A/N notes: Thank you for your wonderful support and here's the next update. I hope I'll get the following chapters faster published, since I've been working on them a little at the same time.

Disclaimer: I don't own either PoT or Cruel Intentions, where I got the idea to this fic for. I do own the fic, though…

Chapter 5: A date

Atobe slammed the door shut to his bedroom. Three guesses who could've been behind Ootori's sudden change of mind. Well, he did possess a list of quite many guys who had swore to make him pay after realizing they had been used, but none of that had ever come to action.

The captain picked up the phone. He was going to pay.

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Monday came and Ootori stared blankly out of the window in class. He had started to really have trouble sleeping lately.

Ootori knew Shishido had called Atobe a player, but how could someone that nice be manipulative? What if Shishido hadn't meant it? But why wouldn't he have meant what he had said?

Ootori sighed and rested his chin on the palm of his hand, gaze never leaving the sights outside.

He knew he should just forget about it all. If he could only hold out till the end of the year, then Atobe would graduate and leave his life. But why did that somehow feel so bad?

Ootori hated the fact that he was for the first time experiencing these kinds of feelings for someone and it had to be towards Atobe. God only knew if he was even falling for a real person or just a nice image the captain had painted for him to see in order to get him into…-

The bell rang, much to Ootori's relief. It had stopped him from thinking any further. It was wrong of him to fall for another guy. Ootori didn't think it was necessarily so wrong for others, but he was a Christian. And his family…What would they think of him? How could he ever break the news for them if he started to date another guy? He couldn't lie to them either!

The junior got up from his seat, swinging his bag over his shoulder. It was practice time, and now Ootori would have to face him. Ootori wasn't sure if he would be able to look his captain in the eyes anymore.

"Hey, Choutarou." Shishido greeted and Ootori turned to see his doubles partner.

"Hello, Shishido-san." Ootori replied, happy because of the fact that Shishido had come to distract him from his worries. "How was your weekend?"

"Fine." Shishido shrugged and came up to his side. They started to walk together. "What about yours?"

"Alright I guess." Ootori said, falling quiet. Except for the part where he turned Atobe down outside his door.

"Listen Choutarou, about Atobe-" Shishido started, but Ootori interrupted him.

"No, you don't have to explain." Ootori hurried to say. "But I still can't understand that he would be like that…That he would promise guys the world just to…"

"Um, yeah, I may have been a little out of line that day. Atobe is really not all that bad…"

Ootori stopped, shocked with simply the tone in Shishido's voice that sounded as if he had been joking all along. "But…what about when you said that he never speaks a single word without some intention behind-"

"Yeah, well…" Shishido cut in. "Atobe is not…totally heartless."

Ootori gave him a confused look.

"Believe me, he thinks surprisingly much about others. He really…sees your strength and your weaknesses. You'll never be the same after him." Shishido continued.

"I don't understand, Shishido-san." Ootori mumbled. "You said that Atobe is a manipulative bastard. That I should stay away from him."

"Choutarou, Atobe can be kind when he wants to." Shishido explained, in his mind adding: when he's putting up that act. "He's always the one giving…" Because he is always on top. "He even phoned me during the weekend to…um, settle our differences once and for all." And blackmailed me into telling you this.

Too bad Ootori couldn't hear what went on inside Shishido's head. Shishido really wished Ootori had gotten too scared off from the thought of dating Atobe that the boy would never go near the captain again.

But reason told him otherwise. Ootori wasn't the type to give up on a person easily. He wasn't the type to believe a bad rumor, but instead believe in that person. That's why Atobe would win. He would score with Ootori and then leave him heartbroken and confused, wondering what he had done wrong.

Shishido didn't want that. At least when Atobe had been with him, Shishido had known that it was all a game and there had never been any promises of love or something as sappy as that.

He wished he could help Ootori. He had tried to warn him, but now he was forced to lie to him and clean up the mess he had personally made for Atobe.

"Look, I may have been a little…cranky talking bad about him to you the way I did." Shishido then said in a sigh. "I'm sorry that I took it out on you...and Atobe."

"Oh…" Ootori mumbled, obviously more confused now than just a minute ago. "Shishido-san, it's not nice to bad mouth about others like that."

Shishido gritted his teeth. "I know." he paused as they stopped outside the locker room. "But the bottom line is that I was only worried about you."

