So…this short fiction writing class sounds amazing

…but these readings and school in general are consuming my life. Which means that while I'm incredibly inspired to write, I can't write because I need to read in order to do well in this class and…improve my writing.

Catch-22.

And I haven't written a word for these drabbles since school started.

(Panic!!)

Okay, enough mindless fretting. Read on, dear readers!

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100 Themed Drabbles

Ala Verity

55. Panic (Word Count: 589)

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She could toy with his emotions like a cat played with yarn.

"You know, I think he might like me."

Interest.

Mamoru's ears perked up at once; he was not an eavesdropper as a matter of principle—but, well, principles always seemed to take the back seat when it came to Usagi.

"I don't see how he could like you," somebody—Rei, he thought—was sniggering to her. "You're absolutely terrible at everything!"

"H-hey!"

"What? It's true!"

Anger.

Mamoru's hands curled into tight fists on the countertop, anchoring him to his spot when he would have liked nothing better than to give the dark-haired girl a good right hook (not that he punched girls as a general rule either, but that was just the point).

"I'm not terrible—" Usagi shot back. "Okay, so I'm not top of the class or anything…but I don't want someone who will only like me if I get good grades! Unlike you, Rei, I want somebody to like me for who I am."

Admiration.

Mamoru's hands relaxed a little bit, but he casually slid over a few seats (pretending to reposition himself closer to the nearest sugar bowl when he was really listening to their conversation).

"Well," Rei snorted, "who cares if he likes you anyway? That is, if he really does. I personally think he's kind of a creeper. And he's way too old, even if he is good-looking.

Indignation.

He was not a creeper, he thought as he inched a little bit closer, humming innocently to himself, and he was definitely not "too old" for Usagi. It was a four-year age difference, for crying out loud!

"He is not too old!" Usagi protested.

Satisfaction.

Mamoru's lips curved into a small smile.

"Anyway," Usagi stamped her foot hard on the tiled floor, sending a rumble through Mamoru's stool legs, "Stop talking about him as if he's my soul mate or something, Rei. Because he's not!"

Shock.

Wasn't he?

"Well, I didn't mean—"

"An-and maybe you're right," she continued without pausing, her voice trembling now. "Maybe I was all wrong and he doesn't like me. Because he's always harping on about the things I do wrong and I'll never be good enough for him, even if I like him. So maybe I just had a moment of weakness and dared to hope. Have you ever considered that?"

Mamoru froze as a new emotion seized him.

Panic.

"Who doesn't like you?" he roared, jumping to his feet and practically pouncing on Usagi, who looked very stunned indeed. "I like you a lot, thank you very much, and don't you forget it!"

The two girls gaped at him as he stood there in front of them, his chest heaving and his breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts.

"Er, well…"

"What?" he snapped. "Just say it!"

Usagi blinked owlishly at him. "I like you too, Mamoru," she replied after an interminable silence.

Surprise.

"…Oh." Mamoru's fists dropped to his sides.

"Yeah."

He furrowed his brow. "Then what were you…?"

"We were discussing whether or not the new English teacher likes me," she said, adding quickly, "I think he does."

"I think he doesn't," Rei interrupted, glancing enviously between the two of them.

"Oh."

Embarrassment.

Mamoru felt a blush creep onto his face as he scuffed the floor with his toe, scratching the back of his head. "Well, now I feel sort of…"

'Stupid,' was the first word that came to his mind.

"Happy," he said at last, looking up at Usagi with a huge smile.

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