Chapter Four: Pining for Yo

Hartley wanted a kiss. She wanted one so bad. Unfortunately, she had been cut off of any more Amy kisses. Which was, like, a huge bummer. Not to mention, her best friend was actively avoiding Hartley at school. She even went as far as to switch seats with a kid in the back row of classes and was currently eating lunch in the library. Amy kept blaming herself for the whole misunderstanding and Hartley was sick of it. Anxiously, the civilian grabbed her lunch tray, determined to confront her best friend. As soon as she entered the library, Hartley heard a snicker from next to her. She turned her head and saw a very amused Jake Madden.

"Come to watch the show?" He asked, "She's been that way for a while. It's actually pretty hilarious." He gestured over to his sister, who was playing with her salad, looking pretty glum.

"How is that hilarious?" Hartley inquired, "You tricked her into kissing me and now she's really sad."

"Yeah, that's the funny part."

"To you, maybe." The civilian humphed, "Y'know something, Jake? Amy has been nothing but good to me the entire time we've known each other. The one time she wanted to give back, the one time she wanted to do something nice for me, you screwed her over." She spat, "You'll be lucky if she ever trusts you again."

"I mean, sure, she asked me for advice but I thought she was planning to pull something on you. You're my friend and I lied to protect you! I didn't think she'd actually do it!"

"Look into my eyes, Jake." Hartley demanded, "Amy would never do anything to hurt me. She's kind, she's sweet, she's loyal, she's–"

"You sure you're not describing a Labrador Retriever there, Hartley?"

"Shut it."

"Hey, guys. You do know I can hear you, right?" Amy called from her table.

"Sorry, honey!" Hartley called out, earning herself a classic Amy eye roll.

"Honey?" Jake teased.

"Did I or did I not tell you to shut up?" Hartley growled, grabbing his arm and forcefully dragging him outside. She briefly looked back and waved goodbye to Amy. As soon as they were outside, however, Jake grabbed Hartley and kissed her. She pushed him away in an instant, glaring at him as she watched him laugh.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She spat, wiping off the kiss. She felt disgusted. Betrayed. All-around horrified.

"You and Amy do it all the time." He shrugged, leaning in for another. Hartley stepped back, "That's different!" She protested as she was literally backed into a corner, Jake towering over her with a deadly look in his eyes.

"How? How is it different?" He asked, twirling a strand of her hair, "She kissed you and you weren't even together. Now, it's my turn."

"Well, I don't want it!" She screamed desperately trying to push his face away, "Amy! Amy! No, get off of me! I told you I don't want this!" She was crying now as she did her best to evade Jake's advances while simultaneously calling for her best friend, "Amy, please, I'm scared!"

Then there was a scream and Jake fell to the floor. Just as she was about to rise up, he was kicked in the face, knocking him out completely. Then, she felt herself being lifted up. Hartley found herself staring into the teary eyes of Amy Madden. Hartley gulped down a few tears of her own and cupped her best friend's face and brought her in for a kiss. She then wrapped her arms around the brunette and leaned her head against the villainess's chest.

In utter silence, Amy carried her to the school nurse and refused to leave Hartley's side. The civilian's balance was off and she could barely sit still she was shaking so much. So, naturally, Amy had her sit in the villain's lap like a totally normal person would. Hartley cuddled herself into her best friend while Amy held her close, laying her chin atop Hartley's head. Everything was fine, though the fear never left.

"We're having a sleepover at your house." Amy announced as they left, "I'll be there right after school. I'll just need to grab my stuff and meet you there."

""Wha- Amy? Today?"

"You know how this works." The brunette mused, pecking Hartley on the lips, "You aren't allowed to come to my house for the time being."

"Do your parents not like me anymore or something?"

"Ha! Don't be stupid, they never liked you in the first place." Her expression became serious as she stared into the civilian's eyes, "I can't trust my brother around you. I mean, who knows what would have happened if I hadn't been there? So just don't come over to my house for a while until I get to the bottom of this."

"Got it."

"How can you stand to be around me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I hurt you. I did things to you I shouldn't have." Amy closed her eyes, "I'm just as bad as Jake."

"That's ridiculous."

"No, what's ridiculous is that I didn't even realize how badly I was hurting you! I hurt you! I touched you without consent and told people we were dating! I may not have known what it meant but that isn't an excuse! I still did those things! So tell me, Hartley, how can you stand to be in a room with me? How can you look me in the eye and not wish for me to disappear?"

"You just told me we're having a sleepover and now you're asking me why I don't hate you? That's a quick change of pace."

"I'm serious, Hart!" Amy shouted, "I am evil! I have done horrible things! I'm not worth anything, yet here you are! Why? Why waste your time with me?"

"Who says I'm wasting time?" The civilian asked, "You're the best thing in my life, Amy. You were good to me when others weren't. Yes, you did kiss me but the truth is that your brother misled you. He made you believe that what you were doing was completely platonic. That it was normal for friends to do that. You have never once hurt me, Amy. Never ever." She assured, wrapping her arms around her friend's neck and nervously whispered, "Plus, you're a way better kisser than Jake."

Silence.

Hartley laced her fingers through Amy's and smiled, "So, I guess I'll see you after school?"

"Guess so." Amy sighed, "If he tries anything else, contact me immediately. I have my phone on vibrate. I will come running the second you call."

"I know you will."

The brunette stared at Hartley's lips for a second before she cleared her throat and motioned that she was about to leave. Hartley clucked her tongue and pointed to her own lips, "You forgot something."

"But, you said…"

"We'll talk about it later."

Amy nodded and pecked her friend on the lips, "I missed you." She whispered, tracing her friend's lips. The civilian wasn't sure whether she meant Hartley herself or the kissing. Either way, she would take what she would get. "Never avoid me again, alright?" Hartley begged, "You have to promise me." She extended her pinkie finger and, seeing her friend's confusion, reached over and clasped Amy's pinkie with her own. "Pinkie promise." She said, "The most powerful of all promises."

"...Okay?"

"So that means you must never break it, okay?" Hartley pushed, "Friends forever, right? You won't leave me?"

Amy returned the gesture by wrapping her finger around Hartley's, "Pinkie promise."