"Then what is it?" Blue knows he's being unreasonable; nosy, even– that he has no right to go about Red's business like this– but he just can't understand why Red can't tell him! Blue's spilled his deepest, darkest secret (well, most of it, that is), so why can't Red do the same?
"I-I-I can't tell you," Red insists, avoiding Blue's eyes.
"Bullcrap," Blue mutters, ignoring the thin layer of water coating Red's lower eyelid. "You can tell me, you just don't want to!" He stands up, glaring down at Red, who is still on the bench, gazing up at him with eyes that reflect the sky. "I trust you, Red. Why can't you trust me?"
"B-because I'm not ready to!" Red shrieks, rising from the bench.
Blue is forced to ignore the stares simmering at his back. Mind your own business, he thinks defiantly.
"Blue...," Red sighs, looking at him straight-on. "I trust you– I really do– but, it's just... I'm not ready to tell you some things yet."
"What things?" Blue snaps, dismissing the pang of guilt he gets when Red flinches.
"It's personal...," Red murmurs, sitting down on the bench. Blue feels his anger slide out of him. Red is upset, and he only wants to help. But how can he help if Red won't tell him what's wrong? On the other hand, Blue realizes; he loves Red, he does...
...But how can he show Red that when he can't tell him?
No, no, no. Last time he tried that, it ended in disaster. But if that had never happened... lead up the chain of events... he never would have become friends with Red... and never would have fallen in love again.
It's a mixed bag, and Blue sits beside Red to let himself absorb it all.
"Red," he forces himself to say, "listen, I just wanted to help."
"How?" Red says, his voice laced with anger– or frustration, maybe. Oh goddesses, Blue hopes it's only frustration.
"By making you feel better," Blue says simply, shrugging. Red turns to him slowly and gives him a smile– and it's the strangest smile Blue's ever seen. So full of life and happiness, like all of Red's smiles, yet there's something hidden behind there– something Red doesn't want him to know.
"You know, Blue, you're not as bad as everyone says you are," he pauses, and it's killing Blue. "In fact, you're actually really nice."
Blue fights the red wave rushing to his face, not just because Red complimented him, but because he knows now is the perfect time. Go on, tell him how you feel. He's not a demon, he won't strike you down. Maybe he likes you too. You'll never know unless you find out.
"R-Red?" he tries not to sound hesitant, and in his eagerness, stutters a bit.
"Yeah?"
"Um, I..." The words replay in his head. "Um, I..."
Red waits patiently. He doesn't urge Blue to go on, just sits and waits.
Oh screw words. I can do better.
So he reaches out, and pulls Red into a tight hug. Red gasps at the contact, but doesn't push away. Blue backs up as much as he can, while still keeping his arms around Red, and kisses him on the cheek.
Well, it was supposed to be on the cheek. Instead, it lands on Red's jaw line, and Blue immediately jumps away, mortified. (2) Red stares past Blue in a daze, before finally regaining his attention and staring straight at Blue.
"Wha... huh?" Red mumbles in his struggle to form a coherent reply.
"I-I, I really like you," Blue explains, dashing through the words. "More than I... should."
Red's reaction is unexpected. He hops out of his seat and stands beside Blue. Flinging his arms around Blue's neck, he chirps, "Oh, Blue, do you really like me? Really, really?"
"Y-yes, really!" Blue exclaims, turning bright pink. He struggles to detatch Red. "Now get off!"
Red obeys, stepping back with a wide grin on his face. And to somehow break the awkward silence, Red does the worst– and best– possible thing.
He leans forward and kisses Blue.
Blue's eyes almost instantly flutter shut, and he grabs ahold of Red's shoulder's pulling his closer.
This. This is better than being the bully. This is better than being the villain. This is better than being the bad guy. Because the bad guy doesn't get the girl.
And the bad guy certainly never gets the boy.
(1)- Yes, he is.
(2)- The whole hugging and accidentally kissing on the neck– yeah, true story. XD Go me. I was SO embarrassed, I ran away.
