Amethystwind: I am back from the dead! Feel free to yell at me for not updating. I have been pretty busy though there were times when I just didn't feel like writing. I'm having a lack of inspiration and ideas so it might not go very fast. ((sigh)) But I'll do my best.
"Why are you trying to help me?"
"Because you are the only one who can truly make Rika happy. I want what's best for her and the one who's best for her is you."
Why? Why the hell did he have to go and say that? Yes, he wanted Rika to be happy but how the hell could he be that selfless? He didn't want to see Rika with Ryo. What about his own happiness? That had to count for something, right? There's no crime is going after the girl you love. Right? He sighed, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he continued walking down the path in the park. 'What to do....' On what hand, he could do his best to completely forget the conversation he had just had with Ryo. Or he could do the right thing and help the boy. 'Is that really the right thing?' he mused bitterly. But he knew it was. "Damn," he cursed softly. He glanced behind him, seeing Ryo walking off the other way. He kicked a small stone and watched it skid across the ground. It crashed into the show of a figure and the boy's steel blue gaze swept upward. His jaw dropped ever so slightly and his eyes widened at the sight of the girl. "Alice?"
"You're going out with Henry now?" Jeri asked, raising an eyebrow. "What about Ryo?"
Rika sighed. "I told you. I'm over Ryo. I realized that it was Henry I liked all along."
"Liked?"
"Loved."
Jeri didn't look convinced and she nervously bit her lip. "I don't know. This thing with Ryo.... I'm sure it was a misunderstanding. That's just not like him."
"Don't take his side," the girl snapped.
"Sorry," Jeri replied softly, staring down at the table top. "But are you sure that Henry is.... I mean, maybe you don't really like him. Maybe this whole mess has just gone to your head and you just think-"
"Jeri, I'm sure," Rika hissed, glaring at the girl across from her. But was she really? Maybe Jeri was right. Maybe she didn't really love Henry. But she sure as hell didn't love Ryo. Not anymore.
"Alice? What are you doing here?"
The girl didn't reply, her gaze locked on the boy. The silence was broken by a loud sigh as she turned her head slightly. "I heard everything."
"Oh...." Henry blushed faintly, wondering what she made of it.
"Are you really.... Finally giving up?"
He winced, hating how that sounded. Giving up. He had never been one to give up- one thing that he had in common with Ryo. But that was exactly what he was doing. "Do you have to put it like that?"
"Sorry." There was an awkward silence, both doing their best not to look at the other.
"I don't really have much other choice," Henry said softly.
Alice glanced up at him, frowning slightly. "You always have another choice. But is this really the best thing for you? What if Rika doesn't really like Ryo anymore? You'll just cause them both more pain if you fail. But, if you do get them back together, what about you? Are you really happy always being second best to Ryo?
"And what about me? I'm in this too, you know. If you forsake your feelings and help Ryo, will you come back to me? I don't care if I'll always be second place in your heart but can you accept me? Can you really try to stop loving Rika and take me instead?"
"I honestly don't know. I really like you a lot but, as you're well aware of....... Just Rika is everything to me." He hated having to say this to her, hating how he was making her feel like shit. But he didn't want to have to hide his feelings anymore. "I can never forget her."
"Can you be happy without her?"
Could he? He had been doing fine until this whole thing had started. And they could still be friends- nothing ever said they couldn't. "I think..... I know I can try."
Amethystwind: I know you are probably cursing me for my shortness but it's the best I can do write now. Hope you liked it, even though it probably wasn't worth the wait but hey, I tried.