Ootori gave him a soft smile. He never knew Shishido to be so kind. Sure Ootori always knew that there was a soft spot under all that grumpiness, but he had never seen it so openly before.

"You just seemed like you were falling head over heels for him so fast and I didn't want to see you get hurt, since Atobe has had a number of lovers before. He might be used to moving at a different pace."

Ootori lowered his head. Had he really been falling for his captain so much that it had showed to the people around him? Ootori wondered who else might have noticed. "Shishido-san, do you…think it's wrong?" Do you hate me now?

Shishido was taken aback. "No." he paused. "It's not such a rare thing anymore…"

Ootori's blush became visible again, as the boy asked "I-it's not?"

Shishido shook his head calmly. "But I want you to know that you can always come to me. You can talk to me." And hopefully also keep me informed on what's going on between you two.

"Thank you, Shishido-san." Ootori replied shyly. "I will."

Shishido just gave a nod, a satisfied one, and opened the door. "Well, shall we go and change then?"

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Ootori had been watching his captain from the corner of his eyes the whole time. Atobe had not come to talk with him. Should he go up there or should he stay put?

In other words: should he go and ask for another chance, which could go badly and they might have to hide their relationship from other people, or should he try to get over it and hold out until the end of the school year?

Then again Atobe might not want to give it another try anymore, although the captain said he would the last time Ootori had spoken with him.

Ootori bent down to do a couple of push-ups in order to concentrate on something else instead. This had definitely come to interfere with his tennis as well, and Ootori hated it. But would dating his captain make things simpler during practice or would it just complicate matters even more?

He would never know unless he tried. His mind was telling him not to go up there, but his heart was telling him to take the chance even though he might regret it later.

Maybe what Shishido had told him about Atobe was true but one date couldn't hurt, could it? Not if he was careful. If he used that date to see for himself what was the truth about Atobe.

Before he even knew it himself, Ootori had rose to his feet and was heading towards his captain.

Atobe acknowledged Ootori's presence and gave him a short "Ootori."

Ootori felt his heart jump. His captain obviously didn't want anything to do with him, calling him by his last name again. Ootori shook those discouraging thoughts out of his mind and focused to keep eye contact.

"Atobe, I'm sorry about last time." Ootori started and Atobe gave a nod.

"Don't be, it's alright. It was worth a try." Atobe replied and placed his gaze onto the courts.

Ootori seeked to get his attention again. "What do you mean?"

Atobe glanced at him briefly. "I like you, so I took a chance although I knew it could cost me if things didn't work out or if you didn't feel the same."

"Atobe…" Ootori mumbled, head falling to the ground as Atobe's words hit him. "It all happened so fast. And I…had heard some stuff about you…And I just…"

"Panicked." Atobe filled in for Ootori. "It's alright. I admit I was a bit tactless."

Ootori shook his head. "No, that wasn't it. I just wanted to say that I promised you one date and I would very much like to keep my word."

Atobe gave him a surprised look. "You don't have to agree to it just because you feel bad for breaking your promise already once."

"No, I'd very much like to go." Ootori insisted.

"Well, I'm not going to hold you for that promise." Atobe then said.

"Please? You said if I changed my mind…I-is it too late?" Ootori replied. "Did you change your mind? Because I know I hurt you…"

'Just my pride, but I can live with that.' Atobe thought and refused a smirk to appear on his face. "Are you really sure about this?"

Ootori nodded.

Atobe took a dramatic pause. "Then I guess I'll come and pick you up some time again. Are you free tonight?"

Ootori nodded again, but more excitingly this time.

"Then I'll see you tonight then." Atobe showed the younger boy a small smile before walking off towards the other regulars, telling them to assemble so that they could end the day's practice.

Ootori felt relieved. He shut out the little voice inside his head telling him he should've stayed away, as he hurried to follow after the captain and join the other regulars.

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This time when Ootori opened the door for him, Atobe was greeted by a much better sight. "Hi. You look…great." Atobe smiled, this time not uttering a single lie.

Ootori gave him that same kind of shy look like last time. "Thank you, so do you."

"So are you ready to go, or did you change your mind again?" Atobe's quite playful voice came and Ootori gave out a small blush.

"No. Um, yes…I mean, let's go." Ootori replied and took his jacket saying bye to his parents, before joining the captain outside.

"What did you tell your parents?" Atobe then asked.

"I told them I'm going out with my captain." Ootori answered. "It's not like I was lying, right?"

