"Uh, we'll just leave you two lovebirds alone." Amanda said, noticing the look in Merry's eyes. Alyssa gave her a look of annoyance, but Merry didn't seem to hear her. "C'mon Pippin." But as she went to stand, she swayed a bit. She clutched her head. "Woah."
"Miss Amanda, you should rest too!" Pippin rushed over to help her.
"No, no." She assured him. "Just a lack of depth perception throwing me off." She smiled at him, although he probably didn't understand what she just said. "Just lead the way." Pippin looked unconvinced, but he did begin walking away.
Merry rushed to make sure Alyssa was comfortable.
"Here." He said, readjusting her ice for her. His eyes looked sympathetic. Alyssa wished he would quit it, but at least it was better than him being suspicious.
"Uh, it still hurts." She said flatly. He helped her lean against a tree.
"Lie down." He said softly. "You must rest." She was far from tired, and he was starting to creep her out. She looked away from him only to see Amanda and Pippin walking away. Suddenly, Amanda tripped and fell on Pippin.
"Look!" Alyssa said, pointing to them.
"Oh my." Merry said. "Do you think they need help?" Alyssa squinted.
"I think she might have killed him."
"No, he's fine." Merry said, looking closer. "But why isn't she getting up?"
"Either she's tired or… they're making out." Alyssa replied awkwardly.
"Making…out?" Merry asked, unsure of the term. Alyssa blushed.
"Um, nevermind." Alyssa answered, seeing that their lips were in fact not touching. "But that does seem really awkward."
"Wait, Pippin just said something!" Merry said, leaning forwards. "I can't hear them, but it looks like 'can you get off?".
"I think Amanda just replied 'not in your dreams.'" Alyssa said, embarrassed by her friend's flirting.
"'Uh…why?'" Merry continued, reading Pippin's lips.
"'You're the sweetest guy I've ever fallen for.'" Alyssa blushed furiously as she struggled to read her friend's lips. "'I made it punny there because I fell and you're here and you're… sweet." Oh Amanda.
"'You're the sweetest girl.'" Merry read.
"Yes, I kn-" Alyssa was cut off as Merry continued.
"'You don't know it like I do.'" Merry said. "'You're kind and pretty and innocent and perfect.'"
"I think Amanda just coughed on him." Alyssa commented.
"'Come on!" Merry continued, ignoring the obvious cough. "You are the light in a sea of darkness and I will do everything in my…power to keep you safe. You are the most pure and amazing maiden I have or will ever meet. No one can compare to you. You're magical."
"Aww, she got off him." Alyssa complained. "No wait! She's saying…'Er no. I'm not all that awesome.'" It was then that it occurred to Alyssa that she may be misreading them, as Amanda would never miss a chance to boast.
"Miss Alyssa?" Merry said.
"Um, I'm pretty sure he said 'Miss Amanda'." Alyssa responded. Suddenly she looked over to Merry. "Wait, you're not even looking at them?! How are you quoting him then?"
"I'm not." Merry replied honestly. "I'm quoting from my heart."
"Oh." Alyssa glanced over, and it seemed Pippin was irritated about something. She gave up trying to read their lips. "So… you have a crush on Amanda?"
"What? No!" Merry shook his head. Amanda was leaning towards Pippin. Alyssa tried to focus on them and OH MY GOSH WERE THEY ABOUT TO KISS?! OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY! …No, wait- they were just hugging. Rats. Still- OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH ADORABLENESS!
"I spoke of you." Merry said, and now Alyssa turned to him, surprised. "And I meant every word." Now, Alyssa had been fairly certain he had been crushing on her for a while. But no one had ever spoken of her so kindly. She was always 'ditzy' or 'cute' or 'silly'. Never, EVER 'perfect'.
It was sweet to hear, but even if he meant the words she didn't believe him. She would never be good enough to be perfect. And as much as she hated to admit even to herself, she didn't think she could never truly love him.
"Oh." She sighed. "Well, you and Amanda would make a cute couple. Like, way cuter than you and me could ever be."
"But, Pippin likes Amanda." Merry said, taken aback by her response.
"Well, she probably doesn't like him." She gestured to the two hugging. "See? They're hugging. If they were kissing, she'd like him. But hugging means nothing. No feelings whatsoever." Okay, there was obvious chemistry in that hug. But give Alyssa some slack- she was in pain in a strange world and really wanted to get this guy off her mind.
Merry looked unconvinced. "No Alyssa." He said. "That right there is a symbol of love."
Alyssa pov
"But Amanda deserves you more!" I blurted, realizing this was a pointless battle. "And you deserve her!"
"Is that what you think?" Merry said, looking at her with sadness. "Miss Alyssa, do not think so lowly of yourself! No one could ever replace you, and I don't care if you think Amanda deserves me more or I deserve her. "You are the one who appeared in my life when darkness was beginning to make me doubt. You are the one I have fallen in love with." His sadness was breaking my heart, but I couldn't admit to him he wasn't my light.
"Then you've fallen in love with the wrong gal." I said softly. Merry just shook his head, but before he could continue I heard a familiar voice.
"Oh my gosh did he just actually admit to it?!" Amanda squealed, standing in front of me with Pippin. I groaned- of course Amanda would appear at awkward times like this. Yet she acted as if she didn't just have her own moment with Pippin (yet Pippin's face was a bright red and had a large smile). "And Alyssa, why'd you diss him like that?! He's sweet!" That was the straw that broke the camels' back. I was sick and tired of my friends forcing me to be with someone I don't love. I was sick of Merry being all sweet just so I was forced to keep not hating him. I was sick of being forced to live a life that wasn't mine!
"See?!" I shouted angrily, standing up and not caring about my bruises. I gestured to Amanda. "You deserve each other!" I stormed away from them, not caring to look back to see their reactions.
I didn't think about my bruises or Amanda's hugging or the fact that I had no idea where I was going. All I could think of was how Pippin looked with those adorable puppy dog eyes of his the same way Merry looked at me. How idiotic and cute Pippin could be yet Merry always seemed so ordinary. The way Merry had to be reminded of my wounds, and yet Pippin always remembered Amanda's. The strange feeling I got with Merry as Amanda and Pippin hugged, as if my heart were breaking. How the appearance of a casual Amanda and an ecstatic Pippin had caused me to finally crack after all the pressure had been put on me to be with someone I wasn't in love with.
I came to an abrupt halt. Something finally clicked in my head. Hard as I might try to deny it, I was in love.
But with Pippin.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Hey readers! I want to work on my writing style for doing one-shots. So, please review or PM me any one-shots you would like done involving these characters. Just specify the situation or couple or location or whatever you want me to focus on. I would also be willing to include other fandoms/characters if i know them.
Readers: Yay fluffy chapter! Completely avoiding any actual plot besides romance. Didn't expect an update so soon now did you? lucyxheartifiliaxfan muahahah I have plans! Wolfhound22 Yeah, it was kind of slow. I was going to have them kiss, but then I got other plans. 3:D yes I'm slowly getting around to all couples. And yes, I'm doing okay, but thank you for asking. It really means a lot. PLEASE REVIEW!