"No." Atobe assured and took the other boy under the arm. "And I'd understand if you'd have to lie when it comes to me. I'm guessing your family is pretty Christian as well." Atobe added and briefly gazed the cross around the younger boy's neck.

"I'm sorry, Atobe." Ootori apologized. "I don't mean to offend you in any way."

"It's alright." Atobe replied. "You'll do what you have to do. But now, let's not let it ruin our date."

The captain was quite amused how Ootori jerked in his grip at how easily he had just spoken the word 'date'. But Atobe would keep pushing. He didn't have time to wait for Ootori to get ready on his own.

The date went very nicely. Ootori was surprised of how much he was actually enjoying himself, despite all his worries about dating Atobe.

First they had dinner at a pretty fancy restaurant, and it seemed as if the personnel knew him from before. Ootori guessed Atobe liked to come and eat here quite often then. They had immediately been escorted to a quiet table for two with a fantastic view.

Atobe had even, despite Ootori's protests, paid for the whole meal and afterwards they had taken a walk around in the view they had been gazing at before from inside the restaurant.

Ootori had been so into being on his first date, he hadn't even noticed that Atobe had pumped him of more information than the other way around. Atobe was glad to see that although Ootori still seemed slightly suspicious in his company, Shishido's talk had been a success. He had noticed it whenever Ootori had tried to confirm his suspicions about him, and he had been able to lead the conversation into his favour every time.

As far as the evening went, Atobe felt he had made progress with the boy. He had also had an enjoyable date.

"So do you regret going out with me?" Atobe smiled teasingly as they had reached outside the Ootori household and Ootori shook his head.

"No. I'm so sorry about last time." Ootori apologized again, and Atobe had lost count how many times the boy had told him he was sorry already.

"That's not why I brought it up." Atobe assured, stepping closer.

"I know, but I…" Ootori said, slowly backing away as Atobe advanced. The younger boy was probably not aware of how he was reacting to Atobe moving towards him and that fact amused the captain greatly. "I still feel bad about it."

Atobe managed to walk Ootori up against the wall, where the junior couldn't keep on escaping from him anymore. Atobe ran a hand down one of the slightly flushed cheeks, resting his hand under the chin then. "I told you not to worry about it."

"A-ah…" Ootori mumbled, as Atobe slowly closed the distance between them and touched lips against his. Ootori felt Atobe's free hand sneak behind him and settle down on his back to gently press him closer.

Atobe's lips were so warm against his. Ootori was shocked to find himself actually trying to return the kiss to Atobe.

Atobe slowly broke the kiss, studying his by now probably blushing face with a smug smile.

"Did I steal your first kiss as well?" the captain said amused and Ootori fought to keep his face stern.

"No." he answered immediately and Atobe just gave a soft laughter. It was obvious how the older boy didn't believe him.

Ootori couldn't believe he had just kissed another man. Nor the fact that he had just been on an actual date with one. What was next? Would they start dating and eventually sleep together?

Ootori remembered Shishido telling him that Atobe was quite experienced and that the captain was used to moving faster in a relationship.

"Too bad then." was the still as amused reply and Atobe placed his eyes onto the boy. "I wanted to be your first."

Ootori didn't know if it was those eyes or the hint in that previous sentence that made him feel very flushed again. Atobe leaned in to give him a quick and innocent kiss before parting.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" the captain smiled and Ootori gave a nod.

"Hai. Tomorrow." he replied, returning the smile.

Ootori looked after his captain for a good while before finally stepping inside.

Atobe didn't seem like the player type at all, Ootori thought as he entered his own room and sat down on his bed.

Maybe Shishido had just had a bad day and taken it out in this peculiar way. Maybe it was Atobe's ways of not denying who he was or not tying himself to rules in love that could make the captain look like he was a heartless bastard. Maybe Shishido had then seen the true Atobe, after first being fooled by that misconception.

Shishido did say that Atobe had called to make up their differences, so that was probably it. No one could be as heartless as Shishido had explained Atobe to be. Ootori believed there was some good in everyone, and in case Atobe did possess something of what Shishido had said then Ootori would definitely help him through it.

After all it was Atobe who had opened his eyes, the least Ootori could do was return the favour to him if needed to.

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A/N notes: Once again thank you for reading, oh and please review and tell me who you'd like Ootori to end up with and why you want him with that person! I'm thinking of either Atobe or Shishido, but it's like impossible for me to decide… Your opinions would be very much appreciated!